Super fun -- and still time to get work to you for your Holiday!

Amy McNeill, Miriam Kaufman and me (Barbara Muir)

 in front of the wall with my paintings. 

Dear friends,

What a year in art! I'm glad it finished off with a lovely and intimate show in a
working artists and artisans' studio.  A great vibe for an exhibition and
excellent company.  Thank you to Miriam (Meej) for organizing the show,
for her gorgeous jewellry, (yes of course I bought a piece!),
and for leading guests on a tour of the space. Thank you to Amy McNeill
for her great ceramics, and cool abstract figurative pieces.  And for her joyous spirit.
We had fun conversations and someone will be the lucky recipient of one of her
holiday stained glass pieces.

Thanks to Gill Cameron, who couldn't be with us this weekend, but whose
gorgeous watercolour work made a beautiful contribution to the show.
Also thanks to Gill for her card display and space for my cards too.  We both
did very well with our packs of note cards.

 I want to thank Daniel Anaka for manning the door and helping people find us.
The Akin Artisans Studios are in a former factory, and Miriam Kaufman's studio
is down an outside walk, and then a bit of a hallway to her door.  More than worth
the short walk.

Thanks to my sweet husband Steven van Schaik, who hung the show for
me with great care and patience, and who was on hand if we needed
him.

And thanks to all our guests, who came out, bought our work, enjoyed
spending some time with us, and made the show a success!

Happy Holidays.

Art Show with Friends -- Great fun!

Me, Miriam Kaufman and Amy McNeill in front of Miriam's wall

of handcrafted jewelry.

Some of the work I have in the show

© Barbara Muir 2017

In Amy McNeill's cool studio with her abstract 

figure paintings.

I was invited by Miriam Kaufman to take part in a dynamic
pop-up show in the studio where she works.  Miriam and
another studio artist, Amy McNeill, Gill Cameron, and I all
set up for a pop-up show on Friday night.

It was great fun, and we decided to leave the work up, and
have another pop-up show and party today between 2 and 5 p.m.

Have a coming to an art show day.

Moving into new colours -- Pink!

Untitled (Work in Progress)

Acrylic on cradled birch wood

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

What inspired this?  Maybe the Pink Show in California
curated by William Wray, maybe the endless pink
light shows we get by the sea both morning and evening
in Nova Scotia.  Maybe all the stories about women
coming forward and asking for justice.  Maybe I just
wanted to try it.

So I started small, and this is a work in progress.

Have a super pink day!

Dog Love -- I've got it!

Kinney

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

SOLD ♥ 

I am so grateful to my friends and family who buy my art.
But I have to say this -- painting commissions for family
who pay the going rate is terrifying.  How could I possibly
care more about the outcome?

So I am happy to say that this little doggy, commissioned by my
son for his wonderful girlfriend, went home to a joyous reception.
Whew!  I was sad to see him go, because I'd fallen quite in love with
the dog.  And  since I began work on him, have had great conversations
about dogs, especially dachshunds and David Hockney's paintings of
Dachsunds in Dog Days.  But today the ultimate reward.  My son's lovely
girlfriend was happy with the portrait.  And that's why this painter paints --
to create work that people love.

Have a thanking-your-collectors day.
P.S. Ever since I got the commission -- I've had this song on my
brain.  Who Let the Dogs Out?

Work in progress -- life's big secret

Untitled (work in progress)

watercolour and pencil on 

watercolour paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Here I am making myself laugh in the middle
of the night.  A common phenomenon.  No.  I'm
not crazy, I'm blessed with an odd sense of humour
and friends and family who are funny too.  But
I wanted to post this little watercolour, which
is a work in progress, and of course was struck with
the irony of the term.

Is that it?  Our whole lives are works in progress.
Like mine now -- trying to get the teenager in
me to calm down, quit thinking about the great
day and go to sleep.  Meanwhile here's a little
watercolour I'm working on.  Thanks for helping
me.  I went back to working on my larger
painting, little by little.  Another life lesson.
That's the way to do it.

Wishing you a getting-on-with-it day!

If you're tired -- lie down!

