Asparagus

First published on Feb 10, 2011

Asparagus arriving at the green grocer's also heralds the arrival of spring. Parboiled, steamed, sauteed, roasted... with some butter and salt... asparagus is the perfect vegetable!

Autumn Hydrangeas

Was looking for flowers as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving, and they were still selling hydrangeas in the store. They may be a little past their full bloom, but now they have a little more maturity to them. And isn't that what any of us could hope for!

Eggs Benny

Eggs Benny, deconstructed.

Who needs to go out for brunch when you can master Eggs Benedict at home?! Italian bread topped with prosciutto, poached egg and easy hollandaise. (For Martha Stewart recipe, click here.) Besides, restaurants won't let you sprawl all over the floor with the Saturday paper and magazines!

Brussell Sprouts

Piled high

Beautiful, underrated brussell sprouts. Parboil, or slice in half and steam; then pan fry in brown butter and garlic. MMmmmmm...

Vintage Finds

Birdcage, glass jar and creamer from Ivory Vintage Market.

August Market

Visited the Ivory Vintage Market this past weekend. I've been on the lookout for cute photo props.... I found a pretty vintage turquoise glass jar from Birch + Bird, a cute aqua blue creamer from Vintage Home and the adorable bird cage (see pic above) from Ivory Home Furnishings. Next market is Oct 16 at the Ocean Park Hall.

Beauty

"People need to see more beauty these days. I don't think the world in these diffucult times has enough." Manolo Blahnik, Vogue September 2010

Cuppa

Here's to 6 years!!
Wow! 'Time flies when you're having fun'... or maybe it's more a case of 'life is what happens while you're making other plans'. At any rate, I've now been working from home for 6 years. It certainly has had it's trying times... house construction for two years, followed by road works - I think the road outside my house was ripped up a total number of 8 times! However, the good certainly outweighs the bad. I'm not a morning person, so I can start the day in my pjs if I want. I don't have to put on a good face for colleagues! I can work surrounded by my own things. I've worked in a number of depressing offices... beige carpets with even beige-er walls!! I even worked in an old tanning studio that was converted into office space. Nothing kills your creative instincts more than hospital green walls and no windows to the outside.

So it's six years since I've worked from home, designing swimming pools. I get to work quietly with no odd collegues breathing down my back and microwaving stinky lunches! For a change, I do get to travel to various pool projects around BC. And sometimes in the afternoon, when the sun is shining through my south-facing windows... I am inspired to do a mini-photo shoot with food, flowers or some funky object. Or have an afternoon tea party for one. How fun is that!?

Dahlias

Straight from the garden

Kitchen Tools

Garlic press and ice cream scoop... photos for a book project.

Bowl of Tomatoes

Medley of organic tomatoes

Pear

Pear on the chopping block

Bouquet

Tuscan Farm Gardens - July 2008

Water Lilies

Summer 2008 - Munro's Pond

Happy Holidays!

All the best for a happy holiday season... Donna

Sweet Pea

September 2007 - Sweet pea harvest

Dahlia

August 2007 - Dahlia found in a sidewalk garden, Victoria.

Blueberry

August 2007 - Taste of summer

Cappuccino

Cafe on Manly Beach - April.07

Season's Greetings

Whether you are tucking into prawns on the beach in Australia or feasting on turkey by the fire in Canada - I hope your Christmas holidays are full of good food, laughter and fun. After all, it's the festive season!!! Thanks for your interest in my blog this year. I am looking forward to good things for 2007! - Donna -