Yes you do get the message!

Flowers in a silver jug

Acrylic, acrylic ink,

and marker on canvas

11 x 14 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2019

No we have not gone to get flowers yet. And the message
is we need them. So much going on, but my blog keeps offering
up inspiring flower images, and I'm grateful.

This has been a very busy day marking, and I am tired
tonight. My one night a week course is coming to the end
of the term, and that means a lot of marking for me. And yes
I know I am so lucky to have a class on Zoom of such
great people.

So -- this lovely painting that I look at every day is here to
express my joy in the fabulous dinner my husband cooked
tonight, and my appreciation of your incredibly inspiring work.
The painting may or may not be finished.  And that in some
ways is an artist's story.  Keep us away from our work when
it's sold! Lol. 

Have a loving your life day.

The importance of ritual

Favourite Tulips
Sketch
Markers, watercolour crayons,
acrylic ink 
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

A friend yesterday talked about the importance of ritual,
and how she wanted to have some consistent practices
in her life. I think that is part of why I do a daily blog.

Of course it's great when I have something new to
talk about, or to show you.  But it's also a vital part
of my day.  Even though you might be thousands of
miles away -- I get to talk to you. Speaking of which,
I just got a beautiful hand written calligraphy letter
from a friend in Texas, and when I saw it in the pile of
holiday flyers I felt so happy.

 So I guess this is my ritual -- one of my daily practices --
something that keeps me anchored to the present. And
that's a good thing.

Have a loving your life day.

The people who help me

The helpful printout of my

ink drawings.

Thank you Chris at

St. Clair Printing.

Barbara Muir © 2021

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, which is supposed to be about
gratitude and giving to charities. On the gratitude side, I would
like to thank everyone who helps me do the jobs I do.  I have
a friend, who was my former boss, who I call about any technical
problems with my once a week teaching job. That was tonight,
and thanks to help from my friend, and my husband -- it all went well.

I's also like to thank my wonderful printer -- who helps me
with every aspect of my artistic life -- from making gorgeous
large prints of reference photos, to making business cards,
holiday cards, and cards of my work to sell at shows. He
is amazing.

The image tonight is one he made for me when I was 
adding line drawings to my website -- so I could see how
they would look, and figure out the captions.

And to everyone who helps me -- my friend who goes walking
with me, my brother who always has writing ideas, all of
my friends and family who encourage and support me.
Thank you.

Have a loving your life day.

Time for flowers

Quick sketch of the Ranunculus 
flowers we bought today
Black marker on bond paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

Lately I've been featuring line drawings, and I found this
line drawing of ranunculus flowers from 2009, which I
quite like.  It says it was a quick sketch, and that made 
me happy too.

Good for me in 2009, which was a spectacular year.  So
this is my present to you tonight -- the thought of flowers.
It's time for us to get some, but this weekend was incredibly
busy with the wedding, and we haven't picked up any yet.

Thank you to all the relatives who came out to what was an
amazing party. Thank you to the wedding party, to Emily's
wonderful parents, and to Sam and Emily for inspiring
everyone.

Here's to having a loving your life day.

Super party

The youngest wedding guest
with his Daddy
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

I hope wherever you are that you're having fun. As I write this
I am taking a break from dancing. We’ve been dancing all night
at my son’s wedding, and that is such a great way to enjoy a special
occasion. 

The photo tonight is of the youngest wedding guest, who was so great
all night at exactly 2 months old. 

Oh -- got to go that's one of our favourite songs.

Have a loving your life day.

This weekend is about a happy couple

Our son Sam and his fiancée, Emily
Photo
© Emily and Sam's Wedding 
Photographer, 2022
(I'll put his name in when
I get it tomorrow!)

Tomorrow our son Sam and his fiancée, Emily Land will
get married. We are delighted and know that it will be a
special day filled with love for these two wonderful people.

Wishing you a very happy weekend wherever you
are in the world, and whatever you're celebrating.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy American Thanksgiving! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

This is to wish my American friends and family a very Happy
Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for. And even
though our Thanksgiving Day is over in Canada – it was in October,
we have a lot to celebrate this weekend as on Saturday, there will be
a wonderful family wedding. So joyous and exciting.

Here is a message that continues to be my feeling of gratitude:

Happy Thanksgiving to my American family,
and to all of you, my wonderful American friends.

