Lately…Lots of Important Nothings

Whilst I was still daydreaming a little about Yellowstone Park, life went on most pleasantly. Fall has started and most of you know how happy that makes me. Long walks in colder temperatures, enjoying the colors and all treasures Mother Nature leaves us whilst she is preparing for a good rest.  It gives me a chance to show this photo again…already 2 or 3 years old. But I love it so much and can you imagine how many shots that took?;o)

I love the atmosphere Fall brings into the house, so delightfully cozy!

Charley and I want to be outside all day and she is giving me the stare until I grab the leash!

Reading is so much better too when temperatures drop. I am really enjoying these books.

I was really happy to see this flyer from Rickey illustrated by me…

I also spent a week with my sons in Toronto for Canadian Thanks Giving and it was a celebration of so much to be thankful for indeed.

It made even worthwhile to endure the shenanigans of the most spoiled cat in the whole of Canada…

I cannot show much knitting. All these delicious yarns are going to be used for Christmas presents and I really have to keep my ninja needles clickety clacking to get it all ready before the end of December!

However, I will show you soon more of my experiments with pastels! I love working with it and it seems even lovelier on black paper.

But first I am going to spoil a very special person for a whole week. Was I so happy to meet up with one BFF in Denver..now I am again in high spirits and very happy because another BFF from The Netherlands is coming here. I am already at the airport, for I do not want to be late for her plane to arrive;o)

Ach de weken vliegen weer voorbij na de heerlijke reis. Allerlei belangrijke niemendalletjes die te maken hebben met een verrukkelijke herfst, geheimzinnig breien voor Kerst, meer oefenen met pastels, Thanksgiving vieren bij mijn jongens in Toronto en hun immens verwende kat! En nu ben ik al helemaal door t dolle heen omdat ik weer een fijne vriendin uit Nederland op bezoek krijg!!! Oei, ik zit al t vliegveld zodat ik haar aankomst niet mis ;o)

Love and Liefs, Johanna

A Week in Toronto

I see many people making the most gorgeous photos with their smartphones…I am not one of them! This photo of Toronto, Canada was not taken with the smartphone, the others in this post are and I sincerely apologize for them;0)
So, Mr. Walker had to travel to Sweden for business and he discovered that it was easier to travel from Toronto instead of Cincinnati. “Why don’t I drop you of there with our boys and pick you up on my return?” The Walker Boys met the plan with happy yodeling and sending their wishes for the menu.
I love my sons and I love their apartment, so everybody happy!

Of course, both the Walker Boys had to work so I spent happy quiet hours with reading and knitting.

Left them with a freezer full of lunches and did some baking,which caused more happy yodeling from the Young Misters Walker.

Put up with the most spoiled cat of Toronto.

Met these jolly horses and discovered the most depressing art work…could not figure out what it meant or why it was there.

Both the Walker Boys managed to get some time of, and do fun stuff with mommy.
I went to the WONDERFUL new aquarium with the Youngest Mr. Walker and managed to make these rather blurry artful photos?

The Oldest Young Mr. Walker and I went to the Textile Museum of Canada and saw this great exhibition : Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol. All our favorite artists and we never knew they created all these wonderful designs for textiles. It was glorious!!! Here you see me in total bliss, admiring designs from Calder, Matisse and Miro..it made me very happy. You can also see that I am truly capable of flapping my ears with joy…

We also bought a new couch at our lovely Swedish friend Ikea and managed to assemble it with little problems. ( Yes, that Christmas Star hangs there all year…)

The result is stunning and comfortable!

Nogal wazige fotos van een wel heel gezellig weekje bij de Walker Boys. Meneer Walker moest naar Zweden en kon t gemakkelijkste reizen via Toronto. Hij zette me daar af en pikte me weer op. Ik had een heerlijke week met lekker breien, lezen, koken en een arrogante kat. Maar ook met gezellige tripjes naar t Aquarium, t Textiel Museum en Ikea!

Have a lovely weekend!!
Love and Liefs, Johanna.

