As you may or may not know, I am drawn to waterfalls. When we travel, I like to include a waterfall somewhere on the trip, if possible. The closest waterfall to Edmonton, is Crescent Falls, which is west of Rocky Mountain House.

Last month, I was finally able to see Crescent Falls in all its frozen glory.

My husband, Sam, and I took the warm Sunday in January to celebrate our 37th Anniversary by driving 3 hours to see Crescent Falls and the frozen bubbles in Abraham Lake, which is only 30 minutes from Crescent Falls.

Sam and I like road trips, getting out of the city, breathing fresh air, and seeing new things. We read and discuss things together that make the journey shorter. This time we started talking about Steve Bell’s Album and book, The Glad Surprise, which will probably find its way into this year's Art Vocabulary for the Soul Retreat in July.

We arrived at Crescent Falls Park and stopped at the first parking lot to see the view and the map of the park. The canyon walls were unexpectedly deep and tall. The snow on them made the layers stand out.

We drove on to the trail head and found a picnic table in the sun that we could wipe off most of the melting snow/ice. Picnics in January on a warmer +5C day are a treat. The sun was warm on our faces as we ate our picnic.

After lunch, we took the woods trail that meandered down the picturesque hillside crossing frozen streams. This is the time of year where the shadows are deeper blue and the sun doesn’t get overhead. The sunlight coming through the trees dances on the snow between the blue shadows. I took photos for reference for future paintings.

This one I particularly like. The diagonal shadows on the slope are emphasized by the strong sunlight through the trees illuminating the pine and the snow.

And this one with the pale Bluegreen ice.

We reached the wide frozen river above the falls. I could imagine how loud and powerful it must be in the spring when the waters are full and flowing.

We hiked around to the next platform and the stirs down. Now we could really see the crescent shape of the cliff the falls tumbles over. Crescent Falls is in two tiers with a deep expanse in between. The lower platform sits just above and back a little so you can kind of see the second falls at an angle.

You can get a photo of it if you hang your camera over the edge. I took some time to do an ink sketch of the way the ice formed on the upper falls. (My pen was running low on ink – I need to remember to get a new pen for my kit.) I worked quickly to capture the essence of it as my fingers were getting cold.

In the center of the upper falls, you could see a thin layer of ice was covering moving water. There was a deep crack in the ice showing the evidence of the power of the river as it continues to flow under the ice.

One edge of the canyon was in the sun, but not the falls. When in person there is a subtle color shift in the ice of the falls. The camera picked up all the blue hues in the ice. And look at all the colors in the canyon wall!

It was a long hike back up the stairs and the hill to get back to the car. I could tell I have not been getting out to walk lately.
I would like to come back in the spring or summer and camp there. I would enjoy painting it.

Back on the road, we drove on to Abrham Lake. This is a manmade lake to control the flow of the North Saskatchewan River. The bubbles are methane gas released from the decaying plants and tree limbs on the bottom of the lake. I had seen photos online and wanted to see it in person.

As we drove along the lake you could see the ice had formed up the banks of the lake. There was a strong wind buffeting the car. We found a parking place in the nearly full lot. I was surprised at the number of people there (and back at Crescent Falls). We slid down the ice-covered bank, like a slide, until we were at the flat surface. Some people brought their skates. We just walked the surface. It was amazing to see the layers of flattened bubbles like something from a Star Trek landscape.

Some bubbles where huge others small. If I had used my polarized lens on my camera, some of the sun glinting on the ice and cracks in the ice would not be so strong. (a tip from my sister after showing her the pictures.) I usually forget to take the lens with me.

You could see the ice was at least a foot thick.

There were these cracks that separated planes of ice.

Another part had what looked like pieces of ice in the ice.

There were gusts of wind that would try to throw us off balance. I wondered if the strong wind had been a part of the way the ice formed on the banks. It looked like the ice had rippled and heaved along the edge.

We walked around for awhile and then I went to sit where I could paint for a bit and capture the beauty of the day for me. Two sketches in one day. Yeah! Sam wrote in his journal while I sketched.

We had dinner in Rocky Mountain House on the way home.

A beautiful day and I even had the chance to paint/sketch ‘en plein air.’ As you can see en plein air or sketching and painting on location is as much about the adventure, the moment, and creating memories as it is in getting a painting or sketch done. I can't wait to do this next fall in Italy at the art retreat there!

