Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

 After Recess

William Kurelek 1969

William Kurelek, CM RCA (March 3, 1927 – November 3, 1977) was a Canadian artist and writer. His work was influenced by his childhood on the prairies, his Ukrainian-Canadian roots, his struggles with mental illness, and his conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

February 2022 - Toronto ON

Taken from the car.

Jasmin Pannu is a new artist to me.

At High Park.

Canadian Artist of the Day

 Winter, Matawa

Franklin Carmichael 1935

Franklin Carmichael RCA (May 4, 1890 – October 24, 1945) was a Canadian artist and member of the Group of Seven. Though he was primarily famous for his use of watercolours, he also used oil paints, charcoal and other media to capture the Ontario landscapes of which he was fond. Besides his work as a painter, he worked as a designer and illustrator, creating promotional brochures, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and designing books. Near the end of his life, Carmichael taught in the Graphic Design and Commercial Art Department at the Ontario College of Art (today the Ontario College of Art & Design University).

The youngest original member of the Group of Seven, Carmichael often found himself socially on the outside of the group. Despite this, the art he produced was of equal measure in terms of style and approach to the other members' contributions, vividly expressing his spiritual views through his art. The next youngest member was A. J. Casson with whom he was friendly.

My Recipe Box - Gluten Free Yorkshire Puddings

 February 2022

Photo taken before gravy and roast potatoes added!

I have tried many GF Yorkshire pudding recipes to varying degrees of success. This, however, was absolutely the best. They rose, didn't stick, and tasted to prefection.

I found the recipe at The Gluten Free Blogger who is British.

The recipe calls for cornflour, I used corn starch and it worked well. However, I do see a lot of different definitions used.

This makes 12 - for two of us I usually make 3 so I divide the recipe into a third, as I use glass ramekins to bake them. 

INGREDIENTS
75g plain gluten free flour
75g cornflour corn starch
120ml milk
3 large eggs
Pinch of salt
12 tsp vegetable oil


INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425F/220'C / 200'C Fan / Gas Mark 8. Add around 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to each hole of a 12-hole muffin tin and place in the hot oven. Leave for around 10 minutes until hot.
Make the batter while your oil heats. Add the flour, cornflour, corn starch, milk, eggs and salt to a large jug and whisk until smooth.
Carefully remove the muffin tin from the oven. Working as quickly as possible, pour the batter evenly between the 12 holes. It should roughly half-fill each hole and the oil should sizzle as the batter hits it.
As quickly as possible, place the muffin tray back into the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and puffed up. Remove from the oven and serve straight away.

Latin Cafe

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Hearth and Soul Link Party

February 2022 - Toronto ON

Bloor St. W Toronto

We all know that the main story this week is Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Listen to this woman singing the national anthem in Toronto.

You have got to be effing kidding me!

METROLINX STARTS UNION STATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, FEBRUARY 16

Another big story this week, right after I posted my Chip Off the Old Block post.

Saturday we were glued to the TV watching the police dispel the protesters in Ottawa.

Another quiet week with lots of weather, rain and snow, also quite cold and windy.

We worked on our hobbies, did chores, had an afternoon at the movies.

Tuesday we went out for burgers and some mural hunting but then it began raining and was just miserable.

There was nowhere to park and I realize from the photo that it runs along the wall as well. 

Yes, I am that nerd...

We had a light burn out in the kitchen so John got a replacement package of 3, but they are labelled DAY, he went out again and got more to replace all of them. What a difference, we finally have decent light. After buying three sets of under counter light sets, we don't really need them!

We hung my embroideries in the bedroom.

John decided we should have a tequila shot on Thursday, who am I to say no?

WATCHING

We watched the series In From the Cold, an American spy thriller television series. The series follows a divorced mother and ex-Russian spy, living secretly in the United States, as she is forced back into her old life after the CIA learns about her real identity.

I watched the movie The Most Hated Woman in America, an American biographical drama film. It stars Melissa Leo as Madalyn Murray O'Hair. I knew nothing about this woman or the fight to remove prayer from American schools. I found it interesting and would like to read more about her.

I also watched The Last Czars, a six-part English-language docudrama that premiered on Netflix on July 3, 2019. The series follows the reign of Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia's Romanov Dynasty, from his accession to the throne in 1894 to his assassination in 1918.

I also watched Halston which I enjoyed because I didn't know anything about him, and it starred Ewan McGregor. It was fun to travel back in time throughout the 70s and 80s and the fabulous fashions.

We watched The Misfits, more than enough said.

The Informer was great. It is a 2019 British crime thriller.

We have a couple more episodes of The Cleaning Lady to watch.

I watched  Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened is a 2019 American documentary film about Billy McFarland and the failed Fyre Festival of 2017.

I would never have bothered with this until I saw Inventing Anna and there is a scene where she is staying with Billy and later makes fun of his Fyre Festival.

