Leaving

This song was one of our children's favourites. It was one among the folksy repertoire that the Professor sang to them at bedtime. I always found it a tear- jerker, and profoundly sad, which is unusual, as I am mostly accused of preferring the beat over the lyrics. Today it's my theme song.


I'll be back again soon, and if I have air waves, I may get a few posts off from Maine. I may be too busy eating lobster and picking blueberries, but you can keep playing the song for a bit. It's an oldie but a goodie.

Tiiimmmmmmbbbeeeerrrrrrr

Our neighbour needed a badly listing tree to be taken down. It was either that or pay the insurance if the old lanky pine ever fell over in a wind storm and onto one of our cars. After many sleepless nights she decided that it would be okay if a few of the neighbours helped out and used their ever handy buzz saw to get the deed done. Derek wants to be called a lumberjack. The Professor is afraid of heights. THIS is a photo op!

Lumberjack Derek climbs the tree

Think this is high enough

Evelyn anchors one of the ropes

The Professor calls the command to start the cut

Timber...tree down and everyone so pleased they are still alive..notice the job of photographer was on the opposite side of the falling zone :)


Bigger than it looks ....lots of trimming and tidying up to do.

Normally we are totally against the removal of innocent trees, but this one was quite brittle and when it started listing towards our driveway, the owner wanted it down before it caused major damage. She was delighted upon returning home from work to find it all removed. The hardest part ended up being the removal of the root. All done now. Well done neighbours!!!

A strange Tea Party

If you wish to follow my obsession.....

A snipped of Martin Short as the Mad Hatter

Alice in Wonderland - One

I'm Late!!!

Lately, I'm fixated with Alice in Wonderland. I'm cobbling things together to do a project. This says it all....off to the country for a week........see you soon

Notice anything different?

I'm taking lessons. Stay tuned, this could take a while!

Foreign Films

Friday evening and the Professor is out...time for subtitled films. Came across this one in my favourite foreign film section. I had not been aware of Séraphine before.



Séraphine Louis

Technical Difficulties

Discussion about having the comment " word verification" feature has recently led to several of us disabling that feature. Who knew Carmi would not leave comments on other people's blogs that require the word verification, so we'll see if this works. I'm not sure why this unscrambling is an impediment for some, I sort of get a kick out of the messed up 'words'. Sometimes, in a very crazy way, they even seem phonetically pertinent to the subject matter at hand. I'll be expecting lots of comments now Carmi!:)

Well, Marissa and I followed the leader. Then again, Marissa has suddenly left town, on a teeny tiny airline which sports a raccoon mascot.

For those of you who want to disable your "word verification" (and presumably have Carmi commenting), go to Settings>Comments>Show word verification for comments> and hit the NO circle. I'll do this until I get a comment from Carmi with each new posting or annoying spam, whichever comes first. I think I remember putting it on there because of an anonymous ad for a flower shop which kept showing up!

With regards to the picture of the tea bag.....what other picture could I find to appear in my sidebar to please Sharon? While you are in there disabling your word scramble, make sure all the boxes are ticked off in your Layout>Configure Blog List> setting. {No pictures show up if you only have a video in your post}...is that the question?

Just came to me...comment...constant comment...tea bags..don't ask, it's how my mind works.

P.S. I plan to continue my daft 'constant comments' no matter what format your blog takes, I'm just like that!

Japanese Stab Book Binding Class

Another great Sunday afternoon spent learning a new technique with some of my favourite friends....

The Projects



The Class

Ludgera working at her usual warp speed...hard to keep in focus :) Who in her spare time pours bronze statue casts...

Katie who is not allowed to run with scissors, because she is an Indian Princess maiden and now my sister
Juliet, another perfect speedy gonzales, but very patient and helpful...she has to be because her other job is sewing the dinosaur costumes back together after a day with kids in them at the ROM
Christine makes me laugh!
Susan threading needles, probably to tie up brown paper packages
Kimberly ...best arms in town, and the cutest smile
Barb and Tony...... the tool guy, coincidentally owners of the shop
Judy Ross (2nd. from left) our instructor from Phoenix, Arizona and a few of the other participants

The technique. Mostly so that I will personally remember how to do this if I ever get around to making another book...when I finish the one I started here.

