2016 Visiting Al Gerritsen

Today marks the Feast Day of St. Nicholas and I was blessed to share an afternoon in Al Gerritsen’s studio with a friend.  Every time I visit Al, I feel calm and happiness and I take in everything I can; the visual aesthetic, the smell of wood, and the recollections of so many wonderful stories.

My nativity is set up in the front yard, the indoor nativity figures are set out on the table for Advent and it has become a bit of a custom for me to make an annual visit to the woodcarver’s shop, just to enjoy the friendship and the creative energy.

Today, I had the opportunity to hear about Al’s Christmas posters and selected four for my Gerritsen collection.  Each one, unique, and again, with a story all of its own.  I don’t think I’ve ever known such a prolific artist.  This second week of Advent is all about PEACE…and today was certainly that!

Following the visit, a hot cup of peppermint tea and some pretty special ocean vessel talk! Overall, a magical afternoon!

-18 and -30 with windchill, this day brought with it, sun dogs, two eagles circling above the Bow and frozen eyelashes at the pond.  Amazing day!

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It’s Lent and I’m Still Making Christmas Cards

A process, well documented.  Every so often, we have to blog something on the ‘lighter’ side.  When I considered writing my Christmas cards in January two years ago, it was because of the hour-long line up at the post to buy my stamps that year.  New Years Christmas wishes went well for the following year.  This year, not so much.  Those of you on my list might have noticed that I have always enjoyed a home made touch…and this year, that went snaky.  I have documented the process.  Now, I have only to fold the letters and address the envelopes.  I have 92 pieces remaining so that I may continue to make cards to complete this conceptual piece…these will be shared with friends and family who have not been on my annual list.  In my imagination, I see you all getting together one day, to reconstruct the painting that you see here.

Christmas Card 2

It all began with a landscape…

I really treasure the memory of my grandfather…drives west to Cardston, from Magrath.  The mission: to pick up a hard ice cream cone.  I treasure the Oldman River…I fought against the dam.  I used to flow milkweed pods on the water…watch them drift, ever so slowly away from me.  I love reading…and writing…magpies.  I am nostalgic, sometimes painfully so.  I believe that we are all connected…that nothing we do is for us alone, but that it all relates…our words, our actions…our treatment of our environment.  I have an artist soul…painting is not optional, but essential to who I am.  I am utterly convinced of the Divine nature of everything…and treasure the Divine in myself.  I hold fast to my faith, especially when I am challenged.  I journey like a lost pup in a very huge world and love it all.  Family; my three children…my sister…my three brothers…my mother and father and all my ancestors are in me as I move through this big world and I am grateful for them, as I breath.

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