Sunday Sketches - Diagonal

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! I did a page in watercolour crayon in my art journal (8 1/2"w x 11"h). I was experimenting with a diagonal design.

Suddenly

neighbourhood flowers

Husband M and I were pulling into our driveway in the middle of the week and he noticed our neighbour next door walking slowly down her driveway.  He said 'she looks ill'.  We waved to her and she waved back with her right arm, but her left arm hung lifelessly by her side.  M said her face didn't look right either.  We figured she must have had a stroke.  M noticed he hadn't seen her for awhile.  She usually walks 2 little dogs twice a day and she babysat her grandkids.  This is life-changing and sudden for her, poor lady.  She is in her early fifties I imagine and was so active, a slim woman.  Maybe we will get a chance to talk to her husband soon, he is usually puttering around outside with the weeds.

This really makes you think about life and our tenuous hold on it.  We bustle about our business every day never thinking things could change on a dime.  I suppose it's what you have to do.

Then I was at my hairdresser the next day.  His assistant greeted me and said she would have to do my hair as the hairdresser's wife had to go to the hospital and he was with her.  It seems the poor woman has not been well this past month.  I hope they can help her in the hospital.

I realize that at this stage of my life (mid-fifties), this is what starts to happen, some of the people in my circle are also aging and they get ill or have to start moving into retirement homes.  Some will be fortunate and will carry on. Then as you get even older, you lose even more friends and so on. I will stop being morbid now.

Here is a fun video of Dick Van Dyke, he can still dance and did you know he married a beautiful woman 46 years younger than him?

Paint Party Friday - Baptism

We will be going to a Baptism soon, so I painted this white dress on a greeting card (4 1/4"w x 5 1/2 h") on a textured pink background. It's done in acrylic paint, outlined with grey watercolour pencil. Happy Paint Party Friday!  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for always hosting this wonderful art co-op.

Summer of Color - Blue, Blue and Green

Linking to Summer of Color today, the theme for Week One is Blue, Blue and Green!  The piece is done in acrylic on a blue post-it note (2"h x 3"w), I am loving the effect of this one and hope you will too!

Summer Festival

It was time for the annual summer festival on Main Street this past weekend. I took some photos to show you. The local orthodontist had a stall, I said hello to him and he remembered me from the years when son K got his braces done. The doctor is now married with a 3rd baby on the way and a thriving practice. He is now setting up his 3rd branch in another area.  I pulled up a photo of K on my phone to show the doctor and he said it is so rewarding to see the kids grow up in the ten years of his practice in the area.  He spoke of kids now driving their younger siblings to their appointments.

My friend S and I also met K's old high school math teacher watching the parade with his little daughter. I remembered sitting in a parent teacher interview with him. A local dance troupe went by and he said they are steering their daughter away from dance lessons. They feel dance schools don't set a positive message for girls, focussing on looks and slimness often leading to eating disorders and such. It is an interesting point of view. So the little girl will do tennis and golf. I actually liked the dance group, fun music and moves!

Band

Horse and Carriage

Skates on Cow

Elvis

Food Truck

Can you see the Maple Leaf on his bum?

Sushi Burrito

Cupcakes

My friend S came by the other day with these delicious cupcakes she wanted to share.  They were chocolate and red velvet.  There was some kind of celebration at her office and there were lots of extras.  My favourite part was the whipped icing on top, mmm.

More recently she came by with some fresh asparagus from her sister's farm.  I wasted no time roasting them in the oven along with some other vegetables.

Cute Statue

Lots of excitement this weekend with American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown horse race and what with publication of the new photos of Prince George and Princess Charlotte of England! Hope your weekend was a good one.

We went to this Italian Style restaurant recently and I saw this cute statue at the front. It made me laugh and think what could happen if I ate too much here.

Here is a good video to watch to help with recognizing stroke.