Grandma Can't Paint

In a creative moment, I thought I wanted to take up painting. So with a discount coupon in hand I purchased a whole lot of acrylic paints and some canvasses from Michaels.
It turns out I can't paint. AT ALL!!
But the grand girls can!!
This is what they did yesterday! With very minimal instructions from Grandma. :)
Because Grandma can't paint!

©2015 Julie Cortens Photography

Wanuskawin Heritage Park

Went on a long walk with my Sweetheart/Sherpa this Saturday to the Wanuskawin Heritage Park. I was wishing I had brought my long lens because we saw some very pretty birds. Next time I will bring it and my tripod. Sherpa will bring a book and we will settle in and bird watch.
Yeah I know I am sounding kind of old.

But I did bring my 50 mm so I focused on all the beautiful little flowers and vegetation that make up the Canadian plains.

Must take the grands there some time his summer so they can run the trails.
We did manage to time our hour walk to end right when a dancer was about to start so we enjoyed another hour learning about and watching grass dancing.

Thursdays With Grandma

Today we made Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Parfait. The Food Charlatan sent me a link in the mail this morning - an hour before I went grocery shopping. How was that for perfect timing.

It was deeeeliscious!
It was so good I had to send the leftovers home with the girls.

Super easy!
Super finger lickin' good fun!

I put a link to the recipe at the bottom of this post.

On your mark.....

Get set...

GO!

Here is the link to the recipe!

My Backyard

I must be getting old. There are bird seed packets all over my backyard attracting the birds. I spent an hour just sitting on the deck watching them visit.
Of course I also had my long lens with me.
And my bird book. :)

White Throated Sparrow

The House Finch (male)
He was way up at the top of the tamarack tree.

House Sparrow (male)

The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (female)

Deck Ballet and Other Fun at G&G's

The newly stained deck before the arrival of new deck furniture was the perfect stage for a couple of ballerinas who were visiting Friday afternoon.

When the furniture arrived, the boxes it came in became the new attraction giving Grandma time to start putting all the pieces together.

The day ended with a rather late supper and two hungry ballerinas who ate so well they got coconut milk ice bars for an evening treat.

Then Eva discovered the tape measure and of course Grandpa had to measure the girls. I asked Norah how tall she was. She showed me three fingers. :)

Let summer begin!!

My Princess

Easter

They tuckered us out today but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seriously Grandma?

Big sale on over at Jessica Drossin Photoshop Actions so.... Happy Easter to me!

Added a few more fun actions to my arsenal today and I can't wait to get playing.
I have a whole bunch of fabulous photos I took of Eva by the window the other day. Lighting was perfect! So I plan to play with those very soon.

But I am also very excited with the grad photos shoots I am now booking because I will soon have even more reason to play. :)

"Seriously Grandma?" 

Birthday Girl

Norah is three today.
She is the sweetest three year old I know.

Love her to pieces.

Thursdays At Grandmas

These little girls spend most Thursdays at our home. We always have a list of activities on the go and the camera is always out. I have scads of "Thursday Photos", so I though I would post weekly in an effort to archive these precious times together. Perhaps in 30 years one of them will find Grandma's old blog. :)

Yesterday it was baking, piano and general horsing around in the living room although we did spend some time building a wooden castle in the basement. I didn't get a photo of it because 'someone' knocked it down too soon. arrghhh - little sisters!!

 I love their new aprons! 

And so do they!
Here we are - ingredients are all measured and ready to go! 

Its like magic

 Oatmeal cookie dough is the best! 

 Eva is quite the helper on the kitchen! 

And boy did we make a grand mess!!

I am in love with this photo of Norah. The girls love playing the piano. 

This was my grandpa's piano - Eva and Norah's great, great grandfather's piano.

 He would be blessed beyond measure to know these little girls so enjoy sitting at his piano. 

we tuckered this little one out.