I have dirt under my nails from cleaning up in the garden today, and it feels good. Green has started to appear everywhere, especially when the light streams though the newly budding leaves in the willow trees lining our tiny backyard. It’s a sweet little garden, and just small enough for a novice like me to putter around in. It needs a little work, but we are are lucky to have that much space in Yellowknife. The growing season is short, so dreams of a painter’s garden filled with sunflowers and lavender is not to be, but it’s lovely to get outside while we can. I have visions of a little combination studio greenhouse for working in oil down the road, but am determined to stick with egg tempera for now. I have a long path ahead of me, but one I look forward to.

The little ones have been keeping me busy, but art will be coming soon… I promise. I think the quiet winters will be wonderful for painting, and the long hours of natural light in the summer will be amazing to work by long after the boys go to sleep.