..I guess I love painting..

 Meanwhile in Québec..

Paper,pencil,pen ,eraser and watercolors

The latter is Pam hiking..she's on IG but I discovered her on her blog soo many yrs ago..She posted this pic of her and I had to try..

as always little stories accompany these..

One of my daughters friends is also a neighbour to me and she is so special..She decided she had no more need for her easel.The size is so nice for me not big and bulky..you guessed it she offered it to me.

I love it.

This is a photo of a couple I shot in San Gimignano in 2008..I could not resist..This was the quintessential..The best is yet to ne..no matter what.

I have to say that in the large cities of Italy we visited..no one can compare for style..not Paris..not NY..Not Mtl..The older people were impeccably appointed and the younger ones..knocked my socks off.Men is suits young women in the fines of the finest.And gorgeous.

There is a sense of style there..that I think may be unparalled.

Not fashion shows..regular people..working or not..In the countryside.. much more relaxed..but still..women is dresses and skirts..Loved it.

For a people watcher like me..travel has been fun.

I love seeing different.Unique.Charming.

Some sights just take your breath away.

And not always the sought after tourist places:)

Can you tell I went down the Europe 2008 rabbit hole of photos:) 

Have a great week!

It snowed.. will snow..

  

Snow season....

There's a kind of hush...

The Sounds of silence...

Tis the season..

I love that my husband loves making prosciutto..pizzas and wine;)Stellar risottos and delish BBQs.Those are his specialties.

 This years batches have begun..he makes different kinds and some are reserved for the girls families..we are never bored.. We find time flies by so fast!

Meanwhile..I'm back at painting my little French people:)

Inventing stories in my head for Instagram.

 

These three in particular are painted gleaned from  Geni's photos..I've linked her here before:) She is @geeparee22 on IG.She moved from Paris to the Riviera and is enjoying the warmer weather and blue skies.

I haven't snowshoed a lot....I have merely made paths to the ski trails..and paths to the road from the propane tanks and generator.

The people in charge of filling the tanks must have access..We are on large lots ..Cannot expect them to walk through deep snow to get to them.

Visions of sugarplums are gone..tree still up..

we like the fairy lights..next weekend I will pack up I think:)

Visions of gardens are now occupying my brain..where to plant which seeds..how to fix some gardens..

Going to bake some bread..try a new chicken brochette air fryer recipe..and refresh the paths..

Winter in QC:)

Have a nice week:)

Meanwhile my recipe book nook..has new art :)

Tea and coffee..from the brilliant Carol Sweet NY card:)

I keep my books here and there..

to the left of my recipe book nook

I still keep an old painting I did of our home and the wonderful she shed of ours painting Susan made  for me.

I was lucky to find the same frame years later..

Looking for new frames for Carol's watercolors..:)

PS..I am recommending this Neflix series 100%

2024..has arrived...

 

Frida arrived for the New Year..Every Year I like to stitch an ornament to slip into all the ornaments  before putting everything away...for a fun reunion the next Christmas..This year I bought the Frida pattern on Etsy.Oh wow..this one exercised my mental faculties..  She is 3d..Took me forever to be honest:)But unbelievably we have NO snow..We walked yesterday on the golf course..and honestly you could golf.Not a breath of snow..I cannot remember a New Year with no snow.

Anyway she kept me busy.When I read her famous quotes I am heartbroken for her.Died at 47 in 1954.

2024..I'll be 70..married 50 yrs..that too is unimaginable...:)

New Years I made a dish we both enjoy..Our NYE is always quiet w/ a beef and cheese fondue..Our plans were thwarted this yr..so Jacques made a shrimp pasta.I love that.

NY day I made Ricardo's Coquilles ST-Jacques..I add some shrimps..I only have a before pic,itwas dark when we ate.He eats two I eat one..

I love this dish..

I add smoked paprika..

Horrible dusk pre-baked pic..Oh well I wanted to share:)The recipe comes together so quickly and baked and broiled.. beauties:)

These shells are over 50 yrs old lol

Everything around me is getting so old..Like half century old..

I haven't been painting a lot just cards for next yr can't show ..

But if I am stitching I cant be painting at the same time..

Not baking still so much left..

Just meals.

Tell you one thing I am so glad I stitched these and more up yrs ago..Not sure I would have the patience.I would bring the stocking to Fl with yarns etc,,and spend the day stitching..people would come see what I was doing..for yrs :)A dear ladt would take my finished canvas I would bring velvet and lining and braid and tassels and she would sew them up for me.I am certain she is in her 90s and we still exchange cards.An angel.

Always enjoyed stitching.I have a number of these large canvases framed.I gave many away.Glad I held on to some:)

Years ago..His and Hers..where His is I have no clue..

My favorite Christmas ornaments to make were the Alicia Paulsen sets of three..Make three each daughter..package up prettily with the name of the set..I think I stitched at least 6 sets of three..times 2 plus plus plus.She seems to not have them available anymore.Darling other kits though..you can find them here..

You cannot go wrong.

I wasn't able to share this on IG as a full post..just a glimpse..

But I can share it here..

One of my gentle giants..Max..

16..his last season in high school..this is his final reel  of his last year..Many of you knew him as a baby.

He is in love with this game..

If you have 5 minutes lol..I love this little movie.

Max

I keep playing it.

Snow expected Tuesday..It would freshen things up:)

Take care..