I am trying to recreate a post I wrote when I was spilling over with joy and gratitude on Thursday. Then I lost the post and then I lost the saved text and then I lost interest! However, the gratitude continues so I will try again...

Kelly Rae Roberts has been finding hearts everywhere and has a fine collection of sea glass. Reading her blog and uploading my photos from the last week or so in Nova Scotia focused my attention on the bliss of this vacation. I have seen deer and foxes, cormorants and a raccoon. I have spent precious low pace time with family. I got to meet an amazing artist and fine person in the shape of Deanne Fitzpatrick. I have breathed fog and felt the sea and gathered stones and sea glass and driftwood. I have walked and read and had time to just be. And when I was writing the previous edition of this post I was getting ready to spend some time playing with my art supplies with my sister. Heaven on earth. Gratitude.

One of the workshops I took at Artfest 2007 was Anahata Katkin's Creative Instinct. If you ever get the chance to take a class with her, do it. Energy flows from her and fills the room and she is wise in the ways of bypassing that inner critic. I have made several nature altars and created pieces based on them since her workshop and I find it a wonderfully energising and fulfilling way to work. Here are some pictures from the one I did last week. The artwork isn't finished yet, but it has already developed since the photo below. I love the third photo - I always travel with art stuff and it tickles me to think how different my 'travel essentials' are to the norm. My lovely husband (15 years this week!!!) saw the picture and said "Ah yes, it isn't art abroad without foil pie plates." At home I just use our plates, but when travelling I don't want to risk staining other peoples' and those foil pie plates will take a lot of abuse!