Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

 Flowers from our garden on the
kitchen table
My Happy Thanksgiving wish to you.
Happy Thanksgiving
Photo
Barbara Muir ©

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!  Families and friends
from coast to coast have spent the weekend gathering
together to express our gratitude for the bounty of
the harvest, for each other, and for the planet. 

We had a big family dinner, turkey and the trimmings
plus salmon for one family member, plus super
veggies and so many dessert choices.  Pies --
pumpkin, cherry, blueberry and apple crisp.
It was a delicious dinner with wonderful
company.

Have a loving your life da 

Gratitude for my mother

 

Isabel Muir
by Christopher Muir

Christopher Muir @ 2007

My mother died 11 years ago on this date.  It was Thanksgiving Day. We were
in Ottawa where she lived, and were in the hospital with her the night before
she died.  Our family who were in the city, had lunch together, then we drove
home to Toronto for another Thanksgiving dinner. All in her honour.

The beautiful portrait photo I'm showing you is by my son, Christopher.
I love it because it shows her strength, her beauty, and the nature she protected
with letters, her voice on call-in radio on CBC, in protest marches even when
she had a serious chronic lung condition, and with donations.

Here's what I wrote about her in a former tribute:

"A couple of weeks before she died, I sat with my mother, who
was totally blind, helping her fill out cheques to organizations she
believed in that protected the environment -- wolves, whales, parkland.
Those weren't her only passions -- she gave to women's shelters, money
for hurricane and famine victims.  Small amounts to be sure -- but this mattered.

She was a good, kind and supportive mother. Sure she could be
critical, but in small ways that didn't matter at all. Because what
shone through with her was her love for her family, her intellect,
(she had a Masters in Bacteriology), her concern about the future of
the planet."

We miss you Mommy.  You made the best Thanksgiving dinner.

Have a loving your life day.

We are very grateful for our market friends

 

Jens Eller of Marvellous Edibles Farm
with the painting -- Flowers in light

Acrylic on watercolour paper

5 x 7 inches

Framed
Barbara Muir © 

A very fun visit to the market today where Jens Eller the owner of
Marvellous Edibles Farm took home my painting Flowers in
Light, while we took home a delicious cherry pie, and a blueberry
pie (our favourites of all of their delicious pies), a quiche and 
beautiful flowers -- oh and organic lettuce.

Jens and his wife Ayse were chefs in Europe, and anything they bake
is beyond delicious. So we are more than prepped for the Thanksgiving
dinner, and Steven is going to make pumpkin pie (an absolute 
requirement in our family.)

I've been influenced by the work of Mitchell Johnson to look at my work
and see it in new ways.  So I suggested Jens hold the painting upside

down for the photo, because it actually looked better that way.  He

laughed and cooperated.

For more market fun check out my Instagram stories to see the two
young men who brought their very calm cats to the market.  Funny. 

Wishing you an amazing Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

And just like that it's Canadian Thanksgiving weekend

 

Today's flowers from the garden

Watercolour and black marker on 

watercolour paper

6 x 9.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

We had a kind of art party with some of the younger members of our 
family today, and it was so much fun.

As I've said before I love the idea of a celebration based on gratitude.
In Canada Thanksgiving is about the harvest, and I love the day because
it's about food, getting together and being happy, and everyone can participate.  
It isn't a religious holiday -- it's available to everyone.

So here are some of the things I'm grateful for:

I always enjoy thinking about what makes me happy, but this weekend is about
reflecting on what's great about our lives:

1. I'm grateful for my wonderful family. Thank you for your love.

2. I'm so happy to have wonderful, kind, supportive, funny friends.

3. I'm grateful for my health. 

4. I feel so lucky to be an artist, and to be part of a vibrant worldwide
     arts community.

5. Every day the news makes me more, and more aware about how
    lucky I am to live in Canada.

6. I'm grateful for my street and all the great neighbours who
    live here.

7. I'm grateful for my garden -- which is at its peak now.

8. I'm grateful for our three animals -- two sweet cats, and a dog
    who is going to take us out for a walk now

9. I feel so lucky to be part of a community that includes you,
    and I thank you for your support here.

10. And up at the top of the list -- I'm grateful for my kind,
     and loving husband.

Have a loving your life day.

Belated World Smile Day (which was on October 4)

Nicole

Inktober sketch before Inktober existed

Marker on watercolour paper

12 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir ©

(Skype drawing from the 

Consumer Electronics Show

2009)

I noticed today that I missed World Smile Day on October 4, which is when
we are supposed to be kind to one another. (Yes I know that should be every
day -- but I am all for a day that encourages the practice.)

So I thought I'd look through my blog for images of people smiling, and found

this. It seems perfect because it's also the type of drawing I need to post for
Inktober.  Nicole was a great person. As I drew her live for the

Consumer Electronics Show, apparently we were displayed on a giant screen 

(I'm glad I didn't know). After that I did this more refined drawing.

I hope you will extend the World Smile Day celebrations until at least the end
of October, and spread kindness wherever possible. I know it might seem
frivolous when the world is in so much chaos, but I think kindness has never
been more important.

Have a loving your life day.

Inktober, Inktober Okay I'll start over

 

Journal Sketch -- 

Inktober

Marker on journal paper

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

I drew another Inktober drawing today.  There's a lot going on -- so when
I went back to look at it, I realized it wasn't working.  This drawing of a

friend popped up in my sketchbook, and I thought -- yes!  I'll use that with a bit
more work.

It worked.  It is so cold tonight that I think I should bring the Mandevilla 
plants inside.  Last year we lost one on a cold night.  The other bloomed in
my studio all winter, and was quite the inspiration.

Have a loving your life day.

Sketch anyway

Journal Sketch -- 

Inktober

Marker on journal paper

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

Okay, I admit that this was a difficult subject. I was using a very high contrast
black-and-white photo as a reference. I may try again. I think charcoal might’ve
suited the subject better. But here it is an Inktober drawing and a challenge.

I read somewhere recently that even if the drawing, sketch, painting isn’t working
 – keep on going. So I did. I’m laughing now, and the main thing is I did the sketch
 in about 20 concentrated minutes, and yes, I might try again. But as you know --
tomorrow is a new day.

Have a loving your life day.