BLUEBERRYMOON

Been a while

blueberrymoon — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:32:10 GMT

That should read....Where are you? Well, I've been posting away at my other blog on blogger. Sorry. I was cross posting from there to here and then got busy and then stopped. I also have an art page on Facebook so if you are on there, please feel free to "like" me and then you can see when I post because I always pop a link up. I will try to post things here occasionally.

If you are someone that loves books and book stores and cafes like I do, this one is a GEM! The Biscuit Eater in Mahone Bay. I always try to stop in each time I pass through. This is Kim, a lovely girl who was kind enough to let me take her picture as she was reading. She looked so cosy when I entered the room.

This charming wee cafe/bookstore is tucked away on a side street behind "P'lovers". Not the kind of place you would find by yourself, it is one of those special spots that is passed on by word of mouth and treasured by the locals. In the summer you can relax outside in the back under umbrellas and majestic trees.

Another great thing about this place is the food. You can order "raw" selections and gluten free and of course all the other good stuff. They serve meals as well as "treats". This was what we stopped in for on our way back to Halifax.

I adore the way they have labeled their reading selections. So creative and whimsical. Just my kind of spot.

Wish I lived down the street !

Valentine's Day half price sale

blueberrymoon — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:11:24 GMT

James Jowers, taken 1968, London

HappyValentine's Day! We need more than just Groundhog Day in February don't you think?

As a kiss from me to you, I am having a one day, Valentine's half-price sale in my Alice in Paris Etsy shop! Just type in smooch as the coupon code.

I'll be at the market all day, so cannot relist things as they are sold. If there is a print that has been sold that you would like, please send me an email and I will relist it for you when I get home. xoxox

Trip to Persia

blueberrymoon — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:45:57 GMT

Fifteen minutes from the center of Halifax on the Bedford Highway there lies beautiful Peresopolis. I was taken there for another birthday lunch! A lovely wee Iranian market and cafe.

Inside there is a wealth of foodstuffs and interesting items to be had. I had fun looking around. Gorgeously displayed.

Shisha/ ḡalyān/ hookahs( they have many names) and supplies, dried figs, fruits, seeds, packets of biscuits, tinned goods, tea sets, something for everyone.

Camran and Vida Khandan are the owners and rebuilt the place themselves using no contracters. Really a labour of love. They will be offering Persian cooking lessons soon too.

Stepping beyond the shop, there is an open rustic cafe. Pillows and backgammon games invite one to while away the afternoon, sipping tea and having some fun. You can see the snowy scene outside. In summer it will be lovely with sides open.

The menu is small and features delicious kebabs done by traditional charcoal cooking and panini sandwiches but there are also a few warm dishes to be had. This is the Aash soup, with parsley, dill, coriander, chickpeas, black eyed beans, lentils, onions and rice noodles. Wow. Stick to your ribs for sure! It was tasty and very filling. Look at those crispy fried onions on top!

We also ordered the stews, which come with a simple crunchy salad.

The star was the fesenjan, a dark fragrant stew cooked for ten hours!Usually for special occasions. In it are ground walnuts, pomegrante paste onions and chicken. We also ordered the gheymeh, with chicken, split peas, tomato paste and dried limes. All served over Persian rice.

So good! Yes, we had dessert too. Not quite as good as the mains but nice to finish off with something sweet.

Cardamom tea. Really yummy. You can also bring your own wine here and there is NO corking fee.We had a lovely relaxing time. Spent a few hours here.

And as a special treat, my friends ordered a shisha. I've never tried it.These are normally only available at night but there was no one about on this snowy afternoon so as a favour the owner let us try it. There is no nicotine in the mixture that burned, it was flavoured with fruits and a most delicate perfumed wafting permeated our table. I think there are 24 flavours to choose from.

