Gratitude #58

I'm often hunting for these.

Always grateful when they are found.

Heres my"tropical" submission for the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge this month.

It's the road just out side the driveway at my Dad's Hawaiian farm. The Norfolk Island Pines are huge and deep green- almost black.

Everywhere you are on the farm the ocean is visible. Love that.

6"x6" acrylic

Gratitude #57

I am very nearsighted-  don't need readers to read, although I do have progressive lenses on my specs. 

Below are two drawings done by my Great Grandmother- Lillian May Smith Dean, when she was 17

 ( in 1880)They are  in a show at the Boston University Art Gallery- I popped in there yesterday.

Pretty impressive- I had only have seen florals and landscapes by her.

Below are watercolors from last nights class in my studio-a wonderful group of health professional women. The theme was watermelon in watercolor.

I wished I had taken pictures of all the works- they were each lovely and unique!.

Gratitute #55

Yesterday I bought myself some orange tulips at the grocery store. It was a rainy yucky day and what would be better than to treat myself to these beauties?
The bagger lady lovingly packaged them for me- they were a bit battered . and said- "these are lovely". I told her my intention was to paint them ,and she said- "you are a painter? good for you."
Yup- good for me.
Buying flowers for yourself is a wonderful way to take care of yourself. Do it!
I did a larger oil painting in my studio- hope to finish it today. Haven't painted much in there lately- I am happy doing these little watercolors for now.
in other news- I was psyched to see my gratitude water painting in South Shore Living Magazine this month!

Gratitude #54

My youngest daughter is a junior at the College of Charleston.

She is studying to be an occupational therapist.

She is very gifted- both in music and art. She sings in the acapella group at the College.

I'm so proud of my girls!

( I think I better tone the blue down on her jawline-its a little bright!)

She texted me this picture yesterday for me to paint from.

Below are two of her recent paintings. She inspires me!

Gratitude #53

This is Tink.
She was found wandering in my brothers yard a few years ago- a scared little kitten with a white flea collar on..
We picked her up and went around the neighborhood looking for her owners, but no one claimed her. One of my neighbors offered to hold her until the owners were found, but it seemed that she had been abandoned. The next day another identical kitten with a white flea collar was spotted down by the creek. It wasn't as easy to get him- he was scared and ran away. My daughter finally rescued  him out of the dumpster in my brothers yard - she could hear his mewing.
I am grateful to my friend Mary who adopted them both.
The boy kitty never was really ok, he had issues, so was adopted again and is very happily living on a farm . Tink is still with Mary and is the sweetest girl, and Mary tells me she is pretty vocal.
I love cats, but I love my husband more- he is allergic to them.

Gratitude # 52

Rarely does a series captivate so many- this one is just AWESOME.

I can't believe we have to wait till next January!

I'm not sure who is my favorite character...I do so love Mrs. Patmore....

(I made her look a little too hunched here ..)

but I gotta say that Violet, Countess of Grantham ( Maggie Smith) is just hilarious.

Well I could go on...

who are your faves?

I loved Upstairs Downstairs way back when... this is even better!

Gratitude #51

Found this nest in my forsythia bush after a walk yesterday . I love the architecture of animals!

Gratitude #50

This gratitude idea actually started in my brain a few years ago at a Thanksgiving service at the Vedanta Centre in Cohassett.  The Reverend Mother Sudha Puri said- be grateful to everything today- and say thank you to it all- even your toothbrush. 
Basically be grateful for everything , and you will be in a state of grace.    
It really works!
I am not a religious person, but being in this place is the closest I have been to feeling spiritually connected.

There is a service every Sunday at 11 AM, and a meditation class Thursdays at 7. 
Sitting in silence in the candlelit sanctuary is a beautiful experience for me.

Gratitude # 49

I am back from my whirlwind visit to NYC- it was amazing! She's really comfortable in New York, knows the city-she led- I followed. Roles reversed.

I found myself thinking- what if I lose her? Would I find my way back? 

I am so proud of my girl, living there was always a dream for her.

Walking through Chinese New Year's parades on our way to Soho was fun- she  lives in the heart of Chinatown.

She plans to move again next fall-probably somewhere close to a Starbucks!

This is an installation by Wolfgang Laib.

 at the MOMA- the yellow stuff is pollen. 

This is the Monet waterlily mural- taken with the panoramic setting on my iPhone.

.

Gratitude # 47 and #48

Yesterday I traveled from Boston to New York on the limo liner bus... This is a multiple view piece of what i could see out the windows.
I am visiting my oldest girl who is by happily living in the city. We walked through Chinatown where there were many New Years celebrations going on.
It is so fun to see her all grown up and to be able to crash on her couch. Her apartment is pretty and modern .
She has a view of the World Trade Center . We were imagining what the view was like prior to 9/11.

