even closer ,still!!!

This past week there has been heart break with Funerals . Things like this seem to knock us all off our pins and being so close to Christmas when our Hearts should be filled with joy we ache for those who have lost their loved ones. When we got home yesterday after our second funeral this week, I wanted to celebrate life with music ,Chuck felt that a couple Star Wars movies were more his cup of tea ,so I was ,you might say, banished from our tiny home to entertain myself on the deck. In the beginning as you can see here I was in gloves and a hat ,along with our House Guest Laura. This didn't last long because Chuck then got the bug and joined me, so we sat outside in the wonderful warm sun and entertained ourselves for a couple great hours.

The Artists Gift Gallery Main street Liverpool Dec. 2,3 evenings from 5-10 is coming upon us quickly and I have been getting ready ,realizing times are hard money wise I am offering some great savings on my Art.
To be perfectly honest ,I want to sell and feel everyone will win by passing on savings to local shoppers. So if you are interested in original one of a kind gifts this season for yourself or loved ones ,look no further. I may have what you are looking for. You can find me at this show next weekend or email or call and drop by my in home Gallery on 142 Payzant Street here in Liverpool. My Children's book has been doing well, Thank you all for your interest. I read it at the Mill Village school as well at Hillsview Acres to the older residents there along with the two Dogs , Lu Lu Belle and Laura who star in the book and their owners. Both gigs went very well with great response and energy.

I needed a Christmas garden Flag for in front of my house so I made a canvas painted one for myself and then decided to do a couple more for sale,above picture top left. I have barn Board Santa's,hooked Santa's ,wind Chimes ,needle feltings, of dogs and People hand painted floor and table mats.Paintings on canvas and boat parts and Antique Buoy Lamps. So look no further, check it all out. Today is to be again another lovely day here on the South Shore of our fine Nova Scotia. Last week everyone all around us had snow while we got rain, I like snow, well to play in it ,yes I am up there in years ,but grow up, never, I can and will always make snow Angel's and Snowmen, along with shovelling which I don't quite enjoy as much. We will take what is given to us and make the best of it. We have no choice, suck it up Soldier...it is what it is as I say. Make everyday the best day and better then the day before. Be kind to one another,whether you know someone or not, give them a little smile and a hello and feel your heart swell with goodness and healing. For this is what this Season and everyday should be about.

Merry Christmas and all the Best to you and yours in 2012.

Nearing Christmas,

Here are a couple paintings recently

completed and a few others ,as well this Elf needle felting and I do have others here. There will be a show on Dec. 2 and 3 from 5 -10 PM both nights during our Liverpool Christmas tree lighting ceremony ,it is being held in the old Value Plus building next to Home Hardware here in Town. "Artists gift Gallery"

Pop in for a visit those evenings , you may be impressed . There will be many Artisan's offering unique gifts for that someone special or yourself.

Yes believe it or NOT!!! Santa is on his way, at least in the stores . Here in Town the store windows are beautiful, The Moss Pot as always and Home Hardware WOW!!! very nice. Myself always on the other end trying to sell for the Holidays. But,I Love to stand and stare into the Christmas windows like a small Child day Dreaming with those darn Sugar Fairy's dancing in my head. Did I mention I so want a lap top ,whether it is from Santa or Chuck . So this brings me to why I write here today ,I need to sell. I am putting the finishing touches on a painted floor mat called "The Rock". I am taking into consideration this year,that money is hard found and I will be keeping my prices reasonable ,wanting to sell and understanding the fear People are having, concerned with our economy.This shopping Season stay home and look first for that wonderful gift. You just may save money and at least find something one of a kind and unique right here on your own doorstep.

As the old saying goes again, I will be burning it from both ends this next while and will have a good varity of paintings and product to choose from. Chuck is working on another Antique Buoy Lamp.

on a different note read below about my Great Day day last week.

This past Friday I was invited to the Mill Village school to read my book"Lu Lu Belle the Happy Puppy" to the whole school, they were divided into two groups and were so very well behaved. It was sweet after the first group one of the Children checked out the book which the school bought for the Library. I asked them if they had any questions after I read and yes they did, I was asked great and funny ones as well .To say I enjoyed myself that morning would be an understatement. Thank you Mill Village School . The Local Advance was there and this coming week there may be something about that day in it. Next Tuesday I will going to Hillsview Nurseing home to read my Book to the residents there along with the two Dogs who star in the book . It should be fun and the "Girl's" Lu Lu Belle and Laura so enjoy each others company, they are true Doggy Friend's. I will be taking the camera and will share some photos with you after. today I have painting to do and am thinking of some smaller Needle feltings to do up for the show,Winter themed. I can't burn out when I am doing what I LOVE.

