Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Dandelion Daze... Moonlit Nights... and New Life... Beside Still Waters

Hello from our new home in Rockport! We arrived without incident and have been up over the tops of our hip waders with divided duties given to arranging our spacious and bright new home... to setting up and rehanging The Paint Box Gallery in its new quarters in our newly refurbished... invitingly colourful and equally spacious double spaced garage off to the right of the house. The rest of our "spare" (HA HA!) time has been spent offering  full eight hour days dedicated to resurrecting the very large garden spaces and lawns on the property... no easy task for a pair of hearts and bodies who have lived free of these responsibilities for the past decade!

Nevertheless... the rewards and pleasures for this labour are evident and manifested daily to both of us in every waking hour that we are here. Our decision was correct... and we both feel confident the dividends for the risk will continue to grow and multiply as time moves along. Though we have not officially opened yet... Rockport Boat Line tourists poke their heads (and camera lens) into The Gallery... with numerous polite requests for us to pose for "Kodak moments." A good omen perhaps for future interest and success!

I cannot begin to relate to you the effects that the quiet and release from the noisy environs of Highway 93 in Hillsdale has had on us both even in this very short span of time. We are ever glad to head off to our bed by day's end...dog tired... but grateful to retire before 10:00 pm and to rise each morning at 6:00 am together to enjoy our morning coffee ritual with a view to die for of The St Lawrence in its various morning garbs... ranging from mirror perfect waters... to fog and mist that evoke a mystical and epic feel. Life does not get any better... for "Me"!

This past week, I spent two spell-binding evenings after dark totally alone... not another soul about in the entire village out on the large dock at The Andress Boat Works... enjoying the full moon's private dance recital accompanied by the distant and steady music of several loons droning their eery... hauntingly lonesome... but truly typical musical score for this part of Canadian wilderness spaces. They were truly memorable and magical events that I shall not forget... a great welcoming fanfare for our new adventure. I am deeply blessed!

Deb has kicked unexpectedly into a new ( to both of us) gardening mode... and spent all of yesterday designing her first ever garden bed... with me joyfully acting as her go-fer and garden hand. She certainly has a flare for it and has transformed a rather derelict and previously uninteresting eyesore into a really eye-catching and beautiful front entrance to our home and and patio area.

Bird life and voice are unbelievable as some of my photos will reveal. There isn't a single moment when one stops to listen... that at least a half a dozen voices are simultaneously present with you while you are working outside. Work becomes suddenly turns to pleasure... when music is in the air when time and the sense of labour fairly seem to simply... melt away!

Our committee headed by my landlord/friend/neighbour and Rockport Development Group Chair Wendy Merkley has already had its first meeting to plan for The Second Annual Rockport Plein Air Paint in mid September of 2012. We hope to attract as many new artists as we can to eclipse last year's flock of twenty-five. That won't be at all hard to do... this place is out-of-site gorgeous to paint in and artist-friendly for certain! Wouldn't it be great... if some of "Us" could be together to actually meet  and  spend time painting together? I'd pull some special strings for sure! Think about it Friends! Life is short! Perhaps the Universe is speaking... through "Me" ... to "You"! Could that possibly be so? Only if we might... "make it so"! A thought!

Thanks to all who expressed their good wishes and offered their verbal support during our move! Much appreciated! I'll be around for a much-awaited return visit to your sites... PRONTO!

Good Painting to ALL! Glad to be back!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Bruce

21 comments:

  1. So glad to hear from you again, Bruce. Your photos are all just so beautiful! I can see that the inspiration is truly all around you. Looking forward to seeing any new works of art from you too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi there Sherry!... Thanks for your first Rockport visit to my blog!

    It is indeed an inspiring place to live in... everything is abloom and greening!When we are finally fully established and ready... it will be so artistically as well. At the moment we are busy preparing for next week's "Up the Garden Path" annual studio tour which will coincide with our Grand Opening. Lots of bits and pieces to be tied together... clock's a-runnin!

    Hope all is well in your world... looking forward to many more chats!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so excited for you and Deb. Yay!!! A great decision! I love that Deb has discovered gardening. It will bring many hours of joy : ) And I like the image of your moring coffee ritual. HAPPY PAINTING!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Bruce, and Deb,

    So very happy for you, and how exciting. Thank you for sharing your photos. Can't wait to see the wonderful new work you will be producing.

    It certainly is a new chapter in your life. All the very best to both of you. Enjoy.

    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi there Kim!... Thank you for dropping by and for your kind words of encouragement!

    Gardening is like plein air painting... only with gardening tools! Our world is Eden... and we are ALL... its constant gardeners and stewards!

    Can't beat our morning java conference! How sweeeeeeeeeeeet it is!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi there Joan!... How nice to be in touch again with you! It's been too long!

