Small Abstract on Green,
Oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm
And another one. Click to view full scale.
Small Abstract with Orange Blob
Small Abstract with Orange Blob,
Oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm
I use small canvases as palettes. Once the palette is full I set it aside until the paint is dry. Then I gesso the canvas again and use it for quick gestural abstracts such as this. I love the uneven, unexpected, lumps and bumps I encounter. Look at the centre of the orange blob. There is a huge lump of left over paint. Click on the image for full size.
Victoria Day Conquest, 2011
Victoria Day Conquest, 2011
The St. Clair Reservoir down David Balfourd Ravine along the Yellow River Trail, to The Evergreen Brick Works, Up the Moore Park Ravine, Across the Moraine, to The Don Valley South Trail, Riverdale Park and Home.
Today’s hike was massive and rewarding. For some time Noa and I have been hiking up to the St. Claire reservoir then down into David Balfour Ravine, following the Yellow River across Mount Pleasant and all the way to the Evergreen Brick Works. A couple times we have tried to find the route over to the Don Valley South Trail but have always come up against the Bayview Extension, a veritable highway. Today we carried on past the Brick Works and entered the Moore Park Ravine, then turned east and up across the moraine that forms the north wall of the Brick Works park. It was wet and muddy, a couple of scrambles on all fours up hills, one great slide down wrapping myself around trees as brakes, and a daring ledge walk looking hundreds of feet down into the Brickworks Park Valley. But yahoo, a quick dodge down off the moraine and a small crossing of the Bayview Extension and voilà, the Don Valley South Trail at Pottery Road. We walked the few kilometers to Riverdale Park - passing the confluence of the Yellow River and the Don Valley River, just call me Livingston - then home through Cabbage Town and along Carlton Street. We were caked in mud, hungry and thirsty, and jubilant.
(I will Google Map this at a later date)
(Click to enlarge images)
The St. Clair Reservoir down David Balfourd Ravine along the Yellow River Trail, to The Evergreen Brick Works, Up the Moore Park Ravine, Across the Moraine, to The Don Valley South Trail, Riverdale Park and Home.
Today’s hike was massive and rewarding. For some time Noa and I have been hiking up to the St. Claire reservoir then down into David Balfour Ravine, following the Yellow River across Mount Pleasant and all the way to the Evergreen Brick Works. A couple times we have tried to find the route over to the Don Valley South Trail but have always come up against the Bayview Extension, a veritable highway. Today we carried on past the Brick Works and entered the Moore Park Ravine, then turned east and up across the moraine that forms the north wall of the Brick Works park. It was wet and muddy, a couple of scrambles on all fours up hills, one great slide down wrapping myself around trees as brakes, and a daring ledge walk looking hundreds of feet down into the Brickworks Park Valley. But yahoo, a quick dodge down off the moraine and a small crossing of the Bayview Extension and voilà, the Don Valley South Trail at Pottery Road. We walked the few kilometers to Riverdale Park - passing the confluence of the Yellow River and the Don Valley River, just call me Livingston - then home through Cabbage Town and along Carlton Street. We were caked in mud, hungry and thirsty, and jubilant.
(I will Google Map this at a later date)
(Click to enlarge images)
A typical section of the trail, this just after crossing Mount Pleasant Avenue plunging into the verdant green
Many spectacular blooms, all wild, this, I think a Pear Tree
A magnificent vew from atop the moraine overlooking the Everygreen Brick Works; in the distance the Bloor Viaduct; and for scale find the person in a black jacket with a blond Lab on the trail in the middle of the picture
This is looking back at the moraine at the widest part of the trail - that's all mud up there.
Some Spring 2011 Image Notes
I planted Violas this year in the front planter. They remind me of my mother’s rose garden that had Violas running amok amongst the thorns; and just at the end of that garden, garlic chives, daily in the salads. Yum.
This fantastic 100’ tree, Cacasian Spruce, is growing in Highland Park , Rochester , NY
Whoever named Crabapples Crabapples never saw one in bloom. This is in Queen’s Park, Toronto
A pretty brown standard Poodle relaxing in a field of miniature blue Violas. Sweet, but don't be fooled. Both are voracious.
View From 725
We spent a wonderful week at the Hilton Barbados. Here's a patch work collage of the view from our room, 725. Many a good breakfast on the balcony. Dreaming of Barbados...
(click on image for a larger size)
A Saturday Night Thought
A Saturday Evening Thought, 11-04
It was a beautiful spring day today. The sun finally conquering any thought of winter. And though the trees are not in bloom nor are the flowers, they are not far away. Tom left today, the only small blot on the day. A sweet sorrow, really. We are just back from a week in Barbados where the sun and wind and surf were at full force shocking us out of season. He arrived the day before we left and left the day after we returned. Nine full days together is unusual in our relationship of two cities and two countries; but, strangely, just across the lake from each other. After he left I took Noa, my Poodle, for a long walk in Riverdale where the ground was still wet with melted snow. She chased her ball madly and happily taking a break only to sit in a mud puddle – Poodle is, after all, German for puddle. Then on the way home I bought some miniature daffodils to plant in the front planter; faux spring. Life is good when expanding again. And it is good to be home.
