Cute cookies for the Littles..thanks Chris!

Last year Frédérick and his Littles on their street from the bus..~I still love it..so I look at it a..lot..♥

outside my window:)

Down by the lake/park..


When I saw these..right away I thought of the Littles..
As usual..any recipe of Chris' turns out well..I bought my toppers at Bulk Barn..
the only thing I did differently was that I omitted the pumpkin spice..I wasn't sure Oli would like it..so just a dash of cinnamon..want to tell you something else about the cookies..while I was making them I found the batter held together well..and wondered if they could handle Starbucks..and they did..like always make sure the dough is chilled and floured as well as the stamp..then freeze or refrigerate before baking..you must press sufficiently..and do not add turbinado sugar on top..the imprint did not stay as well..
Keeper recipe..and so easy..
Love the views from our windows these days..

They are lovely with a cup of coffee or tea..pretty happy David's Tea has opened near us..I can pick up little hostess gifts for the girls and sometimes add something for me..
they have started selling their tea..in bags..just like the kind you get loose..but in pretty bags..if you don't want the mess of cleaning the steepers..this is a fun quick delicious alternative..
I am starting to learn how to tether..I only took the shots above..my cable is short and I am awkward trying to manipulate camera ,computer, focus, click..but I always find it fun to learn something new..just seems like a lot of work:)
Not sure when I will set that up again..
I spend very little time taking photos..if it's raining and cold etc..I may spend more time..and then the photos are awful:)
One of my daughters brought me to a new store..
very very nice..she had bought  a mat for her front door(they wear out quickly w/ 4 boys and 2 dogs:))and our seasons..
same here and only us..unless someone comes over..she had mentioned the one above to me and I knew it would be our new front mat/autumn/winter♥
(Artists Entrance)♥

Delicious,easy app~and a short fall stroll around here~

We had a lovely evening at our daughter's home for TG..we were missing almost half the clan..so we started the evening like we did before the girls married..:)
Just us..PLUS Oli and Noah..
we had fondue! It was delicious..you linger around a fondue meal..
I must say though I started eating at 5 and finished at 9..so full..and not even a  turkey in sight!..
It was beef fondue..chinese style which I love..I would never go back to big chunky beef  fondue in oil..
we love the paper thin ..yes paper thin slices of beef..cooked in a broth..w/ shrimps too..and scallops..broccoli and roasted potatoes..some sauces..some bread on the side.
oh it had been so long it was absolutely delicious..
Frédérick came after all the football festivities w/ Lucas and Max..:)
After dinner we played Scrabble and he got a seven letter word..he won..:) Hands down.
I was in charge of an app and dessert for our TG get-together..I picked this..it's so easy..put some olive oil in the base of a serving platter/dish..add 4 roma tomatoes..chopped and seeded..add 4 spring green onions chopped..add sliced Kalamata black olives..(to taste) sprinkle w/ greek seasoning..top w/ feta..and you are done..lovely w/ mini pitas..or Tostito scoops..I served w/ the scoops..perfect!
The net has many versions I gleaned mine here ..but added the olives..one commentor or two or three said it was great on hummus instead of the evoo..I believe it..tastes fresh and delicious.
I brought two desserts..one I will talk about next....
There was a time..when I loved to entertain..small groups albeit..and be entertained..small groups..
I mean.. being a realtor for almost 30 years even if you are an introvert..you get to care about the clients you work one on one with:)  ..and your children become friends with children and then the parents click..or not..
I have to say that I am so far removed now from social obligations..I can just be happy knowing my best place to be..is with my family.Your adult kids become your best friends.
Nothing..compares.
It could be frozen pizzas for TG..and I would be content as long as I was with them.

