Black and White

I don't often see black flowers but these deep purple iris buds appear almost black. I saw them while out walking one evening and was so taken with them that I returned with my camera the next day.

In our neighbourhood there are gardens in the middle of traffic circles and in traffic calming bulges; I don't know who takes care of them, but I for one enjoy the beautiful displays and send my thanks.

The dark buds burst into deep purple blooms:

 

 

 

 

 

White flowers aren't rare but I will share a few favorites from my garden.

 

Peonies with little slashes of red:

 

This one looks like a face to me:

White roses:

 

 

White Foxglove:

 

 

From Roy Orbison`s "Black and White``:

 

 

 

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ART NEWS:

I have been working on something black and white, it is an ink and watercolour work and not finished but here is a teaser:

 

The black part is ink and I am painting a few of the shells.

 

 



I am happy to say I am almost finished my triptych, I just have the varnishing and framing to complete. It has been a big project and one which I intend to include in a solo show in September, more about that later. I had to use my wide angle lens to get a picture, so without further ado here it is:

 

I am calling it "Village People", watercolour on paper (24" X 60").

 

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Here is a little art video treat for you:

 

 

 

That's all for this week,

 

wishing you a happy Wednesday, with Whimsy,

 

Gillian.



End of Summer?

This week, in the northern hemisphere, school has started after summer holidays. Even though it is not officially the end of summer, that being after the fall equinox, it marks the end of traditional summer holiday season.

We are long past the "Dog Days" of summer, an expression for the hottest days in the middle of summer, which has astral roots:

""Dog Days" (Latin: diēs caniculārēs) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and February, in the midst of the austral summer. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather." (Wikipedia)
 

This past week and weekend, the "last" of the summer saw furious summer activity, as children and adults  tried to pack as much of their summer to do and to see list into the remains of summer holidays.

Early mist over Vancouver, a moored boat and a lone rower

 

 

Fishing off the dock at Jericho beach

 

The early summer here was cool and wet but the fine weather did come and yes we did have some "Dog Days". The weather has cooled now and the days are getting shorter, perhaps we will get an "Indian Summer", but more on that next week.

 

For now I want to focus on this last weekend of summer and share a few images with you.

 

 

Are we born knowing the Ice Cream Truck song?

The beaches were packed with swimmers, surfers, sailors and picnickers and the traffic was heavy at the end of the holiday weekend as people poured back into the city from camping, hiking trips and visits to the cottage.

 

 

Well here is a blast from the past, "See You in September", the Tempos from 1959:

 

Probably should have used this in May or June, but maybe it's not too late to relive this one now.

 

 

I had great news this week, my painting "Sweet Serenade" was accepted into a juried show at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island (1241 Cartwright Street). Sweet Serenade is a watercolour, 11" X 8", and will be included in the "Autumn Salon" Exhibition September 25 to October 7, 2012.

 

Here is "Sweet Serenade":

 

 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit with me today.

Happy end of summer "Whimsy Wednesday", until next time......

 

"OK" weekend - a bit of everything

We spent last weekend in south end of the Okanagan Valley, in south central British Columbia (many just refer to the valley as the "OK"). We went to the OK to attend a wine dinner at the Orofino Winery (in nearby Similkameen Valley) and to visit friends and a few wineries.

This post has three parts: first the dinner, followed by some flora and then fauna (aka critters) from the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys.

As I mentioned in the introduction the dinner was at Orofino Winery near Caston in the Similkameen Valley. The Winery partnered again this year with Joy Road Caterers to offer a 1.6 mile dinner; almost all the ingredients were sourced from within 1.6 miles of the winery. We arrived for the dinner (on a shuttle bus), and were greeted by our hosts, John and Virginia, and offered a glass of one of their newest wine offerings Moscato Frizzante.

The table were setup on the patio right beside the winery and John had set up a windbreak with grape pallets and wine barrels to shelter us from any late evening breeze. There were blue skies, beautiful summer weather and wonderful aromas from the outdoor kitchen set up for the event.

As we enjoyed our frissante the appetizers were passed.

The crackers were made from milled locally grown rye.

Time to find our places and sit down for the dinner. In our places were menus, the tables were decorated with local flowers and the view was of the sun on the hillside. 

Here are a couple of reflections for you: the first is the hills reflected in one of the winery windows and the second  the patio setting for the dinner (this one is a bit of a stretch I admit).

And then a hush settled over the tables as the dinner was served.

Wouldn't be a winery without grapes and grapevines.

Some of the flowers, trees and plants

Buganvillia



Almond "fruit"



And here are the critters I promised. This one is looking for the rest of the flock, seems that the blog lady separated it from the rest.

Two pigmy goats, very cute and quite anxious to have their heads scratched, which is why the next couple of pictures are a bit too close up. These guys are fully grown but only about 18 inches tall. You will no doubt notice the rectangular pupils, a trait shared with sheep, and cows I think.

After much scratching they finally settled down for a portrait shot, a little later the brown one settled his chin on the white one and both dozed off.

The rest of the chickens.



Which came first?



A few birds collected at a feeder in the early morning much to the delight of our friends' cat, Zee.

House finch

Gold Finch

"Zee" enjoying the bird activity

Pine Siskin

A dove and a baby bird hanging around near the feeder, maybe they enjoyed watching the indoor cat.

So when I say an OK weekend I mean a weekend filled with friends, good food and wine, beautiful weather and interesting critters to watch.

When I took this it reminded me of something but for the life of me I can't remember what.

Loved the colours and patterns reflected in this tasting sample.



Something different this week. I finished this painting, intended for a card, it is a watercolour called "Age old question?": 

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate your visit and I read and enjoy all your comments.

Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ............