Short visit with my son

Writing birthday thoughts
charcoal on bond paper
11 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Behind Sam's shoulder to your
right is my cat Timbah asleep on
the couch. In the other direction
my cat Fiona was curled up
in blissful sleep, but she didn't fit
in the picture. They were
delighted to see Sam.)

My youngest Sam is home from university,
and goes back tomorrow. I'm so glad we
got to have a bit of a family dinner last night
and to sing Happy Birthday and share a tiny
cake for his girlfriend's birthday. Naturally
he is spending most of today -- the actual
birthday -- with the birthday girl. But he came
home and ate a second supper tonight, and
let me sketch him very quickly while he
worked on her birthday present. Tonight
they'll go out with their friends, and we'll
scrape him out of bed and onto the bus back
to school in the early morning.

Enjoy the clocks jumping backwards. Here's
the sketch I did of my wee (6'4" tall) lad. He
has frequently posed as my model and I
do know that lovely face like shorthand.

Have an enjoying the-longer-evenings day.
P.S. I'm sure spring is coming, but I'd
forgotten that it often announces itself with
a very cold rain. That's what's happening
outside my window right now as I type. A
lovely sound, but out in the elements you need
full, waterproof winter gear -- a nasty shock
after the warmth just a few days ago.