The Paper Butterfly ~ Ramblings and Photography

Birding in BC

2012-01-26T21:14:00.001-05:00

The first new bird I saw at Stanley Park in Vancouver quickly became the one we would see everywhere. The Spotted Towhee stood out among the foliage with its bright orange breast, and its mischievous red eyes reminded me of a certain troublemaker back home.

These American Wigeons were also regulars at a few of the wet spots we visited. I love the colours in their plumage; velvety brown, black and white pin-striped wing feathers, and a dark teal stripe across their eyes. Very dashing.

Happy Birding :)

Back Home

2012-01-24T22:20:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I returned from a wonderful, well-deserved vacation in Vancouver. I stayed with my aunt, who is a generous hostess, and I visited my husband’s family as well. We did so much in the last week, but for me, the highlight (besides my adorable nieces and their fantastic birthday party) was all of the bird-watching we did. Everywhere. On the street, in the woods, over the ocean, you name it. I will share the photos from my trip over several posts (I took about 700+ pictures) but here are a few to give you an idea of what I did while I was there:

Wordless Wednesday - Wings

2012-01-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

{taken with my new macro lens}

White Out

2012-01-13T22:25:00.001-05:00

So much snow has fallen over the last couple of days, and everything is blanketed with white. It is so beautiful, and if the sun shines tomorrow, the photos opportunities would be amazing. Imagine the snowflake glitter I could capture with my new macro lens.

Instead, I am leaving on a jet plane for somewhere a little bit warmer: Beautiful British Columbia. It has been almost 3 years since I took a noticeable holiday, and almost 10 years since I have been out west. I’m looking forward to some rest and relaxation, visiting with family and friends, and hopefully some milder temperatures.

{for my Mom, who appreciates photos in black and white}

A New Year::Blank Canvas

2012-01-10T16:18:00.001-05:00

My goal for 2012 is to put myself on paper.

For me, that means finding time everyday to use my creativity toward something tangible. Yes, you could say I am already doing that, with photography, food (aka my day job), and the crafting and artwork that I do from time to time. But the truth is that I spend more time thinking about it than actually doing it. My head is full of thoughts, and I keep getting distracted; I can’t keep up. It needs to become part of my daily routine.

So, to be short but sweet: Turn off the computer and be more productive.

Obviously I have to work at the technical parts of drawing and painting, so I have started working in a sketchbook. I have some great ideas in my mind that I would like to put together, be it through painting or embroidery. Part of the battle is to JUST DO IT. So bear with me, I need practice. I’d love to hear if you are working on something outside of your comfort zone. Share in the comments, if you like!

Two great posts about creativity in daily life:

{A Butterfly in my Hair}

{A Habit of Art}

My Stamp Collection

2012-01-07T14:50:00.001-05:00

Enamoured with a couple of 25 cent Cecropia Moth stamp my husband saved for me last year, I went to the post office to see what other stamps they had. Turned out they had an entire insect series in small denomination stamps. So I embraced my inner nerd (or obvious dorkiness) and started a Nature-themed postage stamp collection. It was hard to find something inexpensive, small and also attractive. It seems that this hobby is very serious and old-fashioned. In the end I bought a 4x6 album photo album from Wallack’s; it does the job and has lots of pages to fill.

So far I have collected quite a few, and a couple of people have given me stamps from their travels abroad. I received a package in the mail today, and it just happened to be posted with a beautiful collection of American stamps, including a Monarch Butterfly.

Do you have a collection of something interesting?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:23:00.001-05:00

I have many thoughts. goals and ideas for 2012, but I will share those another day. I am enjoying the last few moments of holiday peacefulness before the Mondays begin.

{taken in the backyard with the new lens}

Window Shopping

2011-12-31T22:16:00.001-05:00

…when all the shops are closed and the streets are quiet.

New Year Sale in the Shop

2011-12-29T20:53:00.001-05:00

Just want to let you in on a sale I am having to celebrate the coming New Year. From now until January 15th, 2012, all photographs are 20% off {prices are marked in the shop accordingly}. Thanks for all the love in 2011. Happy New Year!

New Toys

2011-12-27T20:42:00.001-05:00

We don’t normally brave the stores on Boxing Day~ we’re not ones for mass consumer chaos. But my husband and I both had gift cards burning holes in our pockets, and we already had plans for what to buy with them. So, off to the camera store (for me to buy a macro lens) and then to the music store (for him to buy a midi keyboard). So far we’ve been having lots of fun with our new toys, and I look forward to discovering a new point of view and sharing it with you!

How we spent our weekend

2011-12-26T21:12:00.001-05:00

We slept in, ate too much, and laughed a lot. We had a few epic failures in the kitchen, but mostly delicious messes were made. We continued the second annual multi-generational family tradition of trying on fake mustaches (which also make great uni-brows). The snow came through for us just in time, and we spent a lot of time quietly watching the birds and also narrating their antics at the kitchen window. After it was all over, we walked through the empty streets while the snow was still falling.

{Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.}

Wordless Wednesday – Hot Air Thief

2011-12-21T09:38:00.000-05:00

Tiny Footprints

2011-12-18T21:45:00.001-05:00

from the Juncos hopping around in the backyard.

One week before Christmas…

2011-12-17T13:43:00.001-05:00

I honestly don’t know where the hours go but I swear I have been busy doing Christmasy things in my “spare” time. Herein lies proof:

Above are the makings of Gingerbread houses that I started this week. I was feeling pretty ambitious at the time but we’ll see if they actually get assembled. I have some dough left over and a plan.

My brother came over last night and we attempted to make Sugared Jelly Candies. On the left is an Apple-Orange Spice one and the other is a Mulled Red Wine and Cranberry. We adapted them from a recipe found online but they gave us some trouble setting, and I had to re-melt them this morning. I am now worried that they will stick to the paper…. You would think between us (a baker and a chef) we could figure these things out!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T21:55:00.001-05:00

The view from my stove.

Days 9,10 and 11: Christmas Tree

2011-12-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

Just popping in to say that the tree is up and decorated. We picked it out at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and it has added a certain ambience and a lovely pine aroma to our living room. I have yet to figure out the camera settings for Christmas tree lights and ornaments (any tips appreciated) but I always have fun with bokeh effects. Click here to see pictures from last year.

This afternoon I made Gingerbread cookie dough so that when I get the chance during the week I can easily roll it out and maybe make some little houses. We also mailed a big stack of packages at the post office today. Hope they get there in time!

Scarlet

2011-12-10T22:25:00.001-05:00

There is a pair of House Finches who visit our feeder. They are shy, and flee as soon as they see me at the window. This is the best distance I could get with my camera; the images are not very crisp and I had to crop them. But this little red bird would look perfect on a Christmas card.

