Garden party

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." Oscar Wilde 

I attended a garden party last night, it was hosted by an artist network I recently joined. I had read about them and what they could do for an emerging artist, like myself. I came across them during an art walk in a nearby park. 

They seem to have monthly event, but last night was the first time I was able to attend. I was ridiculously nervous on the way there. The drive seemed so long and Peanut gave me some really great pep-talks. As I would not know a soul there other then Peanut and I sometimes gets very shy in large groups. Peanut said ask questions, ask at least three questions to the one person you are taking with. Try to be interested in what they say to continue the conversation. 

I was so glad Peanut was willing to go with me. Even though she returned from a long day at work to take me and be my "arm candy", as she told everyone. She was great arm candy and is rather out going in a conversation. 

I had never been to a Garden party... I was not sure what to wear so I did some research...

It seemed a tad complicated. Wear a costume, perhaps a big hat. Dresses should be in a bright solid prints or floral patterns. Make sure to match your partner's attire. Dress to be mid length, show skin, don't show skin...

So I went with this....

tasteful dress, summer color, mid length

Was so happy to wear a heel again :) Crazy huh!!

Enter the Garden...
 
We arrived, a little earlier then planned. We walked up to a beautiful yellow bricked home and no knocked, no one answered. We did the quiet lets walk around the house and see if everyone is in the back. It was so quiet we worried that no one came or we were trespassing on the wrong persons property. 

The yard was pretty, with a curvy pool in the back. It was a back yard garden that was so enclosed you could not see any other houses around. There was about 15 people hanging around drinking wine and chatting. Thankfully everyone was so friendly and greeted us as we walked in looking for the hostess.

So the first thing I went to was the cute fluffy dog. I watched Peanut charm and work the room. I realized that this was a goal I needed to strive towards... the ability to network. Get other peoples cards, connect, ask questions, be memorable. Could I do this in a creative way? 

30 days creative charisma challenge: Paris summer continued

30 days creative charisma challenge: Paris summer continued: I spent two glorious weeks exploring France. We did Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and several smaller places in the south. This was an absolutely ...

Two raining days in a row... The days have forced me to stay inside. Staying inside has forced me, not only to clean (boo), drink massive amounts of coffee, but the bonus... work on some art.

  Today I am working on a large piece... I am actually feeling excited about it. I like the challenge of working on a piece of wood that is almost the same size as my work space. One day a studio space of my very very own. It's therapy in wax these days, encaustic, and it smells so good! Thanks to the bee's...

I am inspired to take some classes, to be submerged in it, and share a space with creative minds. I have been feeling excited about the awesome creative types that are slowly popping into my life. I love their vibes and their inspiration that radiates outward to all those around them.

Crutch and let them eat cake!

Farewell long weekend... 

I took a break from writing this blog daily and instead worked on being present in the moments of 3 days off with Peanut. It was a great long weekend! We spent time with some of her friends at their cottage home, laying on a floating dock. We paddled the dock away from shore and laid under a big beautiful blue sky with rolling clouds. The next day was spent in a backyard pool basking in the sunlight. My skin turning into a nice brown shade. You would think that I had my fill of vitamin D, the happy vitamin. Yet I woke up this morning feeling in need of a large dose of "happy"... bad dreams had me contemplating my need for direction.
 Repeat:
I am happy today...I am so so happy today! I am filled with happy dappy thoughts today! hmmm

Over the weekend we also went to an art show, my art show, well along with 199 other artist.  I was honored to be supported by such good friends and such beautiful creative minds. 

The premiss of the show was that every piece be exactly 1 square foot. They place around 600 paintings on a grid and priced each one the same. We walked around and viewed the walls several times. They were completely covered  with art, each time something new would stand out among the colors and patterns.

It was inspiring to see how different everyone's visions filled the space. So breathtaking having them all side by side like a feast for the eyes.

My painting, done in encaustic on wood, is in the middle. It is the picture with the window/wheel and the green shades.

