Christine's Blog

Sunday Smiles and SITAR

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 24 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I did a sunset in acrylic on a reworked old canvas (3 1/2" x 5") for you today.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Of how he broke his thumb

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 23 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We occasionally have breakfast at this restaurant in the area. The restaurant manager was telling us the story of how he broke his thumb. He was in his minivan when a delivery truck pulled out of a street and hit him. The van then hit a garbage truck head on and totally crushed the front of the van. At which point he went across three lanes of the oncoming traffic and came to a halt. He smelled smoke at that point and kicked his door open and escaped. This was last November he said. When emergency arrived he mentioned he had had heart bypass surgery so they ordered an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital for examination. His thumb is still not the same, he may have to have further physiotherapy. However his time had obviously not come. He may have suffered a bit of a burn on his chest but otherwise he was fine.

Friday Art - Sunflowers

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Friday Art!

I did some sunflowers for you today, acrylic on canvas (3" x 3 ").

Last week, a new artist Sherry linked to Nicole's FFO. I was blown away by her realistic artwork. You can visit her here.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Carmelized Brussels Sprouts

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I have been trying for awhile to make good glazed brussels sprouts that I like. Here is my latest attempt that isn't bad at all. Here is the recipe I used basically.

These are 2 lbs of brussels Sprouts.

dressing:

3 tbs olive oil

3 tbs maple syrup

3 tbs balsamic vinegar

3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

pinch red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 425F

Trim sprouts by cutting the touch edges off, then half them vertically. Mix dressing in and place the halved sprouts face down on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Roast 25-30 mins.

Wednesday Memes

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

A freebie

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I got this free iced tea sample in the mail. They usually mail a free coupon but it was fun to receive it anyway. It also came with a $2 coupon off a 12 pack carton.

A birthday celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Daughter L celebrated her birthday near the end of last month. I made her a chocolate cake and her hubby got her a personal sized strawberry shortcake along with some gourmet chocolates. We also went out for a nice dinner. Grandson C was waving at all the waiters and the customers in the restaurant as we walked down the aisles and they waved back!

It is the Victoria Day long weekend here, enjoy!

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Earthrise

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 17 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I have an acrylic on canvas (3" x 3") of earth rising beyond the moon based on a NASA photo of the recent Artemis 2 flyby.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Chick Pea chocolate chip cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 16 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Daughter L made these delicious chick pea chocolate chip cookies and this is her recipe:

Ingredients

3 cup chickpea flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
5 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp white sugar
1/4 cup no sugar added ED smith syrup
3/4 cup coconut oil (melted in microwave)
3 handfuls choc chips or desired amount

Mix, scoop into tray, 350F for 10 min or until brown on top

Friday Art

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

This is a bighorn sheep ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil. It showed up on my laptop screensaver and I wanted to draw those magnificent horns.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Cowboy Caviar

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

With Corn Chips

Nicole posted her Cowboy Caviar recipe recently. I decided to try it and it is delicious as all Nicole's recipes are. Thanks Nicole!

Wednesday Memes

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

The flowers are finally blooming, lots of tulips, the cherry trees are blossoming. It has been a cold spring so far. Enjoy the memes!

Sheet pan Kebabs

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I started out making hamburgers and then remembered I wanted to try making beef kebabs. The trick is to bake at 400 F for 20 mins, towel off any liquid, then broil for 5 minutes. Cut the kebabs apart as pictured. It was delicious.

2 lbs of lean ground beef

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp ginger

3 tbs lemon juice

1 egg

1/4 c milk

1/2 c breadcrumbs

400F

Spread beef mix in a flat layer in a sheet pan

Make cuts horizontally and vertically

Bake 20 min

Pour off fat (or use a paper towel to remove the liquid)

Broil 4-5 min until golden on top

Cut beef along horizontal lines to separate the kebabs

This is the recipe I intended to try:

It was a blend

from Kalejunkie (Instagram)

from Shezcooks (Instagram)

Ingredients:

1 kg mincemeat

1 lg onion chopped and squeezed

4-5 garlic cloves

Coriander

Spice mix:

2 tsp salt

2 tsp pepper

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp coriander

2 tsp garam masala

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ginger

Instructions:

375F

Spread beef mix in a flat layer in a sheet pan

Make cuts horizontally and vertically

Bake 20 min

Pour off fat (or use a paper towel to remove the liquid)

Broil 4-5 min until golden on top

Cut beef along horizontal lines to separate the kebabs

The first recipe seems to be more moist tasting.

