Inspiration

Sunset on Lake Ontario

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

Neighbours were talking yesterday about why Steven and I would choose to live
in Toronto. For me as an artist, the answer was happening in that moment as
it does in so many moments during the day.  Our street with gardens starting,
flowering trees, and a school playground with happy children is inspiring.

If you know my work, you know that I'm inspired by being near water.
I have been working on a painting, that is not of water, but of fields in
Nova Scotia, but I thought I would share this beautiful photo of
the lake at sunset in Toronto with you. 

We are so lucky to have Lake Ontario, and so many parks available to us
in Toronto. I hope you are very inspired wherever you live.

Have a loving your life day!

Love is always the answer

The Fruits of Love

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I was talking to a friend going through a hard time, and one of her friends
I've never met had said some really thoughtless, and unkind things to her.

I'm working on a new painting I like, and it is a happy, slow process.

Scrolling through my blogs I found this, and I like it. 

"I love this painting. It went home five years ago, and I still feel
happy every time I open my blog and see it. It just expresses such
exuberance and joy at living. Plus this kind of arrangement is 
normal in our house, especially in the colder months."

I think a lot of world problems (it is a scary time) could be solved
if the motivation was to be kind and loving to one another.  I know
that seems simplistic, but taking it from the personal (we need to
be kind to our friends), to the international (every country should be
working with every other country to stop climate change, and end
wars.), it makes sense to me.

We are just recovering from being quite ill for two weeks.  It
feels like a miracle to be normal. We wore our masks (now more
careful than ever), and took my car through a car wash! Wonderful. 
I have a lot of exciting things in the works so I'm delighted that I'm better.

Have a loving your life day 

Happy Victoria Day Canada

Fireworks

display seen from Rideau
Street Ottawa

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

A short one tonight.  Steven and I started planting our
garden today.  Then tonight we went to a nearby park in our
Toronto neighbourhood to watch the fireworks.  When that
seemed over, we drove around trying to find fireworks and
we did see some beautiful ones.  I don't have a photo from today,
so the image from Ottawa will have to do. It's Firecracker Day in
Canada, or Queen Victoria's birthday.  We both love firecrackers,
But boy was it cold!

Still the fireworks started before sundown this year -- probably
because children go back to school tomorrow after a long
holiday weekend. 

We enjoyed everything we saw.  Much more dramatic than this
image.

Have a loving your life day! 

Monet and Paris -- more memories

Thinking about Paris for the past few days.  We visited 
the city coming home on May 6, last year, so the 
desire to go back is strong right now. 
This is one of the photos I showed in a former blog.

My plan was to photograph the wonderful postcards I had

of my painting Dream Selfie in the Carrousel du Louvre show,
 in different venues around Paris -- giving my model Regan 
the Paris experience from a distance -- but I ended up being too 
busy in the moment to remember most of the time.  Here's one with Regan
metaphorically enjoying a glass of delicious Sancerre with us
 when we ate at Khao Thai, on rue Dauphine most evenings.
I did hand out many, many postcards of Dream Selfie both at
the Louvre and around Paris in my travels. Everyone loved them,
which made me super happy.

Because we arrived home from our last Paris trip just over a year ago, Paris
is on my mind. That trip left me flying high in a state of perpetual inexplicable
happiness, and no amount of bad news could bring me down for at least a 
month.  Now the memory seems to be seeping into me a year later, and once
again making me happy.

A fabulous Brooklyn artist and friend, Pete Sinjin, who I met last year as he
painted onthe banks of the Siene, posted some beautiful paintings by Monet that I'd 
never seen before, and that lead me to discover this post about our time in Paris. 

"Okay I confess, I have thought about Paris more than is
probably healthy since I landed back in Toronto.  I have
pined for it, longed for it and missed it.  Too much?
Go there for me this weekend, and report back.  Meanwhile
I'll give those of you who can't go a bit more exposure.

Clouds reflected in a bus window outside the Musée d'Orsay

Doing the happy people pose at

the Orangerie Museum in Paris.  This is

the museum specially made

to house Monet's waterlilies, and it

is beautiful.  I am a devoted fan of

Monet's.  I have seen his work in

Stuttgart, Germany -- where I fell

deeply in love with his poplars,

in New York City, where I rush to

see the Monet water lilies (also

magnificent before the museum closes, when

I arrive), in Ottawa, Canada -- last year

his bridges, and in Paris -- Oh Monet!

Steven at the Orangerie with the

beautiful Monet Waterlilies

More of Monet's Waterlilies at the Orangerie. 

Detail from Monet's Water Lilies

Is there more?  So much more.  But this is all for now.  I miss you Paris.  
Things have happened on this side of the Atlantic that make me want to catch
the first plane into CDG. But the truth is I'd feel that anyway except for my
wonderful family and friends, who keep me grounded and sane and happy
back here at home --in Canada."

Have a loving your life day!

Paris memory tripping

Sophie Ghuzel, Jean Philippe Grelaud 

and me
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2024

It seems crazy to be in such deep Paris memories this month, but some places
live in your soul. Paris and escaping is a delightfully positive dream.

Another wonderful thing is gardening, and the gardening store we enjoy
was crammed today with people on a spring high you'd have to see to
believe -- smiling, laughing pushing carts of flowers, making decisions,
enjoying every moment.  We planted two planters in the front of the house,
and that's a nice start.

We also bought blue morning glories (one of my favourites), and white cleome,
which will be amazing.  Plus Jens the farmer from Marvellous Edibles at the
market sold me a bouquet that is exceptional.

Here's what I wrote last year about a wonderful time in Paris:

"We have been lucky to visit Paris 3 times in the past two years.
And even luckier to make friends along the way.  Jean Philippe
Grelaud manages a lovely art store near the hotel where we 
stay in Paris -- Maison de Haute Couleur Charvin. He is a
wonderful artist, and a treat to visit in the store, even when we're
just walking by to the restaurants we visit around the corner from
our hotel.

This past visit he asked us to come for aperitifs with him
and his wife Sophie Ghuzel.  Sophie is also an artist, and we had
so much fun visiting them, seeing their art, enjoying a
sweet wine, delicious pastries, and glazed strawberries.
Steven and I stumbled along in our awkward French, and
still had riveting conversations, lots of laughs and so much
fun.

Thank you Jean Philippe and Sophie."

Have a loving your life day.

 

Happy Birthday to my wonderful friend Miranda

Chu Okoli's photo of

Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers,

Me and Chu at the gala dinner for the

2015 Florence Biennale

Chu Okoli © 2015

Miranda Brouwers, a wonderful artist, and I met at the 2015 Florence Biennale.

I can't believe it's almost 10 years (10 years this fall) that I've known Miranda, and whenever possible we talk once a week.  And we love talking to one another -- she is in the Netherlands, and I am in Toronto.

Here's what I wrote in a former post that seems perfect today:

"Miranda and I, and her husband Rolf, and the artist Chu Okoli (shown above)
met at the 2015 Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy.  It was such a wonderful
time, and all of us are still connected.  Miranda and I started the Happy People
Group at the Florence Biennale to keep the artists' spirits up during the long days
of sitting the10 day show.  And Miranda and I have been close friends ever since,

even though she lives in Breda, The Netherlands, and I live in Toronto, Canada.  

I so look forward to our weekly calls, and I'm always happy about the
conversation. Happiest of birthdays to my dear friend.  And love to all of
the family."

Have a loving your life day. 

A good idea

View of clouds in Paris

walking along the Seine

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2022

I started a painting today, and I also found this photo and the suggestion
that it would make a good painting! It would. So much has happened
in the year since we got back from our trip to Paris.  But my joy
at the thought of our time there hasn't diminished.  And my desire
to return is strong.  

I like this photo of Paris by the Seine, and it seems right for
tonight. And I think I should do a painting of this some day.
I started a painting of the Canadian countryside on the way
to Nova Scotia today, and I'm looking forward to working on it.
I know I keep talking about Paris that’s what love is like. I hope
you get to go there someday if you haven’t already. Meanwhile
I recommend the French cop shows on Britbox.

Have a loving your life day!

To continue with pink

Pink in the city

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

When we were driving home tonight from picking up some essential
groceries I spotted this view. It’s happening. The trees that are in this
painting are at their full flower right now-- so beautiful.

I immediately thought that I need to rush out, and take some photographs
of this beauty while it lasts. I know we only have a few days, which doesn’t
seem fair, but it is the reality. But I was too tired. Maybe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I’m so happy that I cared enough about that glorious view to
create this painting.

Have a loving your life day!

Pink light

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

People who know me know that clouds are some of my favourite things.  Each summer
we drive across Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to our little 
100+ year old school house near Pugwash, Nova Scotia.  The drive itself is
magnificent, and when we get to Nova Scotia the clouds we see are so spectacular.
In certain places you can see for miles and miles, with gorgeous clouds filling
the sky. This painting is in the Passages show on for the month of May at the
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. 

I hope you had a great day.  It rained a bit here, which was just what the gardene ordered.

Have a loving your life day!

 

The clean up

Flowers for Mother's Day

A delightful distraction

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2025 

Thank you to my family!

Not every minute in an artist's life is about painting.  Today I was sorting 
through letters, and addresses for hours.  The bizarre thing was
that they were in a small square fruit container about 4 inches by 4 inches.
And wow did that hold a lot! Cards, letters, business cards, seemingly in
endless numbers.

Well that problem is sorted now, and I'm delivering a painting to a client. 
And painting is next.  Can't wait.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Mother's Day

Me and my mother and her cat

Photo

Steven van Schaik ©

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers, and all of the people who are mothering,
and every kind, nurturing, funny person in the world.  I got a card today from my
husband, with this sweet photo of me and my Mom.  I loved her so much,
and think of her every day.  She was a great mother, kind, generous, full of life.

She had a Masters degree in Bacteriology, and loved science and nature.  I was 
saying to Steven my husband today, that if I needed someone to take care of the
children for the weekend, and I called my mother, who lived in Ottawa, (we
live in Toronto), she would always say yes.  Quite remarkable.

I hope you had a great day.

Have a loving your life day! 

Happy Mother's Day weekend

The Writer's Life

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2023

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers out there.
I feel extremely blessed to have two delightful sons, two
lovely, kind daughters-in-law, two adorable granddaughters,
and a sweet grandson in my family.  Mother's Day is wonderful
for me every day of the year.

And to my own mother who's been gone now for twelve
years -- I love you and miss you Mommy.  You are with me
every day in my thoughts.

This is one of my favourite paintings.  I just love how
the painting captures the mother's love and devotion to
her baby son, and her persistence -- to keep on working
while keeping the baby happy.  The woman in the painting
is a very successful novelist.

Have a very Happy Mother's Day weekend! 

People we miss from Paris

Robel and Dara 

Photo

2024

(These two work at the restaurant

where we eat most nights when

we're in Paris.  The food

is fabulous, but the main

reason we eat there is that these

guys are our friends.  And we can't 

wait to see them again. They are

kind, and very funny, and make

every evening that we spend

there a joy.)

I was writing a friend today, that it's a year since we've been to Paris.

On a world scale that seems so trivial I know.  But on a personal
level Paris is one of our favourite cities in the world, and we miss

it badly.

The photo today is of two of the people who make the place special
for us. We love Thai food and these two work at a wonderful Thai
restaurant just around the corner from the hotel we stay in.  We are
lucky to have friends there, and it makes a big different when you
stay in a city that isn't where you live full time, to have friends who
are happy you're there.

Thank you Dara and Robel.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Changing work

The pick of the pansies

Work in progress
Watercolour and acrylic ink 

on watercolour paper

9 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

The other day I found this watercolour painting when I was tidying my studio.
It was not at all as lively as I like paintings to be. So today, I worked
on it a bit, and added some more high key colour. It may not be done,
but it already looks much better.

I love pansies. They are so vibrant. It’s a challenge for artists to capture
them. I always think it’s worth a try. I may show you this again when I 
do more with it.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Birthday to my brother one day late again!

Thinking

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir ©

I love this painting of my brother Andrew, which he owns, because it captures his
intensity of thought.  I wish it also showed his wonderful sense of humour,

but one painting can't do everything.

Last year I posted the birthday wish blog a day late because we were in Paris
and just got home.  This year we've been a bit under the weather, and 

I did wish my brother Happy Birthday, and Steven and I and our dog Sally
sang Happy Birthday to him, but I do like acknowledging how special
he is, and how much Andrew is loved by our family.

Last year I wrote about it in a way that still holds true.  Andrew posed for

this painting -- maybe that explains the restless look, but also it
is why the brushstrokes are so vigorous.   

