The local wildlife

I have a little story to tell you.Here is a photo around the adult pool at our little resort with all the people happily taking in the sun and beach...exactly as we are,and right beside the resort is a canal to the sea.It's a lovely canal but doesn't drain directly into the sea, it drains thru a sand bank.Our room door faces the canal, our balcony faces the pool. It's lovely walking back to the room along the canal because I get so see some local birds...like this cormorant.And these egrets.You know me, I love to photograph the local flora and fauna, and I tend to notice mostly everything other people completely miss, like this wasp nest in a palm growing on a little island in the middle of the pool.So this morning I met the local gardener who was removing some palm seed fronds and I asked him if I could have some. He gave me three. Then I spent a lovely time studying them for a sketch and finishing my book. This is The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro. Dalyce suggested it and I loved it. Actually, I didn't realise till the end of the book that this is the same author who wrote Elegance, which Robert gave me one Christmas. I loved that book too.Then I sketched the palm fronds for a while,While Robert read his birthday prezzy magazines,And the sellers plied their wares on the guests. (Wow, that's some body art...huh?)Meanwhile, this great-tailed grackle was keeping an eye on our pool neighbours who were eating chips and tacos.By this time I was watching the frigate birds and thinking that I needed to go back to our room for a fresh-up.So I left Robbie reading, the frigate bird flying, and the grackle picking up crumbs, walked back to our room, turned the corner...and...:OCrocodile on the canal! Ten foot Twelve foot Thirteen feet long! At least!So I ran out of the balcony saying, "Robbie, Robbie, quick, hand me my camera, come see, there's a crocodile on the canal!!!"I got this look!So I gave up and went to see again. It looked like the object of the crocks affection was this huge iguana easily four five six feet long, on the deck of the resort next door, right above the crocodile.So I watched, exchanged surprised glances with the locals, and got my fill of photos. Then I walked back to the pool deck and my second book.Meanwhile, some children started shouting "el crocodilo!!!" at their parents from the balcony on the third floor. Robert looked at me and I said, "see?", and he said, "You paid them to say that!" LOLWell, I'll tell you something. I'm not much of a runner with my foot all sprained at the moment and took great comfort in there being a good chain link fence between our resort and the canal, but when we returned to our room, there was the huge iguana, inside the chain link fence on the little golf green just outside our room door, munching away happily.Robert said, "do you suppose the crock ticks?"

Mexico, got out of town

Let me tell you something :DThis is going to belong to my "Well, if you can believe this!" file.Remember last June I stepped sideways and wrenched my right ankle? Well, Wednesday evening I stepped sideways again...this time off a chair holding a suitcase, and wrenched my left ankle. Off to emerg for an X-ray and luckily it's just a bad sprain with a probable torn tendon. (That's what I get for having figure skater's ankles.)That's it. I had enough. We flew off, wrenched ankle and all, and landed in Mexico for the week.Goodbye Raincoover and hello blue sky.This time, we chose to stay in the same little out of the way resort in Puerto Vallarta where we stayed 11 years ago just for the romance of it.I'm happy to report that we have the same warm weather, cool ocean and beach sellers as expected,the same palm trees, pelicans and frigate birds,and the beautiful, tropical blooms I love to sketch all around us.I'm glad we're here and we have this chance to relax.And today, all afternoon, this beautiful bird was swooping over the pool deck, expertly manoeuvring his huge wingspan between the palm trees.I looked him up and he's a turkey vulture.Think I might sketch him tomorrow.But for today, we'll just stay in the warmth and the sun and relax under the palm trees.

Opening night at the Anonymous Show and the day after

I have to tell you all about this fun and amazing art show which is on right now at the CityScape gallery, the Anonymous art show. If you remember, I submitted these three paintings, so I was excited to see them there.The opening night was last Thursday at 7pm, so Robbie and I had our supper, got changed and around 7pm happily strolled down to the gallery.As soon as we walked up the block we couldn't believe it....There was a line up all the way up the street and around the corner!How fantastic and how exciting!Instead of waiting the hour or two, we were content to peek inside the windows and take some photos.Isn't it amazing? I couldn't believe how beautiful it all looks. Look at that painting of the Labrador's face top left! Oh I'm in love with that one!Each and every one of these beautiful paintings is only $100.No matter how famous the artist is or how much he or she sells their art for. Isn't this a great way to start or add to your art collection? I know! :DOh so much fun!Friday morning, on my way to yoga, I stopped by the gallery to have a proper peek.And was so happy to see so many of the paintings sold!And, would you believe it? All three of my paintings sold right away on opening night!Holy smokes. I wasn't expecting that. :DAlthough many paintings have sold, plenty more are available.Here are some of my favourites:I love those cherries in the bowl, and the moon, and those leaves next to the beach chair. I love the whole grouping on the top left. Also love that happy puffin on the right!How about that dragonfly abstract next to the cheeky blue jay, and on the right, that park bench! I love the park bench artist's style. It looks so happy.I hope you've enjoyed this little artistic post and maybe you've picked up some inspiration. How lucky are we to have so many artists come together for a show. Are you local? If you are, stop by. :D CityScape Gallery