COOKING

Monday I had two over ripe bananas sitting forlornly on the counter. Should I bake or should I freeze (I already have a dozen frozen) or throw them out? I couldn't bring myself to throw them out so I made a  banana cream cheese loaf.

Hot turkey sandwiches and peas.

Tuesday turkey lettuce tomato sandwiches

Wednesday mushroom Bolognese with spaghetti and Caesar salad. We always forget how much we enjoy this, so easy.

Thursday salmon, broccolini, roast potatoes and a mustard sauce (too runny, not much flavour), I should have used my usual Marcus Wareing recipe.

Friday steak, broccolini loaded potato.

READING

I read  The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg very quickly, skimming over much of it. Not my taste. It was recommended by a blogger who has very different taste in books than I do, so I shouldn't have been surprised. These characters, in their late 50s were so juvenile and silly.

I started This Little Light by Canadian Lori Lansens, a much better read. 

Taking place over the course of 48 hours in 2024, This Little Light draws readers into a universe of born-again Christians and celebrity worship where abortion is once again illegal and both religion and surveillance run amok.

Canadian Artist of the Day

 The Ukrainian Pioneer (No. 6)

William Kurelek 1971, 1976

Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

Starts with H

Favourite

HATS - chosen by Tom

TATS and TOKES

I'm going to feature the many Toronto tattoo and cannabis outlets that are proliferating around the city.

Starts with H

HAPPY HOUR at a cannabis shop on Spadina.

FAVOURITE

Toronto On

HAT

On his way to work in Mazatlan Mexico

FRINGE BENEFIT

HOTEL HAMILTON

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Fluffy

Maud Lewis c. 1965

On a day when we need a smile.

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Wrap Life

Jacquie Comrie 2018

I've posted Jacquie's work before and also mentioned that she is a muralist around town as well.

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Beach, PEI

Molly Lamb Bobak 2000

Yesterday was Family Day in Ontario, it was Islanders Day in PEI.

Twosday

 

Tuesday Treasures

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

Travel Tuesday

Our World Tuesday

Image-in-ing
My Corner of the World

Postcards

Today I am going to highlight some photos from Singapore that I have never showed. These were taken on a city tour.

There are many buildings in the colonial architecture style.

This is a very photographed image it shows up in all the photosharing sites.

The MICA Building, Singapore is the headquarters of Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

These were taken on another day.

T for Tuesday

 T Stands For is hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

With Granny

Daphne Odjig ~ Potawatomi 1982

Today is Family Day in Ontario.

Internationally recognized and renowned artist Daphne Odjig was born September 11, 1919 and raised on the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island (Lake Huron), Ontario Canada. Her father and her grandfather, Chief Jonas Odjig, were Potawatomi, descended from the great chief Black Partridge. The Odjig family was among the Potawatomi who migrated north and settled in Wikwemikong after the war of 1812. The Potawatomi (Keepers of the Fire) were members with the Ojibwa and Odawa, of the Three Fires Confederacy of the Great Lakes.

Daphne Odjig’s achievements include, but are not limited to:
The first, and as of November 2009, the only First Nation woman artist to show at the National Gallery of Canada.
Order of Canada
Order of British Columbia
Seven Honorary Degrees
National Aboriginal Achievement Award
Governor General’s Laureate, Visual and Media Arts (Canada’s highest honour in the field of visual arts)
Expression Award, National Film Board of Canada, in recognition of work that champions Canadian cultural diversity
Honorary Fellowship, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural 

February 2022 - Toronto ON

Click on photo for a closer view.

Painted by Al Runt AKA Alex Currie outside Rancho Relaxo.

Click here to another of his work in St. Catharine's in 2020 and this one in Little India also in 2020.

Adding these links made me realize I had never posted one of his most famous pieces in Toronto on Lee's Palace on Bloor St. West.

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

 Adanna

Benny Bing 2020

Benny Bing is a contemporary Canadian artist who explores themes of identity, gender, and Blackness. Being born in Nigeria, Bing has always drawn influence from the pride and beauty in his cultural upbringing. This included paying homage to the matriarchal family structure he came from and can be seen in his art as it focuses on empowering portrayals of Black femininity.

Featured Canadian Artist of the Day

Snowbank, Kananaskis Country

Ted Raftery 1985

Can I just say WOW! This looks like a photograph!

Check out more of his work here.

As a child in England, Ted was constantly drawing and painting, mostly from his imagination. In his early teens he realized that he achieved better results when he sketched from nature.



He joined an art club and was able to draw from live models and plaster casts. This improved his skills markedly but he never attended an art school to receive formal tuition as at that time art schools were only teaching graphic arts and various modernism’s in vogue at that time.



Ted's interest lay in a more traditional approach and he continued along that path. By his early twenties he was married, had a family and job as an electrician. His painting became sporadic for a while but he continued to study the fine art in the English public art galleries, such as the National Gallery in London and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.



On immigrating to Canada in 1974, the landscape here inspired him to take up the brush and palette again. At first he painted prairie scenes and grain elevators and always the big Alberta sky he admired so much. His interest in cross-country skiing led him to also paint mountain winters. By 1978 he had placed paintings with the Gainsborough Galleries in Calgary, and they were selling readily.


Now Ted’s painting grace the walls of many corporations and businesses and also many private homes in Canada, UK, USA, Hong Kong, Australia and many other places around the world.

Coming Soon

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Hearth and Soul Link Party

February 2022 - Toronto ON

February 2022 - FCP Toronto

When Ontario instituted vaccine passports, the 7-day case average was around 700. Now, even without proper testing, the 7-day average is over 2,600 and they are abolishing it.

Ford is fast tracking the opening of the province, with full occupancy everywhere and cancellation of the vaccine passports. Restaurants are entitled to continue to request passports. 

Post written by a extended family member on Canada at the moment.

Sunday I was surprised by a flower delivery for Valentine's Day.

I am using up a ball of wool (probably had it for over 10 years, leftover from a sweater) to make a scarf.

Jackie - Wordle 240 2/6

🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Tuesday I took the 9:35 shuttle and then subway to College Park and poked around the $ store, Winners (nada) and picked up some groceries at Farm Boy.

Walking through the Royal York Hotel.

I overheard a concierge saying these gold trees would be swapped out for cherry blossoms in April.

Seems old that the cherry blossoms are already outside the hotel in very chilly, still winter February.

John went to the golf simulator and then to Costco. My Simon's order arrived.

Wednesday we took a quick car run to Farm Boy as I was still (and am still) trying to find the gluten free coconut tortillas. Didn't find them but did get other gluten free products.

Imagine wagyu hot dogs!! And gluten free. Cannot wait to try these.

Thursday John also went to the golf simulator. We've been busy watching the coverage of the Ottawa take down of the protestors. Very riveting. 

Thursday evening we attended a virtual Argentinian wine tasting hosted by our financial advisor. We were given gift cards for the LCBO (Liquor Board of Ontario) and a list of Argentina wines and cheeses we could savour during the presentation. About 50 households attended. Some with their cameras on, we kept ours off.

This notice said 5:45 to 6:15 but it should have read to 7:00. The presenter was great and we learned a lot.

It rained all day Thursday and then turned to snow. We didn't get a lot but areas around us did. We decided to go to the Stockyards as they have all the stores I wanted to visit. John ended up with 2 pairs of jeans, I got 4 tops and I bought some house stuff.

Some pics on the way - taken from the car.

Hallway is getting there.

New fake plant and towels in bathroom.

COOKING

Weekend cooking was all about the Super Bowl.

Chili and garlic bread on Saturday.

Sunday wings and fries with dip and veggies.

Monday roast pork, Brussels sprouts, mashed cauliflower, roast potatoes. I have a lot of vegetables that need to be eaten this week.

Tuesday John picked up the $8 rotisserie chicken from Costco. We had it with salad.

Wednesday I made a chicken pot pie with the chicken, the bones made the gravy. It had onions, carrots, celery and turnip, I served tender broccoli on the side. The pastry was spectacular, the best I have ever made since going gluten free. Pastry has been a real bone of contention for me.

I now have to find more of this. Got 5 on our shopping trip, should be good for a while.

The pie was also lunch on Thursday. So I got 4 dinners and 2 lunches for $8.

Thursday dinner was the cheeses and cold cuts from the wine tasting.

Friday steak and poutine since John had picked up cheese curds. 

WATCHING

I totally binge-watched Inventing Anna. I was familiar with the story, having read about it a few years ago, I definitely have a girl crush on Julia Garner (Ruth, Ozark), we even like the same tea, Lady Earl Gray. LOVED it.

A journalist investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary heiress who stole the hearts and money of New York elites.

case sensitive: The Point of Rescue is a British crime drama series broadcast on ITV, based on the best-selling books by Sophie Hannah. BTW you can watch them on Daily Motion on your PC.

Don't Breathe 2

Kimi 2022  American thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written and produced by David Koepp. The film stars Zoë Kravitz. It takes the classic concept from Rear Window (John called it) making it current in the time of Covid 19 and Alexa. Appealed to us nerds!

I also watched The English Game a British historical sports drama television miniseries developed by Julian Fellowes for Netflix about the origins of modern association football in England.

READING

Read Downfall, set in Toronto and written by a Toronto lawyer. I have read most of his books and enjoyed them all. 

The cover of this one features the Humber Bridge which is right next to our condo.

Love these books with authentic likeable characters, with a Canadian law slant.