where did April go?

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. 

- Charles Dickens

The weekend is finally here.

My heart's a little heavy

with Mother's Day

just around the corner

and thoughts of all those people

in Fort McMurray (Alberta)

trying to escape the wildfires...

but i'm writing anyway.

These are the times

when writing is most important.

We so often hear

that material things don't matter -

but i can't help but think

of the things I treasure in my own home...

my photographs

and writings

and books

and paintings

and gifts my son made me

when he was in kindergarten

(yes, i still have them)

and letters and cards

from people I love.

I can't imagine losing

so many precious things

and the burden of

starting all over again

without anything that ties you

to who you were before the fire

except memories.

The past few weeks
have flown by for me
and the past few days
have been a bit of a blur.
It's a good thing I guess,
because that means July will be here soon
and I'll be done at work
and back to my drawing room
surrounded by things
that make me feel like me.

I am not practicing 
what I preach these days.
I'm the one who talks all the time
about the importance of making art
every day
and honestly,
i have not been living up
to my own words.

It's difficult these days
not only to find the time to paint
but to feel inspired to paint.

I sat in my blue room a few times,
shuffling paper here and there
and making a few scribbles.

I never force myself
to do much of anything.
I sometimes sit in my blue room
and while I may not make
a work of art,
if I spend 20 or 30 minutes
scribbling or doodling or sketching -
it was at least 30 minutes of
creative 'something'.
Creative 'something' is always better
than creative 'nothing'.
But oh, how I look forward to those nights
where it feels like my muse is dancing with me
in this little room of mine.

Doesn't this open seashell in the sand
look like an open heart?
or a little white hairdo? :)

Yoga is still part of my day,
although I've missed it a few days now.
I'm happy the weekend is here
so i can catch up with yoga
and painting
and just being here.

i liked doing this oil pastel
abstract leaf drawing...

And on one of those nights
where i didn't feel particularly creative,
I sat for a bit,
picked 2 sketchbooks 
and 2 acrylic colors,
and just put color on the pages.

The paint tube was just in front of me
so i did this quick little sketch
with chinese markers (black & white)

Then with the other page,
i scribbled this,
again, with chinese markers.
I like this one.

Not much of anything,

but one could say it looks like

trees lining a road...

right? ;)

A little sketch

on a different night,

of dad's van.

Yes, my father is 81 years old,

and he bought himself a hippie van.

Welcome to the funny farm. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!
xx