Let sleeping dogs lie

 charcoal on bond paper

14 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

I love the sight of the people and animals I love sleeping -- especially
when I know that they're exhausted.  Animals don't need to be
persuaded, and in fact mine are on a very fixed schedule of
morning, afternoon and evening naps.

Cat on an office chair

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir ©  2009

New in pink

Acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2014

I feel the urge to nap right now, after a day of running around
trying to get my list completed.  I am working on a small
painting, should be working on a larger painting, and could
add a list of shoulds as long as the TransCanada highway.
Instead I will show you some examples of the art of sleep
from my blog, and get back to work in an hour or so.

Are you awake?

Charcoal on bond paper

8 1/2 x 11 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

Sleeping dog with cat food can

Watercolour and marker on

Arches watercolour paper

6 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

Have an enjoying-a-nap-day.

Loving flowers -- more from the garden

Autumn beauties

watercolour and marker on 

watercolour paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

When I first started painting professionally, I was mainly a

flower painter.  And I still love the glorious colours and 

happiness that bouquets of flowers can bring into the

house.  Outside now the world looks grey and brown.

Inside the last surviving flowers are bravely putting out

new blooms to my amazement and delight.

Here is another watercolour of our late season offerings.

I am having fun painting these, and will perhaps be

showing them in a pop-up sale in mid December.  

Have a letting-flowers-turn-the-joy-up day 

Sold in New York City -- Happy Dance!

No Contest -- Nature Wins!

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

It's always a treat to exhibit in New York City -- one of the art capitals of the

world.  And it doesn't hurt a bit that I love both the city, and the wonderful

curator who runs my gallery there. This painting had the special Karma of

my deep love for Nova Scotia and its landscapes.  Plus the A&M are dedicated

to two of the sweetest people in my life -- Alice and Megan.  

So I was excited to learn the piece sold.  I loved painting it, and the title

says it all.  The beauty of Nova Scotia is partly that the massive move to

urbanization has not hit there so far.  Fingers crossed that that continues.

Have a loving buying art day!

Remembering joy

Late summer flowers

watercolour and marker on 

watercolour paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

In the midst of great sorrow each opportunity for joy
and hope seems like a miracle.  My family is grieving
the death of my lovely niece last month.  Losing her
has overshadowed so many parts of normal daily life.

But through it all -- each moment of delight, each sweet
memory of a moment with her, each bit of pleasure
offers up the validation that life goes on, and also that
it's important that those of us left behind continue to
live the life she won't get to enjoy.

Last night I had a wonderful conversation with the
artist, Georgia Fullerton -- an amazing woman, and
we talked about purpose and mission.  I know that my
mission on the planet is to create joy and happiness
with my art, and to try and share those feelings
with the people I encounter in my artistic, and teaching life.

This watercolour, my first step back to painting,
is of the last flowers in the garden -- frost hit the
other night, and that is the end of that part of the year.
The garden was a delight this year.

Wishing you a day filled with beauty and happiness

Sam's day in the birthday line up

Skype Sketch of Sam

Charcoal pencil on bond paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2010

Searching through my blog for images of Sam there are
so many.  That makes sense.  My family were the
natural subjects for so many paintings and sketches, and
still are.  He has grown up now, and I was trying to find
a sketch that reflects the happy self confidence he radiates
today. He's enjoying life -- which of course makes everyone
around him happy.

Today is his birthday, and this drawing from seven
years ago captures him in a happy mood -- tired and
enjoying his life -- in school.  I drew him via Skype,
which was something I liked to do back
then.  Sam now looks much more mature, but the
kindness in his face here captures something
that is essential Sam.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Missing my mother's Happy Birthday

Isabel

Ink on Moleskine paper

8 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

My mother was a gorgeous beauty -- never aware or confident
of that for reasons I will never know.  Today would have been
her birthday if she were alive to see it, and I thought of her
all day.

I've never done a painting of my mother, or even a real sketch,
so decided to try.  I get why I was intimidated -- she had her own
unique look.  Plus I know so much about her -- almost too much to
approach her simply as a portrait subject.  But I'd like to try again.
Here's my first sketch.

