A "Victoria Day" in the Garden, 2015

Relaxing in the shade by the plum tree, with the cliffs being a spectacular view.

Steve and I spent Victoria Day working and playing in the garden, we were very sore by the end of that beautiful day.

Mattie camouflaged in the sun.

Hosta of brilliance with dying tulips.

Bells hang from the porch.

Just stopped to chit chat and chit chat, chit chat and chit chat.

Steve concentrating on taking off the curled leaves that have a fungus on them, common to peach trees.

Cool place to sit and read beside the plum tree.

Karen taking a brake from planting.

Strawberries, patiently waiting for the first bit.

Peony.

Taking 2014 into 2015

Where has the year gone...it's already January 11th! My daughter Yolanda, her husband Chris, their dog Scout, and my sister Jessica all came to Enderby on Christmas day from Vancouver and Abbotsford. What a wonderful time we had laughing, cooking, eating, playing cards, and walking the dogs. Jessica was very curious about the fact that Sir Anthony Hopkins had recently been in Enderby starring in the movie "Go With Me". The last day of the visit we all headed down to the D&E Diner for a delicious lunch. Jessica's first question to Heather (one of the D&E's owners), was where did Anthony Hopkins sit? She stood in that space and absorbed his energy. 

Chris, Yolanda, Jessica and Steve; a booth for six at the D&E Diner.

We had a big snowfall while they were here, or so we thought, the BIG snow was the weekend after they left, with no way to get out of our driveway for two days, no work, no school, many hours of shoveling and early mornings with a constant be-hp, be-hp, be-hp, of heavy equipment moving snow around. We had so much snow we didn't know where to put it. Getting beyond the volume of snow, the world of snow and ice fascinated my creative nature and the pristine beauty was everywhere.

Having fun with the settings on my new camera. 

This is a frozen puddle made by a car tire, I have never seen ice freezing in the shape of a snow flake.

Before we read the rules, we were ending up with too many cards in our hands.

The big snow, over a two day period we had 50 cm of snow. This is our side gate.

The back of our house, with Mattie sitting on the porch. Steve knocked the many snow piles off the plum tree. A lot of trees lost branches and some communities lost power.

The Enderby Cliffs, behind a snow cone piled on a sunflower.

Dried Echinacea flower and ice.

A dogs eye view, Mattie patiently waiting for us to finish shoveling the snow, so we can go for a walk, if we can.

Pear Pie, paper, Brandy Beans and holiday cards, what piles up on your table?

This pear pie I made for the gathering of the Balkan choir, wonderful time eating, socializing and singing!

Me and my camera. 

January 11, 2015 Shuswap River a misty Enderby Cliffs and the bridge.

Little Treasures Art Show at The Courtyard Gallery

Can you believe November is here. This morning the temperature was below 0, 6 degrees below 0. I was happy to have the hand me down snow pants from my daughter Yolanda. She stopped wearing them when she was 10. They keep me warm, that is what matters.

Sunday the 9th I took a large box of my art work into the Courtyard Gallery 61 pieces, photo greeting cards, small fabric zippered and lined bags, for jewelry, makeup, travel, great for small gifts, watercolors, wood and acrylics canvases. One of the Artist and writer Howard Brown built a tree to hang the glass painted ornaments, I hear it is beautiful, and the gallery is jam packed with small canvases, pottery, felting, glass, wood, books, jewelry, and much more.  

It can take days just to prepare a canvas. This 8 x 10 is being prepared for the small canvases with the dragonfly and flower.

Saturday the 15th is the opening of the show, after we vote for whom we feel is going to do the best job for our community, we plan on hanging out at the gallery. Virginia says she is bringing chocolates, how can I not go. 

The finished work.

This 8 x 10 canvas has many layers of experimentation, creating interesting textures and crackling effect. I painted what I saw in the textures.

4 x 4 canvases. Steve was sitting at the table admiring my small canvases and he started laughing. He said "It's like a totem, that tells a story, went for a sailboat ride, walked on the beach, had a heart attack.
  

I took this picture on November the 11th, In memory of my nephew Ian, this morning the flowers were frozen.

Hope to see you at the show, enjoy.

Flower Focus

First thing to focus on this morning was a small leaf from the weeping birch tree, caught on a blooming echinacea. In the evening, sunflower petals, bright yellow, would not let me pass without playing.

Peace, Pair And The Dragonfly's

I am loving the colors, the rustle of the leaves, I feel like a child again when I walk through them with glee, the dog avoids me at times of rustling, Come to think of it so does my husband.

It feels good to have my glass ornaments done for the Courtyard Gallery, I like them so much I might have to buy them myself. It also feels good to have the dragonfly boxes done, they are going to look amazing in your house, the hallway perhaps? 

On with the next project, I have a plan, but we shall see what tomorrow will bring.

Mattie is not a poser, but he loves the sun.

Waiting for the finish among the spilled bowl of squash.

From the start.

Peace, Pair and the Dragonfly's.

The Courtyard Gallery has been a busy place lately. The art is all in, the task of placement is now in order.

The grand opening is 

Thursday, April 25 7-9 PM

104-907 Belvedere Street, Enderby BC

Hope to see you there

Showcasing the original works of local artists.

Casa Bella Line Black and White

Princess Reanna in black cotton knit, long two tiered skirt with ruffled detail and versatile ribbed knit waist band. Tank with ruffled detail around neck and armholes. You can not go wrong with a comfortable long black skirt and matching top.

Casa Bella Hair salon at 706 George Street in Enderby BC. My line of clothing will be in the shop till July 27TH. If you see something you like but it's not in your size and I still have the fabric I can make it for you. Here we have the lovely Reanna who works at Casa Bella's modeling a few of the pieces. 

White cotton tank with ruffle detail. Black and white cotton, rayon gored skirt with pockets lined with invisible zipper closure. Reanna loves her pockets.

Black cotton tank with black and white gored skirt, matching purse slung over shoulder.  

Black tank with black and white skirt, matching purse with lots of pockets for all your needs inside and out plus a hook in a convenient place for your keys.

White tank with black and white gored skirt.

Also at Casa Bella's you will find black cotton knit 3/4 length sleeved tops and yellow cotton tanks with ruffle detail.

I am working on new items for the Arts festival Saturday July 28TH in the Maud street parking lot and Garlic related items for the Grindrod Garlic Festival Sunday August 19TH. Hope to see you then. 

Oh yes I will be making hats and head pieces, more garments and whatever gets done. Come with your ideas.

The Rivers Are High

It has been raining and on the few sunny days of heat the snow caps have been melting, swelling the rivers and creeks, widening and overflowing their banks. These are shots of the Shuswap in Enderby June 23RD to June 25TH.

June 23RD about   

Bee swarm, someone collected them. 

Slow pace, many snails on the 23RD

June 24TH and you could not walk all of the river walk with out rubber boats.

The boat launch by the campground.

Marker on the 25TH

Steve and the boys at the camp grounds on the river walk.