A new home in Paris, Ontario, with less than half an acre now awaits the spring.  My life will change again.  The garden and my new studio will require much work, but there will be time to walk the trails, paddle the river, walk the dogs and paint all year.  Soon, I will be able to travel again - to the Norwegian fjords, Barbados, Sri Lanka, maybe Africa again.

Hah! So McMaster University is letting me back in.  I will opt for easy for now.  I am 4 courses away from a degree in Anthropology: one more course in Anthropology and three of anything.  Summer offers twice a week April 30 - June 15.  I will take one course now, another in the fall.
​Trip to Egypt was fabulous, so good to enjoy sun and Red Sea, and Luxor with 2 of my daughters.  I might try to paint underwater scenes with fish in them. And I bought papyrus. That will provide a new painting challenge too.

Well now it is February, not my favourite season, but brighter more often now.  There are more places to display my art.  Encouragement helps to stimulate risks to try new colours, different kinds of paper, and even more complex subjects. 
My mental health is improved by travel experiences, painting, gardening, family, pets, friends and continuous learning.  Water always restores my well-being: so many ways to improve in, on, and around water. 2018 Resolutions included fitness goals.  Brain health will require return to University part-time.  This year looks promising!

Funny how you have to rediscover who you are when life deals you an unexpected blow.  But if you can determine how to regain your composure, dust yourself off, and re-establish a direction: happiness re-emerges. 
i am thankful for the support of my friends, the talents God has given me, a work ethic that has helped me to stand upright, and an everlasting sense of optimism.  i am also thankful for health in mind, body and spirit.
​Changes in my artwork reflect the amount of time painting, variety of subjects, various tips and critiques from other artists and changes in the paper that I use. Terra skin changes everything.  

Life is continuous change, sometimes slow, at other times, abrupt.  Adaptation is key to survival.  Successful learning leads to progress, and helping others as time progresses.  One stabilizing force is to continue doing things that provide healthy living, pleasure and escape.  i am reminded of a saying "if you are going through hell, keep on going".  My own equivalent to that is "keep on paddling harder, even against the wind, to get where you need to go".
I see peaceful water ahead. Soon there will be a safe harbour and a place to rest.
I lose myself in painting, submerge my worries by swimming, engage nature through gardening, and travel whenever possible.  The ocean cures everything.  My spirit is nourished by friends, family, furry creatures and all that is beautiful.

The long dark winter is almost over.  Spring is promising to arrive soon.  Sun and warmth are coming soon.  Some of the birds stayed all winter, others are returning slowly as the snow sporadically melts and the ice recedes.  I thank God for those who have stayed within reach, and made it bearable.  Painting is an escape, a way of moving through time and space; sometimes work, sometimes just pure pleasure.

So the New Year begins full of promise.  There were beautiful highlights in the summer of 2016:  Successful show at Art in the Park Oakville, followed by a memorable vacation in Kingston/ Gananoque area. Life changing events followed in the fall.  Family and friends surpassed all expectations.  A new chapter commences.  Some of my artwork will now begin to illustrate a children's book.  of course, I cannot tell too much until it is published.

June has begun.  In just a few days: the pool is open and inviting, but too cold yet, 13 garden beds are weeded one time, seeds sprinkled and it rained.  The lawns are impossible to keep perfect.  The trees are all thriving, and no frost after the fruit trees bloomed.  This year we will have apples, pears and plums if we can stay ahead of the birds.
My little paradise is four acres, and plenty enough work for us. 
Studio 30 will disperse for the summer, but I still need my critiques!This has been a great year of artistic growth for me.  Please feel free to comment.  I will try to blog weekly and add current work. 
Enjoy the beauty of nature.