"I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie".

Not like the 'Big Ass Pies' from the summer, rather, emotional, meaningful, sensual pies for everyday life. Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness.That's what the movie Waitress is all about. My eyes filled several times during the movie as it brought out the raw truth of life, love & relationships.(like unbaked, screwed up recipe, burnt pie) It also made me laugh hard. Full Belly hard. It wasn't until I watched the special features, like I always do, that the tears began to trickle down my face. I can't give the end away, but when you see the Waitress and her daughter you realize the enormity of the scene. One of the characters was played by Adrienne Shelly who also wrote and directed the film. The child in the movie was Adrienne's real daughter. Tragically, Adrienne never did see the movie premiere as she was murdered. After her death her husband started a foundation. The Adrienne Shelly Foundation has a mission to support the artistic achievements of female actors, writers and directors who are either working on current short and feature film projects, new productions, or are seeking to transition from acting to writing and directing.

Filled with strawberry love this 'Pie Song' will break your heart. Listen. Listen. And then sing it to your children when you bake with them. The song was written by Adrienne.

"Baby don't you cry, gonna make a pie, gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle. Baby don't be blue, gonna make for you, gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle. Gonna make a pie from heaven above, gonna be filled with strawberry love. Baby don't you cry, gonna make a pie, and hold you forever in the middle of my heart. "-Pie Song

Why not rent the DVD tonight and bake a 'Bloggers Best Movie Eatin' Pie'? (cause y'all it was Calamity Kim who told me to watch it and boy was she right. It's a sweet film.) - Calamity, if you are reading this, I wanted to link right to your post, but gosh darn it, I couldn't find it girl....what date was that? Please forgive me. I'm going to head on over to the local video bakery and get me a warm one a la mode for keeps. 'A Slice of Heaven Pie' for my movie collection. Oh, these creations you see are 'Don't look at the spills in the oven that should have been cleaned before the shot Pie'.

Later this evening.....
Calamity: I found the link to your post: 'Waiting for Pie'. Cool search feature you have on your blog. How do we get one of those? Thanks.

Crank That

Alright Bloggers, time to get up off that chair, step away from your computer and get your body moving. Yes, I'm suggesting you move some muscles today! Do you know how to 'Crank That'? Apparently, Ellen has mastered it, so I figure you can too. O.K., this will be fun! (Just another snowy night in the beach and nothing better to do than get dance instructions from my 12 year old son) Won't you join us now? Take a step onto the dance floor (your office) HERE. Come on. Don't be shy. I won't tell anyone. Once you've mastered the steps you will be as good as these guys or perhaps even better. Wow. The internet is a weird and wonderful place isn't it. Crank that.

Sumi, Quatchi & Miga

808 days until the games begin! (We might think that's far off, but ah...not really.) Perhaps Patricia would let all of us sleep on her floor for 10 days. Do ya think? Tim in Sydney, Australia shares our 2010 Vancouver Olympic logo and today three adorable mascots were introduced to the world. Sumi, Quatchi and Miga. You're gonna fall in love with them! My favorite is Miga. Which one do you like?

One Trillion Dollars

Have you ever taken a photograph and then thought to yourself 'How will I work this into the blog? Will it be interesting to my readers?'. Well, that's what happened when I found this Canadian military trunk in Value Village a few weeks ago and then I was sent a video that seemed the perfect fit for these images. "And I find it kinda funny, find it kinda sad - I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take - all around me are familiar faces worn out places...going nowhere" I invite you to watch this.

Postcard from Provence.

For those of you who adore all things 'French', 'Parisian' and 'Provence' this daily painting site will surely become one of your favorites. Don't tell anyone....I have an art crush on this work. If you like that knife, you might also love this corksrew by the same French company.

Photo Credit: Julian Merrow-Smith

Who do you think you are?

My maternal Grandmother was Jean Olmsted. I always loved her middle name, 'Olmsted', yet I never really knew the significance of it until my uncle began researching our family tree.

To our surprise and delight it turns out that many of our descendants came from Massachusetts (later moving into the Ottawa Valley area) and one of those family members was none other than 'The Father of Landscape Architecture', Frederick Law Olmsted. (Central Park) He was my uncle; a great great uncle, but still part of my heritage!

I wish I knew more about him. Yes, we have been reading up on everything online, old clippings, books and photographs (how could one man design and create all this in one lifetime?), but we are digging deeper to talk directly to older family members and cousins who actually knew him. Our family is very proud of this.

As a child I would spend time in Mount Royal Park in Montreal and I remember being so in love with the lush gardens. I'd sit in the cool grass on hot summer afternoons and nibble away on fresh egg salad sandwiches and sip chilled lemonade. What a wonderful memory! Now that I look back I did feel a connection to the park. There was a 'sensing'; an exhilartion about my visits. A feeling of knowing 'something'.

My greatest lesson in all of this is 'to never forget where you came from'. How was it that this important family history slipped through the cracks? I promise to learn all I can about my family, it's history (good or bad) and share it with my children so that they may share it with future generations.

I have never been to NYC, but I plan to walk through Central Park in June 2008. I can't wait.
I hope to learn more and when I do, I will share it with you.

Who do you think you are? Maybe you can begin to find out too!

