Lens Artist Challenge #57 – Taking a Break

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Travels and Trifles for hosting this week’s Lens Artist Challenge

Last week my daughters and I took a break from city life and spent four days at the cottage with our dogs. Frances (my dog) and Olive get along very well despite the large age difference (10 years). I’m very much a water person and love living by large bodies of water, both at home and the cottage. The cottage is on Christian Island in Georgian Bay which is part of Lake Huron. We had a wonderful time swimming, playing with the dogs and trying to put together an impossible 1000 piece puzzle of the moon.

During our stay these two lovely ladies put together the new barbecue while I read the instructions. After it was completed Josie made us a fabulous dinner on the barbecue. I do all my cooking outdoors when I’m at the cottage. Great food, lots of wine and spirits (but not too much) and time spent with friends and family; I can’t imagine a better way to ‘take a break’.

When it was all over Frances needed ‘a break’ from all that running and playing on the beach. She is after all 12 1/2.

A Week of the Blues

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Becky B for hosting the month long challenge, July Blues

I’ve been off and on to the cottage this month and it makes it difficult to post daily because I have no electricity or internet access. So I’ve saved up a batch of blue photos to share with you. The challenge is now over but Becky has compiled a gallery of blue photos that she’s worked hard to put together. Go check it out.

Sidewalk Cracks Art #4

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks to Carla Sonheim for the sidewalk cracks

Sidewalk Cracks – Art Piece #2

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….my imaginary fish

Back into Collage

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…another art project for the soul

Randomly gluing down bits of paper and then adding some marks is another very restorative way of making art. It started off as a way to patch up some pages in a sketchbook that I want to start using again. I took out pages that I didn’t like and discovered that I had to reinforce the front of the book if I didn’t want it to fall apart. Collaging the double spread with colourful bits of paper did the trick.

Art for the Soul

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….after a very long hiatus

It seems like I haven’t made art for a long time. I feel like I want to do too much and something has to go by the wayside. Unfortunately that something has been my art. Currently I’ve been very busy with baking bread twice a week at Montgomery’s Inn, lawn bowling two nights a week, taking ukulele lessons and trying to practise between lessons, going downtown to the Women’s Art Association of Canada to work in the library and trying to get up to the cottage on weekends.

My father tries to be as independent as possible but there are times that I need to drive him to doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping and the bank. Fortunately my neighbour has returned from the hospital and I no longer have to go next door to feed her cat every day. I did that for seven weeks.

This weekend I stayed home to spend more time with my husband. Unfortunately our plans to go out together didn’t pan out because he came down with a bad head cold. I am very grateful to our daughter and daughter-in-law who invited me to go to the art gallery today. It was a fun afternoon. I’ll tell you more about that in another post.

On Friday, I opened my sketchbook and took a line drawing that I started earlier in the week and filled it in with colour. It was very therapeutic.

I Can’t Believe She Ate the Whole Thing

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….it seems that my granddaughter is going through a growth spurt

I was blessed this weekend to have my daughter and granddaughter stay with us for the weekend. On Friday they will be moving to the summer camp that my son-in-law is in charge of and unless I go up there during the summer there’s little chance of seeing them for the next two months. Hopefully I will find the time to drive up and spend a day or two, here and there over the summer months.

So this weekend was very special to me. We started the day with lunch on the deck and Winnie enjoyed a sandwich, juice and strawberries. She discovered that dipping strawberries into almond butter made for a tasty treat.

After lunch Mommy left to visit a friend for a couple of hours so Winnie and I walked up to the Lakeshore where a grilled cheese festival was taking place. Before we got there she was already declaring that she was hungry again so the first thing we did was purchase a grilled cheese sandwich. She didn’t eat it all but she did want to take it home (which she finished later). Then we went to the yarn store and the owner kindly offered both of us a drink of juice with ‘strawberries’ in it. Of course Winnie loved it.

When we left the yarn store Winnie once again said she was hungry so we headed towards the ice-cream store. She ordered a ‘strawberry’ cone and I had a cup of ‘sweet cream’. Her cone had a very generous scoop of ice-cream for a kiddie cone but she had no problem finishing the whole thing.

In between all the treats Winnie bounced around in the Bouncy Castle and played several games where she earned some coupons for a few small prizes. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon that I will always cherish.

The Garden is Taking Shape

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….unlike other years this one is in before July

When I was working our garden sometimes didn’t get planted until the end of June or later. This year, thanks to a burst of energy, my husband was eager to get the seeds and plants in for his vegetable boxes. I’m in charge of the flowers.

The weather has finally shifted and it’s been comfortable enough to work outside in the garden. The soil is no longer swimming in water and is finally dry enough for planting. The family who cuts our grass also seeded it a few weeks ago and it’s looking very lush and healthy. Two evenings this week it’s been warm enough to eat supper on the deck and I’ve been enjoying my morning coffee outside.

Today’s dinner started with this amazing burrata, roasted peaches, prosciutto, tomato and arugula salad.

The main course was a mussel, shrimp, halibut and chorizo stew.

What to do With Old Paint Brushes

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….I’ve been meaning to write about this for awhile now

Back in February or March I received a request to donate old unwanted paint brushes, spools of thread and old frames to the Women’s Art Association of Canada. A couple of very creative women had come up with an idea of how to use them as decorations for a major fundraiser that ran over 5 days in April.

I managed to attend the first evening and was delighted to see how Janet and Deniz had used the old brushes. Here are a few of their creations.

Sure Signs of Spring

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….despite the unseasonably cold and blustery weather

Yesterday I saw my first robin. Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera or phone handy so I didn’t a picture. However, earlier in the day I did see and photography the following signs of spring.

In Germany they are definitely basking in the warmth of spring. Earlier today my cousin sent me photos of the family and they are actually having a meal in an outdoor cafe. The gentleman in the photo is my uncle, my father’s younger brother.