Sunday, May 25, 2014

This joyous life!

  
 My good friend (work in progress)
Watercolour and marker on watercolour paper
6 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
(Fiona, my cat, is a Tortie point Siamese
cat -- which means her markings are mottled
like tortoiseshell.)
Admittedly I am a positive person.
I love the song, "I get knocked down, but I get 
up again", and the song Happy.  They say it
all.  But hard times, sadness, other people's
woes can get to me.  That's why I love to
notice when life is great.

Yesterday Steven and I were going to go to a
 big Antique show, but there were 20 things
 to do in the day, and not enough time for the
drive.  So we went garage sailing (saleing)
and picked up a few lovely things (including a
 bird bath that leaks!).

But here's the awesome part.  We'd been meaning
to drive way out of town to try and buy an antique
 dresser to replace the one my son took with him
when he moved out.  And right by the side of the
street in our neighbourhood, someone cleaning
house had put a perfectly fine dresser out.  (People
in my neighbourhood put objects and furniture they
no longer want at the edge of the sidewalk).  We
stopped the car, inspected it, saw that it was good,
and then another lovely thing happened.  A couple
down the street  watering their pretty garden,
offered to help get the dresser into the car!  We
 had a great chat with them, and they were happy
 to meet their neighbours (although we live two
 streets over).

Toronto is at its finest right now, crab apple trees
gorgeous pink, yellow forsythia, tulips, bounty
and beauty everywhere.

Last night we listened to Shawn Achor's Google
talk on his book Before Happiness while we ate supper.
 And that is a shot in the arm for happy thought.  Plus
I think perhaps the engine for our glorious day was the
 super guided meditations I've been doing at the prompting
of an inspiring friend online.

Thank you universe for your bounty, and
thank you everyone of you who inspire me
in so many ways.

Have an enjoying-this-great-day day.
P.S. A super surprise looking up the
"I get knocked down song" on YouTube was seeing my son
Christopher Muir's ad for Canadian Dairy
farmers before the video -- he shot and
directed the ad.  Yay! Christopher.

8 comments:

cohen labelle said...

I love this watercolor of you and Fiona, so fresh and vibrant!

Love, Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks Marcia,

That little seven pound cat is a super one. I wish I knew how to play the piano, because she really loves to play it. She's much more inventive than me!

Love you work!

Love,

Barbara XOXOXOXO

Unknown said...

just reading your post is inspiration in itself. nice to know someone as happy as you. I love the watercolour portrait, jubilant!

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you Sally,

It's also nice to know someone as happy as you. I will never forget meeting you for the first time and your wonderful smile and laugh. Your work just radiates joy, and I love it.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Catherine Jeffrey said...

Your positive spirit shows in your work. This piece is a great example of that! My husband calls it Pollyanna syndrome....he says I have it...and I like it! And yes, isn't everything beautiful right now! Good for your son too.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Catherine,

I love Pollyanna syndrome. It's my favorite, so hang onto it. I love your work. Yes it's shockingly beautiful after this harsh winter. Amazing!

Thank you so much!

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Kim Rempel said...

Yay Christopher! And I really do like this watercolour. It feels fresh and un-fussed over. Bravo.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Truer words were never spoken. It was a quick study. Thanks for the congratulations on Christopher. I do love his work.

Have a great weekend.

XOXOXO Barbara

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!