I decided to go for another winter walk today. I made a splash of colour against the monochromatic world in which I strolled.

Last Christmas our daughter, Emily, gave us a promissory note for a vegetarian cookbook. You might remember that historically, Emily has been on tour with a couple of her bands and was away a lot.

I usually have the blessing of working out (aquafit) in a friend’s condo pool but with the crazy high Covid numbers rising daily I decided to try walking outside for my exercise .

THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE: “It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.

In my church today is the feast day of Christ the King. What do you think of when you think of a king? Perhaps you think of someone uncaring who sits on a throne and forces us to bend to his will? Perhaps one who has an abundance of riches , who only cares about the mighty, and who has all the power?

I saw this guitar case leaning on a water hydrant near the corner where I make the turn into our alley . It looked like the guitar was getting a transfusion of water…ha ha.

AFTER WEEKS OF WORKING ON THIS FAIRLY LARGE PORTRAIT I AM VERY HAPPY TO SHARE THE FINISHED PAINTING…

Have you ever felt the need to be forgiven? It is a terrible feeling . People talk about sadness ‘weighing them down’ but it’s true. When you hurt someone…. you truly hurt yourself too and it does feel like a heavy burden.

I haven’t seen your face. I do not know your name. But I love you already.

Inside it is cozy and warm in my house. Outside it looks like a snow shower adding to the piles of snow already lining the roads.

There are four of them. They stood together over 40 years ago and still do.

LAKOTA CODE OF ETHICS

COVID IS CLIMBING IN ALBERTA . WE HAVE HAD OVER 37,000 CASES AT THIS POINT SO WE HAVE NEW RULES …

WE WON’T BE GOING OUT(OR IN!) TO ANY REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES THIS YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. BUT I’LL BE THINKING ABOUT THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR COUNTRY WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE TODAY.

YUP. IT SNOWED. WE KNEW IT WAS COMING. IT DID.

I ALWAYS KNEW I WOULD LOVE TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR.

WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE TWO FRIENDS IN OUR ‘BUBBLE’ WHO HAVE BIRTHDAYS ON THE VERY SAME DAY: OCTOBER 28! I HAD SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME BAD NEWS AT THE END OF THAT WEEK.

I’VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT HOW WE SEE THINGS BEFORE US.

I’M REALLY HAPPY WE MADE TIME TO PAINT YESTERDAY. IT WAS SUCH A NICE DAY (STILL PRETTY WARM) OUTSIDE THAT WE DIDN’T WANT TO STAY IN ALL DAY.

AFTER A PRETTY LEISURELY MORNING OF FRUIT/YOGURT BREAKFASTS, PRAYERS, CHECKING EMAILS AND THE LIKE, WE DECIDED TO HEAD FARTHER WEST YESTERDAY TO DISCOVER MORE ALBERTA BEAUTY.