Right on cue, the sun came out this morning, and I decided to grab my camera and head for Steveston Village. It’s a lovely little fishing community perched on the shoreline just south of Vancouver BC. When the fishing boats come in, you can go down to the dock and purchase the freshest fish and shellfish in the world…shhhh…don’t tell anyone!!!
Sunny, yes, but it was COLD. I congratulated myself on being smart enough to wear my wool toque (okay…who’s kidding who…I wore it ’cause I didn’t have time to wash my hair).
The number of people on the pier caught me by surprise. I was fully expecting to scarf down some totally-not-on-my-Weight-Watchers-points halibut and chips in complete privacy. The universe is really getting on my nerves these days!!!
Don’t the pitiful chairs and umbrellas look like they’re desperate for summer too? I’m thinking this might be a place to avoid on rainy, cold days if you’re suffering from SADS.
Don’t even think about givin’ me that hairy eyeball. I’m on a binge, and every single chip is goin’ down with me. So scram bird boy!!!
Hi everyone!! I’ve missed blogging and it’s definitely time to get back into the swing of things. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and you’re happily ensconced in this new year. I know it’s a stupid question that we feel compelled to ask everyone we run into throughout January, but can you believe it’s 2012?! I feel like it was just yesteryear when we were all freaked out about Y2K!!!
I have been up to something wonderful lately–at least I think it is. I’m back into painting and I’ve been going crazy with colours. Perhaps it’s the grey weather, but I’m looking for bright colours wherever I can find them. So here are a couple of my latest creations.
This painting is based on a photograph that I took of my son, Sam, at White Rock beach a few years ago. It’s 11″x14″ acrylic on canvas.
Closeup
This is a painting based on a photograph of my house (the purple Victorian) that I shot a few years ago. I was inspired to paint it by the frigid temperatures and snow we got this week!! I LOVE snow. It’s 24″x24″ acrylic on canvas.
Closeup
I’m still thinking of painting the windows on the right side in the orange colour, rather than the red and blue. Is that a good idea, or not? Let me know what you think.
This time last week, I was walking into the airport on my way to NYC. The jet lag came and went and now I’m back into my daily routine. Sigh.
Here are a few more shots from my trip. I gotta say, New York really knows how to do up Christmas. I was blown away by all the decorations EVERYWHERE. Sorry for the grainy shots, they’re from my i-phone 
I believe it’s time for another giveaway! This time, New York is my source of inspiration, and I’m giving away a laptop bag worth $59.99!! I always use mine when I travel and I love it.
All you need to do is “like” my Nicole Jane Home Facebook page. Click HERE and you’ll arrive at the page where you’ll find the “like” button on the top, just to the right of my mugshot. If you’re already a liker, you’re already entered for the draw.
I’ll draw for a winner on Monday, December 12. Good luck everyone
Here’s the pesky fine print: Draw is open for residents of Canada & U.S.A., who are 18 years or older. Sorry, but it’s not open for residents of Quebec.
Last week I was lucky enough to have the trip of a lifetime with two girlfriends. We boarded the red-eye for NYC on Tuesday night and got back in the wee hours of the morning yesterday.
I’ve been to New York a couple of times before, but this was different. It was with friends, so I had to compromise–something I’m not used to. If I hadn’t been “nudged” a little, I wouldn’t have had nearly as many wonderful experiences. This trip was more than just sightseeing, it was life-changing and I’ll always be so grateful that I said “Yes!”.
I’ll be blogging about the trip over the next few days, but I just want to start with one of the highlights for me–walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. I was exhausted and my feet were killing me, but my girlfriend, Kim, insisted on doing it, and I’m so glad she did.
I tried not to take too many “touristy” typical photos. I looked for the quirky or the unusual. Some worked, some didn’t, but here are my faves!!
Kim and Sarah really wanted to see the Love Locks that people have been attaching to the bridge. I was skeptical at first, but I really had fun looking at all the messages that people have painstakingly written on their locks. Kim and Sarah both brought their own to add to the growing collection all over the bridge.
I just fell in love with this police officer. He has such kind eyes and he nearly blushed when I asked if I could take his picture. So sweet.