Devasting Fire and loss of a Local Icon

November 12 2011 will be remembered for years to come in our Queens County Community as the day we lost one of our local Icons. White Point Beach Lodges Main building was lost to fire.

So many of us are devastated by this news from all over the World. We who had the privilege to have worked there years ago and still today can't quite believe what we see and hear of this sad news.

I worked at W.P. back in 1967 when Mr. and Mrs .Elliot ran it. As well we have done shows and workshops over the years with Children and Adults staying at the Lodge .And yes like many have memories and stories of those days gone by and if those ,now gone Kitchen walls could talk,oh what we would hear. My name was carved into the round wall in the Kitchen along with so many other's. Many years of laughter, song ,dance,good food, weddings ,special dinners ,lounging by the stone fire places,swimming in the pool, surfing on the waves. Sitting at the bar with old and new friend's.There is so much to say ,so much to remember. The loss of all the original photos from back when it first opened I believe in 1928.White Point Beach Lodge was always Home away from home for everyone who entered into that building. People always felt at ease and welcome by the warmth of the walls and Staff inside and out. Everyone felt special at White Point ,with Children and Rabbits hopping all around ,Guests being treated like Family. Those walls are now gone forever. We can only pray that new walls will be built, then we will have to fill those walls with new memories and warmth. Whenever I stop and let my minds eye bring back all the pictures in my head of those years past, I tear at the sadness of this loss. I just happen to have a tray from 1967 when I worked there and over the years I have considered doing a painting of White Point on it and returning it to the Lodge. I have teased Danny about this for sometime now.Well that day has come and when the new doors open to our new Lodge and I am sure that will happen, it must happen, it will happen and when it does I will be delivering this tray back to the new Lodge ,to be returned whence it came, but with a painting of our lost Lodge on it. Our Community lately has been struck with many shops closing,threat of our Paper Mill closing. It seems so much has been on this Little sleepy Towns mind this past many Months. This is hard for many of us to swallow and at times like this we find ourselves wanting to give up and seeing only darkness ,like Death we fear seeing an end, but we must persevere and we will ,no matter how bad this all looks right now and don't get me wrong it is bad, especially this time of year with so many people out of work, lost jobs for no fault of their own. Maybe it is time to simply stand back and be proud and say, "We will survive!" We will tighten our belts and make a point of getting through these trying times . We are still here and we will build from the ashes not only our treasured White Point but our Town and Community in general. Lets be strong and stand tall ,lets rebuild our Queen's County and make it shine and be better then ever, we still have so much to offer ,we are the hidden gem and will overcome these hard times. Now to our Men and Woman who fought this fire, who put their lives on the line every time they are called out. Ironically there was a contest just recently with votes being casted for different Fire Departments ,Liverpool did not win but they are winners in all of our eyes,actually just yesterday before the fire on Face Book it was suggested that everyone make a small donation for our Fire Department, I see this coming to be. I have been hearing Trucks return for hours now and one again just went by my house back to the Fire Hall, I am sure they were on standby and watch throughout the night. I was told that fire Fighters from as far away as Bridgewater and beyond and in the other direction Lockport came to the rescue,this fire will go down in History, a sad day and night to remember.But look for the Light at the end of the Tunnel, we may have to look hard right now, but keep your eyes open for it, for if we cloud over with too many tears right now we may not see what we should see and that just may be a postive outcome.

rain ,wind and getting work done

I started this Fisherman the other day when I was spending the day at a friend's house. She lives on the Sea Shore near a wharf and fishing boats and that is where I got my inspiration for this Needle Felted piece.

