A place in my heart ...

Archer Stanley Dolan 

We are heartbroken.

Our precious boy passed away Monday afternoon. 

My velcro dog ... you will hold a place in my heart forever xxxx

This past week has been incredibly difficult. Archer and I were together all the time and especially this past year with Covid keeping us at home more than usual. We had a routine, he and I from early 7 am morning walks, to sharing toast at breakfast, Sparrow studio time where he had a soft cozy bed (situated so that early morning sunshine landed straight on his back). Trying to get in a morning stretch on my yoga mat always brought giggles as he would lay at the bottom of the mat making getting a full  stretch tricky! He wasn't referred to as my Velcro dog for nothing! Often, I get so into a painting that I lose track of time, but I would look down at those brown, soul filled eyes looking up at me and knew that  by 2pm it was time for our second walk. Slow, meditative walks . . . we spotted so many things along the way . . . he and I. 

Loved forever

Thank you so much for all the kind emails, text messages, DM messages on Instagram, and flowers . . . Such a beautiful way to honour the life of our precious Archer who was the epitome of  kindness and unconditional love. 

 

They will not go quietly,

the pets who've shared our lives.

In subtle ways they will let us know

their spirit still survives.

Old habits still can make us think

we hear them at the door.

Or step back when we drop

a tasty morsel on the floor.

Our feet still go around the place

the food dish used to be.

And, sometimes, coming home at night,

we miss them terribly.

And although time may bring new friends

and a new food dish to fill,

that one place in our heart belongs to them . . . 

and always will.

~Author Unknown~ 

National love your pet day . . .

"When I look into the eyes of an animal

I do not see an animal.

I see a living being.

I see a friend.

I feel a soul"

~A.D. Williams~

 My sweet Archer Stanley Dolan ~ a girl's best friend * walking partner * confidant * my velcro dog

Of course, every day is love your pet day in our home (and yours) but when I read that today was "officially"  named National love your pet day, I had to celebrate Archer!

"Dogs are not our whole life

but they make our lives whole"

~Roger Caras~ 

Morning moments . . .

I love early mornings - that wonderful hush all through the house and garden. Still dark outside, I open the curtains,  light candles, turn on the twinkle lights in the kitchen. Sit in quiet meditation, do a bit of journaling, jot down thoughts and plans for the day.  A bit of baking was today's plan and the kitchen is warm and cozy and smells amazing. Archer has fallen asleep again. 

"When you arise in the morning

think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive

to breathe

to think

to enjoy

to love"

~Marcus Aurelius~ 

Oatmeal/raisin cookies hot out of the oven

"I'm always thinking about creating.

My future starts when I wake up every morning.

Every day I find something creative to do with my life"

~Miles Davis~

Coffee * cookies * candles 

 Have a wonderful Thursday

d x

the little things . . .

Our snowy garden picket fence! On one of the posts sits a little concrete Sparrow . . . I began to wonder if the snow didn't stop soon, that he would be completely covered!

"Winter is the time for comfort

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home"

~Edith Sitwell~

Archer and I have had our early morning walk and a pot of red lentil soup simmers on the stove.

"Soup is the song of the hearth . . . 

and the home"

~Louise P DeGouy~

Indoor plants have been tended to , freshly watered and deadheaded with lots of new growth spotted 

they always look so fresh and happy afterwards 

Lots of happy birds in the garden. It was so lovely to hear them singing as Archer and I walked this morning. Spotted the loveliest pair of Woodpeckers whose sweet chirps got my attention.

"I live in my own little world.

But its ok, they know me here"

~Lauren Myracle~

*love this quote* ;-D 

Sunlight streaming through the windows and dancing chandelier prisms on the wall

Light is good

from whatever lamp it shines

And while the soup simmers, a little afternoon painting . . . 

The brown paper that covers my art table picks up brush strokes and colours during the day 

Twists and turns of the paint brush and Garden Peony petals appear . Must be all this sunshine pouring through the windows that has me bringing out the coral, deep purple, mahogany, white and yellow paints.

Garden gazing - freshly filled feeders and  cardinals, chickadees, juncos, and three squirrels making me smile.

I've just started watching a new series that I absolutely love and it's on tonight. The trouble with Maggie Cole with two of my favourite actresses Dawn French (Maggie) and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Jill)

"After all, I believe the nicest and sweetest days

are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens

but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly,

like pearls slipping off a string"

~L. M. Montgomery~

~lunch time~ 

happy Wednesday

d x

 

Let it snow . . .