Thank you for your support

Thank you for your kindness

Thank you for this community

Thank you for the inspiration

Thank you for your determination 
to keep on making art

Thank you for all that I've learned from you

Thank you for your humour

Thank you for your successes

Thank you for your beautiful and 
magnificent art

Thank you!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a joyous day and a happy weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Another self portrait

Self portrait with wet hair
work in progress
Marker on drawing paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

The last month and a half have been so busy I've never made
it to my drawing group on Tuesday nights. Plus with COVID, it's
been hard to have models come and pose in my studio.  I'd like to
figure out how I could do it.  The last model I painted live posed
on the back porch more than social distanced and it was far from ideal
for either of us, although she was wonderful.

All that is to explain why I'm drawing a second self-portrait.  I'm
here. And I'm quite helpful when it comes to assuming 
poses.  In this one the model has wet hair and a towel around her neck.
I am grateful for her help.

Have a loving your life day.

The gift of winter

Snow on Cherrywood

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

If you're not a fan of winter it's hard to think about what's
good about the season.  As a child growing up in Ottawa, 
who was expected to be outside playing all day unless
I had homework, I tried winter sports.  Having no
balance ability whatsoever I wasn't good at skating. But I
loved skiing.  Every Saturday my brother and I took skiing
lessons on ridiculously low hills that we climbed up with
our skis on.

And we would skip class, and cross country ski in the
beautiful park where the lessons were held, then hurry 
back on time to get on the bus taking us back to our
neighbourhood. 

Now I am not crazy about winter, but I love the idea
of renewal, and of course, that's what nature is doing
with the season.  Except for the squirrel eating the
pumpkins on our front steps.  She is perfectly happy
to be here now. 

Have a loving your life day.

The end of the outside flowers

Winter Tulips
Marker on mixed media paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

For people who love flowers, subzero weather means the final end
of the garden.  Ours is not spectacular, but the flowers that grew 
this summer cheered us immensely every time we opened the
kitchen door and saw them.

The last of the garden flowers hung in for a week in vases inside,
and they are finally, finally done.  So now what? It's time to visit our
wonderful flower people to buy the glorious flowers that get
us through the winter so beautifully. 

Tonight's sketch is of tulips -- magical flowers for sure.  I'm
tempted to colour this in.  Maybe another day.

Have a loving your life day.

The rules -- use them if they work.

Our Eiffel Tower on the
front lawn.

Let the holidays begin!

My printer asked me why I always get three birthday cards.
I said "the rule of three, I'm an artist."  What does that mean?
It's much too long to go into here, but it basically means uneven
numbers work better in art than even ones. A landscape is either
2/3s sky or 2/3s land.  Rule of three.  A painting of flowers
should have 1, 3, 5, 7 etc. flowers in it.

Now I read the worst thing you can do in writing is use exclamation
marks.  Okay. If you're writing a serious essay fine. But if you're
writing your friend or lover to say, "I love you."  How much better
it looks as "I love you!" The exclamation mark was created for a
reason.  And as an enthusiastically positive person -- I love it!
Yes it can be used very negatively as in -- "You're kidding me right? !!!!!!!!!!"

Next is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asking on Instagram is it too early to
decorate for the holidays? Is it? My worry would be that your tree would
dry out.  Or you might be tired of those decorations when the holiday
arrives.

But lights.  We have them on all year -- and they are mainly on our
little Eiffel Tower on the front lawn, which if you know me is
symbolic of our passionate love of Paris!!!! France!!!! (See the
multiples can also be positive.) 

Have a loving your rules day.

Two years ago on this date

Winter tea at the art gallery

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

SOLD ♥

I looked at my post on November 19, in 2020, and was moved
by the longing my artist friends and I felt because of the need
for connection. Lockdown was on the horizon because at that 
time we had no good way to fight the COVID virus except staying
away from one another.

Since then a string of vaccines, excellent masks, rapid testing,
and for the most part a change in attitude has made some 
socializing possible. Little did we know in 2020 how our world
was changing.  But the dreams I spoke about then are starting
to happen.  Our trip to Paris in October to be part of the Carousel
du Louvre was one of the most exciting events in recent years.  And
seeing friends who'd been involved in earlier Paris shows meant the
world to me.

So we are getting back parts of our lives, with a new appreciation
of how wonderful each small part of what was an ordinary life
really was and is.

