Kathy and I, Taboo Resort, Muskoka, 2008.
Christmas Tree
I am enjoying this Christmas season. Last weekend Tom and I decorated the tree at his house with massive amounts of ornaments and ribbons. It is gaudy but beautiful.
Pink Jade in Bloom
My Pink Jade blooms twice a year, once in the spring when I take it outdoors and again in the fall when it is brought back inside. A canopy of small pink flowers. I received this plant as a mere sprig, a small single stemmed housewarming gift in 1995. Fourteen years later it is too big to pass through a doorway without breaking a branch. And each year I break a branch and plant it as a new Pink Jade. Curiously not all new plants bloom.
The Perfect Loaf, December 2 2009
I have always been a cook: meat, fish, hors d'oeuvres, soup and salad. But never a baker. My goal this year was to learn how to make bread. Many failures, some success. Flat breads a breeze, but a good risen loaf nearly impossible. Today I made the perfect loaf. it rose exactly as it should have, three times: first as a mash mixture, second as a boule, and lastly in the bread pans. It is a white caraway. They almost look like chickens with their tucked in bases. They are fluffy inside, a billion bubbles in the bread architecture. The crust is firm, solid and just the right crunch. Home made bread, butter and honey. Mmm.For 2010 I have decided on savory pies.
Dinner in the Sky
Dinner in the Sky was a program we ran for AMEX to launch Summerlicious.
Since then we have won numerous awards for this work: Best Experiential, CAPMA; Best Experiential, GLOBES; and tonight, fingers crossed, Best Financial-PR at the Canadian Marketing Awards (CMAs).
Noa Jivali in Hyland Park
My little beast chasing rabbits and tennis balls in Hyland Park, Rochester, August 2009Maudine ‘Claire de Lune’ Philippinense Alba: Twins
The Philippinense has a twin head. Hope the first bloom (left) lasts long enough for the third bud, hidden behind the bloom on the right, for all three to be out at once.
Brian James, 1960 - 2008
We scattered my brother last night
in the Humber River just beyond the pedestrian bridge,
a quiet recluse, the storms passed
and he fled downstream.
.
Maudine 'Claire de Lune' Philippinense Alba
A spectacular showing of Maudine 'Claire de lune' Philippinense Alba. The top image is of the whole plant and bloom, and the lower image, a close up, shows the one bloom full open with another to the right and a third just a bud peeking from behind. Wonderful colour striations and fierce demeaner. Note: I have stamped out in photoshop the wire supports which accounts for the glow around the middle of the stem.
BlackLineDream of Tom's Daphne Shrub
BlackLineDream of Tom's Daphne Shrub_012009-07-26
digital media, 9" x 9"
Tom's Daphne Shrub as Batik
> grey scale > brightness -42 > contrast +48 > stamp (light/dark balance 25, Smoothness 5)
Tom's Daphne Shrub
Characteristics of Daphne Plants
'Carol Mackie' daphnes are rounded shrubs that mature to 2'-3' tall, with a slightly greater spread. They bear fragrant, white to light pink tubular flowers in clusters; blooming time is generally in May. The flowers are succeeded by small red berries (drupes). Perhaps the outstanding feature of 'Carol Mackie' daphne plants is their variegated foliage. Despite being classified as "deciduous," I can understand why some refer to 'Carol Mackie' daphnes as "semi-evergreen": the daphne shrubs in my zone 5 garden kept their leaves throughout the winter last year; the leaves didn't become unattractive until late winter.
Source: http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/p/daphne_plants.htm
Source: http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/p/daphne_plants.htm
Orchidflagrante redux
At first I was worried about the horizontal stem but it is strong and vibrant and looks to be producing eight or more blooms. In the summer it needs to be moved away from the window or the metal finish on the container overheats and cooks the plant. It is not going outside this year as in others - let's hope that still gives winter blooms. This plant has been blooming continuously for two and a half years.
3-Sketches from last August
Lee's Trail, Stanley Park, VancouverInk on Lamali Lokta Paper, 2008-12
Prospect Point, Stanley Park, VancouverInk on Lamali Lokta Paper, 2008-12
The Ghatt (Fantasy)Ink on Lamali Lokta Paper, 2008-12
The Perpetual Orchid and Maudine 'Clair de Lune', a philippinense 'alba'
This is the same Orchid from an earlier post (March). The old blooms are now finished - the brown stem in the centre. The new bloom stem is jutting out towards the light with six flower buds about to show. This plant has been blooming continuously for two and a half years.
And this, the Maudine 'Clair de Lune', a philippinense 'alba', has been dormant for two years and now is sending up a beautiful 'slipper' bud. Its flower is green/white with dark stripes and great wings that reach out either side of the pitcher. More when it is open.
Escaped Angels
Ten angels escaped from the studio yesterday:
http://mccquotidianangels.blogspot.com/
(Ignore the adult content warning. Angels are by nature without clothing, I think. Oh, and there's one phallus - you can't miss it!)
http://mccquotidianangels.blogspot.com/
(Ignore the adult content warning. Angels are by nature without clothing, I think. Oh, and there's one phallus - you can't miss it!)
Trillium Applebaumus
The latest addition to my garden, the Trillium Applebaumus* courtesy of my friend Jim Applebaum who brought it down from Lake Kawagama where he has a cottage with wife Patricia Davidson, dogs, trees and lots of spring Trilliums. And no, it isn't against the law to transplant this kind of Trillium:- "While it is a popular belief that it is illegal to pick the common Trillium grandiflorum (white trillium) in Ontario, in reality no such law actually exists. However, the rare Trillium flexipes (drooping trillium) is protected by law in Ontario [1], because of its very small Canadian population.