Days 5-8: Hibernating and Birds in Flight

2011-12-08T20:58:00.001-05:00

I was hoping to do something every day and write a post but I have just been so busy at work that I haven’t had much energy left for extracurricular activities. The good news is that the weekend is coming up soon and my finger hasn’t been holding me back, so I hope to have some little projects lined up. I’ll get the tree up this weekend if it’s the last thing I do.

We had some good light early this morning and I was able to take some photos on my way in to work. A small flock of starlings was swirling back and forth between the trees and power lines. I’ll wear my better lens tomorrow and see if I can get some closer ones. I’ve cropped some below so you can see their silhouettes in flight.

The light was pink and golden in this spot on the way home, but I had no time to stop. Maybe tomorrow I won’t feel so rushed.

Enjoy your weekend!

Day Four: Snowflake Embroidery

2011-12-05T22:27:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I started embroidering little white snowflakes onto some off-white linen (for Christmas tree ornaments). I also knitted for awhile (I’m working on a green scarf for nobody specific yet). I had a little bit of relaxation inspiration from the cat, who showed me how Sundays (and every other day that ends in Y) are meant to be spent.

I planned to finish my stitching this evening and watch a Chirstmas movie for Day Five. While I was preparing dinner I sliced my finger pretty badly so I had to deal with that instead. By then I still had some computer work to do, and stitching is difficult when your middle finger looks like a giant Q-tip…

PS: It’s supposed to snow tonight!

Autumn in December

2011-12-04T23:21:00.001-05:00

My first real photowalk since starting Getting through the Grey felt like more of a cheat than a challenge. I didn’t have to squeeze it in; Saturdays are usually a blank canvas for me. And this particular Saturday was especially spectacular, weather-wise. No grey to get through, just pure blue skies.

And it just occurred to me that three quarters of December is actually still Autumn.

Part of my challenge is feeling self-conscious as I take photos in public. It is a weird feeling as though I am taking something that doesn’t belong to me, whereas out in the woods, my photography feels more private. In my mind I repeated a new mantra for this self-consciousness: I am invisible. I am invisible. Then a lady stopped me on the street, and grinning from ear to ear asked me what I was taking pictures of. She seemed really interested in what I was doing so I politely chatted with her. It didn’t help that we crossed paths again about 10 blocks later and she joked that she was stalking me! LOL…

I would love to know your thoughts on this. Do you ever feel strange out in public with your camera? What about taking photos of people on the street?

Day Three: Shop Local

2011-12-03T22:33:00.001-05:00

One of the things I did today was a walk around town to some local shops. The Urban Craft Market was on, so I stopped in to see what that was all about. It’s a great location (Holland and Wellington) and gets lots of walk-in traffic; I may consider it in the future. It is open the first Saturday of every month.

I resisted the urge to spend all of my money on macaroons, and instead bought jars of preserves as gifts for a couple of people.

A lot of little independent shops are popping up all over town, selling wonderful handmade things. Support your local entrepreneurs and artists this holiday season!

Day Two: Small Pleasures

2011-12-02T23:04:00.001-05:00

I put the kettle on and poured myself a cup of Murchie’s Christmas Tea. It just arrived in the mail yesterday, and let me tell you, it tasted lovely. It’s a black tea with oranges, cinnamon and vanilla. Decadent. Every time I use my little blue teapot it feels like a little indulgent ritual. It holds just enough tea for me to have two cups, and I don’t usually have to share it because my husband prefers coffee.

Day One: Pomander Balls

2011-12-01T18:57:00.001-05:00

There are so many things I want to do over the holidays. So many things get forgotten or put off every year.

Day One of doing Christmasy things was going to be “Buy a Christmas Tree” but I couldn’t find our tree stand. It will have to wait for another day. Instead I made Pomander Balls.

I had just been to the grocery stores and bought a crate of clementines.

I also had a huge jar of cloves for cooking (we’re hardcore around here, LOL).

I got to work poking the cloves into the oranges.

A little tip: if you can, use the cloves that still have the little ball attached at the head. They are easier on your thumbs (not as poky as the ones without it, although they are pretty too).

The step I skipped was rolling the balls in a spice mixture, including orris root (which helps them dry out and prevents them from getting moldy). Find the ratio HERE.

Then tie them up with pretty ribbons.

Drawing Again…

2011-12-01T15:31:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend I had some idle time, so I started doodling in my notepad. At first I was just sketching some ideas for a friend who asked me to draw a picture for a little book she was putting together. Then they became stream-of-consciousness type drawings, and once I got started I really got into it. Ideas started pouring out of my mind onto the paper.

Just thought I’d pop in and share this. That’s all for now.

Three Things Thursday: Canoes, Birds and Photography Classes

2011-11-24T20:59:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was our first snow, and a really big pile of it too. It snowed all night and in the morning I walked ankle-deep in it to my bus stop. It was still falling in big fluffy handfuls, and against the early morning navy-blue sky, it looked like falling stars.

I tried to take a few photos but the low light made it difficult. I looked online to see what photos other local people had managed and I came across this in the Ottawa Citizen:

{Photograph by: Sue Bertram, Reader photo}

This man is committed. If he hasn’t already been interviewed or made a video of his commute, someone should. The reality is that we are so close to the water, and it inspires me to think someone decided to incorporate it into his daily routine. And I love that the canoe doubles as a toboggan.

I decided to sign up for VIvienne McMaster’s winter photography e-class, Getting Through the Grey Together. Every year I have so many missed opportunities for winter photography, either for lack of useable light, for the sheer cold or lack of motivation. I could have taken some beauties yesterday, for instance, but it was so dark. So I am hoping to learn a few tricks, find some inspiration and motivation from her and the other members of the group. If you’re interested there is still time to sign up and it runs from December through February.

Since winter is now on my mind, one of the things I would like to do on a regular basis is go birdwatching. I have read through a few local websites like the OFNC to see what they offer in terms of group walks or outings. It sounds like they have them from time to time but they mostly offer are guidelines, resources and a list of birding locations, which will be helpful. I will have to pioneer my own walking group, even if it is only me or one other person. If you have any tips for me I would love to hear them!

So that’s my Thursday list. Let me know if you have anything to share :)

Cats at the Window

2011-11-20T22:09:00.001-05:00

Dozens of birds come to our yard every day, and they hardly notice. Their ears sure do prick up, though, when a ballsy squirrel climbs up the walls and windows to get closer to the feeder.

Finished Gloves

2011-11-20T15:02:00.001-05:00

In September I started knitting a pair of fingerless gloves for my husband. After some fumbling I finally finished them! I used the same number of stitches for both of them but one of them is slightly tighter than the other. My guess is that I haven’t found a consistent rhythm or feel for tension yet.

