New Beginnings

Today is the first day of Spring, and this year seems very special. For one thing, it's a gorgeous day, and there was a once in 19 or 20 year special full moon last night. It was so big and bright, we did an audible "Wow!" when we stepped outside to see it shining through the trees. It feels as though something nice is beginning. It's something in the air, and a sense that my painting has moved up another level and I can't wait to get to my art table in the mornings. With so many things in my head that I need to paint, I will have to paint steadily for many years to just keep up with them :-0
Today is also our 30th anniversary in a very happy marriage. And for the icing on the happy cake, we had good news about a much loved dog this week. I need to celebrate, and so I'm committing to posting on this blog about simple, happy things as well as my art, as close to every day as possible, for one year.
To begin, I have a photo from a Flower Show we go to every March. It is held at Algonquin College in Ottawa, where I went to art school. Granted, this is a new campus and there is no longer a Fine Art Department there, but I still love going back. We have actually attended Mini-Vet courses at this new campus, so it really feels like home.
This flower show comes at a time when the snow is usually still hanging on, and walking into the Show Greenhouse is like walking into faeryland. The perfum hits you as soon as you walk through the door, and then the color washes over you. There is a sense of peace that envelopes you, and you automatically take a deep breath, slow down, and just be. We count this "moment out of time" as the first joy of Spring. (And it's always great to see the resident Greenhouse Cat).