Blessings... and Bliss

Octoberfest!... This weekend marks that special time of the year when families in Canada gather to share time and food... and more importantly to "join hands"... in love and gratitude for the copious blessings that we have enjoyed as a family during the past year. In such a diverse and spread out society, it requires a huge commitment by all... to put their separate lives on hold and to come together to celebrate.

Deb and I have enjoyed many blessings in our separate and joint lives during 2014. Perhaps the pinnacle event in 2014 for "Me" was the gift of another grandchild - a special wee lad... Malcolm Justin Michael Sherman, aka "Wee Mac"... first child of my son Andrew and his wife Melissa Hill. This will be his first Thanksgiving... and our first one spent all together... in a very long time. It will certainly be an event to celebrate... and to long remember. We are all itchin' to get our hands on this "bonny lad"!

The true wonder of the "child blessing" mentioned above is the state of euphoria and pure bliss which has fallen upon my son Andrew. The joy in watching "Him" embracing his first newborn child stirs a now very distant memory of a moment in my own life journey when I too... was flooded in and "smitten" by a similar state of rapture... joy and contentment. It is the milestone marker in all human journeys. It is the karma of man and woman to bring new life into the world. There exists no comparable moment in one's journey as to sharing in such a moment in Creation.... when we hold in our hands ... someone... "created in our own likeness".

Blessings... and Bliss...all rolled into one... "We are greatly blessed" and have yet another reason this year to give thanks at the same table. And we shall...

To those members of my Family... who will be missing at the table on Sunday... know that my heart will hold you present during every moment of our celebration. You are with "Me"... always... and forever... each in a unique fashion described only by our "being"... together. I love each of you dearly!

I wish as well... to offer rich blessings to all of my blogging Friends on the eve of our Canadian Thanksgiving celebration... no matter where you live. You too, are on my own list of personal daily blessings. Reaching out in this way across the vast distance(s) between us is a privilege. It brings great joy and purpose into my day and life.You encourage me to strive for growth and further increase in my own artistic expression. You are all indeed catalysts of change in my outlook... and painting process... simply because you stir me to think... to paint... to write and to release my ideas to the world. And "I"... am better for that! Thank you all!!

Rich blessings ... and Good Painting... to ALL!
Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish to share a few photos... Thanksgiving "Allsorts" which encapsulate my sense of Joy... as I write today.

"Latched on"... for life!...  Male breast feeding!

"He" leadeth "Me" beside still waters... it restoreth my soul.... " Blessings... and pure Bliss!

 "Bounteous Blessings"...
"Count your blessings... name them one by one..."

"Cold Hands... But Warm Heart"... my depiction of "Loner" at Holland Road School... not far from Rockport in January of 2001!!! Yikes!... Who'd a thunk it? Happy Thanksgiving to you, Marg and the lads Frank! See you next week!

From my full sheet "purist" watercolour days and ways of the 80's... when I walked and dreamed following in the footsteps of the iconic Andrew Wyeth... and Canadian realist icon Ken Danby. Both are passed... but their influence lives on... in the art of so many... including my own... but in my own fashion!