Pictures from Thursdays storm!

Driving in to get Laurence from work on Thursday evening - at sunset:

Rainbow during a break in the storm:

This was taken during daylight hours - in front of me the clouds were sooooo dark from the storm - but in the mirror I could see bright sunlight still!  The difference was amazing!!

It was cold during the storm 13c, so I sat with the fire going and painted!

We drove out to Tofield to pick up Laurences friend as she was staying the night - the clouds were really unusual:

It was really dark during the storm even though it was only supper time:

Lots of lovely rainbow shots and unusual clouds to photograph:

Yay, congratulations!!!!!

Laurence passed his driving test this week - first time!!!

We went out on Tuesday evening and practiced parallel parking - and on Wednesday evening our friend Ki took him out driving to get him used to being with someone different - and also to pick up on anything I might have forgotten to tell him or taught wrong!  

Then Thursday he took his test!  Soooo proud!!  I knew he could do it, but was worried nerves would get the better of him!  He is a great driver though - mature and responsible!!  

Well done Laurence!  Stay safe xxx

This picture is of him in the Registry filling out the forms for his new licence:

Duchess Bake Shop.....

One of my goals this Summer was to FINALLY make it to the Duchess Bake Shop, to try their French Macaroons - one of the only places in Edmonton you can buy them without ordering online!!

I do want to take Abigail there one day for a girls afternoon out - maybe this week....but I wanted to be sure to get there AND I wanted Laurence to go there to see the cafe as he is planning to become a pastry chef and if he studies in Edmonton, he will need to do work experience somewhere.

He is also keen to run his own coffee shop/ bakery - so it was very interesting to see his thoughts on Duchess. It isn't the style of cafe he wants to run - BUT he does want to bake his own products in-store, so it was good to go there!!!

There were good things and bad things about Duchess.  I wasn't overly impressed - with the food or the cafe - BUT it is somewhere that feels kind of special and a bit of a treat compared to somewhere like Cafe Haven - which is more your every day kind of coffee place.  

The coffee was great - although not as good as Fuss Cupcakes coffee which is still my favourite :)

The Macaroons are tiny - I had never seen them before, so expected them to be more your average cookie size!!  No - they are bite size!!  To be honest apart from the cream inside - which is the most incredibly light and silky cream, they were over-priced undercooked chewy meringues!  

Still, I am really pleased we went - we had a lovely visit and got to chat about Laurences future plans a lot - AND I got to buy some macaroons to photograph :)  

I am looking forward to taking Abigail there soon :)  

Laurence bought this cake - which was covered in a very thin marzipan fondant and filled with a jam sponge and the lightest, fluffiest cream EVER!!  Laurence needs to work there to learn about the cream!!  :)  

A few favourite pics.....

Quotes, sayings, life advice.....things I have read that really spoke to me - or reflected my life:

Black and white....

Art time :)

Yesterday I had a relaxing morning at home. I made the most of it, and chillaxed on the back deck in the sunshine and worked on a couple of canvases. They are still 'wips' (works in progress) and not finished, but I am happy with how they are going so far :)

Testing, testing!!

Downloaded an app to blog from my phone. Just testing to see how it works :)

Adding a pic of my little Sammy - taken at home today. He wasn't feeling well. Will be glad to get him and Abby home on Sunday!!! :)

My Swans...

A girl I chat with on Instagram had asked me to share some pictures of my swan collection.  I finally got around to taking a few today.  I have been collecting Swans for about 18 months - it started with one little swan that my Mom gave me - it had been my Grandparents.  

Swans are one of few animals that often mate for life.  They find a partner and stay with that partner until they die - and often if their mate dies, they will pine away.  

I decided to collect Swans because it gives me something to hunt for when I'm in Antiques fairs or thrift stores....but I had a few rules for myself!!  I would not spend more than $10 on a swan.  Most of my swans are around $3 each.  I would buy them all myself - and enjoy the hunt for them.  This isn't the kind of collection where I want swans as gifts or for people to find them FOR me.

 I would ONLY buy single swans - no pairs or sets or anything that comes with two.  Single swans ONLY....until I am in a serious committed relationship.

Of course right now I'm not interested in a relationship lol - and don't see me wanting one for a long time....BUT if the time comes when I meet someone I want to be with, THEN I will complete my collection with a PAIR of swans :)  

I think I have over 30 now.....I don't go out of my way to collect them, but once you start noticing them, you realize that swans are EVERYWHERE - all colours and sizes!!  

My girly....

Life with teens...

Laurence worked until 8:30 tonight, and so I met him in Second Cup. We sat and chatted and he told me about his shift and his afternoon at the twins house.  

Luckily I have been busy this week so it hasn't been as bad as I expected with my youngest three not here - I think if I was just at home it would feel horrible, but I am so rarely there now and always seem to have so much to do!  Still, its nice to get texts from Susannah while she is at camp.  Last night she sent me this to tell me about how much fun she is having with friends from her cabin:

And tonight she sent me a LONG text about pranking the boys and then the boys pranking them back and how they are planning on stealing and hiding all the boys shoes tonight!  She is having soooo much fun :)  

The Cock Whisperer :)

Today I headed to the Fringe Festival again, to see a performance called

 'The Cock Whisperer - A Love Story'.

I dragged my friend Cori with me - although I think she forgave me when she got to see the half naked Asian guy with whips lol!!  

We were given this note while in the line up, and so we knew it was going to be a fun 

performance to watch!!  And it was!!!  It was funny, emotional, sad, happy...but most of all REAL :)  

I could relate to so much that she said.  

Very interesting and fun show!!!

If you want to see something at the fringe then I'd definitely recommend this!!

I even bought a badge at the end:

After the play, we got some Lemonade and strolled round watching a few bits of performances here and there...then we decided to go and see a Psychic!!!  Have our fortunes told :)  

Like Cori - although I didn't hear anything I didn't already know, it was very much what I needed to hear.  

It was so hot out today:   32c but feeling like 35c.  We decided to get out of the heat for a while, so we went to Fuss Cupcakes for a coffee and cupcake each:

Thanks Cori for a lovely afternoon - so good to catch up with you!!

xxx

My Monday....

involved some of this....

Rather a lot of this....

Far too much of this....

And a jumbo basket of this.....

Great day :)  I feel so blessed for the Summer I am having :)  

I hope yours is wonderful too!!!