A Ma Cher Maman! (To My Dear Mother)
Je vous aime avec tout mon coeur! I love you with all my heart!
My it has been years since I have written in French. All of my buds are telling me that I need to write again. I've been thinking, what to write about, and while I have soooooo many stories stored away in the computer of my mind, I felt to start with a letter to my Mother! Perhaps to let the world in on my love for one of the most amazing women that I have ever known. My grammar, spelling may need mending, but my Mother's love has been never ending!
Where do I start? Well today is Mother's Day and tommorrow is her 82nd Birthday! Her name is Rose, which means "Giver of Love" and that is who she is, and how she has selflessly lived her life. Born the second child, of 17 children to my Acadian Grandparents, She helped raise most of her 16 siblings. She then married my Father and went on to have a "Dozen Roses" herself. Really, I'm not kidding here, my parents had 12 children and I am the 11th child. I am so blessed to have that many sibblings and feel so close to all of them. She was told not to have anymore children after baby number 5, and yet she still gave me life. Merci Beaucoup, Maman!
(Thanks so much Mom). One of my sisters died as a blue baby, as Mom had her in the back seat of a car on a cold winter night and she died 1 day later. I look forward to meeting her in heaven once day. Her name was Carmen, and I checked the meaning lately and it means "Garden Song". I believe she was suppose to be a "Singer", so maybe Mom, I'll do my destiny and hers and sing the songs, she was suppose to sing. Selah, I'll have to think on that a bit more hey?
My mom had to be strong for us and hold down the fort, after my Father's death. There were debts to be paid, and the farm to run and so many children still at home. Yet, somehow she still managed to help other families when they were going through hard times and take their children for a year or 2. I loved that about her. Our house was an open house of refuge for the hurting world and it felt right. She cooked army pots of food, and she loves still to cook today. Breakfast was never just cereal. She would chef out with pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, homemade jams, French Sucre a Creme, which is a maple syrup that we make that is made with whipping cream and brown sugar. No calories at all (LOL). She put her whole heart in feeding her family and everyone elses too. She still does this!
Milking cows and other outdoor chores were also on her 2 do list. While perhaps not her choice, these chores had to be done as selling cream and cattle was our bread and butter. I milked cows for 1 winter and the best part was getting to skirt the kittens in the mouth as they lined up for "Steamed Milk". That was a hoot. I so hope you all get a chance to do that one day!!! Mom taught us all good work ethics and hard work and we are all so thankful. We had running water but the main difference is "We had to Run for our water!" At times in winter months, she had to melt snow to even do laundry with her old wringer washing machine.
The smell of fresh bread would linger forver in our home, as I am still convinced that she would bake about 22 loaves of bread every few days, and made donuts, cinnamon buns, etc. She planted about a 1/2 acre garden, and was quite clever. She knew she needed some eager beavers to work that patch, so she would tell us if we would work hard in the garden, we could go to the lake swimming at night. So we would work and have mudclump fights in her garden, and sure enough, we would go to the lake after supper for a swim. There too was probably a method to her madness, because if you brought a bar of soap, you could have a bath. While we didn't know it she was pulling a Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn on us!! LOL
Delegating was something she learned to be very good at. My job was to clean house, do dishes, (there were alot of them) and I still don't mind dishes today! Also after school, I had to fetch the eggs. In the fall, mom would butcher the chickens, and while I could never be around when they butchered any animals (I would usually hide under my bed) I loved to come out and pluck chickens afterwards. My sisters and I had a real hoot then. We must not have had alot of toys cause we sure could make those naked chickens do the "Cha Cha or Tango!" O.K., so now you know I have had a sheltered life! Don't pity me please, I loved it.
Mom taught us that every life is so precious and everyone adds value to this world. She would drop whatever she was doing for drop in company (even if they had 8 kids themselves) She would then proceed to feed her own crew and the new arrivals and this is simply how it was. You never heard her complain, this is how she lived her life. My mother is my HERO! "Je T'aime beaucoup Maman!"