Art challenge: Sanctuary

Well my dearest darlings, I harnessed all in my heart, but completely failed to paint myself a new sanctuary.Some days...eh?I wished I had taken photos along the way of the put together, painted, then ripped apart, then put together, then ripped apart again piece that this has become.This is where it stands today:Yup. Unbalanced, deeply dissatisfying, but honest. This is where our art challenge took me this week.To make up for it, I'm offering you this little oil painting. A brief look into a sanctuary of gold in the distance.Looks like I'm not ready for a new sanctuary, and my old one is still vital to me. :DNow it's your turn. Can't wait to see. You are all so inspiring to me.[inlinkz_linkup id=678636 mode=1]

Wellness, seed cycling for balanced hormones

Hello from the waning side of the super moon. Did you all see it? "Come on", I said to Robbie, "let's have a look." and we stood outside staring up at that glorious moon.It was a really powerful moon, wasn't it? Lots of people seemed to be affected. I sure was.For me, there is always a powerful moon/emotion connection all month, and I like to support my body with the necessary nutrients I need during the phases.You might want to consider doing what I do. It's called seed cycling and it's a natural way to boost and balance your hormones. Some even suffer from certain bacterial allergies around the pubic areas during this time of the year, which if not treated could lead to dire issues. Balance Activ is the primary and best solution to mitigate the growing injurious bacteria within the body.It's pretty simple. You need to somehow incorporate two ground tablespoons of organic seeds in a combination of either sesame and sunflower, or flax and pumpkin, into your daily diet. For me that's pretty easy since I usually have my gluten free granola every morning, (recipe here), and simply sprinkle the ground seeds on top.The ideal seed cycling would follow your menstrual cycle, but, if you're a "certain age" like me and that's not working so very well, then just follow the lunar cycle like this:New moon to full moon, the waxing moon: 1 Tbs each of ground flax and ground pumpkin seeds. These seeds support the estrogen part of your cycle by providing Omega 3, fiber and lignans which help produce and metabolise estrogen, as well as higher levels of zinc, which help prevent high levels of estrogen from being turned into testosterone.Full moon to new moon, the waning moon: 1 Tbs each of ground sesame and ground sunflower seeds. These seeds support the progestogenic part of the cycle by providing Omega 6, protein and zinc and selenium to help with progesterone production, as well as lignans which balance the two hormones. For more information visit the Milwaukee Mantality Health - Mantality Health.There you go. A fairly simple way to stay happy and less grumpy and in less emotional turmoil. It apparently also helps with acne, low libido, depression and other PMS and Menopause related symptoms.There are loads of ways you can incorporate the seed cycle into your diet. Consider sneaking them into pancake batter or the peanut butter on your toast, or in your smoothie, or you might make yourself some bliss balls as a treat.

Announcing New Art Challenge: Sanctuary

Please come join me next weekend, November 18th to 20th in our 201st art challenge.I've chosen the word Sanctuary.The world has been very loud lately and I think it might be useful for us to make ourselves a sanctuary to escape to. Whether your home, or you like the Danish concept of "hygge" or your local church, or a massive cathedral are your sanctuary, show us.This is Sanctuary which I painted in 2011. I think I might be ready for a new one.As usual, you have all week and I'll meet you here with a link up (If I remember how to do it...lol) on Friday the 18th. Hope you can all join in. If you're not familiar with our friendly, no pressure art challenges, just have a quick look back thru my blog on the tag "drawing challenge" or just ask me. Anyone is very welcome to join. Any expression of art is most happily seen. So consider joining in. Bake a cake, draw a picture, sculpt something in playdough, paint, photograph, dance us a jig. :D We will love it.

