Number 56
Maison De Haute Couleur
Charvin, Paris Watercolour and
black marker on Fabriano paper
5 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
(This is half of a semi-detached house.
I kept part of the sketch open so I could
show you the robin that nested on
the post between our houses one year.
A lot has changed since the reference
picture was taken, and sometime soon
the house will be painted white. I will
love that.)
On day 7 of the Month of Love, a tumultuous month so far --there is an ice storm outside, which makes it logical to think
about loving my own house. I don't have high end, solid
reasons for that. The house is nothing fancy -- a narrow,
semi-detached building. But it has taken care of us and
kept us comfortable for over two decades, so it has got a
definite appeal.
The best thing about it is certainly where it is -- we are
close to everything, and it was a miracle when both my sons
were enrolled in the wonderful school across the street.
For a small house it has a good sized kitchen, and in summer
we live on the covered porch facing the backyard. Add to
that that the house is full of memories, and art, and I think it
deserves my affection. We are lucky that the neighbours on
the other side of our shared wall are incredibly kind and
unobtrusive. Would we move? Sure we would -- if a big,
white clapboard, farm style house became available in our
neighbourhood, in excellent condition for considerably less
than our house is worth right now. In other words for now
that fantasy is just that. No such house is available.
Have a loving-the-place-where-you-live day.
HOME! Looks like the perfect friendly spot to drop in and have a cup of tea... XOXOXO
ReplyDeleteHope you are recovering well. Concussion is not fun. I Love this watercolour with the robin, especially as I don't do watercolour but really appreciate it. I sure thought of you on my walk today! I took a walk in the snow and only having gumboots (this is the wet coast) I slipped and fell but only have a slighty bruised hip and stiff wrist. Ego intact, my husband slipped too!
ReplyDeleteHi Laurel,
ReplyDeleteThank you it is that. Please come and drop in soon. I would love to serve you
tea, coffee, a glass of wine, dinner. It was good to draw the place because I
never have and it got me thinking about our plans for a revamp. Happily.
Love your big painting. Woo Hoo! Congratulations.
XOXOXOXOXO Barbara
OMG Evelyn,
ReplyDeletePlease be careful! It was thick, glare ice here yesterday, but mostly gone today.
If it's icy please get icers from Lee Valley, they are the best. Hope you feel
better soon. Love your paintings.
XOXOXOXO Barbara
Such a cute house and nice watercolour painting! And I have had the fortune to actually visit you there! Good memories. Hope you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteHi Liza,
ReplyDeleteTrue and I think about that visit all the time. I hope after the summer, with some changes we're
planning that the house will be better looking outside, but not sure. Such a toss up -- if there is money --
(a big if) -- travel and art shows, or the house? Why is it that travel always wins that toss up?
Progress is slow. I am mainly tired, and occasionally beyond forgetful, so I am lucky. And I
feel especially lucky to know you. Loved your iPad drawing.
XOXOXOXOXO Barbara
I love your house too! To me it looks very special, partly because it is made of brick, which is rare here. I love brick houses, and I love your drawing of your house, and your writing about it.
ReplyDeleteI love our house too, even though it is wood and stucco. We here in Canada are so lucky to have houses like these to live in, and good neighbours, and birds nesting in front - or in our case, rabbits that love dining on our front-yard herbs all through the winter.
Thanks for the reminder. You are wonderful.
xoxoxo
:)
V
Hi Verna,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. My husband was so surprised when I wrote that I loved
our house. He knows I would like a bigger one, a different one, one that
looks like a 150 year old, Nova Scotia farm house. But he also knows that
doesn't exist here, and that this house does the job. We are so lucky to live
in peaceful neighbourhoods, where the majority of people don't have guns,
and people from every background live together. Yes right now it looks like we
are blessed. Cats on the prowl are a deterrent to the birds, but our vigilant dog is a cat cop.
XOXOXOXOXO Barbara