My mother was brave, resilient and always looked for joy in small
things.  Even blind, with a serious lung disease she asked me to
help her fill out cheques to dozens of charities.  Not large amounts,
but the thought of helping people was uppermost on her to do
list.  I miss her every day, but especially today.  She died on
Canadian Thanksgiving Day four years ago, and enjoyed a full
and mostly happy life.  I will try drawing her again to make an
effort to capture her beauty and the inspiration of her spirit.

Wish your mother Happy Birthday. 

My Beautiful Niece Is gone

 

Before the Dance in the White Dress                    After the Dance in the White Dress
Both Acrylic on canvas
Both 24 x 24 inches
Both Barbara Muir © 2008

Some things that happen in life are so sad that there is
no way to just carry on as usual.  I've written
about this before, and I know I will get back to painting
soon, but for now the loss of my niece is paramount
in the sorrow of my brother, her father, her mother
and the family -- her aunts, uncles, cousins, and me and
my husband.

My niece Chloé died suddenly in early October.  She was
beautiful, kind, intelligent -- a wonderful young woman.

She posed for these two portraits in my Dance Series, and
I will be grateful to her for doing that forever.

Miss you Chloé.  Our love and thoughts are with your
Mother, Father and my brother's wife.

More on New York plus saved by the garden

Toy boat on the pond in Central Park, New York City

I had an amazing time in New York City.  City of art and light
and entertainment and festivity.  I remember before I showed in
New York the first time that I was warned that New Yorkers are
cold.  I'm sure that cold New Yorker exists.  You may even know
him by name.  But I have never met a cold New Yorker.  What
I've met is warm, lovely people from all over the world, who
make that city their home, and who love to talk.  We had
conversations about art of course, and about music, and
food, and of course worried discussions of climate change
and the horrific hurricanes battering the southern U.S.

A couple shares a quiet picnic in Central Park

Now I am home.  As well as the people I miss glorious Central
Park, which I'm sure is one of the most ideal urban parks on the
planet -- so large, so filled with benches and quiet nooks, precious,
gorgeous trees, animal life, flowers and absolutely welcoming and
rich in beauty.

Dance by Matisse

at the MoMa in NYC

Plus I miss the galleries.  I miss the MoMA and the Met. Especially the
Met this time, which we visited twice.  I stared at Sargent's portrait of
Mrs. Hugh Hammersley for probably the 20th time, and was struck anew by the
strange and magical techniques Sargent had used painting this woman.
 I loved the Portrait of Theodore Duret by James McNeill Whistler,
and Mary Cassatt's Portrait of a Young Girl.

Portrait of Mrs Hugh Hammersley

By John Singer Sargent

The Met, NYC

Portrait of Theodore Duret 

by James McNeill Whistler

Met Museum, NYC

(I love the discussion on the link about

why the woman's evening cape was

needed for contrast.  But looking at the

painting I saw a dutiful mate waiting patiently 

for his wife or girlfriend at the end of 

a gala evening, and that made me smile.)

Portrait of a Young Girl

by Mary Cassatt -- The Met Museum NYC

 I came home feeling terribly sad to have to say goodbye.  I'm
probably an artist who would be happy living in a hotel.  But I'd miss
my cats (the siamese is calling at the moment asking to be held),
and my dog, and this week the garden.  My Japanese Anemones,
taller than I am at 5'4", are a blaze of white blooms against their dark,
green leafy base.  So perfect.  And the Morning Glories are the size
of saucers, maybe even larger in a blue that's impossible to
replicate -- one of the most joyous, soulful colours I've ever
seen.  My gallery director in NYC helped me out with my acute case
of homesickness for her city.  She told me I could not have the life
I have here in Toronto in New York, with a small house and a garden,
and the peace to create the art I make.  She's right.  Few people in downtown
New York have even a small backyard.

Japanese Anemones in our little garden -- a super cheerful sight.

She turned my heart back in the direction of home, and now back with
my family and friends my sadness is gone and I'm happy and content
with my memories.  For now.  But I'm coming back New York.
You can count on it!