"In between sittings I'm sure we were drinking strong coffee,
laughing our heads off, and perhaps arguing -- something we do
very well, because we can switch the argument on and off at a 
moment's notice, and we still love one another like very good

friends."

Happy Birthday Andrew.  

 Have a loving your life day!

One of my works in the Passages show

Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac from the road

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

The Passages show at the Heliconian hall opened on Saturday, May 3.The
show will be on display for the month of May. One of my paintings in the 
show is this one Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac from the road. The view is one we
 see on our drive from Toronto to Pugwash, Nova Scotia every summer. The
entire 2000 kilometre route makes us love our country so much. For city
people, driving through endless beautiful countryside is so exciting.

This painting celebrates one of those beautiful views. It’s a long way
from our stop in Fredericton, New Brunswick to Quebec city. The scenery
along the way makes the long drive more than worthwhile.

Have a loving your life day!

A Happy sale

 

Higher Love

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

SOLD ♥ 

Happy news today -- my painting Higher Love went home to its
new collectors today -- a joyous moment for a piece celebrating
one of Toronto's beautiful nature spots in the middle of the city.

The painting is based on the pond in the park behind the
Brick Works in Toronto.  It's a big piece expressing my delight
in visiting the Brick Works market, and the park out behind the
market with this lovely wild space. Sometimes the pond has
been home to massive turtles. But the turtle isn't in this piece. 

The name refers to the Steve Winwood song, Higher Love, which
makes me happy every time I hear it.

Have a loving your life day!

My beautiful show a week ago

Ike Iberio at my solo show
The Art of Celebration 

opening a week ago Sunday
at the Heliconian Hall in Toronto

I tried to post s video here,
but Blogger wouldn't let me.

Photo © Ellis Berman, 2025

A nice surprise today came from my neighbour, and friend Ike Iberio who had
some photos taken by another friend Ellis Berman, with my work, plus Ike shot

a video that gives you the whole show.  You can see the video on my Instagram story.
It was wonderful to see that happy day in action. 

Enjoy!

Have a loving your life day!

More Paris memories

Paris today
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

When we went to Paris last year, we were motivated by Steven's surgeon's

message (only posted online -- no direct contact), which implied we would

probably not be able to travel again after whatever cancer surgery Steven
was going to have when we came home.

Luckily one of our regular doctors got us a new, very nice surgeon at a
different hospital, and when he did exploratory surgery, he found no cancer!

The moral of the story is get a second opinion, and also go to Paris as

often as possible.  Steven has been cancer free with regular treatments with
that doctor ever since. 

And Paris was amazing, as always.

Have a loving your life day.

Memories of the Musée D'Orsay a year ago today

 

One of the famous, beautiful clocks
at the Musée D'Orsay, Paris
Reminder that time is of the
essence.
Photo
Barbara Muir © 

Last year on this day we visited the Musée D'Orsay in Paris, which has an absolutely
astoundingly wonderful art collection, and the former train station has quite 
wonderful massive clocks.

Here are some examples of what we saw:

Le Repas, dit aussi Les Bananes

Huile sur papier marouflé sur toile

Paul Gaugin © 1891

In the Musée D'Orsay, Paris, France

Last year because of the rain the line to get into the museum was shorter
and late in the day the line clipped along, we got in, and took
the elevator to the fifth floor to see our favourites.

Some were gone, maybe in other exhibitions in preparation for the Olympics. 
(Remember the Summer Olympics were in Paris last year.) That meant we saw
paintings we'd never seen before.

Les Alyscamps
Huile sur toile
Paul Gaugin © 1888

In the Musée D'Orsay, Paris, France

Champs de tulipes en Hollande
Huile sur toile
Claude Monet © 1886
In the Musée D'Orsay, Paris, France

The final one almost made me jealous, which is ridiculous because I'd love to see the
tulip fields, but we're never in Europe at that time. 

I love the Musée D'Orsay and Paris, and can't wait to go again.  Right now we're
dealing with a very bad, bad cold, so for now dreaming is the best way to travel.

Have a loving your life day.

The take down of The Art of Celebration

Clouds dancing over Toney Bay

Acrylic on canvas

40 x 40 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

Today was the day that my solo show came down, and I am so grateful for
the help of people in the hanging committee, and for Peter Ramdeholl who
helped Steven and I take down more than 50 pieces, pack them because it
was going to rain, and put them in the van to take them away.

