The term for outside painting may be in French, but I did these little paintings on our recent Canadian camping trip. I’ve never particularly enjoyed watercolours outside: the wind, lack of space to spread out supplies and the hazards produced by birds flying over. This happened in France: These were painted for Opus Art’s Plein…

Don’t even know where to start. I have an excuse, I really do. Since my last post I was informed that a space had become available for David Smith’s watercolour tour in the southwest of France. A sudden cancellation, a fluke, I was meant to take it. Here’s a preview of my first finished painting…

It'a been a long pandemic. I write as if it's over, but statistically speaking it's not. Looking at the North American population data I was surprised at the differences. In Canada, 1 person in ten caught Covid, in the US it was 1 in 4.  Amazing considering we were months behind in the ability to…

There are far worse in the scheme of things, but this was a series of closely timed annoying events. After an enjoyable, but snowy Easter with family in Edmonton, I flew home while experiencing a combination sinus and ear infection. Not. A. Good. Idea. Landing was particularly bad pain-wise. The next day, Friday, I had…

I’ve blogged in the past about the rules of gifting that have developed in our family over the years. Something that plugs into the wall is generally not a gift. And it truly has to be a gift for the recipient, not something the giver has wanted. We’re finding the older we get, the more…

Although its exact history is unclear, the fable of the rainbow crow evolved from Native American mythology, telling how fire came to earth.    Crows used to have beautiful voices and brightly coloured feathers. One harsh winter all creatures were cold and buried in the snow so they elect the colourful crow to fly and…

Forgive this blog, that seems to be functioning eight weeks in the past while we deal with real life in the present. Just didn’t want to miss these, a random account of our time spent down south. Let's take, for example, a most unique Christmas from C.  It was the first gift of our lives that…

Colours give me comfort. I was a colour conscious young child. Loved everything colourful: Crayola crayons, Colorforms, mosaic sets. Still do, you've witnessed my love of self striping yarns right here on this blog. Recently, as in having knit and crocheted three pandemic blankets. I really was destined for the art world. This extended era…

Certainly not in the time of covid. But here's the story. Over Christmas in California we spent some time at Lake Cohuilla, one of my favourite spots. It's a county park and as we entered the gate we were told that a herd of bighorn sheep were on the hillside. I can't tell you how…

The third Covid blanket l’ve finished. Another opportunity to saturate my bland pandemic life in vibrant colour. I have been working on this for years, mostly at Christmas. This December, 2/3’s the way through, I vowed to finish it. So, does it count as a blanket in the time of Covid?   Project: Desert Sunrise…