Happy Mother's Day everyone!

“Our mothers always remain the strangest, craziest people we've ever met.” ― Marguerite Duras

Introducing Carol's new shiny blog!

Well,  I convinced one friend to start a blog and hope I can convince others.  Really,  it is fun,  easy,  and does make for an excellent record.   I know you all have interesting things to share and having a blog helps you to look around and be more observant and you will give your friends lots of pleasure...what's not to like!

A link to Carol's blog:

http://mountdunbar.blogspot.ca

Dover Arms Fish and Chips

We have really been missing our C-Lovers Fish and Chips so looking for a replacement and we seemed to have found something close (no mushy peas though...downer!) at the Dover Arms Pub.  Funnily enough I don't think we have gone here since we got our first apartment in Vancouver five years ago.   I guess there are just too many other restaurants around these days but many years ago when it was one of the first neighbourhood pubs we used to love going there when we were visiting Vancouver.  It was a part of 'Hunky Bill's" then.  The server we had,  Scottish from around Motherwell where Jim's mom was born,  said he's still living and doing well.  He still does the PNE for his perogies.

So,  bottom line,  they have fish and chips on special for $10.95 Thursdays and it you go for their before 6pm "happy hour" you can get a nice glass of shiraz for $4.75.  We split one and it was enough for us.  Fresh cut kennebec fries,  good fish,  and a very nice spinach salad with sun-dried tomatoes....wow,  a big improvement from coleslaw as far as we are concerned.  Jim spied that Wednesday,  they have bangers and mash on special.  I see they have calamari so I might try that.  Always looking for good calamari and almost never finding it.

Blog Memory: December 2008

Amazing amount of snow that year!

http://janicesextonart.blogspot.ca/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

Las Margaritas today...

It was a windy morning so a good day for tortilla soup and then it got really sunny this afternoon when we left the restaurant.   A great afternoon and made so much better by Brian and Susan joining us for lunch.  They live in the area so this must become a tradition.  We always have lots of fun together.

Memory on Facebook

I can't really get into all these other social media like FB,  Instagram,  Twitter, etc. but I do sometimes post some of my blog on FB.  FB does have this rather neat feature of suggesting a "memory".  (Maybe I'll start posting "memories" on my blog...always looking for things to post)  This one is from three years ago today and I mention my mother's letters were somewhat like blogging.

Good timing for this FB memory!

http://janicesextonart.blogspot.ca/2013/05/treasures.html

My first blog post...

And of course,  Richard is the one who got me started on it all.   I was disappointed and frustrated by trying to do some writing and he said,  "Well,  there's a new way of writing...blogging".  The rest is history!

In my post,  I say this is the first painting I did in France.  It is actually the first painting I ever did other than a painting we worked through as an exercise in the Absolute Beginner Painting course I took.   So,  this painting is very special to me.  I had forgotten what my first blog post was so it makes the post and the painting even more special.

This blog has been a great way to keep in touch with friends locally and in various places in the world and it is a wonderful record to have.

I would love it if more of my friends blogged.   Susan,  you are really only the one and I love looking at her blog to the point if she doesn't post she gets a "Wot,  no art?"  message from me.  My guest blogger just may be starting her own blog....can't wait.

http://janicesextonart.blogspot.ca/2002/04/hello-everyone.html?spref=bl

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Spiderweb" by Penelope Lively

This was one of my Christmas Books.   I realized I haven't read as much of her as I thought.  I think I kept getting her mixed up with Anita Brookner.  I was quite impressed with this one...excellent character development,  almost a bit of a thriller in terms of plot,  and interesting insights about how people live their lives.

Warm evening walk

Amazingly warm today given it's just the first week of May.  I think we were hotter than Palm Springs.

We walked toward English Bay and there was an amazing number of rock pilings. ...somone's been very busy!

Jim practicing his juggling.  He's lost a bit of the knack but is blaming it on the balls. One is apparently harder than the others.  Perhaps time to buy new ones.

Guest bloggers....where are you?

I'd love to have more guest bloggers this week...anonymous or otherwise.

Come on,  make my week!

My first guest blogger...anon for the moment.

I have really been encouraging my friends and blogger readers to start a blog or at least be a guest blogger on my blog.  I know people really like my blog and I would love to read blogs of my readers.  So,  I finally convinced someone who will remain anonymous for the moment.  This encouragement is what I did as a teacher and I was very proud of my success.  So,  success again.  It makes me feel wonderful!