Have a loving your life day.

More from the ocean brain

By the sea, the beautiful sea
acrylic ink and pencil on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022
(Love this, and I suspect
it's a work in progress.)

I'm trying this two vital words thing, and today the first
words when I woke up were rest and pleasure.  So I
read my book, called some friends, and so far it has 
been a great day.

Here's a painting I'm working on from my memory of
Maritime ocean scenes.  Some of my favourite scenes
in the world -- so there you have it -- pleasure.  Plus
it's a beautiful day.  I hope you have been enjoying
your world.

Have a loving your life day. 

A toast to the inspiring artists

Self portrait at Fred's
marker on drawing paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

Yesterday it hit me (as sometimes happens) that life is
short, and I want each day to have meaning.  Of course
each day does have meaning because I live with a man
who I love, and I love my family, friends, and two cats,
and a dog.  But I also mean thinking about what I want
to achieve.  So many artists blogs and Instagram posts
inspire me.

Okay -- it could have been the vaccination, and the very
sore arm before that urging me to pay attention. What I
mean is that I want to use my day.  I used to call days
when things seemed to come together hot days, or on days. 
And this is one.  I am wandering from art project to art project,
and having fun.

Oh that's the other thing.  I want to have fun. So I'm
also lucky that my husband and my family are funny,
most of the time, and a lot of fun.

Today I'm showing you a self portrait  I started 
yesterday based on the view from a park we go walking in,
We always park across from the same house when we visit the park,
and call the home owner (who we don't know) Fred. I was trying
to photograph trees against the lake, and hit the reverse button,
so it caught me.

I started out drawing with the closest marker at hand, which was a
 bit strong.  But I've had fun today adding to it. Of course it doesn't
 look like me -- but hey.

Have a loving your life day.

A little bird told me (check the facts)

Robin earns his stripes

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

(available)

Barbara Muir © 

Begun in 2009, finished in 2019

It's unfair to my cheerful robin painting to tie it to this
message.  It's late at night, and I shouldn't be writing, but
I want to ask you to please get your vaccines, and keep
them up to date.  We got our latest (5th) vaccine today. Also
doctors are asking us to wear N95 masks indoors, as every
kind of respiratory disease is on the rise, and ICUs are
full for children in Ontario, where we live.

A friend told me that COVID is no longer a problem.
But 3 of my friends (a lot in a small circle) have got
the virus in the past month. I haven't seen them, or been
near them, but this virus is still out there, and please
you need to get vaccinated if you aren't.

On the up side. We got our vaccines today, after sitting
locked in traffic downtown last night for two hours, and
missing our appointment. That was frustrating, but we
rebooked and all is well today. Also on the up side, my
hurt arm seems to be infinitely better, so expect art to
happen.

Have a loving your life and caring about others day.

 

Do you know this artist? Verna Vogel

Oil 22.9
Oil on canvas
20 x 30 inches
Verna Vogel © 2022

I've woken up the last few days thinking about the artist Verna
Vogel. She has a great presence on Instagram, and works constantly.
One image she posted recently was of a stack of small canvasses
prepped, and painted in different colours waiting for paintings,
and seeing that made me think, "I've got to get at it."

We need that don't we? Plus Verna is completely original. She's
an abstract artist in the main, and her work is fantastic.  I 
decided to write about her tonight, because if you don't know her 
work, you will want to.

We actually met at least once for a two introverts tea at the train
station. And I would love to meet her again. (Did we meet twice
Verna? I don't think so.) She lives way out west but has family in
Ontario.  So check out her work. She inspires me, and will
probably have the same effect on you.

Have a loving your life day.

The anniversary of my website -- barbaramuir.com

This is a screenshot of part of 
the opening page of my
website. 
Barbara Muir © 2022

I almost missed the anniversary of my website with all 
of the recent excitement in my family -- our trip to Paris,
a string of birthdays, a new member in the family,
my daughter-in-law Megan getting her doctorate,
my younger son and his fiancée getting married at the
end of the month. Whew.