I love taking walks in October..it's not too hot..beautiful..and some of the sights make me smile..most of the sights!
Like the bunting and mums..the skeleton on the door..the wild asters in front of the dark fence..
the inviting facades and annexes..as you can see nothing has peaked yet color wise..we are late..usually much more advanced than this..
it was cool Sunday..I can always tell because my ears hurt..so sensitive they are to cold..
The homes in this old town..are stone..clapboard..siding..stucco..brick..no McMansions really right in town and I love that..yet in town..on the perimeters there are many..on the water..they are gorgeous too but not in the modern sense of the word McMansion..older charms..
my favorite charms.

I always feel so lucky to live here..
remember..Marcel the notary? "Welcome to Paradise"~♥

I am certain many of you feel exactly the same way about where you live.

And then I think about Haiti..:(
How much more can they take?:(


That's really what TG is about..counting your blessings..and thank God we have some.


Beautiful ,sunny day on this TG Monday~

Warm hearted soups~Bouquets garnis.. and stragglers..

It's unfortunate for the herbs and last tomatoes when the temperature changes..my lavender is having a second bloom and has grown so big..this is the plant that does best in the raised hexagonal bed..my rosemary is flowering..the sages are sprouting limbs everywhere and the thyme and parsley seem to be saying..we're not finished yet..just like our weather..with war sunny days..
I wish..and most of the green tomatoes..well they will just stay green..as they are getting pulled out for the garlic.
When we went downtown..we also stopped at Marché Atwater..there are a few shops there that I just love..things we bought in Paris..yes..in that shop..I found my lentilles de Puy,that bourbon vanilla sugar..some French Icing sugar..
and they had packages of bouquets garnis like the store of importations at Marché Jean-Talon..I have bought them before..but I thought of all my herbs..and decided on the spot to make my own for my soups and stews .
The timing was perfect as Penny at Lake Lure Cottage  Kitchen had posted this soup..I already had the beautiful leeks on hand..'tis the season..I had potatoes..and I was good to go..she added cauliflower and I had half a head left..so great idea Penny, I took your lead.
Thank you..my fridge is less stocked..:)
I did add a bit of cream..for Jacques..you know;)Some parm cheese and I sautéed the veggies w..bacon;)
Since I was going to add bacon as a garnish..why not?:)
Still painting:)
Still loving it..
Have a few more little paint suggestions..

It is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada..So a happy one to my Canadian friends..
We are celebrating without Alain ,Adamo,Frédérick,Lucas and Max..they have plans:)
Just us girls...Oli..Noah and Jacques.
I am so very very grateful for my family.

The weather is absolutely congenial to say the very least.

It is so gorgeous outside..not the gardens..not the grass..but the trees and the sky and the fall harvests.
It's a wonderful world.
Have a lovely weekend.

Apple pie..Hydrangeas~ M Graham and painting teacups again.

It's amazing how a lens changes so much..the photos were all taken with my Olympus..but this last one is with a new /second hand maybe third hand lens..a manual lens...50 mm 1.8 with an adapter.
I love how so much blurs in back..the last tea cup wastaken with it also..you can tell..the writing is sharp..the cup not..

This last one..I used Grumbacher .. Sometimes..if you prefer learning at home..Google etc..are necessary musts..
I was getting a bit discouraged with my teacups..as in the above middle picture....a teacup from my mom..
I Googled  howtodrawteacups..
and eureka..lots of tips and tricks came up..
I made sketches and put them in my How To Draw Teacups card:)
They range from drawing a square..or rectangle..and an ellipse inside..to drawing a circle  with yet another ellipse..lots of tips and tricks..

for my initial test w/ my M Graham watercolors..( see the palette middle pic at top ..bottom left?You may remember a beach buddy gave me that palette w/ large dots..more than dots..of his set of M Graham watercolors..
he paints with few colors and mixes..)
I do like them a lot..there is a summer set that looks interesting..
the colors are rich and juicy.

I did use a gold acrylic..thanks to Vivian Swift telling us about that:) Well it works ..you need very few tubes..like this set..as the colors mix beautifully..I have had this palette for almost 1 year..and it still paints prettily.
My next trip to the USA I think I will invest in the summer palette.

