Road Trip

Moments in Time Journal #6

'Spring has Sprung'! 

It has been a long cold winter, but now it's time to put that blustery cold deep freeze behind us, and march on as we watch the magical beauty of Spring unfold before our very eyes!

This winter I spent my time painting up a storm getting ready for a very unique Spring Art Show at ASSC,  sketching in my, 'Moments in Time' journal, planning my annual trip to Nova Scotia and Kelowna.

Usually my journal entries are just one page but once again upon the inspiration of my two sisters, there are six pages so far, and I am not finished!

Every summer for the past 25 years my sisters have planned a road trip, dragging me along. This meant driving along the old dusty, bumpy country roads at a snail's pace just gazing out the window, stopping occasionally for ice-cream or a bite to eat.

To me this was a huge waste of time, aimlessly driving on a beautiful sunny day when I could be scavenger hunting on the beach for rocks, and treasures, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, or simply creating amazing sculptures. Instead I sat quietly in the back seat of a hot car, amusing myself with a puzzle or reading a good book. Oh how my sisters would scold; "Look what you are missing? How could you bury your head in a book?"

Bridgetown, NS

For the past few years I have begun to notice amazing old quaint houses along the countryside and through the little towns. 
With camera in tow I started taking pictures. My sisters announced; "Whenever you want to stop to take a picture just holler and we'll stop!" 

Baptist Parsonage - Port George NS.

I did a lot of hollering and took
hundreds of pictures.

Houses fascinate me, there is so much history you can feel when you walk in in a home. Who lived there one hundred years ago? What was there life like? Was there laughter shared or tears of sorrow? 

The yellow house was a Baptist

Macdonald Consolidated School - Middleton NS

Parsonage where I met Paul Shaw, the love of my life. After a short courtship we married that same year!
The Red brick building, was the school I attended from around grades 4 to 7, and now it is a museum, oh my!



Most of the houses I am not familiar with, they just intrigued me enough to take a photo, leaving me to speculate about the people that once lived there.

Painting and thinking about houses has given me pause. I stopped to count the homes I have lived in and was quite surprised to realize that there were 21. Then there are the houses that I have visited and vacationed in that were very special to me.
Now I am in a wee bit of a quandry, I don't have pictures of them all. 
Oh dear, what to do? Look out this summer my dear sisters!

So far this has been a very interesting journey that has enriched my life, and will continue to explore and paint.
How many homes have you lived in, and how many places have you treasured on your journey? 

Home of Josephine Love - Wilmot

Country Road

 Please note:
click on a picture to enlarge if you would like to see it better

Happy New Year!

Where did the time go?
This is the time of year I like to look back at 2018 and reflect. My sister Linda proposed a challenge, for Mary and me, she suggested; "let's all take time to record what we are grateful for every Monday." So I did just that, and faithfully recorded what I was grateful for every Monday in my 'Grateful Calendar Journal.' Before I share what I discovered when I looked back at the whole year of entries in my 'Grateful Journal,' let me show you what direction my art has taken this past year. (Please note: click on pictures to enlarge)

2018 marks the year of the 9th commission I have painted for the cover of the SAGE Directory, (Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton). Tittle, 'You Little Rascal'.
Three charming seniors taught me how to play Dominoes and they loved the idea of being on the cover of the directory. What fun we had, they were a hoot!

Teaching; Journaling, Mixed Media, and Silk Scarves with Men's Ties at Central Lions every Spring and Fall has been a pleasure.


Pictures of demos for my Journaling class.
Demo 1 - painting with tissue paper 
Demo 2 - live painting, style and design
Demo 3 - negative and positive painting

This past year I thought I would like to get back into oil painting, I was delighted to find an amazing artist, Master Dennis Perrin that offered online workshops, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have signed up for four more courses!

In preparation for a spring and fall art exhibit at ASSC, (Art Association of Strathcona County), I painted a few more new works of art in acrylic to add to my collection of painting entries.




My husband Paul walking Shadow and Abby
He loved this painting so I pulled it from the show and gave it to him on his birthday.

Grama Mary Eliza's Strawberries

Winter Cabin (Sold)

Backyard Fence (Sold)

Back to my Grateful Journal discoveries in 2018

My grateful journal entry highlights included; spirituality, husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends, medical staff, validation, comfort, and the gift of art  I possess. 

This year has been heart wrenching in many ways and, very difficult losing a dear friend. Trying to find a healthy balance between my career, family and friends has truly been a challenge. As I look back, everything that I am grateful for has strongly been my support through thick and thin, to the point where I can say with gratitude; "It is well with my soul."

My New Year's gift to you...

Every Monday record what you are grateful for and at the end of the year as you travel through your journey of life, you will have the pleasure of looking back only to discover just how blessed you are!