Chocolate Brown Wellies!!

Whoohoo, after 24 years I bought a new pair of rubber boots!! Gorgeous chocolate brown Hunter wellies. I just love them!! I bought them online from the London Trading Post.

Today, they are my house shoes, while they are new and clean!

Me and my wellies relaxing at the computer! Sorry ladies, no red dress!

Mark ran in the Fire Fighters Ten Mile Road Race

On Monday May 19th, Mark and I got up at 4 am, and drove to Thunder Bay so he could run in the 75th Running of the Fire Fighters Ten Mile Road Race. It was Marks first 10 mile run.

Pre race jitters!

Working his way to the starting line!

One third of the way......

Almost done, just before the finish line. He came in 153rd, out of 565 runners. Not too shabby for a 53 year olds first ten mile race. Now he is training for the next one!

wasabi salmon

I know I know, these posts are a tad boring, but yet again I woke up to a treasury on the front page of Etsy! Exciting for me!

It is actually a warm sunny day here this morning. Time to get outside and into         the gardens. There is so much to do... we are leaving for a bit of a vacation tomorrow morning. We are heading to the family camp, on Manitoulin Island with our two dogs. I am hoping it is even a bit warmer there than here. It will be a treat to get away, and then a huge rush to get all the gardens done when we get home.

my mind's a little rusty.....

So exciting to once again wake up to one of my treasuries on Etsy making the front page during the night!  This one is a beauty, but then again I think that of every collection I build.

Let's hope by the time this list expires that some of the items will sell.

snow clouds in the sand...

I woke up early this morning, yes thanks to my cat again..., to find that once again one of my treasuries graced the front page of Etsy during the night. It is always a thrill. This is a collection of Canadian work, gorgeous pieces.

I have been lucky to have had so many up! Let's hope more pieces sell before this collection expires tomorrow morning.

Wooden Ice......

Yesterday I spent most of the day reaming freshwater pearls, I am slow at it. The holes were small and I wanted them to fit on my copper head pins. I had two wooden toggle buttons in my button bag, from one of the wool sweaters I used in my weaving process. I had been thinking about a way to use these buttons for awhile.  An idea came to me two nights ago, and I am very pleased to say, it worked. I combined light pale blue freshwater pearls, with sandalwood beads, and copper. I think it is earthy elegant.

I listed it in my Etsy shop this afternoon! You can see more photos of it there.

Saskatoon Berries

One of my treasuries on Etsy graced the front page very early this morning. This collection in particular, was very special to me. It was filled with Canadian Etsy artisans work.  In my opinion it was one of my most spectacular lists.

So, here I am up way past my bedtime waiting for the treasury to open up once again. Not sure if I will make it, I am very tired. 

It is a rainy cool night, not the nicest start to the long weekend. I do hope it warms up soon.

Mark is going to run in the 10 mile road race in the city early Monday morning. We will have to get up at 4 am to leave here, to be there on time. I think he will be at a disadvantage to the other runners. 

Pretty Pearls and Copper

I have been enjoying working with copper lately. I do love the elongated copper kidney wires. Their earthiness works very well with pearls, another of my favourites to work with.

I made this pretty pair of earrings last night, and tomorrow morning will list them in my Etsy shop.

Pasque Flowers

To my delight my favourite spring flower is blooming in one of my flower beds! The hardy little Pasque flower. This must be a sign, warmer weather will come sometime soon? As Mark pointed out, others brag about their spring flowers, delicate little plants. The Pasque has thick furry stems, to protect it from the cold!

It is a welcome sight!

Close up!

Recycled Basket Weaving Workshop

I taught a basket weaving workshop with children for the first time in many many years, today. I will admit I really over prepared, I spent too many hours working on prep for it. So, when the day was done, I felt let down. It was however a big success. It is just my sensitive artist self showing its face. We used cardboard strips for the reed, and recycled shrink wrap for the weavers.

                                            

                         

          

                    

Because of children's privacy laws, I was only allowed to take photos of their working hands. Their working hands say it all anyway, they were busy, and for the most part they enjoyed themselves. The photos are just a few examples of the beautiful baskets the children wove.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to every mom, step mom, grandma, aunt, mom to little furry friends......

It  was a good day here! Mark and I drove to Nipigon to meet my mom, sister and brother in law for lunch. They were on their way to the city. My mom has been staying with my sister since her surgery, almost two weeks ago. It was nice to see them, and to visit with them. My sister looks great, though you can see she is in pain, and not very comfortable. She needs to heal, before she starts her treatment.

