We went to town today

We drove to town to get propane and stopped in at the beach on our way back home!

We went to the beach today

A beautiful day here in central Ontario, the family came for a visit and we all went to the beach.  Here is my page while we were at the park down the road a few concessions east. 

In my handmade sketchbook with Strathmore 500 series Aquarius II watercolour paper 

Stove Top eating

We went to a Chinese restaurant the other day without any idea what the restaurant was like.  I was a bit uneasy about the notion of having a stove as part of our tabletop.  Once I got started it was quite fun!  I’m glad i stuck it out because my first inclination was to get up and walk out! 

Women’s washroom

I’m behind on posting, so this one is from a few days ago.  Last week we had lunch in a “higher end” restaurant and I was surprised to see this couch in the women’s washroom!  To me it looked like everything old is new again and although I love the smooth clean lines of the couch; in reality, it would be uncomfortable to sit on it for long.  I’m sure they don’t want women to sit there for long anyway do it isn’t a big deal.  It just made me think I was inside a home decor magazine. 

Pen, watercolour, markers and gouache on a cheap index card 

I’m not a sugar cube

Feeling Silly- it was raining “cats and dogs” yesterday and I was loath to get wet since I had forgotten to take my raincoat or umbrella. Here I am, sitting in my car (my spot is in front of a cedar tree), hoping the Mother Nature would take pity on me and slow the rain a bit. No chance!  Then I remembered what my mother use to say to me, “Brenda, your not a sugar cube, you won’t melt!”.  Ugh! I got a thorough soaking on my way up to the house.

Having said that, thrilled we got rain since everything is parched here!

Bell Island Iron Ore mine

We drive half an hour up to Bell Island and took the tour through the closed mine!  We got to experience what it might be like to have worked in a mine. 

Ugh! Horrid backbreaking work! The youngest boys (11 -12 years) worked up top culling the tails then when they turned 14 - 15 years they went into the mine and worked as “Nipper’s”!  They would have to nip here and there to fetch this and ths.

The horses lived and worked in the mine for a month at a time; then lived up top fir a month.  The caregiver would have to wrap their eyes up with cloth and take them off one layer at a time until all the layers were off. 

The mine was open for 71 years and there were 107 deaths; this mine was considered the safest in Canada. The tour was a terrific experience. 

Still working on index card art. 

Birthday gifts!

My daughter bought me some gadgets for my phone to make taking pictures fun!

Looking forward to using the clicker and tripod.  It was very dark and I ended up dipping my brush in the wrong paint but I decided to go with it!

Cactus Club Cafe

Our first day back in Ontario so we spent it wandering around downtown Toronto.

My hubby was wanting a feed of oysters within walking distance of our location. He couldn’t find an oyster bar on his phone but found this place instead.  He said the ceviche was the most flavourful he had ever had! 

Quidi Vidi Village and Brewery

We stopped into this most beautiful village in St John’s this morning. We had a tour of the brewery and then s taste testing.  Afterwards we had an opportunity I get some awesome photos in behind the brewery.  Just off to the right are the narrows where these boats can sail out into the Atlantic Ocean.  

Too Battery Rd St John’s Newfoundland

This is a new build made to look like the rest of the neighbourhood.  The harbour is in behind 

The Case of the missing Flip Flop

After doing our duty as tourists today, we gratefully returned to our Airbnb for rest and some dinner!! 

I couldn’t find my flip flop that I’m using as slippers so I invented the game so our granddaughter could be the detective and search for clues! She “interviewed” me but was not successful in finding my flip flop!  She acquired an assistant (my hubby) and between the two of them the missing flip flop was finally located!  “Two days later”..... I received an invoice that was discounted from $40.00 to $1.90 due to being a family member!

Loads of fun!! 

Okay so somehow the flip flop slide under the front door mat!!!

Cape Spear lighthouse

We had a full day today wearing our tourist ages but I have to admit my “dawgs” are tired tonight!  Thus is Cape Spear, the mister easterly point in Canada and of all North America when Danish  controlled Greenland is not counted! 

We walked up to the original 1835 lighthouse and this is what it looked like from there at the newer currently used lighthouse! 

I was a bit lazy painting up the fence but I have to repeat.....it just isn’t my dawgs that are tired! 

Vintage cigarette tin travel gouache palette

I’m so thrilled that I was able to finished today’s index card (in this case 2 equals 1).  We drove the 2.5 hours home after having breakfast with the family and putting everything away here at home. 

I bought this vintage cigarette tin at a market just outside of Sauble Beach where we were vacationing.  I had it in my mind that this was the perfect tin for me! 

I am so happy that my gouache palette fits inside being that they are contact lens cases.  The paints are still soft after a week (being mixed with gum arabic).  This is not a traditional set up but I just love the fact that I will not have to worry when they do dry out and crumble. The lids protect the paint.  However one set of contact lens tops are different from the others and sit up a bit too high.  A rubber band fixes that until I get a solution.  So this is a work in progress.  I’ll report back after our next trip. 

I had to hinge my card with paper tape.

Sauble Falls Provincial Park

This morning we drove to Sauble Falls (only a few kilometres away maybe 6kms) I brought my sketchbook and made a drawing!  It got too hot for me so I put away my book and waited to paint it in the shade back at the cottage!  I could work on it some more but it is too hot even in the shade fir me to care. 

The family had a lovely experience letting the water flow over them at this very sweet little falls!  What a beautiful park!!! 

This is my second handmade sketchbook with Strathmore 500 series Aquarius II paper!!

Cloudy morning in Sauble Beach

Yesterday we drove three hours to our rented cottage by Lake Huron! Our third year! We absolutely love Sauble Beach!!

The day started out cool (compared to yesterday’s sweltering heat) and cloudy but by 2 in the afternoon; it was yet another glorious day!! 

Our granddaughter loves to fly a kite and play in the sand; just what ant little 6 year old would want!! 

Index card art

Happy Canada Day

Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 to all who are happily (crazy) Canucks!!

Here is my card in celebration of our 151 Birthday! 

Cheers!!!

Dragon Fruit

New store in town caters to Asian market.




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