{btw: these crazy yellow leaves are from our raspberry shrubs}

The yarn is called Blackstone Tweed Chunky; a soft blend of wool, angora rabbit and mohair (purchased from a local shop called Wabi Sabi). The gloves are quite cozy and I hope he will get a lot of use out of them. He works mostly outside and mittens are just too bulky if you need to use your hands for anything. I wear mine under mittens when I am taking winter photographs.

What about you: Are you knitting anything right now? Do you have any tips for this beginner?

Three Things Thursday: Turkeys, Forest-Bathing and a Pretty Ring

2011-11-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I have random things to share with you. Could become a regular post :) If you do something similar, let me know in the comments so I can read yours.

You’ve heard of men living with wolves, tigers and bears? Watch this documentary (re-enacted) about a man who devoted a year of solitude raising a flock of Wild Turkeys. The connection he made with them was really something.

We all know the benefits of getting back to nature and enjoying fresh air. The Japanese have a name for it, shinrin-yoku, which literally means “forest-bathing.” Experiencing the sights, smells and sounds of the woods has a significant effect on our mood and health.

This ring by UmberDove is such an incredible treasure. I am relieved that it just sold, because I don’t know how I would explain to the cats that I blew their grocery money on jewelry.

PS: My brother saw one of the little acorn sachets hanging in our house and asked me if it was a squirrel pillow :)

Wordless Wednesday - Furry Things

2011-11-16T06:16:00.000-05:00

Playing with Leaves

2011-11-14T22:21:00.001-05:00

Some of the roses are still blooming. although they are wilted by the cold and pretty pitiful. Still, it is nice to see some lingering colours in the yard. Their leaves are also changing very creatively: on the sunny side~ purple stems with hunter green leaves outlined with cherry red. On the underside, pale green stems with magenta thorns and leaves alternating between the two colours. Unfortunately the grey sky does not bode well for photographs.

Another jewel in the yard, I think from a serviceberry:

Purple, burgundy, orange, yellow and even blue in this one. It even had a perfect little hole in it. I held onto it for awhile; I think I was subconsciously trying to come up with a reason to keep it, until the adult in me said “Put it down, you’re not going to make a necklace with it.”

I did, however, collect a handful of leathery brown magnolia leaves. which could possibly be made into a wreath or some other holiday decoration. Any ideas?

New in the Shop

2011-11-13T19:10:00.001-05:00

I can’t remember the last time I gave you an update on new prints available in the shop. I guess that means it’s been awhile. There are three new dragonflies; each photo links to their listings:

All three are included in my boxed card set, along with three of my favourites. Green, green and more green.

There is also a butterfly box set, which is available in the shop now:

They are laser-jet printed on recycled cardstock (4.25x5.5”). The paper is a pale cream colour (buttermilk) and has pretty little flecks that are beautifully visible through the paler parts of each photograph. Each set is packaged in a brown kraft paper box with a clear lid and a legend on the back.

New Love

2011-11-13T18:14:00.001-05:00

Do you have a favourite tree?

I am fickle when it comes to these things. When the light shines through leaves like this, I find myself falling in love all over again.

In this light, my new love is Oak.

Bricks and Flowers

2011-11-11T06:18:00.000-05:00

A neighbourhood walk is a great way to clear your head. I am trying to take more photos on these walks. There are so many beautiful old homes in our city’s neighbourhoods. I would choose intricate, falling-down brickwork over slate and polished steel any day.

Character.

Starlings

2011-11-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

I heard this little Starling singing her heart out a few weeks ago. I stood and listened to her for a little while. Their songs are quite elaborate if you listen closely. They chirp, warble, gurgle, trill and even copy other bird calls. I think I may have heard a Blue Jay call.

If you haven’t already seen this video going around online, check it out. These two girls witnessed a huge flock of Starlings (called a murmuration) swooping overhead as they paddled their canoe.

{Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.}

That Orange Glow

2011-11-10T05:52:00.000-05:00

Some of the roses are still blooming in the backyard. Behind them is our neighbour’s brilliantly orange maple tree. This was a couple of weeks ago~ most of its leaves have fallen now.

The Countdown Begins…

2011-11-09T20:00:00.001-05:00

I am starting to feel the time crunch. There is just over two weeks to get ready for my craft sale coming up at the end of the month.

I have been busy printing, signing, packaging and labeling everything. Really there is not much left to do, but except a few small things and figuring out how I am going to display it all. Some things worked last year but needed improvement so I will be going to IKEA to check out their storage supplies, like baskets. Or maybe I’ll just use shoeboxes.... hahaha……

More details on the show to follow. I have some new cards and card sets, and I’ll tell you all about the sales I am going to have.

November Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This

2011-11-09T17:45:00.001-05:00

I woke up on Saturday morning to blue skies that lasted through the weekend. Finally, some sunshine to break up the grey. My friend and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood and found this pile of plum and golden leaves. Usually Autumn makes me think of orange and red leaves, but I love these two colours together.

Crafting for Friends

2011-11-01T18:16:00.000-04:00

You may remember that I mentioned I was working on some stitching recently. Some friends of mine at work decided to do a Halloween or fall-themed craft swap. It was supposed to be a surprise for each other, which is why I hadn’t posted any WIP photographs.

I wanted to do something fall-themed that could also double as a Christmas ornament. I stitched these little linen sachets and embroidered acorns on them. They are open in the back (like a pillowcase) so it can be used as a sachet. I was thinking a teabag would be perfect for this. Of course I made one for myself too, and I think I may make a few more for the tree.

Are you making any holiday decorations? On Pinterest I’ve compiled quite a collection of Christmas crafts I would like to make, as well as a million things that swirl through my mind. I just have to find the time for them!

Getting Ready for the Trick-or-Treaters

2011-11-01T17:56:00.001-04:00

Last week we started to notice that more birds were coming around to our tiny birdfeeder. My mum noticed that some Cardinals and Dark-Eyed Juncos had joined the flock of Chickadees residing in our backyard. Now we have a larger feeder set up in front of the kitchen window. We staked it in a large planter because this spot in the yard is on the pavement driveway. We also added some berries and branches in the pot to add some colour for the white winter and more perches to take turns near the food.

So far the Chickadees have been hoarding all of the peanuts and tucking them into the cracks of the fence, the Juncos eat everything that is tossed onto the ground and the squirrels are getting frustrated. There isn’t much daylight left after work, but I hope to get some photographs of them on a brighter day this weekend.

Are you ready for the birds yet? Check out this link on Pinterest for some cool DIY birdfeeder ideas.

Autumn Mosaic

2011-10-22T14:14:00.001-04:00

A lot of beautiful photos were submitted to the Poppytalk Autumn Colours Week collection. Here are a few of my favourite ones, most of them are nature or food inspired. Links to all of the original photographers are below. Great job everyone :) Let me know if you made a mosaic as well!

1. love, 2. happy thanksgiving, 3. farm building, 4. des pommes, 5. leaves & sun, 6. Love-ly, 7. Harvest Moon Echinacea, 8. Slovenia Yellow Windows, 9. collecting fall leaves., 10. signs of autumn, 11. Fall In Love, 12. Honey Jars #1, 13. in a row, 14. day 3 orange, 15. Pumpkin Patching, 16. misty weather& couch-crafting, 17. kitchen utensils, 18. texture, 19. boots on a bench, 20. Type #1crop, 21. Blurry is good, 22. october browns, 23. fresh eggs., 24. Untitled, 25. New York 2010

Brown: Autumn Colours Week and a Recipe

2011-10-21T10:15:00.000-04:00

I had a relaxing day off today, and finally carved out some time to start stitching again (more on that later). I drank lots of tea and watched movies. Then later my husband and I had Pho for dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. All in all a great day.

The recipe for today is another hot drink (a staple of the season) but this one is a little more rich and dark. After having hot chocolate with spices, I could never go back.

Spiced Dark Hot Chocolate

1 quart milk
6 oz. dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cardamom
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and whisk over medium-low heat until the chocolate has melted completely and the mixture is steaming hot, about 5 minutes.

Grey: Autumn Colours Week and a Recipe

2011-10-20T10:13:00.001-04:00

Grey is a perfect theme today because that’s what it looks like out there. It is also windy and rainy. I feel a little sad for the squirrels today because yesterday we had the roof fixed (where they were living) and this is their first day roughin’ it. I guess that’s what fur is for, and hopefully they will find a big old tree that is even better.

London Fogs have become really popular at the coffee shops but they are so easy to make at home. At the coffee shop, they add steamed milk to steeped tea, but I prefer mine without water. They look confused when I ask for no water, but trust me, it tastes better. It has a milder, creamier taste and it holds the foam longer.

London Fog

1 cup of milk
1 Earl Grey tea bag
vanilla syrup, to taste

Heat milk in a small saucepan until it is hot to the touch (if you have a thermometer, 150F is ideal but do not let it boil). *If you have a milk frother, use it to make foam with the hot milk. Pour milk into a large mug along with the teabag. Let steep for a few minutes (up to you how long). Add vanilla syrup to taste. *If you have an espresso machine, you’re laughing. It will steam and froth the milk for you.

The recipe below makes a small but generous amount of vanilla syrup; a little goes a long way.

Vanilla Syrup

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Reduce and simmer until syrupy. Add vanilla extract and let cool. Pour into a jar and refrigerate up to two weeks.
::
This recipe will also work with almond extract. One of my favourite drinks at Starbucks used to be Almond Lattés until Starbucks strangely stopped making them. I found a recipe for my own Almond Syrup, which I stashed at work to add to a plain latté. :)

Orange: Autumn Colours Week and a Recipe

2011-10-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

These photos are from last week, on one of the livelier weather days we’ve had this fall. Nothing shines through warm oranges, reds and yellows like a late afternoon sun.

Yes, we live in the city, and yes, there is a rooster weathervane on our shed.

This recipe is a favourite for Thanksgiving and I will probably make it again for Christmas. It is the ultimate comfort food: creamy like mashed potatoes and sweet like apple pie.
Squash with Cranberries and Apples
2 ½ lbs. squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, or a combination
3 apples, peeled and chopped
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
¼ cup pecans, chopped
cinnamon
3-4 tbsp. butter
3-4 tbsp. maple syrup or honey
Bake or steam squash and mash coarsely. Add some salt and pepper to taste and spread into a baking dish. Combine the apples, pecans, cranberries and toss with cinnamon. Spread the fruit and nut mixture over the squash. Melt the butter and honey/maple syrup together and pour over the entire dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Bake uncovered for a few minutes to brown the top.

Yellow: Autumn Colours Week and a Recipe

2011-10-18T09:57:00.000-04:00

In keeping with the Autumn Colour theme this week, here are my submissions for yellow. Bright and sunny, it always catches my eye against a crisp blue sky.

I have many lemon recipes, but none of them really fit the Fall theme. How much more Canadian Autumn can you get than Maple Butter Fudge? It’s kind of yellow… right?
Maple Butter Fudge

2 cups maple syrup
¾ cups cream (10%)
2 tbsp. butter

Grease an 8 inch baking pan. Add the maple syrup, cream, and butter to a saucepan and boil uncovered, until a drop in cold water forms a soft ball (if you have a candy thermometer, this will register at about 236F). Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm without stirring. Beat until creamy then turn into baking pan. Let set, then cut into squares.

{See the rest of the week HERE}

{See Poppytalk’s growing collection HERE}

Red: Autumn Colours Week and a Recipe

2011-10-17T09:40:00.000-04:00

Poppytalk is having their seasonal photo collaboration again. Hop on over to this link to see all of the pretty reds that people are adding right now. Red is such a bright pop of colour but I prefer when it is a pale coral or a deep velvet burgundy. Here are my submissions.

Also, as an added perk, I decided to include a colour-complimentary recipe on each day. These are pulled from my favourites as well as ones I’d really like to try. This recipe makes the best thumbprint cookies I have ever tasted. It’s a great way to use some of the ruby red strawberry or raspberry jams you may have made over the summer.

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

¾ cups almonds
1 ½ cups flour
½ cup butter (cold and cubed)
½ cup icing sugar

½ tsp. almond extract
1 egg
½ cup jam

Chop nuts in a food processor with ¼ cup of flour. Combine remaining flour, icing sugar and butter and mix until it is coarse and crumbly. Add the nut mixture, almond extract and egg, and mix until the dough comes together.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on a cookie sheet, and press an indentation into each ball. Fill with jam. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes, until golden.

Wordless Wednesday – Red Door

2011-10-12T11:05:00.000-04:00

Open Wings

2011-10-11T21:28:00.001-04:00

So much for my theories; Mother Nature has her own plans.

{Black Swallowtail Butterfly}

We were literally on our way out the door when my husband said, “You might want to check on your butterflies. I noticed one of the cocoons looks different.” I went out back to the sun porch where I had placed the container, thinking they would hibernate out there for the winter. Inside it was a fully opened butterfly, very eager to be let out.

It was an unexpected event, surely they should have stayed dormant until spring. I had stopped checking them, even, thinking they would have some sense of the seasons in a screened-in porch. The recent summer-like weather must have confused their biological clocks. (The other one remains wrapped snugly in his little cocoon.)

Since we were in a hurry, just as he certainly was, we took one unglamourous photo before releasing him to the big open world.