Photo credit: National Geographic

Seeing Red (and White)

And that's why the magical visitors came to the beach. They paraded him in. The man with the red and white suit. And he came just for her. Yes, just for her. She was a bit nervous. She couldn't believe her eyes. They were like saucers. She almost cried but did not. 'Bye-Bye' she whispered as she waved to him. She was a happy little girl. The End.

Strangers Who Visit Our Beach

A fashionable, noble Gentleman commands the street in our neighborhood, seemingly unaware that he is dressed much differently than the rest of us on this chilly November afternoon. Why is he here?
A friendly face that would melt your heart if she came to your rescue flashes a proud smile as she walks by.

A mischievious clown flirts with my camera and jests with the locals. What is this all about?
A cowboy or two trot in unison and sends a hush over the crowd that is gathering. What beauties are these?
Is this really Cindy Lou Who that has graced our town?

Silver bells hanging from black leather and jolly red dress; majestic strength that we feel can be trusted. I can see their breath. I see their muscles switch. He looks directly into my soul.
A mysterious woman in a long velvet cape wanders amongst the people whispering to them to follow her.
Tapping black boots set against a goldenrod stripe. I can hear the drums approaching.
A Williamsburg blue pattern enters my view.
And then a dancing man with a funny hat leaves a clue. Who are these strangers who have invaded our beach? They'll send the answer tomorrow.

Holiday Tree

I'm all 'Shiny Brite' tonight and ready for 'Buy Nothing Day'. Our holiday tree is up and as you can see...I do believe that 'Blue is the Colour of Dreams.' It is so interesting to read about what different people around the world are doing. What do we 'really' need I ask? 'Really.'
See the commercial here.

Fill My Bucket

Now I know why my creative juices aren't as fine tuned as they should be. I haven't painted since June! A couple of hours listening to Canadian acoustic/latin/jazz sensation Jesse Cook (he actually lives in the hills just south of the beach) a good ol' thriller on the screen and my gouache paints will cure everything. Every studio, no matter what you create, needs to have the Nomad CD. You really do. Jesse weaves pure magic with a sampling of the Middle East, Spain, Africa, Egypt and Brazil. This Juno-winning guitarist will cast a gyspy spell on you while you work with his intoxicating blend of Nuevo Flamenco stylings, world music textures and subtle jazz touches. If you want a sweet taste of Jesse listen to this. Let it play through and lose yourself in the music. This could be a soundtrack. It reminds me of this blog. Come Monday morning I'll have some work to share with you and my bucket will be full again.

Checking Out

Zooming through the grocery store. Getting last minute reports printed. Tidying my laptop bag. Just have to go away on business. Be back in a few days. This is a week of gratitude...Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the U.S. Bon Appetit! If I haven't told you lately, well, here goes "Thank you for being such a little Robin's Egg." In 'Liberty Speak' that means 'loved one', 'cute-as-a-button', 'cherished one' and so on...It's a term of endearment. While I'm gone watch the holiday video and the 'making of' video - Blue is the Color of Dreams. (in the egg link) So dreamy.
Now you know where I got the phrase 'Robin's Egg'! I'll miss you! Can't wait to see all your holiday posts.

Make Me a Bird

"Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here." - Jenny (Forrest Gump)

Canadian House & Home Magazine

Let me just start by saying (and I'm going out on a limb of a birch tree here) that I believe that the December 2007 issue of Canadian House & Home Magazine just might very well be their best issue to date and might go down in history as the 'Canadian Style Bible' for years to come. Buy extra copies for your design studio library.

Bravo! to Publisher, Lynda Reeves and Editor, Cobi Ladner - I applaud you. First you take what's normally a holiday cover and take it to new design heights with a look that, yes is festive - but not 'in your face' gooey-tinsel-stockings to sleek-graphic-patriotic. I'm jumping up and down; bursting really with excitement. I love this triumphant issue and that is why I wanted to do a magazine review with lots of links and resources for my readers. Watch the video on how they shot the cover here!!! Amazing. More about their television show here.

Here we go:

1. Cobi Ladner shared with us that Canada has been voted #1 as 'The Friendliest Nation in the World." (smile with pride inserted here.)

2. Discover Canada's multiculturalism. A feast for the eyes.

3. 'Paint by Province' is a clever feature that will give you a sense of our landscapes and regions.

4. You will be introduced to World Class Canadian Designers. (Patricia Gray should be on the list definitely). Meet the creative minds. Here are some links to swing over to: Martha Sturdy, Frank Gehry, Moshe Safdie, Helen Kerr, Karim Rashid and Bruce Mau to name a few. (Be sure to read Bruce Mau's manifesto - this may change the way you work, think, create or enter competitions! - and because you know me, you'll chuckle that #43 is my favorite.)

5. Visions of Canada: A pictorial of our style. Sure to become an iconic reference tool. Clients around the globe are buying & investing in Canada. Now you'll know the 'look' they're after.

Congratulations on a fabulous issue. Be sure to get your own copy today! Kim Vallee has a great tip for those international readers on the digital edition.

One question though: Why don't they have a blog for the magazine? Looking for a blog editor?

The Canadian Look Book

Some window shopping in Collingwood,Ontario.