The last one..I used Grumbacher ..they seem chalky at times and less vibrant but on paper..I liked them..this is the set that was missing one pan..

You need very little to set up a painting spot.
I sat in our screened-in-porch Sept 26th..and painted a few teacups..
I use a dry erase board from the dollar store..a paper clip to attach my paper..my mom's tea cup..the palette..a worn Scott towel..2 brushes..an empty Kirkland grapefruit segments empty container..

a mechanical pencil and a broken off eraser..it all fits on the board..on my lap..
oh and that pretty block of watercolor paper from Sennelier~

I could make a different apple pie every day and Jacques would be happy..
..this time I used that crust I keep raving about..sliced some apples thinly..enough to fit the dish with a hill of slices..as apple slices shrink and your mound evens out..so pile them on..especially w/ a dough crust on top..
1/4 cup of flour..3 tbsps sugar..my fave blend of apple pie spices that I make that includes freshly grated cardamom..
and a crumb top..butter, flour, brown sugar..oats..I added pecans and walnuts this time..
I love the look and smell of a pie on the counter..he loves the taste.

Every fall..I cut down my hydrangeas..this is one of our Pink Diamond bushes..we have high ceilings..so I like putting things on hutches to make the ceilings more cozy..
that basket sits on our tv armoire..the hydrangeas last a good year..but by the end of the year..they do change..so I fill the wheelbarrow w/the old..and make a new arrangement for the coming year..I place them exactly how I want them in the large basket..and let them sit for a few days in the garage..then I bring it in..the reason I leave in the garage..is sometimes there is a bee or two:( An earwig or two..


Do you love KDLang? I do..
Do you love Tony Bennet?I do..
Together..they are magic.
Like fall leaves..only one artist paints like that!♥

It has been such a gloomy weekend!
Heavy..dry..w/ record lows of rain in Sept..so imagine..
Today is Sunday and I baked..a beef and mushroom pie from Canadian Living for Jacques..sad to report Rogers is selling Chatelaine magazine..etc..so many paper products such as magazines and newspapers are becoming obsolete with so much online..I guess..
I made a soup..a few other things..but I will save ..because what else would I talk about:)
 I made scones..yes I do indulge..and bites of this and that..
And that Costco popcorn:)
I took one of my 10 fave scone  recipes..but used self -raising or self-rising flour?To mimic Mary Berry.
I love her..
I had no idea she had has such sadness and challenges in her life.
I love her even more now.
Oh..and I painted..and took pics and played with my toys...♥

Have a lovely week~

Some final roses..Bran Muffins and Sennelier~

The day  was  golden  with such a glow the day I picked the last of the roses..(I keep saying that..and they keep appearing..)..
I have more as I type~
..before going out I painted my favorite teapot yet again  to be able to talk about this little Sennelier set.
And baked some muffins..some bran muffins from Marie..
Marie's are to the left..I like bran muffins and these were the perfect occasion to use my Lyle's Golden Syrup..Thank you Marie:)
I pop my muffins in the micro..I like warm muffins..they taste freshly baked then..

and some apple crisp muffins..

Back to painting..

First of all..
I am in LOVE with anything and everything Sennelier.
I will never forget my one time visiting there w/ Nancy in Paris and that sweet sweet gentleman being so nice to us.
I could have easily spent an afternoon there and my euros.
So many corners I did not explore..so many small things did not come home with us..
however..thankfully some did..
this small Sennelier set is available occasionally at our Omer De Serres store..and I think Amazon.Parka blogs reviews a larger set here..I love Payne's Grey.But I love to WEAR charcoal..black..grey.
Nancy's dress is Payne's Grey below.

Some of you may remember this birthday card I made for Nancy w/ this set.

