Happy International Dog Day Sally

 

Sally

Photo
Brigitte Sharpe © 2024

Although my pets – a dog, and a cat might disagree about who is the better pet,
it doesn’t matter. This is International Dog Day. And I think after 12 years in our
family, and one year before we had her during which she had three owners, Sally,
our sweet dog, deserves the recognition today.

So we sang Happy International Dog Day to her to the tune of Happy Birthday and
she joined in. Happy Birthday is her favourite song, plus she loves the reward of a
dog cookie at the end of the song.

Sally is a beautiful dog, and wonderful to be with, and we love her. She is both blind
and deaf at the moment, and somehow manages to stay happy and to love her life --
which is super. Happy International Dog Day Sally, and to all dogs.

Have a loving your life day!

Break at the water

Swans on the lake

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2025

Trying to finish two paintings has been my challenge for today. And as so
often happens I don’t feel like I’m done. 

Sometimes what works is to get away from the studio and the paintings.
So I was delighted when Steven invited me to go and walk beside Lake
Ontario, at one of our favourite parks. Fortuitously we ended up having
dinner at a restaurant with tables out on the patio facing the lake. So I
watched the sunset as I ate an absolutely delicious meal with my Sweetheart.
Now back to work!

Have a loving your life day!

Enjoying the day -- our wedding Monthaversary

 

Steven's canned peaches (no sugar)
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2025

It was our Monthaversary of our wedding day today.  And of course we wished each other a Happy Monthaversary. It was a beautiful
day -- amazing clouds. I worked on one of my paintings today for an upcoming show.  Last night I froze some fresh, organic peaches from the Farmer's market, and today Steven began the canning process.  The jars of peaches look so beautiful! And next February on a cold, dark day -- fresh summer in a jar.

Tomorrow, more painting and another wonderful week of summer.

Have a loving your life day!

Movie night and a work in progress

 

Untitled (Work in Progress)

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

This is one of the paintings I'm working on. And there is quite a lot to
do.  I know.  I guess I just wanted to show you, as proof, maybe to 
myself, that I am working on it.

Photographing a piece is a good step too, because what isn't what 
you're trying to express stands out quite dramatically.  It's been a 
great day.  We took a friend to the market, booked our trip out east, 
and we're getting ready to watch a fun movie.  

Have a loving your life day!

Monthaversary of our first date

Peach paradise

Acrylic ink on

cradled birch 

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2020

Today is the Monthaversary of our first date. Yes we're weird, and
we celebrate that date every month.  Tonight I asked Steven to do
something different.  And we went back to the alleyway attached 
to the parking lot behind the house where I was living when we
had our first date. And we kissed in the alleyway, just like we
did on that first date. 

So sweet.  Got back in the car, went home -- watched TV with
the cat and the dog, but it was adorable to see that spot -- which 
we've never bothered returning to, and to be so happy that
we love each other more now than those excited kids we
were.  

The peaches seem right because I'm about to eat one, and they
are celebratory.  Big time.  So delicious. Steven is going to
be canning them this weekend. 

Have a loving your life day! 

Playing with colour -- the year of strange green

Three in Green

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I spent more time today on an unusually detailed painting. 
Scrolling through my blog I found this painting, and it made
me happy because the green (not my favourite colour except
in nature) is vibrant.  What's funny is that most of the time I'm
not a fan, but these three stood out for me, and clearly stood
out in the crowd.

Last summer a very bright, light green was in fashion.This
year a colour I call "dead green" is in.  It's something like
army green only even more lifeless, and in my city, everyone
is wearing it.  No idea why.  Is it an unconscious statement
about all the untimely wars, and the soldiers policing 
cities to the south of us? Or is it a desire for ultimate subtlety?

I love this painting, small as it is of people walking on the
boardwalk in Quebec City.  I'm hoping when we go this
year it's cool enough to walk there.  Last year it was way too
hot.

Have a loving your life day. 

The magic of possibility

 

Monet the cat visits the studio

(She approved)
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2025

I'm working on two paintings for an upcoming show, and they're
coming along.  It rained today, and we needed it so badly.  But
I was writing in my journal about excuses, thinking of all the
excuses I could make to not do my work. (First thing in the
morning I'm not quite alert until my third coffee.) And I was
trying to switch myself to the positive.

Then Steven came up from his basement office for lunch, and we
sat on our back porch because it was beautifully cool. (It has been
too hot to sit outside some days).  And all of a sudden the sun came
out and shone on every leaf, making the whole rain soaked 
scene sparkle as the light shone on the raindrops.  It was 
magical.  And I said,"huh this is like a demonstration of
possibility." (True I needed more coffee.) Then when Steven
went back to work, it rained for the rest of the afternoon.

I went in and worked on my paintings.  Not finished yet.
But I thought you'd like to see my cat Monet, who I asked to
pose for a studio shot, and she agreed.  Magical. No the painting
is not finished.  She knew that.  

Have a loving your life day