Ethel Spowers

We Afternoon, 1929 linocut

I’m a big fan of Ethel Spowers.  I remember seeing a number of her linocuts in 2000 at the Modern Australian Women exhibition at the SH Erwin Gallery at Observatory Hill and loving the movement and humour in her work.  Last year, at a well known auction house, I saw the little umbrella print wishing it was on my wall, but alas, her prints sell for many tens of thousands of dollars.  Presently, there are a number of Ethel Spowers linocuts at the Sydney Moderns exhibition t the Art Gallery of NSW and they are well worth a look.

Ethel Spowers was born in Melbourne in 1890.  She grew up in a wealthy family which allowed her  to pursue her interest in art.  As an adult she lived in the family mansion with a studio above the stables.  She studied in Melbourne as well as in London and Paris.  It was after studying with Claude Flight at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London in 1929 the Ethel began the work which then attracted critical attention and for what she is known today.  In the 1930’s Ethel’s linocuts were based on bold simplified forms and a rhythmic sense of movement.  I love the humour in her observation of the everyday.

                                         The Joke

                                        Sparking Adventures

 

School is out, 1936

 

 

Children's Hoops

Bruce Peninsula





View from deck

Last weekend the family went to a holiday house on the Bruce Peninsula which is between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay in Ontario.  The cottage was on the Georgian Bay side where the landscape is more rugged with cliffs and rocky shores.  The Bruce Peninsula is highly wooded with a walking trail which runs the length and all the way to Niagara Falls.  The rocks are limestone, shale and sandstone and it is not uncommon to find fossils which are up to 500 million years old.
There are many cliffs which contain caves and grottos and we had an explore of one set of caves one morning.
In Australia we are spoiled for choice of beautiful wide, white sandy beaches but at this cottage on Georgian Bay the shore was white but it was whitish stone of various sizes.  They were interesting with holes and fossils visible.  The cottage owners had made stone steps going down to the water and it was fun to rock hop around exploring.  Big slabs of rock were under the water which were smooth but slippery according to those brave enough to go into the cold water.
We had a great time going for walks in the forest, relaxing looking over the water, playing board games and eating the fantastic meals my sister organized.  The weather has warm, over 30 degrees.
It was very nice indeed!



 Looking down from a cliff onto Georgian Bay

Rock Shore






sunset over Georgian Bay



view from deck



Maple Syrup

Hooked rug of the Bella Hill logo by my mother

Maple Syrup is a delicious treat that we are lucky enough to be able to produce in Ontario due to the maple tree which is common here.  Ontario produces more than one million litres of syrup annually.
My cousin Dan and his wife, Lori have a maple bush and tap 2000 trees every spring.  The season to make syrup is short, it may start in March for 2 or 3 weeks.  Night time temperatures below the freezing point must be followed by days above freezing for the sap to flow.
It takes a great deal of sap to make the syrup, 40 litres of maple sap produce 1 litre of syrup.  It's an incredibly busy time for the people making the syrup as the fires have to be kept going for the days and days that the evaporators are boiling off the excess water in order to make the sap into syrup.
Here are some pictures of Bella Hill sugar bush, the scene of the syrup making operation.  Of course when this all happens it does not look like this as there is usually plenty of snow.
In the early days of my cousin's syrup making all the family would go and help as it is day and night work.  Now, it is much higher technology and probably needs to be left to the experts.  The family do get to enjoy the syrup though.

Sugar shack at Bella Hill where the syrup is boiled

Maple Bush-Bella Hill

lines that the sap runs down

Picking Strawberries

                                  

There is a strawberry farm near my parents and if we are here in early July it is always good to go and pick a few baskets full.  We made jam last time but still have some from then so we picked them for eating this visit.  The berries were plentiful, sweet and delicious.
I made Strawberry shortcake for dessert and it was SOOOO good.
The farm people take the berry pickers out to the field in a wagon which is also a fun part of the experience

Cream Tea Scones

2 cups plain flour
2 tbsp white sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup (75 ml) butter
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 c (125 ml) light cream
1 egg white, lightly beaten
granulated sugar

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
In small bowl combine egg, egg yolk and cream;beat with fork to blend.  Add all at once to dry mixture stirring with a fork to make soft slightly sticky dough (add a little more cream if necessary)
Press into ball and knead gently on floured surface about 10 times.
Roll out dough to 1/2 inch (1 cm) thickness, cut into rounds or triangles.
Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle lightly with sugar.  Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 12-15 min or until golden.  Makes 12-15 scones
                                                                                                                                                              

more of Mom's garden

Foxtail lilies and Crambe Cordifolia (tail white plant behind foxtails)

Ink drawing of Muskoka Chair

Ink drawing of  bird bath

 anemone canadensis (native wildflower)