A lovely day full of art

For me there's nothing like a day making art.And on this rainy day, the warmth of my dining room was the perfect place.Some friends were coming over to make their own therapy journal, so I gathered our supplies,grabbed a box of old books,and soon my friends arrived.With yummy snacks!And we spent the whole afternoon making artful journals.Robbie flew in a few days ago, and after a bit of rest, came to join us and we all laughed and shared stories all afternoon.We had planned on three hours, and it looked like there might not be enough light by early evening, but happily the sun came out and afforded us another hour of art.The dining room table was a wonderful, happy mess.But the art!The beautiful, beautiful art. :D

Art Challenge: Winter Salon

I've been sitting in my dark living room in the early evening wondering where all the daylight has gone.Actually, it's pretty simple really, Rain-couver over here plus end of daylight savings means low light.I like my fairy lights and my candles. It's all sparkly and cozy. But eventually I turn on the lights and read my books.I was wondering what to do for our art challenge this week. Salon, an art salon, always seems like a romantic Bloomsbury concept, but I'm not in England at the moment, I'm in Canada. For me, there isn't anything more Bloomsbury here on the West Coast than the Group of Seven and especially Emily Carr.So here is is what I am offering you today, dreams of a winter salon. Emily Carr gathering inspiration, sitting, possibly having a picnic, possibly only a glass of wine, in the diminishing wintry light, painting the landscape in her mind.Art: A 7 piece collage partially painted in Emily Carr brush strokes (acrylics), (just the way Emily might have seen it and held it in her mind till she got back to her salon.)Thank you so much Stefanie for hosting our Art Challenge this weekend.Please pop by Stefanie's for more winter salon inspiration, and consider joining in next time. Check with Ariane for who is hosting next. :D

Remembered

Today I walked with my neighbours.We came from every direction, young and old, and we remembered.Lest we forget.

Wellness, what to do when you just need quiet

Our lives are so lived out loud, don't you think so?I've been thinking about this lately.What do I do first thing in the morning when I wake up? I turn on my phone pretending like i want to see what time it is, but then turn on the emails to see who emailed me. There is a daily video or photo from Chloe in Japan. Hey, grab the iPad so the video looks bigger, better, louder...then, grab the computer, must answer those emails...and so my day begins.It's barely 6am and already the loudness has begun. Not good.Yesterday I baked up a batch of my gluten free granola listening to a CBC podcast of an episode of The Vinyl Cafe. Usually I love this podcast and laugh along with the story but today it felt too loud. Then off to yoga where the session included music and a singing bowl during savasana, (which is the end pose, the corpse pose, a time to meditate, sink into the ground, let each muscle go), Usually this is lovely, but today it was too loud and I couldn't still my mind. Usually I take savasana to do my grounding meditation, to visualise my hand reaching joyfully up to the universe and pulling the silvery light down thru me and into the Earth, and the Earth sending golden light up thru me into the universe. But nothing came. The studio was not still, my mind was not still. My mind was full of plans and scenarios and to do lists.That's when I realised that my life has been too loud.So, how to quiet things down?Here are some strategies I'm trying out today:1. Meditate first thing in the morning. Never mind what time it is, the phone can wait. Spend five, six minutes grounding, or focusing on breath. Push all thoughts away. Return to the breath.2. Before opening up the computer, time five more minutes. Five minutes of rest, of staring into the ceiling, out the window, just delay the on-line for five. Do that each time.3. Set an on-line limit. One hour, half hour, only in the morning, twice per day? What ever works, set a limit. Get stuff done in that time frame.4. Create space before a reaction. Stop, think, then speak.5. Simplify your life. On line, unfriend if it feels right, unsubscribe to anything annoying, loud, repetitive or if it makes you feel guilty or jealous. At home, block calls, turn things off, (media, appliances and lights) you probably don't want to turn off the fridge, but how about the coffee machine which only gets used in the morning, or the microwave which has that brilliantly blue LED light? Declutter. And I should talk, but I'm working on it.6. Don't watch the news! Just don't do it. It's probably nothing to do with you anyway, and the important information will filter in from everywhere (sidebar on FB, your radio station in the car, people talking at the coffee shop). The noise never stops, so don't add more of it on purpose, and, believe me, if you did miss something, there will be 20 million channels available for you to catch up.7. And finally, reflect. Journal, draw, write morning pages, keep lists, take the noise out of your mind and put it down on paper.There, peace at last.Now lets get on with our calm day. :D