Mellos

One of the treasures of the Byward Market in Ottawa is Mellos, the best place around for a great breakfast. It has this wonderful funky sign out front.  

It is just a little hole-in-the-wall place. Inside, there is a long counter with stools and some booths on the other side. You walk in and the 200-lb waitress says "Coffee?" and slaps a cup down in front of you. Then you watch while the short-order cook fries up bacon and eggs and sausage and homefries on a massive grill behind the counter. It's like being in an Edward Hopper painting. Mellos is very popular and usually crowded, with everyone from construction workers to university profs.  

In February, I happened to be in Mellos having breakfast when 4 guys sitting in a booth near me suddenly started singing barbershop quartets. I talked to them later and they told me they were practicing for a couple of performances coming up. They were wonderful, and everyone in Mellos cheered and clapped when they sang. Just before they left, they stood at the front of the restaurant and serenaded us all with one last song and I took this picture. Mellos is just that kind of place!

End of March Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

On Saturday March 26, the Dunvegan Artist Trading Card (ATC) group had its monthly trade. This is a photocopy of the cards I made for the trade. I made them with some wonderful brightly coloured and patterned paper. I cut out little shapes and made animals and masks with them. The rabbit was my favourite.

Here are the traders in the midst of the frenzy of trading. Lots of leaning over, saying "Can I trade with you?", and then selecting the card you want.

And after the trade, the pleasure of organizing the cards you got into the plastic collector sheets. Here is one of the traders (Barb) happily arranging her cards.

The Llamas in My Neighbourhood

Today was a beautiful sunny early spring day. I decided to check out the llamas that live on a farm just down the road from my home in the country. Most of them were behind the barn but this guy was out front and seemed to be aware that I was taking pictures. He or she was sniffing the air and looking around with curiousity.  

Then he (or she) turned around and I got a better view. There is so much soft-looking wool on the front. Perhaps still his/her winter coat?

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Another llama was running toward the back of the barn. This one was darker than the other. He/she was very fast and this was the only shot I was able to take. Maybe I will go back to see them later in the spring when everything is greener. This really is a "brown" time of the year, don't you think?

Journal Entries

For several years now, I've kept a journal in which I've drawn pictures and written about events in my life and things I've observed. I made this entry on January 17th this year. It had been a bitterly cold day - it was minus 25 C when I walked across the bridge to work in the morning. I tried to show what it felt like.  

This entry was made when I was quite sick, on February 12th this year. I was miserable and had come back early to my apartment in the city from my home in the country. Very cartoon-y, but that's about how I felt.

I made this entry on February 28th. I had had my french oral exam that morning and I was so anxious afterward because I was convinced I hadn't passed. So I distracted myself by drawing. It just happened that my hand was the most available subject. Fun to use colour for a change. (By the way, I did pass my exam.)  

On My Walk Home

When I left work today, I saw this toy doggy abandoned, along with the bag he was sitting in and the coat. There was no one around and no one in sight. I wondered who could have left him there? I hope someone came back and got him! 

Then I left the building where I work and discovered it was a beautiful day. This is the bridge I cross every day. I love the shadows on the wooden walkway and all the lines converging on the horizon.

Someone left this very bright scarf hanging on the chain that closes off this stairway. Maybe it was a defiant gesture?

Close to my apartment, there is a New Age store that sells crystals and meditation stuff. These wild "goddess" statues were in the window.

This is one of my favourite children's toy stores, called Nest Toys. They sell handcrafted wooden toys that are beautifully made. Such a colourful little tableau in the window!

Storefronts

On my way home from work today, I stopped by this store because I was intrigued by its name. Funk Your Junk! Turns out it really is full of people's funky castoffs.

This rumpled, slightly-used looking Cracker Jack box was in the window. Haven't seen one of these in years. Very funky!

Later, I walked past a store that sells bead necklaces. They have hundreds of brightly coloured beads hanging in the window. But I liked this arrangement of beads just tossed on a table. They almost look like strange sea creatures.

First Post (Instead of Last?)

This photo was taken in early February from the balcony of my pied-a-terre in Ottawa. It was a bitterly cold evening and there had been a lot of snow recently. How nice that spring is finally here and the temperatures are more tolerable and the snow is mostly gone.