My Afternoon With The Sisters French.....

"Rose & Blanche" #1  by Cara Kansala * Acrylic on Canvas 12 x 12

SHE here - commandeering the blog. 

Every now and again I end up meeting people who come to the gallery.  I am not always in the house or around when people stop by.  However, one day last week Cara was otherwise engaged -perhaps trying to give the goat a perm- and it was all me.  On the end of the honking horn were ‘The Sisters French’ visiting from Ontario.  Upon entering, they asked, “Are you Cara?  Do you write the blog?”  I answered no to both questions. They might have been disappointed but if so, they never let on. They came in and thus began one of my favourite visits in the gallery.  I am of the mind that I was meant to be around on that day because as we got to talking, I became more and more convinced that we were travelling through life on parallel planes – that there was some sort of strange synchronicity afoot.  After many laughs, misunderstandings (which, in turn, brought more laughs) and strange connections, the sisters left and I kept laughing.  I have since, unsuccessfully, tried to figure out a way to mount the sealing sculpture to the ceiling.  I have also met and housed a new kitten whose name as assigned by Cara is "Stanley Zbornak".  What Cara doesn’t know is that when we first met he told me, in the tiniest of whispers, that his real name is Denelda.  What this means is that the next time I say I have a cat named Denelda, it will be true.  A great big thank you to ‘The Sisters French’ for a lot of laughs and a memorable visit. 

P.S.  To the sister who thinks I am a spring, I am still highly suspicious about the authenticity of your beach glass collection. 

"Stanley Zbornak Waves Hello" (but his real name is Denelda)

Why AREN'T People Who Do Taxes Called Taxidermists?

On Thursday we delivered my commissioned painting to The Anchor Inn in Twillingate. SO happy to see it up and hanging in the lobby! P.S. The Anchor Inn has the BEST fishcakes in town!

If you are in Twillngate, you MUST stop at The Crow's Nest Cafe on the way to the lighthouse. Ted and Katie have built a lovely cafe/craft store and the make THE best coffee and REAL fruit smoothies since time began!!!

In the Gallery a few days ago.....Lovely Family with mother, father and lovely children of various sizes and ages.
Lovely Father: Do you have a goat?
SHE: Yes, the children can see her if they’d like. Her name is Rose and she loves raisins.
Lovely Father: Is the goat alive?
Before She answered Lovely Father, She glanced and me and gave me THE LOOK.
THE LOOK said:
Do NOT ask Lovely Father why he thinks we have a dead goat.
Do NOT ask Lovely Father why we would feed raisins to a goat that was not alive.
Do NOT ask Lovely Father if HE has ever seen a dead goat.
Do NOT ask Lovely Father if he thinks we have a taxidermy goat.
Do NOT ask Lovely Father if he is a taxidermist.
Do NOT ask Lovely Father why people who do taxes aren't called taxidermists.
And most importantly, do NOT ask me later if we should taxidermy our pets when they pass away and put little outfits on them and sit them on the sofa. Do NOT.
I was so impressed with the intensity of THE LOOK that I actually lifted my hand to my lips and made the gestures for “my lips are zipped” AND “my lips are buttoned”.
She did not give me Her famous “I MEAN IT” look, so I did NOT do the gesture for “my lips are locked and I have thrown away the key”.
That, I will save for another day.

Does Anyone Know Where You Can Buy Mouthwash for Goats?

Rose Nylund and Blanche Devereaux are such good friends. They are attached at their furry hips. This is a tiny video of them going for their afternoon walk, just after Rose beat Blanche at a heated game of Scrabble (she won with "ruminant" on a triple word score!) Tonight they are going to work on their quilt. Good times.

We have been the busiest ever in the gallery this summer and thank you SO much to all of the wonderful people who are coming out...we LOVE meeting you!

(and thank you for the funny comments that are darling and so like things that I would say too!)

In the gallery this week....

Lovely Lady: Oh, you have a goat! What kind of goat is she?

Me: She is a baby pygmy goat.

Lovely Lady: Wow! So, she is all white and hairless?

Lovely Lady's Husband: No honey, that would be an albino goat with halitosis.

Me: I think that would be an albino goat with alopecia.

Lovely Lady: Do you have one of those?

Me: Ah, no.

Detail: "While the Icebergs Float By, The Quilt Hangs to Dry, On a Twillingate Afternoon" Cara Kansala Private Commission 2011

Who Is Going to Be Grumpy Now?

Rose Nylund Sneakily Eating Sneaky Raisins in the Gallery!

SHE said that I could get a goat if I promised it would never EVER EVER come in the house. EVER.
I agreed. Never in the house. EVER!
She did NOT mention the gallery.
If She sees this photo, I will deny everything and so will Rose (Rose, Blanche and I stick together!) We don't know HOW Rose got in the gallery or who took the photo  and I certainly have no idea what she was doing....(just between you and me, Rose was eating raisins while I answered the phone!)


Rose Nylund and Blanche Devereaux Share a Pre-Nap, Afternoon Snack

 SHE asked me why there was goat hair on the floor and I said it must have fallen off my barn shoes. SHE reminded me that I am not supposed to wear my barn shoes in the house.
Little does SHE know that me wearing my barn shoes in the house is the very least of Her troubles!

Everything is Coming Up Roses!!!!





Baby "Rose Nylund" the newest member of The Grumpy Goat Gallery Darlings!

