Peter Gabriel

I saw him again...

my favourite all-time musician...brilliance & light & talent & beauty...

I just saw Peter Gabriel

AHHHHHH.....

This is the 2nd time seeing him in concert, last time was his 'Growing Up' tour.

I am feeling so so blessed.

This was Peter's 'SO...Back To Front' tour.

The concert we were at is the one that will make up the dvd/blue-ray for the tour. Cool.

We enjoyed spiced pumpkin lattes, excellent food, a sweet new hotel,
and the brand new super long subway cars.

It was so fun to scramble and play about the city with my honey.

And of course, 'Secret World' made me cry profusely, not because it's a sad song, but because it's incredibly beautiful & in the moments of that one song,
I realized exactly where I was and how lucky lucky lucky
I was to be there seeing Peter in person for a 2nd time
& to be standing next to the guy I was standing next too.
 

SO Happy...Back to Front.

Beatrix Balnora and Baynor

A brand new picture by yours truly...

"Beatrix, Balnora and Baynor"

Prints are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop.


I just couldn't wait to share her with you tonight.

Be well All and may you also sink into dreamland tonight and dream

of a marvelous world where rabbits and foxes were friends not foes.

Cave Spelunking

Some adventuring and fun was recently had.

My honey and I with a friend of ours all went cave spelunking together.

It was great fun and quite physical.  My legs were so tired the day after I could barely walk, ha ha.

Jonathan and I had ventured to this spot years ago when we were in college...

but it was so fun to revisit it.

There is one part called "Fat Man's Misery", a crevice that snakes through the rock

and is only 14" at it's widest opening...it took me a few attempts to get through.

It was such a mental experience, if you panic, your chest expands and you get stuck really fast.

Apparently alot of people do get stuck and require help to get out...

I had made it through this same crevice years ago
but I admit, I was quite abit slimmer back then, ha ha...

But I persevered and made it through then turned back around and did it again, ha ha.

I was so proud of myself.

 

I just wanted to share my favourite photos from a great day.  Thanks for hopping in.
My scanner is on the fritz again hence the lack of artwork...but hopefully I'll get it sorted out soon.

More Outside Loveliness

I wanted to show you all my 2nd favourite place outside.
I am puttering around and working in this lovely spot all spring, summer and fall
(and now nights since that the mosquitoes are going away).

This is the beautiful gazebo Jonathan and I made together...(Jonathan made that table too from old scraps).
I've shown this space to you before as well, but as always, it changes from season to season.

We can be found out here even when the snow is flying...which it will soon be doing!

so the buns and I are out here enjoying the last of the flowers & warm sun, every chance we get.

Hope you's don't mind seeing snippets of my time outside
but it is what I am currently enjoying and basking in.

I'll see you again in a few days.  Thanks so much for hopping in.

Outside With...

I've been outside more than not this past week,
often well past the time twinkling stars dance across the skies.
I am with such loveliness as...

My big grey baby...

With the last of the annuals and with chickadees drinking from the fountain...

with my felt and floss and beads, stitching up a new lovely wearable...



I am outside with a full full heart.

I hope your heart and soul are feeling super full and overflowing with loveliness too. XO

Lemon Bucket Orkestra

We recently saw the amazing and awesome

Lemon Bucket Orkestra

They are a unique and highly energetic band of Balkan-Gypsy style.

I just have to share my favourite shots from the concert.

 In a rush to get to their performance on time we parked in a questionable spot and got a

$50 parking ticket, ha ha...but that's alright, I'd pay it all over again just to see them once more.



If you ever have a chance to check this group out, we highly highly recommend it.

It was such fabulous fun.

Picalo Giulam

It was a weekend which started off with a neurologists appointment for my migraines...

Followed up with a day of cave spelunking and zip-lining with two of my best friends...

followed by a rainy day stroll through our local farmers market for honey & veggies...

finishing off with a Sunday filled with homemade soup, reading, stitching and romping bunnies.

Now, it's Monday...ahhhh I love Mondays.

I am sitting here soaking up a beautiful sunny morning,

feeling so very very glad to be in my studio amidst whimsy and colour.

And I finally finished this super dashing cutie...

his name???

Picalo Guilam



He told me that he's never without a striped vest nor some kind of beautiful feather in his hat...

my oh my what a dapper little gentle-bun, don't ya think?

This handsome little fella is done in coloured pencil and mixed in with an acrylic background

and sits on top of a bright orange ribbon strip, all on canvas.

The original is available.

Prints are already listed in my shop.

Today I am working on a fish and a possum in this same series...Such fun!

Join me on Wednesday for some cool photos from a great concert we recently saw.

I've had not head pain for 6 days straight now...

ahhh, It's going to be a wonderful day, don't ya think?

Happy Birthday To Roo

Happy Birthday or rather Happy Homecoming

to our handsome boy Roo.

7 years ago I found him lost and starving in the forest....

He was destined to come home to our Ella Luna & family.

He is 7.5 years old now

and is such a wonderful, sweet, calming and loving soul.

We are so very glad that we found him all those years ago.

XO Mandy & Roo Boo

Your Existence Gives Me Peace

I had been drooling over a set of Prismacolour markers

and my friend Maria finally convinced me to splurge and get them for myself.

So I've been playing...

and just finished up this ink drawing which I call

"Your Existence Gives Me Peace"

...I guess the couple in the image does look abit like Jonathan and myself,

and I suppose that was intentional since the piece is about us, love, partnership

and how my honey's presence and existence gives me great peace & soothing hope.

These new markers are perfect for those days where my heads quite sore

and I just can't bring myself to work at my desks or easels
but when I want to get something creative done.