Have a loving travelling for art day.

Leaving New York City -- the long goodbye

Saxophone player in front of the Metropolitan Museum of

Fine Art, New York City.

For the rest of this week I will be saying goodbye to New York
where I've just spent five wonderful days.  Tonight after
arriving home in Toronto I am both happy to be back in
my home town with my family, and Toronto friends, and
sad to leave one of the best cities I've encountered in the world
so far.  So I will feature New York this week, and share some of
what I love about the place.

I figure five days would be all I need to live somewhere else,
and feel -- "Oh yeah -- this is my home."  I was totally
getting that way in New York City until I heard the saxophone
player in front of the Met play "Oh Canada!".  He touched my
heart, and made me realize -- okay Canada is certainly one
of my homes.  I thanked him profusely, and he went on to play
other countries' anthems.  One of the super things about New York
is the people, who are smart, funny, generous and love to
meet and talk to other people.

Have a living-like-a-New-Yorker day.

Fabulous opening at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery today

Me with art appreciator and new friend Judith Newfield

in front of
The happiest view 

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 60 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

(to see the painting photographed 

at a normal angle click here.)

I had a wonderful time at the opening of the group show
I'm in at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery.  It was
extremely well attended and the work was fantastic.

Artist Philip Catania and his wife Karen.  I think Philip

and I have been in at least 6 shows together.

 One of Philip Catania's paintings

titled The Swamp.

A gorgeous sample of the wonderful 

flower paintings by Nancy Balmert

Artist Patrick Walsh does amazing collages of

his photographs to make dramatic,

powerful  images.

I enjoy meeting artists, and seeing people who have shown
with me at this gallery before.  It is a superb exhibition, and if
you're in New York City in the next few weeks be sure to check
it out.

Me with Gallery Owner and Director

Ruthie Tucker.  This painting got a lot

of attention!

There are 13 artists in this dynamic exhibition.  To the artists whose work I didn't
mention -- my apologies.  My telephone wouldn't let me take photos, so all
I have are the photos my husband took!

My extreme gratitude to Ruthie Tucker the director, and her assistants, Torie and Valeria.
What a pleasure to be part of this.

Happy discussions in the room with my paintings.

Have a going-to-wonderful-art-shows day.

Gratitude to a hero -- the luminary influence of Louise Hay

Inspiration

Acrylic on birch panel

4 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Before I first read You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, I know
I was already trying to be a positive person.  But all artists/writers/people
get the blues, go through hard times, and doubt themselves.
Louise Hay popularized the idea that it is okay to love yourself.
And in fact taught that all decent, kind behaviour to others begins
with accepting and loving yourself.

This was a major shift in thinking.  She wasn't proposing narcissism,
but trying to reform our natural tendency to self criticism.  That
doesn't mean that signing on to her ideas, and believe me they
were like magic for me, ended all my self scrutiny and worry.
But she gave people tools for transforming a bad day, hard
experience, and crippling lack of confidence into something
brighter, stronger, more resilient.

I will always be grateful.  A few years ago I did some small
portraits of some of my heroes to put up in a show I was in
here in Toronto.  I didn't intend to sell the work, and did not.
They were for me -- as recognition of a fantastic experience
I'd had meditating about meeting some of my favourite people
while my husband was having an acupuncture session, and I
had to sit with him quietly.  Naturally one of those portraits
was of Louise Hay. I would have loved to meet her.

Last week Louise Hay died, and it all came back to me. I wanted
to honour her here because I don't think this blog would have
happened, or that I would be an artist who's been featured in shows
in Europe and New York, without her influence. I think that the
happiness I enjoy with my family and friends, the wonderful people
I've met in my art and teaching career, and even my relatively good
health cycles back to the groundwork for joy in her teachings.  And I
just want to say thank you Louise.  Since you've been gone,
I keep hearing a quote from you.  "In the infinity of life where
I am all is perfect, whole and complete."  I love that and I
know that wherever you are that is true.

Have a caring for others and loving your life day.

New York bound -- a joyous journey

No Contest -- Nature Wins!

