September

September dawned this morning and it required that I dig out my Fall coat to take the monster for his constitutionals.  The cooler weather seems to invigorate him, as he was even sprightlier than usual as he bunny hopped along the sidewalk.  He had a lovely time barking at everyone and sniffing every blade of grass that he encountered.  This afternoon I had some letters to mail, and he managed to wrap his leash around the mailbox in the second it took to slip the envelopes into the slot!  I’m still happy to report that my pain levels are much better managed, and I just have the spasm when I’m tired, or when Jerry tries to pull me off balance.  I can’t use my left arm to do anything strenuous (lift anything more than 4kg) for another day or so after the removal of the PICC, so I explained that to Jerry, who huffed at me, wagged his tiny tail, and ignored me…Don noted that he’s been feeling very cold for a few days, even in 30C weather, and said that he thinks that he has a cold… I don’t believe that it’s covid, as we’ve not been exposed to anyone outside of the house — my nurse and support worker are wrapped in PPE when they come, and the boys isolate themselves while they’re here.  I hope that he feels better soon.  It’s been a while that he’s not himself.

So I’ve been seriously tempted by some watercolour paints lately.  A friend and former colleague of mine is a very talented artist, and has been working on her portrait skills, posting updates every so often on social media.  As I see her work, and every so often I watch a video online, and I think, “I’d like to see if I can express myself in colour.”  I also have several colouring books — obtained before it became a fad for adults — and I have spent some time happily colouring (sometimes outside of the lines) in them, and again I thought I could try this with brushes, and not just pencils and crayons (I have a box of 8, although I’ve been eyeing the 64-pack that I coveted as a child!)  Given that I’m really not good at using my makeup brushes for precision work, my use of paintbrushes is likely to give the same result.  In my mind, I’m competent with the brushes and pencils, and have finally developed an eye for perspective, shading and lighting.  I was never any good at that in school — my brother was the artist, and potential entrepreneur until his teacher squashed his dreams.  The best I could ever manage was a landscape sketch of a beach, which I doodled in multiple notebooks (until a teacher who I disliked intensely saw it and spanked me for “wasting paper” and then ironically assigned me to write lines to not waste 100 times.)

To be honest, I’ve never really been drawn to painting or drawing (sorry for the pun) except to admire the work of those who do that type of creative work.  I’ve been pleased to support artists through the purchase of their work — hanging on the walls of my condo are original artworks, signed by their respective artists, which I chose because I liked them, and they probably will not make me into a multimillionaire which is fine.  Anyway, in an effort to add projects to my already existing list (because I apparently have a fear that if my list empties I’ll collapse into dust…) I started looking at watercolours.  Really, the paint sets that we’d get in primary school, with the bright colours that are useful for the type of paintings that I last did… anyway, as I said, I’ve been tempted to try my hand at painting.  I ordered a set of fine tipped markers, as a “gateway” via one or more of my colouring books with the intention that if I have fun with them I’ll take a step into “real” artwork and try drawing and painting.  Don’t expect any masterpieces from me; in fact, I expect that my baby niece will continue to outshine me.

Speaking of kiddy paintings, I have one that hung for years in my office that was painted by my godson when he was about 12/13, which is shockingly almost 20 years ago!  He’d done a seascape for me, and I really loved it.  And about a year ago, my then-18-month old niece did an abstract painting which is framed on an end table.  Yes, I’m sappy and sentimental, as further evidenced by the little note that I have in my purse from my niece when she was 8, saying that “Auntie Sonja is nice and fun and kind and too bossy.”  It’s been in my wallet for the last almost decade.

Ok, I’m off to make a colourful mess as soon as my lap clears… meanwhile, good night and pleasant dreams to you.