Calmness

I am feeling calm, as I sit hear and listen to Enya, what a soothing voice she has, enough to smooth away any ripples or stress that may be accumulating.

Much has happened in my life as of late, most importantly is the break up between Troy and myself, over a month ago. He no longer lives with us, but is not far, having moved into the unit next door to us, so as to be close to Gala. Is it going to work, I don't know, but so far it is fine, a transition from the life we had lived previously. Maybe this is a healthy way to part when you have a child, being close enough so the child can have their both parents at hand. Plus we still share Arthur, he comes over in the morning after Troy goes to work, and later is picked up when Troy gets home. Gala see him mostly on the weekends right now.

I am having a roommate move in here with us, a lovely lady named Jamie. I think it will be a good match.

I haven't picked up a paint brush in the same amount of time.

Some of our history over the last month or so:

 This is me, Gala and Troy in our costumes which we wore at the All Souls Night on the East side of Vancouver, the night before Halloween. Gala impressed me with her bravery in wanting to go to a haunted mansion that night at the Point Grey community center. She definitively gets that from her dad.

 Gala did her own makeup for Halloween, isn't she a cute cat?

 We had a sleep over with her friend Bronwynn, and they made their own pizzas, unfortunately Bronnie was sick that night and went home early. We eventually tried again, making a whole night sleepover success.

Gala became an esthetician one night and did my nails for me, and hers! She was so proud! And what a lovely job she did!

I went and Hennaed my hair a couple of weeks ago, and am now an official red head. Don't we all either cut our hair or dye it during breakups??

Oh and Gala met St Nicolas, the Czech version last Sunday, Dec.5th. This the day that officially the children receive a present from him if they were good or a piece of coal if bad. He comes accompanied by his angels and a devil. Last year we went and unbeknown to me I was to bring the present for her, so she went without. This year I came prepared but they decided to not have presents as some children were left out last year, sheesh! So here I was hiding her present all the way to Burnaby and then all the way back home again. And since I prepared her for the imminent gift, I had to give her this story that He would drop it off at our house and we would have to find it. Anyhow, she found it hidden under the covers and was thoroughly excited and is now a true believer in the Christmas gift-er! The present by the way, was a Play-mobile Advent calender, a small toy every day... Yippee!

Beginning

When I was a teenager I kept a diary, entered the date and details of each day. But as life unfolded, I lost my connection with Dear. Oh those journals are still around, probably half eaten now by the silverfish that are so abundant in this old house of ours. In fact, maybe that is as it should be, let them eat, it will save me the burning time. On the other hand I think I could use a good burning session. My friend Victoria has suggested such an event, to put the past in its place. Looking forward to the cold autumn day...

Belly Blessing with cherry blossoms

Dear, the day is October 24th, 2010, I started out the day with a belly blessing. An expectant mother had a surprise gathering of family and friends hold a "Belly Blessing" for her. I was invited to decorate her blossoming belly with natural henna paste with the intent to give her encouragement and good tidings for her imminent labor. I feel so lucky to be doing this as an occupation, drawing on such a special canvas is quite an honor. Generally I am given freedom to create a beautiful design that is unique, conjured from my intuition and past ideas. After completing the belly I gave the other ladies something individual yet complementing the mothers henna.
 

I have to compliment an artist that I admire, her name is Autumn Skye Morrison. She was highlighted today on facebook and I took the opportunity to view her fan-page. She is phenomenal! I was fortunate enough to meet her a year and half ago at the Bass Coast Project in Squamish where I was doing Henna tattoos and she was doing her performance painting. Here is a link to her art, simply breathtaking: http://www.autumnskyemorrison.com/

I will continue to aspire to paint and create as heartfelt as she does.

Even Gala, my daughter is in awe of her, although she is upset that I think Autumn draws better than her. How do I explain that she is what I would like to be???
Gala is at that place right now, comparing herself to everyone else, and checking in with me to see that I love and like her more. I feel I need to be careful not to over indulge her, and be honest in places that matter. "Autumn does her stuff better than you because she has lived longer and had more practice honey. But I don't think that she could do what you do, you are way better than her at drawing what you do!"

These beauties are displayed on the wall in our hallway, with honor!



Today I have started to re-do one painting that I started a month ago, I am not happy with it so must adjust it, in progress:

sunpainting part 1

sunpainting in part 2

So keep tuned in, I will continue to tweak this painting till I am satisfied. Thanks to Autumn Skye for her allowing us into her work process, giving me inspiration also!