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I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I also hope that everyone remembers what's coming up this weekend - Father's Day!  It's a day to celebrate all the hard work Dad does, the love he gives and of course, the endless plastic block castles he builds. ;-)  You know that Dad probably doesn't need another tie or pair of socks, so instead of the same old gift, why not do something as a family instead, with a couple of extra treats for Dad on the side?  

Here are some fun, Canadian-made ways to celebrate Dad this coming weekend. Most dads that I know love to golf, so why not take Dad for a round this weekend?  A round of golf doesn't have to break the bank and you can use sites like GolfCanada.com to find discounted tee times.

 

Golf not Dad's thing?  What about a quiet afternoon fishing? Surprise Dad with new lures like these from Buy Canadian First member, Lucky Strike.  If you have little ones in the family, it would make a great memory for Dad to get the whole gang out there on the lake, enjoying one of his favourite pastimes.



If a dad in your life is anything like my Grampa, he would be proud to own these Extreme-Duty Anvil Loppers for outside work from Buy Canadian First member, Lee Valley.  To make it more fun, make them part of this weekend's activities and help Dad in the yard and garden for some family time on Father's Day.



Finish up the day with a suprise BBQ with all the family and treat Dad to some new BBQ tools, a funny apron or a selection of new sauces like Yikes, Maple Barbeque Sauce with a Kick! from Buy Canadian First member Everything Maple.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures for Dad's desk at work! What are your plans for celebrating Dad this weekend?


Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Lucky Strike, Lee Valley and Everything Maple.

I am told that this weekend is the time to get my seeds in the ground in Southern Manitoba . So, the girls and I are heading outside and we'll officially start our garden this Mother's Day weekend! Once we get the beds ready, we will be planting them with some red onions, pumpkin, zucchini and radishes and in our container's we will be growing red and blue potatoes, carrots, beans and peas.

 

We are very excited as this week, I received two yards of dirt from Brunet, a local construction company. We were also given nearly a dozen, five gallon pails from the school my middle child attends, as the pails would just have been thrown away otherwise. Last night I visited Hillbilly's Garden Centre . I couldn't resist it when I saw the "shamrocks" and ivy and knew that planting them would be a great activity for us this evening.

 

As we move through Spring, the girls will be a great source of help in the garden and will, I hope, feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when the vegetables start coming. I would like to give them something that they can plant on their own and nurture. So, when the risk of frost has waned, the girls and I will go back to Hillbilly's Garden Centre and they will each have a chance to make their own container gardens. I saw the Tubby Containers  by Buy Canadian First member Garant in several awesome colours there and the girls will have the opportunity to choose their own plants and colours for their Tubby.

 

I love the idea of a child's garden and envision it as a space they can call their own, to dig in, plant and tend to plants. While space is limited, I would like to cordon off a corner of the yard and fill it with their Tubby containers and large natural elements like logs, stumps, large rocks and maybe even a pile of dirt to dig in and explore. I would adore watching them within this mini, natural playscape. One final detail I keep forgetting about is getting some catnip and cat grass seeds to plant. My handsome Mitty Kleeburger loves to play outside with us and his latest joy is to dig, burrow and play in my two yards of soil. I'm sure that cat grass would be preferable to just soil!

 

Are you going to plant a child's or a pet garden in your yard this Spring?

 

Image source: Andrea Williowcat, Melissa Lacelle and Buy Canadian First member Garant. 

There are still a few weeks of glorious Summer left to enjoy, but, I know that I will once again have to face another Canadian  Winter down the road. I like to line up new classes and activities for myself at this time of the year. I think that is because the day after Labour Day always seems like New Year's Day. It's a back-to-school feeling that I'll never lose! It also takes my mind off the sad fact that another beautiful Canadian  Summer is almost over. Here are some of the "New Year's"resolutions that I am making for this September. 

 

 CG Hart Gym Bag

Just for fun, this Fall I am going to attempt a 5K run! Now, I'm not a runner, by any means, but I found a smartphone app called "Couch to 5K" that promises to get me running, using baby steps! I can do baby steps, no problem! You can find several apps to help you get off the couch. Just search in your smartphone store and choose the one that you think is best for you. If you don't have a smart phone, or would just rather use your computer, the Cool Running  site has some cool running tips, tricks and articles to get you started. You can print out a 5K running plan, keep a log and meet lots of other former couch potatoes, too!

 

 Barbo Ballerina Slipper 

 After watching So You Think You Can Dance Canada,  all Summer, I think that I want to dance! Don't tell my husband, but I've been browsing the brochures that come out at this time of year, offering every sort of dance class imaginable! Dance classes are a great way to sneak exercise into your life! But what to choose? Tap, Ballet, Latin, Ballroom, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Break or Whacking all look good! Maybe it will be just a matter of taking what is available on my chosen night. Will my husband dance to my tune? I'll let you know!

