Wednesday, January 11, 2012

At the auto show I tried my new camera bag the Passport Sling by Lowepro and I gave it very high marks. Great for female frame, doesn't kill your shoulders, holds a bunch of useful stuff.


My take on the auto show: Tone was more confident, show looked great, but still conservative as far as new car introductions with most makers introducing just one new vehicle, and some of them none. Ford brought out the new Fusion a great looking car. Dodge introduced a compact and a throwback to another era….the new take on the Dodge Dart. GM spent a lot of time talking about the Chevy Sonic- a subcompact I love…and importantly..how they are trying to reach the audience-kids-who will buy this car..even though their research says 54 per cent of young adults would rather be online than driving!!! Ford had an entire media section reserved for BLOGGERS NOBODY talked about all electric cars. The consumer is still leering of them. Hybrids were introduced..including a couple of new Benz models…but to lukewarm response because sales of these are minute. CUVs are still hot..even Maserati introduced one-a concept- called if you can believe it the Kubang. I say kapow to the kubang Hyudai has all the fun..They waltzed away with car of the year award for the Elantra..and introduced a new 200 horsepower turbo version of the Veloster. In the fashion department I thought the men in general both car makers and media (especially European) had cooler clothes, haircuts and glasses –than the women.

The new Porsche introduction at the auto show in Detroit (North American International Auto Show) was a 911 Cabriolet.

I will be posting more pictures from the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS). If you like design and lighting it is a great place to go to get ideas.

This is the lighting at the Mercedes-Benz Cafe. It's very effective. This was ONE good place you could get excellent coffee at the Detroit Auto Show. It was open on media preview days not sure about public days.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Scenes from Hamilton Harbour.

Freighter docked at Hamilton Harbour, near the waterfront trail. So huge and photogenic. One of the many great landscapes in Hamilton.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Another core value.

The house on Murray is across the street from this club. Espresso, soccer games, grappa-one stop shopping.

Commmitted to Hamilton's core.

This house at the corner of Murray and Park in Hamilton's core, used to be covered in stucco and looked unremarkable. Ah ha. Remove stucco and discover elegant stone, remove siding and find wood bargeboard. It's being restored, and a couple from Stoney Creek will be moving in. The house faces the new condos being built on Murray. A good sign for 2012. 

Working on next home feature for Hamilton Spectator.



These beautiful things are in a house in Waterdown that used to be the OPP station in the 1950's. Quite a change.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Peonies, perennials, and trees. My January 6 column in the Hamilton Spectator.

Some great plants and fine gardeners coming up in my garden column in the Hamilton Spectator this Friday January 6th.

What's on top of my file cabinet

Current arrangement on top of my file cabinet: 2 collages by me, one by the very talented Karen Thiessen (karenthiessen.com), stub from Yankees game.