A Peach of a Day

 

Peach party

12 x 12 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 

Today was a great day all day.  It's late and I'm very tired, and so happy thinking about it.

On our minds all day was a cherished family member's birthday.  We couldn't get together because we are currently in different places, but we left wishes, and Happy Birthday songs via the phone and messages.

Plus today we got to see a dear friend who was the coordinator for the three Carousel du
Louvre exhibitions I was in in the Louvre in Paris.  She is a wonderful, funny, brilliant
woman and we had a great time with her -- taking her around to show her our very
not Paris life.  She has been on holiday in Ontario, and is heading back to Paris, so

we were delighted to get together.

As for peaches -- the time is coming.  Steven has ordered organic peaches with the 
person in the market who sells peaches by the basket -- so as soon as possible we will
be in process -- Steven does the canning (no sugar), and I freeze trays of chopped up
peaches.  Such a treat as winter closes in (a few months from now thank goodness.)

Have a loving your life day!

Movie night and journal memories

 Journal sketch based on

Young Woman (Simonetta Vespucci?)

in Mythological Guise

tempera on panel

Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main

Sandro Botticelli,  c. 1480/1485

Barbara Muir © 2023

It's movie night.  I was at a very happy opening for the Let's Play
show at the Heliconian Hall today.  I met so many great people,
and had super conversations.

Thinking about Europe and a friend who's visiting from Paris
tomorrow, I saw this journal entry and thought -- perfect!

I'm still working on a complicated painting.  So have a great day
tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day!

International Cat Day

Fiona

Acrylic on mounted birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Today is International Cat Day, and without knowing that I put this painting up on

the mantle in our TV room today, so we could see our cat Fiona every night when
we settle on the couch to watch our favourite show.  Fiona died in June at 17 1/2 years

old and we miss her terribly.  

In fact our next door neighbour, who has a dog, was talking about thinking
about getting a cat today.  And I get it.  We love cats.

We now have one beautiful cat and a sweet dog.  I don't have a painting of
our young cat -- Monet -- but she is a beauty.

So the painting is of Fiona, and here's to cats -- one of the most delightful animals
on the planet. Smart, affectionate, tidy, funny, playful, loving.  The best.
We love our dog -- make no mistake.  Plus our dog Sally loves our cat, and she loves
Sally.  If you have a cat, or cats Happy International Cat Day.

Have a loving your life day.

The arrival of the bees and wasps means summer is speeding along

 

The Maple syrup fans on the back porch

Photo
Barbara Muir ©

A sign that summer is almost over is the invasion of the syrup fans on our

back porch.  We love sitting out on the porch, but we've hit the season when
we have to think of a way to keep the bees and wasps away.  This gimmick

makes then happy and uninterested in us.  All it takes is a plate -- put on a 

surface away from where you want to sit, and some maple syrup.  

Suddenly the creatures are busy and you can have your coffee.

Have a loving your life day!

Love keeps returning

 

View of the river

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2022

I met a woman today at the second opening of the Let's Play show, who had recently 

lost her partner.  I felt so badly for her.  It made me think of this post, because we

visited this boat launch on my parents' old street last weekend. Love doesn't go away.

I enjoyed a lot of meetings with people at the opening. Some serious and some joyful.
It was great.  Here's what I said before:

"My parents would be shocked I think to know that whenever Steven and I
visit Ottawa, we now go out to a place where we can buy chicken wraps,
and then drive to the end of my parents' street to the boat launch to look at
the water.  After my mother died, a multi-millionaire bought her cottage-like
house, tore it down and built a pretentious, squarish mansion.  It couldn't be more
different than what my parents enjoyed.

But as I've said before, my parents taught me to love water. Every summer
from the time that I was two they drove our whole family to a cottage that
was a 2 1/2 hour drive from Ottawa. We swam every day, canoed, and loved
the views on the lake. When we moved to Toronto, my uncle sold the 
cottage we'd rented, and that pleasure was over, so it was extra special
when my parents moved back to Ottawa and they were right on the Ottawa river.

That place also held special memories for me. Wonderful visits with amazing
scenery."

Have a loving your life day!

Come out to Let's Play (cookies! and art lol)

Flowers for the table 
Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

Have a loving your life day!

 

A wonderful time in Ottawa

Ordering Dinner
Marker on drawing paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 

We just got home from a sweet long weekend in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. 
We had a wonderful time -- hanging out in the hotel watching a new
show on the giant TV screen, driving through the countryside to see
family.  Looking at awesome views from my sister-in-law and brother's
place. 

August is shaping up to be wildly busy.  So it was just what we needed
to get a break. Lovely, funny kind people. The air was rough from
the fires, and is not good here in Toronto either.  So we didn't have outdoor
time. But it was still great.

Have a loving your life day!