My solo show The Art of Celebration was a fabulous experience -- so fun!
I got so many wonderful compliments on my work, which made me feel
great. It was a lot of work getting it together. And I think worth every moment.

Clouds dancing over Toney Bay, came home, and my work and I are delighted.

Have a loving your life day!

One of my paintings for Passages

 

Yes it's love for sure
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

This is one of four paintings I'll be showing in the Passages show opening at The
Heliconian Hall on May 2, at 35 Hazelton Ave. from 2-5 p.m. The meaning of this
work is that when you're a couple walking along the beach and see this sunset, not
only are you totally in awe, you realize that your love feels that bright and that colourful.
So it's the painting is about wonder and love.

Have a loving your life day!

One year ago in Paris!

 

Pete Sinjin and me beside the river

Seine in Paris one year ago. It was so

wonderful to meet him, and to realize that we

already had a connection. Check out his work.

It's amazing.

Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2024

I feel so lucky in my life in general, because wonderful things like this happen.

Steven and I were walking along the Seine in Paris last year, and an artist (Pete

Sinjin in the photo) was measuring with his paint brush in the air the scene

he was painting.  I started to laugh because I don't know how to do that measuring
thing, and I don't do it. So we started to talk in our best effort at French, until Pete
said his name.  Then I realized that there was a piece on Instagram about a critic
who was not kind to Pete Sinjin.  I was one of many people who wrote
and said that the writer was ridiculous because Pete Sinjin's work is fabulous.
And it is!

So Pete asked for a photo and Steven took this.  It makes me happy just looking at

this happy picture, and Pete and I have been friends ever since.

Of course the painting he was creating that day was awesome, and so are all of his pieces. 

Have a loving your life day!

Only two days left to see The Art of Celebration

 Part of the show 5 of the 50 paintings on view.

I'm so grateful to the hanging committee, Peter Ramdeholl and my husband, Steven, for
doing such a spectacular job hanging the show!  We had a great opening on Sunday,

 

Have a loving your life day!

Thank you for the sales, and Kudos to everyone who helped to make this super show happen

Me and Steven
At my opening today in front 

of my painting Breakfast in the Hotel

Photo

Ellis Berman © 2025

It was a great final opening for my solo show The Art of Celebration.  It's on until April

30th.  We had so many guests -- friends and new friends -- and so much interest -- -plus some great sales.

So fun.  Thank you everyone.

Super tired. Going to bed.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Please come this Sunday April 27.

 

Hi everyone.  I don't mean to bore you.  But this is all that's happening around here.  My son
is in from London, Ontario to see the show, and we're all pretty excited.

Hope you're having a great weekend, and I'd love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day!

This is the weekend

A friend from our street talks to visitors

to the first opening of The Art of Celebration

about my work.

April 27 is the last opening 2-6 p.m.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave.

In the background are 8 of the 50+ paintings in the
exhibition.

This is it people. The final reception for my show the Art of Celebration opens from 2 to 6 PM on Sunday, April 27. I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t think I can say it enough, I would love to see you there. It’s a free exhibition in a very beautiful space The Heliconian Hall at 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. The venue is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever exhibited -- in a former church with a beautiful blue ceiling inside and couches all around the edge of the gallery space.

We will serve delicious coffee, and treats and you can enjoy something wonderful to eat while you walk around and look at the more than 50 paintings. So if you’re in the Yorkville area of Toronto this weekend, please do drop by on Sunday afternoon.

And thank you so much to the Heliconian staff and members for their incredible help and kindness. See you there.

Have a loving in your life day!

Happy Monthaversary to Steven

Fruit trees near Beamsville,

Ontario

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2023

Happy Monthaversary of our wedding day to Steven, my wonderful husband. We haven't
been out to Beamsville to see the trees yet and I hope we get there.  Things are just a bit
busy with the opening this Sunday, family coming to town, and endless organizing 

jobs.

I hope you had a glorious day.  It is sooooo beautiful right now -- spring just hit with

a force in the last two days, and everyone is gardening, cleaning up their gardens, and

enjoying the amazing flowers as they go for walks and drives through the city.

Have a loving your life day!

