Scribble Picnic - Books

Welcome to Michael's Scribble Picnic! The theme this week is 'Books' and here is my piece on cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2"). I used my permanent dual tip markers. I love the way they are absorbed into the paper, leaving well-defined colour. I used a darker pink watercolour pencil on the orchid to give it more emphasis. It sort of looks like the bottle of wine is being drunk without a glass there, my mistake!

Lucky Friend

I was out for a rainy walk one morning and thought these honeysuckle blossoms looked so beautiful!  You can see the raindrops on the leaves in the second photo.  They have already changed so much just a week later.

In other news, a girlfriend won close to $10,000 in a radio contest yesterday, she had to identify a weird sound, and of course she had to get through on the phone line.

At Disneyworld

Two of my sisters were recently in Orlando, Florida for a high school reunion. They sent me this photo taken at Disneyworld, I thought I would share with you!

Sunday Sketches - Dandelion on the Rocks

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! This is a dandelion piece I did from a photo I took. I know some of you actually like dandelions! It's done in acrylic on brown cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2").

Sooner rather than later

The lilac trees are blooming everywhere! I may paint my photo above.

My daughter's friend recently experienced the loss of her boyfriend's father in his early fifties. She is a frugal person at 25 years old, works long days in a good job and is debt free. She experienced an epiphany of sorts. She thought, what's the point of working herself to death and wasting her life when it could be gone in moment. As a result she is taking as much time off and vacation that she can and has decided to do more travelling now rather than later. Maybe she is right, usually people in their fifties have these thoughts, so she is well ahead in her thinking.

Another friend of my daughter's recently quit his job at 30 years old after working for many years, to stay at home with his young children. His wife has a good job making a lot more money and he felt it was the best decision for his growing family. Could this be a trend for the younger generation, seeking quality of life sooner rather than later?

Paint Party Friday - Over the Fence

This piece is based on a photo I took looking up and over a neighbourhood fence. I loved all the spring colour in the scene, complete with blue skies and clouds. It's done with my permanent colouring markers on good quality (8 1/2" x 11") white paper. Happy Paint Party Friday!

Farm fresh asparagus

The other day, my friend S brought me some asparagus from her sister's farm. I roasted them with some olive oil, it just takes about 8 minutes in the oven.

New Colouring Markers

I gave in and bought these new permanent colouring markers. I already had one set of 12 essential colours, and added 3 more packs to make 48 colours in total, I have already started using them!

Wall Mural

We went for some ice cream at the local Dairy Queen and saw this beautiful mural on their wall. We had heard that their ice cream is made from ice milk, but after tasting it we decided it's not the case. Their vanilla cone has more fat than a McDonald's cone and of course Ikea cones are no fat, just yogurt ice cream.

Aubretia in Bloom

Aubretia in bloom

Last week we got a letter in the mail informing us of the passing of some old neighbours from a previous neighbourhood where we used to live. The elderly couple passed away last year within 6 months of each other.  We had continued exchanging Christmas cards for the past 20 years, sad.  It was nice of their daughter (daughter in law?) to inform us.

Frills

This 'Feminine Frills' piece is done on good quality (8 1/2" x 11") heavy paper using my permanent sketch markers.  It was inspired by a dress I saw in the newspaper, I was attracted to the frills.  Alexandra is away and is no doubt unable to host Sunday Sketches this week.

Fish Chowder

I overbaked some haddock fish the other day, and nobody ate it. I decided to make some fish chowder with it, and it wasn't too bad.  It was comforting and healthy tasting.  The fish flaked into small pieces, so you could appreciate the flavour in spite of it being overcooked.   I added some baby spinach leaves, carrots and leftover potatoes along with a can of coconut milk, water, some turmeric and some basil.  Here's the recipe:

1 can coconut milk

leftover fish cut into bite sized pieces

2 c water

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp turmeric

leftover baby spinach leaves

leftover potatoes

2 med carrots diced

1 onion chopped

3 tbs olive oil

1 tbs butter or margarine

It's a great way to use leftover fish, over baked or otherwise...

Cut fish into bite sized pieces.

Cook onion, carrots in olive oil and butter until onion is tender.  Add fish, cooked potatoes, baby spinach leaves, basil, turmeric, coconut milk, water.  Simmer covered 15 minutes.

Paint Party Friday - Tulips

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! These tulips were done on an index card (3" x 5") using brush markers and watercolour pencils, outlined with a fine point black pen.  Do you think the weather's clearing up, or is it becoming overcast?  There is a bit of sun shining on the tulips and casting shadows!

We are having our first long weekend of the summer, the Victoria Day weekend.

An old friend

cigarette disposal

Apparently they have a lot of these cigarette disposal containers on the public streets, it's the first I've noticed them, probably because I don't smoke.

I was at the grocery store the other day and ran into an old co-worker.  I hadn't seen him in 17 years.  He was surprised that I still recognized him, then he called me by name so he remembered me too.  He looked the same, his hair had a touch of grey and might have started receding slightly.  It was great to catch up.  He is still working at my old company.