A Positive Survival Drama

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I watched a true survival drama 'Society of the Snow' recently and was very impressed with this Netflix movie that has been remade a few times. It is not my favourite type of movie but it appeals to husband M and son K. This article explains it well.

The plane crashed Oct 13 1972 in the Andes Mountains.

Warning there are spoilers ahead:

12 died, 33 survived initially. 27 survivors left a week later. They resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. This movie was not made for the shock value, focussing instead on the human condition. There were 2 avalanches on Oct 29. The survivors said keeping a sense of humour was invaluable. When the weather began to thaw 2 of the survivors hiked a gruelling 38 miles for 10 days until they found a travelling horseman. They were rescued Dec 22 and 23. There were 14 survivors still alive today and are in their 70's and 80's.

Is this something you would watch?

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Ruby Ring and Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 10 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Today I am showing a Ruby ring ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil and acrylic pen.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Happy Mother's Day!

Trout and Shrimp lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 09 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I baked some trout and some shrimp the other day. I paired it with a salad topped with sliced almonds. It was perfect with rice and my red onion gravy. I haven't been putting salt in many of our dishes for when Grandson C is over, but I did add salt to the seafood that day. It did add extra taste to the dishes of course.

Friday Art - Bighorn Sheep

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Friday Art!

This is a Bighorn Sheep ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Some new coasters

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I printed some coasters using my art. It was a set of 4 using one of the free offers I got from Shutterfly. It matches my dining table. It was really to keep my account active as they store many years (decades) of my photos.

Wednesday Memes

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Never a dull moment

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I have what is now an older model TFAL pressure cooker. A couple of weeks ago I locked it from the wrong side and it got stuck. It was full of my beef stew all ready to go. Husband M tried to help me open it up, he was busy and getting all mad after trying for a couple of hours. I thought we might have to throw it out and buy a new model. I knew it was a locking problem so I started playing with the lock under the handle and within minutes it popped open! To be fair husband M never uses it and I appreciated him trying.

Never a dull moment.

Red Onion Gravy

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I have a whole bag of red onions and decided to make a red onion gravy. It goes well with pork chops or steaks. It is delicious if you like onions.

5 red onions sliced

1 tbs unsalted butter

3 tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2 c port wine

1 chicken bouillon cube dissolved in 1/2 c boiling water

1 tbs cornstarch dissolved in a tbs of cold water

1/2 tsp thyme

2 bay leaves

1 tbs dark soy sauce

1 c water

Saute onions in butter and olive oil until tender. Add garlic, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper. Add wine, water, dissolved cornstarch, soy sauce, dissolved bouillon cube. Simmer for a few more minutes and enjoy.

Sunday Smiles and SITAR - Rose Leaf

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 03 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I painted a rose leaf for you today ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil outlined with an acrylic marker.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles and to Nicole's SITAR.

Mount Fuji

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

My sister and her husband were on an express bus to Tokyo a few weeks ago, winding up their Asia trip. They had a glimpse of Mount Fuji from the bus, how exciting. I love mountains myself.

Friday Art - Komodo Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Friday Art!

This is my Komodo dragon ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil. It was inspired by this fun fact:

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Welcome to May!

Swiss Chocolates

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We splurged and got these expensive Swiss hazelnut chocolates from Laderach at Yorkdale mall. 250G was about $40 Cdn. They hand out free samples and that was our undoing.

One of my sisters who makes her own chocolate wanted to see the hazelnut cut in half, curious to see how much they roast theirs.