Playing with Fire

Ok so actually I wasn't the one who was playing with fire.

He built and burnt the whole shabang but it was fun to unwind 

from the day and snap some pics of the flames licking about.

Hope you enjoy them. 

For the full effect....click the photos and you'll see them full size.

Evening Bonfire

Rustic Backyard Beauty

One of the old apple trees that needs to be taken care of to bring her back to being able to produce some wonderful crunchy orbs of delight. The cat likes to race at her quickly and climb up her twisted trunk. I am keeping my eye out for the perfect wind chime to hang from her gnarled branches

The sunlight reflecting behind the many pieces of Queen Anne's Lace growing wild in the field. Lupine bloomed earlier that stole my heart. Goldenrod blooms at the moment as well.

Pantry Progress

Some primer has been added to the now sanded smooth shelves in my pantry space. I am madly in love with this room that he built. We have already been super busy canning different fruits and veggies to stock the shelves. A wee bit "horse before the cart" but its working

Queen Anne's Lace

Simple snapshot of Queen Anne's Lace growing wild in the back field

I dream of a Ride On Lawnmower

We have been doing our best to gain back lawn that has overgrown the last few years into quite the wild field. This home has been in his family for many years and the field used to be a number of large gardens and orchards of multiple types of fruit trees. We are SLOWLY working on creating that again.

I really really really........

have I mentioned REALLY

want to own a ride on lawnmower!

This is the path thru the back field towards the woods that we have managed to take back again. It quickly gets out of hand with rain and sun though so we have to try to keep on top of things.The backyard we take turns keeping mowed. In the next few years we've talked about planting peach, apple, pear and maybe even a few plum trees. A small strawberry patch used to be back there in a raised bed that he hopes to make happen again as well.

Silly cat that we have.....the other evening, we couldn't find him anywhere. I was calling his name and shaking the treat bag. Nothing. We knew he was inside and the treat bag is usually the best way to gain his attention.
Then I remembered that we'd opened the door into the bedroom being worked on. Some boards had been placed inside out of the rains that were due in the next few days. I peeked in and spotted this.......

 From his scrunched cheek....you can tell there isn't much room for him in this space he thought he'd take this little cat nap.

He looked like he was comfy so we left him slumbering for a few hours......it was the least we could do after he worked so hard at finding this new spot.

Word Jumble

Not using it as an excuse per say.....but many nights the thoughts that I want to spill out onto this blog page just seem to smack around in my head and stay jumbled.So frustrating to fight with the thoughts and act of writing. I am working at getting better.

Where do you blog?

Where do you blog? Are you set up on a desk with a full on PC? Do you use a laptop so you can sit in the comfy chair next to the large bright window in the kitchen nook area? Are you blogging using your phone?
Do you think it makes a difference in how you write?

I have my main computer set upstairs on my desk hutch in the far side of my bedroom. The hutch holds all my "writing tools" like dictionary, thesaurus, quote journal, vodka bottle......ok so not really a bottle....more like a small flask ;)

I have a laptop but don't find myself using it for blogging. I like the feeling of sitting at my desk and writing. The desk covered with scraps of paper with quick ideas and messages jotted down in my hen scratching.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door

Guy's Frenchy's

Work is going well still at GUY'S FRENCHY'S in Digby........hard to believe that I've been working there since January. The gals I work with are great and many giggles happen during a shift.

Bear River

Don Rice had his pottery wheel going as well. Watching the clay move around the wheel with the wet sponge and his fingers gliding over it....magical!

Bob Snider

Singer/songwriter Bob Snider is equally at home playing music on the street or in the largest concert hall. He's been called a national treasure, a folk hero and one of Canada's best songwriters.

and it wouldn't be a Bear River celebration without hearing Bob's guitar and voice floating at you from the midst of it all. He was just sitting on the edge of one of the picnic tables and strumming out his tunes. Here is a sample of Bob's music.

Bob Snider singing one of his original songs

Bear River Nova Scotia...... more artisans along the waterfront

Different folks had their portable easels and art supplies all set up.....pencil sketches, ink dawings, pastels.....it was so awesome to watch their work just jump off the pages before our eyes. This fella was amazing.......his sketches spoke to my soul and make me want to get my ink pens out of the back drawer again soon.

Then an older couple had pulled in next to us at the parking lot. He set up a small table and still life props. Pastels were his choice of medium.



Bear River,Nova Scotia celebrates Canada Day 2011

Many different Artisans from the Bear River area come out to the waterfront to showcase their talent.

Woodworkers

and more woodworkers

Just look at the detail of this carved box......it was stunning pieces of work!
As we moved on thru the trees along the waters edge....

She was making a few small pottery pieces right there on her table. He really liked her mugs and I fell in love with her plates and little bowls.



Beauty after Rain

Christy Tomlinson... The She Art Workshop

Christy Tomlinson

Is a 3 week e-course the begins February 28th! In this workshop, I'll be learning how to create unique and detailed  "she-Art" girls, as seen in Christy's art and mixed projects. I will also be taught how to create backgrounds, textures, and layering styles on canvases and other surfaces! I am beyond excited to be taking part in this class. 