The Chapters of her life have been many, but her story is still being written. She has been sick for a while now and I could not be there with her today, but I just wanted to share a snapshot of this Wonderful Woman, I get to call My Mother! Happy Mother's Day/ Happy Birthday!
See You Soonest Mom!
Forever Love Me!
XOXOXOXXOXOXOX
I forgot to mention in the last post, that this is a slow moving river, so you do get a work out. Hence the 4 hour float back to out place!
Not sure if the locals call this bridge by this name, but it is where the bridal party, family and several guests did jump from. The lower part of the bridge is 16 - 18 ft from the water and the top of the bridge is about 20 ft from the water. This location was about a 15 minute car ride from the property we stayed at. From this spot it would take 4 hours to float on tubes down the river back to our place. What a blast these guys had.
Kristen is an amazing Professional Photographer! In keeping with her theme, I found these photos in the back of her book. We give each other liberty to work on each other's books. So I've kept her black and white theme, but just had to add a bit of color. I found the old camera lens and projectors in the back of her book too.
There is no flying without wings! I had some fun here and found these extra photo right in Kristen's book and took the liberty of re-adjusting them here. The dog got a bow tie, and some leggings. On the right I could not resist this photo of this little Inuit girl, what a doll! I can almost hear her giggle. What a Princess! I even had the chance to see my Inuit friend this last week and what a pleasant gift and surprise that was to me! My heart feels full!
One of my first jobs fresh out of high school was at a Professional Ph otography Studio. I had gone to Edmonton, the big city near us in search of work. Totally felt like a fish out of water, and what a relief when I got a call from my mother. She said that a friend had called and said they were looking for someone at a local photography shop and was I interested? I quickly came home had the interview with my new boss, and yeah got the job.
My children's art are some of my favorite pieces in my home. My son's teacher when he was in grade 6 , had the students do these sculptures. He designed the arrow and then had help to press his face through. I love that face of my Beloved son. He is grown now and getting married to His Beloved in a month from now. I am well pleased!!!!!! While it will be a change as he gets ready to move out with his new bride, there is a delight in my heart as I know that he has choosen well. Together now they will press through into what the future holds for them! 
Growing up on the prairies of Alberta, I can appreciate this painting done by the Group of Seven. It reminds me of the small town that was near our farmstead. Susan has taken artistic liberty in painting over this copied image and adding her personal touch. On the right, we have her Window of Hope! This shows how our world can go from black and white to color. When we open that window in the next post you will see the color, she has added in.
My Theme for my book has been "Leaping From Ordinary Into Extra Ordinary." Here I've opened a window that she put in my book. I am proud to be Canadian and love that flagpost! On the right is a painting from the Group of Seven, of a wheat field. She has even put some sparkle on the prairies, pretty cool!
Extrordinary Measures for Extraordinary Times! I love the simplicity of these pages. Very fun and restful! I believe Susan painted or gessoed the pages and then incorporated a measuring tape. Note it ends at 11. One of my favorite numbers! On the right, she has cartooned me. Some of you may want to hire Susan for her amazing cartooning abilities!!!! Is she hinting that I should write????? Perhaps!
Hope, with her elastic step and her elastic dreams! I really love how Susan has left parts of the story in my book! She has again created a poem on the top right hand corner! At the bottom more memories of Anne of Green Gables. Totally appreciate the right hand creative word page, so inspiring. She knows I love Winter, and so I really enjoy the "Fabulous even when its freezing." One of my mottos is to "Wear Sparkly things, and she even got that in there too. What a hoot!
Step it up a notch, I like that idea. Many times in life we need to re-evaluate where we are headed and what we are doing. In order to maximize our true potential we need to get off the bench and take the plunge, even facing our fears in doing that. We may surprise ourselves and others! Susan has written a lovely poem, so inspiring on the top left hand of the page. Thanks for the beautiful pages in my book, Susan!
I was thankful that the staff at "Simply Ceramics" in Airdrie called to let me know my bowls were ready. I had wanted to see the before and after process and so here it is. 