Have you ever run into people from your past, how did it go?

Dollar Drink Days

It's that time of year again, McDonald's restaurants are having their dollar drink days all summer. I got this medium iced coffee, and recently found out they have a sugar free option which is great.  I missed my departed mom that day as we used to hang out at McDonald's quite often.  But she is in a better place for her now.

McDonald's also has a delicious frozen lemonade for a dollar. However that one has a lot of sugar I'm sure.

A Healthy Nobake Dessert

Daughter L made this nobake chocolate peanut butter crunch bars from a recipe she found on Pinterest. She said it was so easy to make in that you just microwave the ingredients and chill them in the refrigerator. I had to share this with you.

Avocado on Toast

A girlfriend told me how delicious and healthy avocado on toast is. She just mashes the avocado and adds a bit of salt, pepper and cumin. I finally got around to trying it and it was indeed scrumptious! It was also very filling. What's your favourite way to have avocado?

I saw the movie 'The Founder' recently. It's a good movie, but not a 'feel good' movie. It left me with a lot of questions on how I felt about the outcome, the pros, the cons... it is the story of the founder of McDonald's restaurants as we know it today.

Sunday Sketches - Art Boxes

I decorated these boxes with prints of some art I did awhile back and thought I would show them today for Sunday Sketches.  Happy Mother's Day! My mom is no longer with us but is in our thoughts today.

The facial mask

Mask of Magnaminty

Ingredients

My daughter convinced me to try her new facial mask the other day. It makes you look like a green monster for 5 - 10 minutes. Then you wash it off with warm water. My face did feel extra smooth and moisturized afterward.

Paint Party Friday - Coasters and Cards

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I wanted to show you some coasters and square flat cards I had made up from a rose painting I did.  I am showing the front and back of the square card in the second photo.  There were 4 coasters but my daughter was already using one!

Mexican Hot Sauce

Mexican hot sauce

Tortilla Strips

I found this Mexican hot sauce (Valentina) a our local grocery store. We had brought a bottle home from Mexico last year, imagine that! Our grocery also sells these tortilla strips, perfect for making tortilla soup if I ever get around to it!

Scribble Picnic - Potted Plant

Welcome to Scribble Picnic! Here is my 'potted plant' piece for this week's theme. I went with potted lavender in the window. It's done on an index card (3" x 5") in acrylic, finepoint marker and pencil.  Adding depth to the window frame was the challenge in this piece.

The Unpredictable

Crabapple Blossoms

Husband M and I went on a rainy day to get all of our passports renewed. We were lucky and it only took an hour. I asked the young lady at the kiosk how she felt about the news that the government had plans to update the security in her office to be ready for such things as terror attacks. She said she didn't care, felt safe enough and didn't see the point of worrying about the unpredictable.

I noticed she was wearing an apple watch. It seems to be a popular device being embraced by many people. She said she would definitely recommend it. Being a student, she found it very helpful in class, as opposed to having to reach for her phone from time to time. It made me think that if I got one, I would have to wear it on my right, non dominant hand so I could use it.  I have no plans to get one.

On Artificial Intelligence

I happened upon this Artificial Intelligence display by Audi, the car company the other day at a shopping mall. I signed up for a demonstration and was given this Ipad to walk around the platform with. I was able to select the model of car and the colour that I would like to see projected on the screen as I walked by the white sensors pictured on the platform in the photo. It gave me a sense of what Artificial Intelligence is at these early stages of the technology.  I was able to see an image of the car from above, behind, even look inside it as I walked around the platform.

In other news, the weather went quite cold on the weekend, I went for a walk with my friend S, we were in our winter coats although we didn't quite need gloves!

Sunday Sketches - Jabot

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! I saw a photo of this Jabot and was inspired to draw it. It is an early form of the necktie and it is so beautiful, I wish it would make a comeback perhaps in formal dress. The piece is done on an index card (3" x 5") in water soluble brush markers.

Birthday Cakes

Daughter L made this red velvet birthday cake for son K's April birthday when he turned 22.  It was so good.

We got these little cakes to celebrate L's 25th April birthday.

L also hosted a big party with her friends and made these lovely cupcakes for them all:

Paint Party Friday - Rose

For Paint Party Friday, I did this rose piece on textured cardstock (6" x 6") inspired by a photo I saw.  It came together very quickly and I used some inexpensive new water based brush markers I picked up impulsively.  

Spring has Sprung

Finally, it is time for all the trees to sprout leaves and even flower. There are a lot of magnolia trees in the neighbourhood and it is a delight to photograph them.

Scribble Picnic - Door

Welcome to Scribble Picnic! This is my piece for Michael's 'Door' theme this week. It's done with brush markers and coloured in with watercolour pencil on good quality textured ochre cardstock (6" x 6").  I love doors don't you?

Goose Atop Car

I saw this goose on top of a car the other day, usually they just sit on the ground. But we are building and destroying their natural habitat, where are they to go?

RFID shield

We took passport photos recently at Costco and they included these complimentary RFID passport shields. They would protect the passport information from being stolen by passersby. Do you think you would use them?