Checking In.

I sat down here with my laptop while waiting for paint to dry so I can continue and paint another layer on top. As I sit here catching my breath and thinking of what to write, I realize that I have nothing really to say. It's been a crazy few days and I've been running on full speed. We were in Montreal over the weekend tying up ends and attending a funeral. Chatting with friends and family that we don't see often and wrapping and boxing items. It was rather surreal and sad at the same time. I know it's the cycle of life and death and we all move on, so I put my memories close to my heart and carry on as close to normal as possible.

I'm attempting to get in to the studio as often as I can these days but the interruptions continue. The landlord has to show our apartment and so I'm forced to stop and tidy up at the worst times (like I've just mixed up all this paint and about to get it on the canvas and the phone rings). So I stop, tidy as fast as I can and the phone rings again, appointment cancelled. Back to painting and then in a while the phone rings again and I'm back to tidying. Smiling and trying not to freak out too much.

29 days until we take possession of our new condo. 35 days until I need all the paintings finished and varnished. 44 days until we move. 44 days until I have to deliver paintings to the gallery. 47 days until the opening reception. Yikes!! It's back to work for me!!

Bits of My Week.

We spent family Christmas number two in Montreal. I love the colors in Montreal at this time of year. White, with a many shades of blues and greys. We always seem to have very cloudy snowy rainy days when we visit. This year we only saw the sun on our drive back.

The boutiques and cafes were busy in Old Montreal with people eating, shopping and warming up.

The view from our hotel window on the first morning we were there. It was pouring rain and very dull. The red light of the sign really caught my eye.

The buildings disappeared into the clouds.

The sun tries very hard to break through the clouds.

Good-bye 2009!

A Weekend in Montreal.

Sunrise view from our 9th floor room at the Sheraton Hotel.

A mix of old and new.

Rooftops of Montreal.

Beautiful fall colors north of the city.

Riviere du Nord in Ste. Agathe des Monts, Quebec

We spent the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend visiting family in Montreal. It's a fantastic city with plenty to offer. We visit about four or five times each year and there's still so much of the city I still haven't seen. On our last day full day there, we took a drive up to Ste Agathe des Monts. Beautiful scenery and fall foliage everywhere. Canadian author Mordecai Richler set his book "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" in Ste Agathe des Monts, Quebec. I took tons of photos that I'll be using as reference for new small landscape paintings.