I was having work lunch with a friend (she's actually a sales rep for a very cool carpet company that is near and dear to my heart) this week and telling her about some of the new goings on in my world and she insisted that I update this here blog.

(If you're new to these parts, let me fill you in: I'm really inconsistent vis-a-vis posting regularly and there is no rhyme or reason for what I do.  Hope that's ok with you.)

So, my news is this:

1. My mom, who is now living in BC, is having some trouble getting settled and, while I was hoping to make a trip down there in May (and drift over to Victoria and then Portland, OR afterwards to see Marita and Miranda), it is not certain that she will even still be there in May.  She is considering moving back home (to Manitoba) which actually makes me very happy - I think she will be happier there than on the west coast.  (Note: I love the west coast - I just don't think she is happy, living so far from her family.) So, no trip to BC for me this spring.  We'll have to wait and see...
2. I have decided to take a bit of a break from my day job this summer.  I will only be working 3 days a week at the design/drafting firm I manage and 2 days a week at Belfast Mini Mills.  I start there on May long weekend (May 18th).  I know, right?  It is seriously fabulous.  I can't even think about it too much or I will pee my pants.
3.  The ladies at Belfast have been unofficially organizing a "Fibre Trail" tour for visitors interested in the industry here on the Island.  Many of the current bus tour operators bring their tourists to BMM and it is always a hit, so they have been working together to expand on the theme.  I can't wait to take part.
4. I have started painting again - and not just little watercolour sketches.  Canvas painting with acrylic, which I haven't done seriously in at least 8 or 9 years.  I have really been loving it.  This winter was tough for my family and me and painting has, in the past, been therapeutic for me.  I had been missing it, but just hadn't realized it fully.  This was a great way to get back to my artistic "roots", so to speak.  The pictures below are quite horrible quality, but here's a sampling:

This one and the one below are older - at least 8 years old -  but I was photographing, so I thought I'd just keep going...

And that, as they say, is that.  I'm just plugging away at some small projects, dreaming up some bigger ones, looking forward to this summer and keeping my head down, wishing this winter doesn't let the door hit it in the arse on the way out.

And you?  What are you up to?