the sun is out

spring has been on the calendar
for a month already.
but snow has an almost constant
visitor this month.
Today the sun is out. Spring is here.
the snow is working hard at becoming a mere memory.

even though we had a nasty weather-week, now
It's warm enough now to sit outside without shivering.

there were no posies for easter in Montreal

We had a lot of fresh snow
in time for Easter Weekend
here in montreal.

I knew you'd understand.

some Recent Updates

a few photos to update
you with my life.
Since the first of the month,
we've had fresh snow. Several times.
Here, you can see the
view from my hotel room
recently, in Quebec City.
it's four hours drive from my city. and they'd just
had 35 cm of fresh snow the day before my arrival.




For my birthday, i received some
lovely silk/cotton yarn, that i've been
making into a springtime scarf.
Perfect for those days when you don't need your
winter coat - yet it's cool enough to warrant
something with your Spring time coat.
Something other than a big Wooly scarf.



Last week, just before our most RECENT
snow fall, i bought myself this tiny pot
of daffodils, for my kitchen window sill.
A nice reminder of Spring.
Especially nice to look upon since we've had
over 12 cm of snow since then!

we have Marmelade

Marmelade.
Marmalade.
One is english & one is french. I can never
keep them straight. It doesn't matter though.

My guy made Marmelade this month.
it's fabulous and delicious.
So fresh & vibrant tasting.

this is too wonderful to keep to myself

"Now then, you of noble mind,
who love this profession,
come at once to art
and accept these precepts: enthusiasm
(love), reverence, obedience, and perseverance."

(Cennino Cennini, 1370-1440)

Marvellous book

I Love this book.
Do you know it ?
by Judith Viorst.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Einstein Coat

This is the fluffy, soft
wool/mohair yarn i am using
for my Einstein Coat.
Not much progress to show you,
but at least the coat has
been started. This will take a lot
of knitting before it's ready to wear.




I really want to finish a pair of socks soon.
Since it's still peak sock-wearing season,
i have such motivation.

domestic views from Canada

still lots & lots of snow outside.
But i'm fine with that. I don't want rain
or very high temperatures. I want it to melt
slowly.
Otherwise, we'll just have Lots of ice.
it's too cold at night not to have any rain
turn into glass.

tonight, we move our clocks ahead
one hour for the Earliest Daylight Savings Time
that Canada has ever had.

Today, i share with you some views from
my kitchen.


• A Bonne Maman jam jar makes an excellent
holder of English teabags. (Taylors of Harrogate)

• My "vat sized" mug for
times when i want an awful lot of tea.
I love the Cave Paintings on this mug.

• Finally, two chocolate delicacies from Italy.
Purchased at the lovely italian
shop at the end of my street. They turned out
to be chocolate Eggs inside.
A special for Easter Season!
yum.

italian views

worth sharing.

we had some snow

thank goodness i didn't have to shovel
anyone else's snow. our snow was enough.
See how small the Knitting companion looks
in all that snow !

Workshops at the Museum of Contemporary Arts

The museum
of contemporary arts, here in my city,
is holding workshops
for adults.
Have a look at this link.
Scroll down for "Creative Tuesdays".

I've signed up for a few of them.
My first one will be on March 13th.
I don't know what we'll be doing.
And it really doesn't matter right now.
I think i need some new stimulation.

what does friday look like ?

from my house,
friday looks like this:






New pen and new ink!
now, i need a little lesson in how
to fill up this charming new inkpen.



Early this morning, this was the view
from my studio window.

it's snowing.
And Snowing.
And snowing.
Totally normal for this part of the world
for the month of March. It was a marvellous
day not to have to drive anywhere.
time to go back outside
and shovel.
again.

postcard from Italy

some postcard views
from my brief time in Lovely Lucca.

I saw David

back home now.
i saw THE David.
it was amazing.
because this is an "Icon" of
modern art, i hadn't expected
to be blown away.
But i was.
The David was totally amazing.
Awe inspiring.

Truly a sculpture of beauty and grace.

Dream

"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you
become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day
be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall unveil."
(James Allen)

Kitchen view

sleepy guy ... who could blame him?

My fuzzy
Knitting Companion
and i like to relax together.
I get to knit, and he provides
me with warm hugs.
Nothing is like getting cuddly
with a dog.

Almost Christmas

Hello from Canada,

There has been a bit of creativity
going on.


There was some painting:




I thought i would do something
a little different this year...
I have used
some Sari Silk (Silks from India,
recycled into a "yarn", or so they say)
to tie my Christmas packages.




Made a spicey stew (soup? ) last night
for supper.
complete with chickpeas and lots of
chilipepper.
It's been ages & ages since
i've cooked the supper.
Glad to say this turned out
very well.

lots of Sleeping over here

Hello from Canada once again.
there's been lots of sleeping
going on here.
I've had bronchitis for a week.
It feels like months!
The fuzzy guy has been
most kind & understanding.
We've been sleeping most days.
Not being well
means Not creating.
Luckily for my tired
brain, i have some socks on the needles.
so at least my hands have been
able to do some knitting
lately.

Very far from the garden ....

Just back from SOFA Chicago & it was
totally marvellous.
I felt a lot like Alice, who had stepped
through the looking glass.
I am so lucky to have been there
to see "my" first SOFA.