Cat Loves Company

Like no other cat I've ever known, there is no question that Eddie really enjoys meeting people. He has his own friends who I've seen him out front 'talking' to, people I've never met myself. We have a neighbour who never passes by without a visit with his furry friend. More than once I've opened the front door to find him sitting on the grass playing with Ed.

And when someone is actually coming inside, he is right there to greet our company. Even if they are only there to give us a quote on fixing the fence or something ... they sure better like cats once they step through the doors.

While he is social with pretty well everyone, there are two friends that he particularly loves. One is our pal Chops, who you can see him with in this post. And the other is the lovely friend he is seen sitting with in today's pictures.

Springtime Cheer is in the House : Crocheted Flower Garland

c="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/crocheted-maybelle-flower-garland-2.jpg" alt="crocheted-maybelle-flower-garland-2" width="640" height="427" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23588 blk-brdr">I bought the yarn for this crocheting project a few days before beginning it, so the skeins sat grouped together on a table for a little while. This was before our weather had turned for the better, and seeing those colours all together in the gloom cheered me right up. I could only imagine the effect that those pretty hues, crocheted into flowers and strung together to make a garland, would have. It was happiness just waiting to happen.Thanks goes to the designer who made her pattern for the charming 'Maybelle' flower available for free download here. I first saw this when looking for a pattern for these crocheted brooches I made, back during the dark depths of the worse winter we've had here in Toronto in decades. One of the ladies who commented on the Maybelle Pattern post said she was going to use it to make a floral garland, and thus the idea for a string of brightly coloured crocheted flowers was set in my mind. I knew I would be making one for our home, to bring a bit of spring inside. And I love how it turned out.

Good Times : First Thursdays at the Art Gallery

Julie and Guy invited us for a really neat night out last Thursday, a monthly party at the art gallery (the AGO) held on the first Thursday of every month. They had been a few times before and thought it was something we would like. And we both really did like it.

It was nice out so we walked over.

This event, described on the gallery's site as 'the 1st Thursday of every month, when the party starts after they close', is something new to me.

There was an area with a dj spinning upbeat dance tunes (Maylee Todd), a performance by a live band (The Sadies), and several bars and food stations set up in different areas of the gallery. There were also a couple of spots where people could participate creating their own artwork - a self-portrait and a collage. On top of all those extras, there was also the art to look at too. And you can add excellent people watching opportunities to the list of attributes as well. It was different, interesting and really fun.

Bits and Pieces : April 2014

Hi. Here is the post where I put some random shots taken during the previous month that didn't find a home in any other story. Hope you like them.

( 1) Mannequins - Beautiful store window at Fashion Crimes on Queen Street West.

Out to a Very Nice Event : The Royal Occasion at The Conservatory of Music

Our good friend Isabel works at The Conservatory of Music and invited us to the annual gala they host, called The Royal Occasion, held at the beautiful Koerner Hall. (We were lucky enough to go last year too, seen here.)

The event was to celebrate four people who have made a significant contribution to the arts and culture in Canada and internationally, and to present them with honorary fellowships to the Royal Conservatory of Music. This year the new fellows were renowned conductor Sir Andrew Davis, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, and philanthropists Phil and Eli Taylor. Each were invited to give a speech and put on a short performance, with Andrew Davis playing a piece on the Steinway grand piano and Ron Sexsmith performing a couple of his songs. There was also a piece played on string instruments by students of The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. Opening the show was a violin solo performed by a student of the Conservatory, 12 year old Arielle Silverberg, who stunned the audience with her remarkable talent. (For specifics on the music, check out this post by writer Michael Vincent. There is also this write-up specifically about Ron.)

Understandably photographs were not allowed during the show, but I got some before and after ...