AJC 2011- Itinerary 40 – DEPEND

‘In May 2006, I had to DEPEND, upon the Chivalry of Two Knightly Friends!’ The following is a True Story (or as Mr Bear would say, ‘could Only Happen to Lady North.’) In May 2006, I twisted my ankle very badly in Rosslyn Scotland and could hardly walk. This made getting around on the last leg (pun) of my UK Journey a tad difficult. I was staying at the home of a couple (both MDs) in Leamington Spa (red star on map) and was told very bluntly ‘not to put any weight on it’. Sure and I had a long train journey ahead of me to get to Heathrow (airplane stamp on map) to fly home. Stephen, (The First Knight), had wanted to have a meal with me before I left and when he phoned to make arrangements, I told him about the foot and he then Volunteered (bless him forevermore) to Drive Up To Warwickshire From London (a 2 hour journey!) pick me up, bag and baggage, drive south, have lunch on the way, and then drive me to Graeme’s home (The Second Knight) which was located on the outskirts of London, who in turn would then see me safely to Heathrow. Now if these two gentlemen were friends of long standing years, it would not be the story it is. In actual fact, these two Knights came to my rescue on the strength of only a few emails that had previously passed between us and only a single meeting each! A phone call was all it took for everything to fall into place. Since then, I have tried to ‘pay it forward’ and recently have been able to honour that commitment by hosting the delightful Ramona as she finds her way Home. Blessings to all who read this from a very Thankful Lady North! Credit and Kits: Background paper and Knights: Medieval Faire Kit – TangieDecrow Scroll Frame: Tangie’s AJC11 Parcel 40: tangie_gessomat1_3border.png UK Map: Web Images Font: Black Chancery

· Date: 10/6/2011

AJC 2011- Itinerary 39 – COUNT

* Sonnet 43 – by Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. From Sonnets from the Portuguese * Why did I choose 3560 as the photo frame? These numbers have a very special meaning for us, as this coming year, 2012, will see us not only commemorate 35 years of marriage, but we will also be turning that very Magical Age, 60! (We have already started to receive the Senior’s discount at a local restaurant, much to my husband’s disgust..lol) As for the sonnet: it was read at our 25th Anniversary and will be read again at our 35th. * Credits and Kits: Background paper: Tangie’s FieldNotes: Fall Paper 12 Number groupings: Tangie’s AJC11 Parcel 39: Count Font: mine Photo of LadyNorth and Mr Bear being mushy: taken by our good friend Felicity

· Date: 9/26/2011

AJC 2011- Itinerary 38 – HANDwrite

I love ancient handwriting! – especially Da Vinci’s mysterious ‘mirror writing’. There are a few theories out there as to why he wrote that way, but I like the simple one the best: he was left handed and if he wrote in the regular way (left to right) the ink would smear! Leave it to a south paw to find a neat solution. * As to the parchment found on the page: a few coffee fueled excitable scholars have concluded that it appears to be a missing page from Da Vinci’s Diary, though currently they are still not sure who ‘Sophie and Kevin’ are nor where this supposed second portrait of the ‘Mona Lisa with Camel and Kiwi’ currently hangs. * Translated Excerpt from Da Vinci’s Diary - .."Sophie and Kevin dined with me last Saturday night and truly what a delightful pair! Kevin entertained me with his favourite song, “Catch a Falling Star’ in Italian while Sophie practiced her Latin phrasing, (not too bad for a camel, as the hard ‘c’ is difficult for her to pronounce!) She had brought along a signed copy of her Book of Wisdom as gift to me and I in turn, had shown them what I was currently working on in my studio. I was just finishing up a second copy of the Mona Lisa that a Duke had ordered for his palazzo, and just as I was about to take it off the easel, Sophie in her short sighted eagerness, ventured too close to view it and not knowing the oils were still wet, left a splotchy nose-print on the right side of Mona’s shoulder! Poor Sophie! She was absolutely mortified thinking that she had ruined a masterpiece and poor Kevin, agitatedly flew around the studio, trying to find turpentine and a rag. Laughing heartedly and assuring them that it was NOT ruined and could be easily fixed, I quickly took my brushes and oils and began to restore it to its original condition. Mama mia! La Musa Struck! What better way to thank them for making an old man smile, than to immortalize this time traveling pair? I can only wonder what future art historians will make of my ‘Mona Lisa with Camel and Kiwi’? " Leonardo * Credit and Kits: Background: Vitruvian Man by L. Da Vinci – common licence Mona Lisa with Camel and Kiwi by L Da Vinci: Private collection used with Sophie and Kevin’s permission Diary page,and feather: Tangie and McMeen’s AJC11 Parcel 38: Handwrite Font: P22 – Da Vinci : MyFont P.S. as a nod to the famous southpaw, note which hand holds the quill (g)

· Date: 9/26/2011

AJC 2011 September Adventure Quest: ZENTANGLE MANDALA

or Squash*Tang*Ala!
Our Canadian Thanksgiving (October 10) is fast approaching and with it comes my favourite Season, Autumn.
Bountiful and beautiful squashes of all types and colours (including BLUE pumpkins!) are popping up in the stores, tumbling out of bins, enticing me to buy whole armloads for the table setting.
I had taken this photo of a group of Squashes in my local Safeway and put it away in my picture folio thinking it might make a nice Autumn card.
Then the Muse tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘why don’t you ‘tangle’ them? One squash is already a perfect mandala shape.’
So I printed it out on matte photo paper, sat in front of the tv and went through at least half a dozen sharpie fine point pens.
In my Squash*Tang*Ala, you may notice one section that is different: I call that the Path Outwards.
It may not be a perfect mandala because of that, but I have learned this year to ‘embrace my imperfections!’ (g)
Harvest Blessings to you all!
Kits and Credits:
Tangie’s FieldNotes: Fall - Paper background and Leaf Elements.
Font: Tangie’s MockTurtle
Photo: mine

AJC 2011 Itinerary 37 - CHALLENGE

As I belatedly realized it was teeny tiny print on that darn label: here is the lowdown on the week that was... ( apologies for my absence on here, but between wasp bite and The Event, wasn't able to get to puter..sigh ) 1. Agree to perform a Hand-Fasting for Kathy and Ali who are flying in All The Way from the UK for This Event. (no pressure, right?) 2. Get bit by yellow jacket Wasp on right hand baby finger, four days Before The Event, watch it swell to twice its size and scratch one precious day of prep from the proceedings. (Spend some ‘quality’ time at a walk in clinic.) 3. Deal with 2 to 3 daily phone calls from worried hostess over Broom, Ribbons for Broom, and Altar table setup. 4. Do some ‘horse trading’ with the Weather Gods so it would be Sunny: ie. You can rain all you want the Night Before, but please please please shine in the afternoon On The Day! (ps. It worked - see photo for proof) 5. Knot Broom and whip Hand-fasting cords the night before. (why does this phrase sound so darn familiar? - Good thing I remembered my knots from Girl Guides) 6. Perform Ceremony without too many glitches: ((Vows: check, Hand-fast the Couple: check, The Kiss: check, Jump Broom: check, Pose for photos: check.) 7. Find quiet corner and collapse for an hour before The Dinner. And So Dear Readers..just How the Heck Was Your Week? Kits Used: SBG’s VJS Transcend for Elements and Papers. Photo of Hand-Fasting Broom and Altar: mine Order of Ceremony background: mine Label Font: Antique Type Order of Ceremony Font: Briosa

· Date: 9/22/2011