Still here with you

Sky high summer joy

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

I know I've shown this to you before. In fact I finished it in January 
2019.  Remember that year?  Back before COVID, and weird

truckers revolting against mandatory COVID vaccines as
millions died. 2019 stands out in my mind as a year of bliss.

The other night my son helped get the Christmas tree

out of my studio.  I mean every studio needs a festive element,
but it was time to go, and behind the tree was this painting -- asking
to be seen again.  The promise of summer, which gets closer
funnily enough as we head into what should be deep winter,
although we have no snow.

It has been a very hard month, and I'm grateful to everyone who
helped me get through it.  Of course that means you.

I am looking forward to February -- the month of love.

Have a loving your life day. 

The power and delight of artist friends

Journal Sketch
of my friend Miranda Brouwers
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

If you ever get the chance to show in International shows,
I hope you do it.  Of course there is so much to learn -- how
to navigate, what to send, how to manage shipping, where
to stay.  And the most wonderful part of the whole experience
is the friendships you make that last.

This is a really rough, quick sketch of one of those friends
for me -- Miranda Brouwers -- an amazing artist, and 
fabulous friend.  We met in Florence Italy at the 2015 
Florence Biennale, and formed what we called The Happy
People group, to cheer other artists on through the 10 days
of exhibiting.

We showed together again at the Louvre in 2016. And have
kept in constant touch ever since. Miranda is currently
devoting her work to beautiful cards, T-shirts, invitations,
and art that helps people celebrate the important moments
in their lives. I will do a more refined drawing another time.
Meanwhile have fun Miranda.

Have a loving your life day.

Thank you Heliconian Club -- Go see the Drawing from Life 2024 Exhibition

Toronto Man

Charcoal, acrylic ink, and

acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

The drawing I'm showing you today is based on a journal sketch.
I thought it would be cool to translate my small 6 x 8 inch
drawing onto canvas, and to draw it in acrylic ink. 

And this morning just before noon, I was finished after a couple
of days of trying to get it down.  The final acrylic ink drawing on
canvas turned out to be a completely different person than my
journal drawing, and that's okay. 

I'm calling him Toronto Man because he's in a trench coat, and
it has been either grey, foggy, or raining here for the past two
months -- so we need our trench coats. 

Thanks to the Heliconian Club for hanging my work right away.
It will be part of the wonderful Drawing From Life exhibition
opening Saturday, February from 2 - 5 p.m.  Admission is free.

Have a loving your life day

Super busy tonight (like last year on this date) -- please enjoy my pre-COVID post, reposted

 

Yield to the Lemon
Acrylic on cradled Birch panel
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017

Hi Everyone I'm trying to get a painting into a show by
1p.m. tomorrow, so I this is a slightly edited post tonight from
2017 that I love. 

"The Happiness Trick

Is there a trick to happiness?  Yes.  People have written books
about how.  But there is a secret to being happy.  We have to
allow it.  I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response".  In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. (This is especially interesting with a
family member going through hard medical times.) This message
apparently has such a profound effect on the person's mind that
the patient shuts the door on hope, and may get rapidly worse.

My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it.  Of the cold you are frightened to get, and will get if you
sneeze, and are told it's coming -- watch out.  (Please wear a
mask to protect yourself from exposure,) of the depression
you could get because in this city the sky has been grey except
for a couple of days for what seems like two months.  And in
painting of the fear that you can't do it.

Try this.  Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!"  Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
I admit it -- given the number of people who have colds, flu
and COVID right now -- our chances of getting something are good.
(In the case of COVID, and flu if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public, and use hand sanitizer, you can help yourself
avoid it.) And as for painting or drawing -- we need to take a look at
how tough things are in the world, and let ourselves know how
lucky we are to be compelled to make something.

Here is my offering for tonight.  When we were in New York
in June, 2016, Steven got a T-shirt he loves at the Metropolitan
Museum.   It says "Yield to the art," which is what installers
say when they're moving big pieces through the museum.
Hence Yield to the Lemon, because the lemon demanded
center stage.

Have a tricking-yourself-into-happiness day."

