Ice Paradise

Yesterday we had twenty-four hours of I guess what you'd call a winter mix. We had freezing rain overnight, followed by some regular rain, thunder, lightning and then a bit of snow. It was quite something! Because of the dangerous icy conditions, many schools were closed in the region including Chloé's college. The power flickered many times throughout the day yesterday but we didn't lose it. Others were not so lucky. But there was a silver lining to all of that weird weather. Today, we woke up to sunshine and a sparkly wonderland.

This morning I ventured outside in my boots with cleats on to take these photos in the backyard. I hope the photos give a sense of how very beautiful it was. It was as if every single branch, leaf and berry was clothed in diamonds. Look how gorgeous the clematis vine seed heads look encased in ice!

The photo below shows you how very, very sparkly it was! It looks like the garden is covered in fairy lights but it's the sunlight reflected in the ice on all the branches. Magical!

This is one of my Palibin lilac bushes. The ice on these branches looks like a bird in flight!

Meeko was able to walk on top of the ice surface. While it was slippery, he got adept pretty quickly at walking (sliding) around. He had a lot of fun exploring all corners of the yard. He's been limited lately because of how deep the snow was in places but with a covering of ice, he was able to go everywhere! My movements were a little less elegant. Because I weigh more than thirty-five pounds (!), I broke the ice and sunk in at every step!

With all of the sunshine, the ice is melting. Look at all of the ice that has fallen off of the branches of our chokecherry tree!

It's easy to get a little discouraged by winter weather in late January but today's icy spectacle showed that, while conditions can be sometimes be harsh, there is beauty to be found even in one's own backyard.

New Beginnings

It's a new year. A new year signifies a chance to do things differently. It represents hope. A new beginning. But I haven't painted in eight weeks. I have found myself to be in the middle of a creative block. It was partly triggered by the political uncertainty in the world since the US election and my desolation at how it felt like forces of intolerance and hatred were winning. I also was wracked with doubts about my art business and frustrated by the ongoing challenge of finding the right audience for my paintings.

It hasn't been a complete creative block as I gave myself permission to divert my attention from painting to other creative things--things that required wider focus and less concentration. I repainted the walls of our upstairs hallway. I installed new picture rails to display my art and others. I framed art, mine and pieces I had purchased from friends. I built a simple wood bed frame with Chloé for her room. I reorganized shelves and drawer contents. I've been reading. I walk with Meeko every day. I thought of all of the good people I know. I've spent time with family and friends.

If I was to look at the whole of 2016 in a personal way, it was the year of the neck and back. I had to slow down for several weeks in the early summer after being diagnosed with arthritis in my neck. Physiotherapy has helped so much. I've learned to stand and sit up straighter. This past week, there was a new challenge. I began suffering from dizzy spells. They were scary at first but they have been diagnosed as muscular in origin--my trapezius muscle probably irritated after a vigorous hike over the holidays. My physiotherapist thinks that the dizziness should be resolved in a few days. What a relief. I can't wait for them to be gone. My neck and back keep sending me signals. Don't take things for granted. Look after yourself. Stand up straight.

So I am determined to paint again. To feel hope about the state of the world. To help when I can. To stay aware but not to the point of paralysis. To take moments to appreciate the beauty of nature. To create. To concentrate on those I do reach with my art and to worry less about those I don't. To surround myself with caring people with good hearts. To listen to my aging body but to work with it and remind it that 'hey buddy, we still have plenty we need to do together'. To concentrate on art and love and hope.

This morning we woke to sunshine and a magical garden covered in hoar frost. I went out in my pajamas to photograph it for you! These photos of ice and light seem to be the perfect representation of where I've been lately and where I am right now. Frozen but allowing the light to get in.

I'm not sure what I am going to paint when I get back into my studio next week but I look forward to being there. And I want you to know that I'm really glad you are here with me.

Garden Tour

Here are some photos taken in the past week in my garden. There's been far too much rain, to the point that Chloé's soccer games have been cancelled because local fields are too squishy.  The Western chorus frogs that live in the swampy parts of the forest across the street are thrilled with the water and have been chanting happily. The mosquitoes are also, unfortunately, having a bit of a party.

The incentive for me to go outside and work in the garden has been low (thank you Meeko for getting me outside despite the weather) but the garden is starting to look very lovely. Rain is good even though I would appreciate a little bit of sunshine every now and then! I am excluding photos of the weeds which are overtaking some parts of the garden. I'm working on them!

Tradescantia (very top photo) and Rosa glauca (just above)

Shrub rose 'Rosa rugosa Thérèse Bugnet'

Coral bells. When they bloom, I know I will see my first hummingbird (and I did!)

Climbing roses 'Rosa John Davis (Explorer Rose)'

'Rosa rugosa Thérèse Bugnet'  - buds

Clematis 'Miss Bateman'

Centaurea montana

Viburnum sargentii 'Onondaga'

Siberian iris (stem broken by the rain)

Lady's Mantle (with petals from rosa glauca)

The past week has been 'good' busy yet very stressful. There have been important events like our wedding anniversary and Emma's birthday. There was housework attached to getting the house ready for Emma's birthday party with her friends. I worked in the garden when the weather allowed. I worked on the computer to get a new print into my shop. Despite computer freeze and the resulting brain freeze, the Lilacs print looks quite lovely. But there were also seven days of barely breathing as I waited for the results of a difficult medical test (which involved dealing with a phobia of mine). I was so proud of myself to get through the test. I got the results today and they were good. I felt like running up to everyone I saw on the street afterwards and giving them a hug! Rest assured that I also gave Emma and Chloé a hug when they came through the door after school. If you had been here, I would have given you a hug too!

Hope to get back to painting soon. The garden has needed me lately but I need to paint. I have missed it so much!

Let It Snow

Yes, it's snowing here. Thankfully, it's not the icy, frosty type.  This snow is delicate and frothy and very welcome in my garden.

I have several viburnums in my garden but these two have 'snow' in their names:  Snowball Viburnum (viburnum opulus roseum)

and Summer Snowflake Viburnum (viburnum plicatum).

Aren't the crinkly petals wonderful?

I've made lots of progress in my garden the past couple of weeks but there are still two major flower beds to clean up.  This is the most intensive time of year for me gardening-wise. After that, it's a matter of not letting the weeds take over.  I hope to get back to painting soon.

Yesterday, we tested our irrigation system.  Meeko only chewed six sprinklers this past winter, compared to twenty-five the year before!  He concentrated on an area that I can't see from the house. Very sneaky of him. I repaired them yesterday, wrapped them with chicken wire and sprayed them with citronella (as he does not like that smell) and hope he will stay away from them for a little while (like maybe all summer!). I guess I should thank him though for allowing me to add sprinkler repairs to my handywoman repertoire.