The Glad Girl

it's the weekend. blow your horn.

2012-01-27T17:39:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is National Kazoo Day! (well, in the US anyway but can the kazoo really be contained by borders?)

Bedtime stories with Benedict Cumberbatch

Someone thoughtful posted this on the Glad Girl Facebook page - how sweet are they? really considering seeing of they'll do a custom Bee Glad.

The beautiful homes of famous authours.

Love NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.

Is it too early for a Maple Syrup Toddy? I didn't think so.

hockey dreams in my hometown

2012-01-27T16:44:00.001-04:00

If you think that you are a Canadian, then my boy I will show you I am a Canadian too- if they check me from behind I will get up, if they kick and slash I will get up.

If we play three against five for fifteen minutes I will get up.

I too am a Canadian.

They will not take this away from me.

David Adams Richards, Hockey Dreams

Growing up on Grand Manan, we used to skate on whatever patch of ice we could find. Winters are mild on the island so when it was cold enough that a small accumulation of water in my neighbour's field froze it was cause for celebration. Looking back I think my "skating pond" was maybe 10 feet by 10 feet. If we were lucky and the stars aligned and the ponds froze, you had to navigate bumpy surfaces, branches frozen in the surface of the ice and the occasional muskrat. (As an aside: I developed a skating style that compensated for these imperfections so that when I finally hit slick, Zambonied ice for the first time at Acadia, I couldn’t actually stay on my feet for longer than 20 seconds.) For as long as I or anyone else can remember, we talked about it all the time but having a hockey rink on the island seemed like the impossible dream.

The ritual that seemed to be playing out in every other small town in Canada parents and kids flocking to the rink in the wee hours of the mornings eluded us. Once again our island life had seemingly cut us off from the shared experiences of ‘the mainland.’ So last weekend as I watched the Grand Manan Islanders skate out to centre ice, as I watched my cousins' daughters take to the ice proudly sporting their Islanders jerseys, I'll admit it was emotional watching my hometown finally live out their hockey dreams.

In November Mars Canada made a significant investment in the island rink and they made this documentary. It's a great look not only at our hockey story but a great introduction to my very special hometown.

let's misbehave

2012-01-26T15:09:00.000-04:00

I've been obsessing a little over the late '20s / early 30s lately and the Cole Porter song "Let's Misbehave" has been stuck in my head. Have you seen Easy Virtue? Based on a Noel Coward play, it came out a few years ago. It's a lovely couple of hours of eye candy full of English manor house decor and fabulous late-20s fashion. And Colin Firth. It completely changed my view of Jessica Biel who is beyond delightful as the plucky heroine. The whole film makes me want to bob my hair, slip on a pair of chic wide-legged pants and dance to Cole Porter.

australia day

2012-01-26T08:06:00.002-04:00

Happy Australia Day! Ok, well technically the day is nearly over for my friends Down Under but I had to give a little shout out to an amazing country. I was never someone who put visiting Australia on her "bucket list" but when the chance came to visit Lori and Leon in 2010, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Even in the middle of a Melbourne winter, Australia delighted. From the outdoorsy: lush hill country and and temperate rainforests, koala-spotting and paddling with platypus... to the decadent: the food! the wine! the shops! the wine! And the coffee. Oh my, the coffee. Even the most out of the way rest stop seemed to possess an espresso maker and a knowledgeable barista. Australia? Who knew?

And most of all the people. Maybe it's because traveling is so much part of their own culture and they know what it's like to be a visitor but I found everyone I met - from shopkeepers to Lori and Leon's besties - to be welcoming, gregarious and warm; interested in hearing about Canada and so proud to show off their country.

So cheers Australia! Thanks for giving me a great adventure!

sunday night at mam & bap's

2012-01-23T16:19:00.001-04:00

Every Sunday night for as long as I can remember our family has been spending Sunday night supper at ' Mam & Bap's' (our family nickname for my grandparents Betty & Ray). My weekends on the island usual involve catching a ferry back to the mainland late Sunday morning. But since I took Monday off from work today, I got to take part in this ritual that's been going on for nearly forty years. And now there's a new generation making their own memories!

What little rituals does your family have?

Mam & Bap cheer on their kids, grandkids & great-grandkids at the skating rink.

kindred spirits

2012-01-23T10:17:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons I came to Grand Manan this weekend was to do some research on a couple of projects that I've had in the back of my mind for awhile now. The first thing I needed to do was to dig into the island archives to find out if there was enough material to do pursue what I had in mind. (There was!) So I spent most of Saturday afternoon getting acquainted with two delightful ladies, a mother and daughter, and the host of colourful characters who populated their lives in the first few decades of the 20th century. It's kind of a thrill to pore over the old yellowed original letters - you start to get a real feel for the details of their life and their personalities. By the time I came across the quote above (written to the mother by the daughter while she was away at college in the late 1920s) I knew I had discovered kindred spirits. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time with them!

sunday morning mix: django heats things up

2012-01-22T11:50:00.000-04:00

Sunday morning music - Django by Heather Allaby on Grooveshark

It's the weekend. Bundle up.

2012-01-20T16:40:00.003-04:00

Happy weekend! I am spending a good part of my weekend in a rink which apparently is totally normal for many, many Canadians but kind of a novelty for me. Tonight I get to watch some former NHL players in my home town (surreal, right?) and tomorrow I hope to hit the same ice with some of my family for a little skating myself (even more surreal, I imagine). Whatever you are up to this weekend, bundle up and stay warm!

Some of my favourite things this week:

I still love classic children's books. Check out the stories behind the most beloved stories:

An oldie but a goodie, this 20-minute skirt tutorial has me dreaming about all the pretty spring skirts I could make.

2 ingredients + 5 minutes to "the best chocolate mousse of your life?" This I've gotta try!

What I love: things that are wee. This micro-planter how-to on Etsy will delight the tiniest green thumb.

Seeing the beautiful people having fun and looking human on Awesome People Hanging Out Together always makes me smile

And because you just can't see it enough, Tina Fey photobombs Amy Poehler- I would love to be either of these women when I grow up. (Especially Amy Poehler. Why? See above.)

lady sings the blues

2012-01-20T15:01:00.002-04:00

etta james, (january 25, 1938 - january 20, 2012)

Legendary jazz and blues singer Etta James passed away today. Like most people my first introduction to her was "At Last." You'll get no objection from me that that's a fairly spectacular song but Etta James was so much more. In fact, "At Last" is the least characteristic of what she did best - raw, yearning and often defiant odes to heartbreak. That made you want to hit the dance floor. So use this opportunity to get to know her better or to remember why you love her.

Remembering Etta by Heather Allaby on Grooveshark

coastal living

2012-01-19T18:33:00.001-04:00

Since our Young Company hits the road shortly and then we go into back to back productions, this could be one of my last chances to get out of town before late March. I figured I should make the most of it. Lucky for me I have the perfect retreat at my parents' place. Headed to the island today with a stack of reading, writing and research. Somehow doing work sitting by a fire or enjoying a latte at my favourite cafe doesn't exactly seem onerous!

bloom where you're planted

2012-01-17T15:03:00.000-04:00

Winter finally head in full force this past week: snow, freezing rain, ice and frigid wind chill. It's sure to send you dreaming about warmer climates (and if my Facebook feed is any indication it's sending a lot of you to travel agents and airline seat sales.) A mid-winter trip south is not in the cards for me this year but I did escape the cold at our local nursery on Saturday morning. Outside the sun was out, the city was blanketed in snow and the temperature had dropped well below freezing. But inside the greenhouse it was warm and bright and humid and full of tropical plants and flowers. It's probably the warmest I'll be until June!

More than just a pleasure to look at, houseplant can improve the air quality in your home which is especially valuable when you're cooped up indoors in the winter months. I once had a friend describe my decorating style as "funky grandma" so it shouldn't be surprising that I left the nursery on Saturday with a few 'old-fashioned' plants in hand. It's not quite a trip south but they do brighten up the winter months!

miss kitt to you

2012-01-17T09:01:00.000-04:00

Eartha Kitt once said the public had been her fairy godmother. Born on January 17, 1927 on a cotton plantation in South Carolina under the most abject of circumstances, she would go on to become the epitome of sophistication and glamour or as Orson Welles put it, "the most exciting woman in the world."

If your only experience with Eartha Kitt is "Santa Baby" or the final season of the Batman TV series, you must remedy this immediately. Her distinctive singing style and clever songs ("Old-Fashioned Girl" is a particular favourite of mine) will add 67% more glamour to your day. Guaranteed.

chicken soup

2012-01-16T18:14:00.002-04:00

The mercury has plummeted and I'm feeling the first sniffles and scratchy throat of the cold that's whipping through my friends. Time to whip up a batch of chicken soup. Making your own homemade chicken soup takes only a few minutes longer than opening and heating up a can. But it's so much more satisfying.

For this soup I cooked chopped onions, carrots and celery in a little olive oil until the onions were softened then added some minced garlic and finely chopped ginger and cooked for about a minute more. Then came about a litre of broth which I brought to a boil then added some shredded rotisserie chicken (a real time-saver) and herbs. I used sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf but it's up to you - why not lemongrass for an Asian spin? I couldn't decide between noodles or rice so I went with the best of both worlds and grabbed some orzo from the pantry. Then it was just a matter of simmering until the pasta had cooked, the chicken was hot and the flavours blended. Salt and pepper to season (and a few dashes of hot sauce if you want added decongestant powers!) and voila! Until they come up with a cure for the common cold it's just what the doctor ordered.

sunday morning mixtape: i always wanted to be a tenenbaum

2012-01-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

i always wanted to be a tenenbaum by Heather Allaby on Grooveshark

it's the weekend. kick back and relax.

2012-01-13T16:38:00.000-04:00

The weekend is finally here. The weather here is not great for much other than staying warm and cozy in the house. Whatever you're doing this weekend, I hope it's a great one. Here are some of things that made me glad this week:

I love Downton Abbey. I love lamps. Ergo I love The Lamps of Downton Abbey.

Handwritten cards and letters would be even better with these Roald Dahl stamps from the Royal Mail.

Personalized paper dolls with movable joints? Adorable.

The ladies of Advanced Style prove great style is timeless. Can't wait for the documentary!

Only Anthropologie could make dental hygiene look this good.

File under: 'Want' - Martha Stewart office supplies. Hopefully they'll be available soon in Canada!

Must give a little plug to my cousin Hunter, age 12, who has started his own photography blog. He's such a cool kid.

And finally: Ryan Gosling, Arts Administrator.This is why we have the interwebs, people.

Happy weekend!

moonrise kingdom

2012-01-13T13:48:00.003-04:00

50 reasons to love the Moonrise Kingdom trailer

New England * birdcostumes *summer camp * choirs * secret runaway plans (inmanner of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs.Basil E. Franweiler) * Futura *personalized stationary *children with personalized stationary *gingham * map& compass * TANG * AndrewWyeth-inspired lighting *lighthouses *binoculars *meadows *plaid *folding camp cots *Edward Norton *braided rag rug *Francoise Hardy songs *portable record-players *Peter Pan collars *secret coves *seascape paintings *Frances McDormand *red clapboard with white trim * old-school fish tacklebasket *Jack Russell terrier *station wagon *beaches *tree house *sailboat *striped awning *watercolours (“mostly landscapes but the occasional nude”) * TildaSwinton… in a cape *white panelled walls *Jason Schwartsmann *red berets *church pews with doors *tortoiseshell glasses *Airstream trailers *60s cotton floral print dresses *kids in pajamas * boardgames *handmade wooden picture frames * roll-top desks * BillMurray in pajamas…with a bottle of wine…and an axe * yellowSamonsonite suitcase *plaid school satchel *a kitten in a basket

little bit country, little bit rock 'n' roll

2012-01-12T14:37:00.001-04:00

I've been listening to Jessie Baylin's 2008 album Firesight pretty obsessively lately - can't believe it took me so long to discover it. As you can see above she does a great yearning, rip your heart out ballad.

