Happy Canadian Thanksgiving -- the gift of family

Today's flowers from the garden

Watercolour and black marker on 

watercolour paper

6 x 9.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

Tonight we had Thanksgiving dinner with our growing
family.  The youngest person at the table was two
months old, and no she did not have turkey.  It
was a delicious meal and wonderful fun.

At one point a song played that my mother had
especially loved, and I suddenly wished so badly
that she could have been here to watch her family
laughing, dancing and singing.  My mother
died on (Canadian) Thanksgiving Day six years
ago.  I'm putting this painting up because it was the
first painting I created after she died. For me the painting
was the beginning of the possibility that I would
ever feel joy again.

And of course I have.  I am lucky to be a happy
person at heart.  And I am blessed to have a joyous,
loving family, and very grateful for that.  Most
Canadians will celebrate later in this long
weekend, but tonight was the only time our
whole crew could meet.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend.