Close, closer, get outta my living room!!!!

On a perfect, snow-covered evening I had to get my blurry birds eye view of the front of our wee home. Since it faces the river, no one enjoys it but us when we're wielding the shaky Nikon. Moments, vignettes, stillness - all wrapped in festive finery. No chill percepted.

vignettes

If the Christmas spirit is a series of moments, it is my intention to capture (or set up) as many as possible within my own gaze....our lamp post....ancient Canadian Tire snowman with electrified presents...oh, the moments just keep on coming...

Are We Strong Swimmers?

I think not! One has legs the width of stir sticks and the other...well...merely has ankles in leiu of legs....so swimming should NOT be an option, but the ever-curious schnoodle and weiner dog are forever scouting the shoreline, indulging in their own private chats on the matter. As the river freezes a little more each day, these brave little explorers roam further and further onto the ice. Do you recall if Cartier or Columbus or even the Vikings had fussy little dogs with them on their adventures? Mmmmm - No - they didn't.

Paper Whites on the Patio

These flowers soar up about three inches everyday....nice alternative to the ubiquitous poinsettias - looking forward to full bloom. Admittedly though, my soul is crying for red....amaryllis on the way perhaps?

THAT'S what I'M talking about....

one little town....and oodles of spirit - plus a very large,well appointed hardware store full of Christmas lights....and look what Frankford made!!! Puts one to mind of all the whos from Whoville.
One day, a naked walking path by the river...the next day a cornucopia of spirit and lights...now if only we could steal the big Christmas tree from Stirling's covered bridge, or would that cross the Christmas line?

Morning Swoon

No Santa Claus? Well, ok....but something magical is afoot....
The closer we get to Christmas, the more the spirit moves me.
Today it will move me to eat an entire plate of shortbreads. Ahhhhhhhhhh.....

Swaneeeeeeee River

Enchanting and somewhat disconcerting to be chatting away on the phone and spy a swan gaggle, passel, herd or whatever they like to be called when travelling in a group. They pass by several times a day and seem oblivious of the cold temps out there. Two of them have brown on them so they must be teenagers. It's going to be an interesting winter methinks.

What Exactly is the Difference?

One is a festive store window in The Big Smoke...the other is a tabletop in our living room. OK, so the details are admittedly superior in the Toronto store window...but if you squint...tighter, tighter...there now...CHRISTMAS abounds everywhere!!!

Dooo.....Your Ears Hang Low.....?

The wind on his face on a sunshiney day. Nothing whatsoever to worry about in weiner dog land...except a potential R.I.D.E. program and that dadblasted breathalyzer test!

Milan is Calling....

Casey, the weiner dog, has always been a bit of a poser, but with his girth expansion over the past few years, we really thought his pinup days to be over.
Soooo, imagine our surprise when friend, Willi, asked for a 'side shot-full body' pic of the dastardly dachshund. Casey was, of course, happy to comply - as you can plainly see. Unlike other celebrities who worry about where their photos will turn up, Casey is merely grateful. Fading fame can be a cruel mistress.
Willi didn't mention why or where the photo was needed, but if we see him on the cover of the next Vanity Fair, well, some heavy negotiating will definitely be in order.

It's All How You Approach a Situation!

So, Louie the cat is by no means a timid creature. He's already lived the rural life, but this water deal is a little daunting. He creeps and sniffs as if the river is an entity that requires careful investigation. Friend or foe...he doesn't know. I wait for the day he comes eye to eye with a frog...and I hope to have my camera.

I'm Gonna Live in a Van Down by the River....

We're finding it increasingly hard to pry ourselves away from the new abode. Like kids seeing colour tv for the first time. Cats and dogs even seem calmer. Creatively, I may need a fire lit under my butt, but my soul is singing...really loudly!

LET THE BELLS RING OUT AND THE GEESE FLY...WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HERE!!!

Every morning is spent sipping coffee and staring at the glassy water...every evening we watch the sunset reflect off the Oak Hills. Magnificent!

Saying Goodbye

I'm told a fish pond will be going in at this spot, but today...possibly just for today...it remains a little grassy knoll of solace. Sometimes I think what I liked best about living in a schoolhouse was doing whatever I wanted without ever doing a stitch of schoolwork...and no ghosts to tell me any different. I'm sure the addition of a pond will be beautiful and the house will rise to new occasions with the new owner, but right now I'm doing my quiet goodbyes to an old friend who treated us very well.

Four Days to Dial Up!

