Vast Blue Ice

I think we have ventured out onto the frozen lakes

surrounding our little city this season more than ever before...

I know part of the reason was us seeking solitude from sore hearts and other stresses.

 

I don't know what about it exactly was healing...

The coldness...the quiet...the companionship...the water...whatever it's been

I thank this vast blue-soaked landscape, for it's muffled peaceful healing and incredible beauty.

Spring....Meh!?

Ahhhhhhh.....Spring is here...we're happy but not super happy...

We don't feel ready for all the work summer brings...

We're wanting just a bit more hibernating time!  We definitely have more wintery posts coming!!

Orange and Blue Duo

I started this one in watercolour....than I moved onto coloured pencil...than onto ink pen...

It ended up being a bit different from what I normally do...I'll scan it in & show ya on Thursday.

Frozen Liquid Fun

Spring has rolled in like a lion...

Things were frozen stiff & solid just yesterday, today they gleam with the shiny wetness of melting.

We've been running out almost ever night, enjoying our frozen landscape before it becomes liquid!

Weekend Wishes

Whatever you find yourself doing this weekend may you be able to stop long enough

to fully embrace a heart full wonderment at this specatularly beautiful world of ours XO

Food Friday

Here is an easy food idea for this weekend...

Just grab your favorite foccacia from your local grocery shop, bring it home,

throw it in the oven to warm it up, than drizzle it with light olive oil and balsamic...

On the side make yourself a big beautiful salad of baby greens, avocado, finely chopped swiss chard,

lots of toasted nuts & seeds like cashews, sliced almonds and sunflower seeds

and drizzle over all of that a delicious mix of olive oil, salt, lemon juice and agave...YUM & Enjoy!

Curve Balls & Colour

Monster migraines, sick bunnies, life's curve balls have knocked me sideways quite a bit lately!

But I'll be showing you all some brand new colourful pieces soon!  Just bare with me!

Psst...I am Being Interviewed

I always find it nerve wracking to be interviewed but when the lovely Anne Butera

asked me to be on her beautiful blog 'My Giant Strawberry'  I couldn't pass it up.  So on April 7th...

we'll be chatting about my days at OCAD, the bunnies, life with migraines and my art of course.

I hope you'll mark it on your calendars and join us XO.

Adopted Grandpas & Great Watercolours

I don't work out of my studio often because I am just happiest working solo with the buns near me.

But now and than I seek out my friend who've I've shared studio space with before,

my super talented adopted grandpa, Arlie Hoffman, one of North Bay's cherished jewels...

He has a studio space downtown in our little city and I love to set up next to him & work & chat.

He works on huge beautifully amazing watercolours, I on miniature coloured pencils & it's so great.

Jelly Bean Jewel In Blue

Here's a peek at another upcoming Glitter Bug...

I like to have several butterflies all done and released from their paper surroundings

before I seal them onto their painted backgrounds.

I think this is going to be a cool one.  Join me later this week for more from the studio.

Snowstorm Blue

Sometimes you just have to jump in your Jeep
and explore the delicious blue hour of a Spring snowstorm.

When everyone else is tucked away at home,
the quietness of the storm beckons you out to play like a secret playmate...

And sometimes when your out there playing about in the blue hour,
you find yourself venturing out onto a beautiful frozen river for a stroll,
you find yourself stumbling across and smiling right back at a shining marvelous metal sun.
And than perhaps you meet a wise mage and you find yourself whispering to him
a secret thank-you for granting your wish of more magical blue snow!

Weekend Wishes

Happy Weekend wishes being wished your way...

May you find warmth in any cold and beauty in any troubled times XOXO

Food Friday

This is a super quick and tasty dinner idea we have often.

It's a burger using tempeh which has been sautéed in olive oil,

topped with Veganaise dressing, lettuce and tomatoes.

With a side of canned potatoes browned up, once again in olive oil with a bit of salt.

Real potatoes are better of course but sometimes after a long week a quicker solution is okay.

Hope this fills your tummy nicely if you try it and that it sends you off into a lovely weekend XO.

Wind Be Gone

We've been loving our leisurely time out on the frozen lakes

with all the shining blinding white snow and the constantly dynamic changing skies, it's delicious...

This day was cold and the skies mostly dark but the expanse of the lake was still so soothing.

So this happened as I read & as snow being packed, flew all around me, sparkling in the air...

A snow wall which took shape quickly to brilliantly block us from the bulk of the bitter wind.

 We had our handy folding chairs, a thermos of tea, bananas and watermelon!

Because the wall worked so well, we were toasty snug & ended up staying for about 4 hours.

It's by far one of my favorite days of winter this past season.

I loved everything about this day and that my guy worked so sweetly to keep his girl warm...

It's the little things and the big things and the icy cold sweet as pie things, ahhhhh XO.

Jelly Bean Jewels

I started another new batch of butterflies to help pay for our Jelly Bean's heart meds...

Here is one of the latest ones released from it's paper and ready for it's background.

Missing You

I've been missing my best friend...

I know life goes on and all that jazz...

but a large part of mine hasn't, not yet anyhow...

I miss my bed snuggle time with her & our sharing snack time before bed...I miss her sweet face...

I miss her joyful energetic bouncy clumsy energy filling the house.

Every time I see her little box of ashes on the mantel

I want to scream and shout and stomp because it still feels unreal and unfair.

Everytime I look at Yuuji, I feel sad because I know he's lonely with missing her too

and he just isn't his usual self without his girl, whom he loved so so much.

 But I find a little solace in honoring her beautiful spirit through my art

and I am so glad that the very first image of my Artful Blogging feature

was indeed an ink portrait that I did of Teela.

It feels strange that the issue came out just a week before she left us.

I know time heals...But this one might take my whole lifetime.

If your up there bouncing about the stars...we're doing okay without you but we'd be better with you.

And we're missing you every single minute of every single day baby girl.

Icy Walks

We've been spending a lot of time out on the frozen lakes...

It's a good workout for my bad knees & it's hard not to feel peaceful in such a wide open space.