Well I have had a website for just over a year, and I'm
extremely grateful to my son, Christopher for that
wonderful development.  It is a great feeling to say
to people asking about my art to check out my
website at barbaramuir.com

Miss you Paris, and my arm's on the mend

Me and Steven wearing the T-shirts of
The Maharani's great granddaughter
with her great granddaughter
Photo
Alessandra Masha Macitti © 2022

We had a family party tonight, and I am glad to say my arm
which was threatening frozen shoulder is much better, and I
actually held the youngest family member James for a few minutes
at our impromptu pizza dinner. The whole team -- nine of us --
rapid tested and were so happy to be with one another.

I love this photo of Steven and me wearing the T-shirts with
my painting for the Carousel du Louvre exhibition.  When we
walked around Paris wearing these, we certainly got stared at --
as in--were we part of a grandmother's club?  I clearly am in a
"club" to celebrate Daisy, Steven's mother and share her
portrait in Paris.  So in a way. Yes we are part of that club. Lol.

Being around family is joyous, and celebrating family through
art is joyous too, 

Have a loving your life day.

A constant

My Tulip
Acrylic on Cradled
birch panel
5 x 5 inches
Barbara Muir ©
(I actually can't find this on my blog, 
which means I never published it!
Yay.  New work for you. I also
don't know when I made it. But
I haven't used cradled birch for
long. So? Recently?)

Thinking about my art -- and art in general -- when you come 
to a halt -- like I have because I injured my painting arm, you
have choices. You can enjoy the peace of the in-between-time.
You can despair, and believe you will never get back to who
you were, or you can appreciate the artist you've always
been, and always will be.

This little painting is on my dresser. I see it every morning
when I wake up, and every night before I go to bed.  I stand it
up -- it's on cradled wood, and can stand alone. I lie it down beside 
my lamp.  But what's most amazing is that every time I look
at it, I feel happy. Yes I love tulips.  And yes I love the painting,
but I don't remember making it, and my happiness on seeing 
it is visual.  I love how it looks.

So there's my choice for today. Revel in what's good.

Thank you Judy

Looking out at the bay
(Work in progress)
Acrylic ink and pencil
on mixed use paper
5.5 x 8.5
Barbara Muir © 2022

Thanks to my awesome chiropractor, I have almost normal motion in
my arm today. A miracle, as yesterday every single movement caused
me so much pain. 

My chiropractor assessed me, and treated me for an hour yesterday. I went home
hurting, and woke up being able to raise my arm above my head.
So it isn't over, but progress is happening.  I worked a bit on this small
painting, and had a happy day.

Have a loving your life day.

More on the sore side

 

Sunlight on lemons
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

I love writing this blog every day, and feel especially happy when
I can show you new work. I did force myself to do a little drawing
today, but with great difficulty. It turns out that frozen shoulder is
no joke. And it actually affects the whole arm and hand.

I’m dictating this into my phone, and will edit it on my computer.
And I hope you will bear with me that I will be posting photos and
former work for the next few days, maybe maybe the next couple of weeks.

I care about communicating with you, and really appreciate your support.

Have an appreciating your life day.

Frozen — shoulder

 

Alessandra Masha Mascitti and me
at the
Carousel du Louvre Art Shopping exhibition
in Paris. I am holding onto 
those memories fiercely.

So much fun!

Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2022

Hi everyone,

I’m going to put on a photograph today, because yesterday I somehow
hurt my right shoulder, and I believe I have frozen shoulder. This isn’t good,
but I promise you I will carry on with my art, and get help to fix it.

To my students – no! It is not your fault, even though it happened
when I was marking your papers. The papers were very good, so relax.

Enjoy every bit of health that you have today! And please know that I will too.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday to Sam and Steven -- today is a very happy day

Steven and Sam discussing the future

a photo from a few years back

Barbara Muir ©

(I didn't get a good photo today.)

Today is a very happy day. My son and his fiancée, and Steven and
I have rapid tested and we’re getting together to celebrate Sam
and Steven’s birthdays. It was their birthday yesterday, but we're
celebrating today.

It’s been a hard day, but a good day—my best work computer is
frozen. I’ve hurt my upper right arm somehow. But we’ll celebrate
tonight and all forget the hard parts of the day for a while..

Have getting through to happiness day. 

10 Reasons to be Happy

Spring Table

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 2007 

Tonight was my once a week college evening class, and it
was very good.  It reminded me of the excitement I used to
feel teaching positive psychology.

Thirteen years ago I described what happened when I first
introduced the idea of 10 reasons to be happy as an exercise
in my college class.

