I know. I know.
Millions of Americans have been to Niagra Falls.

Generations of lovers honeymooned there. But it took me 60 years
--- oh, right --- 63 years to get there.

Larry and I drove up to Canada on April 19 to attend a conference on leukemia that was being held in St. Catherines, Ontario at the White Oaks Resort, Spa and Conference Centre. And that was finally the excuse I needed to do this American of all trips.

The conference ran from noon on Friday through noon on Sunday and kept us very busy and very focused....no time to play. But on Sunday, we drove down the Canadian falls and did the typical tourist-y things. And had a ball!

We found the casino where I took the opportunity to try my hand at gambling -- and won $119 in about 10 minutes! I like that! From the casino, we walked down what might be the tackiest of the tackiest vacation streets in North America. It is at the end of the this street that one can gaze at the Falls. We drove the parkway through wine country; I gazed at its natural beauty. Our destination was Niagra-on-the-Lake. We parked the car and wandered the main street of little boutiques and restaurants. One quite wonderful place called Prince of Wales Hotel offered high tea at 4 and a dining room for dinner. We, however, passed it up as being a tad too pricey. I mean, $36.00 for meatloaf -- and that's Canadian money, mind you and the least expensive entree on the menu. It turned out to be a good decision as we found a nice little basement restaurant that featured delicious Mediterranian fare.

And now I can't wait to go back. I want to drive through little towns and stop along the way. I want to re-visit wine country when I really have the time to sample.

And I want to go back to the casino.

Artsy

Fartsy

Art furniture at the conference center!

Fabric Journals

This is a page from an art journal that I made to celebrate my daughter Amy and her dream of owning a horse. It was a dream that she made come true and I have been so proud of her. Over the last five or six years, I've made fabric journals to mark important occasions, to honor a special person, or to commemorate an artistic achievement. For example, the page below was made to respond to a challenge put out by Quilting Arts in 2004 and was to illustrate the process of creating a piece of wearable art. It was published in the spring issue 2004.

In May and June, I am teaching a series of classes in making fabric art journals at artstream studios in Rochester New Hampshire . Go here for more information and to register.

Make 4x6 Art with me
at artstream studios

in Rochester New Hampshire
Two Saturdays in May, 12 & 26

Go here, for information and to registration

I am passionate about making things

from paper,

fibers,

fabric,

and found objects.

. . . from beads and buttons and bijoux

Easter Weekend
Pale blue sky
Green shoots rising

from cold earth
Crocus and grape hyacynth
Daffodils barely visible

Snow on Wednesday this week. Today temps are only in the 40s: too cold for Easter finery; we're still in winter coats. Larry has twice put away the snow blower when signs of spring appeared and twice took it out again when unexpected snows came.

Back 'in the day' when I was girl, it was exciting to shop for a new spring coat, hat, dress, shoes and purse for our own Easter Parade to church. The shoes were, of course, patent leather with a tidy, dainty strap -- odd but I writing this I can almost smell and feel their newness.

When church was over there were Easter baskets treats.
Soft yellow candy chicks
Chocolate bunnies.
Jelly beans. Egg hunts at a park.

This year we are looking forward to having brunch with Amy, Mike, Tony and Tori and Larry's Dad. Tony and Tori are too old for little Easter baskets so we've created a family Easter Gift basket that is fun, delicious, personal to each and pretty.

Easter brunch menu starts with Bellini cocktails for the adults followed by baked ham; fresh asparagus with hollandaise sauce; corn cakes & pancakes with syrup; baked eggs; and Easter breads. I just finished a chocolate ganache cake that will be a decadent dessert.

A walk on the beach after brunch will complete the feast.

I am blessed to have my family here tomorrow.