I can just curl up with a small piece of paper and the markers whiles on the comfy couch or bed.

I am going to print out the black and white drawing and then take my watercolours to the print. 

I can't wait to do so...I'll show you the results here of course.

I have another black and white to show you soon...it's one for animal lovers/advocates.

P.S.  I just updated new shots to my Flickr account for anyone interested in my photostream.

XO Mandy whose heart is full 

August Newsletter

My August Newsletter is being sent out momentarily.

If you would like to receive my newsletters just sign up right here.

My Back Deck

So onto lighter things...

Want to see where I spend alot of time on spring, summer & fall days? 

Well one of the places anyways!

This is our back deck.

It's where Mister Roo-Boo tends to hang out during the days,

where Ella Luna and I spent oodles and oodles of time together,

and where the squirrels and chickadees come to converse with me.

It's also where I have my morning coffee,

my mid-afternoon reading breaks

and where my easel is set up for painting or pastels.

It's also where I stretch out and gaze up at the stars in the evening times.

Ahhhh.

I LOVE it.

I've shown you this space before,

but it does change from season to season,

I am sure it'll be completely rearranged next year again.

And, I still have to paint that one rocking chair a bright red...maybe this coming weekend.

Thanks for hopping in.

XO Mandy & The Buns



Disappearing Act...Again!

Hi Everyone,

Wow!

I've managed to disappear unexpectedly from my blog again.  Sorry about that.

A two week long head pain marathon ran into my honey getting really sick and ending up in hospital

because he could barely breathe for his lungs & airways had gotten so congested...it was scary!

And that ordeal streamed right along into more head pain filled days for me

and then naturally my turn to get abit of a flu...

But all is getting better now, so I'll be showing you some new artwork very soon.

I'd like to say later today or tomorrow but for once I won't promise since my headaches and

migraines are in high gear these last few weeks and I've been able to get less done than

normal or even keep to a plan or schedule of any sort.

BUT...

my Jonathan is okay now and safe and sound at home...

The first words out of his mouth when I was finally able to see him a few hours later in the triage room was "Oh there you are, I missed you and I miss my rabbits, I want to go home I need to see them" awww.

So even though I am writing this with a still pounding head

and I am pretty sure it'll likely be sore again tomorrow!

(I head to a neurologist very soon...slightly nervous!)

my honey is back home and on his way to healthy again, so all is right in my world

...and I have no complaints.

And I am just really excited about showing you all some new work,

I've been working on so many things.

So do hop in for a visit again really soon so you can see all the new goodies, okay?

XO Mandy

A Visit

I got to spend a short time with my best friend Judit recently,

which we so so needed and which has filled up my heart happily until our next visit.

We live a far 400km away and it's just not always easy for us to get together unfortunately.

But this beautiful girl is a part of my heart and I love love love her so.

We don't need a million friends, or a hundred or even ten...

we just need one really true and blue soul who gets us and loves us through thick and thin.

I was lucky to travel the 400km with my oldest and and most spectacular best friend, Jonathan.

whiles leaving our beloved buns and home in the hands of another beautiful and awesome friend, Maria.

to travel to and spend time with my dearest kindred Chicken, Judit.

I am so very grateful for these friendships, they are my rocks.

Now it's off to yoga and then the dentist (ugh!)...have a beautiful day everyone.

She Lived Inside Hope

I have a new mixed media to show you all today, it's titled...

"She Lived Inside Hope"

Because at the end of the day, the one thing we always have, is our hope.

I know I live inside it.

I hope you do as well.

Have a wonderful weekend and we'll see you next week

(I am hoping it will be a headache/migraine free one, unlike this past week!)

XO A Heat Pack Surrounded Mandy

Sir Frances Frogget

Hey there everyone.

I am back after alittle impromptu blog break...

sorry for disappearing for abit...

But, I am back to introduce a brand new dapper fellow.

"Sir Francis Frogget"

Isn't he stylish?

He has a little circle of acquaintances who are very anxious to say hello to you all very soon.

(prints of him are already in my Shop).

It's been so gloomy, rainy and chilly around these parts this week, the buns and I are loving it.

Breathing Place

If your lucky
you have a few places where you can go to too 'breathe easier'...

Special places you can run to to relieve stresses, even if but momentarily.
A place where your views can alter & shift if you care to tend to them...
Or a place where you mind & heart can take a break & breathe in some silence along with your lungs.

I have several such spots...
In the house snuggling with bunnies or outside watching them play is a top spot for me.

At the waterside watching sunsets ranks top priority often.
On golden country roads with my honey, with the top off our Jeep is definitely a favourite as well.

And, in the sparkling quiet of a magical forest is another favourite of mine.
(I took these photos at one of my breathing places recently).

As a child, I grew up running wild about the trees and water.

There was a large forest behind my childhood house and it was my 2nd home.

As long as we checked in with our parents occasionally and were back in time for dinner,
we roamed and played in that forest as comfortably as in our own bedrooms.

My big brother, my pals and I were always fooling and running around amongst the
trees & ponds like bare-footed carefree bandits.
It was full of bears, raccoons, partridges, beavers, foxes, etc but we were never scared.
Now as an adult, I am still always happy to run about my old stomping grounds...
though admittedly now some trepidation can't help but join me
since we do have cougars roaming around now!

Now these place don't just hold magical memories of childhood,
they are beautiful breathing places...
places to center ones self & remember what is really important in life.

Where do you tend to breathe deeply, where do your stresses slip away???

XO Mandy

p.s. I think I might be taking a tiny little blog break...so I'll be seeing you all again in early August.