It's my party, and I'll laugh if I want to, smile if I want to

Some of the Harvest Show,

(my work is the woman in the
purple dress)
Photo

By a Heliconian Hall photographer

(when I find out the name, I'll share it)

You would smile too, if it happened to you! (Referencing
the song It's my party, but changing the words.) If you're in
Toronto, please come out to the Heliconian Harvest show
at 35 Hazelton Avenue from 2 - 5 p.m. tomorrow,
October 31 (my birthday)  -- after that it's dashing
home to hand out candy to our neighbourhood Trick
or Treaters.  The Hall looks like a church, but don't
worry, it isn't -- it's an art club, and a beautiful venue.

We will have coffee, cake, goodies, candy, and children
and dogs are welcome.  The art is beautiful, celebrating
the bounty we are so lucky to have in the Canadian 
harvest.  Oh and the opening is free!

Love to see you there!

Have a loving your life day!

So much going on!

Pumpkin prep in process for the big night!

Wishing you a wonderful Halloween

if you celebrate!

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2025

We planned things well, and -- dropped off my painting
for the Harvest show at the Heliconian Hall opening just
after 9 this morning.  The drop off time was 9:30 and I
thought no one would be there.  But the team was there,
and the former show was down. Steven helped me
get my painting up. It was great to see everyone.  How lovely.
The Harvest show opens this Saturday at 2 p.m. at 35
Hazelton Avenue. It looks wonderful.  There will be candy (yes)
cake, treats, coffee and food. So come on over, and if you know
people who love costumes, bring them. 

Now the prep for the next art event -- Halloween begins.  We 
don't do big inflatable sculptures. Love them.  We carve pumpkins,
rely on the Pumpkin princess (hand made at home), and hand out
candy. The best. Our street will be quite festive! Can't wait!

Have a loving your life day!

You know what would be fun on Halloween Day -- an art show!

Okay decorate your place, get the candy ready, carve your pumpkins,
get your costumes ready, and then on Halloween Day, Saturday
October 31, between 2 and 5 p.m. come out to the Heliconian Hall
 at 35 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto to see some beautiful art, eat
some treats (including cake and candy),
drink some coffee in beautiful china cups, and have fun.  And it's
free!

Oh and there will be candy -- promise.  I would love to see
you there.

Have a loving your life day!

A great time with my art group -- but the painting isn't finished

Captain Giacomo

(art group sketch)

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2020
(* Not tonight's sketch)

Tonight I painted with my art group. It was so good
to be back.  Between set up and clean up, as I've said
before, I think I have 30 minutes to get a painting
completed.  It wasn't enough tonight, so I'm showing
you a former sketch,

The model was wonderful tonight, and very different 
from this sketch. She's a beautiful young woman, and if
I can finish the painting from memory, I will.

I like the one I'm showing you, finished with the same
time limits, but it came together well. My husband drops
me off at 7:30 and picks me up an hour later.  

I love being around the other artists who are making
such wonderful work. It's so inspiring.

Have a loving your life day!

National Pumpkin Day

Steven carving the pumpkin!
This will probably happen tomorrow.

Photo
Barbara Muir ©

Today is National Pumpkin day, and Halloween is Saturday. This is

what was supposed to happen tonight, but my sweetheart took me
out to dinner because it's my birthday week. Our jobs break down
to me drawing the faces -- usually happy (I'm not a fan of the horror
part of Halloween), and Steven carving. 

We have our pumpkins already, and the squirrels haven't eaten them
-- so please be patient.  They will be carved soon.

Toronto loves Halloween, and the decorations are everywhere.

Have a loving your life day!

Halloween Prep begins--the Pumpkin princess goes up!

The Pumpkin Princess and

the pumpkins

Photo 

Barbara Muir ©

This year I didn't have to stuff our very practical Halloween pumpkin
princess, because we left the newspaper stuffing in for the
year, and she survived miraculously hanging on a door in the
cold room. I made the princess out of stuffed painted canvas
eight years ago to offer an alternative to all the extremely
expensive ghost and demon machines in the neighbourhood.

I am on Halloween's sweet side, (which for the kids
in our neighbourhood is the whole thing.)(As in candy and then
some.) We bought our first candy for the event today. Last year
the kids were extremely polite. We'd hold out a basket of candy
and say three is the limit, and most just took one chocolate bar.

To mark the occasion the art tonight is the princess.  It's been an
exceptionally beautiful, and sunny week, and we haven't started
on the pumpkins, so this is a former photo. 

We love the celebration, and how much kids love it. Halloween
is my birthday, so last year I made them sing Happy Birthday
to me to get the candy. And they did. One group after another.
It was the best.

Tonight pumpkin carving begins.

Have a loving your life day!

Grateful for my happy life

 

Jack Layton
Marker on Canson drawing paper

12 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir ©

It is a sad day for my husband, and yet we've had sweet moments
with friends.

I'm thinking about Olivia Chow, and how she must miss Jack Layton
in a fairly harsh civic election like this one.  That's why I'm sharing an 
Inktober sketch of Jack tonight.

It feels right to write:

10 Reasons to be Happy

1. It was a beautiful day.

2. We saw friends and loved our time with them -- very moving.

3.  We saw friends at the market, and got flowers there.

4. Our neighbours gave us beautiful flowers.

5. We're alive and in love.

6. We're going to walk by the lake in honour of Steven's brother.

7. We were lucky to know and love Steven's brother.

8. It is Saturday and movie night, and we will relax for
    awhile watching a movie.

9.  We have family and friends who love us.

10. My painting is almost finished.

Have a loving your life day!

A hard day in the family

 

My men

black marker on bond paper

5 x 5 inches

(a quick sketch from a

photo of Steven and the boys

when Sam was a baby. I like

the exhausted Dad look

on Steven's face.)

As the loss of Steven's close brother becomes a dominant fact--
we are thinking about him all the time--I am so grateful for my
sons and the love they've expressed for their uncle, and for Steven.
Missing a loved one is huge. And love from your family is a gift.

So tonight I'm sharing this little sketch from a blog awhile
ago talking about loving children when they are little, and
loving my sons as grown men.  I certainly do.  They are
kind and loving, and supportive. Yes! And they
have brought so much wonder into our family.

Thank you guys.  And thank you to Steven's brother for 
being an amazing, kind, funny and wonderful person.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful family member, and Happy Monthaversary to Steven

Look at this!

Skype portrait

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Happy Birthday to Megan, plus Happy Monthaversary to Steven.  It's 
the Monthaversary of our first date.

I've been painting and organizing, and haven't had as much time
as I want for blogging.  As I've said before I really like this painting
done from a screenshot reference from a Skype call to my son when
he was teaching in Korea. So many exciting things happened because

of our Skype calls and I am grateful.

Please let your family members know that you love them. 

Have a loving your life day.

The magic of portraits

Detail of a portrait of
my friend Josephine.
I've painted her many times,
and she's a superb model
Barbara Muir © 

I'm making myself draw again in my journal. This morning
I gave it a try, and even though my journal sketch wasn't
perfect, the face emerged, and it felt like the person was there.
I like that a lot.

I love this portrait I found of my friend Josephine. We meet for
coffee every now and then at her office, and she makes an
awesome cup of coffee. 

It's a beautiful day, and I have to get back to painting.  I hope
you're enjoying the fall weather. It's been wonderful in 
Toronto. 

Have a loving your life day!

Back to the lists

Pansy bouquet
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

When I taught Positive Psych at the college level I learned
some pretty basic helpful ideas, that would now be called
hacks or something like that.  One was time management,
and another (actually part of time management) was to make
a simple list.  I had a boss who recommended the 6
things list, and most days I follow that plan, of course
often extending it to 10 or 12.

Today was that kind of day -- task after task.  But it does
feel good to strike them off the list -- done.  I am 
grateful to my great friend and "office manager" for
helping me today. 

And I'm grateful to the neighbourhood coffee group
for inspiring me too.

Today's painting is one of a series of pansy paintings
I've done.  They are a treat to paint -- so vibrant and
alive.  Especially cheering in hard times like these.

Have a loving your life day!

Beauty in sad times

Fall Blooming Anemones

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2026

My dear friends today I am mourning Steven's brother who
died yesterday.  It has been a beautiful day, and I feel 
lucky to be able to share things in this space, and 
lucky to know you, and to have good health.  But I
am also deeply saddened at the loss for Steven and
my family.

At this time of year the Fall Blooming Anemones are
at their finest.  So I'm sharing a photo of these beauties.

Have a loving your life day!

A very happy and very sad day

 

Journal Sketch

marker on journal paper

6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I'm including this journal image tonight, because I'm at a loss
for what to say.  We had a wonderful day with family down at
the lake, and were revelling at how lucky we are, when on
the drive home we heard the news that Steven's brother on
the other side of the country, died alone today, telling no one,
that he had cancer. 

His brother was a wonderful man, kind, generous, always
understanding.  So it is a very sad loss.  My heart goes
out to the rest of the family. Meanwhile hug the people
you love, and let them know you care about them.
It does feel on days like today that life is way too short.

Have a loving your life day!

What I’m working on

At the Harvest Dance

Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches (3 x 4 ft.)

Barbara Muir © 2026

Great day today! It’s been an absolutely gorgeous fall day.
Steven and I went to the market, driving through glorious
scenes of every colour of fall tree. The light was magical.
We were so happy that we sang as we drove along. Of course
the market was busy despite the cold, but we picked up wonderful
goodies and flowers from Jens at Marvellous Edibles Farm’s
place in the market.