I think they are wonderful..not chalky..not gummy..it's nectary:)♥ crisp ,pretty, bright colors that layer well..and watered down? The red can become pink..mixing a blue and red will give you a pretty purple..red and yellow an orange..they mix WELL.
A little brush comes w/ the set..I would have liked a metal white top to see the colors you are mixing..but I use the lid if I am confident..and a small white welled palette if not..
you would not regret this small set♥
Quality.
A great place to start..the brush..is very very small..I prefer a small travel brush that came with a journal one time..but it's a start..
you could just pack some paper..a Scott towel or sock..and a bottle of water and go paint somewhere for a while :)
Or try at home..not much space is required at all.
You can even play some music you love..cheaper than most outings..even cheaper than dinner out;)

A little side trip..

I visited St Armand's for the second time..the first time was several years ago..I went with my friend as she needed paper..this time I went because ..yes she needed paper but I wanted a smaller Canal book.They also carry Sabretooth...etc..I got sidetracked and did get paper but didn't get the Canal..oh well we will just have to go back.

Jacques said..he would take me back..
I don't drive into town..
I moved out to the country at 21..it's been 41 years..
I had no sense of direction back there..it's worse now.
I love the country but it excites me to see new things in the city on occasion..
like this fantabulous place.

This is a minute portion..a small fraction of the wharehouse/mill  they occupy..  papers are everywhere..from large large large pieces to small bookmark sizes..colors..textures..the list goes on and on..the papers are all made from fabrics and rags..no bleaching products etc..

So interesting..you can read about the papermaking here.
David Carruthers was there on site ..so nice..helpful.
I could have taken more photos but for some reason I am intimidated..I asked if I could take a photo and the lady said no people..I agreed of course and told her I hate my photo being taken..but that request took all my bravado..this is the only photo out of three that gives you an idea..of the place..it is huge.


I could have spent hours there..but Jacques was in the car;)

The little book I bought and one of the sheets .. (mostly Daniel Smith colors).
Hydrangeas in a Bonne Maman jar.The leaves are changing quickly now as the nights are cooler..
the light has changed yet again..
Mid day warmth is felt with the sun..but as of now 4.30 ish  the wind is cool ,the light still beautiful..but a bit of brr~

Bon Weekend~

Roasted Beet Hummus~Kuretake and Koi~

MMMM..love hummus and had seen roasted beet hummus popping up in so many blogs I decided to make some because the color appealed to me..
It was just ok in my opinion..I roasted the beets w/ evoo and garlic and s and p..

I used my processor and put the drained..rinsed chickpeas(1 large can)..put 2 large cloves of home grown garlic and the roasted ones..some evoo..the juice f the roasted beets..1 beet..1/4 cup tahini..s and p..lemon juice..a touch of water..even added a nice mix of roasted pine nuts..sunflower seeds..oil..garlic chives..sesame seeds..and still I found it bland.
Served on mini warmed naans.


Oh well.

I did however polish off so many Tostitos and Tostito Cheese dip..
We went to one of our daughter's for dinner and I sat in front of them..and never stopped:)

Scrabble..etc..French dip sandwiches..apple crisp♥
Fall is in the air.
It's been cool the last 3 nights and the trees are proof of the cooler air..they are shedding their green color for the fantastic shades of autumn..
a little football on Sunday..I love when Max waves to us all:)
They had company the night before and Max..9 ..at 9.15 PM announced he had to go to bed because he had a game the next day.
♥
So today I have two sets up..I painted the same teapot twice..and both could be vastly improved upon..the first I did on Arches paper with a travel set I have had for a long long time..my friend had one too..I liked that the water brush came with it and it was my first I think..
The kit is available on Amazon ..I find they are fun to travel with but again..more chalky than I like..

However if you go peek here..on Instagram..I follow this girl and most of her paintings are done w/ this kit..they don't look chalky with her talent!Becky..aka Caobecky..
I really should use it more..
Again Parka Blogs has a review..

Even Walmart carries it..

