I am retired from teaching and now have time for my art. I am a pastel artist and paint both realistic. and abstract work. I have done a commissioned piece so that is a feather in my cap. I will be having a solo gallery show beginning in April 2oo8. I also sing and go to karaoke with friends. I love living on Lake Ontario as it is so beautiful to walk along the paths by the shore with my puppy. It inspires me to see the sunrise on the water in the morning. Winter is not my favourite season. I am totally a summer soul. I love cooking Italian, Greek, Asian, Carribean and East Indian food. My friends and family love my cooking. That does not mean that I don't cook comfort foods like roast beef, stews and soups espescially in the colder months. These are the foods I grew up with. I love the holidays and the festivities that go along with them. I love traditional foods that are a major part of the meals. Turkey and all the trimmings are always a hit when accompanied with a juicy ham. There is never ennough stuffing to go around. This is the time that I prepare desserts that I do not indulge in the rest of the year. I make a really delicious New England Clam Chowder with a slight bite to it. Friends from the Maritme provinces love it. It is my recipe that I am so proud of. I also made a heavenly shrimp pasta dish with a very light fresh tomato sauce. It is always a hit. My cooking tragedies usually happen when I take a recipe and follow it. For me, a recipe is just a beginning waitng to be tweaked.