Summer 2025
This summer was off to an amazing start as my sister and I travelled to Calgary, Alberta! I’d only ever been there on a brief layover and I was excited to see the many sights. We stayed downtown at a conference hotel where Tracy was selling her book, “Before Goodbye”. For more information and to purchase, please see: www.tracymheath.com
Meanwhile, I was lucky enough to connect with an online art friend who treated me to an incredible afternoon: an art supply store, salmon lunch, inspiring earrings, and an absolutely delightful visit – you really can find the best people online!! We shared our parallel stories and made a lifelong connection. Once again, my gratitude to Insider’s Studio and Amanda Evanston knows no end.
Another day I reconnected with a wonderful library school friend who proved that you can pick up where you left off despite the years since your last visit. We originally met in grad school in London ON, a few years later spent a holiday together in Ottawa during Canada Day celebrations, more years passed before Victoria, BC for a library conference and finally again in Calgary!! Time and distance mean nothing these days!! Thank you, technology!! Twenty-five (25?!?) years since our graduation, though? Seriously?? We haven’t changed a bit.
At the conclusion of the conference, Tracy and I packed up and headed north to Banff! This was yet another bucket list dream place that I’d heard and seen pictures of and wanted desperately to visit. The Rocky mountains capture my heart and inspire me beyond words. It might be because of my memories of Switzerland in my youth, I don’t know, but they’re incredible. I took a lot of pictures and swooned as each new peak came into view. The hotel we stayed in upgraded us to a mountain view room, which unbelievably came with a view of the Northern Lights that night!! Our concierge let us know and we stayed up late to walk around outside, but the best view was from the floor to ceiling window in our room. How lucky were we?!!
We booked high tea at the Banff Springs hotel and enjoyed our perfectly steeped tea with treats and the iconic view from the window seats. The weather was a bit overcast, but we walked around the turquoise lake and stopped to get more pictures and gape at our surroundings. It was a quick visit, but we packed a lot in and really enjoyed our time there. The mountains are still calling me to return!
The new “en plein air” group that I joined last summer (#CreativeNomads) meets weekly at local parks and gardens and this year we went to two lavender farms that inspired and impressed us so much! Early in the summer we went to @spartalavenderfarm where I happened to run into another artist friend! We laughed at the coincidence and proceeded to paint the gorgeous rows of lavender together. What a great surprise!! (We’re heading to Portugal for my sister’s birthday this Fall, so watch for our art online!)
Later this summer we went to @littlebrownfarm_on and their lavender field also held SO many gorgeous flowers that we all took a long time trying to capture pictures and make the impossible decision of where to focus and paint. Seriously, everywhere you looked was a painting! The smell was out of this world and I had to buy a bunch of lavender to bring home. We’ll be revisiting for sure!
Our Creative Nomads are a talented bunch and one member’s daughter manages the fabulous and rocking @ldnontbikecafe (The Bicycle Café) in downtown London, Ontario. Yes, you can buy a new bike or get a bike repaired, pick up bike accessories AND order a gourmet meal and drinks at the same time. We were invited to show our art for the month of June and this was a delightful surprise! I framed a watercolour of rocks in the shape of a heart that I thought would be interesting for a Father’s Day gift, and put my art into the show. My first public art show!! I’m still elated, and grateful for the chance to put my art out into the real (in person, at any rate) world.
Summer is a time to have friends visit and I was delighted to host several over the warm months. Some came for a conference and we made lunches and cleaned dishes together, laughed uncontrollably, and swam in the heated pool gratefully together. Another came to visit after our harrowing bone breaks of last year and we went to Stratford and saw Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale”. The acting, costumes, sets were fabulous!! The story… has a few problems, but live theatre is such a treat! My last guest came for a family wedding and didn’t have as much time to “veg” or tackle any projects together, but the time was still very precious.
While it was wonderful to connect with these fabulous women, I was terribly sad to lose a long-time friend from my days as a young Mom. (Over four decades ago, in case you’re wondering!) I was heartbroken to learn of her passing from cancer, but glad she didn’t suffer long. Within hours I heard much happier news – that my youngest niece had safely delivered her second son, Beau, who was a 10 pound darling. Both are adjusting nicely to their new lives, and my sister is in her element. There’s nothing like cuddling a newborn…natural oxytocin, anyone?
Summer is nearly over – for my US friends the school year has already begun – and I’m grateful for a few more weeks of good weather to paint outside and enjoy swimming, soccer, ice cream, and other summer delights.
