Wowwee!

Wowwee #1, January 23, 2012

Digital sketch, 9" x 18", 300dpi

(click for larger view)

The Complete Guide to Vision Quotes

This is an on-going guide to the vision quotes on twitter at @jrmccauley.

2012 01 04:
I shut my eyes in order to see. ~Paul Gauguin :27 days…

2012 01 05:

One eye sees, the other feels. ~Paul Klee :26 days…

2012 01 06:

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. ~Jonathon Swift  :25 days…

2012 01 07:

To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle. ~George Orwell :24 days…

2012 01 08:
Vision is not enough, it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs. ~Havel :23 days

2012 01 09:
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. ~Henri Bergson :22 days...

2012 01 10:

The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision. ~Helen Keller :21 days...

2012 01 11:

Dreamers can find their way by moonlight and their only punishment is that they see the dawn before the rest of the world. ~Wilde :20 days…

2012 01 12:
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~Anais Nin :19 days

2012 01 13:

I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse. ~Walt Disney :18 days...

2012 01 14:

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision. ~Helen Keller :17 days...

2021 01 15:
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. ~Albert Einstein :16 days...

2012 01 16:

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~Mark Twain :15 days...

2012 01 17:

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. ~Benjamin Franklin : 14 days...

2012 01 18:
Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes. ~Friedrich Nietzsche :13 days...

202 01 19
Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson :12 days...

2012 01 20:
Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living? ~Bob Marley :11 days...

2012 01 21
Bologna is a deli meat for people with eyes. ~Mitch Hedberg :10 days...

2012 01 22
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? ~Groucho Marx  :9 days...

2012 01 23
When I look into the future, it's so bright it burns my eyes. ~Oprah Winfrey :8 days...

2012 01 24
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. ~Henry Ford :7 days...

2012 01 25
Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes! ~Leonardo da Vinci :6 days...

2012 01 26
If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes. ~Pablo Picasso :5 days...

2012 01 27
The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions. ~marcu Tullius Cicero :4
days..

2012 01 28
I still close my eyes and go home - I can always draw from that. ~Dolly Parton :3 days...

2012 01 29
I close my eyes when I sing so I can feel the song better. ~Mahalia Jackson :2 days...

2012 01 30
If you haven't cried, your eyes can't be beautiful. ~Sophia Loren : 1 day...

2012 01 31
Today I will lose my bad eye but all the same I will see.  ~John Mccauley :today


Mount Sinai, 12:30PM, Tuesday January 31, 2012

2012 The Year of Fish

(photo curtesy of: http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/chefbiographi2/ig/The-Food-of-El-Bulli/El-Bulli-Food-30.htm)

Often, say every other year or so, I decide on a cooking adventure and dedicate the entire year to conquering a food. Several years ago it was bread. Aside from the occasional restaurant servings or purchased lunch sandwich, that year I ate only bread that I had made myself. Of course, I started with the a loaf of Standard white bread, but before long I was making flat breads and cheese and nut infused rolls. It was fun, particularly the humourous sudden rise of the pita! A year after that it was savory pies – meat pies, meal pies, everything but dessert pies. It, too, was fun. I learned especially how to make a proper crust. I have decided that 2012 will be the Year of Fish, but not the standard filet in butter. No, I want to investigate Paiayas, fish stews – and I’ll extend this to bivalves and shrimp – clam sauces, and Thai shrimp dishes. There may even be a fish bread or savory fish pie – actually I have already attempted the fish pie but it was a disaster which means, yes, I will prevail and try agian.  Tom and I have been leafing through the books of El Bulli, and though I don’t expect to get as rarified as say, Sardines with Fish Roe (pictured above), nonetheless their work is of great inspiration. Also, in many ways this is a tribute to fish, which if the news is to be believed, may not exist in another decade or so. I hope not, but with this irony in mind, I will be eating them this year.

In Progress

Panel 1, Tentative Title, Small Bridge

Oil on Canvas, 36 x 48

Panel 2, Tentative title, Two Paths

Oil on Canvas, 36 x 48

(unfinished)

Panel 3, Tentative Title, Two Sisters

Oil on Canvas, 36 x 48

(unfinished)

­These are a new adventure, a departure from the Quotidian Angels – some friends will say, ‘Thank-you’. (smile). They are a return to landscapes. They all have two things in common: Two Paths. In Panel 1 there is the obvious stream – an old stream that once had a mill, hence the stone sides – but a walk path bisects the image at eye height. In Panel 2, again the obvious path climbs the hill centred in the image, but off to the right down in the valley runs a stream parallel to it. In Panel 3 (which I am least please with at this stage) the simple path divides into two – one heading up, the other descends to the right. Two paths that lead in and out of the canvases, towards and away, coming and going, here and not.  

These are works-in-progress.

Please click on the images to enlarge.

My First Steve Carty

This is my first Steve Carty photograph. She is at the framers until early in the New Year. After that, she will hold pride of place at the top of the first staircase. To me, she holds a deep sustained note audible only to they who can 'see' the music.

Small Abstract on Green

Small Abstract on Green,

Oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm

And another one. Click to view full scale.

New Work Posted

I have posted some new work - Chevrolet All Day - here: http://mcc.carbonmade.com/

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)

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. This year I caught it in bloom with billions of rose red acorns. Stunning.

Whoever named Crabapples Crabapples never saw one in bloom. This is in Queen’s Park, Toronto, radiant in white uncrabbiness.

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)

Five Angels I Needed to Meet

There are angels here: http://mccquotidianangels.blogspot.com/

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. Each season brings something new, and each terrain adds interest. This past weekend we – Noa and I – headed out for an afternoon romp in the snow. Just as we got to the park a lake effect blizzard struck. What fun! The first image is the entrance to the esker off the corner of Doctors Drive and Mount Vernon Avenue.The second is as we climb out of the esker towards the greenhouse at Reservoir Avenue and South Avenue– normally you can see through the opening and up to the top of the esker. The final image is down Robinson Drive where usually we romp through the forest but on this day couldn’t even manage to climb the snow pile embankment off the sidewalk. We both returned to the house ‘abominable’.

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. That was it, no detail. Then later another friend called and left a more concise message. Turns out I am in the newly erected rendering for the renovation of Maple Leaf Gardens. Bottom right corner, but front and centre in the view point. OK, I do a lot of renderings as part of my work and if based on public photography the norm is to blur out the recognizable faces. Or to put up a sign that says something to the effect ‘you will be photographed’. Or to pay them. The worst part is that both friends recognized the dog first, then me. Need to have a talk with my PR agent.

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?

@jrmccauley

Oh, and you can follow me on twitter @jrmccauley – I am so much more active over there.

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.

A Farewell to my Colleagues

Thirty Days

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!