18 reasons to be cheerful in January

blueberrymoon — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:40:34 GMT

1. The extra light in each day is becoming a little bit more noticeable.

2. We can wear our favourite socks and woolie sweaters every day.

3. Soups and stews taste better in this weather.

4. We can hide our extra lumpies under winter clothes.

5. Skating, skiing and snowmen.

6. If you have an Amaryllis, I bet it is blooming.

7. The One World One Heart event starts soon.

8. No guilt about not getting outside more.

9. January is the best time to buy:
- Air Conditioners
- Gas Grills
- Homes
- Bicycles and Sporting Goods
- Furniture
- Linens and Bed Sheets
- Carpeting
- Digital Cameras

10. You can enjoy flannel sheets

11. For those who enjoy whiskey, poetry and things Scottish, Burns night!

12. If you are reading this, you have a computer with internet access and with that, you can travel the world and learn about things that interest you, definitely something to be cheerful about:) Cyber escape!

13. Great for games nights and getting together with friends and watching old movies and eating cheese fondues and warm chocolate chip cookies.

14. February is next and it is a short month and then it is March!

15. Perfect month to visit museums and galleries, get in out of the cold. Here in Halifax you can go visit Sue at our Museum of Natural History.

16. Good time to dream about the summer. Planning fun things chases the chill away.

17. Hot water bottles

18.When the sun is out, the sky is REALLY blue.

19......any more?

Don't wait for the storm to pass, dance in the rain, or snow, or wind....

Been a while

blueberrymoon — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:13:20 GMT

Look what I managed to get done at the market today! It was very quiet this morning so I worked steadily away on it until finished. It has been a few month since I've done a painting like this. The original is available for sale HERE and prints can be found HERE.
I'm feeling accomplished but very tired now:) Wonder what's onTV tonight.

Saturday's Sunrise

blueberrymoon — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:53:24 GMT

Today's sunrise from the market.
What you are looking at off in the distance is called Hangman's Beach (originally called Maughers Beach) jutting out from McNab's Island in the Halifax harbour. You can see the tiny lighthouse at the end of the spit. The beach has a gruesome if not interesting history.

This was taken from a pirate fact sheet ...our local museum put together
Around the 18th Century, law required that the pirates be executed with their bodies displayed in public as a warning to other sailors. The body was covered in tar and hanged from chains in an iron cage called a gibbet. The Royal Navy used the same treatment on mutineers. Two pirates were hanged this way on George's Island in 1785. Another, Jordan the pirate, was hanged at Point Pleasant Park, near the Black Rock beach in 1809. At the same time, the Navy hanged six mutineers at Hangman's Beach on McNab's Island, just across the Harbour. Any ship entering Halifax Harbour in 1809 had to pass between hanging and rotting corpses.

The lighthouse you can barely see also has an interesting story.
The light at Maughers Beach ( Hangmans Beach) was used in 1851 by Abraham Gesner to test out the new fuel he had invented, kerosene, to replace whale oil. Although lighthouse officials were skeptical, the careful recording of the efficiency of kerosene by Maughers Beach keeper David George helped establish the fuel for standard use.

And in other totally unrelated vein , the winner of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar is Sara Harley of Dream Big! #15 drawn by the number generator at random.org. Congratulations:)

So I'm back at the market tomorrow. I wonder what adventures await!

Esape to the Mediterranean

blueberrymoon — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:39:26 GMT

That's what I did last week!

Liquid Gold is a lovely wee olive oil/balsamic vinegar tasting bar found in the Hydrostone Market on Young street. Yes, a tasting bar!

The oils and vinegars here are top quality and are kept in metal containers called 'fusti". They are grouped in flavours from very mild to strong. One starts with the softer ones and works up to the more robust flavours using small spoons or tiny cubes of bread to sample them. You can even mix the various oils and vinegars in tiny cups to make dressings.

The oils come from all over the Mediterranean. Spain, Greece, Italy, France...and the vinegars hail from Modena in Italy. The oils are pure, single fruits called cultivars or are cultivars that have been flavoured with yummy partners. In spring/summer, the oils come from the southern hemisphere where the winter crop is harvested between May and July. In the fall & winter, they come from the Mediterranean. I was in heaven!
Myrna Burlock opened the business with Bill MacArthur in September and business is booming. We had a lot of fun with her as she helped us choose what to buy.

Each oil has a card describing where it came from and the flavour profile (very much like a wine) as well as the IOCC standard for it.
IOOC Standards. FFA: Measure of free acidity that indicates decomposition. EVOO must be less than 0.8 OLEIC ACID: A monosaturated Omega-9 fatty acid. It makes up 55-83% of EVOO. PV: Peroxide value. A measure ofrancidity due to oxidization. Must be less than 20,less than 10 for high quality extra virgin olive oil.

People were popping in and out during our visit and Myrna told a story of a husband who brought his foodie wife here for her birthday. He brought a bottle of wine which they opened and a lovely afternoon was spent here sampling all the combinations of flavours. I mean...look at them and those are just some of the oils!

I adored the balsamic vinegars. One of my all time faves was the chocolate balsamic! Really! Remember I said you could mix? I tried blood orange olive oil with the chocolate balsamic, amazing! The vinegars almost taste like liqueurs. There were organic varieties to choose from too.

So what did I choose? It was difficult but I figured it out.

I went for the Koroneiki , a strong green olive oil from Greece

It was one of the robust flavours near the end of the line.

The balsamic vinegar I chose was the Pomegranate balsamic. It was SO hard to choose. I wanted to take them all home. I guess that's why they are doing well:)

So the exciting part of this post is that a local reader or anyone that can physically make it to the store is going to get a bottle each of vinegar and olive oil. Just leave a comment over here and if you are interested, you can follow Liquid Gold on facebook. Oh and if you are lucky, you might get to meet Riley, the resident napper.

a bit of my story....

blueberrymoon — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:23:08 GMT

The bold Monty trying to catch some zzzzzs in a tiny patch of sun but somebody with a camera keeps pestering him.

Guess what? I've been interviewed by La Salonniere. Want to know how I started painting?

good things

blueberrymoon — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:53:27 GMT

My pre-birthday lunch:) So glad I was taken out for this treat because on my "real" birthday I worked ALL day. Thanks Cathy:) Mmmm, pasta with all kinds of yummy things and a green pea tarragon soup.

For dessert....a Meyer lemon pie with vanilla ice cream. The pie had sliced lemons in it with rind and all. Melt in your mouth citrus-y wow. I didn't get a birthday cake this year but had this wonderful concoction and a delicious wee cupcake at the market.(Thanks Michelle)

and now.....ta dah! The winner of my birthday present giveaway according to the random number generator is ....#15! Karen of This Old House 2! Thanks to everybody for your lovely birthday wishes! I'm a year older now and looking forward to the next one!

Birthday GIVEAWAY!

blueberrymoon — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:46:19 GMT

My birthday is TOMORROW January 8th and I share it with with.......

David Bowie....... a genius

Professer Steven Hawking........ a genius

Lawrence Alma Tadema, one of my favourite painters........a genius... Click on his pic to see some of his work.

and......a hunk of burning love, Elvis....... another genius!

Still working on my genius:)

I will be at the market all day tomorrow starting early in the am. Pop by and say hello on Saturday. Because it is my birthday, that means GIVEAWAY time! Nice to give as well as receive! I would love it if you might follow me:) Leave a comment for me at my other blog and your name will be entered into a draw for $100 worth of goodies from me! I need an email address to contact you. If you don't have a way for me to find you easily, I cannot send you your gift.
I will close down my birthday party at midnight January 8th Atlantic time. Feel free to share:)

Oh and 1 week from today, my photo course starts again. Why not join in the fun:)

3

blueberrymoon — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:30:33 GMT

Three views of Halifax. Basic and utilitarian but I like them:)
Barrington Street, the yellow building, once Carsand-Mosher is the new location of the Argyle Fine Art Gallery. In fact I think that is art they are unloading!

Halifax Town Clock. No excuse to be late here. Also, each day at noon a canon is fired from the Citadel!

Random. I was sitting in my car after picking up some supplies from Deserres art shop. Liked the multi view.

Quiet

blueberrymoon — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:24:18 GMT

I was a long quiet day at the market today. To be expected first middle of the week day in January I suppose.... I did have a great visit from friends of mine with their new baby and son. Had the time to give them the grand tour:) This was on one of the tables. Lost and waiting to be found. Ever feel like that?

wait, what?

blueberrymoon — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:42:19 GMT

These are the lights in my front hall,original to the house. Once upon a time these were hideously out of style but luckily, fashion revolves in cycles and they are trendy again. Very 1960's. I should have taken a wider shot so you could really see them. They are suspended mobile style from some teak cross bars. I live in a house with lots of windows and we are on a small hill so it feels as though I live in a treehouse.

I was woken last night by the pouring RAIN and it really disturbed me. Not that I was awake, but that it was rain. This weather is freaking me out. Topsy turvy. Garden bulbs are starting to grow. This is January, the month of ice and frozen snow. We haven't even had real snow yet. Nature is getting confused. Where is this going? What is in store? Bothers me this does. Just checked the forecast it looks like the temps are falling again so hopefully they will stay put until March. Fingers crossed.

Today is Monday and it feels like Saturday. I worked at the market all day yesterday and it is getting me mixed up. It was very quiet there but that is to be expected in the midst of the holiday wrap up. Next day planned is Wednesday. I did manage to get some painting done which is a real bonus. Some minis for Love Me Boutique's children's section:) 4x4"each

Last day of 2010

blueberrymoon — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:38:24 GMT

We are having a BEAUTIFUL day today. The sun is out, the temps are warm, the snow is sparkling, really, we've had a great year here weatherwise in 2010. Tonight there will be a yummy dinner, a movie, Parade Square watching, backyard fireworks, some Times Square ball watching and good laughs with old friends.
Here are some links for this last day of the year...

Managed to make an end of year loan today ...Kiva, small loans helping small entrepreneurs around the world. $25 CAN make a difference. I tend to fund women's initiatives.

The passing of a legend. Steve McCurry uses the last roll of Kodachrome film :(

On her blog, Relyn shares some advice to her daughter.

Some amazing Aurora pictures from Northern Norway by Bjorn Jorgensen.

Happy New Year.....

bagel, salmon, chocolate, oh my.....

blueberrymoon — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:10:00 GMT

Ok, this is my stop sign.

I... have.... been... eating... far... too.... much! Really I don't know why I feel so out of control. The other night I had some smoked salmon cream cheese on bagel crisps and ate waaay more than was decent. I was up ALL night with indigestion and heart racing. No wonder! So.....once again I am going to try Weight Watchers. They have a new program that sounds interesting and it can be done online which is much cheaper. Of course I have to navigate New Year's Eve and then my birthday before it is clean sailing.....but as always, we willl see.

This pear is print of mine that is available here

I'm still enjoying the market. Taking it a day at a time to see if I will stay with it but looks like I will. Was there yesterday and had a good day. Met quite a lot of people from the United States up here for the holidays. I managed to get some painting done which was a big bonus. Also, a friend popped by to let me have a look at her iPad. Wow, so amazing. I would find that a very useful tool.

Back at market again on Sunday.

Don't forget to check out my photography romp, starts January 14th. Click on the camera:)

Merry Christmas

blueberrymoon — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:49:52 GMT

Wishing you a peaceful year full of good things..............

Christmas Eve

blueberrymoon — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:10:07 GMT

Christmas Eve and I need a wee army like this to help me. Lots to do today and then I can relax and enjoy the "Season". Off to my mum's tonight for our traditional family get together. We are having a green Christmas here, no snow yet. Such odd weather. My neice who was stranded here by the snow at Heathrow managed to get a flight out last night and will arrive will arrive today, Christmas Eve. Hooray! Sad to see her go but happy that she gets to spend Christmas with her family after a term away at University. Okey dokey, I have to hit the kitchen first, got some cooking to do.Have a Happy Holiday!

Also........ It's a crazy time of year for this but I'm in the top 5 and would love a vote from you to help me have a shot at top 3 or maybe even 1! I need about 100+ votes to get there. Voting closes Dec 28 and winner announced on 31st. It is embarrrassing to be begging for votes like this but I can't help myself! Consider it a Christmas present for me:) I will be thanking you with a big giveaway in January! Click on the box .
( AliceinPArisLovesArtandTea) Thanks!

Purrfect

blueberrymoon — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:50:31 GMT

Ha, who's been snooping in my parcel? This was the handiwork of Monty! A friend of mine sent me some great goodies (THANKS!!) and included some catnip for my wee sidekick. What a funny surprise to see the unopened box in this state. Catnip is da bomb. Monty thanks you too! He says,"More please"

And......in other news...I made it the top 5 finalists in the People's Choice category of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards, only three can take 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place, and it is up to you, the voting public, to decide our fates. Even though you must have voter fatigue by now, please do this last wee click and send some Holiday Cheer my way. I am at the bottom of the voters list.

Tomorrow is another Market day! Also Thursday! I'm so busy it is crazy. For some reason I was thinking that Christmas was NEXT week and I had loads of time to prepare. Well.......no.

blueberrymoon — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:49:36 GMT

Once again, the view before dawn from the Halifax Seaport Market. Looking towards Dartmouth, oil rig on the right, all lit with lights. Just a strip of sky between the clouds and then.... pow! Looks like the sky is on fire. I did not alter the colour at all. The morning was cold and there was a sea frost in the air.

Isn't it gorgeous! I worked two market days back to back this weekend. Have to say I'm really tired. Lots of pros and lots of cons. Have to figure it out. Not used to getting up so very early. I definitely have to get to bed sooner! Really meeting some terrific people . I LOVE that.

Here is Anna and her hats!

I 've mentioned Anna before but wanted to show you some of her work. Just fab.

Old fashioned with a quirky modern twist.

Friday

blueberrymoon — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:30:45 GMT

Isn't this so very odd? The light was bizarre, made the picture very surreal. It is the royal bed of someone or other I think. Taken in the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. I loved roaming around the rooms that were set up like.......rooms. In the picture below, I just noticed that my mum is standing framed in the mirror:)

Getting ready for a back to back market session. Will be there tomorrow and Sunday.

Curried Soup

blueberrymoon — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:30:18 GMT

I concocted this comforting recipe on Monday. It was a howly, windy, rainy, grey, dismal December day and I was craving a taste of sunshine and golden warmth. Also, as contradictory as it might, I am now wanting a little snow, enough of this rain already......

Curried Sweet Potato, Chickpea, Apple, and Coconut Soup
1-2 Tablespoons oil or butter
1 large onion, chopped finely
1 small stalk of celery, chopped finely
4 cloves of garlic minced 9( or crushed)
1 sweet potato, chopped into fine cubes
2 heaping Tablespoons of curry paste OR 2 tablespoons of curry powder
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or 1 teaspoons ginger powder
1/2 cup of brown rice ( I used a brown /wild rice mix, you could also use basmati or white)
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (19oz/540ml)
1 apple, chopped into small cubes ( I leave the skin on but you don't have to)
1 Liter of vegetable broth or chicken broth ( 4.2 cups or 1.06 quarts)
1 can of coconut milk ( I use lite) (13.5/398ml) ( You could use cream instead if no coconut milk.Add at end)
1 tablespoon of sugar or honey

Directions
1. In large dutch oven or pot, heat oil and saute the onion, garlic and celery until golden brown.
2. Add the curry paste and garlic, saute for about a minute.

3. Add broth and coconut milk, stir
4. Add rice,chickpeas and sweet potato, stir and bring to a simmer.

5. Add chopped apple and 1 Tablespoon of sugar or honey or sweetner of choice.

6. Simmer gently until rice is cooked and veggies are tender, about 25 minutes. Taste and season with salt.
7. Yum! This is a warming and really delicious soup. If you are a fan of cilantro you could top it with some of that or flat leaf parsley.

blueberrymoon — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:29:42 GMT

This was taken last Wednesday from the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market, about 5 pm I think. Gorgeous! It's all about the light isn't it:) The sun popped through a cloud and illuminated the lighthouse on George's Island. Having that glorious view makes the long day a bit more pleasant. I'm there again today. Wonder what the view will be around 5 pm? Market is open 10-6 today.

Merelys Williams,one of the vendors, sells glass sun catchers. Don't they look pretty against the late afternoon sky?

Oh and........ THANK YOU!!! Remember the quinoa recipe food fight I entered a month ago? I won! Thanks so much to any who voted:) I hope you tried it, it is a DELICIOUS recipe. They are accepting chocolate recipes for the next round. Very, very exciting!!! I've never owned a mix-master but have ALWAYS wanted one; my food processor broke a few months ago; I was planning on asking Santa this year for a blender to whip up some green smoothies and my hand mixer is a million years old and on it's last legs. So fortunate. So timely. SO grateful. xo

Cuban art

blueberrymoon — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:28:41 GMT

Lazaro Herrera Ramirez “Tuty”
“Tin Tiene, Tin Vale” 39 x 31 Oil on Canvas

Take a closer look at that painting. Isn't it amazing! Cuban Art in an unlikely place. One Stop Wood Shop at Bishop's Landing on the Halifax Waterfront. Actually the gallery portion is called Coal Wynd Gallery. Artwork is interspered among Jason Cullen, the proprietor's beautiful wood creations. I popped into the shop last week looking for a Secret Santa gift and was delighted and intrigued to discover the art here.

Some works by Gonzalo Gonzalez on the walls.
Jason Cullen, has teamed up with Andrew Porter to present "The Cuban Collection," featuring work by some of the most prominent artists working in Cuba today. Not often we get to see these.

This is by Alexis Leyva M. "Kcho. It is the artist's wedding invitation, signed by Fidel Castro in 2002 with a small self portrait drawn by the Cuban leader in the top right corner.

I found the art so very different and interesting.

This is a shared collection, some of these works will be shown at various galleries in the Cayman Islands over the upcoming months. Be sure to view these works here in Halifax before they are shipped out!
Lazaro Herrera Ramirez “Tuty” “Don’t swim against the current”
23 x 33Oil on Canvas 2009/10
Here are Andrew Porter and Jason Cullen smiling for the crazy lady with the camera!

hot chocolate

blueberrymoon — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:28:01 GMT

mmmmm, Hows about a yummy mug of sugar, corn syrup solids, hydrogenated vegetable oil, possibly some coconut, palm kernal or soybean oil, modified milk ingredients, cocoa, cellulose gum, salt, dipotassium phosphate, silicon dioxide, artificial flavor, mono and diglicerides, guar gum, and sodium aluminium silicate! ( Carnation' rich and creamy' Hot Chocolate)

OR.... why not try this. Mix together equal parts of plain cocoa and sugar. Put in jar. Plop some in mug, add milk and stir. Sometimes I add some boiling water first and then top up with milk. You can heat in a small pan on stove or do it in a microwve. Use soy milk, rice milk etc. If you want to be fancy you can add some cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne. Try it in an individal serving first.

Makes a great gift. Now which would you prefer?

3 from yesterday

blueberrymoon — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:38:48 GMT

One of the advantages of getting up early to sell at the market! A lovely sunrise over McNab's Island. In the center of frame is a deep sea oil rig brought into the harbour for servicing. Up on the right side is a fake owl to dissuade wee mousies from partying in the building. I am standing on a balcony on the northeast mezzanine level. It was so nice to scoot out there occasionally during the day and have a quiet break. At one point I saw a seal having a look around the harbour. His sleek black head would pop up and then disappear for a bit to resurface in another spot:)

And here we have another buttoneer! Ian Carver wanted not one but two buttons! So cute:)