In the studio, I will work on new paintings inspired by the day and the wonders I saw and experienced. For example, I started this one yesterday during a class to use as a demonstration of watercolor techniques.

May you find joy in the everyday, 

peace in an uncertain world,

and love of family, and friends

in this season, this month, this Christmas!

Fall is such a rich time of year. For nature it is a time of change, of letting go, loss, and even death as we move toward winter. Yet the changing colors of the leaves shows us each year that there is beauty and wonder even in these parts of life.

Did you take some time to enjoy the fall colors and the dancing leaves? In September and October, I enjoyed getting out to catch the marvelous colors in the river valley with my students. 

;

And, I kept thinking that this time next year I will be experiencing another flavor of fall. I will be in Italy teaching sketching and painting of the Italian countryside around Montelparo, Le Marche.

This is Montelparo, Le Marche, Italy: 

More images of Hotel Leone and Montelparo can be seen here. 

Some artist friends of mine from Edmonton have taught at Hotel Leone during their own retreats, and their pictures are amazing! (karenbartist, zheliskoart, daveshko)  I can’t wait to experience it with my own students!

Join me  Sept 26- Oct 3, 2025 (click for more information on the art retreat  in 2025). 

...

My family experienced an additional season this fall, renovations. We just finished six weeks of chaos in our home, while the contractors tore apart rooms and put them back together. It all started with a leaking pipe and water damage in our basement bathroom. Then, since we were doing one room, we decided to include a few more that were long overdue. We added our kitchen and upstairs floor. And, for once, we didn’t do the work ourselves, for which I am thankful. 

The noise, the dust, the displacement of moving out our things, plus creating a temporary kitchen in the living room, and the never ending decisions we had to make all contributed to weeks of extra stress and chaos. I really appreciated the comment I received when I shared this on Facebook, "It is worth it."

 Now we have a beautiful new kitchen, floor and basement bathroom. Standing in my new kitchen I can attest that it was indeed worth it. I love the colors, the smooth, granite counter, and the additional counter we put in to replace a cabinet. We even have four working burners on our new stove. And I can get back in my studio to work now. It was one of the many places that we temporarily stored things. The next stage is to sort through things as we put them back where they belong.

Painting can be like the renovation process. The stages of painting are sometimes messy and feel like chaos and uncertainty. I like to call it experimentation and play, and I try to give myself grace when learning something new and to take it one step at a time. (Notice the acrylic pouring painting at the top of the page, which I call an experiment.)

It takes patience to practice the techniques, to learn to mix colors and to learn to see. It takes time to build the layers of a painting. The painting doesn’t go as you hoped, so you rework a part, then you step back and look at what needs to be done next. And then when the final details get into place -- the last shadow, edging or contrast-- you step back and see it has all come together. You persevered through the chaos and the result is beautiful!

I love helping my students work through this process and create wonderful paintings. Celebrate their beautiful work with me! 

I am so excited to be a part of the NOA Art Walk and Gala this year!!!

The "Free" Indoor 3 day NOA Artwalk and

Night of Artists Fundraising Gala for Amy's House​​​​​
Join us from March 14-16, 2025, at Bonnie Doon Centre

for a weekend celebrating art, community, and giving back.

March 14-16, 2025

Artwalk Weekend
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday
Noon - 5 p.m Sunday

Night of Artists Gala
GALA 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Gala $25 in advance $30 at the door

Order your Gala Tickets here
Art Auction Closes

​THE NOA ARTWALK

The NOA Artwalk transforms the entire mall into a massive indoor gallery, showcasing thousands of art pieces from Edmonton and the surrounding area's most talented local artists. The event also features a VINTAGE POP-UP store, and a vibrant Artisan Marketplace Zone, offering something for every art lover and shopper. Admission to the Artwalk is free during the daytime, where you can also enjoy live performances by local buskers.

THE AMY'S HOUSE NIGHT OF ARTISTS GALA​

About Amy's House - Website

On Saturday evening, March 15, the excitement continues with the AMY's HOUSE Night of Artists Gala (www.AmysHouse.ca)—an unforgettable experience that transforms the mall into a grand ballroom.