And hooray, hooray, she has a new album coming out on Tuesday which sounds like it's full of roots-based and old-school goodness - predict it'll be in heavy rotation in my winter playlist. And I'm thinking it will sound amazing and warm on vinyl

This behind-the-scenes look makes me love her even more!

the write stuff

2012-01-11T10:59:00.001-04:00

Image: pendeavours.com

I love a good pen: the right feel in my hand, a nib that glides across the page and a great colour.

As a companion to his art store, my friend Luke has an online store pendeavours.com which is devoted solely to pens, specifically Copic, Micron and Neopiko.

With both a fine and broad tip and a wide-range of amazing colours, Copic has a nearly cult-like following among designers and illustrators. As someone who loves to hand-write cards and letters, I'm a big fan of the Micron. The colour selection takes you far beyond blue and black and the nib selection means scrawly writers like me aren't confined to fine tips. This is not your run-of-the-mill Bic.

And this is not your run-of-the-mill pen store. The man behind the site is Owen Cornish, who has created characters and kooky (and deliberately incomplete) biographies for each of the Copic and Micron colours.

Illustrations by Owen Cornish, pendeavours.com

"Orange Micron 01 was determined to throw the perfect tea-party. He assembled the finest of camomiles, picked only freshest cherry blossoms, and gathered the mintiest of leaves for the occasion, and made sure his condominium..."

This zaniness continues with the Deal of the Week this week:

Anyone who purchases any amount of product from our site between Monday and Friday will receive a personalized love letter written by site creator Owen Cornish himself.

-Owen Cornish, himself.

That deal is too good to pass up; in part because I have a hankering for orange, fresh green and blue Microns but also because I am really, really curious what young Owen might come up with.

Even if the only thing you write is your grocery list, Pendeavours will inspire you to turn the most mundane task into a little work of art.

ice time

2012-01-10T15:15:00.000-04:00

Clockwise from upper left: 1948 Sonja Henie Ice Skating Program (TransferofTreasures), Ice Skating Pin (VintageStarrBeads), Vegetable Crate Label (LABELSTONE), Vintage 60s Ice Skating Dress (SQUARESVILLEUSA), Fruit Cake Tin by (oldnewtreasuredtrue) 1937 Collier's ad (autumnsvintagepaper),Wooden Skate Guard (offcutstudio), 1950s Valentines Cards (KentonCollectibles)

Did you know there are 10 outdoor skating surfaces in Fredericton? Odell and Queen Square opened a few days ago and Officer's Square opened today! I've lived in this city almost 15 years and I've yet to skate there. And while it's been longer than I care to admit since I've been on the ice, this is the year to lace up the old skates for Skating in the Square. Now I just need to find some partners in crime!

pasta a la Nigella

2012-01-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I watched Nigella Lawson, that Brit cooking goddess, pile this meal in a big dish which she claimed she'd eat while sitting in bed watching telly. With minimal ingredients this unbelievably simple and satisfying dish is perfect for a hurried weeknight or lazy Sunday supper.

Since there isn't a sauce, per se, I think it's the perfect way to give the spotlight to a pound of delicious handmade pasta; in this case the sun-dried tomato and basil liguine from Nashwaak Noodles (You could easily use half a pound of dry pasta from the pantry if that's what you have on hand.)

Start off by heating the oven to 460F. In an oven-proof pan (I used my favourite enamel cast-iron pot) combine about 150g of pancetta (available diced in the deli section) and a couple of tablespoons of garlic-infused olive oil.

Why buy?

Make your own garlic olive oil by gently heating three garlic cloves (halved)

in 8 tablespoons of olive oil for an hour until the garlic is soft.

Keep the extra for other dishes, dressings, etc.

To go with this pasta, I chopped up some sun-dried tomatoes left over from the root vegetable tagine. For a vegetarian option leave out the pancetta and increase the tomatoes. Depending on how strong the garlic flavour in the oil is, you may want to chop up a clove of garlic to toss in the pot.

Make sure everything is good and coated with oil and pop in the oven for about 10 minutes, long enough to render the fat in the pancetta and slightly brown the meat. In the meantime cook the pasta. Before draining set aside a cup or so of the pasta water.

Remove the pot from the oven, add the cooked pasta and toss until the pasta is coated in oil. If you need to loosen up the pasta a little, add the reserved water drop by drop. This is a good trick for most pasta dishes. Adding a touch of pasta water helps make any pasta and sauce slick and silky and ensures an even coating.

To finish off the dish, Nigella makes a point of saying she doesn't bother with Parmesan but pasta without a little freshly shaved Parm just isn't my thing. A little roughly chopped or scissored parsley adds a burst of bright freshness to the dish.

Now go curl up and enjoy!

look who's 30

2012-01-09T11:39:00.000-04:00

Talk about capping off your 20s in a triumphant fashion! Kate Middleton didn't simply manage her transition into the royal spotlight, she embraced it with twinkling eyes, a toothy grin and a light step; an exuberant gust of fresh air that blew the cobwebs off the monarchy. To get the full effect of the Duchess of Cambridge's charm check out the Stuff Kate Middleton is Thrilled About slide show from her Canadian tour. Adorable.

Get ready to see the birthday girl in a different role in the year ahead. Days before her birthday St. James Palace announced that she is becoming patron of four organizations: Action on Addiction, the National Portrait Gallery, East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Art Room, an organization that uses art therapy to help children. And the former Brownie will also become a volunteer with the Scouts joining privately in activities in North Wales. No word yet on whether the Scout uniforms include a hat...

It's hard to say what I love most about this photo from the London premiere of War Horse on the eve of her birthday: that amazing gown or Wills holding the umbrella.

sunday morning mixtape

2012-01-08T11:41:00.000-04:00

Sunday morning music - January 8 by Heather Allaby on Grooveshark

this is a weekend.

2012-01-06T15:42:00.000-04:00

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I'm counting down to Sunday night and the premiere of series 2 of Downton Abbey; melodrama, manor houses, one-liners and pretty frocks... and, of course, Maggie Smith. What more could a girl want?

pleasance

2012-01-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

One of my indulgences in 2011 was the Victorian Writers Knitting Club from Wool Girl. Every couple of months, a package would arrive with an original pattern, luxurious hand-dyed yarn and various accoutrements all in the theme of that kit's chosen book. It was the gift to myself that kept on giving all year.

Pleasance was the shawlette designed by Susannah I.C. for Alice in Wonderland in June. The name comes from Alice Pleasance Liddell, the inspiration behind the classic children's novel. It's knit in Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk, a blend of merino, cashmere and silk, in the colorway Wonderland. If you check out Susannah I.C.'s Ravelry page, you'll see that she blocked out the points far more aggressively than I did. I prefer a softer edge to my lace work especially since this was eventually going to be given to my sister-in-law and I couldn't really picture her in a pointy shawl. I also used beads in place of the nupps, partly for aesthetics but also because I absolutely cannot stand knitting nupps!

A knitting club is not in this year's budget but thankfully I still have three of my Victorian Writer kits to finish: Anne Hanson's Frillibet shawl, Susannah I.C.'s Dracula wrap and (just arrived this week!) Sublime Expectations, a cowl and wristlet combo from Sivia Harding, who was also responsible for Jo's Pride, the Little Women-inspired hooded shawl which may be my most treasured knitted item. (and made me want to work beads into everything!)

All right, who's in for a knitting night?

... ..

2012-01-06T10:11:00.001-04:00

... ..

2012-01-05T16:34:00.002-04:00

bird is the word

2012-01-05T16:05:00.002-04:00

Did you know that January 5 is National Bird Day? When I get home I'll have to put out a little extra seed for the chickadees in my backyard in honour of their special day (and hope Harold doesn't get into it).

What's the gift giving policy for National Bird Day? Because I'd love this fun bureau from Savour Decor in recognition of our fine feathered friends but it's a little out of my budget. Instead I opted for this wee little porcelain cardinal (who cost less than a soy latte!). Technically he's a Christmas ornament but I think he'd be cute hanging around all year long.

know your onion

2012-01-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

Back when I was setting up my first apartment many years ago, my mother gave me her French onion soup bowls. Earth brown ceramic with handles and covers, I'd always admired them whenever I saw them which was usually when I helped mom empty the kitchen cupboards for spring cleaning. And as much as I loved them and as much as I love French onion soup, they didn't get much more use in my house (although they did find new life holding baked dips for cozy winter board game evenings).

Making a French onion soup requires a certain level of commitment; not because there are any particularly complex techniques or ingredients involved but if you plan to reduce an overflowing pot of raw onions to golden caramelized deliciousness, you'd better clear your schedule for a bit. There's no rushing it but it's worth the wait.

Monday came like a bonus holiday tacked on the end of the Christmas vacation, all the decorations had been put away, all the visits paid, many of the shops were closed and most of the city was wandering around in an end-of-vacation haze. So what better time to lock myself away in the kitchen for an hour or two working away on a fragrant pot of soup?

White pepper, thyme and bay leaves - a savoury winter combo.

I was eager to try this recipe from I found recently from The Hot Knives Vegetarian Cookbook: Salad Daze (how have I had an iPhone for 8 months and only just downloaded the Epicurious app?!). Traditional French onion soups rely very heavily on hearty beef broth which means my vegetarian friends have previously been out of luck. This recipe replaces the beef stock with a combination of veg stock and beer.

I cannot lie, the dog kind of sold me on it.

They recommended using Chimay Blue from Belgium. Coincidentally Jennifer had brought back a few bottles from Halifax for her gentleman friend. While she gallantly offered to sacrifice a bottle in the name of culinary experimentation, I opted for a porter from local brewery Picaroons. I have to say as a substitute for beef broth it actually worked really well and topped with crusty sour bread, gooey Gruyere and sprigs of fresh thyme it was a perfect winter supper to cap off the holidays.

holiday album

2012-01-02T09:46:00.000-04:00

Wow. That went fast. Hard to believe Christmas vacation has come and gone for another year and I head back to the routine tomorrow. As quickly as it sped by, I had a wonderful time with family and friends and lots of delicious eating. Hope you had a great holiday and made lots of memories!

Clockwise from top left:
Christmas lights at St. Mary's; Christmas dinner on new dishes from my grandparents; gorgeous white Christmas; Christmas Eve visiting with Luke; Mom's lobster stew - butter, cream, lobster - yum!; spontaneous shopping trip with Jennifer at Made You Blush; Christmas Eve panna cotta with raspberry coulis; gifts with Denis; Finn's first Christmas with mama Lori and papa Leon; champagne and sparkles on New Year's Eve; Boxing Day breakfast in Rothesay with my brother, sister-in-law and our families; ringing in the New Year with Pretty in Pink at the Boyce Farmer's Market.

get back to your roots

2011-12-29T19:32:00.000-04:00

I love all the decadent feasts at Christmas but there comes a point when I just can't stand the thought of another meal rich in butter, creams or gravies. This Root Vegetable Tagine has all the heartiness you want in a winter supper but without the heaviness or fat of the meals we've all been indulging in lately. And if you're anything like me, you could do with a heaping plate of veg to counteract all those sweets and snacks. The preserved lemon along with the fresh herbs you toss in at the end give it a touch of summery brightness - and who doesn't want that when the wind chill is -21? The Spicy Chickpea garnish is definitely worth making - you may find yourself nibbling on it before it reaches your plate.

