transitions transitions

Ahh life changes..today I contemplate my new found freedom and new found fears re my seventeen year old driving a car..As I type she is driving down the highway towards home after spending a night in town with a friend.. a first.. a big gulp..a hold your breath -a count to ten kind of feeling..but it has lingered since she set off swirling her keys in her hands..big ear to ear smile (representing the open territory ahead)and shiny flat white shoes (not sensible driving shoes indeed!)..Thankfully she is checking in with me regularily and my heart flutter settles momentarily..another life hurdle..another leap of faith ..My little/big girl is growing ,changing ,moving away..the tether is unravelling.stretching..I am considering what to do with all my worry moments...

the faintest gasp of summer's demise

two little bundles of love (and trouble!:-))

flowers still parade grandly in my gardens..the sunflowers and cone flowers will not give in to waning light

I am not quite ready for fall..still trying to hold on to the scent of summer even ings..ahh finally mostly bugless yet dark so soon..I stroll by the fence to observe the cows ..take pleasure in a few moments with the chickens..am awed by the gift of an everchanging colour show called "sunset" and the huge sky i call "mine" The grumpy layer of my day peels off to reveal my peaceful ,quiet,satisfied self (until the phone crassly rings to yank me from this reverie..)

after all ..we have at least two more months until snow again :-)

On jcloths ,rescue and gratitude

This week has found me cycling through too many moods ..from absolute fear,to gratitude and peaceful acceptance..On Tuesday our water stopped (It had to happen mid shower with teenage daughter caterwauling her alarm at dealing with shampoo soaked hair) if you have a well you know the kind of fear I am talking about. Is it the pump? Is it a lack of water? We messed around in the back trying to knock some sense into the pump(we are not handy people and it was 10 o'clock at night..) Somehow our tapping created water flowing once more..magically doubtful we were..but oh so grateful the next day and thereafter..

The next day saw us inviting two more four footed rascals into our life..reluctantly..nah..They had been dumped on our side road..ten week old ruffian kittens..too big to be as cute as the fur balls they were...needing something like care now..Our neighbour kept them in his coop until we were able to take them as ours. Pandemonium ensued..but they are semi quarantined and indoors until they can get needled etc..

So welcome.. Gus and Sadie

As for J cloths..well just a sampling of the hospitality I encounter while living in this community..Yesterday I visited our local dump to unload our recycling..and headed over to the next town to pick up some well needed cleaning cloths..the proprietor of the variety store said she was "all out" but asked me how many I needed and provided me with two of her own "to tide me over"

..that's why I live here! :-)

Porcupine dreams

a new painting..
summer toes...
This young prickly visitor decided to camp out in the tree beside the coop causing the chickens to whoop up a fuss...As a result when i was trying to gently guide the hens out to other part of enclosure.Prudence got partially stuck between the fence and metal door frame..I thankfully encouraged her to settle and gently eased her out ..with only a few rufffled feathers..whew
Chester inquisitive..never felt porcupine quills before...

the coop in it's present glory

bovine to watch over me

This group of angus neighbours are very inquisitive..love looking at us (so I believe!) and chickens ...and our border collie cross Owen(who resembles a mini holstein!)


two new paintings from peaceable kingdom series

blackfly bonanza bingo

scratch scratch scratch..still scratching..trying to get out there and plant..pull weeds ..walk ..cycle but it is still blacklfies 10..me 0..it is gorgeous however..verdant green..flowers sprouting magically

I don't want to go to work Part 2

gardening gear

Luciano in the morning..ready to harass the girls...

Chester ..ruminating...
my first early morning view...............
sunset.last night




Yes it's true..i am happy to hunker down and smell the roses..er tulips etc..Perhaps it's that stage of life i am in where life suddenly feels fragile and fleeting..but it's a lovely morning outside..and i would much rather pick weeds. The blackflies have received my humble offerings of bits of flesh (ooo.. yuch..did i say that?!) and alas even with my ever so fashionable net hat they have managed to find the inviting pink gaps! as i write ..type I am tempted to scratch my ankles..but i will resist..I eill also resist capitalizing my I's ..(such is my rebel mood this morning!) i guess i had better shower and participate in the world again..

Walking on a chilly May 18 was the tonic for my lazy body..it takes a little extra motivation ..but Savannah my wired up Border collie x helps in that department. Professional food stealer extraordinaire and hyperactive girl that she is ..I haven't put her to the test..but I am convinced she could walk until collapse. She senses when I put the running shoes on and correct sweater made for the walk and is ready to go at the door..

Auction Addict

Spent part of my Saturday at the local auction..It's remarkable to simply watch and listen to the auctioneers at work.To people watch..and ogle the splendid historical offerings .Equipped with my card I was ready to bid..I set a limit and try not to let myself get caught up in the adrenelin rush of the moment..I left with a lovely $2 leather footstool ,a $ 12 primitive 1800's wooden box and a primitive painted white chaIR..$6..Missed out on the game ephemera ..but sometimes enough is what you have in hand..

A personal art Journey to a not so faraway place

Distillery district
Burrito Boys..oh so yummy fare..I happened upon this little treasure of a restaurant by chance..what a find!
gorgeous blown glass
distillery building.fine architecture!

OCAD grad exhibit..the building has changed substantially from my 70's years there

A weekend visit to Toronto was stimulating and inspirational..It is important to step out of my comfortable little world now and then and explore ..On foot or transit all weekend gave me my experiences up close ..and I felt quite positive about my encounters with people and the youthful creative energy of Queen West and the wonderful art village called the Distillery District..Thanks to an artist friend from Toronto..I was able to partake in her Cafe Society art group..tour distillery galleries and enjoy a yummy meal/and satisfying conversation in the Mill street brewery there with a group of like/art minded people ..The beer was exceptionally good on a sunny afternoon..and the company was warm and envigorating..later an art opening of one of the Cafe artists downtown on Queen West added another layer of experience to the day ..more good chat..and then when the music level climbed higher to ear shattering decibels we bid farewell to the night....