Ok. We don't actually sell seashells (even just typing that sentence gets my fingers in a knot!). But we did go a-walking by the seashore the other day. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and I think everyone in Vancouver decided it was time to leave the cozy comfort of their city abodes. I forget so often that we live right by the sea. As in, it's a 30 min walk away from me. And somehow I still manage to forget. But I love the sea...

I miss a lot of things about the prairies. I miss the wide open spaces, the blue skies, the miles and miles of endless field. But one thing I've never had access to so readily is the wide open ocean. It's hard to miss open space when you look out over that vastness. So in a way, the ocean makes me remember home. It makes me remember the sea of wheat that I grew up next to and it comforts me for a moment and reminds me that I'm not so far from home after all. 

I'm not so far from home, especially when home right now is the place I'm in with my Love. I remember the line from Fiddler On the Roof's, Anatevka, "...and there with my love, I'm home". Somehow it rings true on this small afternoon walk on the water. 

Sometimes when you feel like you can't do anything else, it's best to just paint. Today is one of those days...I woke up and immediately, life felt grey and I was homesick. I had a list of things to get done but have crossed nothing off the list. I feel stuck... yet somehow I feel inspired to paint valentines. Maybe it was the result of watching the latest episode of The Bachelor, or maybe it's because Valentine's Day reminds me of home. Either way, picking up the paintbrush again after a few weeks feels pretty good. Hand painted valentines are coming your way (after a few more romantic movie indulgences).