This painted bowl will be in Silent Auction for the "Empty Bowls Festival". This bowl awaits the glazing process before the kiln time.
Instead of Chicken Little, we have Chicken Scribble! Honestly this is what I had to do to finally finish my chair. I got my groove back and even got some funky bird show up in the background. 
O.K., So my groove did return after a good break. It felt good to take some time off and rethink this process through. To help myself charter onward, I took some watercolor paper and scribbled out a similar chicken, with pen and ink. Then adding a wash of colored inks, pleased with the process, I decided to proceed with the chair. You may view the chairs at the Empty Bowls Festival Fundraiser in Airdrie. I'll try to post more info on this closer to the date.
Well I am pleased to say that I am done my chair for the Empty Bowls Festival that will be held in Airdrie on Saturday June 12th. I've also had the opportunity to paint a few bowls that have been glazed and are waiting to be fired down at "Simply Ceramics" in Airdrie for the fundraiser. The idea is brilliant and they have held this festival numerous times in Airdrie, to raise money for the Food Bank. This year they have added the Airdronidack Chairs and white tents that will host artists to demonstrate their talent, and sell their wares. Hope to see you down there. I am still deciding what to demo, leaning towards Watercolors or Mixed Media, as Encaustic hot waxes, make me a wee bit nervous with little people hanging around. I still have a few weeks to decided. I'll surprise you, hows that?
Majesty and Beauty, all wrapped in this Wonderland, I get to call home! While I do not live directly in the Canadian Rockies, I am close enough to get there and enjoy them. On clear days, I do have a spectacular view of them from my home, which I am thankful for. 
I love bridges, the connecting of one place to another. Just had to incorporate one of these photos, as we crossed over to another Wonderland!
Makes you want to jump in and swim or fish or just hang out and enjoy the sound of that river hey? Me Too!
Blues and Purples are some of my forever favorite palette colors! Seems I can't get enough of them. Probably just enjoy the brilliance of the hues. Adding some majenta, copper and tan colors, this fellow began to become alive. Rainblows represent promise, so the colors here represent HOPE!
I love Veronica's writing and am thrilled that she wrote in my book. To her "Ordinary and Extraordinary are one of the same". Through her pen, the thoughts of her heart are poured out on these pages that I get to cherish. She then created a lovely pen and ink chair for my book, and I am grateful. Thanks Veronica for art from the heart!
Cat Thought For The Day! "O.K. here she goes and there is no stopping her now. She's putting on her paint shirt and now I know she is serious. She mixing up those lovely paints and about to add some serious splash of color on that chair. I hope she doesn't put me back in the garage, as yesterday her sons told her that I decided to take a nap on her artwork in progress!"
My furry friend has found a spot for curling up in whilst he watches the show go on! If he could talk, I'm quite sure it would sound something like this. "What is taking her so long, after all its only a chair." Tommorrow, I shall have to face my fear, and just roll up my sleeves, and let my paintbrush dance upon that chair. 
A Brain child of Airdrie Life Magazine, and Airdrie Regional ARTS Society, a fundraiser is on the way! The plan is to build these chairs and then paint them to a theme of our choosing. They will then be on display in Airdrie, and possibly you may see them at the "Empty Bowls Fundraiser" on June 12th at Nose Creek Park, on Main Street. I have been invited to paint one and so with a bit of fear and trembling, I shall attempt to wield my paintbrush once again. While I have painted on panel before and done mural work, this is a slightly different canvas for me. I think it will be challenging and fun too. The chairs will be auctioned off at the end of summer for a fundraiser, for ARTS in AIRDRIE! YEAH! 
I've cut out a window here and put a map of the world behind. Thought a Roonie would be appropriate as He sings his song. Actually cut it out of my business card. On the right we have a hymn in place with a quick watercolor for a splash of color. You know what, the world really is waiting for your song!
I've added Tulips here, because they are the only flower that still grows once it has been cut. Amazing Hey? Even in trials, we are to grow too!.jpg)
