Studio in the Woods Begins

I am very excited to see my studio taking shape finally. I’ve been planning this for over a year now. I’ve been impatient to get started at times. But, as with most good things in life, a little patience is helpful. The more you push to get something, the longer it usually takes. This is a lesson I’ve been resisting, but am coming to realize I must learn it.

At the moment, my driveway is dug up. I’m kind of living in a castle with a moat around it. The lake is on one side, and there’s a trench on the other. I don’t go out much. You might call it hunkering down. Living at the cottage without a car (my son drives to work so I’m home and carless during the day), has taught me to slow down even further than I did during the COVID lockdown. Pre-COVID I was always busy, running around, doing errands, going to meetings, feeling I must do things to feel productive. COVID, and now, living in Muskoka, has helped me to be more present and observant. I’m less of a doer. It seems that my doing self, was avoiding my inner self.

Some of this self focus is a little uncomfortable. But, there is also less stress from all that busyness and doing. If you follow me on facebook or instagram, you’ve probably seen my many photos of plants, mushrooms, and landscape photos from Muskoka. You might have watched a “crazy” video of me using a toilet brush to create a painting. These are the gifts I’ve experienced during my “down time” being up north.

I very much appreciate that I have been given the gift of time to spend on my art and to just BE with myself. If this is one of the outcomes of waiting for my studio/bunkie and watching it take shape, then it is definitely worth the wait.

Take care. Hope you have an opportunity today to be with yourself, really see the world around you and have some time to be creative. Oh, and definitely, to have some fun. Check out my IG video if you want a laugh.

International Women's Day - March 8, 2021

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In support of this message, I would like to celebrate all women, and particularly my mom, Joyce Daly, as well as all the other women who have gone before us.

Mom with Ember

This year the theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge inequality. Although my mom probably never thought of herself as a feminist, nor was she out to change the world by breaking glass ceilings, I knew her as a strong woman who did her best given the expectations of that time. She valued her education, was excellent at her job, chose to stay home with her children and make a home for her family.

And she rocked that role. She was efficient and enjoyed her “job”. She also was a take charge person, learning to paint the house, to fix things and to play bridge. She was creative, sewing curtains and clothes, trying new recipes, doing needlepoint and knitting. She confronted challenges too, having to move away from family to a new place and managing to budget on only one income. I appreciate her strength and and caring. I am proud that she taught me not to be afraid to express yourself for who you are.

Women are moving into bigger and bigger roles in society, taking their rightful places. But, I value every woman I’ve met, as they have all managed challenges, learned to find their voice and express it, managed to juggle family responsibilities and their own aspirations, and many have become entrepreneurs as their children have grown. To all the strong women I have met and learned from, I wish you a splendid day of celebration.