Highlights of the evening include:

A silent auction supporting Amy's House: A Home Away from Home for cancer patients.
Live music by The White Cats, Kim Gates and the Dark Frames, and The YEG Byrds.
A mesmerizing live painting performance by five talented artists.
A luxurious VIP Room with exclusive perks.
A cash bar and appetizers with the freedom to stroll the mall while enjoying a selection of wine, beer, or non-alcoholic beverages.
Tickets:

Artwalk: Free for everyone.
Gala: $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
VIP Room: $100, with 50% of the ticket price eligible for a tax receipt benefiting Amy's House.
Don’t miss this incredible weekend filled with art, music, and community spirit—all in support of a wonderful cause.

ARTWALK IS FREE TO ALL

Artwalk HOURS:

Friday March 14th 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday March 15th 10 a.m. - 5 p.m

Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

​

GALA TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Amy's House NIGHT OF ARTISTS GALA

March 15th 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Bonnie Doon Mall, northend

I will have small and large original paintings, 

small prints and my devotional book availaable.

A sample of my orginals below. 

The Dance - northern lights, watercolor 6 x 8.75, $145 unframed

Tier two Tangle falls, Jasper National Park, watercolor, 9 in x 12 in, $275 
mounted on Birch panel

 Let the Light Shine, watercolor, 5in x 5in $75

Handmade paper Angels  $35 each ( two sided)

I find it restful to spend time in nature, sitting and just being or with a sketchbook in hand to capture the essence of a place, a feeling of the space and the memory that goes with it. I sometimes remember to take a photo too. Then in the studio, I can work on a larger painting from the sketch, my memory and the photo. I no longer feel the need to "have to get something accomplished." And when I do sketch, it can be quick.

You can read some of the posts of what I have written about being/finding presence, and resting. I feel I have come a long way in understanding what Madeline L'Engle talked about to sit and just be.

In Jasper: I spent time at Tangle Falls sketching the four levels of falls in preparation to the Water in the Landscape workshop. I was also just wanting to see the falls again to put it more fully in my memory so that I can complete a painting I have been working on (as a demo for textures in acrylic classes) for a couple of years now. 

In Spokane: We went hiking at Fishtrap Recreation Area and the old Folsom Farm. I had hoped to see the falls, but it was a dry falls instead. It must be beautiful in the spring. These two sketches are from the old farm:

We also went kayaking on the Spokane river three times. The last time I took my sketchbook to capture the Osprey- but they were away from their nest. I sketched the seagulls instead. :)

The following sketches were from the recent trip to move our son daughter-in-law and granddaughter to Voctoria. When I wasn't needed, I relaxed by sketching a bit. When moving in a vehicle it is almost as much about memory of what you saw, because it is not in front of your vision for very long.

Planes move fast! I captured bits and pieces of the various islands as we passed overhead.

As I sit here to write on this last day of April, the snow is falling outside. This is typical spring weather in Alberta. Hopefully, this is the last snowfall, and we all know the snow won’t last, plus my daffodils and tulips are getting their water. (painting: Is it Spring yet? Watercolor, 11x7 in. ©JulieDrew)

I so enjoy watching the signs of life and new growth that come at this time of year as the greening ripples slowly through the trees and bushes and the perennials are waking up from their winter sleep.

Inside the house I am enjoying the last three buds blooming on my Christmas/Easter cactus. The buds started appearing in the beginning of March when I counted 24 blooms. I have lost count of how many more there have been. The blooms look like dancing fairies. I took some mornings to sketch out a portion of my plant in color pencil.

Spring! New Life! Hope!

As it is spring, I can work again on the last bridge painting I wanted to do for the Connection: Building Bridges Series, the Tawatinâ LRT bridge. On the ceiling of the bridge pedestrian walkway is the story of the indigenous people here in Treaty 6 territory painted in shaped panels.

I can see a hint of the panels, the walkway and the bridge from the spot where I plan to paint the bridge. I can also capture the new growth of the trees on the bank.

Why paint it in spring? I want it to be a painting of hope. A willingness of people to come together – to bridge the gaps of what separates us from each other. There is much we can learn from one another. There is much we can appreciate and value.

Last year, I was particularly mulling over the disparity between factions and all the divisions cropping up in our world. I firmly believe we need each other. When one of us hurts, we all hurt. The focus on building bridges was to find ways to connect with each other again.

Along the lines of connection, even as I complete the bridge project, I am thinking of where it is taking me next; Connection => Collaboration. We not only need to connect, but to trust each other enough to work together.

Part of this is figuring out what collaboration means for me, and for us as a community, society.

We live in a very individualistic society. We have our own property, possessions, etc. We work our own jobs, have our own income which we can spend however we want. Competition is pushed and individual profit, success, and gain are glorified.

I like to play cooperative games. We purchased a couple new ones for Christmas to try out. It is a nice change to work together to solve the game, the puzzle or the clues. Working together includes listening to each other, waiting for each other and letting new ideas come forth. This is so different from the competitive games where there is only one winner and lots of losers.

This painting of the Seal is, for me, a metaphor for collaboration. I used handmade paper, eggshells, sand and acrylic paint, and an ink drawing with the transfer process to create it., The different mediums I used are like individuals contributing their part to the whole project. And the end result is not something that could have been accomplished with just one individual part (or medium).

Collaboration is the theme we will be contemplating at this year’s Art Vocabulary for the Soul retreat. We will see where it takes us. I look forward to the collaboration.

As collaboration is a new theme for me, I welcome your comments and feedback.

Art is a lot about taking chances and trying something new, whether it is showing my work in a festival,  the blank canvas or paper that can be intimidating or the uncertainty of the next step in the painting process.  The phrase “I don’t want to ruin it!” comes up with my students and echoes in me when I am at certain points of a painting or project.

Over the holidays when our children and grandchildren were visiting, we took an LRT (light Rail Train) ride downtown. We were going to turn around and come back after we walked around Churchill square. Instead, we discovered the ice rink was opening up with free skate rentals. Our grandchildren and my son and daughter decided to go skating. I, on the other hand, was not going to. Last time I had skated was two years before when visiting my grandchildren. I did not grow up skating, so I am not great at it and I really don’t like to fall. But as I helped put on my granddaughter’s skates and talked to the fellow in charge, I got to thinking about not letting my fears rule me. Why not skate? It was fun to skate two years ago with my grandchildren. Why not try it again and participate, not just sit on the sidelines and watch the fun. 

So, I took a chance and got a set of skates. It was a beautiful day, with sunshine, Christmas music playing and fun skating with family. It took a few laps with the stacked “help” before I felt I could skate on my own. But I did it!  I even had a fall where I fell without hurting myself.  As I became a little more confidant, I even tried to skate backwards again. Here is a link to the short video.

I will hang up this image of me skating with my family where I can see it whenever I need to face the challenges and the fears that come with new things or next steps. I want to remember how to move forward again – even if it means going backwards.

May you have a beautiful holiday filled with love and laughter, friends and family!

Our four children will be home this Christmas with my two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. We are looking forward to their visit.

Can you imagine going to Italy to take a weeklong Art Retreat, painting, sketching and enjoying the Italian countryside? 

I have an opportunity to teach a retreat in a hotel in Montelparo, Marche, Italy. (Two artists told me about their amazing experience teaching there, and one of their participants said she had a great time and it was well worth it.)

Not only will we enjoy Italian food, great company, 5 star treatment at the hotel and spectacular scenery, but we will also paint and sketch from life the scenes of the Le Marche area. 
Le Marche is Italy’s best-kept secret. Known as ‘Italy in one region’, it has retained its authenticity and remains one of the very few places in Italy to have escaped mass tourism despite its miles of untamed coastlines, medieval hilltop towns full of art and culture, it’s hidden beaches, its patchwork quilt countryside, its three national parks – it really is a secret slice of Italy.

Starting at €2499, plus air fare (rates vary to the room chosen) Includes meals, transportation from the airport or bus station, three day excursions, 5 days of art tuition. Nonparticipating friend or partner would pay for everything except the painting tuition.

I have booked my week, Sept 26-Oct 3, 2025!  All of the information is on the article Italy Art Retreat in the menu. It links to the Hotel Leone where you can fill out a form to talk with Madeline about a room and more information.

I am Excited!!

Finding balance between work and play, family, health, exercise, and rest.

Although I make plans, I try to remain flexible. As unexpected things arise that take me away from what was planned, filling the open places on my schedule, I look for things I need to let go of for now and possibly even adjust my expectations.

I don't want to repeat what happened last fall when I didn't have a weekend off so I didn't get any sense of rhythym between work and rest. As a result, I ended up with migraines almost every weekend, until I finally had enough of balance between working (teaching art, painting and our website businness), stretching/excercise and resting.