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

This is the last painting in the trio celebrating the beauty
of Nova Scotia, that will be on display on September
9 at the champagne opening and I'll be there.  So if you're
in New York City then, and want to come out -- see the
art and have some fun, let me know.  You know that party
you are always wanting -- this is it.

When I am in Nova Scotia, clouds, the landscape and the
sea dominate my vision.  But I am strongly attracted to
cityscapes too. So I love this little corner of commercialism
with the clouds doing a happy dance above, and of course
being more spectacular than anything below.  Truth to tell,
just around the corner there are fields and horses, about six
blocks away are some of the most beautiful, majestic houses in the
Maritimes, and along the road, and around another corner you
can see farmland as far as the eye can see, rolling in gorgeous
shades of green and yellow, and then the ocean.

I am missing all of it, and the wonderful people I know
there.

Have a loving-what-you-see day.

A continuous high -- the ecstasy of clouds

The happiest view 

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 60 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Today's painting will I hope be the centerpiece in my New York
exhibition next month at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery.  Finishing
it made me so happy -- because the scale (quite large) really gets
across the magic of clouds over the ocean.  It's almost like clouds,
dance, and stretch and breathe into the most gorgeous and luminous
sculptural shapes when they have the space -- over rolling farmland,
or the wide open ocean.  They get both opportunities in Canada's
maritimes.

And we artists on the ground looking up are in complete awe.  I felt
like I got that with this one.  And I love it.  So once again -- if you
are in New York City when my three paintings are part of a group
show at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in Chelsea.  Let me know
and I'll send you an invite to the champagne opening between
3 and 5 p.m. on September 9.

Thank you for all your support.  We artists and collectors and curators
need one another, and I feel so lucky to get to do this work.

Have a marvelling at clouds day.

Sending Nova Scotia to New York

At the Boat Launch -- Port Philip

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016 - 2017

I first painted this painting last year and revised it when I came back from
our recent trip to Nova Scotia.  The experience of walking down the
boat launch and seeing masses of brilliant yellow flowers and red, red sand
was still vivid in my mind, and demanded some changes.  Paintings
do that.  They look at you and say "Really?" And the next thing you
know you are back in the thick of it.  I'm happy with the results.

The work I'm sending to New York City for a show in September at
the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, is all about my love of Nova Scotia.
Sitting at the dinner table a few days after we got back, my husband
and I were teary with longing for the place.  I painted when I was
in N.S., and visited other artists.   New art projects were filling my mind.
But Nova Scotia is too far from our family, and from the familiar
and friendly art world here.  Still seriously, if you haven't been, you
must go. And if you go to this place on Highway 6, there are magnificent
views in every direction.

I apologize for the photo.  I was in a big rush to ship the work
so it could arrive on time.  More about this, and about the artists
I met on my trip to come.

Have a getting-the-work-out-to-the-world day.

Water -- and painting

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

If you have running hot and cold water be happy.
We have been on holiday in our 100+ year old
school house for the past almost two weeks (with
a short two day break), and it does not have running water.

Most years when we come here we go to a lovely
park on the shore (that we think of as our beach --
although in Nova Scotia no one can "own" the
beach), and fill up our five 20 litre containers there.
It is about 15 minutes away, and we combine
getting water and going to the beach.

But this year the local parks do not have clean
drinking water, and we've been driving about
45 minutes away to a source a friend suggested.

When we get home to Toronto and turn on the tap it seems
like a miracle.  And in fact it really is.

This painting is still in process, and I will finish
it when I get back to my home studio.  I am
working on one here and it is coming along fine.

Have an enjoying your drinking water day.

Unique Vision -- the work of Flora Doehler

Me and Flora in front of a wall of her smaller work.

She is the feature artist this month at the Bear River

Artworks Gallery in Bear River, Nova Scotia.

All works are © Flora Doehler

One of Flora's larger works on view at the 

Bear River Artworks Gallery

I've just returned from a visit to my friends Flora Doehler
and Larry Knox.  I met Flora through the DVAC (Don
Valley Art Club) inToronto. She inspired me then, and does even
more so today.  Flora has painted every subject -- flowers,
portraits, landscapes.  But when Flora paints the results are
entirely unique.  Walking around her beautiful house and
studio my eyes were entranced -- and as an artist of course
I was constantly wondering how she did it.