 

My last opening for my solo show this Sunday

Barbara Muir

www.barbaramuir.com

barbara.muir@sympatico.ca

A friend made a super invitation to my last opening for my solo show
The Art of Celebration this Sunday, but I can't seem to capture it
from Instagram. So here is my invitation, which I'm sharing every way
I can. If you’re in Toronto, please come and see my 50+paintings at the
 Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.

It’s been such a thrill for me to meet you there, and to see my work displayed
so beautifully. 

See you there Sunday, April 27th

Have a loving your life day!

A Happy DIscipline

Art group sketch

artist

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

On a day absolutely packed with work -- it was a great pleasure to be with my art
group.  Once again I had probably 30 minutes from the time I unpacked and set
up to get a quick portrait. 

The model tonight -- Margaret -- was wonderful.  I could have used more time, but
my very kind husband was waiting in the parking lot when I packed up and 
said my goodbyes.  He's a sweetheart.

Thank you Margaret and my art club group.  

Have a loving your life day! 

Happy Monday

 

These were my entries in The San Fernando Valley Arts
and Culltural Center's Food for Thought show in 2022
Some have sold, some have been revised.

I saw this image in my file, and it was a rainy day when I opened it.  The French toast

image in the lower right corner made me especially happy because Steven, my husband,
brought me abreakfast in bed of French toast, maple syrup and coffee this morning.  It was
the last day of a long weekend. So fun.

In 2022 Stand back for the pie in the upper left corner of this image won first place, and I won  $500 American in the contest with the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center in California in a virtual exhibition. And that was fantastic. Super exciting. 

It's been a very busy four day weekend.  I hope you had a wonderful time whatever you
were celebrating.

Have a loving your life day!

Super day

 

Pip the Lionhead rabbit delivers eggs

8 x 8 inchs

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 

This painting was a commission. And I had
never seen this kind of rabbit until
a random stranger had one in New Brunswick.

I wish I'd taken a photo of our son and daughter-in-law's dog Cheddar -- a very
beautiful Corgi.  Sweet, affectionate and well behaved at 10 months.  While
our dog, a 12 year old Border Collie, Kelpie,  Jack Russell was whiny, aggressive,

a pain in the neck. She is deaf and blind and we did travel in the car for 3 hours.

All that aside we had a wonderful time -- sat outside for most of our visit, and
ate delicious pizza to celebrate spring. We are not religious, so aside from a couple
of baskets of chocolate eggs, it was not very Easterish.  Which was fine.

Have a loving your life day!  

Happy Long weekend

 

Harold and the blue eggs

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

 Barbara Muir © 

It's Saturday night and compared to some years it's a very quiet Easter weekend.  Part

of our family is away, and the other part has moved to London. We're going to head over
there tomorrow, but we won't be having turkey, and a big whole family party.   Steven and I are not religious at all, but we really like to celebrate the coming of spring -- chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs, having a great meal and baskets filled with goodies.

I thought I'd add this piece from a former blog.  It's a story about my pet rabbit in
university -- Harold.  She was a girl.

"(I put Harold, the bunny rabbit on my blog every year since I painted her (yes a she), and think

happily of the time a university boyfriend, not knowing how innocent I was, gave me a marijuana plant for a present. While I was out at class, Harold, my rabbit, ate the plant, plus a massive chunk of the sheets and blanket in my rental room!  The young married couple I was renting from were not impressed. Neither was I.  I had to pay for new sheets and a blanket. But the whole story makes me laugh every year when I think of Harold)." Our current pets -- Fiona and Monet siamese cats, and
our dog Sally are remarkably easy to handle and a treat to be around. 

Have an enjoying celebrating day.

Happy Spring

 

Happy Spring cards lining up,
ready to go a couple of years ago.
The image is from the painting:
Harold and the blue egg
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir ©

Today was a beautiful day.  We are not religious, so we just enjoyed the day
off. We voted (it's the Canadian federal election and there were advanced polls.)
Then we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario and had a fast look around. (The 
gallery closed early.) I am always delighted by the Group of Seven paintings,
so that was fun.  We ran into an artist friend -- such a treat.  Plus I handed out
invitations to my show to people.

A great day.  I may make spring cards again, I don't know.  Toronto right now
is slowly moving into spring, and I am in awe when I see the carpets of bluebells
in some parks and neighbourhoods.  So magnificent.

Have a loving your life day!