Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

Sweet starts

My new favorite winter breakfast is baked acorn squash. I cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, put a plop of brown sugar or maple syrup inside, cover it with tin foil, and bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes. Not only is it a good source of Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Folate and Magnesium, and a very good source of Vitamin C, Thiamin, Potassium and Manganese, it's a delicious way to start my day!

Sasha + Serena

A pair of beautiful swans are on their nightly sunset cruise on Miles River at the end of my street in Hamilton. I have named then Sasha + Serena. How lucky am I to be able to drive past this view every night? 

Pomanders + pinecones

Simple, clove studded mandarin oranges make lovely fragrant pomanders that I tucked into a big bowl of pinecones. Such a simple thing but so festive for the holidays. And that citrusy aroma… mmm.

Happy Jane Austen day!

Jane Austen fans rejoice! Today is the 239th anniversary of Ms. Austen's birth, and to mark the occasion today has been designated as the very first ever Jane Austen day. 'Bout time! There's a ten day celebration going on across the Pond in Bath, England. (I know… squeals of delight!) JA certainly had a way with words, and below are are some of my fave bon mots from her novels and characters. Enjoy!

On love
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.” —Emma(1815)

On marriage
Marriage is indeed a manoeuvring business.” —Mansfield Park (1814)

On women and men
One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” —Pride and Prejudice (1813)

On life
Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.” —Mansfield Park (1814)

On art
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” —Northanger Abbey (1817)

On fashion
One man’s style must not be the rule of another’s.” —Emma (1815)

On leisure
One cannot have too large a party.” —Emma (1815)

On society
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.” —from JA's personal correspondence

Concord art show

The gloaming (study) 4 x 6 

POSTSCRIPT: SOLD • 

I currently have two these paintings in the Concord Art Association small works art show. (click here to see photos) The CAA is housed in a beautiful, large historic home in downtown Concord, and always has wonderful shows. The show runs December 2—20th. Direction here.

Birds nest (color study): I   5 x 7