About Young Gentlemen, Christmas, Aussies and 11 to 16 mm

Dr. Who and a Christmas tree?? Yes, you guessed right…we spent Christmas at the Walker Boys apartment in Toronto. But have a cuppa tea maybe, I have lots to show and tell…

First more about the Oldest Walker Boy, who spent a well earned vacation at the Walker residence. He was very proud to treat Mr. Walker to whiskey and cigars. Do not worry…this is only a once-a-year-happening..and outside in the garden, thank you very much;0)

And Young Mr. Walker made his mom very happy by taking her to the Antique Mall, where she found the most photogenic Christmas present of the year, though the rest of the Walker Clan found that very debatable. I love Royal Copley from the fifties and I wanted this Deer with Fawn planter so badly already for a long time. Young Mr. Walker knew what to do when he saw his mom cooing and purring when she discovered this one. He gave it to me for Christmas.

I have more Royal Copley. This fine example was giving to me by a dear friend last spring..according to her it was the most hideous present she ever bought. She was still shaking her head when she saw me yodeling and doing a little dance when unwrapping it.  Mr. Walker claims it grows on him but is ( very, very) happy I keep them in my studio….

I know you can buy them by the dozen on Ebay, but I rather find them at sales etc or get them as presents. OK I am rambling back to the story.

Juuust before we left for Toronto, this lovely Christmas bunting made by Dani arrived all the way from down under Australia…I could not post about it anymore but thank you so much dear girl!! We enjoyed it so much and we never had a Christmas card from Australia before. We and everybody visiting us, were completely fascinated by it! Dani, btw has a lovely blog about her beautiful home and garden and twins and the sweetest critters and gorgeous crochet work. 

Mr. Walker and I both like photographing and since Christmas and both our birthdays are so close together..we decided to give each other an 11 to 16mm lens ( by which I mean, we bought one and share it;0)) and of course we could not wait till Christmas but started playing with it right away;0)

It still needs a lot of practicing but I love the unusual, cartoon like atmosphere it creates.

Our House looks like a castle;0)

Charley is wondering why there is no turkey in this oven.

So of to Toronto: The Youngest Walker Boy just started a very nice job at a Computer Store in the Eaton Centre in Toronto. Of course he had to work during Holiday Season. Bravely he said;” Mom, we can skype on Christmas.”  Ha, no way…we packed our things and traveled to Toronto. The Youngest Walker Boy was so very happy.

Mr. Walker and I sat relaxed on a little bench outside the store in the mall, watching all those people shopping. But even more fun, watching our son working with so much pleasure and enthusiasm and his colleagues like him so much.

And then of course, I had a fluttering handkerchief moment…because he had such a bad start in life, and things looked so grim for such a long time and he is such a fighter and now 6 feet 5 , in college and working and happy with friends and family, oh dear oh dear…such bliss.

Well,and than Christmas at the Gentlemen’s Apartment. As you can see, the Modern Young Men even provided a crackling wood fire with presents in front;0)

Here you see the Youngest Mr. Walker entertaining us with dancing, whilst everybody is busy in the kitchen;0)

Leo, that cat, was happy as ever..more hands presents for belly rubs: he was ready for it!

OK tomorrow, back to work!

Love and Liefs, Johanna

A Gentlemen’s Apartment, Part Three…The Regal Cat!

And of course…every Gentlemen’s Apartment needs a Cat With Attitude. And what a fine example the Regal Leo is. A very well mannered Aristocat who greets everyone who enters the door with polite authority and receives exclamations about his magnificent appearance with dignified modesty. ( yeah, as if…that vain cat does not fool me!)

Can you believe it that about six years ago this lovely fellow was found on the road, hit by a car more dead than alive. Our vet was taken by his beauty and performed extensive surgery to save his life. (Later we adopted him.) Today he still limbs, has only one shoulder blade and a bit of a funny expression caused by a broken jaw, healed a bit crooked.

This does not bother him at all, he is good natured and full of humor. Always on the lookout for a warm lap and cuddles. He is quite vocal and appreciates a good conversation, especially about food and himself.He loves all people, except women with high pitch voices. Reminds him of a cruel owner in the past or does he think it is just bad taste?

