Paint Party Friday - End of Summer

This is a greeting card on textured light blue cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in watercolour pencil. It depicts the end of summer, still warm, as the trees start to change colour. Happy Paint Party Friday!

On Senior Discounts

Black Maple

My good friend S is very frugal and who doesn't like to save money. We were having coffee in McDonald's the other morning and she got to wondering what exactly is the senior discount at McDonald's and at what age does it start. So I googled and came upon this website for frugal living in Canada called Mrs January. It has a lot of interesting tips, such as 'what to buy in September'. I was able to tell S that the senior discount at McDonald's in Canada starts at age 60, which means you can get a senior's large coffee for 85 cents! It doesn't work with combo meals of course. Here's what the site says about senior discounts in Canada.

Best Gift

My sister in California celebrated her birthday last week and her daughter's friend sent this over as a birthday gift from his garden. Isn't that the best gift ever?

Microdose Mammography

fall leaves

Silver Willow of 'A Gentle Breeze' recommended this new TV drama called 'This is Us' and my daughter and I LOVED it!  It's a great new series, in fact we plan to watch the 2nd episode tonight.

I went for my mammogram yesterday, the government sends me a reminder to book an appointment every 2 years.  The place I go to is one of the few in the area that provide a microdose mammography.  These use a lot less radiation, and will pinpoint problems more accurately.  It is a digital process.  The nurse told me mammograms are provided by the government for ages 50-74 and you can self-refer, your doctor does not have to be involved in the referral.  In fact, you will receive a report in the mail afterwards.

The technician was quick and efficient, it is an uncomfortable process but it was quickly over.  Toward the end, we were talking about how the rain that day was good for the grass.  I told her I thought I was done with weeding for the season.  She agreed and told me how wonderful her tomato plants did this year.  I was surprised as it has been very dry, just going by how my grass looks.  She said it was all the sunshine they received, hmm.

Chia Pudding

Daughter L found this easy recipe for chia pudding. It called for unsweetened almond milk,chia seeds, cinnamon and vanilla extract. She liked the chocolate one, and I liked the vanilla. Son K didn't like it. Have you used chia seeds, it was new for me.  Apparently it is a very nutritious, gluten free grain, and a complete food.  I can fool myself that I had some dessert when I have some!

Sunday Sketches - Sunflower

Welcome to Sunday Sketches from England! Thanks to Alexandra for always hosting. This piece is done in acrylic and outlined with a black waterproof artist pen. It's called 'Sunflower' of course.  It's based on a photo I had taken a few years back.

Sorry I am unable to comment on some Google+ blogs, but I will reply to yours on my blog.

Seagull with Geese

My son K noticed this lone seagull hanging out with a bunch of geese the other day. I suppose they do that. I have seen ducks swimming with geese in the lakes.

Yesterday was such a grey day.  It didn't really rain, it was just so overcast and depressing.  I turned the lights on earlier than usual and it improved my mood.  Are you affected by the light?

Paint Party Friday - Hydrangea

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! These are some hydrangea I painted in acrylic and black waterproof pen on textured pink cardstock (6" x 6"). In the end, there is not much of the pink cardstock actually showing!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

McDonald's restaurants are featuring pumpkin spiced lattes for the season. I usually get the regular lattes but the cashier suggested this one to me and I decided to have one. She asked if I wanted whipped cream on mine and I said 'why not'? It was delicious of course.

We went to see the movie 'Sully' a few days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a 'recommend'!

Shower Chair

This shower chair fits in a standard bathtub. It costs about $95 Canadian. I believe this is the one my sister and her husband settled upon getting for my mother's use. They were going to measure their bathtub to ensure it fits as we were told these kinds of products cannot be returned for hygienic reasons. At this store, there is a 20% seniors discount on Thursdays, and my mom doesn't have to be present, you just have to say it is for a senior.  A hand shower faucet has also been recommended.

Creative Tuesdays - Pattern

Welcome to Michael's Creative Tuesdays!  The current theme is 'Pattern'.  I took this bunch of photos on a walk and used them as inspiration for my pattern above, done in acrylic on textured yellow cardstock (8 1/2" x 11").  It was fun to do, stretching my creativity at the same time!

Yummy

One of my sisters and my sister-in-law were on a recent European cruise and sent us these yummy photos:

Barcelona

Marseilles

Sunday Sketches - Silver Shoes

Welcome to Sunday Sketches from England! I saw these silver shoes in a shopping catalogue and thought they were so cute! It's a greeting card on textured coloured paper (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in acrylic.

Unfortunately I am unable to comment on some Google+ blogs.

In Appreciation

A friend brought us this box of Thornton's chocolates from England recently. She had gone to Europe on vacation and it was a way of saying thank you for keeping her house key while she was away. Yes, the chocolates are delicious as chocolates tend to be! I've never heard of this brand though.