Guest blog post:

Every year when the laburnums bloom in my back yard, I think about going to see the laburnum walk at Van Dusen Garden, where there's a whole curved row of golden blossom trees with blue under plantings. This year I finally made it on Sunday afternoon, which was sunny and gorgeous. Besides the laburnums, there were: banks of pink and white rhododendrons stretching 10 feet high overhead; five baby ducks nibbling on lily pad leaves in the pond while their mother supervised; small children watching baby ducks while their own mother supervised; and a big blue heron watching the same baby ducks with a hungry gleam in its eye. I think it was the same blue heron that earlier made some photographer's day by suddenly breaking its stone-still pose and snapping up a tiny fish that had gotten too close. The photographer had been waiting for two hours for that very thing, which happened a few seconds after I arrived on the scene. I didn't get the shot, of course, but took a couple of photos of the pond where it happened. Such beauty    and nature, just a pleasant hour-plus walk from my back door!

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Beggar's Garden"

"The Beggar's Garden" by Michael Christie

"Longlisted for the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize

Brilliantly sure-footed, strikingly original, tender and funny, this collection of nine linked stories follows a diverse group of curiously interrelated characters—from bank manager to crackhead to retired Samaritan to web designer to car thief--as they drift through each others’ lives in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside.

These engrossing stories, gleefully free of moral judgment, are about people who are searching in the jagged margins of life -- for homes, drugs, love, forgiveness. Ranging from the tragically funny opening story “Emergency Contact” to the audacious, crack-fuelled rush of “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” to the deranged and thrilling extreme of “King Me,” The Beggar’s Garden is a powerful and affecting debut, written with an exceptional eye and ear and heart."

I'm not sure I would use the word "brilliant" in describing these stories but they're pretty good and I think the insights into the people described are well done.  This was a selection for the Fireside Readers Bookclub at the Joe Fortes Library in the West End.  The great thing about bookclubs is they get you introduced to titles you might not notice or read.  More about this bookclub in a later post.

Wonderful evening with John and Carol

Carol,  chef extraordinaire,  made another wonderful meal and we had a great chat as usual.  Carol experimented with a lemon tiramisu and wow,  what a success!  And especially appreciated since I haven't been buying many lemons at 99 cents a pop after getting them for free in PS.

John has printed up two books on Blurb with his photos of people on the streets of Vancouver.  These are amazing photos but because of invasion of privacy,  copyright,  etc. they can't really be exhibited but they are an amazing record.  He will donate them to the archives and in 50 years or so when everyone is dead,  they could be shown.  That's something I suppose.

And the shy Mr. Darcy made an appearance....probably to draw attention to his fancy new perch in the living room.

Kentish Steele at The Sylvia last night

Always fun to hear his motown sounds and Pierrette and Anna joined us too so fun to talk to them.  I hadn't seen Anna this year.  Pierrette is  off on a big adventure leaving Sunday.  She is going Dragon Boat racing in Australia.

Kentish Steele

Pierrette and Anna

I was watching the sunset last night....

.....while Richard was helping Jim with all sorts of computer stuff.  Thank you so much, Richard.  You are a great kid!   Richard is learning to play the piano so he and a friend can do some special music project inspired by the new Twin Peaks and he just got back from volunteering at The Writer's Exchange...helping little kids have fun writing.   And then of course there is the real work you do.  We're very proud of you!

Notre Dame, mon amour....

This photo came up for our fridge photo today....my wonderful Notre Dame de Paris.  My favourite building in all the world.

This morning in Palm Springs....quite the combo!

Rainbow, moon and clouds in Palm Springs sunrise. 6:15AM.

- Eric Norland photo

Lunch at King's Links

We had lunch at Richard's golf course (Richard is Linda's brother-in-law) with Linda and Cec yesterday and it was great to see them and we had a wonderful lunch in the new clubhouse.  We were very impressed with the food...my calamari was one of the best I've had,  Jim and Cec had the steak sandwich which was excellent and Linda had the breakfast wrap.

We passed by O.W.L.  (injured bird rescue) and they were having an open house....wow,  what a success for them.  The number of cars was amazing.  Bit of a tie up but we arrived.  And we learned there is a whole new way to get to the Victoria ferry.   Good to know as I think we would have got lost otherwise and probably tried to take the old route even though it is no longer signed.

How very cool!

Susan was reading my blog today about being at The Sylvia and sent me this link about someone "painting the music"  at her local  Café9...love the sketches.

http://lynnechapman.blogspot.ca/2016/04/painting-live-music.html

Rocking it up at The Sylvia...

We always enjoy Bruce Gerrish and pleased we got a good seat....but,  just in time.  In this photo he is singing Lyle Lovett's "I've Been to Memphis"....very well done!

Lunch at Au Comptoir in Kits with Carol

This bistro gets a great rating and it certainly is popular.   The food was quite good but my fries weren't the real french fries of France otherwise my Croque Monsieur was pretty good and Carol's salad was very good.  The noise level was just too high to be comfortable and be able to talk easily although we managed to trash Jonathan Franzen as a writer and hit lots of other topics.  Well,  at least people were talking and not just checking their phones...