A big bonus with this meal is that it gave me a way to use one of the turnips from my most recent Real Foods Fredericton kitchen box. I don't shun many foods but I've always passed on turnip. But I figured I'd try it in this dish as I could easily pick it out if necessary. Turns out that much like my parsnip conversion last winter, preparation makes all the difference. And like parsnips, the turnips are a great vehicle for cumin, coriander, turmeric and fresh herbs in this dish.

A couple of notes on the recipe - I used vegetable broth instead of water and threw in a cinnamon stick because I couldn't imagine a tagine without it. As well, the recipe neglects to tell you how much lemon you should simmer with the lemon juice and salt, I used one small thinly sliced lemon which seemed to work. If you wanted to do a gluten-free option, you could easily swap out the couscous for a bed of quinoa.

cheers.

2011-12-27T09:16:00.002-04:00

OK, technically #bringitdowntown was aimed at getting people into the heart of the city for pre-Christmas shopping but just because Christmas is over doesn't mean you should stop hitting our local Downtown Fredericton businesses. If you're looking to recuperate from your turkey coma, catch up with friends or just get out of the house, why not grab a glass of wine at Corked?

Last week having survived this and then this, Caleb and I decided to spend what was left of my Downtown dollars to toast the season at Fredericton's newest wine bar. A great addition to the re-energized block of Regent between Queen and King, Corked is both stylish and cozy; equally suited for a glamourous private function or for a quiet glass of wine with a friend.

My partner in crime for the night is an avowed white wine drinker so I eschewed my usual winter red in favour of Santa Rita's 120 Sauvignon Blanc. The Chilean winery earned the distinction of Wine & Spirits magazine's Winery of the Year in 2010 and the fruity and fresh 120 Sauvignon Blanc earns pretty consistent raves for a great white at a good price point. I only found this out later, all I knew at the time was that it was a great burst of summer on a cold winter's night.

And because Caleb is a bit of a history buff, no night out would be complete without a little history lesson. So I was not as surprised as you might think when he announced while reading the label:

"This is revolutionary memento wine!"

Here's the story from the winery:

According to legend, 120 patriots, exhausted after a long, hard battle during the fight for Chile’s independence, reached the land belonging to Santa Rita. On that fateful night in 1814, these forces of liberty found refuge in the estate cellars. Today, within these same cellars, our award-winning 120 wines are crafted to honor their heroic character.

Revolution may not be on your agenda but why not cap off a day of post-Christmas Downtown deal-hunting with a stop by Corked?

it snowed

2011-12-20T09:01:00.001-04:00

Meaghan Smith's It Snowed has been in pretty constant rotation around my house since mid-November. Like her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra (which earned her the Best New Artist Juno), It Snowed is playful, nostalgic and charming. So of course I jumped at the chance to see her in concert at the Charlotte Street Art Centre just a few days before Christmas. If you don't own The Cricket's Orchestra and It Snowed, get yourself over to iTunes and remedy this immediately!

Meaghan Smith by Heather Allaby on Grooveshark
It was a perfect winter's night with a light dusting of snow and the converted school auditorium at the Centre was a cozy setting for Meaghan's sweet and funny stories and songs. Was there a dry eye after her adorable story about her grandpa? She even gave a shout-out to Fredericton shopping (ahem, #bringitdowntown!)

Can't imagine a better way to kick off a week of holiday celebrations! Thanks for a great evening, Meaghan!

(Oh, and her fetching chapeau is courtesy of Oh Dina! you'll want to check out those creations!)

christmas movies

2011-12-19T08:43:00.000-04:00

Phew! now that I've finally wrapped up Christmas performances onstage and behind-the-scenes I can finally settle in to my own holiday celebrations- catching up with friends, spending time with family and lots of cider,egg nog or hot cocoa while watching Christmas movies and planning menus, wrapping presents and finishing last-minute gifts. Last year (when apparently I had more time to write about such things) I put together a list of my 12 films of Christmas. Not sure I'll make it through all of them over the holidays but here is a look back at my top picks:

Miracle on 34th Street

Little Women

Meet Me in St.Louis

Home Alone

The Bishop's Wife

Elf

Christmas in Connecticut

A Christmas Carol

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

White Christmas

A Christmas Story

It's a Wonderful Life

I'd love to know: what are your must-see Christmas films?

stick to your knitting

2011-12-08T08:13:00.001-04:00

If you've been following this blog for long you know from posts like this and this that I love knitting. And while my schedule this fall hasn't allowed for a lot of time to pick up the needles, there is no way I could bring the love downtown without a stop at Yarns on York

From classic worsted to luxurious hand-dyed yarns,owner Trish Campbell has a treasure trove of inspiration in store for shoppers. New shipments arrive regularly so there's always a reason to pop in.


No visit to Yarns on York is complete without saying "Hi!" to Aubrey.

So how did I end up spending my Downtown Fredericton dollars? As delicious as all the brightly coloured skeins were, I opted for this luxurious madelinetosh in french grey. I've been knitting a lot of lace projects this year but I'm thinking something a little different for this one. This will be a great New Year's project to pass the long January evenings....

deck the halls

2011-11-21T22:55:00.001-04:00

If owner Janice Lapointe McLaughlin would let me I would probably take up permanent residence in Savour Decor. Open just over a year, the shop on Queen Street is a relative newcomer to Downtown Fredericton but it's fast become one of my favourite spots. Full of classic pieces with a hint of whimsy, this is a store that proves that a cozy and inviting space doesn't mean sacrificing glamour.

Vintage-inspired pieces and a warm welcome await you at this charming downtown boutique

Helping Janice create that magical blend of sparkle and natural elements is local decor expert Lee Shakotko of Interiors by Lee and BarbaraLee Designs, an event design company she owns with her mother Barb Clark. On Monday night, with my Downtown Dollars in hand, I had the opportunity to see Lee's creativity in action when Savour Decor hosted a Christmas decor workshop.

Lee demonstrates her secrets to a stylish and whimsical Christmas tree.

Peacock blue is one of the hottest colours this Christmas

In addition to giving us pointers for creating a lush tree, dramatic table centrepieces and a welcoming front door for the holidays, Lee also gave us her take on what will be hot in decor for 2012. A few of her top predictions?

* greys are here to stay as the go-to neutral

* peacock blue and wasabi green continue to offer bright punches of accent colour - think the colours in peacock feathers

* vintage and vintage-inspired pieces are still popular but give them a fresher lighter look by mixing with the clean lines of mid-century or Scandinavian design

* rustic and natural elements get a similar mix and match treatment - we'll be seeing more rugged wooden dining tables mixed with streamlined or chrome chairs

I'm obsessed with birch right now so I love this whole look.

Visions of sugarplums would surely dance in your head in this bed.

I love getting tips on incorporating the latest trends but in the end it's all about knowing what you love. Lucky for me Savour Decor is full of endless inspiration.

Turn cooking into an occasion with these measuring spoons.

Napkin rings that would look at home in Grandma's jewelry box.

So in the end how did I choose to spend my downtown dollars? I opted for a few ornaments that reflect the rustic glamour that is Savour Decor's specialty: a textural wool felt heart and a little pouch of 10 mercury glass-style baubles. I predict these will stay out long after the 25th of December to add a little shimmer to long winter nights.

Don't forget! Savour Decor is joining in on Downtown Fredericton's Black Friday events with No Tax and Surprise Sales on November 25.

where to find them:

the shop: 406 Queen Street

on twitter: @SavourDecorNB

on facebook: search "Savour Decor"

Interested in Lee Shakotko's decor services? Contact her at lee@interiorsbylee.ca

toyland, toyland

2011-11-21T09:37:00.001-04:00

What better place to start my #bringitdowntown Christmas shopping spree than a toy store? On Saturday night I headed to ThinkPlay and Endeavours at 412 Queen Street for a private shopping party. With a ticket to the after-hours event guests got refreshments, a discount on their purchases, gift-wrapping and lots of good cheer! And who wouldn't want to wander around a locked toy store after hours?

"A local real estate agent actually asked us about the idea so we hosted a private shopping party for her and her clients and it was a great success. So we actually expanded that a few years ago to other groups. When we were doing our Christmas planning Angela and I said, 'why don't we try this again and why don't we open it up to all of our customers who might be interested?'" explains owner Luke Randall.

When Luke first opened ThinkPlay in 2004 I joked that it was my childhood dream to have a friend who owned a toy store. The shelves are always stocked with the most creative, silly and unique toys and games. With new finds arriving regularly, every trip is sure to unearth new surprises guaranteed to make you nostalgic (Fraggles, Smurfs and old school card games) and make you laugh (someone on your list needs instant underpants or an inflatable turkey, admit it.)

Bridging the two stores together is the wonderful candy display. Luke is just back from a major chocolate show in New York so keep an eye out for delicious new additions in the near future!

My dad is an artist so I always try to include something from Endeavours in his Christmas gifts. And of course one of the many benefits of visiting the local downtown shops is the personal touch - Luke is always good at remembering what materials my dad is using at any given time!

Check out pendeavours.com for their online pen store!

With so much to choose from how did I spend my Downtown Fredericton dollars? I ended up choosing something that would help me bring the love to lots of my friends and family this year. Luke always has beautifully designed boxed notecards. So why not pick up my Christmas cards here? We joke that he stocks Edward Gorey particularly with me in mind. They're nostalgic, quirky and very offbeat - right up my alley!

Check out ThinkPlay and Endeavours on BLACK FRIDAY

As part of Downtown Fredericton's Black Friday events, the shop will be opening bright and early at 6 a.m. with specials changing every two hours.

6-8 a.m. - 40% off all Winsor Newton Brushes, Calico Critters and 4M Science and Craft Kits

8 a.m. - 10 a..m. - 405 off all Golden Mediums and ALL candy (Yum!)

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - 40% off all Kroom Toys and Furniture and $25 off all easels over $100

12 p.m. - 2 p.m. - 30% off all Copic sets and Neo Pico sets and 25% off all Curious Chef products

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - 30% off all Groovy Girls stuff and Winsor Newton Sets

Where to find them:

the store: 412 queen st.

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/endeavoursart or search "ThinkPlay Toystore"

twitter: @thinkartstuff

2011-11-18T15:44:00.001-04:00

a little clue to one of the places I'll be spending my downtown dollars!

#bringitdowntown

susan holt brings the love

2011-11-17T12:13:00.001-04:00

While I continue to plot and plan how I'll #bringitdowntown check out this great video from Susan Holt and how she brought the love! Great Downtown Fredericton ideas for Christmas and year-round!

#bringitdowntown

2011-11-16T08:23:00.001-04:00

For the nearly 15 years that I've lived in Fredericton, downtown has been my playground. There have been a lot of changes over the years and today the heart of our little city is the most vibrant I've seen it with great locally-owned shops and boutiques, a variety of restaurants and cafes and a lively arts scene. So when Downtown Fredericton asked if I'd like to participate in the their holiday campaign Bring the Love Downtown I was quick with a "Yes, please!"