Moving is stressful, exciting and filled with unknowns....except for one thing. I know that everything I do now will be done slower. Not because the pace of life is slower in Frankford than Prince Edward County, but because in the internet maze I've just endured, the only method I found was dial up. YIKES. Once ensconced, I may investigate the merits of a fifty foot pole strapped to the side of our new house, but for now, I'll try out primitive, and see where that takes me. Out of the world of photo uploading I'm guessing. Fire, water, INTERNET....PLEASE.

A Ship in a Bottle

This being the main living area of our new place, the challenges are daunting. Oh, there's a kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom shooting off this space, but the hub of the home is here. Now, how to fit in a nine foot couch, and four easy chairs plus big screen tv. And then...let the decorating begin!!!

If It Walks Like a Weiner Dog....

Anyone who knows Rob and/or Casey our weiner dog, knows that this is them. Anyone who doesn't, trust me, this is them.
Only problem is, they never posed or knew about this. It's a plaque on the Riverfront Trail in Belleville, and Rob and Casey haven't walked in Belleville in several years....even then it was limited - by Casey's short legs, and Robs penchant for driving. Very eerie...and very nice. One of those things that makes you go.....hmmmmm....pass the potatoes.

Drive By Snapshot

On our way to the new place Rob and I both were stunned by the amazing colours around us. Not just our always inspiring Southern Ontario autumn leaves, but due to all the rain, the grass is sooooo green. The contrast - spectacular.
This White Shed is going to love its new setting....colour, colour....COLOUR!!!

Thanks for So Many Thanksgivings!

Just days till we move to our wee house on the river, so we enjoyed our last Thanksgiving at the schoolhouse. All the usual suspects attended as we also celebrated various birthdays - lots to be thankful for! Shortly after this dinner the packing began and it hasn't stopped since!

Dancing on the Ceiling?

Wandering about the schoolhouse memorizing my favourite parts...and this ceiling in the great room has got to be near the top of the list! Tonight, we're attending the wedding of our good friends Joe & Lisa. Though I'm not apt to feel the need, in my minds eye, I'll be dancing.

Let Time Go Lightly

Laura loves the old schoolhouse swing...truthfully, I think she loves posing on the adorably ancient swing. Through all of this real estate commotion, the swing just sways, collecting more lichen and holding firm by it's sturdy ropes...much like I've felt over the past few weeks. Now that the schoolhouse has been sold, we've experienced some great news! The new owner, is a woman after my own heart. She called last night and I loved her immediately. Through all the befuddled back and forth real estatiness of this deal, I had envisioned her as my nemesis. Amazingly, she's just an outrageously imaginative woman struggling along in the land of real estate dreams. Not her forte. I think I know someone else like that. hmmmm. The relief I felt at knowing the right woman is buying our house is immeasurable! Thank you Melissa! May the old swing keep time with your many happy schoolhouse days ahead.

Make it Pop!

My daughter, Laura, was here picking through our excess baggage before we move to our smaller digs. Her glistening eyes shone like a kid in a candy bin as she darted around collecting all things red. I didn't know I had so many red throw pillows. Funny how a hit of red can take a nothing day and make it someWOW seem suddenly worthwhile!

A New Shed!

Looks like we're loading up the truck and moving to the Trent! After months of uncertainty, a deal has been struck and off we go! Our new 'shed' will be much easier to care for than our beloved 106 year old schoolhouse, but there will be adjustments. Hope there's enough room to swing a (3) cat(s)!

The Road Less Travelled

A crisp, fall evening drive home from Picton. The setting sun seems so much more precious when you know winter's on its way. Isn't that the best part about living in a four season climate though?
Yesterday, I set four orange 60's style kitchen chairs by the roadside for free pick up. They were gone by this morning. Because they are orange, and it's autumn, and they're free.
We all scramble to appreciate at least four times a year, knowing that all is about to change. OK, maybe three times a year. Those last few days of winter are often anything but precious.

Doop doop doop, lookin' out my back door...

It's been a mighty mixed up trip, but it looks like we're getting closer and closer to our Trent River home. With all the confusion surrounding the selling of our schoolhouse, we kept our distance from the new home on the Trent. Kind of the reverse of keeping ones eyes on the prize. We didn't want to get too attached.
Two days ago we got word that our buyer is dropping her conditions, which means the finalization is growing near. So we went to visit the river house to make sure it's still standing and to make sure we still love it.
All's well on both fronts.
With any luck I'll be able to throw my jack o' lantern in the river!