A moving connection

Casually flexing

Pencil sketch on letter paper

8.5 x 11

Aaron Chan © 2021

It's especially poignant meeting someone in the process of
visiting a family member trying to recover from surgery
in hospital.  While patients sleep and heal, people who
are watching over them sometimes have quick, quiet 
conversations, which is how I met the artist I featured
last night -- Aaron Chan.  

Stay hydrated folks!
Pencil sketch on letter paper
8.5 x 11 inches
Aaron Chan © 2021

It's Saturday night, and I'm working on a painting/drawing
of my own.  It's movie night in our house.  So I'm sharing 
two more super drawings by Aaron.  I hope you enjoy them.
When he showed me some drawings on his phone, I asked
him to send me samples, so I could share them with you.
They do highlight the best of the hospital experience -- which
is kind, hard working, careful staff.

Have a loving your life day.

A delightful surprise -- meeting Aaron Chan

Dynamic duo

Pencil sketch on letter paper

8.5 x 11inches

Aaron Chan © 2021

During our long days at the hospital with our family member,
we were so lucky to meet some amazing people who worked in
the ward we were visiting.  One person, Aaron Chan stands out 
because in a brief conversation we learned that we were both 
artists, and he showed me his super drawings of his health care
colleagues. He asks permission to take quick photos of friends
at work for reference.

He says, "There's no way I would be able to get my coworkers
to stay still, with their heavy workload."

Aaron I swear if you don't let me get back to work...

Pencil sketch on letter paper

8.5 x 11

Aaron Chan © 2022

Aaron enjoyed drawing when he was in high school.  He has a university degree,
and is thinking about next steps. One reason he began drawing again when he's not
working was, "a feeling of a sort-of reactionary calling in an environment like
the hospital. There is a unique reality of working so close to life and death, with
existential terror lurking behind every corner. Such irrationality almost demands
an equally absurd, but fun response."  His co-workers love his drawings, and most
have gone to new homes.

I like his work so much, that I will probably devote two blogs to
sharing it.

Have a loving your life day

Helpful advice -- wonderful for today

Breakfast in the hotel

Petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel

Acrylic on canvas

4 canvasses

36 x 48 inches

6 feet x 8 feet total

Barbara Muir © 
(I was thankful to see
that the napkins were on
the left. This is a big

painting. Lol. I've shown
it to you before, and it 
inspires me today. And yes
this polyptych (four canvasses) is
available if you need a cheerful work
for a big wall.)

Everybody tells artists to just do it -- do the work.  But sometimes
(like in the past two weeks), events get in the way of getting your
ambition back.  I think it's coming.  I had a great dream last
night about a possible new project.

Meanwhile, here's some advice from last year at about this time.

"Some advice also lessons
#1 I was setting the table the other night, and thought about my very
well mannered friend teaching me that the napkin goes on the left
side.  I'm sure my parents, who were very proper, knew that, but
now I am fastidious about it.

#2 These are not really in any important order. Tidy the kitchen before
you go to bed, so that it isn't a mess in the morning. The day will
be more positive. 

#3 Wash your paint brushes after you use them. An artist friend who does
beautiful work said that she takes care of her equipment, because 
it's expensive to buy new brushes all the time. I hear her voice
every time I almost forget to wash my brushes.

#4 My grandmother-in-law taught Steven and I to make up from
an argument before bed, and always to kiss one another goodnight.
Good advice Oma and we try to follow it. 

#5 One of the best bosses I ever had, and a friend, taught me, and
through his textbook, and teachers on his team, and all of our classes
to love ourselves.  He said you can't truly love another until you
love yourself.  And that was pretty radical teaching for college 
classes, but boy did it ever work.  Compared to the statistics for 
North American college students at the time, (50% of college 
students take 6 years to complete a 2 year diploma) between
75 and 93% of our students went on to get university degrees after
finishing college in 2 years.

#6 My mother taught me to try to enjoy each day as it comes. And
thank you Mommy -- I do.

#7 A friend in Tucson, Arizona, said to learn from the dogs.
Forward, forward. Dogs rarely look back -- they are always 
excited about what's ahead. Smart animals. 

Maybe that's enough for one day.  It is a special day in our
family tomorrow -- a sweet person's birthday.  And I feel lucky to be 
alive and happy."