So as I approached this fall knowing what was coming, I made some choices, like finding a way to participate in the Night of Artists Artwalk, which was a huge 3 day time commitment, by showing 2 paintings in the Night of Artists Gallery 12"x12' show for the month of October. I am very glad I chose that, as on Oct 15 we were blessed with a new granddaughter (the first for my second son.). Many extra meals to take over to them as they adjusted to being a family of three filled part of my schedule.

On Oct 23, my husband, Sam, graduated with his Masters of Psychotherapy and Spirituality, which he started during Covid. (He did a four-year part-time program in three years. It has been a busy three years.) And we enjoyed a visit from Sam's mother. I was doing alright, adjusting my schedule to fit things in, even getting some painting time in, but during that busy week I stopped part of the exercises I do to maintain fexibility. When the next week came with 5 different classes I was not as rested as I needed to be, and I started experiencing warning signals of pain in my muscles. So, I had to adjust my schedule to fit in a massage and physio to take care of myself. 

Even writing in my journal has not been as regular lately, and that helps me to process things and write these newsletters. I was reminded that when I let these things go for awhile, I need to get them back into my schedule. It wasn't until after journaling again that I understood what my body and spirit were telling me.

This is part of finding balance for me - my physical health, mental health and spiritual health are intertwined. I need to balance them even if things ebb and flow, like the seasons. we cannot always be in spring and summer, we need to have the fall and winter times as well.

This is a theme that I have revisited often, as I need to be reminded of it often. (Links to past writing on rest, on letting go, and on presence)

Do you struggle with finding balance?

November 11- December 31

Artwork of the instructors at the PaintSpot

I have 5 paintings up and about 5 prints available as well.

#PaintSpotArtGifts

https://paintspot.ca/12-days-of-christmas-at-the-naess-gallery/

For the month of December the "Winter Wonderland 2" feature exhibit will be showing in the Night of Artists Gallery in Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton.

I have three painting there.  I took a short video of the show. Enjoy!

My daughter, Reena, was home from university for a few days and we took off a day to hike in Canmore. She hiked on and left me to watercolor sketch at the beautiful waterfall on the grassi lakes trail.

I did a quick ink sketch too.

This fall I will be teaching some sketching classes here in Edmonton. We will get out and enjoy the fall colors as we capture what is around us. 

Autumn Landscapes in the River Valley; Drawing and Painting - Yorath House in Buena Vista park 4 Tuesdays starting Sept 19.

Sketching at the Valley Zoo, October 1

Exploring Fall Colours in Watercolour: Drawing and Painting Exploration 6 Fridays starting Sept 22.

(If the links don't work, the details of registration and classes are also on the Fun Art Classes Page with more classes and information.)

At the end of my residency, I had a spontaneous show on April 1, 2023. Here is the unedited video my daughter recorded as I shared my Art Talk. 

Below, I include some close ups of what was set up for display on the tables during the show.

Water

For over a decade I have been painting, writing and thinking about Water, from the perspective of water crises as a metaphor for our thirst for Living Water to Saturation. I was in the process of reworking the Living Water series, but I was stuck. I couldn’t seem to get past the idea of connecting and collaborating as the next part, but how?

This Residency gave me the opportunity to devote some time and energy into it, giving me a direction to pursue further.

I shared the poem on Water I wrote in 2010. You can read it here.

 Connections: Connecting with People

Part of preparing for the Residency, was gathering what I already had in paintings, unfinished paintings and sketches, as well as photos of the river valley.
In 2020, during covid, weekly Plein Air workshops were a way I could still connect with my students. These paintings were all started during that year as we explored different parts of Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Thank you to all who came to paint on the Plein Air Excursions, especially my friend Marjie who came all 13 weeks in 2020.

Connection: East to west – transportation route

Flowing to Lake Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan was the major transportation route that connected eastern Canada to the Rockies before the railroad.

The North Saskatchewan River begins at the Saskatchewan Glacier in Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains and flows southeast through the northern tip of Banff National Park and into the foothills where it opens up into Abraham Lake, created by the Bighorn Dam.

The South Saskatchewan River is formed by the junction of the Bow and Oldman rivers, the headwaters of which are in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Today we can canoe or kayak down the river. Part of the photos I reviewed for the residency were of our two kayak trips down the river through Edmonton.

