These days we are greeted mostly but cloudy and rainy skies….but sometimes, for a moment, for a few hours, or perhaps even a chunk of the day….the sun breaks through and SHINES!  Then, I grab the kids, the leash, the dog, my walking shoes and my toque and head out to soak it up. If I have enough time, we head to the beach. If I happen to be at work, I call out to my cubicle neighbours to join me as “the sun has just broken through the clouds and it looks like we will have a 10 minute window” before the mountain swallows up the light.  Eyes closed, head tilted up, arms outstretched, recharging for the next stint of grey.  Oh how grateful I am for late autumn sunshine.  Hope you are feeling a bit of warmth in your neck of the woods too.

Here’s a few shots from the perfect beach walk I enjoyed this week.  Warm sun on my face  + sparkly sea + and an hour of kid-free time  = BLISS

….and don’t you love the combination of BLUE skies and RED rose hips?!

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.    Inspired by Soulemama.  

Please feel free to share your photographic moments,                                                    leave a link in the comments section for all to find and see.

This year my pumpkins GREW and CARVED their own pumpkins! They also celebrated their shared birthday with a Halloween Birthday Bash and a family celebration that included the very first pumpkin pie made with the sugar pumpkins we grew! Hope you and yours also found some magic in the mania that this holiday often holds. Happy Halloween!

It would seem that the end of October is the time for new beginnings for me, for, apparently one year ago today I started this blog (only two days after celebrating the birthday of BOTH my daughters).  This time of year is also marked by the bright dahlia bouquets we buy at the farm stand by the sea…aren’t these blooms stunning!? Of course, it is also nearly Halloween and so, my dear friends, I feel that this special anniversary is both cursed by busy-ness and blessed by the important magic that is happening right now.  Unlike the many bloggers that find time to offer great detailed summary stories of the year gone by, I am only able to offer a few words right now…

…THANK YOU for sharing my stories and sending your love to me over the web!  Please know that I cherish the new friends I am making and love keeping in touch with my long time pals through this blog.  I look forward to sharing more stories about my art, my inspiration, & my life with you here.  And now, there is some leftover birthday cake calling to me….perhaps I should top it with a candle and make a wish for the year of creative adventures to come?

P.S. Please leave a comment here about my blog – something you have enjoyed, something you would like to see more of, something new you would like to see, whatever comes to mind.  I will draw a random winner from the comments next Monday and send a special something (to be announced, once the celebrations settle) along to the winner!  Please post your comments before the end of Sunday.

UPDATE – and the winner is DEEK! My darling girl, the gift I decided on last night is a custom, hand carved, lino stamp with a matching set of stationary (you can make your own when you run out!).  I will call you to chat design ideas. How about a rainbow? Or a tree? Or both!?  Congratulations and THANK YOU ALL for your sweet words and continued interest and support!

Hello friends. I have just discovered Illustration Friday – a fantastic website that encourages creating and sharing art with the world.  Self described as “A super fun weekly artistic challenge”, it calls to me! The theme this week just happens to be W A T E R.  Fitting as the Autumn rains we have been waiting weeks for have finally arrived today!  I am happy for the salmon who soon will have flowing streams to spawn in and the gardens and trees that are soaking up the goodness of the water falling from the sky.  I can hear water pouring into our cistern and the cooler weather means a cozy fire to drink my tea and doodle by.   Here is a quick drawing I made today (a day “late” but somehow it feels right on time) —- I making a splash into Illustration Friday!  I do think I will come back for more.  Might you join the fun?