This painting is what I’m working on. It’s almost finished.
I’m revising a work from quite a while ago. The theme for the
coming show at the end of this month opening at the Heliconian
Hall on Halloween, October 31, is The Harvest. And the work is
called at At The Harvest Dance. I’m quite happy with it at the moment
and feel like I’m getting my painting energy back after our little
holiday.

Have a loving your life day!

It is this kind of day

 

Moody Beauty

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

It is this moody kind of day, and this painting is perfect for it. 
On Sunday we drove to London (Ontario) to have dinner with
family.  Despite the very heavy rain, the views along the route
were beautiful -- vivid fall colours in red, orange, and yellow

accented by beautiful greens.

This painting reminds me of Nova Scotia, and on moody
looking days I miss that province, and the beach near our
school house - which is always a treat, even in cold, rainy 
weather. 

I'm working on a piece for a show next month. A portrait, 
not a landscape, and I feel so lucky to be able to do both.

Have a loving your life day!

When the world is hard -- animals make you happy

 

 Journal sketch
marker on
Maison de Haute
Couleurs Charvin paper
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2020
(the girl is me)

This was a big day in our house, because our kitten, Monique,
who was spayed on September 29 finally got to have the
protective onesy off, and was hugged all round.  She is
so exuberant, that sometimes we wish she'd calm down. But at
the same time she brings the cheer.

So does our sweet dog Sally, and our fabulous cat Monet.
Three happy influences, helping us stay positive in a 
strange world. 

This drawing is right for today because it's about loving
pets.

Have a loving your life day! 

Coffee definitely helps

Now that was good!
Journal drawing

Black marker on notebook paper

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

It was an early day, and those of you who know me
understand that that requires coffee.  It did. Yes this image

is of a breakfast in our favourite hotel.  But that was
not our experience today.  A family member was having
surgery today, and we even took coffee with us.

We were at the hospital for a very long time --
waiting, prepping, and all went well.  

I'm tired tonight, and grateful for both your
friendship, and the magical elixir -- coffee.

Have a loving your life day!

 

 

 

Missing my mother

 

Isabel Hope Muir

(My mother)

by my son Christopher Muir

Christopher Muir © 

(It took a lot of convincing to

get my mother to pose for

this shot. She did not

like to be photographed, or

to be the center of attention.

My image is a photo of the photo,

which is why there are reflections|
on it, from the glass.)

It’s been 13 years since my mother died on this day —
October 13. She is deeply missed. 

I’m not religious and neither was my mother, so I don’t think
there’s a heaven. But my mother’s love lives on in my heart,
and I still hear her voice encouraging me, reminding me to be kind,
advising me, and sometimes even laughing.

My mother lived on her own until the end of her life. She loved me,
Steven and my children.  In a former post I wrote this:

"I can’t help but think about my mother on Thanksgiving
weekend. She was the kind of person who was quintessentially
perfect for Thanksgiving. She made wonderful pumpkin pies,
sometimes she even made the ice cream.

My mom could probably cook and stuff a turkey for any
size crowd in her sleep. That doesn't mean she wouldn't
be nervous about every aspect of the meal, but she could
do it. She loved good china, and a table set with pretty
dishes and flowers.

But another reason that I'm thinking about her now is that
she died on Thanksgiving day thirteen years ago. And it feels
like she’s been gone a for very long time. 

I think of her on a gorgeous day like today. If she'd been
visiting we would have taken her out to our favourite park, and
she would’ve loved the high waves crashing against the shore."

Miss you Mommy.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day

 

Flowers from our garden on the
kitchen table

My Happy Thanksgiving wish to you.

Happy Thanksgiving
Photo
Barbara Muir © 

The only important message today in Canada is
Happy Thanksgiving! Families and friends
all over the country spent the weekend gathering
together to express our gratitude for the bounty of
the harvest, for each other, and for the planet.

I love Thanksgiving because it includes everyone.
It's not about religion, it's about gratitude for what
we have, who we love, and sharing a meal with the
people we care about. There are no gifts other than
food and good company.  It's a wonderful holiday. We had
a super dinner with family yesterday, and after
a glorious walk today by the lake (Lake Ontario), we
had a delicious dinner at home.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend

 

Pegann's flowers

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(Pegann was a wonderful woman

who used to sell flowers at the

Brickworks Market in Toronto.

We haven't seen her for quite a

few years.  I hope she's well.)

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to my family,
and to all of you, my wonderful friends.

Thank you for your support

Thank you for your kindness

Thank you for this community

Thank you for the inspiration

Thank you for your brave determination 
to keep on making art

Thank you for all that I've learned from you

Thank you for your humour

Thank you for your successes

Thank you for your beautiful and 
magnificent art

Thank you!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!