The In-Between Days

These are the days between Christmas and New Year that always seem like a combination of afterglow and anticipation to me. Christmas still lingers in decorations and greeting cards set out on the mantle. New Year's Day is right around the corner and already I am preparing a notebook in which to write resolutions and plans for 2011. A fresh start - it seems so full of wonder and possibility to me. I guess I am an optimist at heart, although I certainly have plenty of glass-half-empty days! But a new year can bring unimaginable changes, if we but dare to pursue them!
We have just returned from a few days spent in Toronto and Montreal with our daughter Kate. We started off at Kate's home in Toronto, where we visited her office and lab at OCAD university, had dinner at a restaurant/pub called 'The Queen Mother' and went to a wonderful production of 'The Nutcracker' at the Four Seasons Centre for the performing arts.

The following day, we took a five hour train trip, much of it along Lake Ontario, to Montreal. There is something so relaxing about a train ride, and I spent much of the time reading and embroidering. (I'll share some of that in a later post.) Kate had packed us a lovely lunch and we rode in comfortable companionship, enjoying our time together. 

In Montreal, we ate delicious food, walked a great deal and visited the Planetarium De Montreal, where we saw a terrific show called 'The Longest Night of the Year' about the winter solstice and the origins of many Christmas customs and myths. On Christmas eve, we went to the Basilica of Notre-Dame, which was a short walk from our hotel. (click on photos to enlarge)

Horse drawn carts were taking travelers on a merry ride,

and the front of the basilica was graced by three glowing angels, heralding the festive season.

Once inside, we sat in the front row of the balcony, and watched as the basilica slowly filled with people from many countries, and children dressed in their best finery. Christmas carols in French filled the vast space and, once Mass began, the lighting changed and the huge altar became a warmer and more welcoming place.

Little children in robes reenacted the nativity story

and a huge basilica became an intimate space.

It was a beautiful evening.

When we arrived home Sunday, snow was just beginning to accumulate at Logan Airport in Boston.We were lucky to get an earlier flight than planned, because the storm has left us with about 15 inches of snow!

All's well that ends well. It was a lovely holiday!

I hope that each person who reads this has enjoyed a happy holiday season!

Looking forward to the New Year!

A Lovely Visit

Since my last post, I've been to Toronto for a few days with my husband to visit our daughter Kate. Lovely visit, less than lovely weather!! Heavy wind and rain, and more of the same when we returned to Boston!

While in Toronto we visited the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), a fantastic museum, where we enjoyed the paintings, sculpture, contemporary installations, and a wonderful collection of Canadian native art. Being something of a  people-watcher, I also got a kick out of the little children in their brightly colored outfits, looking so adorable as they tagged along after their parents. I made some hasty sketches in my notebook and today I plan to translate them into fabric pictures.

By the way, if you've read my blog recently you know that I experimented with a textured background. Unfortunately some people had trouble reading the text, which I understood when I viewed it on someone else's monitor. So, I am back to basics, which is just fine.

Still raining here, but I'm staying in today, drinking tea and working with fabric. What could be better?

Hope you are having a great start to your week as you read this. Despite the bad weather here, Spring is on its way - I just know it!!

Have a terrific day!!

A Journey to the Berkshires

Friday was a beautiful day here in New England, and my husband, Bill, and I went on a trip to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.


We took the scenic route along the Mohawk trail, stopped at a country restaurant called The Wagon Wheel for lunch, and arrived at our destination in a little over three hours.


Along the way we listened to Old Time Radio on XM Radio - an episode of The Jack Benny Show and The Life of Riley. When the mountains cut off our signal, we enjoyed the scenery to a classical music CD.




We were on our way to North Adams, Mass., where we went to the opening of a gallery show featuring work by our daughter, Kate. The show, which took place at Greylock Arts in Adams, Mass., was called Wearable Expressions. Through the technology, craftsmanship and imagination of several artists, it explored fashion as a way for individuals to dynamically express themselves.
Kate, who is a technology artist, showed four hats that humorously investigate the way that we relate to ourselves and others. Her work often expresses unseen, but common, components of our social interactions.

Here are the pieces she exhibited in this show:

The Muttering HatThe Talk to Yourself Hat

The Ear Bender Hat

The Blush Shield

Kate is an adjunct professor at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, and a co-creator of Botanicalls, a system which enables houseplants to make phone calls when they need to be watered!

You can read more about Kate's work on her website.

We stayed the night, visited Mass MOCA on Saturday, and really enjoyed our visit with Kate!