A mixed bag.....or light at the end of the tunnel?

Just when I thought we saw it all. Snow, rain, whiteout, ice, wind.........plus nasty people....(all in the last 24 hours)...Look what popped out of the sunshine today right by our house :) The end of the rainbow went right in the water. Not exactly normal October 31 weather (the rainbow, all the rest is normal)

I think it's a good omen :)

Painted Soap - Looking back

Cougar and Eagle

Funny how some things change, and some stay the same! I was digging around in a drawer this morning and came acroos these bars of soap that I painted. They must be 8 or 9 years old. Funny how they have lasted and stayed pretty much the same, (must be the good old acrylics) but my painting technique has changed quite a bit. I don't remember even how I did this or how I prepared the soap LOL. I was doing more crafting then and less painting. The big question is....why on earth would I paint on soap? LOL

It's a small world.....

It's a small world when it comes to the internet. It still amazes me where people are from when I look at the visitors list on the side bar. I'm such a visual person that today I added a world map. I want to be able to see where all these people are coming from. It's exciting and awesome that someone somewhere has taken the time to stop, even for just a moment, to look at what I've posted. Have a great week everyone. Happy Blogging wherever you are!

Inukshuk - 2010 Olympics

The symbolic Inukshuk is showing up everwhere since the 2010 Olympics have used it on their logo. An Inuit word with several meanings, the most common meaning (that I can find) meaning Welcome....You are on the right path. The people were here before you. These were extremely important landmarks to the Inuit.

I have chosen to put my Inukshuk standing as a lone sentry in front of a firey sunrise. A new day.

Painted with acrylics this 6" x 4" painting is listed for sale here

Freeze Up - winter coming

With the snowfall the last week or so, it was enough to start me thinking (and dreading) the upcoming winter. The snow has since melted and gone away, but you know with certainty that it's just around the corner.

Still the first days of winter have their own beauty on the prairies. The last of the geese fly overhead, calling to each other. The crisp colours. The beautiful pink sunsets.

Painted with acrylics this unframed and unmatted (framed photo is for illustration only on how it could looked framed) 6" x 4" painting is listed for sale here

Artist Round Robin - Finished piece

You just never know how things are going to turn out when 5 artists collab0rate on a round robin. This was my start. Just a night sky, with a lake and tree line........nothing out of the ordinary....I thought! LOL

Here is the finished piece. It took several twists and turns, but the outcome was enchanted, magical and something really fun. The giant eyeball in the lake watches the comet go across the sky. Meanwhile the fairy and travelocity gnome? are helping the alien find his way back........at least this is what I am going to believe......or maybe they are just partying on the poor eyeball?

Many thanks to the following artists (search their Ebay names (in brackets) to find some outstanding art by these talented artists)

My start: Leola (southshoreartist) Then Rebecca (Seagirlrun), Susan (Beasnbeacons), Sue (ArtistSueTaylor) and Melody (Mel-Ann)

Many many thanks to Deb (artschtick) for hosting this fun project and thanks to the Ebay group ACEO~Art Card and Originals.

Northern Autumn - aceo

Northern Autumn (2.5" x 3.5")

A mixture of evergreen and the changing colours of the trees lends a colourful mixture to the autumn landscape. The stream is still running but will soon be silenced by freeze up. Painted with acrylics on museum quality matte board it is signed and dated on the back.

This piece is unframed but the photo shows how it could look if it was framed. You will find this painting listed on Ebay here.

Sunset Sail - aceo

Even though all the boats are put away for the winter here, I still like to imagine the big sailboats on the lake. They are always so quiet and peaceful. (at least on calm days) It supposed to warm up this weekend so I'm sure some hardy fishers will be out with their motorboats. Few and far between this time of year though.

Dusk (aceo) painted with acrylics on matte board. It is unframed but I show it framed here to give you an idea on how it could look if it was framed. It is listed on Ebay here.

Northern Sunset - OSWOA

The boats are all put away for the winter. The beach goers have disappeared. Even the fishermen have left, waiting for freezeup to ice fish. This time of year it is peaceful and serene at the lake.

Northern Sunset
Painted with acrylics on 182 lb canvas paper it is 6" x 4" (postcard size) It is unmatted and not framed but I have shown it here framed to give you an idea of how it would look. You will find it listed on Ebay here.

History of Canadian Thanksgiving

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Prairie Sunset

Grain elevators once dotted the prairie landscape. Landmarks for the communities they served. They have all but disappeared, making way for the giant grain terminals. A few are left standing alone against the prairie sky.

This is a 6" x 4" acrylic painting. It is not framed, but I have shown how it could look matted and framed. It is listed on Ebay here.

First Snowfall - Thanksgiving weekend

First Snow-Fall.

THE sun that dim October day
Had failed to kiss the clouds away
From quiet Nature's furrowed face,
Where autumn tears had left their trace.

And, by and by, on fields of brown
The feathered flakes came floating down
From Heaven to this world of ours,
Like spirits of departed flowers.

And fast and faster through the night,
Till Morn arose on meadows white,
And o'er the landscape lightly stepped
Where tired Nature, smiling, slept.
__Albert Bigelow Paine.


Our first snow fall started today about 3:30 p.m. You can tell my flowers were not ready yet for winter to come.


Look closely and you can see the big fluffy flakes....the visibility starting to diminsh

It looked like Christmas so tonight I turned on the Chirstmas lights. You can tell the deck is now covered in White....problem is, it has turned into a winter storm and it's not even winter! 60 km winds snow, and ice and more tomorrow. The good news is that it's not supposed to stay.......Still crossing my fingers for Indian Summer!