  For 30 years I have wanted a goat. I have always adored them and thought they were the loveliest of creatures. Last Saturday, I finally got my wish and Wee Rose Nylund came to live at The Grumpy Goat Gallery! SHE built Rose the most beautiful house in Sweet Potato Field and Rose Nylund is as happy as can be. She seemed a bit lonely at first, so SHE went to the SPCA and got Rose her own kitten, Blanch Devereaux. They are the bestest of friends and I just know that if Rose threw a party and invited everyone she knew, we would see, the biggest gift would be from Blanch and the card attached would say "Thank you for being my friend."
I love it at their house so much. Today I brought my easel over and worked in their foyer for the better part of the day. What could be better than that? Life. Is.Grand.


We took Rose Nylund for a walk across the street to the big island. There are dozens of Fin whales in the bay today.
"No!" SHE said, "Fin whales are NOT from Finland!"
I think they are.
P.S. As this is my first KID, I will be having a shower for baby Rose Nylund. Invitations will be sent out soon.
I will be registering at The Co-Op.
It's going to be a great party!!!



I'm Not That Grumpy Anymore AND My Clothes Smell Kinda Funky....The Times They Are-A-Changin'.....!

Upper Island Cove fog is sneaky, indeed. I took this this afternoon.....it WAS sunny, but the fog came in, ever so slowly and snuck up the hill, over the town.

What a whirling dervishy week! So many gallery visitors (hooray!), paintings getting painted, buildings getting built, birthdays being celebrated and deliveries being delivered, the bay is full of whales and the fog is being very sneaky!
One huge commissioned painting completed, two to go! SHE says I have to slow down but I am hoping to give the Tasmanian Devil a run for his money!
Hooray for the wonderful birthday celebration last night for Sweet Pigeon...the original and founding member of Zee Rezistanze....no one knows her true age for sure....her skin is like peaches and you'd think she was 25, but her eyes, they are old and wise.........
Bestest gallery comments of the week....
Two Lovely Ladies came to the front of the house, knocking and knocking on the windows......SHE was in the back yard and came around.
Two Lovely Ladies  "Oh Hi! We couldn't honk the horn because the car is gone, our husbands dropped us off......"
SHE said "Oh, you probably could have done it yourselves, you don't have to squeeze THAT hard...."
Another Lovely Lady said how much she loved the 20 foot mural I painted for The Newfoundland Chocolate Company in St. John's......
"So, do you paint murals on Tee shirts?"

I'll tell you why I've lost my Grumpy tomorrow....biggest news EVER, since time began!!!!!!!




Image: Detail "Underneath the Stars" by Cara Kansala

Juggling Icecream IS a Skill.....

"Marc Cha-gull" by Cara & Pam * Mixed Media on Wood (This is one of my favourite pieces that we've done!)

Last night was the Best Night Ever Since Time Began! We took Senior Squissage to Bistro Sophia's for a gorgeous dinner and then to Cirque Du Soleil "Quidam" It was FABULOUS! I wanted to join right in. How I LOVE it! When we got home SHE made little bowls of fruit and sherbet for us and we sat out, had our treat and watched the stars. I was going on and on about how I would have loved to join the circus as a clown or singer/performer when I was little and was so enthusiastic I flung my fruit bowl right into the sky. Amazingly, I caught my scoop of ice cream in my bowl before it hit the deck.
SHE was very impressed and said..
"Well, you might be too old to join Quidam, but you could start your own circus for strange 30 somethings and call it the "Cirque Du Sorbet...."

Newfoundland Travels

P.S. After some research, I discovered that Toogood Arm is just around the corner from Insufficient Island and about 5 km from NotQuiteUpToPar Bay.

Some Girls Wanted to Marry David Cassidy...I Wanted to Marry Alligator Al

Vinnie "The Bobcat" Barbarino Does Not Look Impressed That Alligator Al is About to Bight His Bum

For 30 years I searched for an Alligator Al shaped piece of wood. Last month, I found him. I loved Alligator Al more than anything in the universe. I was going to marry him. We would live in the tree with  Casey and Finnigan and do crafts with Mr. Dress-Up in the afternoon. I had my bags packed if ever I was invited to go and live with them. I could have slept in the tickle-trunk. When the music would start for Mr.Dress-up, I would go and dance in front of the television, bursting with excitement. It was the joy of my mornings. SHE is wondering why I am using the past tense. SHE says if I don't admit to still watching Mr.Dress-up every day, SHE will write her own blog about it.

FINE.

I admit it.

 I AM going to marry Alligator AL some day.

I just have to find a tree big enough for us all.

HOORAY!

Follower winner for June is R. Dwyer

Follower winner for July is Vicky-Taylor Hood

Please send us your address and t-shirt size!!!!!

O Canada!

A crazy, hectic week at The Grumpy Goat Gallery but we've had a whale of a time!

Canada Day Dinner......a lobster boil on the beach in front of our house!

Hooray for the darlings who christened our new back yard! Lobster, dancing, vodka punch and Canada Day tattoo's....what more could you ask for? Kitty Darling, How-Do-You-Do Darling, Pinky Darling, Scout Darling, Senior Squissage and the Love Shack Shaggers did the dance floor proud!

How-Do-You-Do Darling even made red pepper maple leaves for the potato salad...what a good Canadian!



And after all of the fun with friends....back to the drawing board!
(Detail: St. John's Harbour, Private Commission * Cara Kansala Acrylic on Canvas 2011)

My favourite visitor this week in the gallery ....

Lovely Lady "Oh, I read your blog all of the time! It is SO much fun, I feel like I know you! I didn't think you would be as tall as you are. Somehow, after reading your stories I thought you would be a lot shorter."
My new goal : WRITE TALLER