Abstracting Flowers

Flower Buddies

It is so nice to have the time to paint once again.  I think as you go through life you have to make choices of what is really important to you at that point in time.  I went back into real estate a few months ago, to supplement our income a little.  I didn’t have to make a lot to be happy, just a little.  I missed the interaction with people since I retired and thought this would be a great way to interact, help people and add a little more interest to my life.  I chose a company that found many of the clients by “chasing” lead generation.  So a person signs on to look at a home, and immediately you were to call them.  It seemed a little like “Big Brother” is watching you, if you remember the movie from the book “1984”, and could not be comfortable disturbing peoples’ privacy, so decided to just work on my own.  That being said, I now have time to also do the things I love.

My garden is flourishing, by art is growing, and my life is much more relaxed and happy.  Find what you love and do it.  Don’t think about doing it, just go do it.

Yesterday I bought a second 12 foot kayak too, so my husband could enjoy the relaxing pleasure of being out on the water.  I did not want to order one, wait another week or two, miss another weaker two of this glorious summer.   I wanted it yesterday and I found a beautiful yellow one and they delivered and we kayaked at sunset.

Glorious!

Life is not about what you are going to do tomorrow, it is what you are doing to day.

Abstracting Flowers

Enjoy the details in life

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How often do you walk so quickly through life that the beautiful details surrounding you whiz by without you even noticing.  It is more than “Stopping to Smell the Roses”, it is looking around to find happiness in the smallness of our being, they joy of seeing something in a different light.

Selfies have helped us to stop and enjoy the moment.  Waiters in restaurants actually complain that it takes people longer to order and eat, as they are taking photos to share. As a cook that takes joy in the presentation of food, I am glad to see so many perfectly presented dishes/meals shown on restaurant reviews and on Facebook.  It means that someone noticed the time and effort you took to make it look edibly delightful.

Walking outside today, I was feeling a little blue that my kitties had to find another home (one too many asthma attacks), but I stopped on my way out of my yard to enjoy the raindrops clinging to dear life on the boughs of my curly willow tree.  It is a feast for eyes.

Just thought I would share it.

Enjoy the details in life

And sometimes we just have to ENJOY!

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Sometimes I am in awe of our beautiful surroundings and what nature freely gives us to enjoy.  This morning is one of those mornings.  This is the view I wake up to in the Fall.  Cold crisp mornings with glorious views.

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Icicles are one of natures wonders that we see lots of in the Pacific Northwest and what a joy to view from inside looking out.  Of course with the change in temperature there are often  a few surprises that we get to deal with, like the frost on your car windows and yesterday it was a broken faucet with water shooting across my front porch.  Guess husband did not turn off water and I did not notice (should have looked) and the frozen water shot my hose across the yard freeing the water to gloriously flow at a very rapid rate.  It was funny to walk around the corner, see the fountain and know you had to deal with it.

Thank Heaven for hot water and pliers, as it took both to turn off the water.  Just a little sidetrack on an otherwise sunny and freezing day in Kingston.

And sometimes we just have to ENJOY!

Living the Good Life in Kingston

Living the Good Life in Kingston

Walking into Kingston today with best friends from San Diego we passed the trailer that inspired this painting. The photo was taken at 11 PM in December. I was mazed how many people were out and about at that time of night in Kingston in December.

My friend mentioned that she had never visited Seattle when it did not rain. It was warm and sunny until about 30 minutes later, when after a Latte we started our walk home, where we witnessed lightning, heard thunder and were drenched on the way home.

Be careful what you say in Washington….

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Barn on the way to Port Townsend

Barn on the way to Port Townsend

Wish I could say I sat there and painted this, but someone in my painting group shared the photo and I thought it was lovely. Four of us painted the scene, each with a different result. It is 14 x 16 and available today for $450

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Photos from my son’s hike

Photos from my son's hike

Raising three sons by myself was always an adventure. Now they are grown and they sometimes share their adventures with me. My oldest son Chadwyck Wirtz has taken to photography and recently sent me several photos that will translate beautifully into paintings. Look to find paintings from these in the future.

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Not a painting yet, but might be

Not a painting yet, but might be

This time of year having friends to share the garden is such a joy! Last we enjoyed the beautiful evening with good friends.

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The Road

The Road

The painting is just 5 x 7 and done in about 30 minutes. Not my favorite, but learning to work in different harmonies is important to grow your art.

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Apple

Apple

The other day for a class I painted a bell pepper. It looked so lonely in the studio, I painted this 5 x 7 abstract apple to keep it company. Just like people, sometimes a piece of art looks all alone.

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