And I feel that the urge to turn my painting in a new direction is finally going to win. Exploring colour has been a focus in the past two years, and it is time to be true to what attracted me to create in the first place. Colour and light - be it quilting, fabric  dying, stained glass, beading, or painting. So hopefully the posting in the next few months will reflect some interpretation of... brilliance? (ah, but pets will remain recognizable!).

I am down with the flu today, or some kind of bug. It has been a very long time since I felt really unwell and this will make so grateful once I start to feel better! Ick s about all I can say. Got up and fed the dogs and went right back to bed, an I am still here. Down for the count and just have to be kinder to myself right now. Canvases stacked up downstairs...waiting.

I remember when getting, or, worse, not getting, a Valentine's Day card was sooo important. How priorities change! These days I am sooo happy to get out of bed with fewer aches in my joints! It makes me laugh now, looking back. All that angst. But there is no telling a young person about the perspective they will have years later - and there was really no one to tell me, anyway. But here I am. Happy and peaceful...and painting...thank goodness! 

Okay, not quite, but it is quickly coming to a close, and that makes me so aware of the importance to be present and attentive to 'right now'. The cold and wet of January in Vancouver is perfect for sorting and clearing. This past week I have purged a mountain of doll making and quilting supplies, reducing the stash to somewhere in between a foothill and a mountain. Next time around I'll get it to between a foothill and a mole hill. Four bins of quality quilting fabrics and cotton battings are off to the Fraser Valley Quilters Guild for use in making preemie quilts. The doll making supplies, together with a huge bag of yarn, was donated to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. So, others will have some fun with all that stuff, and I feel good getting it out of the house. I think I will make this a regular January project...after all, I didn't get rid of EVERYTHING! A girl has to keep some of her 'stuff'.

The year is almost done as Christmas is only days away. As always it is a time of reflection, assessment, gratitude, and anticipation. I am grateful for the love and support of my friends, for the treasured memories of beloved ones no longer of this earth, for my dogs for feeding my need to be needed, for my puppy for reminding me that NOW is all that there is for sure, and, well, for so much. I look forward to a new year filled with harmony, beauty, love, art, laughs, nature, and peace

Enjoyed the Culture Crawl and all the shmoozing. Sales were decent and overall the people were great...now back to 'normal' (huh?). Winter is fast upon us, Christmas lights are sprouting throughout the neighbourhood, the fireplace dvd is on its' 24 hours loop on TV, and each night the news summarizes the retail activity. Thinking we need more colour...more happy...in these times of short days and very little sunshine.