Have a loving your life day.

The saga continues

Don't sit so close to me

Black marker on 

Fabriano paper

8 1/4 x 6 1/4 (cropped)

Barbara Muir © 2015

The family member in the hospital thought today was the release
day.  But apparently not. I did work on a small painting yesterday,
but it is not at all ready for public consumption.

Oh wait! They changed their minds -- and the family member came
home.  Lots of changes, and things to arrange.

So here is another sketch I did in a pre-COVID waiting room. Stay
healthy. Get your vaccines. 

Have a loving your life day.

The need for happiness

In a park by the lake -- happiness

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

(available)

We are still spending our days with a family member in the
hospital, and I don't know how long this will continue.
I found a post from a few years ago, and it made me happy,
and says what I'd like to talk about tonight. It was  written
before COVID, and at the time my family didn't have 
someone coping with being in a hospital. Still I like the
thoughts I shared then.

"This painting is certainly about loving life.  I think maybe
that's what all of my art is about.  It isn't that I don't know
the downside of life, I'm well aware that there is so
much to be sad about in this world.  But I do feel that those
of us who are lucky enough to see the beauty around us,
to appreciate small things, to love what nature offers, and
to care about the people who make our lives magnificent --
need to share our bounty.

That doesn't mean we have our heads in the sand,  or that
we don't take action against cruelty, wrong doing,
the ills of this world.  It means as artists with an ability
to create and record the vitality of this planet and
its people -- we want to share what we see.

Thank you for being out there, and being my inspiration
and support."

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Monthaversary to my sweetheart

Irises celebrate
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

This is a special day for us, because this is the date that we celebrate
every month -- the day of our first date. This month we have a family
member in hospital, so the day will be spent there.  

A friend asked me what we did on our first date.
The answer is we went out to dinner at a restaurant on Yonge
Street south of St. Clair that's no longer there. It featured a D.J.
and dancing.  

A friend of mine worked as a server there, and brought us Singapore
 Slings -- which I don't think we ever had again.  

Steven walked me home. And we have been "dating" ever since. 
We married 11 months after our first date, and the wedding
Monthaversary is in two days on the 24th.

The photo today is of beautiful irises on the kitchen table. 

Have a loving your life day. 

One of my favourites

Blackbird on a coffee cup
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

We're still dealing with a family member in hospital.  Today
was a bit cheerier, and when I got home in the evening
I thought I'd share this painting today.  I'm reading a novel
about a girl who loves the Beatles, and the song Blackbird
came to mind.

I like the last line, which seems hopeful today:

"You were only waiting for the moment to arise."

The bird is meaningful to me because one of the first signs
of spring in our city is the chorus of Red-winged Blackbirds
in our local beautiful park.  That sound makes us so happy.

Have a loving your life day.

Need a dream escape

 

 Salad Obsession

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012
SOLD ♥

This painting popped up in my feed and it seemed just right as
sometimes happens. It has been a day with grim news about
our family member recovering in the hospital.  More medicines
needed, things getting complicated.  The family is not happy.

If there were ever a time when an escape dream would help,

this is one.  And I saw this painting of a delicious lunch
in the wonderful restaurant in the MoMA. I remember 
not only the food -- awesome, but the wonderful people we
got to talk to in New York.  I was telling someone today

that New Yorkers are so warm, and love a conversation --
at least they did before COVID.  And the conversations

were always both funny and brainy.

Fingers crossed that what's happening now is what
Jeffrey Gitomer would call a "temporary situation."
So I wish you a great Sunday.

Have a loving your life day.

A more cheerful visit

 

Nudge (I call this Nudge -- because that was the book the man was reading.

I looked it up and it was a very difficult book on perception.)

Black marker on 

Maison De Hautes Couleurs Charvin Paris paper

6 1/2 x 8 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2017

Today I took a cribbage board, and cards when I visited our family
member in hospital.  Good idea.  We were two visitors and
we played masked with the curtain pulled for a little 
privacy.  Our family member won two games, then it was
time for the visit to end.  Things were looking up a bit.

This drawing is from a visit to the hospital in 2017 before
COVID.  Things are very different now.  Everyone is 
masked, and some people got told to mask up today
because they were eating in a patient's room, which is not
permitted, and not masking.  Nope.  That of course means
you can't get facial expressions drawing them.  

