Sunday, February 13, 2011

Farewells are hard and tea with the greats

 
 Memories of California
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
(Here's another example of
the Carol Marine challenge from the
other day.  I love lemons, and
they remind me of the way
Steven and I felt when we arrived
at our hotel the first time we
visited California and there was
a lemon tree, covered with lemons in
February.  I'm working on 
loving green, which is why the
green insisted on being in the painting.)

Our son went back to school today.  It was delightfully
 warm here, and I wore the lovely red coat
Sam gave me for Christmas down to the station.
But I felt a terrible let down after I said goodbye to
him.  So Steven and I hurried to the flower store,
and bought tulips and primulas to avoid the high price
roses until Valentine's Day is over.

Then I worked on my paintings, and at the end of
the day, still feeling restless and a bit blue,  we
went to the Art Gallery of Ontario.  There we
treated ourselves to a full ceremonial tea.  You
know the tiered plates, the sandwiches, the little
cakes, the glorious hot tea in pots.  Yummy and
our mood lifted.  We took a spin through the
gallery and came upon an amazing David Blackwood
show -- stunning work, and headed home to
call it a very good day.  Have a very Happy
Valentine's Day!!!!

Have a comforting-yourself-with-tea day.
at

10 comments:

  1. Terri BuchholzFebruary 14, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    Bless your aching heart! I'm still like that with my son and he left home for college 9 years ago! He got a job out there in the world after graduation and I go through the teary eyed, constricted throat thing every time we say good-bye. But on an upswing note - I love your lemons!! So happy and bright as are all of your paintings. You clearly have a light that others want to bask in.

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  2. lauraFebruary 14, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Leave it you to turn your blue feelings into so many positive actions!
    I have been feeling the same since seeing my baby brother off on the ferry after a 3-week visit yesterday. I should go buy flowers!

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  3. cohen labelleFebruary 14, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Barbara these are the sweetest lemons! - perfect for a Valentine celebration.
    I still remember and use your remedy for a sore throat you once taught me - slice up 1/2 to one whole lemon - place in a mug - pour over it and fill mug with boiling water - add sufficient brown sugar to sweeten (you use more than I do) - then, voila - drink and be soothed. It's a great drink even without a sore throat. Thank you!
    love, Marcia

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  4. Flora DoehlerFebruary 14, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    Barbara, your beautiful lemon painting is like a valentine for me! I love the way it made me catch my breath....O I can taste the lemon even! And lemon is my very favorite flavour.

    I spoke long distance with both the kids on Sunday and felt so blue and aching for them all evening. But then the morning came and all was better. I know that it will never end. But our emily is coming to visit in a month so that is good.
    Happy Valentines to you! xooxxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. Marilyn FlaneganFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Barbara, your entries always make me smile and your lemons are delightful. They're definitely a feel-good fruit, wonderfully comforting and uplifting. Actually, 'Conspiring Lemons' was the very first post on my blog. Coincidence? I think not.

    : )

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  6. Barbara MuirFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Hi Terri,

    Thanks so much. I'm lucky that my
    oldest has settled in town. But there is always that lurch when any of my family heads off -- it's true.

    I'm glad you like the lemons. They are sitting proudly in glass bowls in between red tulips and a red amaryllis on the kitchen counter, and they make it all work.

    Take care,

    Barbara

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  7. Barbara MuirFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Hi Laura,

    I'm not a big fan of feeling blue, and
    the flowers definitely help that.

    XOBarbara

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  8. Barbara MuirFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Hi Marcia,

    the latest variation of that suggested by my herbalist, is boiling water, sliced lemons, maple syrup to taste and cayenne pepper. So good! Not too much cayenne pepper. It burns through a clogged throat like greased lightning. Sooooo Fantastic.

    You are funny.

    Love Barbara

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  9. Barbara MuirFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    Hi Flora,

    Love eh? I was thinking about lemons and how I like them. My favorite way is visually, then hot lemon, then lemon poppy seed cake, then lemon curd, then lemonade. I'm not a big lemon pie person, or a lemon in savoury food type. So now that I've told you that I'm glad that there's no lemon poppy seed cake here! Trouble!!!

    I'm glad Emily is visiting, and I hope her arm is better. It's very hard living far apart. Happy Valentine's Day to you and Larry.

    XOBarbara

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  10. Barbara MuirFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Hi Marilyn,

    Love your little chocolate kiss painting for Valentine's Day. Extremely tempting.

    Thanks for your sweet thoughts.

    XOBarbara

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts and positive comments make my day. Thank you for stopping by.