Gratitude #46

These are wonderful mittens made of recycled wool sweaters, with fleece lining. Gloves do not keep my hands warm at all- my fingers miss each other...When I put my furry hood up and my mittens on I feel like I am 6 again !

Gratitude #45

                                                           Happy Valentine's Day!
                                                             A simple shape says so much.

Gratitude # 39,40,41,42,43 and 44

We were out of Power for almost 5 days!

I have to admit- it wasn't awful... being unplugged was a good thing in many ways, but man oh man we sure were we happy to see the lights come on! Aside from a flooded basement we managed pretty well. It was fun to play games at night- and we all slept great ( except for cold noses)

I kept on being grateful - heres why!

Winnie gives me so much joy and plenty of cuddling.

We never lost hot water !

I played a little bit on my recorder. My old wooden alto from when I was 12.

We were able to cook on our stovetop.

I made a pot roast!

Candles are the best. Flashlights too.

This truly saved us.

Burned straight for 5 days and kept us toasty!

So today its clean up, laundry, shopping and dealing with wet stuff in basement.

Sun is shining!

I hope people are getting back to normal..I really feel for those directly on the coast -they got hammered.

WOW I just realized- today is the 44th day of the year- I am right on schedule!

Big storm

Be careful what you wish for! We got tons of snow Friday into Saturday - the heavy wet stuff at first followed by lots of lighter snow- heaps of it!My list of gratitudes is long- I have lots of paintings to post when I can. We are on day three without power.... But it could be worse- we have a gas fireplace and my studio is warm...Al and I are enjoying my sister -in -law and niece for candlelight card games and eating up the food we have ( although today we start pitching out stuff). I dragged out  my snowshoes for a romp down the hill to the river yesterday, had soup and tea with neighbors- met my new next door neighbor who I can tell will be a lot of fun to get to know. This stuff does bring people together.
At a Starbucks now . Life is getting somewhat back to normal. Hope everyone else in our neck of the woods is safe and warm!

Gratitude #38

It was one happy day when they opened a Trader Joes in our area.

Shopping there is fun (except on Saturday and I wouldn't dare go there on the eve of this big snowstorm) but it's a happy place to shop, the products are excellent at good prices. I especially love my fun size cup of coffee they always provide, and perhaps a bite of something yummy.

I love the graphics on their shopping bags!

Gratitude #36 and #37

Sure am glad my furnace works these days...

I have a hard time falling asleep lately-not sure why...but when I do I am extremely grateful!

Gratitude #35

Where can you go and leave with an armload of wonderful, inspiring , educational, entertaining free stuff?

The library is a sanctuary for my soul. I am fortunate enough to work down the street from the Duxbury Free Library. It is the one of the best libraries I've ever been to and I happen to be good friends with their amazing director ! 

Last Sunday Roland Merullo who wrote Breakfast with Buddha (along with several other books) gave a talk and signing. I loved that book and now and reading "Lunch ..." which is now on the shelves in paperback.

 I rarely go to these things and wonder why I don't - it was fantastic!  He  just awesome. He shared so much and was so funny and charming. What really resonated with me was his mention of his inner  "demons" who can self judge so harshly- I know so well at times while I am doing my art. I can see how it can sabotage even the best artists and writers and and all other forms of creativity- 

but what  he said was "never give up.

You cannot lose if you never stop trying.

WOW.... Thanks Roland.

( this is not the final one- actually I am not really done with him)

he is a model for a life size one I have started)

Carol J the director put my Breakfast With Buddha paper mache sculpture on the little table next to Roland-table- it wasn't actually  planned at all- I just happened to have made it.and thought to bring it... I tucked a little flower in his hands last minute.

 The Dunkin Donuts cup was to represent the road trip middle America... 

too bad the DD cup was a little stained but hey- 

SPEAKING OF LIBRARIES

This Friday at 8 PM is the James Library Valentines Event -

below is Library Director Caroline (another awesome friend!) 

with my cupcake collage pieces that will be for sale along with many other artist's pieces.

I was happy to hear this week that the Boston Globe had a picture of my art in it!

My Mom used to sit here. Miss you Mum!

I put copper tape around them all and papered the backs Pinterest pretty!

Gratitude # 33 and #34

I love these huge gentle creatures- especially their eyes.

I missed posting yesterday- I was called up in the morning by an elderly friend who was in need of help - she ended up going to the hospital. The EMT guys were so great. I think she will be ok- maybe the flu.

Gratitude #32

I love my newly set up kitchen studio. I have a sweet little dressing table that I sit at and a comfy pretty chair- both roadside finds- and looking out at my bigger studio outside makes me so happy. Such a dream come true! I am loving my art life.

Gratitude # 31

              

                                 The lowly pencil.

                      Dependable, hardworking, versatile.

Girls Just Wanna Paint's January Challenge is up!

COLLAGE was our challenge for January.

I hade a lot of fun here.

"i got all my sistahs in me"