 

 Chapters-!ndigo 

 Another activity that I am planning this Fall is to learn how to use a stylus and tablet to create digital art. I am going to do this with a book, called "Digital Expressions" by Susan Tuttle, that I got from Chapters. It was on sale and it comes with a CD! There are all sorts of books that come with CDs now, on every sort of topic. I think that the CD will take the book to another dimension and make it seem more like a workshop! Can't wait to start!

Speaking of books, don't forget to read Stacey Kazmir's  blog post this coming Monday, where she reviews "Bitten" and gives you a chance to win it! 

 Are you making any "New Year's" resolutions this Fall? 

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members. 

 

 

 

 

When it comes to planning the layout of our backyard, I keep in mind the focal points. Simply put, focal points draw the eye and give you something nice to look at when you enter the yard or when you are relaxing in it. Our main focal point is a made in Canada  vignette that I created with a bird feeder and a bird bath. These are at the bottom of the yard, in a tiny wooded section, perfect for birds and other backyard wildlife! We can see them when we are sitting in our little gazebo and, truthfully, it is better than cable! The drama that goes on between the grackles, the squirrels and the blue jays, is enough to keep us on the edge of our Muskoka chairs, sometimes!

 

Our birdfeeder 

The ingredients for these live daily shows are quite basic: a good bird feeder that will withstand squirrels, sunflower seeds for the blue jays and cardinals and mixed seeds for the sparrows and chickadees, a birdbath and a field guide to Canadian or North American birds. A pair of binoculars are invaluable and, of course, your camera, too, makes for perfect bird watching gear. A notebook or journal can be really useful if you want to keep track of the birds that you identify. Plus, you will need committment. Once you start feeding the birds, they will come to expect it, so keep those feeders full! It is worth it!

  

 A great way to learn about backyard birds from Outset Media! 

Field guides are the books on my What to Take to a Desert Island list. I have had a collection of field guides since I was a little kid. You can get them for anything and everything, including birds, wildflowers, herbs, stars and fish, at Chapters-Indigo . I know you are waiting for me to bring my iPhone into this, so let me tell you about the amazing and free  Peterson's Guide  to Feeder Birds of North America app that allows you to identify birds, keep track of them and even play their calls with your smart phone! I have several Peterson field guides but having one that plays the bird calls has made a huge difference of my understanding of who is who back there!

 Heavenly!

Our reward this Summer for putting up a feeder  is a blue jay family! They made their nest above our gazebo and put on the most amazing aerial battles against marauding squirrels that I have ever seen! The mated pair split up to attack the squirrels from each side in a very dramatic show of teamwork! Sometimes it all happens too fast to take pictures and I can only sit back and enjoy! I will never forget the splat of that squirrel as he bounced off the top of the gazebo! (He's okay!).

What birds put on a show in your back yard? 

 

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Outset Media and Wendy Gibson

 I do a lot of painting, collaging and art journalling. For the most part, I just buy the supplies that I can afford with my 40% off craft coupon, without thinking too much about whether they are made in Canada. Then, the other day, I was at the dollar store and found some tempera paint made by Mathco, a company based in Pickering, Ontario! This really motivated me to source out more Canadian made art supplies. I was pleasantly surprised at the options! Here are a few to get you started.

 

Original watercolours by Canadian artist, Andrea Willowcat 

Stevenson  is Canada's leading manufacturer of artists' oil paints, acrylics and water colours. David L. Stevenson (1910 - 1988), an artist and Fellow of the Ontario College of Art, found that imported paints were too expensive. Now we can get artist quality paints at affordable prices, made right here at home!

 

What about this durable and waterproof artist's brush case by ecohandbags.ca? 

Tri-Art Acrylics  is a Canadian company that specialises in unique products that are not widely accessible in Canada. Started in the mid 1990's in the back room of a family owned art store, school and gallery in Kingston, Ontario, and known as Art Noise, the business was begun by Steve Ginsberg and his partner, April Tracey. With the addition of Chris Bogstad,in 1994, the company is now known as Tri-Art.

Gotrick  has become a major player in the Canadian art supplies market by manufacturing stretched canvas. Since their start in 1994, Gotrick now has facilities of more than 30,000 square feet and 30 dedicated employees. They are located in Vercheres, Quebec. 

Great Canadian sketchbook 

Ecojot is an eco-friendly stationary brand that is based in Scarborough, Ontario. The company was created in 2007 by designer Carolyn Gavin and her brother Mark Gavin. They have wonderful artist sketchbooks in various sizes, made in Canada, of course!

With the help of the internet, it's never been easier or more convenient to shop for Canadian made art supplies! Can you suggest a Canadian source for art supplies?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Andrea Willowcat, Ecojot and EcoHandbags. 