Have a loving your life and taking care of your health day.

Quick sketch from today's hospital visit

Might as well sleep
Journal sketch
Marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Today visiting our family member in the hospital
I brought my journal -- thinking perhaps I'd draw
if there were quiet times.  Funnily enough there
are very few quiet times in a hospital -- it seems
like the hustle and bustle are constant, but I did
do a few quick sketches -- so I'm showing you one.

There were four family members besides me visiting
today, and I'm very grateful to the nurse, who found
us an extra chair.

Have a loving your life day.

This seems like the right image for today

Napping with the cat

Watercolour and marker 

on watercolour paper

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

I won't be saying much today because I spent the day at the
hospital with a family member who developed an infection
after last Friday's surgery, and had to go back to the hospital
today by ambulance because of excruciating pain.

Fingers crossed all is under control.  Our family member
is spending the night in the hospital watched over by
wonderful nurses.

Have a staying healthy please day. 

The Way Gone Made Clear by my friend Georgia Fullerton

The Way Gone Made Clear
A Restored 19th Century Wagon
Now a magnificent piece
of artwork by
Georgia Fullerton © 2023

I'm super proud of my friend Georgia Fullerton who has completed
a huge project -- turning a wagon used to bring slaves to Canada in
the 1800s, into a dynamic, piece of artwork that will be used to
educate people about the history of its use, and that period in our
history. 

In Spring 2024 the Roots To Rebellion Exhibit will be up and interactive at Pickering Museum Village. Georgia says, "I am proud to have completed this public art piece: ‘The Way Gone Made Clear’. "This restored 19th Century wagon, Georgia is now calling a chariot, "is meant to be a vehicle of change and will accompany the Log Barn part of the exhibit, and be displayed as public art for the next 4 years."

The wagon is a reimagining of the lives of Black enslaved, and free people who fought for Upper and Lower Canada during the 1837 Rebellion and a view of the inner conflicts they experienced as displanted people.

Georgia explains that more of the story will come…as the exhibition pieces come together. She adds, "Thank you to City of Pickering and funding for this project through the Digital Access to Heritage Fund and the Canada Race Relations Fund. This restoration project was made possible with funding from the Government of Canada, and the art piece was made possible by the Canada Race Relations Foundation.

Georgia also sends her appreciation to the city staff (curator, conservator, volunteers and public art coordinator) for their collaborative efforts.

Have a loving your life day.

Memories of past hospital visits

The waiting room # 1

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

The one good thing about our hospital visit last Friday is
that doctors and nurses believe in COVID, (they certainly do),
and everyone was wearing masks in the hospital.  This week
I'm helping a family member with recovery, so it will be
unlikely that I'll post new work.  That will happen.

The waiting room # 2

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Today I'm showing you sketches from former visits in 
waiting rooms. This was before COVID, and people
were not masked.  It made for more interesting sketches.

The waiting room # 3

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Have a loving your life day.

More from the past

The conversation continues

Left to right: Listening across oceans; Late night

in Norway; and The best news right here

This is my series based on Skype images taken of

conversations with my friend the artist Henriette Sonne

in Norway, who I met at the Florence
Biennale in Florence, Italy, in 2009.
( I love this series, and am thinking of working
on some portraits in the near future.)

Last year on this day I talked about the wonderful artist Henriette Sonne
who I met in 2009, the first time I exhibited in the Florence Biennale
in Florence Italy. I did a series of portraits of her based on conversations
we had on Skype.  Now we would probably be talking on Zoom.

Listening across oceans

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

I particularly love her portrait The Writer from 2023. The Biennale
shows (I was in the 2009 and 2015 exhibitions) were exciting.  So
many great artists participated.  

These portraits bring back happy memories to me. 

Have a loving your life day.

Saturday night, and flowers would be nice

Tulips for Tucson

Acrylic on watercolour paper

10.6 x 13.8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015
(I'm thinking about my
friend in Tucson, the wonderful
artist Melinda Esparza today.)