I made my mom a necklace yesterday, pearls, jade and             

lampwork beads from Gillianbeads. I love the way it turned out, it is gorgeous. I was able to give it to my mom at lunch.

We did drive through rain and snow this morning, yuck. There was snow sticking on the ground in Nipigon, and it snowed quite heavy on our way home.

Tomorrow is my big day of basket weaving with the students at St. Martins. I am a little nervous, but after a dry run yesterday with a couple of friends I do know it is works. I have a little more prep work tonight, then will be ready to go late tomorrow morning. I will post tomorrow night, about how the day went. I hope the kids will love it, even if it is used cardboard and plastic.

Green Toys

I woke up this morning to find my treasury of gorgeous green, handmade toys on the front page of Etsy! Always a thrill and honour. Four of these little beauties sold, which is just fantastic!!

Buckle up

To my excitement one of my treasuries made the front page on Etsy this evening! Mark and I were out but got home just in the nick of time, I got to see it up there. Two pieces from it sold today, I am always hoping for a lot of sales in my collections. It dismays me a little  when not many of the selected artisans do not post on the treasury, so I do not know if they have seen their work up.

This is a collection of some of the many beautiful belt buckles sold on Etsy. There sure are some gorgeous pieces!

It is chilly again tonight, they are calling for snow, but I don't think it will. It is not quite as cold as last night but it is cold out there. It was sure a cold day here today, Hat and gloves kind of day with a warm jacket. 

Now be sure to check out Etsy for belt buckles!!

 

Snow in May

I was just getting ready to turn in for the night, went to the back to check on the dogs, and there were the biggest fattest flakes of snow falling. I had just posted earlier this evening about wanting warmer spring weather. I can see my breath out there, brrr. This is discouraging!

It sure didn;t take long for this snow to start staying on the ground and on the greenhouse.

Big fat snowflakes in the dark of night!

Looking For Spring Warmth & Avocado and Corn Salad Recipe

Wow, we have the hint of a warm spring day and then bang, winter is back, snow on the weekend. Yuck. I am so craving warm weather. I just tried sitting on the back step to work on a recycled basket,I had to come back in, feels as though you could see your breath. My workshop is on May 12th. I have also decided to post a step by step of this basket on here, once i get all the photos taken. I know when I searched online, I did not find much, so I will share this little piece of my knowledge. A very simple, cardboard and plastic basket. Hopefully I will have it up some time this coming week.

The grocery store had bags of avocados on sale this week, and of course they all ripened at the same time. I made this old favourite salad for dinner tonight, I served it with a simple sloppy joe. It was delicious!

Avocado Corn Salad

2 servings

1 cup corn

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. water

1 tsp. cumin

1 pinch of red pepper flakes

1 avocado

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 red bell pepper

2 tbsp. minced onion, red if you have some

salt

1 dash hot sauce

1. In a large skillet, add corn, oil, water, cumin and red pepper flakes.

2. Over medium heat, cook, covered for 5 minutes, then uncover and cook for a few minutes to evaporate excess moisture.

3. Set skillet aside to cool.

4. Slice the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit.

5. Peel the avocado and cut into 1/2" pieces and place in a large bowl.

6. Add lemon juice and stir.

7. Chop pepper into 1/2" pieces.

8. Add onion and corn and stir.

9. Add salt and hot pepper sauce to taste.

10.  Combine well, serve and enjoy!!

Happy May Day & My Favourite Bread Pudding Recipe!!

Wow, a new month, new beginnings... let's hope spring is here to stay. It is a little warm out today, whoohoo!!

I discovered this bread pudding a while ago. It has become the only one I use now. It is from The Foster's Market Cookbook, by Sara Foster. It is a favourite cookbook, I use it a lot.

Say's Bread Pudding 

12 tbsp.(1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted

3/4 cup, firmly packed brown sugar

9 cups cubed bread

4 cups milk

5 large eggs

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tbsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup raisins (I use dried cherries, blueberries and or cranberries)

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Brush a 9" x 13" glass baking dish with 4 tbsp. of the melted butter. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the bottom of the dish and set aside.

3. Place cubed bread into a large bowl. Pour the milk over the bread and let stand for 4-5 minutes, or until bread is soft.

4. Combine eggs, granulated sugar, remaining butter, and vanilla in a separate bowl and whisk together until blended.

5. Pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture: add the dried fruit and stir to mix.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, cover, and bake 50 to 60 minutes. Uncover, return to the oven, and continue to bake for 10 to 15 minutes , until the pudding is puffy and golden brown.

7. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

The recipe also makes Bourbon icing to serve over, but I do not think it is necessary. I have never made it, I love the pudding on its own.

Serves 10 to 12.