I've mentioned before that I love to read - I don't smoke, I don't drink (except the occasional mixed drink at a party), but reading is my addiction, always has been. Summers are the perfect time for someone like me as it's perfectly natural to have a book (or an eReader) at all times - while at the park with the kids, at the beach, while camping or cottaging. Here are some of the made in Canada  books on my Summer list and available from Buy Canadian First member Indigo Books and Music Inc:

 

 

Room from author Emma Donoghue is about five-year-old-Jack. Jack's world is contained within an 11x11 foot space called Room where he and his Ma live after she was kidnapped seven years earlier while walking through her college campus at age 19. Described as disturbing, thrilling, and emotionally compelling, Room is the perfect book for a long afternoon at the beach or a late night a the cottage because this is one book you won't be able to put down.

 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, is a great one to pick up this Summer and be ready for the movie adaptation to come out on DVD later this year. Water for Elephants is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a "ninety or ninety-three year-old" man as he puts it, who lives in a nursing home. It wasn't always this way though. Jacon Jacob ran away and joined the circus when he was twenty-one and that's where the real story is. Described as being full of rich descriptions and action, Water for Elephants is a real 5 star book.

 

 

A Trick of the Light from author Louise Penny will be available at the end of the Summer. This is a new installment in her series featuring mysteries set in Quebec and centred on the work of Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Now is the time to pick up her earlier award-winning books if you haven't already, to be prepared for the release of A Trick of the Light on August 30th.

 

This past weekend during our camping trip I enjoyed pulling a book out for those few quiet moments (Exit Strategy by Canadian author Kelley Armstrong). What's on your Summer Reads list?

 

::images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Chapters-Indigo. 

I take photos wherever I go, not just for special occasions; it's a hobby I have had since I was a  little kid. Now that I have a smart phone, taking pictures this Summer has never been easier and I am loving it! I'm going to share with you how you can get a Canadian made  smart phone skin with one of your own photos on it and tell you about a couple of the many apps available for smart phone photographers. There are also a couple of simple things that you can do with your camera right away to get memorable photos! 

Mullein: Bird's Eye View; Dog's Eye View; Bug's Eye View 

Different POVs:

One of the best pieces of advice that I can give you when it comes to Summer smart phone photography is to remember that there are different points of views that you can take advantage of.  Many shots of dogs, kids and flowers, for example, are taken from a 'bird's eye view', from up above the subject. This has its place, but it also gets boring fast. Try a 'bug's eye view' for a great shot of your subject from the ground up. 'Dog's eye view' is a photo taken at the eye level of the subject, a great point of view to take photos of, well, dogs and kids and flowers! You can also try 'shooting from the hip!" for a very dynamic photo.

Fireworks fail. If only I had used the movie camera! 

 Fireworks and Action Shots:

Between mosquitoes and shaky hands, it can be  tough to get a clear shot of fireworks with your smart phone. My best advice for taking fireworks simply and spontaneously? Use the movie camera instead of the still camera! You can capture still photos later! This is a great trick for taking any action shots, like water-skiing or wakeboarding or bluejays drinking at the birdbath!

"Oil painted" rose photo. 

Smart Phone Apps:

Here are two of the many apps that will let you have tons of fun with your photos this Summer. Try the amazing iScape! Using a photo of your own garden you can add photos of plants and garden features from their library or draw them in with your finger! And it's free! If you would rather turn your photos into extrordinarily realistic looking oil paintings, among other effects, explore Picture Magic for really stunning results.  (The apps that I use are for the iPhone 4 but you can find equivalent apps for your smart phone just by searching).

Smart Phone Skins:

Gelaskins, based out of Toronto,  are removable covers that protect and customise smart phones and other devices! The truly exciting part for me is that I can upload my own photos and they will make a skin for me! Yay! Of course, you can also choose from all sorts of other people's art, too, and at their low prices, why not indulge in more than one!? I just found out that you can get a free Gelaskins app at the iTunes store that enables you to view and download their many gorgeous wallpapers! Did I mention that the app is free!

Are you a fan of smart phone photography?

:: images courtesy of  Wendy T. Gibson

Manga launched his first game, All Canadian Trivia, while still at university! After playing another well-known trivia game and realizing he knew more about the United States than he did about his own country, he wanted to play a trivia game with a Canadian focus. When he couldn’t find one, he created All Canadian Trivia. That game went on to become a Canadian best-seller (more than 100,000 copies sold) and spawned Junior, French and Millennium editions, a Supplemental Question set, and the 10th Anniversary Edition.

 

In 2002, Manga created the first games in the Professor Noggin’s Made-in-Canada card game series. This popular series now numbers 34 games, which have won many major awards, receiving honors from the likes of the Parent’s Choice Foundation, the National Association for Gifted Children and Scholastic Instructor Magazine.

 

:: Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Kruger Products Ltd.