Spring has been busy and beautiful!

WOW has been six months since I stopped by and wrote a story? Hard to believe and yet I understand. SO much change, new opportunities, healing and rest, schedule changes, job changes.  Life has been a bit overwhelming to say the least...good stuff for once!

I will give a wee update to the goings on. Firstly, my husband was downsized at the job he held for nearly ten years. An expected change but nonetheless challenging for many reasons. We were up to the challenge and took the time to position ourselves to live on one income. He utilized the time to complete the mile high mental TODO list. The only affect this had on my life was his reorg of our clutter left me wondering where our possessions resided.

With the time we had together we were able to work out some twenty year kinks and get back on track as a team! Brene Brown author of Daring Greatly had much to do with that too. We took her online workshop, I continued PTSD talk therapy, and as a couple we forged new pathways together.

A collision of goodness and opportunity has landed on our front door in recent weeks:

My husband and I celebrated our 41st birthdays and our 11th year married (25 years together).  We have planted a new garden and started to build a new shed-gardening and building are the corner stones of our relationship.

Studio C opened their new doors (Burns Building) and started public art classes last week, of which I facilitate a Mixed Media Class. I was also engaged as Career Collage facilitator for Studio C's pilot program ArtRecruits engaging Persons with Developmental Disabilities. The goal of this program is to find employment using art to help the process!

I taught a mixed media class at the Calgary School of Art, this week's class marks the end of the school year. The school held an art show where a few of my students showed their works and one student even sold a piece.

a personal piece for our bedroom at home...birch tree forest on three panels a mixed media piece....a work in progress

My husband started a new job this month and the opportunity found him just as he was mentally ready to start his work search.

We took the plunge and bought a truck and travel trailer and we take possession this week. After much thought we determined that this would facilitate our goal of achieving work:life balance and enjoying the starlit sky. 

the happy couple

I got asked to participate in a public art mural. I have never done a mural, so being a part of it is going to be an amazing learning opportunity. Mark Vasquez-Mackay’s home was ground zero during Calgary's unforgettable flood. This year he wanted to commemorate and celebrate doing what he knows best- art! His vision is to create a legacy painting involving the people of Bridgeland, community Assoc, artists, and private business.

I started a personal piece for our bedroom at home...birch tree forest on three panels a mixed media piece. I sold a sketch of an inspiring photo I did while on a weekend retreat to the mountains, and have been commissioned for some digital art as well.

Oliva...the d.hound

We have my brothers and their family's coming to visit this summer! I am grateful to the top of head to the tip of my toes. We have also opened our home to our niece, come August she will move from a very small town to Calgary. She has just graduated and we couldn't be more excited to facilitate the introduction to her new world.

I have struggled for years with my health and thus far I am retaining a constant pace of excitement and not flaring (with ulcerative colitis) too badly. Supportive energy, positive people, and an amazing benefit plan have facilitated the possibility of my new career and good things to come.