Taking 2014 into 2015

Where has the year gone...it's already January 11th! My daughter Yolanda, her husband Chris, their dog Scout, and my sister Jessica all came to Enderby on Christmas day from Vancouver and Abbotsford. What a wonderful time we had laughing, cooking, eating, playing cards, and walking the dogs. Jessica was very curious about the fact that Sir Anthony Hopkins had recently been in Enderby starring in the movie "Go With Me". The last day of the visit we all headed down to the D&E Diner for a delicious lunch. Jessica's first question to Heather (one of the D&E's owners), was where did Anthony Hopkins sit? She stood in that space and absorbed his energy. 

Chris, Yolanda, Jessica and Steve; a booth for six at the D&E Diner.

We had a big snowfall while they were here, or so we thought, the BIG snow was the weekend after they left, with no way to get out of our driveway for two days, no work, no school, many hours of shoveling and early mornings with a constant be-hp, be-hp, be-hp, of heavy equipment moving snow around. We had so much snow we didn't know where to put it. Getting beyond the volume of snow, the world of snow and ice fascinated my creative nature and the pristine beauty was everywhere.

Having fun with the settings on my new camera. 

This is a frozen puddle made by a car tire, I have never seen ice freezing in the shape of a snow flake.

Before we read the rules, we were ending up with too many cards in our hands.

The big snow, over a two day period we had 50 cm of snow. This is our side gate.

The back of our house, with Mattie sitting on the porch. Steve knocked the many snow piles off the plum tree. A lot of trees lost branches and some communities lost power.

The Enderby Cliffs, behind a snow cone piled on a sunflower.

Dried Echinacea flower and ice.

A dogs eye view, Mattie patiently waiting for us to finish shoveling the snow, so we can go for a walk, if we can.

Pear Pie, paper, Brandy Beans and holiday cards, what piles up on your table?

This pear pie I made for the gathering of the Balkan choir, wonderful time eating, socializing and singing!

Me and my camera. 

January 11, 2015 Shuswap River a misty Enderby Cliffs and the bridge.

Little Treasures Art Show at The Courtyard Gallery

Can you believe November is here. This morning the temperature was below 0, 6 degrees below 0. I was happy to have the hand me down snow pants from my daughter Yolanda. She stopped wearing them when she was 10. They keep me warm, that is what matters.

Sunday the 9th I took a large box of my art work into the Courtyard Gallery 61 pieces, photo greeting cards, small fabric zippered and lined bags, for jewelry, makeup, travel, great for small gifts, watercolors, wood and acrylics canvases. One of the Artist and writer Howard Brown built a tree to hang the glass painted ornaments, I hear it is beautiful, and the gallery is jam packed with small canvases, pottery, felting, glass, wood, books, jewelry, and much more.  

It can take days just to prepare a canvas. This 8 x 10 is being prepared for the small canvases with the dragonfly and flower.

Saturday the 15th is the opening of the show, after we vote for whom we feel is going to do the best job for our community, we plan on hanging out at the gallery. Virginia says she is bringing chocolates, how can I not go. 

The finished work.

This 8 x 10 canvas has many layers of experimentation, creating interesting textures and crackling effect. I painted what I saw in the textures.

4 x 4 canvases. Steve was sitting at the table admiring my small canvases and he started laughing. He said "It's like a totem, that tells a story, went for a sailboat ride, walked on the beach, had a heart attack.
  

I took this picture on November the 11th, In memory of my nephew Ian, this morning the flowers were frozen.

Hope to see you at the show, enjoy.

Ideas Pop

Ideas  flit around my head, popping up unannounced, expecting me to do something about it. I take them in and roll them around my head, evaluate their necessity or if I need a ladder to get it done. In my life before epilepsy I could pounce on each idea with a reassurance that I would be able to do this.  At least in my mind I don't need a chaperon to take me there. The writing I love has been minimal, it's in there just give it time, it could come in abundance.  When the weeds are shouting, their love for the garden and the sun beckons  you into it's warmth, I will leave the confines of this house and roam the garden, taking in the pleasures of scent, color, taste and the intricate patterns of nature. Then again I might just sit down and read a book, which insights more ideas, and regrets that I push away. How much can I let go? 