Connection: Seasons of life along the river
The basin of the North Saskatchewan river supports life, animals, plants and people. It is the source of water for Edmonton.
Wahkohtowin, a Cree word which denotes the interconnected nature of relationships, communities, and natural systems. Its literal meaning is "kinship."

Connection: Building bridges
When we build bridges we connect two places together, two sides of the river, different parts of Edmonton together.

As I worked the bridge paintings, reworking, drawing them until they looked correct, building the one out of handmade paper, piece by piece, it took effort. It was even painful as my hand took a few days to recover from the overextension of muscle.

This made me also think about relationships. We can build bridges between people as well, like the LRT bridge. And like my paintings and hours of work to get the bridge right, it takes effort to put aside our differences and build bridges to another person.

Connection: Treaty 6 territory  - Building Bridges in Community
We acknowledge Treaty 6 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland.

The North Saskatchewan flows through Treaty 6 territory. As we have taken steps in Canada to honor the First Nation people through Truth and Reconciliation, Edmonton built the newest LRT bridge to make connections between the indigenous and Canada. Below the main deck of the LRT, is the footbridge for people to walk, bike, roll and enjoy the beautiful artwork on the ceiling that tells the story of the First Nation people. The artwork on the ceiling is by Indigenous artist David Garneau.

I will work on a painting of this in the spring when the greening of the trees begins, reflecting the new life building bridges can bring to relationships. I went to sketch the bridge again as the buds on the trees were opening. I have one of the hotos I will reference as I begin the painting.

February 26

Last week, I started a self-directed artist residency at the Yorath house in Buena Vista Park in the North Saskatchewan River valley here in Edmonton. I will be pondering the word “connections” and see where it leads me. I wrote in my proposal that I would “explore the metaphors I find of the connections of the river valley between the river, the land, the animals and people that are connected to it.” This residency is giving me an opportunity to take the time I need to explore what has been percolating in me for that last three years.

 
The first two days it has been cold (-17C and -22C) I did take a half hour walk along the river at the end of my day there on Tuesday and took some photos. At Buena Vista park, the river is a solid swath of white – with animal tracks bounding over the snow covered ice.

At other parts of the river which we drive over, there is a dark ribbon of river that ripples along near the middle. 

Since the weather was not conducive to painting outdoors yet, I decided to look through the photos I have taken of the river valley over the years and pull out the unfinished plein air paintings I started in 2020 and 2021 of the river valley.

As I started swiping through the photos from our kayaking trips down the North Saskatchewan, all of the unique bridges spanning the river caught my eye. Here is a way of seeing connection that I had not been thinking about, connecting banks of the river, building bridges. Also, three of the four unfinished plein air paintings were of bridges. It is a place to start.

I look forward to seeing where this takes me in the next few weeks.

I am excited to have finished mixed media painting, Regeneration 3, I started working on in the Acrylic Explorations class in the fall! 

It will be shown for the first time at the Nina Haggerty Gallery, 9225 118 Ave NW,

during the Deep Freeze Festival January 21-22, 2023 12-6 pm 

Buiding a Textured Painting:

I blocked in the colors and used it to demonstrate texture building 

I added the trunk in handmade paper, eggshells create the texture of the burls and for the ground cover of pine needles I used saw dust and sand. I painted over the textures.

After adding the ink lines to the bark of the tree, I added more handmade paper for some 3D effect of the ferns and branches coming out of the burls.

I have painted this particular scene several times, each time is a little different. Here is one: Redemption-New Life Another one was part of the Waiting series that was shown at the Glenrose with this poem/ meditation.

You can see the painting this weekend at the Nina Haggerty Gallery during the Deep Freeze festival. I will be there in the building at the Artisan Market. If you come to the festival, be sure to stop by for a visit!

May the road you travel be filled with Sunshine!

Our funny Christmas tree story...

We don’t have a tree this year. We like to get a permit and drive the hour or so to the crown land and cut one down. Sam and I were all set to go on a Sunday when something came up unexpectedly with Sam’s project that had to be done that day. So, we postponed it to the following Wednesday. We drove all the way out there, got out of the car to start tromping through the snow, when Sam got a phone call from work, and we were called back to town…with no tree. We set another date to go on the following Sunday, but that weekend I had two migraines, one each day. A tree this year was not meant to be.

But my Christmas Cactus is blooming and festive… it is an “ever green” …

So, this year instead of a tree, we have a blooming Christmas Cactus.