Spring 2010- Now that's more like it!

I inherited from my French-Quebec mother a love of flowers and from my Japanese-BC father the appreciation of a well-groomed garden. Great combo you would think, but I also inherited from him a weak back which throws a wrench into my ambitious plans for making our grounds looking like Butchart Gardens. Or it slows things down considerably. Gardening may be bad for my back, but it does wonders for my head. Besides, summertime is too short to ignore garden nymphs, satyrs and... fat babies calls to come play outside.

Walking up to our house you will see our beautiful Magnolia. I'm planning to make a wreath with the cuttings this summer.

The side path leading to the back yard, flanked by a row of Hostas. When in full bloom, you feel like a bride (did not have that type of wedding). Look to the left, and look up.

Frodo frog the gate keeper. Pass the gate to the back/side kitchen door. Seeing the contrast in the brick, in the past, there must have been a mud-room connecting to this door.

Entering the back yard patio where we will soon set up the dinning table and BBQ. Weather permitting, we eat outside all summer long.

Around the corner to the other side of the house...

...the other back/side door, this one to the library, under the wraparound porch. This is where I restore my shutters in summer.

The budgies' first outing.

Spring feels soooo good.

The Attic

Well, at this time of the year in Eastern Canada it would be normal and lovely to show nature coming back to life... especially for Southern Ontario... especially for an avid gardener like me. But this weekend, we had snow, hail, freezing rain and strong winds. So instead, I will show you what symbolized my state of mind upon witnessing this insane weather - The Attic.

Trap door in the ceiling, don't mind the cobwebs.


Weird thing in the corner and weird things on the beams.

Weird thing in the background, no that's Brian looking for books. I had to take advantage of him going up, because I would have never gone up alone. I'm a notorious scaredy cat.

Coming back down, trying not to fall and break my neck.

I'm hopeful that my next post will be much prettier.

Central Foyer? Part III - Finally

This area is the smallest we've painted yet, but it took the longest. It was like pulling teeth. Brian's wisdom teeth (the roots were shaped like a tripod), but I digress. We've been so busy that we could only work on it on Sundays. Here is the foyer and the powder room finally painted. I love this yellow and I'm pleased to say that the Natura paint from Home Hardware performed really well on two coats of primer. The paint was true to colour, had excellent coverage and it dried fast. We still had to do two coats of yellow, but that is to be expected with any paint, as far as I'm concerned. We were quite surprised how well it covered after the first coat. There was almost no paint odour, but I did detect a faint peanut butter aroma.

Two thumbs up for HH Natura paint. I still have to finish the powder room with accessories, vent plaque, etc... but the worst is done.

Studio Vignette - Creature Comforts on Canvas

After the last post, several people asked for a clearer view of my paintings. So, I'm again departing from my usual house post to give you a closer look at my creature comforts on canvas. I'm thinking of starting a painting blog now...

Violet's Second Favorite Place

Samantha and the Sparkly Slipper

Wheenie, Eloise's Pug

Layla on Duncan Phyfe

Ziggy and the Zebra Coat

Studio Vignette (The Parlour)

I'm skipping Central foyer-Part III until the powder room is painted.

My studio is set up on the main floor, in the parlour, opposite the library. It has a north-western exposure, is very bright with four windows and is nice and spacious. I've placed my painting table in the bay window area which gives me plenty of natural light all the way to sundown. The pocket doors open up to the dining room. Both rooms have been designed to complement one other with their coordinating colours and wallpaper design, but have slight variations.

I painted this buffet 12 years ago; we were astounded how well it matches this room. The two paintings above are cherished family heirlooms from Brian's side. The two Japanese dolls in the buffet, behind the glass doors are my cherished family heirlooms.

I need to change the colour of the slipcovers and paint the coffee table - too white, but it will do for now. The wood burning fireplace is operational; it does not produce much heat, but it makes for nice ambiance in winter.

JOYEUSES PÂQUES!