It's the weekend, and a family member is recovering from surgery.
So that's my focus. It is starting to get a lot colder. I managed to do
my walk (10,000 steps) although the intersections are glare ice. And
I'll have to get a better neck warmer to pull up over my face. 

Stay warm, and stay safe and enjoy yourself. Here are some tulips.
and perhaps I'll get some live ones tomorrow.  The Irises hung in
for 6 days, which is unheard of with that delicate flower. So time for
more flowers. 

Have a loving your life day.

Not much to say -- journal sketch

Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024 

Today I spent the day at the hospital with a family
member going through surgery. So tonight I'm tired.
It's Friday night.  I just had a beautiful walk in 
Toronto's first real snowfall of the season. 

The wind blew our front porch Christmas tree over.
This is a very quick journal sketch.  Not at all accurate.
But it is of my mother, who was very beautiful.  So
I may try again.  She deserves it.

Have a loving your life day.

Be happy -- and flowers for a family member

From the market 

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

(available)

Tomorrow a family member will spend the day in hospital having
day surgery. Not fun, and I will be there too. Thank goodness
that so far we have almost free medical care in Toronto where we
live. 

So these flowers are for them.  And they are a reminder for me to
notice what is wonderful in life -- flowers of course, your
magnificent art, and your friendship.

Have a loving your life day.

Last opening for Winterlude

Me with my work on the
final opening of Winterlude
at the Heliconian

My three paintings in the Heliconian Winterlude

show, on until the end of January.

They are: (top) Sweet sunlight and coffee

Next row left: The cake house,
 and Sunset at the lake. 

I sped down (no not past the speed limit) to the final opening of
the Winterlude show at the Heliconian Club in Yorkville.  I'd picked
up some macarons on the way, and was going to go in and arrange
them on a plate. Except for one thing.  The building wasn't open yet.
I was more than half an hour early, and the show opened 2 hours later
than I thought. Note to self.  Read the instructions!

Amos, the building manager,  took the cookies for me. And I dashed
home. Then we had some errands to do, and I went back to the opening. 
It was just about over when we arrived, so Steven took some
photos.  And it was lovely to see that space.  The Visual Arts
meeting was going on in the conference room, and it was great
to see familiar faces.

Have a loving your life day.

Catching up with friends in a snow/rain blizzard

Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

We've been incredibly spoiled in Toronto to get no real snow until
January 8. Huh? And it's funny that Canadians are in shock.  What's
this stuff. Hello! It's Canadian winter, and snow is normal.

I did shovel our walk, and that's it so far. I worked on a painting
that has to dry before the next step. And I had long 
conversations with friends and artists.  During on conversation
I drew this sketch. The fellow in the drawing was in a group 
photo sent to me.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday madness

 Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Sometimes Monday is all about administration in an artist's life. That
was today. One call, or email after another to get I.T. help, make
appointments, order reference photos, you name it. So today is another
journal sketch day.

This is a self portrait of me in the midst of my husband colouring my hair
the other night. Yes that sweet man does that. The result during the waiting 
time was quite dramatic, and I took a photo so I could draw it today. 

Have a loving your life day.

My purpose remains the same

Big brother, little sister
acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(Painting this I loved the
expression on the little girl's
face, and all the small
details that are so characteristic
of what young boys like --
Super Mario T-shirts, camp
necklaces, big, clunky black
watches -- it made me miss
my sons as small boys. I wasn't
good at photographing my art back then.)

I found a post from 2020 on this day.  In January of 2020 we didn't know
we were heading into a pandemic. I remember friends asking if I would
avoid travel because of that thing they call COVID-19, and the attitude 
was casual -- like it would be about colds.  Then the school I work for
quit holding live classes on March 9, 2020, and millions of people lost their
lives to the virus.

I liked this post about purpose.  The world is still in a mess -- it seems
like it's worse than in 2020.  The wars are horrific, the climate change

is bordering on out of control.  COVID-19 is surging again.
My purpose remains the same.

" I think that my purpose is to create hope, spread love, joy and
when I'm in person with friends, family, colleagues and students, to
help us all get to laughter. 

My purpose is to help us get happy.  But sometimes
this feels impossible.  It's hard to see the light with Australia
(and Canada and other countries this past summer) burning,
 and a full scale war in the middle east (and apparently more
than 100 conflicts worldwide.)  But we have to keep working
on it.  We have to vote for people who care more
about climate change than money for oil, who care about saving
the planet.  And we have to end all war everywhere.