Safe travels, friend.

{To read previous posts about the caterpillars}

CLICK HERE

Thankful for Sunshine

2011-10-10T21:42:00.001-04:00

This Thanksgiving was unseasonably warm, but none of us were complaining because it meant dinner outside at the cottage. We ate turkey and pumpkin pie at picnic tables with the ladybugs, and watched the light fade from gold to pink over the river.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

~XO~

Autumn in the City

2011-10-09T14:30:00.001-04:00

Colourful old houses are the highlight of any neighbourhood. They add character to the street and are beautifully complemented by the Autumn foliage. This house, painted plum, indigo and teal, had a little tree out front with pretty coral berries on it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you (if you’re in Canada). We have gorgeous summer weather here today and we’re going to make the most of it. What are your plans?

Forest Walk

2011-10-06T21:22:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I went out for a forest walk with a friend of mine. It was a few days before the beginning of Autumn, and most of the leaves were still green. The sun was shining, but our hands were cold in the shade of the woods.

Gorgeous day :)

Euonymus

2011-10-03T21:28:00.001-04:00

This time of year they are changing into every shade of neon~ yellow, pink, lime, peach, red and orange. Along Prince of Wales Drive (between the traffic circle at the Arboretum and Dows Lake) there are several varieties that are most likely at their peak colours right now. Take some time to enjoy this burst of vivid colour amid the gloomy grey sky and cold rain.

{Last fall, the Euonymus trees at the Arboretum}

Sweater Weather

2011-09-30T23:34:00.000-04:00

These days, the sky begins to darken around 6pm; even earlier when it is blanketed by rain-filled clouds. It’s terrible for my photography, but perfect knitting weather.

I am working on a pair of fingerless gloves for my husband, using this cozy wool that is the same colour as our barn board shed. It is a simple rib knit pattern but being new and out of practice I have started and restarted them several times. Thankfully it is a forgiving wool; it hasn’t frayed or tangled at the hands of my inexperience. I hope to have something finished to show you soon!

Brown Paper Packages

2011-09-29T21:37:00.001-04:00

Today I got a little package in the mail from Wild Pulp. It’s a set of cards, each with a photograph of a bird’s nest against a white background.

When I read more about the artist, I realized that he not only photographs the nests, but he actually makes them himself. They are meticulously hand-crafted using natural materials. I think that’s what convinced me to buy them; talk about commitment to your craft.

Please check out his work HERE~ he also creates tree bark silhouettes of woodland animals, I’m sure you’ll love them.

Wordless Wednesday -Dragonflies

2011-09-28T12:30:00.001-04:00

Just another photo from our last trip to the cottage in July:

Giveaway Winner, Pinterest and Caterpillar Non-News

2011-09-25T23:05:00.001-04:00

I just signed up on Pinterest, so of course I left announcing the winner to late Sunday night. The winner is Georgianna, whose choice for the auction was one of the Dragonfly Fern prints. (I’m partial to those two as well, I chose one for my current blog banner.) Thanks to all of you who voted (all 4 of you, LOL) and G, please send me your info and I will mail you your prize.

Like I mentioned above, I opened a Pinterest account this evening, and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet how much precious time will be lost on it. Please feel free to add me, my username is PaperDragonfly, because PaperButterfly was already taken :) I haven’t added her yet.

Another FYI~ if you haven’t heard any caterpillar news and you were wondering, there haven’t been any changes. Since it was late in the summer and unseasonably cool, I suspect they may have gone into diapause, which means they will be hibernating until spring. I have put them out on the sunporch, which is protected from the elements but will be appropriately cold. The six-year old in me would love to see them hatch in my bedroom in February but I know that wouldn’t be fair to them. So, we’ll just wait longer.

Wordless Wednesday - Birch Trees

2011-09-21T06:45:00.001-04:00

Nuts…

2011-09-19T11:15:00.000-04:00

The squirrels are readying themselves for Winter…

{taken two years ago, in November}

Time for a Giveaway…

2011-09-18T20:18:00.001-04:00

A very talented, lovely friend of mine, Amanda (who joins me on many forest photo shoots) is hosting a charity event in October (visit her website, Kickass Canadians.ca for all the details). I was asked to donate a photograph for the silent auction. Of course~ but which one should I choose?

I could just pick one that I love, but I want to know which one would be the most universally appealing (to both men and women, for instance). In exchange for your help, I am offering one of you the chance to win a free 8x10 print of your choice.

To enter, please stop by the shop, decide which print you think should go in the auction (ANY print from the shop, not just the ones in this post) and leave it in the comments here. That’s it! I will pick a winner next Sunday (Sept. 25).

Pinecone Cake

2011-09-17T18:40:00.001-04:00

Out in the woods the other day we were looking for some inspiration, so I started collecting pinecones. As soon as I noticed this tree stump, frosted with an even layer of bright green moss, I knew it would make a perfect pedestal for a natural assemblage. It even had a fern growing out of it. Thinking out loud, I said “It needs something in the centre.” To which my friend replied, “A chipmunk!”

It would have been perfect, but we couldn’t find any willing participants. :)

September

2011-09-11T21:59:00.001-04:00

Sometime, about halfway through the summer, I stopped carrying my camera every day. Maybe there were too many rainy days in a row, or maybe I just fell out of the habit, I’m not sure. This weekend was just as beautiful as this day last September, when I took these pictures:

It has felt like fall for almost a month; the mornings are cool, perfect for sweaters and sandals. the geese are flying south, and there has already been talk of Thanksgiving at the cottage.

Today I Saw….

2011-08-30T17:41:00.001-04:00

This year, August has had unusually cool weather. It feels more like fall around here, even more so with all of the turkeys I’ve seen lately. Early the other morning I spotted this foursome by the edge of a wooded area, and last week I saw a family of baby turkeys waddling across a busy road nearby.

On my morning commute yesterday, I saw these four turkeys again, but this time a doe and fawn were walking toward them (well, the fawn was awkwardly trotting, as young ones do). I also saw a fox running along the riverside bikepath~ probably the first time I’ve seen a fox in the city.

Caterpillars: Changes Already!

2011-08-21T16:49:00.001-04:00

What a difference a day makes. I had no idea it would happen so quickly, but about 24 hours after stringing itself to a branch, one of the caterpillars (#1) had transformed itself into this pupae.

We noticed it last night, right before going to bed and I was almost too excited to go to sleep.

I know it is meant to be camouflage, as it looks like part of the branch or a dried leaf, but it reminds me of so many other things. In the first photo, it looks reptilian, with patterned scales and knobby skin, and its shape even reminds me of a whale. In the second photo, it looks like it has ears, eyes and even a protruding nose; it reminds me of a Horned Owl. Do you see anything else?

