thankful {things I love} thursday ...

cardinal couples

nests

beautiful in every season

pieces of art in themselves

Archer ~ my love

unconditional

x

snow glistening like diamonds

and tree branch shadows

the serenity of the woods

& the deep love , respect and connection I feel for mother earth...

shared in my newest painting

bound to you

crow * owl * badger * hare * moon *trees

the "story" became more of a love note

I am bound to you

heart and soul

living fully

brave and bold

sky watcher

earth walker

tree hugger

bird talker

bound to you

body and mind

precious *mother earth*

you leave daily treasures for me to find

how you nourish me

in simple, gentle ways

a cooling breeze, sky filled with clouds

warmth on my neck ... Namaste

in gratitude, I bow...

you keep me grounded

keep me aware

keep me well rounded

I am bound to you

in every move I make

I walk you gently

giving back more than I take

© deb dunn

thankful {things I love} thursday ...

"I love getting older.

My understanding deepens.

I can see what connects.

I can weave stories of experience and apply them.

I can integrate the lessons.

Things simply become more and more fascinating.

Beauty reveals itself in thousands of forms"

~Victoria Erickson~

Sparrow Studio Altar

~thankful {things I love} Thursday ~ 

music 

a gentle smudge of sparrow studio

candles lit

... tons of ideas & projects floating around in my head

my little studio altar

grounds me the moment I walk into my little sparrow studio

I light candles

put on music

and spend a few moment to settle in 

before I begin

I make a few changes seasonally

but some things remain the same, like my gratitude jar

... a small slip of paper is added daily of one thing I am thankful for that day x

painted leaves, bark and feathers

anyone who knows me 

knows how much I adore quotes.

I had the idea for a while to paint a little quote keeper box.

smudge sticks created from my own garden

have dried beautifully

treasures to watch over me

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

Inukshuk

Canada's symbol of the North

Inuk "man"

Shuk "substitute"

"Every path serves a purpose"

~Gene Oliver~

***

I love spotting Inukshuks along the highway ♥

Built in the image of man and used as a directional marker.

Their strength and presence give  comfort to travelers assuring them they are never alone.

"We can choose

to throw stones

to stumble on them

to climb over them

or

to build with them"

~William Arthur Ward"

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

...Thankful for  all the little treasures on my sparrow studio altar

Art

for me

is like

breathing

"Art enable us

to find ourselves

and lose ourselves

at the same time"

~Thomas Merton~

"If you ask me

what I came to do in this world,

I, an artist, will answer you:

I am here

to live

out loud"

~Emile Zola~

"Artists feel what they're carrying and feel it vividly.

In order to make their art

they must find their edges

and soften there.

Art {like love} was never about safety.

To love an artist

is to fall into a sea

of deep

soulful

courageous

wild living"

~Victoria Erikson~

sweet grass tea lights

"I am an instrument

in a shape

of  a woman"

~Adrienne Rich~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

"You know that moment

first thing in the morning

and you open the window,

and you are flooded with the senses

of life,

birdsong,

fresh air,

sunbeams,

nature in all her glory...

it's just so sacred.

It's the life-bird

and she's singing the sweetest song.

She's reminding us

of what it is like to be alive.

Don't forget her song today.

Don't become so busy you can't hear it anymore.

Feeling alive today,

make that your focus.

Because we deserve to dance our days away.

Because we deserve to feel alive"

~S.C. Lourie~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

woodland walks ...

whispers in the trees...

wandering ...

shinrin-yoku

shinrin : forest, woods

yoku: fully

known as

"forest bathing"

~ the restorative effects of being in nature~

and I am so thankful to have lovely soothing woods only a short walk away...

a spot where some of my favourite trees ♥ dwell and call home

"Why must people kneel down to pray?

If I really wanted to pray

I'll tell you what I'd do.

I'd go out

into a great big field

all alone or into the deep, deep, woods,

and I'd look up into the sky

up-up-up- into that lovely blue sky

as if there was no end to its blueness.

And then

I'd just *feel* a prayer.

Well, I'm ready.

What am I to say?"

~L.M. Montgomery~

♥ hope you are having a wonderful Thursday filled with much Thankfulness♥

d xo

Thankful {things I love} Thursday

I absolutely love this little paper.

The Country Register can be found just inside the door of the quaintest little craft shops.

Filled to the brim with stories, recipes, calendar of events/ upcoming festivals  , travel inspiration, gardening tips, and so much more.

We have found so many wonderful cafes and craft shops to visit thanks to The Country Register.

And after years of picking up the paper and enjoying it I am thrilled to be, once again,

*the cover artist*

My painting "A flock of birds" is  the May/April 2017 cover

for The Country Register of Ontario

♥

~ dream ... dream big ...  ... because dreams really do come true ~

{when your sweet supportive family picks up issues} :-D

Thankful {things I love} Thursday

Thankful

{things I love}

Thursday

walking paths

even though I often walk the same path daily

there are subtle changes

to be noticed

beauty in all 4 seasons

{this fence looks equally as lovely covered in snow}

sweet friends

♥

little homes

so much beauty

all my dogs have walked these woods  ...

it is a special spot because of that ...

I sense their presence here ♥

nature's artwork

serenity * mindfulness * gratitude * bliss

the silence of nature

is very real.

it surrounds you ...

you can feel it.

~Ted Trueblood~