 

Picnic in the  park

We continued our Paris summer with long walks on the beach, viewing the Picasso exhibit and a picnic lunch drinking wine openly in a West end park.  A police car stopped near us, there was a moment were a small fear of getting a ticket washed over me. However, we decided if they approached us we would just explain our a drinking as Paris life rubbing off on us. Much like the Parisian we encountered, the officer,  would then stroll along happy with life and our explanation.  

We picked up some goodies from a French bakery. The macaroons we tried in our own city, Toronto, were surprisingly better then the ones we bought in Paris. Some bread, cheese, meat and red red wine. It was a delicious way to spend an afternoon.

Cracker jacks, a loud boom and a crutch

I am trying to wake myself, two coffee's later...

sluggish after having long afternoon that spilled into the evening. With hour upon hour of over consumption of red wine and food. 

I had a pot luck to go to yesterday before attending an evening concert. We watched standing, along with the gigantic crowd as Florence and the Machine dazzled the audience. She was excellent, her voice boomed across the open air. She ran around the stage bare footed, raising her hands and playing her fingers in the wind as if she was playing the world. Her talent seemed so raw and her movements naturally flowing... 

 The host for the pot luck requested that I bring something sweet. I am relatively newish to the kitchen. I could make food, just food, and enough to sustain someone.  For many years it was just made simple, bland items. I grew up in a family that lived on meat and potatoes. The only herbs in the house... salt and maybe pepper. I raised myself on k.d and tomato soup in the can.  As an adult I set a goals a few years ago that I wanted to be an excellent cook, and hostess.
My new mate, who I have nicked named "Peanut", is such a foodie that I am driven to exploring even more challenging dishes to make and to eat. I like to use what is in the house and I like the challenge of searching out a recipe that uses the items in the kitchen.  So I had popcorn, brown sugar, butter, nuts, vanilla extract, corn syrup, salt and these items turned out to be all the ingredients needed to make cracker jack... and it was so easy ... they concert going eat it, I got a thumbs up... success!? At least it looked pretty.

When we traveled the southern areas of France we eat a lot of seafood. Our plates were filled with oysters, shrimp, mussels and snails. One morning we woke too late and had a hard time finding breakfast, so seafood became our stand in for eggs and bacon. I eat snails steamed, and baked in heavy sauces. The steamed snails seemed to move and I feared that they were still alive... this alone was a big stretch for me, I had been a vegetarian for 5 years of my life. Yet there I was pulling out little bodies from the shell skillfully. I had to think less about it, where they came from, how they got to my plate and pop those little delicacies into my mouth.

  At the potluck I knew that out of the 15 people that were to attend, two I knew well enough to call friends.  Peanut picked out the mug for me above, "Little Miss. Chatterbox", ironically  I am often shy and quiet when I first get introduced to new people. Peanut sent me a text and challenged me to mingle. I took the challenge and started talking and out of this group, 2 individuals, separate from each other, were heading to France.  I was so happy that I got to talk about France with others who were excited to go. I suggested that they eat everything they can, drink wine daily (it is cheaper then pop or water). Find some time to sit chairs facing out into the parks or a cafe and watch the action, the buzz of life passing by. The energy that Van Gough painted in his strokes around the stars. Drink in the magic... be present.


 However my best advice was walk like your marching, the sidewalks are very uneven, there are unexpected steps everywhere. I learned this the hard way as I made a graceful exit off a train outside of Paris. Most people shop in Paris and buy beautiful dresses, purses and shoes. I brought home two bottles of French wine, macaroons and a pair of silver and white crutches! However, they did come in handy.  (I will get to that on later date)

I am still recovering, my right foot still needing to be bandage up. Thankfully not broken just injured and a little embarrassed.  Peanut was fabulous and patient as I hobbled around the streets of Paris. Returning home still unable to get back into every day life... I miss the gym, boot camp, my goal of hitting the exercise hard after eating our way through the south of Franc has been put on hold.  My right foot is still looking like a pig foot. My foot, as hard as I try will not squeeze back into my heels. Crazy as it sounds I do miss them... colorful, beautiful summer heels. One day soon we will be reunited.