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.
Author Unknown

Spiral Shells

2011-08-21T16:18:00.001-04:00

A few days ago I took some time out for myself and went for a walk down by the Ottawa River. I was in need of some reflective time, and I could have sat quietly by the water for hours. I collected some of the shells that had washed ashore , which I found to be just as meditative.

Actually, sorting and arranging them had a very calming effect on me. Looking at them all up close, I could see how they were all so different yet the same~ spirals.

I had been meaning to do more of this “Land Art.” It really does bring a new perspective to these little things all around us, that really are little works of art on their own.

It looked like someone had been there before me collecting things. These white stones were arranged in the shape of a heart.

A Caterpillar Update

2011-08-20T11:50:00.002-04:00

I’ve been caring for two Swallowtail caterpillars for almost a week now. They had been eating so much over the last few days that I had to buy more parsley at the supermarket; there is none left in our potted herb garden. Actually, one of them (#2) seemed to be doing most of the eating and had started wandering upwards, probably looking for a place to settle. The other smaller one (#1) had become more or less sedentary (my mum and I had a good laugh over that, as they are hardly energetic).
Yesterday afternoon I set up some new branches, hanging some from the lid of the container and others propped up more vertically. After a couple of hours I came by to check on them, and #1 had chosen a branch and was stringing itself up.
It is now hanging in a little harness made of silk. This is the pre-pupae stage, and apparently it should shed its skin in a couple of days.

Read about this stage HERE

Wordless Wednesday - Black-Eyed Susans

2011-08-17T09:38:00.001-04:00
Well, almost.

I took this photo last August, although I have no idea where. I found it while looking through archives and this one was all by itself.
How do you keep your photos organized?

Life in the Herb Garden

2011-08-14T16:05:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I discovered a couple of chubby caterpillars living in our parsley plants. I checked some of my books and online and I am fairly certain they are Black Swallowtails. A few weeks ago my husband had seen one in the yard, so it must have been laying eggs in our herb garden. Apparently the larvae and caterpillars prefer to feed off of plants in the dill and parsley family.

While I was searching online, I came across this blog post about keeping caterpillars in a container so that you can watch them as they change into butterflies. I hemmed and hawed about it for awhile (unsure of how I felt about interfering with nature) and finally decided to try it. It seems fairly simple and fool-proof, provided they have enough to eat.

So I got a breathable plastic container, furnished it with some branches and filled it with herbs.

I was laughing at myself the entire time.

I felt like a six-year-old, building a little habitat for bugs.

They seem to like it, though. They love to eat. And poop. That’s about it.

So now it’s just a waiting game.

If you are interested in knowing more about this, all of the life stages are described on this website.

Wordless Wednesday - Dragonfly on a Clothesline

2011-08-10T08:51:00.001-04:00

Weekend Colours

2011-08-07T20:45:00.001-04:00

There was a lot of blue in my weekend~ blue skies mostly, and some rainy day weather today. Also, there are baby Blue Jays in our backyard. Still begging for food from their parents, but flying all on their own. The evidence is below in this blurry photograph.

The cat looks all mellow and relaxed on the sun porch, but don't let that sweet exterior fool you. She was up late the night before, delivering her own brand of vigilante justice. The neighbourhood mice don’t stand a chance.

Other than laundry, cooking and cleaning, I set aside some time to paint this weekend too. I piled up all of my nature books (for inspiration and colour reference), dabbled a bit with my watercolour pencils, and noticed a lovely rainbow connection:

Wordless Wednesday - Fields

2011-08-03T20:17:00.002-04:00

Wisteria Blooming

2011-08-03T10:48:00.000-04:00

For the second time this year, the wisteria on our front porch is gracing us with more flowers. They are several shades of purple and smell like heavenly perfume. They were in full bloom when we moved in on June 1st, which was a lovely welcome, but I thought that would be it. Since then the vines have been spreading like wildfire and trying to climb in through the front door.

Any surprises in your garden?

Sunflowers

2011-08-02T22:35:00.001-04:00

The sunflowers are back at the farm. When I photographed them last year, I focused on the field as a whole. There were so many of them and I wanted to capture that sense of abundance.

This year I thought I would get closer (this is where I would love a macro lens) and pay attention to the little details: floppy yellow petals, prickly green leaves and unfurling bracts, and faces made up of hundreds of star-shaped stamens.



If you’re in the Ottawa area, you should stop by the Experimental Farm. I don’t know how long they will last, but there are two fields of sunflowers located on the corner of Baseline and Merivale.

SEE MAP

Arachnophobia

2011-08-02T20:49:00.001-04:00

As someone who loves insects and spiders, I find it hard to relate to people who are afraid of them, especially spiders. Spiders are one of the most beneficial insects, who keep to themselves more than any other I can think of, and yet they are the most feared by people all over the world.

I just don’t get it.

It became a little clearer this morning when I saw this specimen. Is it just me or does she have a human skull tattooed on her back?

{American House Spider}

Creeeeepy……..

Perfect Cottage Weather

2011-07-26T11:03:00.000-04:00

After a long week of sweltering summer heat, Saturday was spent at my best friend’s family cottage. There is no greater relief than swimming in a lake. We sat on the dock and dipped our toes in the water, ate watermelon and hunted dragonflies. And laughed a lot.

The most work I did all day was shucking corn and re-applying sunscreen.

Riley came swimming with us too. We gave him a couple of pool noodles to help him stay afloat. See more photos HERE.

That’s how I spent my weekend. What did you do to cool off?

In a Shady Spot

2011-07-24T11:42:00.000-04:00

Along with the many other plants and flowers in my ideal garden, I’d love to keep a shady spot for a collection of Fern varieties. They are wonderful for pulling together a floral bouquet, and for filling shady areas where other plants may not thrive. I think they are just so delicate and graceful on their own.

In particular, I’d love to have this variety somewhere in the garden. It’s a Necklace Fern, and discovering it in the Algonquin garden last summer really made me appreciate Ferns a little more. It' also inspired this photograph, as well as many others in my collection.

The Wetter, The Better

2011-07-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

We’ve had our share of extreme summer heat this week. At its hottest, it was 45 degrees with the humidity. So when my friend called me on Sunday for a last-minute stroll by the river, I jumped at the chance to dip my toes in the water.

We drove down to Westboro Beach with our cameras, but it quickly became apparent that we were about to have a thunderstorm. We spotted some older ducklings and their mum, stuffing themselves with whatever it is that ducklings graze in the sand for.

I’m surprised they didn’t fall over from eating so much~ look at those crops!

Within minutes, the winds picked up, the skies closed in and the river turned black. As the rain started to pour, we hightailed it back to the car, and just barely made it before getting soaked.

The ducks decided that wetter was better, and headed back out on the water.

