My Holiday Card

As thoughts turn to Christmas, I have come up with my own Holiday card design. It's more of a contemporary style, acrylic on cardstock (6.5" x 4.5"). I've been wanting to do something with festive circles for awhile and this idea came to me earlier this week.

Linking to Paint Party Friday. Please visit the other talented participants!

The Compliment

The weather has been so mild this past week, I was out walking with my friend S on the weekend and snapped this photo. I liked the yellows on the shrub beneath the tree.  The shadows are pretty too.  It was just after 10 am.

The city of Toronto is very excited about The 100th Grey Cup football final on Sunday. Well, according to M as I'm not a sports fan. He will be attending a Grey Cup party on Sunday. Because of the NHL Hockey lockout, this CFL game is getting even more attention. That and the fact that the Toronto Argonauts are in the final against the Calgary Stampeders and the game is being held in Toronto! The Argos have not been in the final in a long time.

I was driving in dense fog yesterday morning and a lady driving next to me asked me to roll my window down so she could communicate with me. She told me to put my lights on as she couldn't see my car from behind. I put my high beams on and felt lucky for the warning from the nice lady. My car has lights that come on automatically but it was just the daytime lights. They are brighter at night. So much for automatic technology. Then I noticed most people had their high beams on. And some didn't have any lights on at all!

Then I got to the gym and the attendant complimented me on my jacket. He said it was nice, and inquired if it was a windbreaker. The girl next to him agreed and said the colour suited me! I thanked them graciously and decided not to mention that I've been wearing this coat for about 20 years. Maybe they are getting training on customer service, but still, they made my day!

Pretty Tree

I noticed this pretty store display at the mall, an all white Christmas tree made of flowers:

And from the 2013 Milk Calendar, I can't wait to try one of these 'Anyday, anytime smoothies'. I already bought some cottage cheese to try the strawberry smoothie, except I'll use fresh strawberries. I've noticed this year they are substituting cottage cheese for cream cheese, and it sounds like a good thing.

Traction Aid

I noticed what looks like a new product on a recent trip to Costco. It's called 'Get a Grip before you slip'. It's a traction aid that you slip over your running shoes. Wonder if this would help in the snow and ice?  I think I'll just wear my boots.

I got the 2013 Milk Calendar in the newspaper and am going to try a couple of interesting recipes in it. One of them is 'Dark and Delicious Chocolate Velvet Cake', it uses beets and cocoa and seems quite healthy and simple. Here is the recipe.

A most interesting conversation

I was at the gym last week, lying on one of the massage machines.  A friendly lady with whom I will often exchange pleasantries lay in the machine next to me.  I would guess that she is in her early sixties, a tall Jamaican of African descent.  With me being Jamaican of Chinese descent, we have a lot in common.  I asked her if she had started any Christmas shopping yet.  She said she had 2 married children and one still unmarried.  She will likely get gifts for her grandkids and maybe a gift certificate for her newly married son.
Her married daughter has asked not to exchange gifts because she really doesn't need anything.

This daughter travelled the world with her husband and two kids for a year and returned this past summer.  Somehow she managed to school her elementary kids under 10 years old.    I had to ask if they were independently wealthy.   It turns out that this daughter is a travel writer and will often get free hotel accommodation from the hotel being reviewed.  They travelled Western Canada, The U.S., Australia, Africa, the Middle East and returned through Eastern Canada.  She was even on some TV shows in various countries!   Her husband has a government job which allows him to take a year off every now and then with some planning.  The kids were schooled sometimes through internet courses, especially in places like Africa.  It was difficult for the kids to return to regular school but the older one has re-adjusted and the younger one  is still requiring extra tutoring.  And they want to do this again in a few years!

Well I must say this was a most interesting conversation.  I will likely never get to visit half of these places, ever!  It must be nice to be a travel writer.  Of course you would have to be a qualified journalist first!

The Leaves Are Gone

I've been inspired lately by all the fall images about the city. This piece is called 'The Leaves Are Gone'. It's an an acrylic on cardstock (4.5" x 6.5").

Linking to Sunday Sketches, please join us!

Festive Special

It's time for the Swiss Chalet restaurant's Festive Special! K and  I had this for dinner recently as M was out of town.  It comes with stuffing, cranberry sauce and some Lindt chocolates.

It's neat that they always give you a finger bowl to clean your fingers after your chicken dinner!