As the brightly colored Monarch butterfly softly floats on the breeze, it stops here and there in a seemingly random pattern across a meadow filled with fragrant lavender colored blooms.

Three butterflies stop on a large bloom and we wonder what they are thinking.

Are they surveying the meadow looking for "the next best thing" or are they talking to each other boasting about their last perch?

Are they resting from a long trip, thankful for a break or are their fragile wings fluttering gently waiting on their time to move?

Are they at the beginning of their journey or are they at the end of their journey?

How much are we like these butterflies? How much do we see ourselves in them?
Do we survey the "meadows" of our lives, constantly on the lookout for the next best thing or do we stop and share our accomplishments with those around us?

Do we take time to refresh and rest during our journey or are we impatient to get to the next minute -- the next hour, the next day, the next month, the next accomplishment, the next milestone -- rushing through our lives taking no time to pause, to evaluate, to plan, to remember, to be thankful, and to enjoy life.
​
I know I tend to rush through and spend not near enough time to rest, reflect, and enjoy.

A Monarch butterflies life is fleeting, lasting only weeks and yet its accomplishments are amazing traveling up to 3000 miles. We see a Monarch and see a delicate creature, but this exquisite creature has untold strength.

Like the butterfly, we too have a fleeting life and yet our accomplishments are amazing. We put a man on the moon, we develop the technology to have a computer in our pockets. We too have untold strength.

I pray that we, you and I, will take time in our busyness to stop, to rest, to reflect, and to be thankful.

​ 
My mother used to tell me to stand up straight and tall; don't slouch. It is one of the many memories I have of my mom and the things she told me.
 
To me, standing up straight and tall was and is a confidence thing. To hold my head up high signifies to me, feeling good about myself and being proud of who I am.
 
Many times I second guess myself or think that others are criticizing me in some form. This undermines my co Firenze. So, to be told to "not sloych" is a good reminder for me to be my own person and to be proud of who I am.
 
There are many who fight the same internal fight; the fight to gain self-confidence. I am not alone in this fight within.
 
Standing tall makes me think of a princess
 
learning to be queen, walking with a book on top of her head.
 
Standing tall is a habit. Practicing and concentrating on it starts out difficult, but like many things in life, gets easier and easier the more you practice it.
 
Another thing my mom used to tell me was to sit still. As children we all struggle with sitting still. We have too many places to be, too many things to do, too many people to see. Life is busy. Even as we get older, sitting still doesn't get any easier. Life has too much coming at us from all directions. This may well be another habit that I still - after more than 50 years - struggle with. My days are filled to the brim between work and family and friends and leisure. I can barely find the time at the end of the day to wind down to a good night's sleep.
 
Sitting still may not always be a good thing. From sitting still may creel in laziness which is not a good quality to have. The challenge is to find a good balance between being busy and sitting still.
 
One of my hobbies is art and it requires time to sit still, to reflect and to put one's heart into what one is doing instead of always thinking about what is next.
 
My mom's instruction to me, to sit still continues to be a good one for me to as a young child as well as an oder adult.
 
When we are young we don't care much about what our moms say, especially as we embark I to our teenage years, but as we get older, have children of our own and lots of life experiences, we soon realize what good advice our moms gave us.
 
I am very grateful for all the lessons my mom gave me, both in my younger years as well as the advice she gave me as I aged.
 
Thank you mom.

​Now it's your turn...what are some meaningful memories your mom gave you?

Coming June 2021!Haldimand County has partnered with 23 Local Artists to allow  residents and visitors to take the PATH (Paddle Art Tour Haldimand)The PATH is a celebration of our local talent and the importance of the Grand River and Lake Erie to Haldimand County. Local artists are using wooden paddles—hand made by high school students in Caledonia and Dunnville—to create art portraying the area’s natural landscapes, wildlife, history and much more.
Beginning in June, you can follow the PATH by downloading the map and passport, bringing your camera or smartphone and finding all the Paddles around Haldimand County!
The contest for the Paddle Art Tour Haldimand will be open June through October. Those who complete the PATH and submit their passport to [email protected] or to the Haldimand County Administration Building c/o CDP (53 Thorburn St. S.) will be entered into a draw for 1 of 10 gift cards!
In the meantime, watch the YouTube video (above) to get a sneak peek at the artists and their creations!
Draw Date: Monday, November 1st, 2021
Check out the link below. The link below showcases the stories, my profile & description of the tour.  

I am privileged to participate in the Haldimand Paddle Art Tour in April. I was given a paddle and asked to paint it. The purpose of this project is to celebrate the significance of the Grand River and Lake Erie - and their surrounding areas - to Haldimand and to showcase the talent and creativity of the County's local artists. The Paddle Art Tour will create a distinctive outdoor exhibition throughout Haldimand County by creating 24 paddles into mounted works of art for public display. 

The Paddle Art Tour is inspired by a list of selected themes including: the River, the Lake, Wildlife, Aquatic Life, Flora, Landscapes, the Seasons. 

THE STORY OF MY PADDLE:
"Haldimand County - Water Views"
In Haldimand County there are so many opportunities to enjoy water. In the summer, the river is filled with boaters of all kinds. 
The one side of my paddle shows a kayaker padding to shore while a young boy watches. The beautiful sunsets are an inspiring backdrop for this summer scene. On any given evening, you will find photographers trying to capture that perfect picture of the sunset. The windmills in the back ground show just a hint of the industry in the area. This side is titled, "Sunday Pleasures."
The other side of my paddle shows a father and 2 sons along the shoreline of Lake Erie enjoying some family time at the beach. The backdrop of the lighthouse is just a hint of the history of the area, a major tourist attraction. This side is titled, "Reflective Observers."
Both sides of the paddle show scenes that attract tourists of all kinds, from sportsmen to pleasure seekers.

Here are some progress pictures....

Watch for upcoming details regarding the Opening and Installation of all 24 paddles!

Recently I have been working on my Line and Wash Skills. I have been working hard at drawing from what I see; taking an image I see on the computer screen and drawing it out on the paper.  I have been leaning on YouTube training videos and here are a number of my lessons...

I began this journey with a new medium over the course of the past Summer (2020) when I took some time to take a few courses in line and wash...I quite enjoyed these course, so took some more over the winter. With the Covid world we live in, there is a wealth of information and  options in the virtual world.  I enrolled in Virtual Instructor and learned from Matt Fussell and watched various YouTubes included ones by Peter Sheeler, Paul Clark, May Lu Art, and books purchased from Claudia Nice. You have seen a few examples of my lesson pieces; here are a few with the videos referenced as well as a few of my own attempts. Enjoy!

(From a video by May Lu Art on YouTube)

(From a video by Peter Shuuler on YouTube)

(From a lesson by VirtualInstructor.com)

(From a lesson by VirtualInstructor.com)

(From a lesson by VirtualInstructor.com)

(Some of my own work)

(From a lesson by VirtualInstructor.com)

For Christmas 2020, I created some portraits for gifts...here they are...
The pictures were each a pleasure to create...each one shows the personality of the subject in a special way. 
The medium of each is soft pastel on velour board. The pieces were matted and framed and wrapped carefully. 
I enjoyed the use of black and white (and many shades of grey) very much. The lack of colour allows the view to focus totally on the images themselves.
Enjoy :)

Watch this page for several special pieces created for Christmas gifts this year!! Details coming soon....

I was approached to create a piece based on photographs her husband took...it was a fun piece...this was a gift for Father's Day...if you would like me to paint something, feel free to comment or drop me a line from my Home page and we can connect.