Paint Party Friday - Halloween Cake

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! Thanks as always to our hosts Eva and Kristin. I did a Halloween Cake on this greeting card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in acrylic for you today.

So Peaceful

Daughter L took this photo on a recent visit to cottage country, Muskoka to be exact. It looks so peaceful.

I was outside doing some weeding when our new neighbour's 2 small dogs came running at me aggressively, barking loudly. She was running after them, telling them to stop. They were unleashed and I thought they were going to attack or bite me. Fortunately she was able to call them off (seemingly in the nick of time) and for some reason, I didn't run or panic. She apologized. I'm not really comfortable with dogs, as I never had any pets growing up.

The Black Squirrel

The wildflowers still look beautiful at this time of year.  We had such a heat wave last week, the squirrels were passed out again.  We saw a black one stretched out almost flat along the top of a fence.  He wasn't moving at all.  But he went away after awhile.

The Boulder

This is the boulder on which the senior ladies sat in my recent post.

I went with my sister and her husband yesterday to see a long term care home for my mom. It was a beautiful facility but unfortunately the homes in our area are now a 4 to 5 year wait. It is different for the private care homes I think, but they are very expensive. The government care centre will start sending a worker to help with bathing my mom for an hour, a couple of times per week, and hopefully that will help somewhat with her ongoing care. They have recommended updates to her bathroom, such as a shower chair, grab bars, etc.

I arranged with my mom's pharmacy to start creating 4 week pill packs for her. They did a good job with the first batch picked up yesterday. She takes 14 pills in the morning (including 3 supplements) and 7 pills at night. It is a government service and there is no charge.

Apple Tree

Enjoy these photos I took of an apple tree in the neighbourhood.  It was just after 8.30 am one weekend morning, I was off to meet my friend S.  Only the squirrels and birds were out and the light is different at this time of year.  Early fall is quite nice, until it gets really cold!

Sunday Sketches - The Party Dress

Welcome to Sunday Sketches from England! This piece is called 'The Party Dress', it is a greeting card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in acrylic. It is inspired by a photo I took in a local store.

Unfortunately I am unable to comment on some Google+ blogs.

Bird Tracks

I was walking down a street the other day and noticed these bird tracks on the pavement, can you see them? I guess they didn't understand 'wet cement' signs at the time!

Paint Party Friday - Over the Fence

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! This piece is called 'Over the Fence', done in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour crayon and pencil. It is based on a photo I took in the neighbourhood.

Mating Insects

I noticed what appears to be these mating insects outside my front door one morning!

Frozen Lemonade

I love icy drinks at any time of year, this is a new one I tried at a McDonald's McCafe restaurant. It's a frozen lemonade.

Toasted Tomato Sandwich

I'm featuring my open-faced toasted tomato sandwich today. It's the perfect breakfast, especially if you have really fresh tomatoes!

I'm also linking to Michael's Creative Tuesdays 'Plum' challenge today, he had postponed it by a week. Here's my entry from last week.

A lovely review

Rose of Sharon

There was a lovely review in the paper last week of this book 'Dinner with Edward' by Isabel Vincent.  I would like to read it.

' In her new book, Dinner with Edward, Vincent tells the story of their five-year friendship. As he grieved the loss of his wife of 69 years, Vincent’s own marriage was dissolving. They bonded over Edward’s perfect martinis and the fabulous meals — stuffed baby squid Lisbon-style, chicken paillard with sauce aux champignons — that he painstakingly prepared.'

So I put a hold on this book at my library and saw that there are currently 11 holds.  Given that you are given 3 weeks to read  a book, my turn will be in 33 weeks or less!  I'm not in a hurry and decided not to purchase the $30 hardcover  edition for now.

Sunday Sketches - Garden Slug

Welcome to Sunday Sketches from England! I did a garden slug in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour crayon and pencil.

Apologies, I cannot comment on some Google+ blogs as I have not converted.

Three Senior Ladies

ripening crabapples

I was walking through a parkette on my way to church last Sunday when I came upon these 3 senior Chinese ladies.  Two of them were sitting on a large boulder happily conversing in their language.  The third lady was doing 'Tai Chi' like movements close beside them.  Isn't this a wonderful way to spend your senior years with close friends like this?  I said hello and wished I could take a photo of them for you, but it didn't seem appropriate!

Paint Party Friday - Running Track

This is a quick sketch in watercolour crayon in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11"). It's based on a photo I took at the running track by a local school.  It was a sunny morning and I was grateful for the shade under the trees. Happy Paint Party Friday!

Blueberry Pound Cake

The Southern Lady posted a recipe for an 'Easy Blackberry Pound Cake', and I asked daughter L to try it with blueberrries because I love blueberries baked in some kind of cake or muffin. She used less sugar, and it was so delicious, a real winner!

And welcome to September!