Here's how it works.

Downtown Fredericton has invited 15 social media personalities (confession: I'm blushing to be included with this group!) to spend $100 dollars downtown in any way we wish. There's only one catch - we have to document how we spend it!

You can follow all of our downtown adventures on Twitter with the hashtag #bringitdowntown

And now I'd love to know how would you spend $100 in downtown Fredericton?

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-14T19:31:00.001-04:00

(click on the photos for shop information)

winterberry

2011-11-14T08:16:00.000-04:00

Comes a point in early November where I feel the need to purge the house of pumpkins but it's still much too early to deck the halls. Between the gourds and the glitz, November provides a little breather where branches and berries can show off their simple and natural beauty.

I loved these winterberry branches from Fredericton Boyce Farmers' Market so much I made them my new blog header... Great way to bring a festive wintery feel to your home - and inexpensive at $10 for two bunches!

girl put your records on.

2011-11-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

Some of my earliest memories involve my dad and vinyl LPs. Every Sunday dinner afternoon brought the CBC radio program Gilmour's Albums after which my dad and I would spend most of the afternoon playing record after record and talking about them until one or both of them fell asleep. This was not a proto-hipster collection. It was dominated by classical music - composers were to me what hockey or baseball players were to other kids - with a little Paul Robeson, Stan Rogers, Nat King Cole and Simon and Garfunkel thrown in for good measure.

While I think it's fantastic that I can carry my entire music collection in my pocket today and discover new music at the click of a button there's just something about vinyl. I bought an old record player a few years ago but truth be told I hardly used it for fear of electrocution or fire from the worn old cord... Today I finally satisfied my craving for vinyl with the vintage-inspired Crosley Traveler. What's a better soundtrack for a long autumn evening than the warm imperfect crackle of vinyl?

remembering eva

2011-11-02T08:24:00.000-03:00

If you are not familiar with Eva Cassidy's story, get out the tissues. Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Eva Cassidy began to play guitar when she was 9 years old and began performing when she was just 11. As a teenager and young adult she performed with a number of Washington area bands but always struggled with her shyness.

She began to focus on a solo career in bars and coffee houses and the Washington Post once said "she could sing anything — folk, blues, pop, jazz, R&B, gospel — and make it sound like it was the only music that mattered."

Although she had been honored by local music press and associations, she was virtually unknown outside of Washington when she died on November 2, 1996. She was 33.

It wasn't until 2000 when a BBC radio host played a recording of Eva singing "Over the Rainbow" that the world finally took notice. The posthumous album Songbird sold 100,000 copies and soared to the top of the charts. By Christmas a camcorder video of Eva singing at Blues Alley would become one of the most requested videos ever on Top of the Pops 2.

The recordings from a shy young woman would go on to sell more than 10 million copies in the US, chart 3 number 1 hits in the UK and chart top 10 positions in Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

get up, get up

2011-10-25T08:18:00.004-03:00

This morning I woke myself up humming Sarah Slean's latest single "Set it Free" - that's how catchy it is. It may also be the leading contender for my theme song of 2011.

I've been restlessly waiting for an album to grab me lately and her new double album Land & Sea fits the bill. The first album is up-tempo "get up and take on the world" music and the second, inspired by old Hollywood scores and soundtracks, is sweeping strings and epic cinematic ballads.

Check it out! And then buy it!

P.S. I defy you to watch this video of Sarah and Joel Plaskett recording the opening track "Life" and not smile. Love it.

the great pumpkin adventure

2011-10-24T08:45:00.000-03:00

My friend Denis and I have made apple-picking a bit of an annual tradition over the past couple of years (two years counts as a tradition right?) Anyway, it was looking like October 2011 was going to get away from us without a trip to an orchard but thanks to Gagetown Fruit Farm we were able to combine apple-picking and a trip to the pumpkin patch. Now to figure out what to do with all those apples!

How 'bout this one?

"Does your iPhone have a hunter knife app?"

just choose one already...

the perfect jack o' lantern

you don't see this every day...

Heather at Gagetown Fruit Farm is a terrific cook.. we capped off the afternoon with some of her amazing pumpkin pie and home made vanilla ice cream...

This was the last weekend Gagetown Fruit Farm was open to the public but Heather and Matt can be found at the Fredericton Farmer's Market for produce, cider, fresh eggs, baked goods and home cooking! Check them out!

....

2011-10-21T16:23:00.000-03:00

nice threads

2011-10-21T08:41:00.002-03:00


photo: JillianTamaki.com

I have a weakness for the classic orange and cream colour scheme of Penguin books but I really love when Penguin does special editions like these clothbound hardcovers or the Great Food series (which is on my wish list). They've really outdone themselves this time with the "Penguin Threads"

Penguin commissioned artist Jillian Tamaki to embroider covers for three classic books. If you've got someone on your Christmas list who loves both crafts and literature, your gift-giving dilemmas are solved. Gorgeous!

in which the Glad Girl explains her absence...

2011-10-18T19:54:00.000-03:00

I have some 'splaining to do... It's been a bit of a year. As you might remember from this, my employment situation changed dramatically last spring. I spent most of the spring and early summer freelancing which seemed to leave a good amount of time for domestic duties and little adventures and the blog posts about them.

But as you might also remember from this I'm a bit of a theatre buff; especially if that theatre is Theatre New Brunswick. When the chance to join them as Director of Marketing and Development came up in August, I jumped at the chance. So for the past two months I was busy with things like this:

And also this:

Fun, right? except that it's left me little time for things like this blog. However, last night I found time to go for a brisk autumn walk, bake and apple crisp and knit a little bit on my Christmas presents so balance may, in fact, be returning. Stay tuned...

how i spent my summer vacation: 11 shots from summer '11

2011-09-05T10:00:00.001-03:00

Grand Manan Adventure

beaches

Grand Manan Art Gallery

cousins

movies under the stars

berries!

rosehips

picking blackcurrants

chasing chickens

summer's end folk festival

cheese please

2011-07-20T19:19:00.000-03:00

'Cheese is milk's leap towards immortality.'

Ever since the days of Scott and Joey I've been a big fan of cheese and few weeks ago I made my first paneer. It was so easy and satisfying I can't believe I'd never tried it before and can't wait to experiment with more fresh cheeses. This video from the etsy blog just inspires me further!

(Also I would like some goats. But that's another blog post!)

Urban Cheesecraft from Etsy on Vimeo.

below the surface

2011-07-17T10:16:00.000-03:00

barnacles and seaweed on an old weir stake

One of the things I love about kayaking is the new perspective it gives you on the intricacies of the coastline - even along short distances - because you can paddle in so tight to shore. Adding in an underwater camera on my recent paddles has given me another fresh perspective of what's happening beneath the surface of our cove. Normally you only get to see rockweed laying heavy and limp on the rocks at low tide. Love to see it gracefully swaying in the current with sunlight streaming into the water.

new kid on the block

2011-07-17T09:55:00.000-03:00

Gathering lots of great pics from my island visit but had to share these pics of baby Noah who I met for the first time on this visit. Smiley snugly baby goodness for a Sunday morning!

Noah and his great-grandmother (my grandmother) Betty.

Sitting on my mom's lap.

Check out those two little teeth. Nom!

Bliss.

a royal glad girl

2011-07-06T09:18:00.000-03:00

Of all the great accoutrements the Duchess of Cambridge has donned during her Canadian tour, her best accessories have to be her big toothy grin and unflappable, unabashed enthusiasm.

I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.

Audrey Hepburn

One of my favourite "Kate" moments came in PEI when she was dressed down in jeans, a hoodie and still sopping from her dragon boat race. Security was trying to round up the Royals for the departing motorcade and while they were focused on Wills, Kate scampered back to the crowds for a few last handshakes. I mean, Her Royal Highness practically skipped. It was adorable.

Macleans magazine has put together a cute slideshow of "Stuff Kate Middleton is thrilled about in Canada" with some of the her best expressions and cheeky-sweet lists of what she's thrilled about in each.

In a world where fashionable cynicism often reigns, a tip of the fascinator to the royal glad girl!

chill out: strawberry-mango-mint sorbet

2011-07-04T21:09:00.000-03:00

Growing up we had to wait for snow to pack into the bucket of the old ice cream freezer. This meant home-made ice cream was, ironically, a winter treat. Having traded in the old wooden bucket model for a stainless steel Cuisinart, when the mercury rises I can cool down with home-made ice creams and sorbets. (Although a bowl of my grandfather's chocolate ice cream is a must on Christmas holidays!)

I whipped up a quart of tangy and refreshing strawberry-mango-mint sorbet this weekend. It was really kind of a "kitchen sink" batch aimed at using up some of the fruit in my fridge. The thickness of the mango puree actually gave this a very "creamy" texture without any dairy.

sorbet or sherbet? there is a difference between the two desserts. They both start out with the same ingredients but as soon as you add dairy, it stops being a sorbet and becomes sherbet (sherbet can also contain eggs) So if you want to cut the fat stick to sorbets. (Of course, the sugar means it's not entirely guilt-free!)

Here are some simple guidelines for sorbet - play with the fruit combinations to your taste - if you can puree it, you can make it into sorbet. This will make about a litre/quart of sorbet.

Ingredients
* 3/4 cup sugar
* about five cups of fruit
* 1/4 cup fruit juice

Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a small sauce pan to make a thick simple syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for two minutes. Let cool to room temperature before adding to the puree.

Chop up about five cups of fruit. I used 4 mangoes, about a cup of strawberries, and handful of mint for good measure. You can play with flavour combinations and proportions. Toss the fruit into the blender and puree. Depending on what fruit you are using and the texture you want you may want to press the pureed fruit through a fine mesh sieve for extra-smoothness.

In a medium bowl combine the puree, the simple syrup and 1/4 cup fruit juice. I used freshly-squeezed lime juice to add a bright tanginess to the mango and strawberry. Toss the whole lot into your ice cream maker and follow the machine instructions. The mixture will still be slushy after you remove it from the maker, put it in a container and pop it in the freezer until it hardens up.
Home made ice creams and sorbets will melt more quickly than commercial products so you may want to chill your dishes before serving.

The mango-strawberry combo came out in a bright shade of coral. I love pinks, corals and yellow together so I'd love to do a batch of this, a batch of straight mango and a batch of straight strawberry and serve three mini-scoops on a vintage banana split dish!

Don't have an ice cream maker? The benefits of the ice cream maker is that the spinning and the dash introduces air into the mixture and keeps crystals from forming while cooling it, keeping the texture smooth, light and crystal free. There are methods, albeit a bit more labour-intensive, for making ice cream or sorbets without an ice cream maker and a quick Google search can give you some tips.

real simple

2011-07-04T20:38:00.000-03:00

A bottle of simple syrup is a must-have for cold summer beverages. Because it's liquid, sweetening iced teas, cordials or cocktails is easier with this syrup than granulated sugar that may not dissolve or distribute easily. It takes less than five minutes to make and can be kept in the refrigerator indefinitely.

In a small saucepan, combine equal parts sugar and water over medium high heat. I use a wooden spoon to gently stir the mixture just until the sugar is dissolved and then just swirl it occasionally (stirring can release sugar crystals on the sides of the pan into the liquid). Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Once the syrup is cooled, transfer to a bottle and store in the refrigerator for your next gimlet or glass of home made iced tea.