Charley Dog and Leo hated each other with a passion, so Leo happily packed his suitcase when the Oldest Walker Boy went to university and moved with him from pillar to post in the past few years. And never minding that one bit, claiming every new dwelling immediately as his new Kingdom.

However, he approves very much of this Gentlemen’s Apartment and the arrival of the Youngest Walker Boy, who waits on him hand and foot.

Tja, en in een Herenappartement hoort natuurlijk een deftige kat. De koninklijke Leo voldoet aan t plaatje en t is ook nog eens een gezellige prater en knuffel.

Love and Liefs,

Johanna.

A Gentlemen’s Apartment, Part Two: the Details.

  

Well, after my thrilled, happy yodeling yesterday, you guessed right:I really like the new dwelling of the Young Misters Walker.

  

Here some details, that make me very happy. These candles are made out of wax but work on batteries…so clever!

And how about this original Underwood typewriter from about 1927, next to a very modern printer?

And smart 1960 traveling case for a whiskey decanter with some Star Wars collecties.

And the Lads sure like their espressos

This Fox protected the Youngest Mr. Walker from drafts in his former apartment. Read all about it on my previous blog, if you are interested that is ;0)

Oh look, real Johanna’s on the wall..the college funding is secured ;0)

  

That pumpkin pie was Thanksgiving dinner’s dessert and soo good!

This chair is a design by Karim Rashid for Umbra. Not very expensive to buy new but I paid only 3 dollars for it in a thrift store some years ago. And it is remarkably comfortable. Leo the Cat agrees and more about him tomorrow!

Och hemel, t is wel duidelijk na mijn vrolijk gejodel van gisteren dat ik erg blij met t nieuwe appartement van de Walker Boys. Hier nog wat meer kiekjes..en meer over de kat morgen!

Love and Liefs,

Johanna.

A Gentlemen’s Apartment, Part One and a Winner!

Last weekend, it was Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada. Mr. Walker took some extra days off, we packed our suitcases and went to Toronto where both our Walker Boys live. A few weeks ago, we helped them move to their beautiful two bedroom apartment. And now they had invited us for Thanksgiving! Uhm, before we go further: my wide angle lens is absolute rubbish, but we all are going to pretend the following photos are perfect and ready to star on Apartmenttherapy.com ;0)

I still cannot believe, we found this gorgeous apartment so close to downtown. Shops around the corner with bus stops and subway stations. From the balcony a view to stately gardens and a little park: shade in the summer, sunshine in the winter and a feel of nature all year round…I sound like a real estate agent here!

After moving from one to the next ‘student-settlement’ for a few years, Young Mr Walker and the even Younger Mr. Walker decided to look for a decent place to live together ( they get along very well) and after a long, very long search found this lovely, lovely place. ( can you tell, I really like it?)

Aaaaand, Mr. Walker and I do not have to stay in hotels anymore when visiting our offspring. There is room enough for us for a couple of days and we can relax, cook and share meals and have quality family time.

I think, these Young Urban Gentlemen did a very good job in decorating this place.

More tomorrow.

So now about my Giveaway: it turned out that Anne from Ottawa, Judith from London and the lovely Milk Maid from Christchurch had the right size. Oh, agony, who to choose??? I know you are all good sports, so here my decision:  since Judith already owns an example of my knitting, and in New Zealand Spring is well on its way…it seemed so fair to protect Anne’s feet from the harsh cold winter in Canada…which I know from experience, is very cold indeed!

So Anne, my dear, email me your address at colorpencil.2014@gmail.com and you will have them before the snow flies!

We hadden een geweldig lang weekend in Toronto, op uitnodiging van the Walker Boys, die sinds kort in dit prachtige appartement wonen. Mijn groothoeklens is tamelijk waardeloos maar je kan toch zien dat het een bijzonder leuk en erg fraai ingericht Herenappartement is!

De slofjes zijn overigens gewonnen door Anne in Ottowa, die in Canada de grootste kans op erg koude voeten heeft!

Love and Liefs,

Johanna.