As an 18 year old I marched for peace.  Let's get some."

Have an enjoying your purpose day.

Saturday -- feeling happy

For David Lobenberg

Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(I did this portrait for David Lobenberg's

June Paint Off in 2009)

You can read about it here

Saturday is at least in part a day off.  I woke up today and did
two fast sketches as I drank my coffee.  Then it was off to the
market to see our wonderful farmer friend Jens, and his sweet
assistants -- Stephanie and Simon -- a young, very happy
married couple.

I saw that I posted this portrait last year at this time because
I was working on a portrait, and the lighting in this self
portrait appealed to me.  At the moment I'm working on a
landscape with complicated clouds -- and it is all about light too.
So why not?  Light is vital in every painting -- and I hope
I can make my landscape with a river view as luminous
as this.  Meanwhile I'll try to stay positive and luminous
today and for the entire weekend.

Thank you for your inspiration.

Have a loving your life day.

Journal drawings start the day well

Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Here's a journal drawing from today. I originally set out to do three
a day, but I'm happy if I do one, and I really wanted to paint today.  So I did.
I think doing a drawing at the start of the day as I drink my
requisite three coffees, makes me feel like I can stay creative.

I saw a wonderful preliminary sketch a friend did for a painting
on Instagram, and loved the idea.  I usually go straight to canvas.
Maybe some of my sketches may turn into paintings one day. For 
now they're great for a happy start to the day.

Have a loving your life day.

A dream came true -- sunlight!

Untitled 
Work in Progress
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024
(This painting has really just begun,
but I wanted you to know that
yes -- I am painting.)

Okay it was between 3 and 6 below zero today, which is cold.
But the sun was out all day for the first time in 3 weeks! OMG.
I went for a long walk, and also worked a bit on this painting
in progress. 

Another dream for 2024 is to keep on painting.  Just do it. No
speed requirements except for shows and commissions. I just
want to enjoy working at what inspires me.

So thank you for inspiring me.  You do every day.

Have a loving your life day. 

Dreams for 2024 -- To show in the Louvre again

 

The Louvre and a
woman posing to look 
like she's holding the
top of the small glass pyramid
at the Louvre in Paris
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2015

I showed in the Louvre in 2015, 2016, and 2018.  This year I hope it
happens again. And like the first two times I want to show new live work
I've created for the exhibitions. So that is not a resolution. Just a 
dream.  Maybe this week I'll post dreams as they come into my head.

No don't worry.  I'll be selective.  Like most artists I have a lot hereof dreams.

I particularly liked showing at the Louvre, and being in Paris.  

And above all I'd love to see my friends who work on helping with the shows,
who live in Paris, and who we've come to know on our visits. 

So there's dream one. 

Have a loving your life day.

Last day of the holiday for us -- Happiest New Year!

Steven and the animals invade

the studio. Perfect portrait pose.
Left to right: Steven with
Fiona the cat on his shirt, 
Sally the dog on the floor,
Monet the cat on
Steven's legs. 
Happy New Year!

I want to thank all of you again who made our lives great in 2023.
We are looking forward to what wonderful things might happen
this year.  For now we're enjoying the last few hours of our holiday
time.  It has been so much fun. 

Wishing you a week filled with creativity and love.

Have a loving your life day. 

Happy New Year to our family and friends

We wish you a very Happy New Year!
Me (left) and Steven
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2023

Happy New Year Everyone!  Steven and I just drove to Yorkdale
Shopping Center hoping to be able to get our 10,000 steps inside.  No. It
was locked with barriers everywhere, until one very nice
lady let us in and we walked inside until we encountered a
young security guard who told us we had to go.  We then went
outside and almost got our steps walking around the outside of
the mall.  Yes in the cold. 

Along the way we wished everyone Happy New Year, and 
everyone we met thanked us and wished us the same.  You've
got to love Toronto.  This has been going on for days on our walk.
After dinner we headed out again, and for the 10,000. More Happy
New Years from strangers walking by!

Wishing you a very Happy 2024!