{You may remember this song from your childhood, too.}

The Book is Finished!!!

2011-07-22T22:13:00.001-04:00

The Female Photographers of ETSY have been hard at work, putting together a collection of beautiful photography and publishing it into a book entitled Still: The Art of Living. The images in the book evoke a feeling of calm, capturing those everyday moments in our lives. I am so excited to have been included in this project, and SO thankful to those who put their heart and soul into it.

Please check it out. share the link if you like. And if you purchase a copy, I promise to autograph it for you! ;)

Buckeye Embroidery

2011-07-14T22:41:00.001-04:00

I finally finished the embroidery for my first pin! I bought these gorgeous hand cut wooden pieces on Etsy last October. I started stitching this little Buckeye butterfly over the winter (February, I think) and then it ended up on the backburner. Over the last week I have been putting aside a few moments here and there to work on it. All I have left to do is fasten it into the setting and put a pin on the back.

{what an actual Buckeye butterfly looks like}

Can you tell me what this flower is called?

The Little Things

2011-07-11T21:55:00.001-04:00

Last week I had one of those truly never-ending days, when everything seems to fall apart, and complaining feels like the easiest thing to do. I was letting off steam on the walk home, when my husband said, “Look, a butterfly.”

On the side of the road lay the remains of a tiny white butterfly, wings perfectly folded. My spirits lifted immediately~ a find like that is such a treasure, but also a reminder of the fleeting nature of life.

Nothing lasts forever.

Buttery Yellow Blooms

2011-07-04T22:13:00.001-04:00

These yellows remind me of corn on the cob with butter. Maybe because that’s what we had for dinner…

Yesterday we finally braved the heat and made it to the farm. We’ve been so busy, I missed out on the peonies and poppies, but I was just in time for the last few columbines. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen yellow foxglove before.

Oh, and the lilies have opened…

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T20:25:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we bought a flat of strawberries from the market. Three quarters of them are mashed and frozen, ready for making strawberry rhubarb jam in the fall. My husband made Strawberry Shortcake with the rest of them. Here is the recipe; make it if you get the chance. I think it would be great with raspberries too, which are starting to ripen in our backyard~ I can’t wait!

The weather couldn’t be more beautiful for Canada Day. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will and Kate) arrived in Canada yesterday, and today they are here in Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day. We will be staying close to home today, rather than braving the crowds downtown. I imagine they are bigger today than any other year!

Have a great Canada Day, and Happy 4th of July if you are in the US this weekend!

Opening in Stages

2011-06-23T21:37:00.001-04:00

Leaving the Nest

2011-06-22T22:29:00.001-04:00

We have a family of chickadees living in our backyard. Earlier this evening I heard a lot of peeping and chatter coming from the Juniper shrub. I peered through the branches and sure enough, there they were, collecting food and feeding babies. They’re fully feathered fledglings (say that 10 times fast) and it seems that it is the time of year for leaving the nest. Last week I was dive-bombed several times by a protective Red-Winged Blackbird. They must be especially vigilant once their babies start to wander from the safety of the nest.

The cats have a great view of all this activity.

Anyway, sorry for the grainy photos, but it was getting dark and the sky was already grey and gloomy. I have yet to improve my low-light skills :) Any tips would be great!

C

Rose Petals

2011-06-21T21:44:00.001-04:00

The other night I felt inspired to make use of the rose petals in your backyard before they all fell to the ground. I poked around online, looking for some recipes to inspire me. I found several jelly recipes (with rose petals or rose hips), and many other concoctions including tea, candy, honey, and butter. Being that it was a spur of the moment idea I only had one mason jar, so jelly would have to wait. I decided to dry a few rose petals to see how they turned out. At the very least they would be pretty, and I could try steeping a few with some black tea.

Most of the roses in our garden have a beautiful but fairly mild scent, as Explorer Roses are cultivated for hardiness, not fragrance. The one I chose to pick from was John Cabot. Within a few minutes I had collected almost 2 cups of petals, and barely made a dent in the bush.

In the kitchen, I trimmed off the white tips (which is bitter) and I spread them out on two baking sheets covered in parchment paper. They could also be dried on wire screens over several days, but in our house they would just get covered in cat hair. Most directions suggested baking them for 3 to 4 hours at 200F, but I found that 45 minutes was plenty to dry them out completely. I didn’t bother washing them because they are pesticide-free and I figured any bugs would perish in the oven.

After letting them cool, I put them in a glass jar to await a future purpose. I just love how the colour turned out~ they’re a deep jewel-toned magenta.

And oh yes~ happy first day of Summer! Here is the recipe for Mojito Sorbet. It turned out wonderfully (if a little large to fit in my ice cream maker) and it was a light, refreshing complement to our fajita feast. Don’t skip on adding the rum, because that’s what keeps it from freezing to a solid ice cube.

Hanging on

2011-06-20T15:12:00.000-04:00

These bean sprouts have been growing in a planter for a few weeks now. They seemed so small at first but now they are beginning to climb up the wooden stakes. I took the first photo around noon when this curly tendril caught my eye. I walked past the planter a few hours later, and the vine had already leaned over and wrapped itself around the pole.

How Zen it would have been to sit there and watch it happen. I must clear my schedule to make time for such things.

Violets

2011-06-20T11:13:00.000-04:00

I have so much love for this little flower. Beautiful colour, perfectly painted little faces, and a gracefully dainty little neck.

~xo

Bumblebees in the Garden

2011-06-19T11:07:00.000-04:00

Last week we had a big crop of irises growing in front of the rosebushes. I loved watching the bees as they collected pollen from the roses, but their approach with the irises was much more entertaining.

It was so funny to watch them crawl in head first with their little legs stretched out behind their fat little bums, and to emerge dusted with yellow pollen.

A couple of photo tips I learned from this:

Using Sport Mode to shoot moving insects (or animals) seemed to make a huge difference. The ones I shot with my regular settings were considerably more blurry.

When shooting a sequence of movements, consider composition more carefully (where possible). As I took these photos, I never occurred to me that I might want to put them together in a mosaic. It would have been more interesting if they were all from the same angle or from completely different angles (top, side, below, etc.)

Cats on the Windowsill

2011-06-18T22:37:00.001-04:00

I am long overdue for a trip to the farm; I fear I could be missing the roses, peonies and poppies. The weather has been beautiful, and at least I’ve been spending time outside and getting fresh air. Today I did a few walking errands and gave the dog a bath in the backyard. The cats have also been enjoying our deep windowsills, and today they spent some time basking out on the sun porch and relaxing in the cool breeze.

We’re also enjoying a lot of food with family this weekend. My brother cooked for us last night (lamb sausage wth tomato cream sauce and pasta) and tomorrow we’re celebrating Father’s Day with fajitas and mojito sorbet in the backyard. I haven’t used my ice cream churner for years; I’ll let you know how it works out!

Hope you’re having a great weekend! I’d love to hear about it~ leave a link in the comments if you’ve blogged about it.

C

Columbines

2011-06-13T22:39:00.001-04:00

These last few weeks I haven’t really spent much time blogging, taking pictures, or doing anything very creative, except cutting flowers. We’re just trying to settle in and work out our new routines. I have yet to set up my work room so that I can paint and do other crafts, but on Saturday I did spend a bit of time on the computer. I made a new dragonfly, inspired by the columbines that are popping up all over the back garden.

I’ve also noticed that my favourite field is full of dragonflies now (and probably butterflies too). Hopefully this week I will have time to take the camera on my first scout of the year.

National Parks Project

2011-06-08T23:36:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share a little piece of Canadiana with you.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada, and to celebrate it, a film and music collaboration was born. Inspired by our richly diverse landscape, filmmakers and musicians teamed up to create a series of beautiful, short films featuring forests, oceans, mountains and lakes. I won’t say too much, because I am still taking it all in and savouring it, but you should definitely check it out for yourself.

A friend of mine, Amanda Sage, wrote a great story about the founders of this project. Read the article on her website, Kickass Canadians.

Roses in Bloom

2011-06-08T23:20:00.001-04:00

Hello there! I haven’t been around here much because we have been busy moving and settling into a new house! We are so happy to have more space, and a beautiful garden. I haven’t had a lot of time (or energy) for many photo walks, but here is a little peek inside our backyard. We have several rosebushes, in which the chickadees seem to love hiding. The first one is a Yellow Rose of Texas, and the other two are Explorer Roses. They are Canadian varieties, bred for their winter-hardiness. Read more about them here.

What’s blooming in your garden right now?

Little World

2011-05-26T22:35:00.001-04:00

They go easily unnoticed, sometimes not much taller than the grass growing around them. It’s hard not to appreciate the marvel of their design; of their miniature petals and the fine lines delicately painted on their faces. Minimalism and complexity all wrapped up in a tiny little flower.

At the Cottage

2011-05-25T22:43:00.001-04:00

chirping birds   -   mosquito bites

canoe rides   -   rain falling on the water

complete darkness   -   noises in the night

faded family photos   -   Sixties décor

watching movies   -   cozy sweaters

We visited my family’s cottage over the long weekend, for one day overnight. Even though we knew it was going to rain, we needed a little time away from home together.

It is really close to the city; so close, in fact, that my brother stopped by because he was “in the neighbourhood.” This summer we plan to spend a lot more time there, and any other cottage we might get invited to :)

Under a Lilac Tree

2011-05-24T21:33:00.001-04:00

The rich scent of Lilacs is in the air. One of the true pleasures in life is pulling a fluffy handful of Lilac blossoms to your nose and taking in a slow, deep breath.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
~Anonymous

Enjoying the Tulips

2011-05-21T17:03:00.001-04:00

This is the closing week of the Ottawa Tulip Festival, and every year I feel guilty if I don’t mark it with my camera. They are all over the city, so there is no excuse to miss them. Today is supposed to be the only nice weather we will have for this holiday weekend, so it was now or never.

Reading this post on Georgianna’s blog got me thinking about different planting styles. I enjoy the dramatic symmetry of the displays along Dows Lake and Major’s Hill Park (lovely local photos here). However, I prefer tulips that are planted among other flowers; I feel it has a more intimate, natural look. The Experimental Farm mostly uses this naturally styled planting, and the bold displays are used sparingly.

Also, the lilacs are blooming. Enjoy them while they’re here. More photos of them soon :)

In the Pink

2011-05-17T22:41:00.001-04:00

The sky was very overcast today; I have to say it feels like Spring is over and Fall is here. It seems odd to be wearing my fleece jacket again, when only a week ago I had a bit of sunburn. At least the Apple Blossoms have opened up, they are the proof we need to reassure us that warmer days are indeed ahead.

This is one of the biggest fields of Apple Blossoms that I know of in the Ottawa area, by Lincoln Fields. They really do have quite a magical effect in large numbers.

Surprising Yourself

2011-05-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

Growing up, I always enjoyed painting. But like anything worthwhile, it requires patience and practice; neither of which I could commit to. For me, drawing was the hardest part, and I would give up before I could begin. It was easy to let myself believe that I wasn’t any good, resigned to the idea of “natural ability,” or lack thereof. I’ve decided, enough of that~ I may not be very good, but I never will be if I don’t do anything about it.

I wanted to draw a fox by a birch tree, and there were a few failed attempts. Instead of getting frustrated, I tried several approaches, until I could figure out what worked for me. And you know what? I actually surprised myself. I was really happy with how my initial drawing turned out. Duplicating it onto watercolour paper, however, was another story, but I started painting anyway.

It was fun~ a much better use of my evening than watching TV. And maybe I’ll get better.

Is there anything that you’ve always wanted to try, or wish you could improve on? What is holding you back from doing it?

Underfoot and Overhead

2011-05-13T22:22:00.001-04:00

{daffodils backlit by the sun}

{new growth on a winter-bare larch pine}

I noticed that the apple blossoms are starting to open today… I will be on the lookout for specimens to photograph :) Hope it doesn’t rain!

Wordless Wednesday - Sunlight Through the Trees

2011-05-11T11:05:00.001-04:00

A little too much sun…

2011-05-09T21:29:00.001-04:00

I had a lovely day off today~ a lunch with Mum, and then a walk through the Experimental Farm gardens with my husband. Spring flowers were out in full force; forsythia, daffodils, magnolias, cherry blossoms, and a few tulips were starting to open. {PS: The Tulip Festival is on here in Ottawa, from now until May 23rd.}

We weren’t out for too long, but I was definitely feeling the effects of the sun {read: a little drunk}. After months of sweaters, coats and scarves, I wasn’t ready for it. A reminder to always bring water and wear sunscreen!

FPoE Ambush~Shawna Cameron

2011-05-01T21:43:00.001-04:00

Every month we surprise a member of our team to lavish with attention. It’s a great way to help promote each other and show our support as a group. The person chosen for the month of May is the talented Shawna Cameron!

Her Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/shawnacameron
Her Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/shawnac/
Her Blog: shawnacameron.com/blog/
Her Website: www.shawnacameron.com/

Show her some love; if you have time to spare, check out her blog and her photo gallery. If you have some money to spend, or are looking for a great gift, buy something from her shop. This spring, Shawna will also be featuring her work at the Tulip Festival, as well as The New Art Festival (both here in Ottawa). Tell your friends, post it on your blog, spread the word!

Thank you!