How simple is that?

happy canada day!

2011-07-02T08:14:00.000-03:00

Hope you had a wonderful holiday celebrating our great country! (and for any American readers hope you have a great 4th on Monday!)

soap opera

2011-06-29T13:19:00.000-03:00

Inspired by an article in Martha Stewart Living, I decided to whip up a quick batch of soap this morning. Martha's basil soap used an herb puree but I decided whole sprigs from my basil bonsai from Sweet Valley Herbs would look lovely suspended in soap. And because this was going in the kitchen, I also added some lemon zest.

Melt. Start with a plain unscented glycerine soap base which is available at craft stores. (I actually think I will experiment with some other soap bases as well - how great would strawberry swirled in goat's milk be?) chop the glycerine and melt it over a double boiler. You can also use the microwave but when melting anything I always feel like I have more control using the boiler. Be sure to stir occasionally using a rubber spatula.

Prep. While the soap base is melting, prepare your herbs and zest your lemon. If you're making a berry soup, puree them a blender or food processor. The suggested ratio is one teaspoon of herbs or puree to every cup of glycerine but you may want to experiment based on the colour or texture you want.

Mix. Once the glycerine is completely melted, remove it from the double boiler and add the herbs or puree. The glycerine cools quickly so you'll want to get it into the mold as soon as you can.

Mold. Pour the mixture into a mold that's been sprayed with cooking oil. You can buy soap molds but really there are lots of great options around the house - plastic containers, even rinsed, empty milk cartons - depending on the size and shape of the soaps you want. The main thing is to choose a mold that's got some give or can be cut away for unmolding

One of the advantages of the purees is that they distribute evenly through the base. With zest and whole herbs, you may have to accept that they will settle how they will. In the case of this soap the basil settled at the surface and the zest at the bottom which actually kind of works as each side of the soap is different. I'd resist the urge to try to stir the herbs and zest through the base too much. If you stir after the base has started to firm up you can end up introducing imperfections and cloudiness.

Once you've poured the soap into the mold spray the surface with rubbing alcohol to get rid of bubbles. Let the soap set for about half and hour on the counter and then move it to the freezer for an hour or two.

Release. Once the soap has hardened, release it from the mold. You can trim the edges with a paring knife and then cut the bars into the desired size. I go four smallish bars from this soap.

Enjoy. Pretty and practical - this lightly-scented soap looks lovely by the kitchen sink.

Store. With one bar by the sink, I wrapped the remaining three in parchment paper. The soaps should be good to use for three to four months. And why keep it to yourself? These would be great as part of a hostess gift or tossed into a house-warming basket.

This project is so simple, I can't believe I never tried it before! Thinking of what else is in my herb garden - lemon balm, lavender, apple mint -has me in quite a lather!

hi, stakes!

2011-06-28T11:10:00.001-03:00

A couple of weekends ago I hit a Fredericton Crafters market at Charlotte Street Art Centre. One of my favourite vendors was Isabelle Pineau from An Oddity or Two. Isabelle creates quirky and whimsical jewellry and curios. And as these cute plant stakes prove, she has a cheeky sense of humour. You can check out a small selection of her offerings on her etsy shop or keep up with her adventures on her blog

local love

2011-06-27T12:35:00.000-03:00


Jennifer's strawberry-rhubarb cordial made from local strawberries and rhubarb from her backyard (and garnished with Sweet Valley basil!)

If you read this blog regularly, you know I'm ever-so-slightly obsessed with our local farm market. But as much as I love it, sometimes even I forget how much our local food options have improved in the past few years. My friend Lori and I used to have regular market dates before she moved to Australia and we hit the market together for the first time in 18 months this weekend. As I acquainted her with my favourite new finds, I realized just how many great new vendors have been added to the market stalwarts. What really struck me is how many young couples and families have started growing and selling great local food! And of course it's coming on the best time of the year for local produce. The arrival of the first flats of local strawberries was the cause of great rejoicing in this corner for sure!

Local food took centre stage for Sunday supper with simple, easy and delicious summer cooking. What local foods do you most look forward to?

Lemon-pepper Nashwaak Noodles tossed with sauteed local garlic scapes and le forban (black pepper goatcheese) from au fond des bois fromagerie

vanilla panna cotta on coulis of local strawberries garnished with basil from my windowsill

find a peony, pick it up...

2011-06-27T12:04:00.000-03:00

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch

This year I've had a fondness for begonias and a little floral crush on Sweet William but my very favourite flower remains the peony. Oddly for one of the showiest flowers in the garden, in the language of flowers the peony stands for bashfulness due in part to the legend that mischievous nymphs hide in the petals. When I bought my house it was March and I only had blurry summer photos from the realtor to go on but I thought I spotted a peony bush in bloom. All I could do was wait. I was rewarded shortly later that spring when the reddish sprouts pushed their way through the earth. I still wait all spring for the all-too-brief window when bushes are in bloom so I can pick one fragrant blossom to bring indoors.

something always happens

2011-06-24T10:34:00.002-03:00

As an art history grad, I can make an academic argument on the merits of almost any school of art but deciding what work I bring home to my space is a much more instinctive and emotional process. I have a particular fondness for pieces that elevate the every day as subjects. Add in a playfulness with colour, technique and media along with a dash of dreamlike nostalgia and I will be hooked. So it's no wonder that it was love at first sight when I first saw the work of Stephen Williams a few years ago at Ingrid Muellers Art + Concepts.

Big Band

I am not alone. He's the kind of painter who seems to inspire a sort of breathless devotion. On the eve of his latest show, I was chatting with a friend who was excitedly telling me about her latest purchase. There's something about his energy and lightness that makes you want to surround yourself with his pieces.

Atlantic Puffins

Winner of the 2001 Fred Ross Prize for emerging artist and in 2009 winner of a province wide competition for emerging artists, Stephen is still remarkably young. He's also remarkably self-assured about his work, in who he is and what he thinks his art should be: "Personally I have always refrained from complicated themes." Which may, in fact, be one of the gutsiest statements one can make in the art world.

Rockwell's Greyhound

Hampton Courthous

The Burns Backyard

His latest show Something Always Happens shows an artist who continues to mature and develop while staying true to the elements that make his work instantly recognizable.

A Day at the Beach

"This body of paintings and drawings completed within the past five months reflects my place in life. Many of those portrayed are either relatives or otherwise significant in my day to day activities, while some (strangers from found imagery) simply appeal to my mood. I try to keep my materials simple, which reinforces the sense of ease and enjoyment I get from creating these pieces." Stephen Williams

Country Fair

At a time where personalities often dwarf actual art and a desire to shock has become commonplace, a nice young man promoting a 'sense of ease and enjoyment' in art may be the freshest thing out there.

coming attractions

2011-06-21T09:46:00.000-03:00

When I first moved to Fredericton 15 years ago, the eatery and bar options were limited in the downtown. It's definitely turned around in recent years but it's still a cause for celebration in my mind to see new places opening up. I'm especially looking forward to a few of the new establishments coming soon at the bottom of Regent Street: corked wine bar (across the street from the Blue Door), Park's Noodle & Sushi (the old M&T Deli spot on Regent & Queen) and Arom Chinese (the former Mei's location). Anchored on the King and Regent Corner by the Blue Door and with the recent addition of a tasty, cheap lunch spot with the Midsea, the Queen-King block of Regent is undergoing a little renaissance. Can't wait to try out the new spots!

hays falls

2011-06-20T10:40:00.000-03:00

About a week ago my friend Jennifer - a relative newcomer to New Brunswick - suggested we take advantage of the pleasant weather to get out for some hikes outside the city. I did a little online research and decided that our first trip would be Hays Falls on the Maliseet Trail just below Woodstock. Somehow I'd lived 15 years in Fredericton without ever having heard of the falls.

The weather was touch and go much of the weekend but Sunday afternoon it had cleared enough to head upriver. We took the more scenic route up Route 102 - the river valley was lush from the wet weather and while we hit a few showers on the hour drive to the trail, it had cleared by the time we arrived.

The rain had left the woods cool and kept the bugs to a minimum. It's about 2 km from the mouth of the trail to the falls and a fairly easy, albeit wet and mucky, trek.

The final descent to the base of the falls was the trickiest with wet rocks and mud and an excited little dog pulling on his lead. But it was well worth it. The veil falls plunge 20 metres (60 feet) over the bed rock - and with the sun streaming into the gorge it was a truly beautiful site.


J at the bottom left of the falls gives a sense of size

With an hour drive each way and a relatively short hike to the falls, this is a perfect Sunday afternoon trip from Fredericton.

Can't wait for our next adventure! What are some of your favourite trails and treasures in our backyard?

rugged doxies pose for pics

comings and goings

2011-06-17T22:01:00.000-03:00

A reunion 18 months in the making.

Two days before Christmas 2009 Lori and Leon left for Australia. Yesterday they returned to Canada. And while I was so unbelievably lucky to visit with them last year, it's been a long 18 months! Since just after Christmas 2010 we've had June 16th circled on the calendar and I was so lucky to be able to be at the airport with her family for their homecoming. And as you can see below, this is not the only big arrival for them this year! Eleven has always been Lori's magic number and 2011 is set to live up to that promise!

welcome back to Canada, Mr. Quick!

LOTS of new changes on the way - Mama Joan and the mama-to-be

A welcome home card from Hunter James

From the airport and welcoming back dear friends, it was a mad dash to the Delta to send another friend off in style. My pal and former colleague Marie is leaving us for Toronto. And while we will miss our petite ami avec le grand rire - oh that laugh! - she's off on an amazing new chapter in her life! (Maybe she'll even finally take up the cello... )

our little curly-haired spitfire

the delta patio offers one of the great views in the city for a great celebration

you just knew there would be speeches!

sutton place

2011-06-16T09:32:00.001-03:00

Sutton Foster and the legendary Joel Grey in Anything Goes.

I'm days late on this but how adorable is (now two-time) Tony-winner Sutton Foster?

And here's a peek of her in her winning role as nightclub evangelist and wonderfully-named Reno Sweeney in the revival of Mr. Cole Porter's Anything Goes. She looks plucked straight from a 1930s screwball comedy - lovely and amazing.

In other news, 1930s cruise-wear? Yes, please!

make some dough

2011-06-13T08:06:00.000-03:00

As you may know I love my basil bonsai from Sweet Valley Herbs. The one thing about the plant is that you have to keep using it in order to maintain it's lovely globe shape. So last week I threw some of the basil leaves - along with some Sweet Valley rosemary - into a batch of bread for my friend who had just moved into a new home. We ate this soft, flavourful bread with thick hummus under a canopy of grape leaves on a sunny night - simple and lovely. So I knew I had to make some for myself this week!

Regular basil is notoriously easy to bruise in chopping so one thing I love about the basil bonsai is that there's minimal handling of the the leaves. Just run your fingers down the stalk and you get a wonderfully fragrant pile of tiny leaves which look great scattered through the bread. You can turn pretty much any dough into an herb bread by adding roughly a teaspoon of herbs per cup of flour. I used a recipe for baguette which is a little saltier than your standard white to bring out the flavour of the herbs. And if you don't want to make the time commitment to bread baking in June, herbs are also great in biscuits and scones.

