BONJOUR....oui France

BONJOUR dear friends

STAY IN TOUCH with me

I will be creating cards and postcards of France

with GIVEAWAYS 

to those who sign up for my blog (including those already signed up) 

with extra opportunities to win every time you comment on my blog. 

 Providing the Internet works well in the French countryside I

 will post on my blog 

everyday

 the last two weeks of June.

Passport, panel carrier, sketch book, easel hats and

DREAMA TOLLE PERRY (workshop instructor)

calendar for June

My latest painting below

Monmouth Plantation Gardens
Natchez, Mississippi
16x16 oil on one inch canvas covered cradled board
Click here to purchase

Downtown Dining

DOWNTOWN DINING

DOWNTOWN DINING
14x11 unframed oil on gessobord
Click here to purchase

 Downtown Natchez, MS is a fun place to shop, dine, have coffee and visit with the locals.  You can find unique merchandise....and this very quaint restaurant hidden (hardly since it is painted bright red) in a deep alley.  This looks so European to me.

DRIVING TRIP...Going solo...yikes

Being brave

Trusting 

Well armed with

 AAA

Technology and 

Curiosity

Before the temperatures get too high in the southeast I am going for a "look see". About three weeks ago I put this sign in my studio.

I was stressed by the "musts" of a blog, website, Facebook, Daily Paintworks, keeping records and more. Just to sell? To find success? Was it recognition I was chasing?

That was just nuts and I realized it was time to rearrange my priorities to ensure contentment, joy.  It was time to be more in harmony with my spiritual essence, to trust.  What I know for sure is that I love painting, taking art workshops, and seeing our country. I also know for sure that I am divinely protected and can safely go where my heart leads.

On my way to the southeast I'll stop at an occasional flea market, a view pull out, farm market stand, or have a conversation with an interesting character. I will stop and "that will make all the difference" on my "road less traveled" (Robert Frost).  Many of my roads will be two lane. My easel and paint will be easily accessible for a quick study. Camera at the ready. In Shreveport I will stop for three days for my second

DREAMA TOLLE PERRY WORKSHOP

In Vicksburg, I will visit the Civil War Military Museum. My husband's great-grandfather was a POW here in the Civil War.  I'll follow the Natchez Trace to Natchez.  And in Natchez there are antebellum mansions I won't miss. No ropes in front of the china cabinet or canopy bed will keep me out.  I will return through Dallas so that I can see the Joaquin Sollora exhibit.

Listening to my intuition

 this solo driving trip may take me further on. Where to next? 

I have the most supportive husband telling me to go where my heart leads while he mans the home front and listens for all my phone calls and text messages all the while taking care of his "honey-do" list.

I hope you will follow me on this journey, leaving very soon, which is much more than a drive.  Comment below with your suggestions for my driving trip in the southeast.
  PLEASE

CHRISTMAS 2013

First Step in Decorating

My grandson Eli and I
are going on the
ADVENTURE
of our lifetimes.

Going, doing, eating, experiencing
CHRISTMAS
as we have never before experienced it.


NORWAY


So
I planned no decorating at home
until
I just had to
even though I won't even be here

Here are my first steps
Need more red and
tons of fresh greenery



Below is a link to the most uplifting
beautiful
videos I have seen.

Enjoy

http://www.wimp.com/upliftingaffirmations/

Snow Melt

Rushing Snow Melt

The Norwegian landscape still has a mighty hold on me.  It is such a contrast to my life in the desert of NM...but I remind myself I grew up in very green Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes and in a Norwegian community at that! My maiden name was Thoreson, which means son of Thore.  And if you know mythology, Thore was the son of  Thunder.

The fjord area of western Norway has fairly high mountains and in spring the snow melt gushes down the mountain sides with a mighty roar.  I wish I could paint the roar.

While in Norway I saw many paintings by 19th century Norwegian masters.  My favorite paintings were winter scenes.  So in December, I will return to Norway...to ski, to paint, to see the northern lights and spend some time in the Arctic and of course to visit some of my Thoreson cousins.

To purchase click on the link under the photograph.