Here is a set I do like..not the above ones I painted..but below.. Kuretake ..you may remember those were my birthday gift this year..they were bought on Amazon..I don't find them chalky at all ,although more opaque..but vibrant!
Parka Blogs has a review..And it's fun to have all the colors right there..I used some paper I just love...the book is very big 10x14 and thick w/ a natural cover..the sheets are bright..white..lovely texture..deckled edges,this book was a gift..bought at Mtl Japanese paper shop and is from St-Armands.it is different than my individual sheets that some of you may have tried..if you look on their site there is an area for pads etc..mine is there..:)underneath to the right..my friend had the one bottom left..horizontal..for her landscapes.

So 5 stars to my lovely book and paper..and I do really like this green Kuretake set above..my favorite brush is Raphael Petit Gris Pur 0/2 le "803"~
Paints to me are what my Prismacolors..Crayolas..etc were to me young.I loved getting new pencils.
You will find me more in art departments than clothes depts.
And maybe that's why I get such a crush on artists..
all kinds..

Again most of my brushes are very ordinary brushes except my 2 Raphaels and some Japanese brushes..but the rest are generic to the stores,have come w/ the kits..or are waterbrushes.. etc..I have not invested in fancy brushes...
but I have quite a few..
and paints I am a novice..so check out Parka Blogs when you can:)Because I am not an expert..so far..in linking here..I have read and agree..it surprised me my thoughts were alike.

I think St-Armands ships..so maybe you could go take a peek at their site..it's a phenomenal place.

Bakewell Tart~Watercolors~And Internet Usage.

It's no secret I love the GBBS:)

And I have grown fond of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry..

I hear things are changing..I hope I still get to see the show.

I like them together..and she is amazing.

81 years amazing.

Anyway..I have seen Mary Berry's bakewell tart here and there and decided to make one..I used the crust I have fallen in love with..I shared it here..

just try it..it's so easy and so good..

doesn't fall apart..crispy and flaky.

PS Edit today Sept 24th..in emailing with my friend Linda I remembered I omitted to mention here I had 4 tbsps of jam..I covered the base of my 9 inch fluted pan.

I must have merged a few of Mary's BT recipe found here and there.

I was quite unpro though and used an almond frangipane type filling I bought in the USA..

Next time I will make my own..because I do like being true to a recipe to give an honest review..as it stands it is delicious.And pretty.

So if possible even moe delish following the recipe.

the one on her recipe..

here..I used store bought raspberry jam..lovely sliced almonds and then a drizzle of icing sugar glaze..

after all fall was Wednesday..the 21rst..

I made a stew the 19th and it was boiling out..

I am in the mood for fallish food now.

Onto what is interesting to me..and I have no clue of knowing how to determine..

I have had an Instagram account for a long time..and never used it..never looked..was not even curious..lately..I became curious..seems our internet usage is at 75% after less than half time..

can this be it?

I would hate to think..that it takes up that much usage:(

And...

I mentioned I would sometimes talk about watercolors..

Now is a good time to start?

If watercolors are not for you..just skip:)

I know it makes for a long post.

Most..if not all.. my watercolor books.Some I have had for 100 years.

See the Quinn violet blob on the # above?

That was not planned I bumped my brush while loading colors for the swatches and it spattered on my man..it's my favorite blob..it ran into the beard etc..

that's what her art is about..letting colors merge and create beauty..

Jean Haines

In the past 20 years I have bought a few watercolor books..then in the past 6 years..I added some..and more recently 4..
I don't have that many as you can see..
and I don't know what I get exactly out of each one of them..yet..
I will read..experiment..and maybe get a better sense of what works for me..

but I know one.. I have particularly liked  very much..
and it is You Can Paint Watercolors in Twelve Easy Lessons/ Yuko Nagayama....
I will get into that one..later..on another post w/ another paint set or two.

So that's not the one I am going to talk about here..

I am going to talk about the Jean Haines one.. World of Watercolor..and the DS paints..

I have loved her work online and two artists had mentioned her in the same week..I'd love to get looser..so I went for it..