Un Petite Ville

Taken from Mount Pelion and with my eyes squinted just so, this view of a church and library in Trenton sort of looks like a wee European village. OK, so maybe you have to squint for a while, but no one can say she's not a pretty sight. All these years, we native Bellevillians have been raised to discount Trenton as a blight on our Southern Ontario radar. Then, ever so quietly, the little town went about primping and prettying herself up with hanging baskets of abundant posies, clean streets, a growing number of better than good restaurants, and now some lovely photos.
Slowly but surely, she's won her place on our map! Viva la Trenton!

A Chair Prepared

This chair has followed me through life for as long as I can remember. It sat at our hall telephone table when I was a teen (we got to know each other reeeeeally well then) - it's held many pairs of bluejeans and bras when it was a bedroom chair -and it was always an extra chair at family dinners. So why, oh why, did it take till now before I gave her some attention with paint? Some misplaced loyalty to my mom, who cherished all old family things in their original form. There was a caveat to her sentimentality though. She liked all old things to be useful - the good silver to be enjoyed daily, the centuries old cruet set should sit near the dining table, handmade quilts must never be packed away....so....what better way to make the shabby, old wooden chair useful than to swathe her in sunny yellow, place a pillow on her seat and let her sit amongst the other chairs in the sunroom. Finally, the spare chair becomes a member of the family!

Lighten Up Lucy!!!

Our Lucy is a most serious dog. She takes the business of being a dog very seriously. Everything is extreme. She runs fast, wriggles too much, and sleeps like the dead. The up side to the seriousness of Lucy is that we've found she's incredibly easy to train because, as with everything else, she takes studying very much to heart. Two tries and she knew to 'stay'. 'Sit' is still accompanied by a lot of twitching but she's trying.
Lucy tries sooooo hard.
I love Lucy.

A Tree Morphs in Trenton

Sometimes fall just breezes by, skimming the leaves in it's way, but this tree looks as if it's been dipped into some sort of cosmic leaf tinting bucket!

A Closer Look

Today I wrote an article about a gun that shoots into rock and identifies all of it's ingredients. It's for geologists to use on 'digs'. Imagine if we could use one of these guns on...well...........everything. How difficult can it be...a bit of xray technology, a holster, a recharging station and awayyyyyyy we go.....
I'm thinking my brain will have released this idea in a couple of days. Too much information is sometimes too much information.

tomato tomahhhhhhhhhhto

The last of the garden always seems to finish off with tomatoes and more tomatoes. While the paper thin petals of summer flowers faint with frost, the tomatoes just get redder and shinier with each cool day.
Yesterday we visited a favourite old radio friend, Phil Flagler. His step is slower, his arteries are complaining and various surgeries loom, but Phil perserveres - proudly uncovering his very first attempt making homemade cream of tomato soup. SPECTACULAR!
Tomatoes....everything's alright!

Keeping the Pretty

The other day we went for a drive through our hometown, passing all the big Old East Hill homes that have always stood strong, elegantly beckoning passersby to admire their fine gardens and freshly painted porches.
Something is horribly wrong.
It's been about two years since we drove these streets and I don't think I want to do it again anytime soon. The front steps are caving, paint peeling,and very few had any kind of garden. I can't express the sadness. What happened? This isn't about money or economy. It's pride of owning lovely homes and maintaining beautiful neighbourhoods. I want to know how this turned around in such a short time, and why? Is it just our Belleville (Beautiful City) or is neighbourhood apathy spreading?

Contain Yourself!

Still life at it's most contemplative. My friend, Susan, has started photographing rhubarb lined glass vases, and yeah, it's a good look. Who knew? Not sure my pineapple plays out as well, but at the end of summer I look everywhere for inspiration!

Eyes to the Skies!

Parking lot pavement, stray grocery carts and the traffic weary bridge into Trenton. Can a sky captivate? Only if you look up.

The Windowsill that Couldn't

Going on seven years now!!! This little plant pot has been housing a red shamrock...yep that's it peeking through the basil. The shamrock blooms, dies, blooms, dies...but never really gets going, hence the planted basil....which, by the way, is also a runted version of what it should be. It was only meant to be a competitive diversion for the lacklustre red leafed thing, but clearly it is no threat at all!
Summer to fall...betwixt and between. Bring on the evergreen!!!!

When Dining With Your Daughter...

Always remember to bring her bib! This pretty girl's not afraid to get messy which makes dinners out lots of fun, and quite private!

When Time Catches Up...

Betty(top left)recently circulated this pic taken in her mom's kitchen when we were teens.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking tea all day, talking trash....hours spent on nothing.
Easy to pick up where we left off!