Art and Tea

Monty senses the excitement in the air! Remember a while back I mentioned a swap organized by Susan called 15 things? Well ......I received mine! The doorbell rang a few days ago and a mysterious package was handed over to me by a handsome postman:)

Look how lovely all the gifts are.... Wasn't sure if there was a special day we were supposed to open.... I couldn't wait.

Monty knew there was a reason to be happy. One of the packages was especially addressed to him!

I am thrilled with all my goodies!!! Thanks so much Pamela!!

Here is the 15 list.....old-fashioned, delicious, natural, salty, sweet, cat, dog, culinary, green,sparkly,useful, paper, scented, soft, garden. Can you guess what is what?

Available now on eBay...

Brr, it's nippy out today...not at all like this wee painting:) At least the sun is shining!

Isn't it marvelous how light can transform! This stopped me in my tracks the other day and I had to go find my camera. My kitchen counter turned into art:)

Not much light today......rain turned snow, then sleet and now back to rain...
Sun is forecast for the weekend so this will all be gone again, and I can get those leaves raked up and tidied away for the winter. I tend to not bother raking until all the leaves are down, do it in one big sweep:)

Went to the symphony last night! What a treat:) Thanks Tammi.
Have a great weekend!

middle of the week reflections....

Loving my new haircut:)
Looking forward to the symphony tomorrow night. A friend won tickets and I am the lucky gal who gets to accompany her:)
Making headway on the paper filing situation:)
Did another large painting and 1/2 of one more
Got lots of exercise, my knee hurts :(
Ate too many cheesies. Darn those orange beasties!
Gotta get the snow tires on my car
Oh yes, saw David Copperfield on Monday...interesting,... he seemed a bit tired/jaded but still can pull those major tricks out of his hat.

Hope you are having a productive week!

Monday morning, back to routine. November is here. I like November, a quiet month of settling in, getting used to the darkness before winter really sets in. I have a lot of decluttering I want to do....... don't I always:) Do you a sense of deja vu visiting here? Always the same goals. I get started and then drift off the path but the really important thing is to get back on it again. Right? Right.

No more Hallowe'en candy. More exercise, that's a big one now with the BustaMove event looming ever closer.  I'd love it if you might consider sponsoring me.

Meditation. I am always wanting to get back to that consistently. Everything I read about the benefits makes sense. I love it when I do it. Just have to make...myself...sit....still. Ohmmm.

Painted a large canvas yesterday 18 x 24" and I have it hanging in my living room. Love it. I am thinking of trying to do a large series and possibly getting them hung in a... "dare I say it"... gallery! Just a thought. Putting it out there.

These two pictures are of Barrington Street. Taken from inside the Old Burying Ground.

Happy Day of the Dead, All Souls' Day...........November 1st!
Inspired by Susanna and Stephanie , I thought I would celebrate El Dia de los Mortes by sharing some interesting graveyard art. Generally the festivities involving All Souls Day are full of colour and warmth, this series is rather lacking in colour but full of the "spirit"of the day:) These pictures were all taken at the Old Burying Ground in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here is a list of almost all who are buried here.

The one below has a protective covering on the top to stop it from deteriorating.

The headstones range in age from the 16th century to the 19th century. It is interesting to see linked themes in the carved stone and how they change as the years pass. In the earlier stones, you can see the guide lines the carver etched into the rock to keep the words straight. God bless all these folk, Martha, Susanna, Elizabeth and others...

This is a masonic headstone of course. The all seeing eye perched at the top. The decorated scroll on the left but not the right. Full of symbolism but I haven't a clue what it means.

Last but not least, this picture is a detail of my great Grandfather, William McLean's headstone in Scotland. He was a renowned fiddler. It was carved by his son.

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday I took my camera and walked along a Halifax street to get some fun pictures of Halloween decorations. This house was amazing and I did not do it any justice at all.

This wee pumpkin was cute. Simple to do but fun.

Imagine walking up to this house in the dark!

She was lying in a standing coffin but you cannot see it here. Very effective!

Spiders anyone?

Pop over to my friend Suzie's blog for a chance to win a beautiful charmed necklace guaranteed to keep the ghosties and goblins away! She has been writing about the paranormal recently, good Halloween reading:) She also has a terrific foodie blog with Halloween themed goodies featured at the moment!

Enjoy this spooky holiday!

 Mildred... available now on eBay

I had fun trying out a different style with this wee painting:)

Three incredibly talented and diverse Nova Scotian writers!
Donna Morrissey, Ami McKay and Lesley Crewe.
Yesterday was the literary luncheon at the Halifax Club and I have to say that I think it was a great success! We dined, chatted and then were entertained by the authors reading some exerpts from their work, discussions about their stories and life, followed by a Q&A session.

They all have very different styles and were a pleasure to listen to! Please do yourself a favour and pick up copies of their work, you will not be disappointed! I've enjoyed their books immensely. Movies are in the works too:)

This is the front room of the Halifax Club, where the event was held. An old building with a very interesting history. Used to be a men's club which is now thankfully, open to women! Shockingly,( to me) as recently as up until 1985, women were not allowed in the club until after5pm. In that year, Noella Fischer became the first female member of the club. Since then, the Club has elected it's first female president and the use of the club has been opened to non members.

Last week I took my mum for a birthday lunch at a new creperie in town, Chez Tess. It is an odd grey little building just off Charles street but as you walk under the cement awning, wow! The ceiling is collaged with broken mirror and is stunning. It sort of drips down the sides a bit and is absolutely beautiful.
It was a dark day so I can imagine how lovely it must look in the sunshine. In the warmer months there are some table outside so you can sit under the mosaic and pretend you are in Paris! That's what it reminded me of.
Oh yes, and the food was wonderful and service terrific! I highly recommend.