I am just starting to really look at it...it's beautiful..lots of animals...I may try the chicken..well I did:)but it's not presentable..there are koi..a koala..chickens..etc..
I would have loved more vegetables..outdoor scenes..countryside..etc..she has many books so perhaps I picked the wrong one..but I love her choice of colors..and the loose dreamy look of all her work here..Atmospheric it is called..
She has some nice tutorials..and I plan on practicing:)
And plan on reading her every word:)


there's a lot of what to have..in it..supplies etc..about which paints she had when starting out and how she  kept getting to know colors and buying more..and how they please her.
I admit to being such a paint lover..I love a new tube!♥
So..as I said just getting into it:)

I had mentioned the DS color cards..this is the only one my shop has..
The paintings you see..are 2 paintings I did..copying what I saw in her tutorials..albeit the Christmas tree one is minus a cute little child..

A funny thing about the man in the hat if you can make it out..she calls him a cowboy and in her detailed piece he does look like one..but in this one..I saw Monet.
The swatches I painted on the right hand side are not the colors I used..some yes..not all..
But I wanted to show you colors I loved on that card..and the quinacrodones win for me..
I have Quinn Rose and Quinn Gold..I have a few on my wish list..
I also bought Imperial Purple because of this card..and Anita's cards..you may remember I received dot cards from her:)

I don't like the luminescent colors at all for me.They are on the bottom portion of the dot card you see above.

The Christmas ornament one..I had painted something terrible on the other side so flipped it to paint this..the paper was still a bit wet..so wet on both sides..it gives it the feeling of fabric ..sort of when dry..
oh well..

here is my favorite paper/ art journal..one of them  ..I do have a few others;)
I bought it through Curry's online and I should have bought 2 in my initial order..I like it so much..I save it for things I apply myself to:)
I wish we could just go to our fave art store and buy them.
Thank goodness I have my big St-Armand's book♥

So first of all..this is for novices..like me..not the paper..but..

..see the cold press words above?

That means you will have some texture in the paper.
Hot press..think of it as ironed paper..
Rough grain..I don't like ..apart from the one I get in Montreal from St Armand..I love that one..it has a lot of texture..but it's not hard..hard to explain..

I save that book for small things here I like..a miniature cup..a miniature vase..I should really scan instead of taking photos at the last minute..it's brighter and whiter and crisper in person.

I love Daniel Smith colors..I love them..M Graham are vivid ..and I like the ones my Fl friend had me try..
but I think I love DS more..
I squeeze the tube paints into empty half pans or palettes..
those are like a collection though:)
Half pans and pans are hard to come by here..so I just ordered more from the UK..shipping is not great.More than the actual pans.

I'll come back to paints and the novice;) later..

I did get one comment I found very interesting about investing in watercolors for a débutante..

I read all the time..invest in the best paints etc.. you can afford..but I do know that painting will not be for everyone..

so..
Artist Loft  brand,cheap and cheerful..Michaels..Amazon..for loads of colors..the coupons do not work at our Michaels as they are considered always low price..
but if you want to SEE if you could get into painting..and do not want to invest too much..these would be fun..
I took an online art class 2 yrs ago..or 3 ..and the recommendation was Prang..I have those too..cheap and cheerful..whole different consistency..very bright ..rich gummy..
The Artist Loft..I compare to higher end Grumbacher ..I have the 24 color set that actually came w/ 23 colors:(
Amazon..I only noticed much later..
so I never said anything.

I find Grumbacher..in this form..chalky and that is the attribute I would give to AL..

and not because they come in pans..because I have pan ones that are not chalky..but to start..AL  paints..would tell you..in using watercolor..if you love to paint or not:)

Blablabla..I am a novice..my tastes..are novice like..but just in case some want to try:)

And that paper ..Michael's ..you can use your coupon and there is a LOT for that price..not textured..not flat..not great..but to start..:)

Or..we can just bake;)As I know a bit more about baking than painting..and even that not a lot...like many of you.

Bon weekend!
In case our usage gets cut off..I am publishing..now;)