Falling up

new abstracts to fit my abstracted state...

simmering fresh tomatoes,ontario garlic and fresh basil..oregano.mmmm

an oh so precious sunrise..later now as the globe shifts us into Autumn

a few lingering blooms...

The bounty of Fall..Lovely ripe round tomatoes from my garden..I am distracted by the seasonal changes as I sit by and watch nature remind me we are shifting into a new place..a harvest..a glow of colours .The leaves die slowly in their own cavalcade of colour..Savannah and I walk with limited light at 7 pm ..hastily we climb the hill as the sun quickly dips into dusky shadows..Fall

contemplating neverending ripe tomatoes

a new assemblage art piece created for a literacy fundraiser..I so enjoyed this project!

altered abstract using transfer of a sweet face

Ii was selected to participate in an art banner project..my banner..jauntily swaying in breeze over harbour

"Lola"

Summer's end heralded by a strong yet fading sun..school buses bumping over gravel-ly sideroads and wonderful red juicy tomatoes.

Wistful thoughts while sitting in my "empty nest"

Missing my one and only daughter..yes even her sassy remarks and her making fun of my "death grip".. on the steering wheel..Who would think I would miss
Heidi's shrill voice emanating from the tv while her face was lit up by cel phone glow..rapt concentration..a contented bubble..She is ready to fly..She is ready to learn and be in the larger more expansive world. I miss her though as my world has shifted and changed and there is a missing piece of my heart.

The house is really clean (it's what I do when I am preoccupied)

The pigs escaped today and were happily slurping on my lovely tomatoes in the garden when I arrived home today..the dogs are sleeping now..not far from my toes..sleeping..eyes rolling in vivid dreamland..calming my soul too

pigs n potholes and rites of passage

Just thought that title kind of worked..but it does resonate for me-3 days until my lovely (and often challenging) 18 year old daughter jumps out of the nest into her new university life.It has caused me to wake up suddenly in the night..3 am to be exact..and with eyes wide open realize that our earth has shifted ever so slightly . I am typically one who embraces,welcomes change.As I am settling into my more middle section of life my comfort zone is more attractive,familiar (easier) (Thankfully my middle section is getting a little more trim thanks to the local gym)
My personal apple cart is upset. I am tense..have been snappy,irritable with her..she procrastinates ..her room is a huge pile of layered things.We both process this time in our own way. I embrace her excitement..and prepare myself for another step..another me,another her..
Now you may ask..why pigs?
Well they certainly preoccupy me..they are precocious and precious

August is slipping away with a Shout

As I look outside my window at 8:31 pm I lament the fading light..The last week has been fraught with angry storms ..fierce,destructive..with tornadoes swirling through a mere few kilometres from here..shocking us with their mighty twirling fist. Poor trees..barns,roofs,livelihoods and lives..lost Dark carbon coloured cloudbursts,frightening flashes of lightening ..Egads this is Ontario not Kansas..Although respectfully unerved and cautious we wait and observe.meanwhile I work with the gaps in between..the flashy sunsets between and under clouds....and still wonder at my world

stormy weather ..yet..

devastation from storm..poor apple tree!

this current painting reminds me of what matters

the comfort zone

Mr personality ..Chester-We thought we had lost him too last week..gone for two days.worried about him a little frantic...then he wanders back
like "what's the Big Deal?"

the garden..bountiful perrenials

This last week has been a lovely break..eventhough drama unfolded.. like the loss of my two young chickens to the cornfield(heartbreaking)..and possibly a fox? the birth of two new hatched chicks,our potbellies neuter (today) and a huge storm which took down power lines and branches and entire trees in it's wake..despite all this rural action i feel more bonded to this place..the land ..our creatures.

no more view west..for now..chickens are on temporary restricted lockdown (well they are able to roam a little when we are home :-)

a little music in the background to scratch by

August Is..

After a week of vacation i just want more..please! Something about working that is such an unnatural state ..I have been working on my vacation and well..always..producing and teaching art..digging in soil ..caring for all the beasties (the fur ones that is..) supporting my parents from afar..walking the dogs..keeping up the home..well need I go on? It all seems to be enough..and there is so much more to do..to create ..to care for..to nurture and definitely not enough time because of conventional work..there must be other less conventional ways to fill in those financial gaps!

august is ...

The Joy of July

Winston and Hank enjoying the great outdoors.. grunting,running and rooting
!

projects from children's mixed media art class..art dolls,birdhouses,altered books..

It may be the coldest,dampest and most unseasonably grey July in my recollection..but I have enjoyed the fresh weather..and the ambundant growth in my garden. I am no longer a heat wave person ..although I do sympathize with those who have counted on sunny days for their holidays..I am happy to rely on my simple fan at night to bring in the breeze. Although a busy month with many art classes and gallery show to set up and take down it's been refreshingly smooth and gratifying..maybe it's my way of dealing with life now-going a little more calmly..trying to pick and choose where to put my energies. Being sandwiched between needs of elderly parents and launching my 18 year old out into the world it has all been quite full throttle on the emotional plane. my balance? Art..and well..all of our companion animals which bring much joy,amusement and comfort into our world..The new boys..Hank and Winston..add another level of love and sweetness and a dash of humour into the mix!