First of all I hope everyone is safe and healthy in their homes. We have been staying as close to home as is humanly possible. Which brings up the subject of home. Now that we are full time residents of Florida, it was time for a full time home. Yup, we moved again. This time we took our time and had actually been looking for about a year. About a week after we moved in, the Corona virus started to really take off. It’s rather hard to get to know the neighbors while social distancing, so that will have to wait until this is all over.

Most of my time has been spent unpacking. The finishing touch is when the pictures go on the walls. That seems to be what really personalizes a home for me. I’m also trying to be very deliberate in where I put things so as to actually reach that nirvana of being organized. The problem with that is the shelving and cabinets we were going to have built for my art supplies, is now on hold. At some point I will be able to put a fresh canvas on my easel, a sheet of clean paper on my drawing table and focus on my work. I’m very much looking forward to that time. 

The only painting I have hung so far is one I did for myself. Yes, I did a painting for me. It didn’t start out that way. I was working on my largest canvas to date, 48″ x 36″. I had bought the canvas a few years ago but found it very intimidating. Finally, from a series of photos I had taken at our stop in New Hampshire, I had my subject. After several smaller versions, I settled on my design. I was about halfway through the painting and commenting to Tim how I loved New Hampshire, when he suggested I keep it for me. I loved the idea. My New Hampshire, for me. It brought new joy to painting for me. So it is fitting that it is the first painting hung in our new home.

Besides unpacking, I’ve begun work on a book about our trip down here aboard Little Prince. It’s going to take some time, and work, but it’s a project I very much enjoy. Stay tuned for progress reports on how that’s going.

Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy and say a little prayers for all those amazing people who are working so hard to help up stay that way.