The tulips are back!

I must live very moment to moment, because each
small change in my life seems enormous. Today
we took down the last of the pine/spruce/cedar and
other evergreens I don't know/ garlands. The Fraser
Fir tree is still green and the needles aren't falling,
so we'll keep it for another week -- but I am just
about ready to let that season go. In the day if I'm
not home I close up the studio doors so the cats
can't decide to rampage through my canvasses.
While the pine garlands were there, over the entrance
to the living room, and decorating the fireplace,
I'd open the door, and all that greenery gave off a
strong smell of the woods. It was like opening the
door to the forest. But the time to clean up had come.

The next phase, of decoration, which I'd completely
forgotten is wonderful tulips in pots from the
Avenue Road flower shops. Three pots full cost
something like $9.00 and last for about two weeks.
So I bought them today, and Steven bought me
sweet smelling, soft peach coloured roses, and
the place is starting to turn itself toward spring.

I've been drawing. Soon I'll be able to show you
a lot of drawing, but for now here is one I did
of myself. I am thinking about line -- not in the
totally conventional sense, but as in -- where would
a pop of dark line be expected, or a surprise. Still
working on that. But I like the expression on my
face in this one.

Self portrait
marker on watercolour paper
9 x 12 inches

Why do artists paint themselves? 1. For practice,
2. Because they are ready models. 3. Because they
either like or hate themselves. 4. Why do artists
paint anything that they paint? -- because that is what
they do. or just because.

In a day or two my tulips will be tall, and bending
like ballerinas, and if I'm lucky they'll let me
paint them.

Have an I've-got-lots-of-plans day.