This painting in the couple's bathroom totally blew me away.

Flora's paintings have an energy and excitement that is

all her own.  Her love of life comes through in every painting. 

This beautiful painting of lupins is 36 x 48 inches 

(I do know that measurement).

Apologies for the blurry photo.

 A landscape in the library at Flora's home.

 This beauty is 5 ft. x 4 ft.

Flora and Larry are major movers and shakers in the
Bear River community, both in the arts, and on other
projects.  Larry Knox makes beautiful jewelry which
is on display  at the Bear RiverArtworks Gallery. They are
part of the reason for the opening of the Gallery.  And they have
a studio beside their beautiful yellow house with blue trim in the town.

I was captivated by Flora's work this visit (as I have been
every time I've visited) and had to take some photos.  I'm afraid
I was rushed. There wasn't time (we were just in town overnight)
to get captions, dates and sizes for you.  But I know you will love her
work -- done with liquid acrylic on canvas,

Have a loving-your-artist-friends'-work day.

The Alchemist -- and Dreaming paintings

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
(forgive the photograph taken
with my phone.)

The drive from Toronto to our school house in Nova Scotia
is 1,000 plus miles (or 1609 kilometres) (more like 1846 kilometres
on the route we take).  What helps us in the long, long hours on the
road are audio books, and we listened to The Alchemist written by
Paulo Coelho for part of the trip, read by the wonderful actor Jeremy Irons.
The book was both spiritual and romantic -- but Jeremy Irons' voice
gave it a delicious power.  The message delivered by the little
shepherd boy in the story was to be brave enough to live your
legend.  That wasn't about fame, or fortune, but about living
your best life.  A great message.  I started seeing paintings as we drove
through Canada's spectacular landscapes.

Then last night, after being saturated in the beauty of Nova Scotia
I dreamt this painting that I'm working on today.  I want to capture
the amazing light you see here.

Have a loving-books-and-paintings day

Joyous rain -- artists are complicated

Rain Ahead

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
Available

Talking to my wonderful friend in the Netherlands
this morning, we touched on rain.  I always find
the divide between what goes on in the studio --
(what really goes on -- painting), and what is
imagined to be happening -- both surprising and
funny.

So my friend said that people assume that when
we artists paint a grey sky, or a rain filled image that
we are gloomy.  But no.  Because we love the look
of rain too!  Landscape painters love weather and
change, and find beauty in nature's variety.

I don't think I've shown you a photo of this painting
 -- Rain Ahead -- capturing the amazing rain my husband
 and I saw driving home to Toronto from Ottawa on our
 anniversary weekend.

Have a happy in rain, or shine day.

The total joy of happy collectors!

A collector's arrangement of Barbara Muir works.  © Barbara Muir.
I love these three paintings which all glorify daily life -- my intention
when I painted them.  And it makes me happy to see that. Thank
you to a wonderful collector.

Is there anything better for an artist than being
taken through someone's house to see the place
where your art is displayed?  No way!  You
dream up ideas in the night, you plan, and paint
and think about your work.  And then in a show,
or a private viewing -- Woo Hoo!  It sells.

Yes.  That is a huge thrill, made even bigger
if possible, by a collector who shows you
how your work looks with wide, wide smiles
beaming with pride.  Whew!  Knock me out!

One such wonderful collector sent me this photo
of my work yesterday.  What a delight.

Have a loving-your-collectors day!

Walking in a dream

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

The gift of landscape painting -- is that what you love is
around you all the time.  It was the most beautiful
and long spring this year, and is now a magnificent
summer.  This painting is of crabapple trees a short
walk from my house that felt like a fantastic party in
pink at the height of their glory.

Our winter was so grey it was recorded as one of the
longest winters without sun in some time.  So to step
out of the house and see this was like a spectacular
present -- a miracle.

I have loved working on the painting, and it's almost done.

Have a loving-what-you-see day.