Highland Park Blizzard
I truly love hiking through Highland Park in Rochester
I am an architectural rendering model
I received a mysterious call on Friday. I knew who was calling, a friend, but he chuckled and told me to go to the corner of Church and Carlton Maple Leaf Gardens
And sadly, somewhat portentously, my big dog, that died last September, is just cut out of the rendering. Or is that to think too much?
Been Away, Coming Back, Here's a Pretty Box
Apologies for my long absence. Lots has happened: the summer past, the planter was finished, went to Fire Island, went to Kennebunkport, the big dog died and I got married. Now that that is all settled I will be blogging again. Promise. In the meantime, here's a Pretty Box.
The Front Planter, Nude
I share a front planter with my neighbour and we have finally agreed to repair it. The 30+ years old railroad ties where disintegrating and on my side pushing out. This is the planter sans wood, nude if you will. Next posting will be with the new wood painted chocolate brown and my new additional planter in the nook of the stairs (not visible in this image).
The tree is a Sugar/Honey Locust which produces giant brown pods each fall. The dogs eat them like candy so I researched and found that so, too, did Native North Americans. I have yet to find a recipe.
On my side there is a a lovely single Holly which manages to find love somewhere in the neighbourhood and on the other side a pretty boxwood. The vine climbing the tree is a Boston Ivey which turns vivid red in the fall. Newly planted are Poppies; the Periwinkle did well this year with many periwinkle coloured flowers; and in error (in the excitement to get planting) I put the Lemon Thyme out front instead of a pot out back but it loves it and I dart out regularly from the kitchen to snip; and the blue Clematis growing on a stand just behind the tree is about to burst; and the two Spider Warts on either side burst and close with the sun each day; the Marigold keep the pests away; and I have forgotten the name of the lime yellow vine but it is a pest and would take over if not kept in check.
Gardening +
Ah, Spring
Ah, Spring.
Looking up into a sunny blue sky
full of just opening lime-yellow leaves,
a warm wind,
birds' song everywhere,
green grass,
and shirt sleeves.
(completely ignoring the pollen count)
Yellow Bloom Holly (?)
Investigating this Yellow Bloom Holly in the park. The blooms started as small clusters of pellets. Then they opened looking like they had cracked. I thought them done but then they engorged as they are now. I don't know what kind of Holly, if Holly at all, this is. After staying green all winter many of the leaves turned russet colour just before the bloom. You can see the few left in the bottom image. I want some of this Holly for the garden.
...
Solved: the plant is Mahonia Aquifolium, 'Oregon Grape', and it is out of its zone growing in Toronto. Must be its protected location amongst the buildings and it is well sheilded by other plants.
...
And this past weekend Tom and I found three wonderful Mahonia Aquifilium, 'Oregon Grape' plants at Bristol Gardening and planted them next to the regular Holly. It has occured to me that we didn't ask if they require male and female plants as do the regular Holly. Guess next spring will tell.
More Orchid
Now with 3-branches in bloom . the right side is 2-arms of the same stalk - this is one wonderful plant.
Two Dogs on Ice
Kokopeli and Noa Jivali at Cherry Beach, February 6, 2010.
Temp, -8C. Sunny and bright.
Great cracking ice noises.
Both intent on ducks in open water.
Sunday Onion and Cherry Tomato Pie
Mid afternoon Sunday and I decided it was time to pie again. I made the crust with butter instead of shortening - much better, and honest tasting - and I increased the quantities to be sure to have enough dough. This is an Onion and cherry Tomato pie and though intended to be Savoury it is actually quite sweet. At the last minute I put Star Anise in with the Onions which added to the sweetness but also spiced it up. My simple top of sliced dough with spokes glowed nicely with the egg finish. The next on the list is a Tortiere.
Savory Pies, 2010
Savory Pies, 2010
I have decided that 2010 will be the year of Savory Pies. Last year was the year of making bread and in the nick of November I finally turned out wonderful loaves. My challenge is to keep it simple. I tried all sorts of bread – flatbreads, bulgerbreads, carawaybreads – finally settling on the straight forward white flour with 1/5th whole wheat flour loaf. In light of that learning my first pie of 2010 is the Chicken Pot Pie, the challenge being the crust not the stew (see previous post re: cooking vs. baking). And my first try is an unmitigated disaster. Where as it tastes just fine, the crust is light and fluffy on top, and suitably unmushy under the filling, the quantity of pastry is too small. I followed the basic recipe in the Joy of Cooking (1980 edition) for a 9” two part pie but somehow I ended up with only enough pastry to make the base. At the last minute (I know that’s a baker’s worst thought) I made a little extra for the top. It’s cute and perhaps could be considered even as a new form of pie, say, 'The Half Top, or 'Cabriolet'. But for my first effort it is wonderful.
Savory Pies of the future: Tortière, Tomato, Steak and Kidney, Vegetable.
I will master the simple crust then move on to fancier looks such as a woven top and then more interesting crusts such as olive oil, turmeric and perhaps even a sweet one.
Oh, and happy New Year everyone!
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.
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