I have stacks of canvas, bottles of paints and at least 3 mason jars of brushes to play around with. I have been searching around for oodles of goodies to play with. A friend even brought me a vintage newspaper from France that is dated 1941! I can't wait to use pieces of it in my work.

Christy's work has inspired me for ages now and when I saw this chance to take a course by her, I couldn't jump quicker. 
I'm positive this won't be the last time I chat about her and her workshop.
Have you ever taken a workshop? Did you enjoy it?

Blessings
Tracy Cedara Dunn of Thru the Attic Door and Thru the Attic Door2

PINK

Another gal that I am constantly listening to is PINK.
There is something about how raw she writes that strikes a nerve within me.
I love sitting back on my bed or at my desk and cranking her music while I create.

Adele

I am beyond LOVING this woman's voice!
The jazz blues range she has and I admit, her English accent draws me in as well.....stunning.
I've been playing her videos steady for the last few days now and just picked up her cds over the weekend
Have you heard her? What do you think?

Blessings
Tracy Cedara Dunn of Thru the Attic Door and Thru the Attic Door 2

Kim Klassen's PhotoShop Skinny- Mini

As I have mentioned a few times over the last little while, I'm trying to really LEARN all I can about my camera and what I can create with it. I have been taking photos everyplace I can imagine. Different angles and so on. A friend of mine told me to check this website out. She thought it would be something I'd find highly useful in my new passion. WOW....was she ever right!

KIM KLASSEN

Simple instructions on how to use Adobe Photoshop to add texture and depth to my photographs.

I am quickly becoming addicted to textures. OH MY! There aren't enough words to describe the fun that can created. I will be sharing my own photos soon showcasing the tips and steps that Kim shared. I am so excited.

Take this course......not only is it incredibly easy to follow and learn...it's FREE!

Blessings!

Tracy Cedara Dunn of Thru the Attic Door and Thru the Attic Door 2

Guy's Frenchy's

I've been working at Guy's Frenchy's for just over a month now and LOVE IT! The hours work perfectly for me and the gals are fantastic that I work with. I sort clothes right now and in the next few months will be trained for on cash too.

Chicke drumsticks for supper tonight!

Walked by the freezer earlier and thought I best take something out. Everything looked good so I just closed my eyes and reached in.....chicken drumsticks is what I managed to pull out.

I'm thinking Oregano chicken will be happening tonight ;)

Mmmm so good!

The Artist's Way

The Artist's Way

Another incredible book that I have been wishing to own for quite awhile now has ended up on my bookshelf. My sister and her family gave it to me this Christmas and I'm looking forward to reading it over and over.

Some of my other artist friends had mentioned it to me so I asked my local library to bring it in for me. I started reading it and quickly knew I wanted to OWN this book. It is beyond full of wonderful insight on how to restart your artistic engines. I bought a brand new journal to do the exercises. Just skimming thru it as managed to spark something in me. I can hardly wait to have that spark burning full force.

Julia Cameron also runs a web site to go along with the book.
I plan on reading all that she has there as well.
Go there and check it out and then rush to get your own copy of this amazing book.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door and Thru The Attic Door2

Another book!!!!

150 Projects to Strengthen Your Photography Skills: Essential Techniques, Exercises and Projects for Aspiring Photographers

When David and Kim had asked for a few gift ideas, I had placed this book on my little "wish list", never thinking in a million years, that I would actually get BOTH books for my gift.

I was so excited and have been falling asleep each evening with my nose buried in the pages. Some of the things are a bit "over my head" still as I really am quite new to photography. I think with some time though I can see my love of taking photos expanding and (fingers crossed) becoming quite good.

I sure am loving the journey it's taking me on along the way.
Have you seen this book before? Did you do all 150 projects?
How many did you make it thru?

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door and Thru The Attic Door2

The Digital Photography Book

The Digital Photography Book was a Christmas gift this year from David and Kim. When they asked me to point them in the right direction of what to get me for a gift, I knew I wanted to ask for this book. Having just splurged on my FujiFilm FinePix HS10, this would be a wonderful book to get and devour.

It is written without all the techno-photo-speak that so many books are written in that just confuse me after hardly making it to the third page. I wanted something easy to read and still aid me in capturing amazing photos.
This is PERFECT!

I have been having a blast reading and even taking some quick notes. Sample pictures have been taken as I learn new techniques and I am looking forward to sharing them soon.

Do you have this book in your collection? Did you find it to be helpful?

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A Creative Blog Catches your Attention

A clever craft blog to catch your attention needs to have what many like to call *eye candy*.


If you don't capture your readers within moments of landing on your blog, you will have a much harder time in getting them to stay around long enough to read anything that you have written. No matter how good you are at flowing words together, they'll never know because they will have moved on.

I have discovered digital scrapbooking and often use these fun digital elements to enhance my photographs when possible. There are numerous digital scrapbooking web sites that offer so many playful elements you can download right to your computer. Many offer tutorials on how to use their products as well.

Everyone is drawn to a beautiful photograph and if you take the time to offer your readers the same, they'll keep coming back to see what you are treating them to next.

Here are just a few of my favorite sites:

Shabby Princess
Shabby Blogs
Scrap Girls
The Shabby Shoppe
Digital Scrapbook Place

Enjoy!
Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door and Thru the Attic Door2