I spent Sunday afternoon at Granville Island in Vancouver, BC on a photography walkabout. About six of us met with photographer, Amanda Kerr, who led us through a class on camera basics and some very cool photography techniques. Let’s just say it was COLD and FABULOUS!
This is Light Painting. As you can see, I LOVED it. We shot in a low light setting (in an alley looking into a store with a variety of light sources.
I’ll be doing lots more light writing…just makes me happy!
I’m having one of those incredibly decadent, lazy, still-in-my-pajamas Sundays!!! I’ve been playing around in the world wide web, and I came across Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved letters. This is one of my absolutely favourite exerpts…
Get it? Winner time? Dinner time? Flatware? I’m giving away a set of the new Present Time Mix ‘n Match flatware I carry on Nicole Jane Home. I have a set at home, and it’s the one that all of us prefer to use. They’re just so whimsical, and they feel pretty comfortable in your hands. You probably already received this flyer if you’re on my newsletter subscribers list.
Like the picture says, I’d love it if you could pop by the Nicole Jane Home Facebook page (CLICK HERE) and click on “like”. Good luck everyone
I got both nature and nurture this past Thanksgiving weekend (for us Canadians, eh!). We all hopped in the car–two city dogs included–and headed for the hills…er…Armstrong, BC to see my in-laws. There’s really nothing quite like the beauty of the Okanagan in the fall–the light and colours are amazing.
My wonderful in-laws, Fred and Diane Findlay, breed red angus cattle on their beautiful farm, and we always love seeing them as much as possible. It’s a working farm with lots of history and few frills. It’s nature at its best and hard to beat in my opinion.
There’s lots of wildlife on the farm, including a huge white tail deer that nearly gave me a heart attack when we were walking to one of the upper fields. And we steered clear of the forest, ’cause a momma bear and cubs made it their home during the summer–bears like to chase me!!!!! Hundreds of ducks, geese and rare migratory birds put on quite a show on the lake and in the grassy wetlands. The frogs are amazing on a summer night, but they’ve been replaced with a pack of howling coyotes this fall. If you’ve never heard coyotes, it’s a sound that always scares the pants off me.
We city folk turn into grubby, fresh-faced, well-fed country kin after a visit to the farm. Our prissy blonde city dogs were both brown by the time we climbed back into the car for the ride home. We’ll just have to dream about fresh air, real wood fires and wiener roasts the next time we go for a visit.
I was so delighted to attend BLEND2011, a cocktail party for the Design & Lifestyle Bloggers West network on the weekend. It was a celebration of the annual IDS West design show in Vancouver. The party was generously sponsored by IKEA Canada, who spoiled us with amazing food and drinks at the Loden hotel, swag, and a chance to win a $1000 gift card (bummed I didn’t win).
What a thrill to be in the same room with Canadian House & Home editor, Suzanne Dimma and designer, Mark Challen!! I even shook Suzanne’s hand…sorta like shaking a rock star’s hand!!!
Mark Challen (Cdn House & Home), Erica Cook (Moth Design) & Suzanne Dimma (Cdn House & Home)
Jodi Bueckert (The Simply Inspired Home) & Sharon Laxon (Layers & Layers)
Carol Smyth (The Design Pages) & Michelle Mollinga (I Dream of Chairs)
Darryl Bueckert (Photography by Darryl Bueckert & The Simply Inspired Home)
Mark Challen (Cdn House & Home) & Erica Cook (Moth Design)
Barbara Matson (Hodge:podge), Nancy Marcus (Marcus Design), Suzanne Dimma (Cdn House & Home magazine), Karla Amadatsu (Kerrisdale Design), Victoria Lambert (Edin's House)
It was such a wonderful opportunity to meet so many talented bloggers. I even gushed on the way home with my hubby about how amazing social media is. Ten years ago, if you’d asked me, I would have said “no way” to the possibility of a network that would allow you to meet total strangers on the web and build amazing friendships!!!
Kudos to the event organizers, Barbara Matson, Nancy Marcus, Karla Amadatsu & Victoria Lambert!!