But first here are my 10 reasons today:

1.  It was my son Sam's birthday today, and we got to sing
Happy Birthday with the dog to him over the phone, and may see him
tomorrow night.

2. It was my husband's "real" birthday today, although
even after all these years the real date is up for debate.
10 years ago his mother told him that his father got his
birthday wrong, and that's why they celebrated it on
the 8th, even though it was the 7th. We continued with
the 8th, because Sam's was on the 7th too. But I did give
Steven a card today. And tomorrow more festivities.

3.  It was a beautiful day, and even though I had to work
inside all day, I did see that glorious colour out the window.

4. I finished my delightful book, and I recommend it --
The Muse by Jessie Burton. A book you can't put down.

5. The school strike is over temporarily.

6. Steven has a day off Friday and we may see friends
or family.

7. I got a calls today from several friends, all happy
and funny.

8. I got two new dresses to give me options at an upcoming
family wedding -- and they were extremely reasonable.

9. I am well. 

10. Life it good!

Now here's how this practice began 9 years ago.

"I had one of my "aha" moments on the way to school and
decided to introduce a new exercise called Ten Reasons to Be
Happy. I explained that in a negative news world, this
whole concept was decidedly radical. But we started.
Each day when we had time, ten people (and towards the
end of the term more) would go to the front of the class
and each student said one reason that she, or he, was happy,
and related it back to the course.

The impact was dynamic. In fact I'd never seen anything
like it in all my years of teaching. This exercise filtered into
the students' daily lives as they thought about what they'd talk
about if it happened to be their turn in the class. I picked
the people to go to the front at random, unless they
volunteered, but all were welcome. In my very last class,
the whole class went to the front and it was a delightful
sight to see.

Their reasons were connected to the course, so some were
doing well in school (study skills), some were learning to
love themselves and others (self knowledge), some were
managing their time better (time management). But the
smiles on those faces really blew me away."

Have a loving your happy life day.

All about Mommy

The lake at sunset
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

Today is my mother's birthday.  She died just before her
birthday in 2013 leaving a big hole in all of our lives.
My mother, Isabel, was a wonderful person -- brave, 
kind, brilliant and generous.

She was dedicated to living a healthy life, and encouraging
her children to do the same.  Our glorious walk in our
favourite park today, would have made her so happy.

Missing you Mommy -- every day, but especially today.

Have a loving your mother day. 

The birthday rush

Birthday cards from my son's students in Korea that
came in a package for me and my husband
in 2008.  One of the happiest packages
I ever opened.
I was just realizing that these children
would now be 20! They were six at the time.

In our family there are five birthdays in less than a month.
Add to that a family wedding this month, and whew --
it's easy to feel like you better keep your dancing shoes on!

Thinking about all of these birthdays -- if my mother were
alive it would be six, and hers would be tomorrow, I went
hunting through my blogs for birthday references, and
found these sweet birthday cards that came to me and Steven
from Korea the year that Megan and Christopher worked in Seoul
teaching English to children after their regular classes for the
day were done.

These cards were created by 5 and 6 year olds.  And
receiving them made my birthday special indeed that
year.

Have a loving your life day -- and keep your dancing shoes on!

Letting go of fear

 

Look at this
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

Steven and I just finished watching The Extraordinary Attorney
Woo -- a Korean TV series with subtitles on Netflix.  It was fantastic, and
made me think about when my son Christopher and his girlfriend
(now his wife) spent a year teaching English in Korea. 

Here's what I said about making the painting in 2018, it still feels helpful.

"A friend and I were talking today about fear of the unknown, 

and how it hinders an artist's life.  Then I was looking for a photo
of my art for a Facebook cover, and found this image of my son
and his then girlfriend, now wife, Megan.  It was a Skype painting.

Enter fear.

I was afraid of starting a blog, and my friend and fabulous
artist Flora Doehler persuaded me to do it.  Christopher
was going to teach in Korea for a year, and helped me
get started before he left.  Once he and Megan were in Korea, Skype
was the best way to talk, and not feel so far away.  During
conversations with Christopher I'd draw him on sticky notes
or whatever was on my desk.  Then I did a little sketch painting
of my friend Flora via Skype, and published it on my blog.

