Christmas Stuff

New work waiting to begin...........

This weekend I didn't even step into the studio other than to show a few new friends my work.  We hosted our annual party here on Saturday.  Such a wonderful time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.  It was great to take a long look around and see babies, toddlers, kids, teenagers, 20 somethings all the way up to 50 somethings.........  We are  very fortunate to have so many people who remain close to our hearts.


Sunday I had promised to take the girls Christmas shopping so they could buy a few small presents for their friends. The mall is never my favourite place to be but I sucked it up just to spend a bit of time with my teenagers.  Felt really sorry for the mall Santa though, I stood and watched as child after child was placed on his knee, each one crying louder than the last.  There's a guy who puts in a hard days work ......


Dragged the girls and John down to watch "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" last night which just happens to be one of fav Christmas shows.  My oldest still thinks the Abominable Snow monster is scary....I think he's just looking for his place in the world. I know all the songs and yes, I do sing them as they come up which starts the girls shrieking and begging me to stop which only encourages me to sing louder.  One thing that I have noticed, and I must point it out, is that Santa was kind of nasty in that show....I mean he could have stood up and been a role model for others on how to treat people but he didn't.  That part just after Rudolph is born when he goes to Donner's cave to visit and sees Rudolph's nose.....he says something to the effect that "too bad he would have been great on the team" or during the reindeer games when the coach tells Rudolph he can't join in with the others....Santa was there but he didn't stand up for Rudolph which I found really disappointing. Yes, in the end they all recognized the error of their ways and it all worked itself out but I'm just saying ............

New Work in Progress......

Back In The Studio

Two Birches

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

11"x14"

Two Birches....Detail.....

So now that my one moment of fame and fortune is but a distant memory....I am back in the studio.  I've got three new pieces painted up and am just getting ready to start the thread work.  All three are landscapes but I am itching to start a more urban piece.  I took some great photos when I was in Toronto last week and I have my eye on one that I may start within the next few days although with Christmas right around the corner we'll have to see how far I actually get.

This coming weekend we host our annual "Tree Hunt"  where many of our friends get together and we head out to our local tree farm to find the "perfect" tree.  Judging by some of the trees we've picked in past years "perfect" may be too strong a word.  Anyway, afterward everyone makes there way back here for chilli and lots of delicious food supplied by all.  Last year Kelly made samosas that were to die for.....if she's reading this ... no, I'm not being subtle at all.

Will post new work sometime this week when done.

Living In Paradise ..... Sappy Post Ahead

For the last few years John and I have hosted what we like to call "The Christmas Tree Hunt". It began quite simply with just a few friends and us heading out to our local tree farm to cut down a tree, drink some apple cider and enjoy time with people whose company we enjoy. Flash forward a few years and our numbers have mushroomed to about 25 friends and family. So early Saturday morning we all met at our place had some coffee and muffins and headed out to look for a Christmas Tree.

We decided on Gillespie's because of the horse drawn, I would like to say sleigh but it's actually a wagon... hey, you can't have everything. It was quite a cool day and the wind was a bit brisk but we were as they say, on a mission. The minute we got off the wagon I think the mission changed from finding the perfect Christmas tree to cutting something down quickly because it was too damn to stand out there looking for something that even resembled "perfect". We decided on a spruce which looked good until John began cutting it down. It wasn't until then the girls noticed the big hole near the back.........oh well, put it toward the wall is what I say....no one will see it there. The girls suggested lots of tinsel might do the trick. On the way back the crazy guy who was driving the tractor with a wagon on the back took us on quite the ride. Branches in the face, ducking the bottoms of trees and almost tipping over........ my three year old nephew enjoyed it immensely.

Once we got back to our house I put on the chilli and set out the food and smiled watching all of our friends reaquaint with each other and new friends meet old ones. We had kids from as young as 3 months to 53 years (yeah, I wasn't the oldest) Here comes the sappy part.............. I never fail to realize how lucky I am to live where I live and to have the friends I have. Each and everyone of them brings something wonderful to not only this day but everyday since I have known them. To stand back and watch them enjoy themselves was the gift.

Thank you

Rob, Kelly, Danielle, Holly

Charlie, Joan & Anne

Anders, Vivian & Luke

Jason & Jake

Les & Victoria

Gregor, Carla, Pico & Fiona

Andy, Laurie & Ben

Up Goes The Tree........The Season Begins

Things have settled a bit here so I'm taking this window of opportunity to blog. John is working tirelessly in his office, my youngest is resting and rehydrating and my oldest says she is feeling nauseous and feels like throwing up ( oh no). I've posted a picture of John and his brother putting up the tree on Sunday. Luckily I wasn't helping out as it looked to be a frustrating experience but I am getting ahead of myself.

On Saturday our entire group converged at our house around 9:00am for a cup of coffee and a few pastries before heading out to find "a great" Christmas Tree. The snow began early and by the time we arrived at Ayers Tree Farm the flakes were huge and plentiful. Perfect!!

It seemed to take us Maddens forever to find a tree we all agreed upon. Near the end I was willing to take a Charlie Brown tree for all the walking back and forth we did. Finally John counted to 5 and cut down one we all "kinda" liked. Unfortunately we had an ice storm about 4 or 5 days ago so every tree there was frozen solid. We usually put it up that night but the poor tree would have to spend the night in the garage thawing out until Sunday. Got back to our place around 1:00pm, heated up the chili, put out some cheese and crackers, rolls and butter, opened a bottle of wine and let the fun begin. Many of the people who were there on Saturday had met on the shores of Lake Superior for our 20th anniversary so it was so wonderful to see them all connect again...........just like old friends should. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I did take that moment to stand back and appreciate all that was going on. This experience will probably take place again next year(hopefully) but it will never be exactly what is was in that moment and that was the moment I was taking the time to enjoy. I believe life is just that......small moments all strung together that create memories that last a lifetime. Now before you think that is soooooo cheesy, let me tell you that is the way I am.........I will always find the sentimentality in everything and I like it that way.