Cottage Crush

Hello weekend! I'm so happy it's Friday.

I'm wrapping up the week with a cottage that you can actually picture owning. Located on beautiful Pender Island (just a 15 min seaplane trip from Vancouver), it's small and sensible and is completely inviting. I love it. Designer, Carrie McCarthy shares the cottage with her husband, Cameron, their young son, Leighton, along with Billie the dog.  I shot this space with Carrie, for the July issue of House and Home, out now. Here's a look....

What do you think? Would you be happy to spend weekends in a cottage like this? I'd love to know!

I certainly could. Sigh. 

For more info on Carrie, click here. You can read the entire story, and see more pics in the July issue of House and Home. 

Have a great weekend!

janis

Weekend Observations

I hope you all had a nice weekend! It was rainy here, but we did take a little drive to this pretty spot, Deep Cove, just 20 minutes out of Vancouver. A tiny neighbourhood plunked right by the water and mountains...

Did a little shopping here...

You can check out Room 6 here. You can shop online too ;)

and I completely jumped off my healthier eating wagon for this.....

This little drive was a nice break from working on my taxes. Sob. What did you get up to this weekend?

Have a lovely day! Back soon.

Janis

A long, lazy week wraps up

I just returned from our road trip to BC fruit and wine country, so my apologies for being a little, well, lazy.
We've been taking advantage of the last of the warm, summer days. I promise to have some fun stuff for you starting again on Sunday!

Until then, happy friday and have a fantastic weekend. I'm looking forward to catching up with your blogs!

Back soon!
Janis

Sunday Observations

Just a few observations from my very quick trip to Victoria. It's such a pretty city. We squeaked out some beautiful weather for the shoot, so I'm relieved. Whew.

That's what I observed in the 18 hours I was in Victoria. What did you get up to today?

Views of Vancouver and beyond

I Hope you're all having a creepy free Friday the 13th. Are you superstitious? I'm not, but I guess I shouldn't jinx myself, just in case.

Thought I'd share a few spots I've checked out over the last little bit - Finn Slough (above), Stanley Park and the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver. I feel like a tour guide, but I do kinda like my city. If you visit, call me, as they say ;)

Coal Harbour in Vancouver, a nice sentiment from Vinny and Alida, and some wild life in Stanley Park, Vancouver.

A little about Finn Slough:

A group of Finnish people bought this land, located in Richmond BC, in the late 1800's. Apparently, there are a few descendants that still live in Finn Slough. Very interesting story, so if you'd like to read more click here. Finn Slough is about 20 minutes from Vancouver, and worth checking out if you're in the neighbourhood. The walk ways and bridge are very rickety so watch your step!

Various images of Finn Slough including the plank that I almost fell through. 

Finn Slough. I love the caged arm chair. 

Some of the homes still standing in Finn Slough. Love them. I'd love to have one myself.

A happily used old pick up. I'm happy to see the owner "brakes for unicorns".

That's it until Baked on Monday! Hope you enjoyed the "tour". Have a lovely weekend.

Baked on Monday - Sweet Potato Biscuits

Did you all have a nice weekend? Hope so.

I have to confess, I baked these last Monday to take on my camping trip. They are the perfect camping biscuit as they go with everything and last for a few days. I used "yams" instead of the yellow sweet potatoes this time around, hence the vibrant colour!

Sweet Potato Biscuits - makes about 12-15

1 lb sweet potatoes or yams
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 tblsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
8 tblsp unsalted butter, cold
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400f. Wash potatoes and, using a fork, prick the potato several times. Place on baking sheet and bake for about an hour or until soft. When cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh and press through a sieve. You should have about 1 1/4 cup of puree.

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Cut in butter until it resembles course meal. In another bowl, mix potato puree and milk, then add to dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.

Place dough on lightly floured board, knead a little, and pat out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits with a 2 inch round cutter. Bake on parchment paper lined baking sheet for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve warm!

Enjoy your Monday! Back on Wednesday.

Happy Camper

 I hope all had a great week! Just got back from a little camping trip to Monck Park in beautiful British Columbia. I went with 3 of my sisters, Mom and a couple of nephews. Hot, feral and heaps of fun....even without a campfire. Lots of forest fires here in B.C. so there is a ban on campfires for a bit. I bring you bits of B.C.....

 

 Liam, pine cones, the perfect camping breakfast, and a little washing up.

Various views of our campsite at Monck Park, one of B.C.'s many provincial parks.

Beautiful Nicola Lake.

A lonely looking little red house, in Merritt.

Merritt, B.C.

Allison Lake, B.C. This lake is stunning! The colour of the water was beautiful.

I leave you with a very happy pink house located in Princeton, BC.

Have a good weekend! Back on Monday for a little baking.

Beautiful British Columbia

That's what it says on our license plates, here in B.C., and it is.  There is another 'slogan' out there, on some plates, but I'm not a fan of that one. I'll stick with Beautiful British Columbia.

With all the Olympic talk going on, lack of snow, warm spring-like temperatures, I'm feeling very British Columbian. I've posted a few pics of B.C. today. 

Tofino, B.C. at sunrise.

Locarno Beach, Vancouver B.C.

The tiny town of Hedley, B.C. 

West Arm Bridge - Nelson, B.C.

Totem poles at Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C.

If you have a spare 9 minutes, this is an interesting look at Vancouver and Victoria, in 1936, by James A. Fitzpatrick for Traveltalks.

One more thing....happy Australia Day to my husband Rob, and all Australians! 

I Heart the Kootneys and Ernesto

Just wrapped up a 3 day shoot in the Kootneys.  Have to say, Rossland and Trail were especially photogenic. I got a bit obsessed, actually.  I'm working on a series of B.C. images, so I've attached a few.  

Now, about Ernesto.  I love Ernesto. His lovely wife, Connie, is pretty great too. They have an amazing edible garden. The dynamic duo took Jose and I into their home and showed us everything they do with their bounty. He's a very modest Portuguese man, so I had to beg him to let me take a picture of him with his gala apple tree. We all chatted for a bit using a lot of hand motions, and arm flailing, as we tried to understand what each other was saying. What I did pick up was that he doesn't mind if a passer-by picks an apple, just don't snap off an entire branch. Oh, and he's not too keen on raccoons and bears and he doesn't like "show offs". Or he doesn't want to be a show off.  Something like that.

Chair lift at Red Mountain - Rossland, B.C.

CocaCola is truly everywhere - Trail, B.C.

My new friend, Ernesto and his gala apple tree - Castlegar, B.C.

Jose and her perogie and cabbage roll dinner at Weezie's Borscht Hut - Castlegar, BC
(wish I had this right now)