It's Here and I'm Not

I finally found a copy of the magazine that has my first published photograph in it.  It was a pretty exciting moment for me.  There I was standing in the magazine aisle at Loblaws holding the Ladies Home Journal open to page 54 and grinning like a Cheshire cat.   I want to thank Ladies Home Journal for including me in the article and to welcome anyone who is stopping by after reading the article or visiting the LHJ website.

Malcolm and Christie came for a visit yesterday and it was so nice to see them.  It has been difficult to arrange visits since Christmas because of conflicting schedules so we were excited when they said they would be able to come and stay overnight.  I wanted to show you (like any proud momma would) what Malcolm brought me. 

He's turned into quite the accomplished chef.  I'm going to be sharing some of his favourite recipes with you in the near future (just as soon as I make the dishes). In other news, I'm away this week on a road trip.  William and I are off visiting two universities so he can decide which one he would like to attend.   We're going to stop at the cottage on the way home so we can visit my parents and relax a bit as this is our March Break.   I'll be back with some photos next week. I hope those of you with the week off have a nice relaxing time.   I've lined up a St. Patrick's day inspired WISH Wednesday photo and another day trip in Normandy France for Friday to keep you all entertained while I'm away.

A Wedding Shower Present Idea

Spring is just around the corner and that means so is wedding season.  I have an idea that I've been meaning to share with you for a bridal shower gift.  Long ago a friend gave me this idea and I thought it was fantastic.  Funny thing is I have never actually given it.  I have been in the lull between attending showers for my friends and attending showers for my children and their friends and haven't been to very many showers for years so I had no place to use the idea.  However being the helpful person that I am, I thought I would pass it on to you.



Wouldn't it be fun to give a set of seasonal tea towels to a young bride in your life.  It would be a practical gift, one that doesn't matter if there are duplicates, and one that would help the new couple add a bit of decoration to their home.  The trickiest part of this gift is that you need to plan ahead.  As each celebration rolls around then you need to buy a few tea towels - maybe even in the sales after the special day is over.  As the year progresses and you collect each celebration you end up with a complete collection to give.   You could also collect other things such as placemats, serviettes, and napkin rings to help set a festive table.

I took some pictures of my seasonal tea towels - because honestly what's a post without photos -  but when I got my tea towels out to take pictures of them I realized that many of them are past their finest and are a bit worn and faded.  Anyway it gives you the idea.
The different tea towels I have include one for St. Patrick's Day and several for spring/Easter.

I don't really have any for the summer per se, but I have a back-to-school tea towel, and of course, several Hallowe'en tea towels.

I also have many Christmas tea towels and one Valentine's Day one.

What seasonal tea towels do you have?  Wouldn't they have been a fun gift to receive when you were first starting out.

WISH Wednesday #21

I had a hankering for a nice bright colourful room for the WISH Wednesday room this week.  I wonder why? Could it be the endless gray skies?  The cool dreary weather we have been having?  Whatever the reason, this bright modern kitchen is just what the Doctor ordered.  
I'm usually more of a vintage, traditional kind of gal, but this cheerful kitchen belonging to Bobbie Burger has always appealed to me.  I remember seeing her  Okanagan weekend home for the first time in the Canadian House and Home magazine in May 2009.   The gorgeous paintings on the wall just grabbed my attention.  Her home is the perfect backdrop to showcase her paintings with the clean white walls and floor and the gorgeous views out the window.

House and Home

This kitchen is amazing in so many ways.  Not only are the paintings riveting, but I love the long row of white cabinets, the bank of windows, the hit of yellow in the stove and the stool at the end of the table, and of course, the gorgeous 1890s Quebec convent table.  

Design*Sponge

If I could chose to paint like anyone (and believe me I have a list just in case my fairy godmother comes calling and decides to grant me a wish) then Bobbie would be right up there.  I love the swirls of flower petals and the fresh colours in her paintings.   

Is that a cheerful and spring-like kitchen or what?  

Ukrainian Easter Egg Photoshoot

I was recently contacted by Ladies Home Journal to use the photo below in an article about blogger's Easter eggs.  

You can imagine my excitement - I have always wanted to have a photograph published in a magazine.  However, the photo they had selected was taken a few years ago and I had intended to take some new ones of our Ukrainian Easter eggs this year with my new camera.  So a few weeks ago I got out some of my springish tablecloths and my camera and the Ukrainian Easter eggs (officially called Pysanky) that we have made over the years and had a wonderful time doing a photo-shoot.  It took me a few hours and a few hundred photos until I had taken every possible combination I could think of - but then again that is my idea of fun.  


I ended up with so many photos that I was having a difficult time deciding which one were the best so I emailed Kat from Low Tide High Style to get her opinion.  Being both a professional photographer and a kind soul she took the time to let me know her opinion.  The six photos below are my favourites (and Kat's).  I'm curious to know which one you like best and I'll show you at the end of the post the one that was chosen by Ladies Home Journal.

I sent these photos off to the magazine and let them choose and this is the one that was selected:

You can go here to see the other amazing eggs that were included in this post.  There are some very creative ideas in the article, some of which I just might have to make.  


The photo will also be in the April 2012 issue of Ladies Home Journal, although I haven't seen it yet as I could only find the March one on display in the stores in my area.  I'm pretty excited to see a photograph of mine in a real honest to goodness paper magazine.  There will be a happy dance in the magazine aisle at Loblaws in a week or so!

Linked to Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming,
Spring and Easter Holiday Party at Holiday Haven

Day Trips Around Normandy France - Étretat

I've decided to do a new series highlighting some of our favourite places we visited around Normandy France last summer.  It was a fantastic vacation - one well worth spending some time remembering.  If you happen to be one of the lucky ones and are visiting Normandy this summer then be sure and take notes, and if France isn't in the cards for you ... well then how about a little armchair travel.  It's good for the soul.  


I'm going to start with my favourite day trip because I just can't wait to share it with you.   It was such a blast and including everything I love - a little adventure, a hike in some beautiful scenery, the ocean, old houses, and good food.

Most people get to Étretat  by driving to the pretty coastal town, but we stopped a few kilometres outside of town and took a different mode of transportation.  We were staying with our friend's in Normandy and going to Étretat by Velo-rail was recommended to them as a fun way to get into town (you can get more details from their website here).  Velo-rail is like a pump car that can be pedaled.  Five people can sit on the cars and, at any one time, two can pedal.

You ride down the hill through the countryside.  I'll let you in on a little secret though, it isn't exactly difficult cycling as gravity does a lot of the work for you so you are free to soak up the scenery. And just to put your mind at rest - you don't have to cycle up the hill as there is a train that takes you back up to your car at the end of the day.

Then as you get close to Étretat, the famous cliffs begin to appear behind the town .

Once you reach the station you walk down through the town to the beach.  The walk is lovely too as Étretat  is full of beautiful homes and gardens.

Love the shells decorating the front of this house

And a pretty Norman church

with a huge shell for holding holy water.

There are plenty of places to have lunch in town. We had a lovely sunny day so sat outside. I had some mussels which are traditional food for the area (they were delicious although a bit messy to eat).

After getting a bite to eat we headed down to the beach and walked up a trail to the top of the cliffs.  It was amazing, breath-taking, gorgeous...

We weren't the only ones to love Étretat - here is one of many pictures Monet painted there.