I have a little plaque in the garden that says "Let it snow" & snow it has these past few days, with another huge storm coming.

Archer has his own little "path" shoveled out in the garden to make getting around easier.

My sweet velcro dog keeps his eye on me as I watch him from the kitchen window :-) 

Grateful to be safe and warm at home

Finishing up some writing submissions curled up in my favorite kitchen nook, sipping tea, jotting down thoughts and of course, bird watching.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is happening February 12-15 and we have been watching and counting the number of species and time and jotting down all the info. This morning as I re-filled the feeder I had a very sweet little black capped chickadee fly over towards me as I put my hand out for him ... bliss!

Happy Monday ~ Happy Family Day. 

We will be doing a Family Zoom night with our little birds tonight ~ lots of fun & games planned. 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

"The more we love, 

the more loving we become.

Love fosters kindness;

 love elicits respect;

 love clears the way for a positive attitude; 

love inspires hope and confidence;

love brings joy, peace, beauty and harmony"

~Sister Stanislaus Kennedy~

A heart within a heart within a heart ...in awe of all the beauty in the world and thinking of the words written by Sister Stan ...

joy, peace, beauty and harmony

"We are shaped and fashioned

by what we love"

~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe~ 

"Love wants to own nothing.

It only wants to love"

~Hermann Hesse~

"Give all to love

Obey thy heart...

Nothing refuse"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Jam Jams are a Valentine tradition . . . treats for my sweets 

 And these amazing cupcakes from our grandsons ~ the most intricately decorated bouquet of cupcakes, works of art and absolutely delicious ;-) 

Happy Valentine's Day

d x 

Tones & Textures ...

I've been painting on some mini canvas boards lately which I have really been enjoying . At only 9.5" x 7", they take up very little room. 

Mostly serene beach scenes from some of my favourite walking spots (that I have been missing so much ... looking forward to beach combing again soon) 

Soft, soothing, muted, ethereal colours has been my chosen palette of late, and when I have turned to a brighter shade, it is normally white washed over. Looking over some of the paintings from January 2021 to now, I can certainly see a "colour theme" and lots and lots of texture! I will often zone in on a specific spot of wonderful texture that has "appeared" like an unexpected gift!

We are a family that adore elephants. I was planning on painting a giraffe, inspired after watching the amazing Anne Innis Dagg the other night on W5, but as I began to paint, well Elephas appeared and I always go where the muse takes me.

Some fascinating Elephant facts:

the word Elephant comes from the Greek word Elephas which means Ivory

Elephant families are led by females

their large thin ears regulate their body temperature

social creatures, they display affection and hug by wrapping their trunks together 

August 12th is celebrated as the World's Elephant Day 

"I loved you with texture. 

You loved with a softness.

Texture brought details, softness brought folds.

Folds brought creases and creases had secrets"

~Dominic Riccitello~

Water (infused by a recent full moon) holds all the colours of the lake

Trust your Crazy ideas ... It's all in Your hands

texture in an angel painting

"Texture is the most enduring and ubiquitous underpinning of form... certainly a calming, meditative and appealing word for both the eye and mind" ~Lynda Lehmann~

"Each moment has different flavor, different beauty and different texture" ~Amit Ray~

"The texture of experience is prior to everything else' ~Williem De Kooning~

when it rains

 "Little moments can have a feeling, a texture that is very real" ~Ralph Fiennes~

gathering ...

And along the way, they gathered.

"If you have ever gone to the woods with me

I must love you very much"

~Mary Oliver~

Inspiration from the everyday finds itself in a painting. Archer and I have kept our daily walks to just around the neighbourhood and our own backyard. In his senior years, he is content with simply following me around our garden as I putter about. A few days ago I was gathering up some twigs and sprigs that had blown about the garden and brought them inside to make a new wreath for the kitchen window.

I sorted through an assortment of dried flowers, pussy willow branches, and grapevine that I already had. With Valentine's day approaching, I twisted the grapevine into a heart shape and began tucking in flowers. My Birthday flowers came with some lovely Eucalyptus which added an amazing scent.

Keeping with the natural, organic look, I added a simple burlap "ribbon"

"Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone.

Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the Spring"

~William Alexander~ 

 "And then,

 I have nature

 and art 

and poetry, 

and if

that is not enough,

what is enough?"

~Vincent Van Gogh"