- Trillium is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants and mice. Trillium seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage, where they can be protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant garbage.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium
*Trillium Applebaumus, also known as Grandiflorum
I Don't Know Either
(This is my entry in the Geist Magazine 'Fortune Cookie Contest')
I Don't Know Either
May 2009
Outside Buddies in Bad Times, waiting for the play to begin, were the usual colourful characters. Dave was back in town after his first year in China and we were walking the dogs - my zany chocolate Poodle and his Siberian/Husky cross which I had been fostering. He was reveling in the Westerness of everything, ogling the boys, delighted to be home.
In the small park beside the theatre, patrons had gathered around a human statue, it's skin and hair painted all white. She/he was dressed in Grecian white robes and leather sandals and was standing stock still on a pedestal with one arm extended out, palm up. Seated in the palm was an all white - albino? - Fortune cookie. Dave and I looked at each other, cocked our heads, and without a word to confirm our thoughts, knew to take the cookie. I lifted it out of the statue's palm and cracked it open. It read: 'I don't know either'. Only a second passed before Dave blurted laughter. I grinned with conspiratorial amusement, and I may have even put my hand on my hip and let my jaw drop in mock astonishment.
Then the staute reached slowly down into the satchel slung over its shoulder and lifted out another cookie, placing it in its palm. Returning to its pose, we noted that one of its eyebrows was raised slightly in our direction, letting us know that we had been properly pleasing. Amused to be in on the prank, we carried on with our walk. A few blocks later, our minds melded again: we had assumed that all cookies contained the same fortune, but now it dawned on us that we may have been wrong. Fortunes may differ. And we laughed again at the artistic curlicues.
I Don't Know Either
May 2009
Outside Buddies in Bad Times, waiting for the play to begin, were the usual colourful characters. Dave was back in town after his first year in China and we were walking the dogs - my zany chocolate Poodle and his Siberian/Husky cross which I had been fostering. He was reveling in the Westerness of everything, ogling the boys, delighted to be home.
In the small park beside the theatre, patrons had gathered around a human statue, it's skin and hair painted all white. She/he was dressed in Grecian white robes and leather sandals and was standing stock still on a pedestal with one arm extended out, palm up. Seated in the palm was an all white - albino? - Fortune cookie. Dave and I looked at each other, cocked our heads, and without a word to confirm our thoughts, knew to take the cookie. I lifted it out of the statue's palm and cracked it open. It read: 'I don't know either'. Only a second passed before Dave blurted laughter. I grinned with conspiratorial amusement, and I may have even put my hand on my hip and let my jaw drop in mock astonishment.
Then the staute reached slowly down into the satchel slung over its shoulder and lifted out another cookie, placing it in its palm. Returning to its pose, we noted that one of its eyebrows was raised slightly in our direction, letting us know that we had been properly pleasing. Amused to be in on the prank, we carried on with our walk. A few blocks later, our minds melded again: we had assumed that all cookies contained the same fortune, but now it dawned on us that we may have been wrong. Fortunes may differ. And we laughed again at the artistic curlicues.
12-People (I Dream of) with Striped Bibs and Knee Patches
12-People (I dream of) with Striped Bibs and Knee Patches,digital media, 9"x9"
Lichen, Moss and Sticks
My 'Dreams' are constructed like Lichen, Moss and Sticks found, natural. The lines have their own way. I am only following.
Independence Pass, Colorado
This panorama view of Independence Pass, Colorado, is from our trip last year to Vail, on our drive to Aspen, taken from the highest point on the road. We are returning this year for more hiking and plan to give a framed print of the panorama to our host, Ed L. Click on image to see full size and detail.
'Independence Pass Panorama'
Digital Print, 44" x 4.8" 300dpi
My Small Backyard in Spring
My small backyard in spring just as everything gets going. The Rose, Oleander, Lime Green Geranium, Lemon Geranium and Pink Jade wintered in the house. Soon, the Jade will bloom, the Astilbes will take over at the base of the trees and the Hostas will fill in and send up their long white flower stocks. Soon, the hammock. Click on the image for a larger view.
2-Dreams and Gradients
Negative space has more subtle strength than positive space. BlackLineDreams carve out the positive space to expose the negative, the gradient makes this more evident, more body.
from 'BlackLineDreams2'
digital artwork, 2009
Arboriuslime
This painting, done a few years ago, is owned by my friend Norm M. It was part of a series of treescapes and limegreen titled 'Arboriuslime'. I wrote him a note on the back of the framed piece and wonder if he ever read it.
3-Sketches of Sonoma
3-Sketches of Sonoma from memory: Winery Entrance, Rosemary California, California Oak
Rose of Sharon
This Rose of Sharon began to leaf, in the basement, a month ago. I brought it upstairs, trimmed the foliage and braided the stems together. Now tall and bushy on top. And with buds and flowers. Brilliant white with red sharp centres.
Tom and John in Buenos Aires
A sunny fall day in April, in Palermo and Recoleta, Tom and John, hombres del café
Evita, hecho del pan
A beautiful and curious and surely political portrait of Evita, made of bread, in the lobby of Hotel Esplendor, San Martin, Buenos Aires.Afternoon light, Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires
The Sunday afternoon light perfect in Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires, reading 'The Leopard', by Giuseppe di LampedusaOrchid
1 : any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usually have showy 3-petaled flowers with the middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color 2 : a light purple This orchid gift of mine has been blooming since January 2007
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