Fresh from the oven yesterday, this basil-rosemary bread was the perfect foundation to a delicious Sunday supper: topped with avocado, smoked salmon and chives and paired with ricotta-scrambled eggs. Yum.

bug free!

2011-06-13T07:51:00.000-03:00

Possibly the only thing more annoying than swatting at bugs is drenching yourself with chemical repellents. The mosquitoes are out in full force this year and I couldn't wait to get to the market this weekend to pick up some of Sanctuary Botanicals' Bug Free. With essential oils of cedarwood, citronella, clove, bay and sunflower this light spray leaves you smelling spicy sweet and herb-y and it really works!

(One note of warning: pregnant women should not use the spray. If you're expecting, there are certain essential oils you should avoid. A good starting point for educating yourself can be found here)

And if you are wondering how to keep your furry friend from being pestered by bugs this is a great recipe I found a few years ago. I like to keep a spray bottle in the fridge for Henry during the summer.

Ingredients:

1 big lemon with a thick rind
1 tablespoon of crushed rosemary leaves
1 quart of boiling water
1 large spray bottle

Directions:

Slice your lemon paper thin and place the slices in a bowl.
Add the crushed rosemary leaves to the lemon slices.
Pour the boiling water over the lemon and rosemary and give a light stir.
Let this mixture steep overnight.
Strain and put the liquid into a large spray bottle and keep in the refrigerator
Before applying, shake well to mix the ingredients.

Now we are set for concerts in the park, movies under the stars and beautiful nature hikes!

...

2011-06-10T18:40:00.001-03:00

I am so glad that after nearly fifteen years in Fredericton I am still discovering little treasures. How did I not find out about the beautiful little trail from Morell Field past the Loyalist cemetery before now? A lovely sun-dappled walk to unwind after a very busy week!

progress!

2011-06-10T09:00:00.000-03:00

The combination of hot hot heat and drenching rains this week have been great for my first vegetable garden. (I say "first" but I did begin one last year but a combination of bad placement and leaving for Australia for two weeks in June kind of undid my plans). In any case this year, I have a lovely sun-drenched spot and a much better sense of garden maintenance.
Everything in the garden except the cucumbers was started from seeds back when the snow was still on the ground. So amazing to watch them grow!

Cool beans!

Cucumber

onions

Peas

Zucchini

tomatoes

I've also got some carrots and beets started - in need of thinning! - as well as lettuce and a pumpkin patch... so much fun!

the songbird and the lovebirds

2011-06-09T08:08:00.002-03:00

Photo courtesy of sing to me mama

How sweet are these wedding invitations and wine labels from Jessica Rhaye? I love the love birds, the lacy designs and the pink and grey palette.

You can see more of Jessica's designs here and read about her adventures in motherhood on her blog sing to me mama and, oh yes, she is a rawwwwther talented singer-songwriter too... She tells me she's working on some new songs with the likes of Royal Wood and Ron Sexsmith and hopefully will be back in the studio later this year - can't wait!

Could she be any cuter?

Jessica Rhaye "Maybe" from Hemmings House Pictures on Vimeo.

blue skies

2011-06-07T21:56:00.000-03:00

Going at a crazy pace this week but here's a little "glad"-ness for you. It was a grey day on Saturday but we had a "blue skies" with Sissy and the Hobos.

sweet indulgence

2011-06-04T13:11:00.001-03:00

So my favourite weekly indulgence is quickly becoming a treat from Choco Cocagne from the Boyce Market. Based in a little community in Kent County, artisanal choclatier Ginette Ahier creates rich chocolate treats in both traditional (mint, caramel) and more exotic flavours (pink peppercorn). She works with dark velvety chocolate (60 - 83% cocoa content) and without added sugar or preservatives. My personal favourite is the sea salt, chocolate and caramel bar. But how cute is a little mix and match box of chocolates with charming transferred designs?

...

2011-06-01T10:40:00.000-03:00

Dealing with a large blank wall in my dining room today as Dad has borrowed this painting for an exhibit of his work at the Grand Manan Art Gallery opening this Saturday. It's an early piece from 1966; very graphic and stylized and quite different from the seascapes he's been focusing on for the past 30 years or so. My mother is threatening to keep this piece after the show closes so let's hope we don't end up with art in dispute!

concert in the park

2011-05-31T08:01:00.001-03:00

Because of Congress 2011, Fredericton's annual outdoor entertainment series launched early this year. Last night was the great duo of Isaac & Blewett. The first time I ever saw them was in Officer's Square many years ago when I lived in an apartment across from the park so I always associate them with open air, summery concerts.

If you're in Fredericton there are nightly concerts until Friday. My must-sees are folk-pop darlings The Olympic Symphonium on Wednesday and Joel LeBlanc (of Hot Toddy) and friends on Friday. The regular concert season gets underway next week and then you pretty much can enjoy free music and entertainment in the heart of the city every day until Labour Day.

Is it any wonder why Officers' Square was recently named one of the Top 10 Public Spaces in the country?

herbal magic

2011-05-30T19:20:00.001-03:00

As soon as I saw the basil bonsai on the Sweet Valley Herbs site, I knew I had to head to the market on Saturday to pick one up. Thyme-size basil leaves grow in a perfect globe on a hardy stalk - no pruning required. Don't let the pint-sized leaves fool you; they pack full size fragrance and flavour.

Sweet Valley Herbs are no strangers to Boyce market regulars. For several years Aaron and Anna Randall, their three daughters and Aaron's dad Bud have been getting up bright and early to offer up delicious fresh herbs for market-goers. You might not know they also supply garden centres around the Maritimes.

A major greenhouse expansion last year meant they could diversify into new products, of which the basil bonsai is only one. You can check out the all their great products on their new web-site as well as tips on growing herbs and recipes from Chef Aaron (he actually started growing herbs in order to have fresh product for his restaurant kitchens 15 years ago). Ooooh.... basil scones? Bonsai!

backgrounds: jared peters at ingrid mueller art + concepts

2011-05-28T13:06:00.000-03:00

If you haven't had the chance to get to the new home of Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts on Regent Street, now is the perfect time to go. Last night she opened a new exhibit by Saint John artist Jared Peters. Backgrounds is an exploration of meaning, memory and identity. The images are both dreamlike and familiar and rendered in a luminous palette; a wonderfully cohesive collection from an emerging artist.

laura nyro

2011-05-26T21:48:00.000-03:00

I've been on the hunt lately for great music on cassette (a necessity when your car is your grandparents 12-year-old Buick). So to score Laura Nyro's 1968 album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession for a toonie was pretty satisfying.

Released when she was just 21, Nyro's second album met with critical acclaim for her sophistication, her vocals and her innovative melding of jazz, soul, girl group harmonies and solid Brill Building-style song-writing. Her commercial success actually came from other people covering her songs (but in my opinion, her renditions are superior in virtually every instance.)

She's the sophisticated, offbeat and criminally lesser-known counterpart to Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Ricki Lee Jones and if you liked Diane Birch's 2009 album Bible Belt, you need to check her out.

happy birthday miles davis

2011-05-26T20:40:00.000-03:00

1959... Miles Davis and John Coltrane in the studio performing "So What" - Does it get any cooler than this? It does not. (I love at the 3 minute mark when Coltrane starts his solo and Miles heads of to the side for a smoke break. 'Cuz it's Coltrane, he's gonna be awhile.)

mendelssohn, tchaikovsky and the miramichi

2011-05-25T08:11:00.001-03:00

I should like to write a violin concerto for you next winter. One in E minor runs through my head, the beginning of which gives me no peace.

Felix Mendelssohn to Ferdinand David, July 30, 1838

After being appointed principal conductor to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1835, Mendelssohn had appointed his childhood friend violinist Ferdinand David as the orchestra’s concertmaster. It would be 1844 before Mendelssohn would fulfill his promise to David and deliver the Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op 64. But if I had to choose an opening theme to run through my head for six years, this would be a strong contender. While working on the concerto Mendelssohn was in constant contact and discussion with David. The resulting concerto benefits great from having been composed with the input of a professional violinist.

From the almost immediate entrance of the violin – an unusual feature in a concerto - this is a take-no-prisoners kind of concerto. And with Symphony New Brunswick, Moncton-born violinist Jasper Wood tore into the challenge. His physicality makes him a delight to watch – at times playful, at time fierce and at times with the wide stance and springy knees that draw to mind East Coast fiddlers. But this is no kitchen party. Wood is a virutouso. One of the great testaments to his skill came six minutes into the first movement when the orchestra fell completely silent. For the next minute and a half, it was just one man and one violin. I’ve never heard a crowd so breathless in the Playhouse. The audience could barely contain their enthusiastic applause in the final seconds of the Concerto and delivered Woods a well-deserved standing ovation.

I have come to the conclusion that it is a failure.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky following the second performance of his fifth symphony

In the spring of 1888, 11 years since his last symphony, Tchaikovsky set out to write his fifth symphony. He struggled from the beginning despairing at one point that he was completely finished as a composer. But once he broke through this creative block Tchaikovsky composed rapidly completing the symphony by August 1888. The initial reception of the symphony was mixed and after the second performance the composer himself declared the work a failure. He was particularly troubled by the ending in which after a taut 40 minute struggle optimism wins out over the sorrowful resignation to Fate. He worried that it was “insincere.” But the symphony is abundant in such sincere moments of beauty and texture, especially the splendid second movement, that you want to forgive him for possibly taking the easy way out.

And indeed by 1889 audiences, critics and Tchaikovsky himself had come around and it has remained a hugely popular orchestral work. The triumphant finale led to it becoming particularly popular during the Second World War. It was wonderful on Tuesday night to sit in what is, relatively speaking, a smallish concert hall as a larger-than-usual Symphony New Brunswick enveloped you in the sound of this monumental work.

**

One of the great surprises of the evening actually came early on. In their programming Symphony New Brunswick includes works by New Brunswick composers. They opened last night's concert with Miramichi Ballad, a 12-minute suite from composer Kelsey Jones. In 1950 Jones was the founding conductor of the Saint John Symphony Orchestra, a forbear to today’s Symphony New Brunswick.

From the opening horns, this suite hit grabbed me physically in the same way as Copeland’s Appalachian Spring; that is to say somewhere around the heart and reaching up to the lump in my throat. Like Appalachian Spring this is music for a ‘New World’; a land defined by geographic vastness, by rushing rivers and forests primeval and by the people who build their lives there. Based on folk songs of the Miramichi, it’s a beautiful work that deserves to be better known by New Brunswickers. I am now on a hunt for a recording.

The 2010-2011 Symphony season wraps up tonight at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John. Looking forward to what the orchestra offers us in 11-12!

victoria & dash

2011-05-23T13:17:00.002-03:00

Victoria, Self-Portrait, 1835

The problem with reigning for 63 years, I would imagine, is that people only really remember you as the rotund, dour-looking monarch who spent the better part of her life dressed in mourning. It's easy to forget that the world's longest-reigning female monarch came to the throne in 1837 as a girl of 18.

Her mother had raised her under a system of rules and protocols designed to keep her weak and dependent. Victoria's one loyal companion was Dash, a tri-coloured King Charles Spaniel. Ironically her dearest companion had originally been given to her mother by Sir John Conroy; the two people who had conspired to keep the young Princess in isolation. But 13-year-old Victoria soon made Dash hers and he rewarded her with fidelity. On one occasion she went sailing on a yacht and the spaniel reportedly jumped in the water and swam after her. On her first meeting with Albert she was taken with the prince and made note that he 'played with and fussed over Dash.' According to her own diaries, following her coronation on June 28, 1838, the young Queen rushed home to Buckingham Palace and ran up to her rooms to give Dash his usual bath.