On my trip to Trout Lake I collected rocks, this is a small 4" x 4" canvas, inspired by Sheila Peter's Facebook profile. I'm also reading her new book "Shafted" a mystery.

I Have been busy with new art projects, Enderby has been busy too, with some wonderful new art around town.

Another 4" x 4" canvas, reminiscent of Pete's boat "Constant Virtue" "Connie" for short. 

The Enderby downtown breeze way has had a major lift of color and whimsy, you must check it out. This is Todd McCormac  the artist hired by the Arts Council to do the make over of the breeze way. I love how the butterfly has fluttered softly through his head.

This is at the skate board park, if it says something it is beyond me but it looks great, well done!

The Girl Guides of Canada were happy to swamp Enderby this summer, more than doubling the population. Heather was hired to help the girls paint the building that houses the washrooms etc, Thank you Girl Guides for the amazing visit, if I could just inspire you to change your cookie receipt to no chemicals, GMO's and all organic.  

The birds didn't want to be outdone and left and artfully dropped "Yin and Yang".

I finally finished my Creature from a dream. I'm hoping that when I look at it next I don't see another touch up.

My latest 4" x 4" canvas, abstract "Heart Attack".

It is good to pause, step back from progress, do I go straight, do I meander left or right? Day dreaming is a good tool, and I love what it brings, even if it doesn't suit me. Let it in, let it out, stomp on it, embrace it, give it the juice it needs to unfold and give you what you need to live.

Works in progress, if the table isn't a mess, nothing it being created. Where does sewing fit on this table?

Trout Lake B.C. A Weekend Retreat.

Chocolate was the catalyst that led me to Trout Lake BC for an August weekend. Karina makes the best dark chocolates I have ever eaten, and she has been inviting us to their vacation house in Trout Lake for a couple of years. You know how it is, you want to go but coordinating when you can all go together can be a tricky balancing act. Last weekend worked out to be the girls weekend with Karina, her 6 month old boxer cross, Piper girl,  and myself. Quality girl time.

The community of Trout Lake is south east of Revelstoke BC in the West Kootenay district, at the north end of the lake. Trout Lake city was in it's heyday between 1897 to 1907 when it's population exceeded 2000, with a silver mine in full swing. When the mining shut down the population dispersed. Not that many years ago a molybdenum mine was opened; they had too many cave-ins and could not continue the mining. Now Trout Lake is what I would call a transient community. In the summer it is cottages and RV's in the winter it's heli-skiing, with maybe 20 people living there year round. A lot of Albertan's have cottages on the lake.

Galena Bay on Arrow Lake, waiting for the Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry, this is a free ferry. Check out the people on the rock, jumping into the water.

Piper "pretty girl" loving the walk break after a long drive to the ferry.

The scene from the ferry.

Forestry buildings just down the street from Karina's place, with the Glacier on Saddle Mountain

The Windsor Hotel, 518 Kellie Street, was built in 1892, these days you can't rent a room or eat in the restaurant or drink in the pub unless you are related or know the owner. The hotel hasn't changed much from the outside.

Trout Lake Marina, use at your own risk.

Piper learning how to swim, the next day you couldn't hold her back she loved it so much. 

Beach art to me.

Throw the stick, I'm ready. I couldn't believe how she could catch blue berries when I threw them at her.

The camp grounds.

Wilkie creek.

Kids, dogs, and families so drive slow.

Lots of bears roam the neighbor hood, you can't grow fruit trees, so this cottager has fake fruit hanging in the tree.

The house that Dave built. Check out the carved bear on the post above the porch! Click on the picture for a larger picture.

Many people enjoying the beach sunning, swimming, water skiing, the motor boaters were not respectful to the people on the beach or in the water with their wakes and the quads should not be driving on the beach.

Maxi with Piper trailing behind, trying to take his stick and having the best time.

Fields of wild flowers along the road.

The front door of the house that Dave built. Love this door.

The swing I sat in and read my book "Angela's Ashes" it was like floating, so peaceful. 

I came home a little browner, well rested and with a lot of beautiful rocks, looking forward to my next visit. Thank you Karina and Dave.