Trying my best to get as much done for the Christmas selling Season, make hay while the Sun shines as the old saying goes. The Play The Full Monty has been postponed until February so as mentioned before the pressure is off just a bit regarding getting the set done by November 18th. So I can get back to some product. Loving what I do makes it very easy to be prolific. Yesterday November 11th was a nasty weather wise day,the wind and rain was terrible. We had a couple leaks here which made the day interesting moving furniture around and catching drips. We are waiting on roofers to get here and put a new roof on the house and it hopefully will be soon before the Snow flies. Although again this Year it may end up being a mild Winter for us here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Unlike the Winters we had when I was a kid growing up , we would always receive a sled from Santa for Christmas and would go coasting on Christmas Day.For years now we have not seen snow staying before January. Just the way it is with Global warming:-( sad really for those of us who still like to build Snowmen.My plan is to either start another needle Felting or maybe a painting this weekend, I will see as the day continues. My little Children's book has been doing well ,I am getting great response, Thank you all for that. I will be reading it to the Mill village School on the 18th and will be sharing it with the residents of Hills View on the 20th.

Busy with Paintings

here is the finished chair>>>>

This past while I have been busy painting up a storm. This is one of the two new canvases I have finished and here is a Lawn Chair I am painting for The Liverpool Midget B. Minor Hockey fundraiser coming up soon. Look for them out selling tickets at the Super Store ,Moss Pot and maybe in other locations. With the Full Monty being postponed until sometime in February because of a cast member with a back problem you might say the pressure has eased regarding getting the painting of the set done for the play by November 18th .So I Hope to work on a series of affordable paintings for an Artisans art show which will be held here in town Dec. 2,3 evenings from 5-10. It should be beautiful with lights, music and Christmas Spirit all around .There has been sad news of maybe a shut down of our Bowaters Paper Mill, but we need to be positive and think outside the box. Good will prevail in the end but we may all have to tighten our belts and one way to do that is be creative with gift giving this season and shop local,where unique gifts may be found right here under our noses. Like days gone by, underwear and socks ,sleds and simple homemade gifts were a treat and something special for all. Grandmas hand knit socks, Oh I wish I could knit, I remember trying in the past and did knit a sweater for Chuck with one sleeve longer then the other , Bless his heart ,he loved that sweater. And the time I was trying to knit socks ,what is with this turning the heel thing? wow!!!way hard for me, I am a tube sock knitter, as well don't ever buy a knitted dish cloth that I knit, mine are triangle shape, I remember a Dear since passed friend Jean laughing at my attempt at knitting one years ago and her Hubby saying that he wouldn't wash his truck with my attempt. He was joking of course. So I now look for those who sell these dishcloths that I love to use and those socks I love to wear, and you know, I can find them right here at our upcoming Liverpool Fire Hall Christmas Craft show as well at all the Church and fundraiser Teas and sales which will all be within the next weeks before Christmas and we don't have to gas up the car to attend any of these local Christmas sales.Our Little Town has so many Talented Artists and Crafts People ,we still can offer just about anything right here that we need.I noticed this morning as I rode by the Liverpool Home Hardware store on Main Street, the window has been decorated for Christmas and is Beautiful, very nice job.Chuck and I don't go all out with big time gift giving ourselves for Christmas ,all we need are new bodies.We love the feeling and Spirit of the Season and look forward to it and wish all out there a Peaceful Season and Winter. Sing and rejoice and give thanks for the Little overlooked things in life.

Well I better get back to the task at hand and that would be painting a lawn chair.

Chair update..it is finiahed..see above photo.

I stayed up late for me last night working on it and will share another photo after today's painting. I choose a happy Gnome and flower theme and have begun painting again this morning since my early frosty bike ride, and I do mean frosty, my cheeks are still burning and I had a scarf over my face. There were frozen leaves and acorns falling on my head as I was riding through Fort Point park.Very wonderful and nice besides the cold. I do find it takes way more effort then in in warm weather. Not many Folk out this morning unlike the other day when it was so warm in the Autumn sun with squirrels everywhere gathering nuts on a fine day hiding them here there and everywhere in preparation for a long,cold winter. We too are in a way hiding our nuts :-) getting ready for winter with putting up food and preparing to sit back in our little cozy house and this year make a spot for Chuck to get some painting done with me in my tiny Studio. I have mentioned before how small our House is and everything has to do double duty. Well today I have a wooden Adirondack Lawn chair sitting here in the middle of the room,this is why I am working long hours trying to get it finished ,so I can then get back to trying to make a space for Chuck's winter creative projects.