So here I am day two, still with a hobble in my step looking for inspiration and creative enthusiasm to ignite me into action. I have a list of "To Do's"... having so much time on my hands requires one, its to easy to simple do nothing at all, to simple sit and stare off into the abyss. I plan to make the most out of my 29 days of freedom left. To continue my Paris like summer... coffee shops, art, good food and wine and being inspired by the moments.



 

30 days creative charisma challenge: Paris summer continued

30 days creative charisma challenge: Paris summer continued: I spent two glorious weeks exploring France. We did Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and several smaller places in the south. This was an absolutely ...

Paris summer continued

I spent two glorious weeks exploring France. We did Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and several smaller places in the south. This was an absolutely luxury for me... as I have not had the chance to travel as much as I would like. I work for a school and I am off during the months of July and August. Lucky right!

I recently went to France with my new mate... we have been together for only 5 months. So the thought of spending two weeks, 24/7 I must admit brought up some fears. You always hear of that couple that return from travels only to decide that they really don't like each others company that much. I have heard the stories of couple that separate while on vacation, I have known a few. I did not want to be added to that list.

 Thankfully the only issue we had was being shy about using the washroom in our rented rooms that were quite small. Toilette and bed being only a few steps away from each other. On a few occasions one of us, mostly me, got frustrated walking around for long periods of time looking for a good place to eat. I admit once I cried over a hot topic with my mate. Not my shinning moment however, perhaps pivotal one. We did have several conversations hitting on topics that most people don't explore until a year into their relationship. I am happy to report after 336 hours together we still can't get enough of each others company.

I returned home, still having a month of vacation to use. A month is a blessing... right? I have had a hard time adjusting to being back. I loved Paris, I loved Nice and the culture of relaxation and food. I felt I missed it, missed being exposed to such beauty daily. I returned home and things seemed uglier than I remembered them. Even though the city I live in I adore and love its own character. 

But Paris.. I was warned that Paris had magic powers to forever captivate a person's soul.

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”
― Thomas Jefferson

It seemed no one worked, or stressed and the women in the streets looks so polished as if cut from the pages of a magazine and placed before you. People lounged in the parks, on the man made beach and along the river banks. Openly drinking wine and eating bread... so much bread. Bars full and stranger meeting and having a heart filled conversations like they knew each other for years.

“I've seen you, beauty, and you belong to me now, whoever you are waiting for and if I never see you again, I thought. You belong to me and all Paris belongs to me and I belong to this notebook and this pencil.”
― Ernest Hemingway

 
I told my mate that I wanted to continue having a "Paris like summer". We agreed to picnics, long bike rides and walks along the beach. We have continued to follow through with our Paris summer. However, my mate went back to work and I have all this time during the day. I also had a mishap in Paris... I fell from the train and injured my right foot. I spent time in Paris on crutches... it saved us plenty of time waiting in lines but, Paris is not that forgiving on crutches with its cobble stone streets and multiple stair cases. So my goal of working out when I returned was slightly altered. I am off the sticks but not walking with a hobble or getting into my beautiful summer time heels yet.

Wouldn't anyone dream of having so much time... I mean an entire day to yourself... and entire month of week days to yourself.  

I am an artist... although I say this with a quiet voice. I am creative, is a louder more confident roar... but a self proclaimed artist makes me shy. I decided with the 30 days I have left I want to take the time to be more creative, more active (right foot needing to agree) and live as Paris a life as I can.

So... perhaps you will join me on my day to day adventures. I hope the inspiration will go both ways. Tell me what you would do with 30 days off. What charisma would you like to create and join me on my mission.

charisma |kəˈrizmə| (noun)
 compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others : she enchanted guests with her charisma.
- a divinely conferred power or talent.