Road Trip

This weekend I decided I needed to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and grabbed my daughter and we headed for a day of antiquing about an hour away in Nanton,Alberta. The Sun was shinning and the drive was beautiful and it was nice to be spending time with my soon to be seventeen year old gal. Well we hit Nanton by storm (population about 2000). I decided to wear my jean jacket that I had blinged out with three of my grandma's broaches and they were really the talk of the town as they sparkled in the sunlight, well that and the fact I went down a one way street the wrong way( yup it is a small town folks so it was all good and me and Madi could not stop laughing as the old timer on the corner just tipped his hat to us....I am sure he was thinking those city people). I could have sold my broaches to the antique owners three times over, which I new my grandma would have loved that and the fact that I was wearing them.

My gal had been told that Nanton, had the best candy store in all of Alberta, so it is here that we purchased 

way to much sugar which really blew my no sugar month. They had candy from my childhood that I could not resist...Sponge Toffee,Bottle Caps and my all time favorite Cracker Jack. Definitely a great place to stop for candy if you are passing threw Nanton.

 We headed back to Calgary and took a quick little detour to Okotoks which is much larger and just on the outskirts of Calgary. On the way back we came across this cute barn that made us smile and laugh some more which was perfect timing as we were crashing from all the sugar. 

We visited some cute shops and ended up having dinner in what use to be a church. Loved the downtown area with its charming old homes. There were so many old homes that spoke to me but the one I loved the photo did not turn out but it had a big old front porch and a brick exterior and it just made me smile.

Home at last....the boys were at hockey so what  better way to finish up a great day then by watching a girlie movie(The Notebook) and baking cupcakes! A great day with my Gal.........

Smiles,

Kim

Montreal

This past week I ventured off to my old stomping grounds from when I was clothing buyer,"Montreal". I had great weather which made exploring so much more enjoyable. I spent a whole day in Old Montreal  with it's stone buildings and cobble stone streets exploring art gallery after art gallery. It was so inspiring! I love the European feel of this French Canadian city it is full of amazing restaurants and culture. This amazing Catholic church drew me in with its welcoming red front doors(almost every house I have lived in I have painted the front door red....I heart a red door) and the craftsmanship of all the architectural detail is so magnificent. 

With all the great shopping you might think you would find me at all the major retailers which I was....but I love street vendors and so I because this was my last day I took a photo of these wonderful flowers. I am a girl who loves a spring bouquet or a handful of hand picked wild flowers any day over a dozen roses.  I also purchased this amazing piece of jewelry on the street by a local artist which I will have to post a pic of .I had a great chat with the vendor as he explained his technique for creating his one of a kind pendants and cuffs.

Had some fun with this piece which is not quit finished. However I started it many moons ago so to be almost done is better then not done."A Patchwork of Prairie Sunshine", seemed to be a great title for this piece. Also still working on my new site which is a bit more challenging as I am having to re size and dig up all my old photo's of my art but once it is done it will be that much easier. 

© Kim Hicks-A Patchwork of Prairie Sunshine

Smiles,

Kim

A Random Act of Kindness......

This week I have been busy working on two entirely different pieces of art and trying to get my art photo's ready for my new site. As I was looking through my photo's I discovered how behind I am with organizing my families photo's. So iPhoto book your it!  I use to take photo's and develop doubles and create an album for each of my kids so they would have their own albums to leave home with. Well if there is any hope of preserving some memories of the last few years it is going to be through a digital album. Which I hear is all the rage so I guess you could say I am succumbing to peer pressure...wink wink!

Next week I am off to my old stomping grounds from my days as a clothing buyer. I am excited about the photo opportunities as I take in the sites of Montreal. Oh and I am so hoping that my favorite little pastry shop is still there.

The piece below is inspired by girlfriends garden. She is by far a gal with a green thumb and understands the importance of form and function of a garden. I am just waiting to see her featured in Canadian Garden Magazine as her gardens are beautiful. Yup Jod's that would be you girl.......

Garden Bliss

After my run today which once again left me a little cold ! I will get this layering for winter in Calgary, down one of these days. I headed to Starbucks to indulge in my new favorite drink which needless to say can become a pricey habit. As I sat in the drive-thru the car in front of me either full of high school or university gals ordered their drinks and were off. I had been thinking to myself  as I waited in line about those starving student days when it meant the difference between a new pair of shoes or eating KD for a month.They pulled off and I pulled up to the window and the gal at the window informed me that my five-dollar and fifty-one cent habit had been paid for by the gals ahead of me! So although they are more then likely never to read this post they defiantly put a smile on my face and truly warmed my heart! Of course I will definitely pay it forward .........Thanks gals for your random act of kindness!

Green Tea Latte
Soy Milk, Extra Hot
With One Pump Of Unsweetened Vanilla ....
BLISS