    I'll be sending along a few more photos before I actually get back into the painting! As a matter of fact... I have three commissions to complete based back in Hillsdale... before I can really settle into painting subjects here in our new Shangrai-La!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards, Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Bruce, what an inspiring setting! It just warms my insides to picture you painting in those surroundings...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well... HELLO Stranger! So good to hear your voice! I have been wondering how things were in Bridget's neck-o-the-woods! Glad that we are again connected and chatting!

    Rockport is indeed an inspiring setting both spiritually and artistically for "Me"... I am very much at peace and at home here!

    Soon the hustle and bustle of moving will be well back in the past... and I hope to resume my painting by next week. I really do miss it!

    Thanks for your encouraging comments! Let's stay in touch!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi there Linny!... Nice to hear from you again! I've really missed my friends like you... and writing the blog!

    It's always so uplifting to connect and share ideas... process and problems with kindred spirits such as yourself who are on the same journey! Thanks for the welcome!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very uplifting and inspiring to see the photos of your new place. Spring is a time for new growth and is full of promise. How interesting it is that you are painting Hillsdale, it is as if you are still meant to dwell there a while longer. best wishes to you and Deb.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Bruce, best wishes to you and Deb in your new home. It looks beautiful and I'm looking forward to the results of all this new inspiration. Exciting times.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A BIG HI there Highland Lass!... Glad to be in touch with you again!

    Thank you for your best wishes and optimism its always much appreciated Caroline!

    The Hillsdale backward connection is purely the result of "late-comers" at our closing. Sometimes you are only really appreciated when you are absent... or in the process of leaving. In either case... it is my pleasure to "fill the bill" for those who would like one of my paintings.

    I'll be around for a much anticipated visit to your site!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi there Lisa!... So nice and welcoming to have you drop by for a visit again!

    Being in Rockport offers another connection between us and our work! We share water frontage! HA HA!!!

    It is indeed uplifting and inspiring to have the tranquillity that such a location offers those fortunate to live along side a body of water! You know that better than most... as is very evident in your lovely work!

    I too look forward to sharing sights/sites and experiences with all of my Blogger Friends... including yourself! Talk to you soon!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  14. I was so pleased to see a new posting from you finally! I look every day:-) Your new home and area seem so welcoming and comfy and wonderful! I think you are going to have some wonderful paintings coming from this move. It is SO much work to move, I know, but soon it will all be in place and you will be blessedly settled in. I can't believe you're doing the Up the Garden Path Studio Tour already! Looking forward to new posts soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi there "You!"... Good to be in touch again! I have much missed our connections...conversations and sharing!

    The house and village are nothing short of "Paradise (re)Found" Karen! Every hour of every day is a new adventure! Lots of images and sites reveal themselves daily... can't wait to dive in!

    We officially open on this long holiday weekend May 19-21 with "The Up the Garden Studio Tour" event! Hoping for sun... blue skies and many feet through our doors!

    Good to hear from you! Thanks for dropping by!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good Morning Bruce, I'm glad to hear that you've settled into your new home so quickly. It certainly does sound perfect for you. I hadn't realised that the road at Hillsdale was a busy one, so it must be nice to have the peace and quiet.

    Those foggy St. Lawrence views sound wonderful and I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of them.

    All the best for your first Rockport summer,

    Keith

    ReplyDelete
  17. Bruce!!! It looks like you're going to be very happy here. I wish you guys so much luck! Love these photos...thank you for sharing! Looks like you'll have so many beautiful places to paint.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Top of a Sunday Mother's Day Morning Keith!... Sorry for the slight delay in getting back and responding to your gracious comment! I'm up to my elbows in garden dirt... and loving it! A lot of work... but just as relaxing as painting for "Me'!

    Lots of fine material to paint... as is very evident in my photo show. Lots of desire to get at it. I'll be hard at it as soon as the more essential settling in tasks are in order.

    Deb made the first sale in our new Paint Box Gallery location... and we enjoyed crowds of lookers and admirers even before we open. A great and highly encouraging omen for the future success of our new life here in Rockport!

    Thanks for dropping by and for your encouragement Keith! Talk to you soon!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good morning Hilda!.... Happy Mother's Day my Friend! Thanks ever so much for dropping by and for leaving such uplifting comments!

    We are already very happy and enjoying our Islesview to the utmost! Life doesn't get any better! Every single day is a new and exciting adventure!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a fabulous place Bruce ... my sort of thing. Looking forward to seeing some new work soon. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi there John!... Thanks for dropping by and for the upbeat comment!

    Rockport is a beautiful place with much peace and tranquility!

    Once the task "force' abates... I will be right back "out there"... in and about Rockport painting my sweet heart out!

    Stay tuned!...
    Good Painting!

    Warmest regards.
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete