Thinking about ... Dandelions

What child at some point doesn't proudly produce a bouquet of dandelions to someone they love?
Like childhood's innocence itself, however, the fondness of this bright wonder is left behind when we grow up and become adults. Suddenly this once loved flower becomes Enemy Number One. While children see the beauty, adults busy themselves ridding their lawns and gardens of them. They don't want these "noxious" weeds messing with their perfectly manicured lawns.
But why do folks hate these beauties when we can make all sorts of things with them ~ salads, soups, dandelion wine, cookies and more. Look at all the things you can make with dandelions. Then there are the apparent health benefits of these common flowers as well.

And did I mention cookies...?

Dandelion Flower Cookies
(from www.5orangepotatoes.com)
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup dry oatmeal
1/2 cup dandelion florets**

**Tips for Removing Florets:

For this recipe you need to remove the florets from their base. Hold the florets with one hand and pinch the green flower base very hard with the other, give a little twist and that should do it.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Blend oil and honey and beat in the two eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion florets. Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool and eat. Yum and so easy to make!

Next time you see cheery dandelions appear ~ before you grab your weed killer ~ consider the many good things that the lowly dandelion can be used for.

Homemade's simply better!

Reading my good friend, Arlene's blog, Artdeme the other day,
I was inspired to give her pizza recipe a try.


Her recipe isn't just a list of ingredients with clinical preparation procedures. Arlene talks to you in terms such as "two or three good glugs of olive oil" and "[The dough] shouldn't be like sludge from the black lagoon, hanging between your fingers" which makes the whole exercise a lot more fun.

Notice, at first my dough was a tad gooey ... I had to add a little more flour,
and then shape the pizzas into pans.


Arlene suggested several topping ingredients. My pizza had shredded pepperoni, (onions, garlic, red and orange peppers which I sautéd), corn, crushed pineapple, fresh spinach, feta cheese, aged and extra aged cheddar cheese over a herbed tomato sauce.


Cooking this yumminess takes a mere 20 minutes...


The recipe is good for one large and two individual pizzas ...


Scrumptiousness which simply cannot be outdone by buying $50 worth at a take out joint
or worse yet, a frozen one from the supermarket!

Check out Artdeme and try Arlene's pizza for yourself. It is surprisingly simple to make and worth every minute it takes to prepare.
Your family will love you for it.

Sneak Peek

I'm painting a new chair ~ yay!
It features an entirely new theme.
Here's a sneak peek ... wanna take a guess what the theme might be this time round?

Blog Interview #1 of 2010

Because of an overwhelming response to the blog interviews

featured on my blog in 2009,

I've decided to conduct more blog interviews over the next little while.

Please welcome Laura of 52 Flea.

Thank you for doing this interview, Laura.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself ...

I have been happily married for an incredible number of years to my one and only...and we have a wonderful son who just graduated law school and a beautiful daughter

who is a model as well as a talented artist.

I recently left the corporate world where I was Director of Human Resources for a privately owned mid sized company for many, many years.

Since retiring, I am finding my way, loving having the time to pursue my passion for all things vintage and exploring my creative and artistic side.

I have been a collector and decorated with antiques and collectibles for decades!

Why did you begin blogging?

I decided to blog in February 2009 after being encouraged to do so by my girlfriends. It has become my creative outlet and a means to share all my collections and decorating ideas.

52 Flea is an interesting name for a blog. What's its significance?

There are 52 weekends in a year...that means there are 52 opportunities to go to the flea market! The flea market is my favorite place to be...

Do you prefer to blog with words, pictures or both?

My posts are primarily pictures of my collections or adventures flea marketing or occasional travels...with a few words or short stories to accompany them.

Have you met people through blogging; if so,

please tell us about these friendships?

Many, many wonderful people! We took a trip to Italy in October 2009 and made a side trip toLucca in order to meet up with Valentina from Les Cotrions. We had a wonderful visit over several days and correspond regularly now. I also met up with Zita from Mlle. Magpie when we traveled to Montreal this fall. She is a delightful person and I hope to visit again.

Did you design your blog or did you have it professionally done?

My blog is all me....very simply done.

Have you ever been featured in Artful Blogging?

The editors of Artful Blogging asked me to submit an article which I did and then they decided to publish it in Somerset Life instead...the winter edition 2010.

What does your "About Me" read on your blog?

A new beginning... Having recently left the corporate world and while getting used to an empty nest...I am finding my way...trying to figure out how best to share my collections and passion for all things old, antique or vintage...

What is your favourite blog feature?

I love taking pictures and sharing them on my blog.

Is there anything on your blog you'd like to change?

I am always on the verge of taking the followers button off because I find it intimidating. I leave it there because it makes it easy for people to find me if they want to follow along.

Do you ever blog when you don't "feel like it" ~ and if so, why do you?

I never, ever blog when I don't feel like it. But I love to blog so I do it a lot!

What themes would best describe your blog?

flea market, junk, antiques, collecting, art, decorating, travel, gardening, crafts

Do you have any interesting directions you want to take your blog in,

in the future?

I just want my blog to continue to be fun, a place to express myself artistically and creatively...and a place to make connections with kindred spirits...

Do you sell your artwork through your blog?

No, not at this time.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

I love meeting new people through blogging and I enjoy the camaraderie of our blogging community. It is so delightful to become friends with people who have similar interests.

Visit Laura's beautiful site ~ 52 Flea.

Weddings and Tea

We had a tea for my niece, Thina,

at Leduc's Dr. Woods Museum, yesterday.

The museum's current feature is

Bridal Fashions Throughout the Years.

Isn't it unusual to have both

a wedding gown and bridesmaid's dress (this dress was amazing!)

still in perfect shape from 1959?

What a treat.

I loved this gown.

Circa 1920s

Intricately beautiful headpiece.

I couldn't help but wonder if there is fruitcake under the sepia icing.

I think these shoes would have fit me ~ they were so cute ~ I really wanted to try them on!

Simple, crisp, pretty.

This gown had an exquisite design on the dress ~

unfortunately it doesn't show up in the photo.

These two gowns were some of the oldest in the show

from the early1900s.

Discussing wedding fashions

Thina with a bottle of Mrs. Stewart's Bluing.

Her maiden name was Stewart, so she had to have her photo taken

with the likeness of her mother :)

Another pretty headpiece

What a splendid way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Whimsy

Whimsy has struck again!

Here are 3 more Wide Eyed Portraits I completed lately


Keyano


Mateaka


Matt

What do you collect?

There are many things I enjoy collecting...

Original ART
China Cup and Saucers
Souvenir Spoons
Van Gogh themed items
Box Cameras
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Vintage Advertising Art
Vintage Suitcases
and now ...

Pretty Cream and Sugar Sets!

My rule of thumb usually is: If I have 3 or more of an item, I collect it. Hmm ... guess that means I collect lava lamps too, but that is a whole other discussion.

What's with my latest collection? I have discovered that I simply adore cream and sugar sets. What good is a set of cream and sugar? Most people simply put a milk carton on the table and a bowl with sugar on the table when they serve tea or coffee. Call me old fashioned, but I love using cream and sugar sets for their intended purpose. However, I also enjoy find other uses for these beautiful items. I think they make perfect bud vases for a flower or two, don't you?

Leave me a comment and tell me what you collect.

Garlic

We discovered some fascinating info on garlic today ...


The American Psychosomatic Society reported testing 50 families and that those families had 8% more positive interactions and 22% less negatives ones.
Apparently garlic promotes healthy families
and
helps ward off vampires!

New York New York

Here's the New York City themed chair that I recently completed. The owner of the chair, Thina is sitting in her chair (thanks Thina for sending me this photo ~ it's always great to see the chairs I paint in their new environment!).

Notice the cool skyline dress Thina is wearing. I think she bought it in New York City.


King Kong atop of the
Empire State Building
(in B&W, of course)


Statue of Liberty and a Deli Sandwich
(how very delicious!)


The beautiful Bethesda Fountain (Central Park)

Reminds me of my dad ...

I came across this poem by Canadian poet, Edna Jaques today. It stirred some happy memories of my dad (1912-2005) who was always an early riser.

Growing up, his cheerful voice was always the first thing that I'd hear hear every morning. Often, he would sing a little ditty about the greatness of getting up in the morning, and how good it is to stay in bed. By the time I'd drag my sleepy self to the kitchen, he would have his cup of tea (always in a china cup, because he insisted that there was no other way to have a good cup of tea), and breakfast would be ready on the table.

EARLY RISER

He rises in the still and quiet dawn

Before the trucks and buses start to run,

Sweeps off the sidewalk ... sprays a little bush,

Turns his old face and watches for the sun.

He sees it rise beyond a clump of trees

And something in his heart is strangely stirred,

As rosy tinted clouds bedeck the sky,

And morning news is passed from bird to bird.

He starts the fire and puts the kettle on,

Putters around the kitchen, dries a cup,

Brings in the paper ... listens to the news,

Calls up the stairs for others to get up.

The peace of night is still upon his heart,

The fragrance of a dream is with him still,

The mystery of half remembered sleep,

Like purple shadows on a distant hill.

All these are his ere other folk arise

A fortress in his heart, serene and strong,

A spring of water softly welling up,

That feeds his thirsty soul the whole day long.

***

Love you Dad.

Miss you!

How to melt away 30+ years

Isn't it a beautiful thing when you can get together with someone after more than 3 decades and still connect like a day hasn't passed?

That's exactly what happened recently when I visited my hometown and stayed with my high school friend, Marnie at her Bed and Breakfast. The hospitality of her, her husband and son was outstanding, and I would highly recommend their Bed and Breakfast, Wyndhaven Cottage Bed and Breakfast if you are ever travelling through Clearwater BC. Oh! and tell them that Dawn sent you :)

My only complaint was that our visit was far, far too short. However, I did encourage Marnie to start blogging while I was there, and I think she's hooked ~ she has just started blogging; (her blog is called Crumpled News) so we shall stay connected through blogging for now, and maybe she'll visit us someday. Sooner than 30+ years, I hope!