Time has been flashing by in a most delightful fashion. I love, love, LOVE being back in the Okanagan Valley, particularly now that two things have sorted themselves out:

ONE) The weather... good god, the days are warm and luscious and the air is sweet and heady, and the lake is clean and refreshing. Mmmmm! Love it!

And TWO) I have a social life! A real one! I have been astounded by the way Penticton has grown over the years into an actual arts community. Ten years ago, I never would have guessed that there would be such an abundance of creative people enthusiastically shaping the community. Suddenly I am surrounded by musicians and artists and people that sing just for fun, and old friends who are newly joyful about developments in their own lives (marriages, babies, good jobs). The energy is electric.

All of this joyful enthusiasm is infecting my life in the most delightful manner. All of a sudden, I am painting again, drawing, THINKING about art; I am particularly excited about the way that one art can infiltrate another (influence? or INFILTRATE?). I painted a little canvas (see attached image- the first time I have added an image to my blog! I am so proud of myself!), and there is a bit of sheet music in the background of the image. (I can't read music, by the way; but I like the way the language of music looks). The new owner of the painting wrote a song based on the subject of the painting, and even used some of the music from the painting... and I, in my great gratitude and joy, spent hours last night drawing a portrait of the owner of the painting. There is a beautiful organic feeding, and sharing, and rhizomatic growth that occurs when creative individuals are well-met.

I am working in the local theatre-- I may have mentioned that. I'm not working enough or making enough money to cover my most basic expenses, so I am well aware that I've got to find some new sources of income post-haste. But I'm not worried... I feel like the world is working itself out in my favour. I may become the famous artist I've always wanted to be. Hey, let's be cocky about it, why not? I WILL achieve creative success in my lifetime. Why not?

:)