When Chris and Megan were heading for Korea I was so
anxious about those two being so far away -- a 14 hour plane
trip.  When I started using Skype I was afraid I'd mess it up.
But I got a job via New York company drawing people via Skype at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and did not
know that my Skype images were being broadcast on a huge
screen at the show. That connection led to journalist Howard
Wolinsky from Chicago calling and asking to see my Skype
paintings. Howard interviewed me on a YouTube video for the Skype
blog, I was terrified.  He asked me if I could get some new paintings
together in a week, so I did.  (Deadlines always help).

Oprah Winfrey's people saw Howard's YouTube video, and asked me to
be on a show called Where In The Skype Are You?

 Oprah?

I have never been so frightened in my life. But I did it -- and do
you see where I'm going with this?  Essentially if you follow the
dots -- Christopher and Megan going to Korea got me on Oprah.
And that show got me media attention, and invitations to exhibit in art
shows internationally.

So yes fear is bad, and yes there are things to fear -- but some of
the things we fear -- especially when it comes to art -- will bring
us miracles.

Oh yes.  This is important!  After a year in Korea Christopher
came back to Toronto to work as a photographer, and then a director of
videos."

Megan just completed her PhD in Early Childhood Development.
They a have two beautiful, brilliant daughters, and a brand new baby boy.

And I just got back from showing in the Louvre in Paris.

Have a letting go of fear day.

Dog days -- Sally's Birthday

Sally the dog

Acrylic on canvas

5 x 7 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2014

It was a gloriously foggy, misty, and mysterious full day today.
Hard to believe the contrast between yesterday's brilliant blue and
the glowing yellow leaves on the trees. 

Today is the 10th birthday by our calculations of our dog Sally.
Wow that time has gone by so fast. Even with the 2 1/2 years that we’ve
been living a completely different life because of Covid. So here’s this
beautiful dog making our lives happy, and she has for all of the time we’ve
shared with her. She is beloved.  Our two Siamese cats love her, and so do we.

One of her skills is singing, barking, Happy Birthday, which she does with
great vigour if you even say and don't sing the words. So tonight when we
were singing to her, of course you know that she was singing too, and didn't
want to stop. Treats? -- some of the left over delicious salmon from our dinner
 -- and not one, but two cookies.

Have a loving the animals in your family day.

More Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums in November
Acrylic ink and marker
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Barbara Muir © 2022 

A friend told me today that November may stay nice
until mid-month, and today was spectacular. It gets
pretty cold at night, but some garden flowers are
persisting. And that's wonderful.

The nasturtiums are hanging in and I did this
painting of them. I may add a bit to it, but I like it
now.

Have a loving your life day.

The return from Paris

Doing the happy people pose at

the Orangerie Museum in Paris.  This is

the museum specially made

to house Monet's waterlilies, and it

is beautiful.  I am a devoted fan of

Monet.  I have seen his work in

Stuttgart, Germany -- where I fell

deeply in love with his poplars,
(to the point that I was crying
about the experience I was so
moved when I met Steven back
at the hotel), in New York City,
where I'll rush to see the Monet water lilies
(also magnificent) before the MoMA
closes, when I arrive there, 

and in Paris -- Oh Monet!
Photo

Steven van Schaik © 2016

(Sometimes I go through my posts from the
same day and this was the photo
I used on November 1, 2020.
I felt so happy seeing this, because
I felt exactly the same way when
I visited the Orangerie last week!)

Hi Everyone,

Apparently world travel is good for us.  I hope airlines figure out
a fuel that won't hurt the environment.  On the side of travel is
the eye opening that happens when you leave your normal
environment, your neighbourhood, your city, your country. The
opportunity to learn, to meet people from all over the world,
to make friendships that change your life -- that is travel.

Returning from Paris, France has been both hard and wonderful.
I have often thought that if I stay somewhere for a week, it would
feel like home. And that was true in Paris.  Partially because I
was lucky enough to take French in school from the time I was
five, so I could understand what people were saying, even if
I couldn't speak French properly myself (no one I know in
Toronto speaks French conversationally.) 

But the most compelling attraction to the city of Paris, was
all of the incredibly kind, and fun people who we met.

Today is a glorious, warm autumn day -- November trying to
fool us into thinking the leaves in magnificent colours will
last, the sky stay the bluest of blue. So I am delighted to be here too --
to see so much colour and beauty out my back door.  Trees in
yellow, gold, and red. Perfection. And I miss the warmth of
the people I met on my travels. 

Have a loving your life day.