Taking a wee break

 A little overwhelmed

with projects both indoors and out...
and of course work.
I will be back shortly....

 lot's to do out here!

À tantôt

The Glorious Maple Leaf

Oh, the glorious maple leaf.

So beautiful, so significant
 it is the most recognized symbol for Canada
a truly important player in the Canadian landscape....

 and then again....

my yard.... 
eh.

À tantôt???

linking this up to the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Room by Room: Kitchens

Cottage and Vine is hosting a room by room and it is my favourite part of our home so I am linking up.

It is after all the heart of our home

and the place where we all hang out...

and really the biggest renovation we have ever done 

seeing that our home is more or less open concept.

it sort of went on and on ...

Some of you have seen my kitchen in several posts...

so..... sorry about that. 

But here goes...

quick kitchen tour!

this is my favourite spot, the pantry,
great place for making a mess...

right off the kitchen, but hidden from the diningroom
a small pantry but it has been so practical.
The first image is an older image, before black chalkboard paint was used on the doors...
that has been so handy and so practical...

 A lot of action takes place right here!

Small but practical cooking station.

Everything is within reach and it is a nice bright spot for morning coffee at the island

or drinks with friends while cooking.

À tantôt
Linking this up to Cottage and Vine: Room by Room

Beauty is in the Eye of the Buyer?

 I love to find original art 

at an affordable price

and I have a particular appreciation for acrylic and oil paintings....

Two years ago I found this piece
on ebay by an American artist,  Neal Turner
 who lives in France....

His paintings have now been featured in a Hollywood film
which seems to have made him more popular

and subsequently .....
out of my budget!

Oh and please believe me....
I understand the sensitivity issues with art.

She has provided some lively conversations at dinner parties

and certainly confirmed the

statement that art is personal!
As one friend says.....we can all agree that it is the painting of a woman!

But, with another birthday well behind me

the search was on for another piece of art....

preferably something with a bit of texture!

And, I found it.

It is hard to see in this image but the use of a palette knife allows the paint to
provide a sense of texture which I love!

I am sure that this one will also spark some discussion at our next gathering...

I wonder what they will see in this piece?
Any ideas?

À tantôt!!

Thanksgiving Extravagance

too much turkey...

too much pie...

too much stuffing...
just too much

but 

what a wonderful gathering!!!
Every year I say the same thing but every year ....
what a fun party!

It looked a bit like this...

Early Morning Pie-Making

Turkey Preparation
Apple and Baguette Stuffing

Table Preparation...
Dinner for 11.... kids had their own table which they love....

I love a very simple table...

the addition of a few red maple leafs for a hit of colour....

with a touch of them on the grape vine wreath...

a few pumpkins at the entrance
and we were all set
for another Thanksgiving Estravaganza!!

À tantôt
Linking up to Table Top Tuesdays 
                       Mosaic Monday

Fall Walk

Back in action...

good walking shoes on my feet

(not to worry, my favourite summer red flats are inside the door!)

but I have some serious walking to do

if I  am going to show you our amazing fall colours!

Well, 

and some other fairly 

typical signs

of autumn 

 in my part of the world.

Voila....typical sighting...on passing cars...

Walking in the woods feels somewhat more dangerous at this time of the year!

And you can see why.

But, for all of this beauty 

it is well worth the adventure....

Right outside our door...

reds, oranges, yellows

are all part of the autumn colour palette in our area.

A good morning hike and you can understand why artists

love to set up their easel and transform these colours onto canvas...

there is a bit of work to be done 

to rake up all these lovely colours

but then a cup of coffee outdoors on the

summer muskoka chairs

at this time of year cannot be beat!

By the end of the month these will

be stored, leaves will be raked

and ...

well you know what is next!

À tantôt