Dash (1836) Sir Edwin Landseer- commissioned by the Duchess of Kent for the seventeenth birthday of her daughter Victoria

When Dash died in 1840, the Queen had him buried at Adelaide cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The marble effigy includes the following inscription:

Here lies
DASH
The favourite spaniel of Her Majesty Queen Victoria
In his 10th year
His attachment was without selfishness
His playfulness without malice
His fidelity without deceit
READER
If you would be beloved and die regretted
Profit by the example of
DASH

If you're looking for some entertainment appropriate to the holiday, I recommend the The Young Victoria. There are a few historical liberties taken but it's a beautiful film and Emily Blunt is winning as the young queen. But you will want to keep the tissues handy!

forget-me-not

2011-05-20T17:18:00.000-03:00

It was May when I moved into this house four years ago. A bunch of forget-me-nots from the backyard in an old perfume bottle on the powder room sink always reminds me of those first days in my little house.

three little birds

2011-05-20T10:57:00.000-03:00

waiting for mom or dad to bring back breakfast while mom or dad looks on

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

~Bob Marley~

It's surely a measure of how busy and distracted I've been that I didn't notice until two days ago that a little family of robins had taken up residence in the corner above my porch swing, (and even then it was actually my friend Bridget who brought it to my attention.) Bird behaviour is fascinating to me. I love the way that during the day as the three little babies hang out in the nest - and nearly over the nest they're getting so big - one of the adults sits nearby in the very old hydrangea shrub that hugs the porch corner and the other sits higher up in the power line.The adults are amazingly vigilant constantly looking about and letting out chirps of warning when necessary. (I should note that I was several feet back when I took these pictures and then cropped in closely. Want to be very respectful of their little home.)

I could watch them from the living room window all day. And how amazing are nests? What smart feats of engineering. I'll be so sad when it's empty!

here comes the sun again.

2011-05-19T18:15:00.000-03:00

Finally! After nearly two weeks of cold damp drizzle and rain the sun is out! Enjoying a beautiful spring afternoon in the back yard.

grounded

2011-05-18T12:58:00.002-03:00

photo: Sybil MacDonald, Facebook

That boat should not be on those rocks. That's the first thing your should know.

The next thing you should know is that everyone is safe and life has returned to next to normal.

This morning around 9, as happens every morning at 9 every day but Christmas and New Year’s, the ferry from my hometown of Grand Manan island prepared to dock at the mainland port of Blacks Harbour.

Normally those final minutes of the 90-minute crossing are the same every trip: pack up your books or magazine or deck of cards, finish the last of your tea, stash your cafeteria tray, say your goodbyes to friends and make a final pit stop at the washroom before heading down to your car to continue your day. As the ferry turns and prepares to back into the dock, there’s always some tilting and churning and grinding. If you’re an islander you don’t normally pay much attention to it. For my mother it was when she realized she was walking uphill to the restroom sink, that she knew something was not right.

On this morning, mere metres from the final destination, the ferry ran aground. Nothing has been officially determined but it looks like a mechanical problem. In any case, a full load of passengers and crew found themselves stranded within sight of the dock but still too far to make an obvious exit that wouldn’t involve boats. They were listing badly, it wasn't known if they were taking on water (they mercifully weren't) and there was no indication of the condition of the Island’s one link to the mainland.

The “first boat” that leaves the island at 7:30 a.m. is what you take when you’re “going away for the day.” On any given day you have a number of elderly people heading for medical appointments. You’ll often see mothers with babies and young children headed to Saint John for a day of shopping or visits with family. And there are those, like my dad who was making his second trip to the mainland in as many days, for whom this is a business commute. The first boat is usually filled with passengers and with a sense of anticipation for the busy day ahead. Today those days took a detour.

From accounts and photos people were very calm and orderly. Passengers uploaded iPhone pictures of people standing calmly on the top deck in the morning fog. The only sign of anything unusual was that everyone was wearing orange life jackets. There seemed to be some debate as the minutes ticked on as to whether passengers would be evacuated from the ferry by lifeboat or whether they would wait for the Bay of Fundy’s famous tides to rise and loosen the boat from its position. The decision was made to begin evacuating by lifeboat.

Life boats are by their very nature designed as a last resort. They are designed for necessity not comfort. My mother said watching the shuddering, jerky descent of the first load of thirty passengers to the water below made her think that staying put and waiting out the rising tides seemed like the preferable option. The lifeboats are also not capable of powering themselves and so were towed to the ramp by a zodiac. The tide being as low as it was, the climb up the ramp from the lifeboat was steep for passengers with canes and wheelchairs and young children.

After the first lifeboat trip, a salmon boat from Cook’s Aquaculture arrived and passengers were ushered to the vehicle deck where they boarded the waiting boat. Still no pleasure cruise but far preferable to facing the lifeboat at least in my mother’s mind. (Their response this morning along with their response to December’s devastating floods have pretty much cemented Cook’s reputation as Charlotte County’s good Samaritan company.)

Not long after my parents came ashore the ferry was able to dock and cars began to unload and islanders, pragmatic as always, began to resume their regularly scheduled day. The time from my father’s first email that they had gone aground (only my father would title such an email "Shipwreck") to his email as they drove out of Blacks was barely over an hour. But it felt so much longer. And the extent of the damage is still not known nor when ferry service to the island might resume.

As unenviable as the situation was the passengers were never in any real physical danger. But the psychological impact for all islanders even those who live away is real. Grand Manan is lies in the middle of the Bay of Fundy, 32 kilometres away from the rest of New Brunswick. The island is geographically large enough and the population such that most days there is little sense of isolation. Yes, going anywhere else takes a bit more planning for islanders than for others but that’s how things are on an island. Mostly life on an island just fills you with a sense of community, resilience and self-reliance.

Most days you don’t think that one boat, one ocean-going vehicle – and not even a terribly large one as ships go - is the only tie that binds you physically to the rest of the world. And sometimes that tie doesn’t hold.

We come from an island. We count on that boat. That boat should not be on those rocks. It’s a lot to absorb.

UPDATE: it's now being reported by some sources that the ship wasn't grounded but was wedged under the ramp. Sure it will be some time before we know all the details. In any case, the boat was not where it was supposed to be.

the new girl

2011-05-17T09:34:00.001-03:00

I have, and I am not ashamed to say it, a huge girl crush on Zooey Deschanel. She's a smart and quirky actress who, among other things, starred in the unbelievably adorable (500) Days of Summer, is one half of the retro-sweet folk duo She & Him, she's charming and funny on twitter and tumblr, she's married to the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and she's named for a Salinger character. Even her ad for cotton is a dream, for heaven's sake.

So the news that Fox has picked up her show The New Girl for the fall season makes me very, very happy. I'm not even sure how I feel about the show itself based on this trailer but I feel my life will be better with weekly hits of Zooey.

(also this trailer seems to have the seem rehabilitating effect for Time of My Life as 500 Days did for Hall and Oates)

's wonderful: happy birthday fred astaire

2011-05-10T09:29:00.000-03:00

I am uncertain about the man, but I feel, in spite of his enormous ears and bad chin line, that his charm is so tremendous that it comes through even on this wretched test.

David O. Selznick on signing Fred Astaire to RKO in 1932

As much as I love watching Fred Astaire dance - and how could you not? Listening to him sing is one of my great joys. No perfect smooth crooning here, he was actually very humble about his self-perceived lack of singing talent. But the great composers of the American songbook felt differently. Irving Berlin ranked him with Sinatra and Crosby not necessarily for his voice but for his unique interpretation of the songs. Jerome Kern considered Astaire the supreme interpreter of his songs - and once you've heard Astaire's version of "The Way You Look Tonight" it's hard to disagree. His singing introduced a conversational phrasing and spontaneity that made every lyric seem like a fresh thought. And it could probably be argued that his style was a greater influence on subsequent generations of pop music than his crooning companions. In any case, he was just an awfully swell fellow...

under the sea

2011-04-26T13:33:00.001-03:00

Lumpfish by Eric Allaby

In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you that the artist featured today sponsored my room, board, piano lessons etc. for 17 years and put me through college...

A while back the Hunstsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews asked my dad to submit a painting for their upcoming calendar. It surprising that as a diver for more than three decades and a painter during that entire time, Dad hadn't painted underwater life before. He's preferred to focus on sailing ships and seascapes although he's recently started painting the birds that frequent his cove on Grand Manan island. When he was given the list of potential sea life to paint, he opted for one that he thought no one else would pick: the humble lumpfish. (Dad shares his firsthand impressions of lumpfish behaviours over on his blog - they're great little creatures!)

I love Mr. Lumpfish - he has so much personality! - and am now considering asking dad to paint me a series of underwater creatures. The whimsical creatures and the underwater atmosphere and light make me smile.

The lumpfish, along with many of dad's other works, are available on his Etsy shop. If you're interested in painting, he offers great behind the art tips each week on his blog as well.

a visit with... tina robinson of lovely betty

2011-04-20T09:34:00.005-03:00

If Astrid Lindgren had ever written about an adult Pippi Longstocking, there’s a good chance she’d have turned out a lot like Lovely Betty owner Tina Robinson.

Like her style inspiration Pippi, Tina is a red-haired iconoclast and she’s created something of a Villa Villekulla for Fredericton fashionistas with bright colours and big surprises lurking in every corner.

Growing up in her mother’s British Woolens store, Tina says learned an appreciation for fine fabrics - wool, silk, cashmere – and certain classic styles. She’d been a serious thrifter for decades but it wasn’t until she opened Lovely Betty as a consignment and vintage shop a year and half ago that she considered making a living at it.

“It wasn’t until after I opened the store that I realized I’ve been doing this all along I just didn’t realize I did it. I was always attracted to classic things but I don’t think the word ‘vintage’ was banged around as much as it is now. I’ve been doing this a long time without realizing what I’d been doing and just incorporating it into my wardrobe. ”

The shop originally opened in Brookside Mall but on March 1 moved to its new home in Marysville. Perched high on a hill with a view of Boss Gibson’s old mill, the house itself was built in the mid-nineteenth century for Gibson's son John. Today decades-old wallpapers mix with electric paint colours and every room of the two-storey home holds temptations for fashionable treasure-seekers.

The racks at Lovely Betty aren’t solely devoted to vintage. Tina accepts many more recent items as well. There's one standard they all meet: interesting well-made pieces with fine details - and a sense of fun. While she steers away from being matchy-matchy, the vignettes she creates around the store show a natural editor's eye for playing dress up.

Just as she relies on her instinct in picking great pieces for the shop, Tina bases her business strategy heavily on her intuition.

“I’ve been winging it from the beginning. I definitely have a little guy on my shoulder that is my inspiration. My mom’s old boyfriend when I was growing up was an entrepreneur who moved to Canada from Ireland with nothing,” explains Tina. “And I’ve read recently that entrepreneurs look at the world upside down; that they see what’s missing instead of what’s there and that’s what John did.”

“He took tons of risks but had a really good intuition. He made a million, lost a million and made it back and ended up dying a multi-millionaire. He generally made the right decisions and jumped on things -even though it was risky - if it felt right.”