Happy Canada Day

Ten Little Buttons

How to sew on a button

I finally got around to sewing on the vintage buttons I purchased in New York. Well, I got one jacket completed and have another to go, but the buttons are in motion. They are not the buttons pictured above, mine are yellow..but still vintage. To photograph them would require me getting out the camera. I am now in love with vintage buttons.

While I was rooting around in my "Pins and Needles" Iris case, I came across this article that I had cut out of the newspaper many years ago. It is particularly helpful when sewing buttons on jackets. Click on the image to read the fine print.



I wish I knew what the other 11 hints in the 12 part series were. Happy sewing.

I HAD to do it!

This is a completely shameful photo op...but hey! It's news.

Click on the picture...just like the ads on t.v.! You have to admit he looks just like the little guy on the package :)

June 27, 2009

On a beach somewhat like this..Happy Wedding Day..
Congratulations Lesley Jane and Tom

Paint the sky with stars

Let's stay with Enya for a bit....it's too hot to move and I'm too uninspired today to think. It's a bit of a sad time right now, this is fitting.


Suddenly before my eyes
Hues of indigo arise
With them how my spirit sighs
Paint the sky with stars

Only night will ever know
Why the heavens never show
All the dreams there are to know
Paint the sky with stars

Who has paced the midnight sky?
So a spirit has to fly
As the heavens seem so far
Now who will paint the midnight star?
Night has brought to those who sleep
Only dreams they cannot keep
I have legends in the deep
Paint the sky with stars

Who has paced the midnight sky?
So a spirit has to fly
As the heavens seem so far
Now who will paint the midnight star?
Place a name upon the night
One to set your heart alight
And to make the darkness bright
Paint the sky with stars.

For my girl today who is so sad and missing MJ.

Marble Halls

Pre-Raphaelite art is one of my favourite genres. How amazing to see this slide show on this totally appropriate musical video. As you can see, this is a musical sort of week. This lilt by Enya captivates me.


I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls
with vassals and serfs at my side,
and of all who assembled within those walls
that I was the hope and the pride.
I had riches all too great to count
and a high ancestral name.
But I also dreamt which pleased me most
that you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.

I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,
that knights upon bended knee
and with vows no maiden's heart could withstand,
they pledged their faith to me.
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
came forth my hand to claim.
But I also dreamt which charmed me most
that you loved me still the same
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.
The Professor's cousin has some of his prints on loan to this exhibit in London, England. How I wish I were there now.
Waterhouse Exhibit London

Musical Inspiration

This is an amazing group. I love the "simulated" storm. The title of the video is Stimulating a storm...hope not, I'm enjoying this wonderfully sunny day here! Make sure your speakers are up for the first part...it starts out softly!



Those shining faces just make me so happy! What a glorious group. KABOOM!



Hat Tip: Many thanks Gigi!

Mosaic Tile Class

Yesterday, Irenka and I returned to "Wise Daughters Craft Market" to grout our mosaic tile mirrors. This is our adorable teacher Karen Jones. She is such a great, patient and knowledgeable instructor and we all just loved this class. It's really mesmerizing!


Frances' hand working on her grouting

Trying to incorporate the shop sign in with our finished mirrors..mirror faces

Happy campers

On the Fire Escape

ALLLLL Done!

The Cutest Apron in the world!
Now I need to know how to make one!
MARTHA???????????

The end.

Until we make cement birdbaths! Stay tuned. Wise Daughters Workshops

Good Reading

The Other Queen
I'm loving this book at the moment. It's written in narrative form. Easy to pick up and hard to put down. Just a suggestion for a good summer read. I'm loving getting back to Philippa Gregory and have quite a pile of her historical novels for the months ahead. Warning....highly addictive.

Photo Credit: bookworms.sapo.pt/.../the-other-queen/readers

Artful Sheep

I suppose this is what happens when shepherds have too much time on their hands. This must have taken quite some time to pull off.

Artful sheep
Enjoy this wonderfully funny video.