On Sprout Bagels

I had this post ready to go but I just wanted to send prayers to Paris, shock and horror at the incomprehensible terrorist attacks.

I mentioned having a sprout bagel a couple of days ago and there was curiosity on what these might be.  They are a new product from Panera bread.  Here is a good article explaining more about them, it says Panera uses sprouted grains from rye, spelt and rolled oats in this particular creation.  It results in a bagel with more protein, less starch and calories.  We are talking about whole grain goodness!  Husband M is going to switch to having these instead of a croissant.

Paint Party Friday - Street Sunset

This piece is called 'Street Sunset' based on a photo I snapped down the street a few weeks ago. It's done in watercolour pencil on an index card. Happy Paint Party Friday!

Estate Sale Continued

Stoneware Vase

So on Sunday my girlfriend S came by for a walk.  It was sunny and cold, but you didn't quite need a winter coat.  We passed by the estate sale I had gone to with my other friend the day before and were invited in to have another look as everything was half off from the previous day.  I bought a baking tray and a stoneware vase.  S found some jam jars.  I also decided to take an old wheelbarrow for $2.50.  S knew the estate sale ladies, retired kindergarten teachers from her kids' former elementary school.  They have formed a choir and sing at the old people's homes in the area.

Then we went to have coffee and a chat.  S insisted on sharing her  sprout muffin with me, it was pretty good with butter.

The Estate Sale

How is this for some newspaper art, compliments of the sunlight and shadows at my front door one morning. 

I went on a nice walk with a good friend Saturday morning.  The weather was sunny and bright for the most part.  We stopped off at an estate sale down the road.  It made me sad to see someone's treasured possessions being sold off.  Some of the items were so nice.  It is time to declutter as the saleslady said, it will make it easier when the time comes.  My girlfriend did buy a couple of good knives for a dollar.  After dropping the knives back to her car, we went for a nice cup of coffee and a chat.

After our walk, we went to a restaurant for a lovely Japanese bento box lunch.  My friend paid the bill when I went to the washroom, so I didn't have much choice but to thank her for her kindness!

Fall Colour

Here is some local fall colour for you today, I took this photo last week.  Everyone is now gathering all their leaves and cleaning up their lawns.

I was at the gym the other day and ran into a lady I hadn't seen in awhile. She has knee problems, she showed me how swollen one of them are and told me she has to wait 2 and a half years for knee surgery. She has already waited 6 months.  This made me think of an aunt who kept postponing her knee surgery.  It turns out she died of a heart condition and never got it done.  Such is life.

Seagulls

Last week, I zoomed in on these seagulls happily frolicking at a construction site that seems to want to be a pond.  They looked so carefree and happy.  It's too bad that within a short time the space will be full of new townhouses and condos.  A lot of them hang out in the mall parking lots too.

Sunday Sketches - Lest We Forget

For Sunday Sketches, this is a tribute to Remembrance Day, done on a journal page (8 1/2 x 11") in watercolour crayon.