“John had died just a couple of months before I opened the shop. He really didn’t want to die, he went to the Mayo clinic, he tried everything to stay alive. So I always thought if he was given the chance to take over my body and do whatever he wanted to do would he open the shop? And I think he’d be like, ‘Hell yeah. Go for it! What do you have to lose?’”

That same sense of adventure lurks around every corner of the shop - velvet capes, leopard-print ankle boots, fantastic costume jewelry? Go for it!

Lovely Betty is located at 277 Canada Street in Marysville. They’re open Mon-Thur: 11-6, Fri: 11 -8 and Saturday: 10-6.

Got some great pieces you’re ready to part with? Bring them in to Lovely Betty on consignment. Tina selects what she thinks will sell and prices according to what she thinks it will go for. You’ll receive 40% of price if the item goes for under $100, 50% if it sells for over $100 and 60% if it sells for over $200. She generally keeps items for three months.

sissy & the hobos

2011-04-18T11:04:00.000-03:00

I was predisposed to have a favourable opinion of Sissy & the Hobos even before hearing them based on my general good feeling towards anything involving hobos and/or mandolins. But when they opened their afternoon show at Dolan's with the Be Good Tanyas' Littlest Birds I was truly hooked.

(Please excuse the wobbliness of the video. I won't lie, I may have been ordering nachos and a caesar while shooting.)

Formed a couple of months ago, this was only the second gig for Sissy and the Hobos. Fronted by cousins Juanita Bourque and Sylvia Caissie with Tony Scott on mandolin and Ceasar Morales on bass, this is a group that will appeal to anyone with a soft spot for folksy root-based music and sweet harmonies. While the two songs I shot are both Be Good Tanyas covers, their set was filled with great folk and country classics from Hank Williams, Pete Seeger and Roly Stolley along with some original tunes.

If you like the Be Good Tanyas, Sarah Harmer, the Good Lovelies or Allison Krauss, you'll love Sissy and the Hobos so keep an eye out for them around town this summer! A perfect sound for sunny days.

weekend wrap-up: it's such a perfect day

2011-04-18T08:16:00.000-03:00

There are certain days that make me fall in love with my little town all over again. Saturday was one of them: sunshine, lots of people strolling downtown and lots of things to do.

Our first stop was Fredericton's contribution to the growing movement of Vote Mobs around the country during the current election campaign: the F-Mob.

Lots of energy and patriotism among the many young people (and some not-as-young) who got out to promote voting on May 2.

From Officer's Square and the Lighthouse it was off to Backstreet Records for Record Store Day. The little shop was packed to the rafters and it was a reminder that I need to pop in there much more often. Also I need to invest in a decent record player. My thrift store player looks funky but I fear I risk electrocution every time I plug it in.

Since we were on Queen Street, a stop at the Owl's Nest was a must. You really never know what you'll find there!

I can never leave the used bookstore empty-handed. I love the design of old book jackets and the quirky titles. To wit, Mrs. Marjory Aitken's 1958 Travel Alone and Love It (which includes an entire chapter devoted to the world's floral clock) and from 1948 Let's Make More Things, a craft manual written entirely in calligraphic hand. The 8 Western Hits album was Denis' find and it probably should have come with a side of anti-depressants.

We capped off our afternoon adventures with a late lunch, cheap beer and great free music at Dolan's Pub. Sissy and the Hobos are a terrific new local band (stay tuned for some video from the show later today). Their sweet harmonies and folksy songs were the perfect soundtrack for a Saturday spring afternoon.

How was your weekend?

this weekend... shine on

2011-04-15T15:15:00.000-03:00

Sunday brings us the Full Pink Moon, named for the wild phlox that blooms profusely and early in the spring. Pink Moon is also the title of one of my favourite albums and songs from Nick Drake. In that spirit, here is some dreamy music to kick off your weekend.

fresh start

2011-04-14T09:39:00.000-03:00

We're chock full of new beginnings these days which is keeping me pretty busy. But I'm still finding time to get the seedlings started for this year's garden. I'm basing my veg garden on this design that chef Jamie Oliver created for Better Homes and Gardens. So far I've got the tomatoes, broccoli and marigolds started.

It's designed as a schoolyard garden so I figure if Jamie thinks young children can tend it, it's just about the right level for me! You can find all the specs on this garden plan here.

Anyone else planning a garden this year? Would love to hear what you've got started or what you're plotting for summer 2011!

play with your food: the glad girl meets the gluten-free girl

2011-04-12T10:08:00.000-03:00

Prosciutto-wrapped salmon with wild mushroom risotto and an arugula salad with garlic dressing.

It's estimated that celiac affects one in 133 Canadians. And celiac and gluten intolerance combined impacts 15% of the population. I'm not one of them. But I have watched friends who have suffered from mysterious symptoms for years experience nearly miraculous recoveries by going gluten-free. Our western diet relies heavily on gluten-filled products: pastas, breads and baked goods made from wheat flour are some obvious culprits but gluten also shows up in unlikely places like sauces and ice cream. My mom and I have been trying to educate ourselves on gluten-free eating recently in an effort to reduce gluten in our own lives. Many people without gluten-intolerances or allergies claim that reducing or cutting out gluten has improved their energy and digestion.

One of the books my mom gave me was Shauna James Ahern and Daniel Ahern's The Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef. Through her blog Gluten-Free Girl, Shauna quickly became one of the leading internet voices for gluten-free living. Instead of treating gluten-free eating as deprivation, she made it decadent, a real celebration of amazing food. It didn't hurt that she married a brilliant chef!

The Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef is a mouth-watering collection of recipes that the New York Times dubbed one of the Top 10 Cookbooks of 2010. And last night's dinner proved why. For my first attempted recipe, I chose the prosciutto-wrapped salmon with wild mushroom risotto along with the frise salad with garlic dressing (swapping out the frise for arugula). (I like to dive right in there!) Flavourful and amazing. There's no gluten but you won't miss it.

Shauna and Daniel's recipes and stories are such an inspiration and prove that you create really fantastic (maybe even better) dishes by freeing yourself from gluten. I'd love to see more restaurants locally take up the creative challenge and offer more gluten-free choices. But even if they don't, the Glad Girl kitchen, aided by the Gluten-Free Girl, will be having fun playing with her food!

Incidentally a reason I love the interwebs: Being able to tweet back and forth with a cookbook authour while cooking her recipes. So fun!

weekend wrap-up: sunshine, shandies and sunday night supper

2011-04-11T09:32:00.001-03:00

Finally! A true spring weekend - it felt like it would never get here. I spent most of the weekend at my parents' place on Grand Manan. With an east-facing house, waking up early to enjoy the sunrise over the cove is a must.

I'm looking forward to warmer weather and taking the kayaks out but this weekend I was content to cozy up on the sofa and bask in the morning light.

Made it back to Fredericton mid-afternoon Sunday. Loved seeing so many people out on the Green along the river enjoying the sunshine. Took a quick stroll to the exhibition centre for the spring antique sale. Glad I did as I scored these great vintage earrings. I'm loving this corally orange colour right now and paired with gold it's a classic summer earring.

Finished off the weekend with a Sunday night supper courtesy of Bridget and Vince. Bridget whipped up some bright citrusy shandies - the perfect drink for an early spring weekend.

And Vince worked his magic on couple of curries.

Who could ask for a better weekend! Hope you had a great one too!

hope your weekend...

2011-04-08T19:39:00.000-03:00

...is smooth-sailing. I'll be spending a couple of days visiting my family on Grand Manan. First trip back since Christmas - looking forward to seeing everyone!

project yellow: office space

2011-04-07T12:46:00.048-03:00

And so it came to pass last week that the Glad Girl found herself self-employed and in need of a home office. Faced with embarking on a rather big adventure, one of my first priorities was to create a beautiful, energizing space. Working from home takes discipline and I wanted a space that would inspire me and that would be a pleasure to spend my days in. Luckily I had a spare bedroom that had been little more than a repository for craft supplies, ephemera and, well, junk. I can't even show you the before photo. It was that horrifying.

I wanted the space to be cheerful and this pot of daisies from my thoughtful friend Jilanna provided the perfect inspiration point - right down to their pale aqua wrapper. This of course meant lots of yellow which prompted Jennifer to dub the entire enterprise: Project Yellow.

The blue-green wall colour is both calming and uplifting but pale enough to function almost as a neutral which allows me to bring in a lot of other bright colours. (Please note the office mascot there in the left corner. The office has no furniture under which his ball can get stuck. I can't tell you what a relief this is.)

You just knew there had to be stripes right?

I'd love to splurge on a retro mid-century desk at some point but for now dining room set from my old apartment has been re-upholstered and repurposed for my work station. (That great mug is by Shanie Stozek.)

This will never be a paperless office. I love my notebooks!

These tissue paper pom-poms have been showing up everywhere but why wait for a party to make and hang them?

Whiteboards are for boardrooms, I'm more of a chalkboard kind of girl.

Colour! The question written in the bottom of the newsprint is taken from Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule. Simple and inspiring.

I love creating little vignettes of things that make me happy: flowers, apothecary jars, old Underwood typewriter, vintage decorating books and a peony candle.

So I've got a beautiful space and I'm pleasantly overwhelmed with some of the opportunities I already have before me. The future of bright for Project Yellow!

seeing clearly

2011-04-07T10:34:00.000-03:00

One of the challenges of decorating a century home filled with antiques and heirlooms is to keep things from looking too museum-like. I love throwing in a few contemporary pieces to lighten things up. I've had this coffee table in mind pretty much since I moved in but couldn't source one locally and I couldn't bring myself to 'big city prices' and have one shipped. So when I spotted this one at Urban Almanac yesterday I didn't think twice. Perfectly-proportioned, tempered glass, locally purchased and the right price? Love.

correspondence course: robert schumann to clara wieck

2011-04-05T14:57:00.002-03:00

After seeing 8 year-old Clara Wieck perform, 17 year-old Robert Schumann quit his law studies to pursue music lessons with Clara's father. When she was 15 he was completely smitten with her and wrote this charming and whimsical letter....

Mr. Green in the Albion Balloon, Having Ascended from Vauxhall, Metropolitan Museum of Art

...In the beginning I had various plans with regard to our correspondence. I wanted, for instance, to start a public one with you in the music journal; then I wanted to fill my hot-air balloon (you know that I own one) with ideas for letters, and arrange an ascent in a favourable wind with a suitable destination... I wanted to catch butterflies as letter-carriers to you. I wanted to send my letters first to Paris, so that you should open them with great curiousity, and then, more than surprised, would believe me in Paris. In short, I had many witty dreams in my head, from which only today the horn of the post has awakened me. Postillions, my dear Clara, have, by the way, as magical an effect on my as the most excellent champagne. Once seems to hvae no heqd, one has such a delightfully light heart, when one hears them trumpeting so joyously out into the world...

Leipzig, 1834

2011-04-05T10:14:00.001-03:00

Photo: NY Public Library

what a circus

2011-04-04T16:17:00.000-03:00

I nabbed these circus-themed cards at Michael's a few weeks ago. I loved their whimsical retro feel. They seem like just the thing for one of the inspiration walls of my new office.

(The '5 things to be happy about' calendar page was given to me by my friend Lori in March 2000 - I've been carrying it from office to office for 11 years and it still makes me smile!)