Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sliding into summer -- cold turkey on blogging


Steven contemplates the menu at
The Sandpiper restaurant
in Pugwash, Nova Scotia
black marker on bond paper
10 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

I remember when I had a full time office job that it
used to feel that the few weeks before my vacation
were on a downhill slide. It wasn't that I wasn't
working as hard, or thinking about my job, I
was probably working harder, and doing more.
But people's voices and demands played in my ears
in a kind of slow mo distortion. The time had definitely come
for some R. and R. -- kicking back with my husband
and kids.

Walking the beach at sunset -- this is the view I
saw this summer.
I craved this very scene with all of my being.
Sometimes in the whir of business, the soul
takes over, and says -- enough. We need to listen.

This summer I felt that once again. I really needed
to get off the merry ride of my life, and sit. I wanted
more than anything to do nothing, listen to the birds
and waves at the sea shore, walk on the beach -- read,
read, read!

So I did. And now a happy reveler I'm back.
I missed you so much. At first I read your blogs,
but out at our school house we don't always even
get dial up Internet. I knew I didn't want to spend my holiday
focusing on when and where I could get a computer
hook up. That's been my reality for more than two years.

Sunset on a cloudy day. Pure colour. My love of
this beach, and this experience knows no bounds.

I'm back in the city, refreshed and renewed. But as
my sister said one of her friends said about her
vacation, " I do have stories..."

Have a taking-a-real-vacation day.

13 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Hurra, you're back!! I am happy for you that you spent such a wonderful vacation and enjoyed some real "me-time", as they say nowadays.
I missed you and your paintings and am looking forward to reading your posts again.
Thank you for the beautiful photos!
Love, Liza

Linda Popple said...

Sounds heavenly - glad you had such an enjoyable time. That's what vacations are meant to be. Also, glad you are back and I look forward to new work.

CHRIS MURRAY said...

I've missed your posts a lot. I absolutely love Nova Scotia, particularly Cape Breton. Looks like you had a lovely spot to recharge and enjoy your family.

Laurel Daniel said...

I have missed you so very much and am glad to hear you've been off having a wonderful time! We really don't allow ourselves enough opportunities for rest and reflection. Your photos reveal that you were in just the right place to do that. Welcome back! XOXOXOXXO Laurel

Melinda said...

Welcome back, Barbara!

Two spectacular photos (I feel meditative just looking at them) and one elegant, masterfully drawn portrait of your husband. Nice first day back.

Wishing you all the best and looking forward to your stories!

Chris@STC said...

What a lovely message and pictures.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Gorgeous paintings. Yes. We seem to be back at the same time. Yes I did have a bit of "me" time, and it was great.

Thanks for your wonderful work and your great encouragement. I missed you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linda,

It was a great vacation, and as they say -- read on. Thanks so much for your kind comments. I am delighted to be back.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Chris,

Thanks so much. We do go to a wonderful spot. The vacation was super, but short because of events at home. Nova Scotia is super and of course Cape Breton is uniquely wonderful. What we like to do is walk along the beach at low tide when you can walk for miles.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laurel,

I missed you, and missed seeing your work. I had a chance to meet up with some of the friends I keep in touch with on the blog while I was away, and it's amazing how blogging deepens
our connections and even our conversations. Can't wait to miss you, and of course I love your work!

XOXOXOXOXBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Thank you so much. It was quite the time. That shoreline is a magnet for my artist's heart. I really need to see it, and walk it. I am amazed at how all of life is connected, how the waveprints the ocean leaves in the sand, are like the ripples in desert sand. I do need to stretch my brain along a wide swath of sky. You get that in your landscape, but the city closes in on sky, and the ocean.... It's a long way off.

Good to be back. I missed you.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara (amazing paintings you are doing!)

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Chris@STC,

I thought you were on a cruise! I hope it's fantastic for you. Thanks for your kind words.

Have a great holiday.

Ciao,

Barbara

Nicki said...

Hi Barbara,

I am sitting here with my Earl Grey Tea Latte and I have scrolled all the way to this post. I am looking forward to catching up with you through your blog. How wonderful that you listened to what you needed and then actually made it happen. You were missed, but we all understand and we are happy that you are rejuvenated.

And now I am off to hear your stories!

XO Nicki

Oh, and by the way- gorgeous skies! You would love the ones you would find on the prairies.

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!