My Birds, My Flowers and My Buddy

There has been a flurry of activity in the backyard. Nests are being built, feathers preened, chirps perfected. I took several photos of my bird friends but most are out of focus. I was using my long-range lens and between my movements and the birds' movements...well, it didn't work too well. I was disappointed as I had taken several photos of my juncos. "My" juncos. You see how I think of them? Such sweet birds. I will have to set up my tripod in the backyard one of these days and see if I can improve my efforts.

The first daffodils are out. The crocuses are still lovely.  My botanical tulips are blooming but the cultivated tulips are only showing leaves for now. One thing I've realized since beginning my online life is that Montreal's growing season is behind many other areas. It means I have to be extra patient to see my flowers and it is sometimes long after others have posted photos of their own.

The past few days, I've been keeping extra busy. The week started sadly. We went to the visitation this past Sunday for a friend and neighbour, a mom to two teenagers, who died at age fifty. Monday I found myself in tears more than once.  Life just doesn't seem fair sometimes. 

Concentrating on painting has helped. Getting out in nature whether in the backyard or on my walks with Meeko has lifted my spirits. I've kept very busy. 

Maybe you noticed the small changes on my blog? I added my 'Trowel and Paintbrush' painting at the top right. If you click it, it takes you to my bio on Etsy. I thought that some people might be interested in knowing about my background as an artist.  I also finished working on some flowered initials that I have added in the right hand column as icons for social media. Clicking on them will take you to my Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram and Pinterest pages. I forgot to do one for Flickr so will add it later.

I'm a bit of a latecomer to most bandwagons it seems. I tried Instagram very briefly over a year ago, panicked that my photos didn't look great and then retreated quickly. A lot of people I follow on Twitter post Instagram photos and I started to realize that it was a nice, fun way to capture moments and interact on another level with friends and acquaintances. So I have tried again. I am limited by my dinosaur 4th generation iPod Touch's abilities. I think most people are using the newer iPod Touch or iPhones to post their photos. Emma pointed out that my iPad has a better capacity to take photos so I am using that sometimes. I really like the way that looking at someone's profile page on Instagram gives a sense of the person. Like a visual collage bio. And I'm trying not to be a perfectionist about my photos (always a challenge for me :).  I quite like the experience this time. Here's a photo I posted on Instagram this morning. Meeko, my buddy, absolutely glued beside me on the sofa. Mutual comfort.

I have been working on a new print this week that combines a hand-lettered quote with some painted images. It took three tries to get the lettering the way I liked it. I'll post it once it is finished.

The week has ended for me with a cough and stiff neck. I'm not sure at all if they are related. Maybe my neck is complaining about all of the computer and painting time I've spent this week? On the other hand, Chloé missed school one day this week so maybe she shared some of her germs with me. So I am writing this with a heated pad around my neck and probably shouldn't spend too much more time at the computer today. I hope the weather is as beautiful in your corner of the world as it is here today.

You may have noticed that I've added 'Bloglovin' as a way to follow my blog in the right column. Google Reader is being discontinued in July. I don't know if Google will offer a replacement so it seemed best to provide another way of following me.  There are other options out there but Bloglovin seems to be popular. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

My garden wakes up and I move forward

How do you spell joyful? How do you spell happy? How do you spell uplifted spirits? I believe they are all spelled G-A-R-D-E-N.

These photos were taken this morning on a little stroll through my back and front gardens. I mention the backyard first because that's usually where my walks begin--out the back door with Meeko by my side. This time of year is bursting with daily changes. I do regular inspections of shoots and buds knowing that more and more blossoms are on their way. The anticipation is delicious. The birds have been so loud (in a good way) the past few days. They are my marker that spring has truly arrived. There was a little song sparrow earlier today singing his little heart out. He perches in the neighbour's tree and I always like to imagine from year to year that it is the same little fellow. 

Spring. So much activity. So much life. So much to look forward to.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful words of encouragement that you wrote for me after my last post. I had tears in my eyes as I read them--not of sadness, more of amazement and gratitude for the wonderful, eloquent, big-hearted bunch of people who gather here. Thank you as well for the honesty that you spoke of your own art and struggles.  There is enormous strength in knowing that we are not alone in our worries and challenges.

Many of my posts are about ordinary things on ordinary days, but I have to say that when I have spoken up about deeper and more difficult things, the response has always been quite amazing. I find it extraordinary that we are able to make connections and establish friendships in what could be a cold and impersonal forum. I was thinking that the only thing missing at times like that is a big pot of tea or coffee or a bottle of wine in the middle of the table as we share our opinions and experiences.

I've put my setback behind me and have been painting this week and finding joy and satisfaction in it. I hope you are able to find time for creative pleasures this week whatever your medium. A big, big hug to you all.

Be Still My Spring Heart

My gardener's heart is full this weekend. The first daffodils have bloomed in our backyard. This one is in Chloé's garden plot.  When the girls were young (two and six years old), I gave each of them a small portion of one of the back beds. They chose the spring bulbs and perennials to plant in their section.  Each May, they add annuals to fill in the gaps. It's been interesting to watch their colour choices and planting skills (with a bit of my help) evolve over the years.

And today the leaves on our beautiful Schubert tree (prunus virginiana) are opening! Am I crazy to be so excited every spring?  Things are happening outside of our yard too. The tiny forest behind the park that faces our street now has a soft, green haze--the promise of all of its beautiful leaves opening in the days ahead.

At an art course I took a few years ago, the teacher had us use jewelers' loupes (specialty magnifying glasses) to look at the inside of flowers. Have you ever had a close look? There's a little world inside of each of them.  This striped crocus seems to be harbouring a little tropical forest in its center.

In the photo below are three kinds of botanical tulips.  I love how they open well ahead of the hybridized tulips.  They are short and sweet and very cheerful.

The flowers below are scilla.  I'm not sure that anything could be more beautiful. Their waxy delicacy and that gorgeous periwinkle blue finds a way straight to my heart.  I have a painting sketched out in my studio that I need to start on, but I'm thinking that a painting of scilla may be next on my list.  I cannot stop looking at these photos.  I'll have to cut myself a little miniature bouquet for my studio.

Finally, here's a vagabond daffodil that made its way to just outside of Emma's flower bed. I like how a garden will talk to you and let you know where it would like to grow. 

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth

May your hearts and thoughts this week be filled with daffodils (and scilla and crocuses and tulips and soft green spring leaves...).