We went for coffee elsewhere and it was so relaxing!

SALADE VERCINGÉTORIXbaby gem lettuce, garlic vinaigrette, white anchovies, lemon, soft-poached egg, gruyère

CROQUE-MONSIEUR

gruyère, ham on country bread, fries, salad

Great lunch at The Lift in Coal Harbour today

We always enjoy our lunches overlooking Coal Harbour and the mountains on the North Shore.  I had the halibut fish and chips.  Halibut is in season and it costs a bomb but they are very generous with the halibut...I couldn't buy the amount they use for this meal any cheaper.  Jim had a new rather wonderful chorizo and seafood penne.  And we got introduced to Bridge Pale Ale made on the North Shore.  A little more complex than Red Truck.  And they were filming a movie on the seawall so that was rather fun.

Back home five weeks today...

It is hard to believe we've only been back so little time and that the weather has been so amazing and warm for the most part.  Sitting on our balcony yesterday afternoon,  we saw some people take a dip in the ocean.  Well,  it was like summer as far as air temp but we know the ocean would be chilly!

Taken with my iPhone this morning.  Looks like the weather may be changing so best to take advantage of today.

Wishing Richard luck in the Sun Run today!

 I guess this will literally be like a walk in the park for Richard after running the marathon.  The Sun Run is only 10K.  There are over 40,000 people participating...a great event and good on the Vancouver Sun for having this great event.

Dick and Susan came for dinner last night....always lots of interesting  conversation and they loved my Caesar salad as usual and we had Olympia's special pizza with shrimp and they loved that too....something new for them.  And Susan brought me these wonderful bookmarks...thanks so much!

And here they come....this year's Sun Runners!

Artist Trading Cards

We have our meeting tomorrow.  I hope to make it as long as I don't get blocked out by the Sun Run road closures.  I made some ATC's inspired by Alexander Calder.  It was fun!  The abstract style is much easier to do on these small surfaces than my naive style.

We're also having a bookmark exchange so I printed up bookmarks from my five paintings I did in Palm Springs.

The Sylvia was really rocking' last night....

We went to The Sylvia last night for the music and it was packed and couldn't get a seat bt the music.  Cannery Row was playing...a very popular band.    We were disappointed but then ran into some beach friends we hadn't seen since we have arrived back in Vancouver and we got a place in the dining room and had a nice chat catching up.  It was quieter there for conversation so it all worked out.

We're quite liking the  renovations The Sylvia made while we were away.  We don't usually sit at bars but the new bar does look inviting!

SFU Course

I got right at the computer at 10 am this morning to register for my class with Lealle Ruhl.   She is a very popular instructor and people register for anything she does.  I have become one of them.  There was a good chance this year because she is offering to two sections of 75 places each but even after an hour of registration two thirds of the seats were gone.

SCFC958 - Understanding Identities in the 21st Century (55+)

Since the emancipatory social movements of the 1960s, including the campaigns for civil, gay and women’s rights, identity has become a key element of political life. Referring to our subjective self-definition, identity is entwined with liberation and self-expression, and provides a focus for effecting social change and ending discrimination. However, in the 21st century, identity is an increasingly problematic concept. The belief in a fundamental core of characteristics and experiences is undercut by the actual diversity of how individuals engage with the social world.

We will explore the complexities of identity in the 21st century, examining how identity has helped create opportunities and demands for social change. By probing current debates about race, gender and the “problem” of refugees, we will try to understand the importance of identity in contemporary life.

Jim's Coure:

Jim's course filled 21 of the 55 seats in the first hour so that is great.  It's being offered in the evening so he was wondering how well that would do.  It seems to be doing fine.  I expect the people who registered in the first hour are folks from his course last year.

AHCP288 - Ten Masters of the Short Story Compared

What are the elements of a timeless short story, and how do the virtuosos of the form combine these ingredients into an artistic whole?

We will discuss classic stories by ten masters of short fiction, including Poe, Hemingway, Lawrence, Joyce, Mansfield and Munro (late-career). We will define the key elements of fiction—among them plot, imagery, conflict, setting, style, tone, character and narrative point of view (including shifts in time sequence)—then demonstrate each author’s skill in using these components to convey a dominant theme or “unity of effect,” as Poe described a story’s most characteristic feature. While we will refer to author biographies, and learn what makes a good film adaptation of a short story, our focus will be on close analytical readings of each story.

Note: There is required reading for this course.

Palm Springs sunset last night

"Like a fine work of art. Last night's Palm Springs sunset."

-Eric Norland photo

Some tulips on my walk today....

 And yes,  for those of you in Palm Springs,  we have palm trees here too!