Home after 15 days -- feeling renewed

View from the highway

Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
(We did not get to see this
fabulous view this time, because
we took the fast highway, but 
promised ourselves that
next time we will take
the river route in
New Brunswick, which
is what this painting
features.)

Actually it's more than renewed -- it's new.  I remember
learning when I taught positive psych, that we are not
the static beings we think we are.  So many of our
cells change all the time.

So we've been away for 15 days. Steven has driven more
than 4600 kilometres, or 2858.307 miles! We have seen so
much beauty, that I feel like every photo I took (hundreds)
is in me, like a part of me.  That sounds crazy, but what a
celebration we've had of this beautiful country. Singing all
the way to Nova Scotia and back to our favourite P.E.I. radio
station. 

Fabulous sunsets, amazing views, and so many lovely
friends and new friends along the way.  We were careful,
masked, and ate take out food on so many little streets. 

On one street in Ottawa where it was very hot, we parked
under a tree on a random street to eat our lunch, and a there
was s little free book library stand on the lot across from us.
I got out to check the books after eating my lunch, and they
were mostly religious. Not my thing. 

But a woman named Suze came up to check out the books,
and handed me the book she was going to put in (that's how
these little book libraries work. If you can, you put one in
when you take one out.) Hers was historical fiction, and I
haven't read it yet, but look forward to it. Thank you Suze
from Ottawa. 

So renewed, new, brand new -- it's great to be home.
Thank you to everyone who made this trip a delight.

Have a loving your life day.

Goodbye to Quebec

View of the harbour,
Quebec City
this morning
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

Yesterday we drove through three provinces to get to Quebec City.
Such a beautiful city -- we were sad to leave.  We are almost home,
and tonight took a happy walk through a quiet neighbourhood in
Ottawa -- all very old, magnificent houses, huge trees, fabulous
gardens.

Now it's time to get ready to get home.  My brain is filled with ideas,
and I feel like it's going to be an exciting time when we get home.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip fantastic for us.  It's a 
very long, and magnificent drive.

Have a loving where you are day.

A short visit, and long longing

Across the Highway

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

We left our little school house in Nova Scotia today, and
travelled 11 hours in the car to get to Quebec City.  For
the time measurers out there who will question why it
took so long -- we stopped for take out food, and once
to use a washroom, and there was a lot of construction
along the route.

And hey! We're here, with a beautiful view of Quebec, and
the river.  So we are so happy, and I am so proud of 
Steven who drove the whole way. This is the view
I will be missing that I see when I step out my front
door in Nova Scotia. Not quite -- the hydro people took
down the magnificent tree a couple of years ago.  But
it is still a beautiful view.

Have a loving your life day.

Small memory, and the kindness of artists

Cottage Memories
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2008

Looking through a container of papers we found this small
painting at the school house, and it needed some repair. 
An animal had clearly done some damage, and scratched
the surface.  But I like the piece.  And it brings up memories
of the times when the boys were here, and when we
met on my friend Diane's porch overlooking the ocean.

We had dinner with artist friends the other night, and our
friend Norene loaned me some yellow paint to fix the 
cottage in the distance.  She gave me brushes and water
in her studio. So sweet. So here it is.

Have a loving your life day. 

Leaving the Bay of Fundy

The beautiful Bay of Fundy
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

What an amazing time we had with our friends in Bear River!
A short post again tonight, because after a 6 hour drive to get
back to our school house we are tired.  This is the view I saw
this morning, as I drank my coffee looking out at the Bay of
Fundy from our little private deck at a very nice motel in
Smith's Cove.

Have an enjoying your life day.

Inspiration times one thousand

The view from our room
over the Bay of Fundy
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022

There is no experience in the world like driving through
the Maritimes.  This was our day today -- heading south from
our little school house to come and visit friends in Bear
River. And to stay in a lovely motel in Smith's Cove with
private decks off every room facing the Bay of Fundy.
Amazing.

Every image of the thousands I've taken could become a
painting.  Think of it. I would love to see that happen.
Well maybe not thousands -- I'm not Damien Hirst.  But
a room of beautiful paintings of the Maritimes would be
an inspiring and beautiful place to be for people in any
city.

Have a loving your life day.

The art of pizza

The painting on the wall
at Derado's Pizzeria
and Donair
in Tatamagouche,
Nova Scotia
(I should have asked for
more information on the
painting -- but it looks
like a historical painting
of the town of Tatamagouche.)

No this isn't an ad, but we met such a wonderful person in
Tatamagouche last year -- Habib Richa, who runs Derado's
Pizzeria and Donairand follows me on Instagram, and likes my art. 
He took over his parents' pizza place, and is very busy because
people love his pizza. We do too.  For people like us being
careful during COVID and eating take out, his delicious
pizza is perfect.

The image tonight is a photo of the painting on the wall.  Not
something you see in most pizza parlour. 

Have a loving your life day.