I'm back

 After that 6 day break, which as readers, you needed as recovery time from the concern and all the translation of weights, measures and finance regarding certain vegetables. 

So today the sun is shining again as it works on fast-melt snow.  It has been below freezing here for several days and more in keeping with one's perception of Canadian winter climate. I did not venture out; I did not paint in the garage because it was too cold,; figure drawing was cancelled and so was the trip to down town Victoria. A quiet few days.

However, i worked on my reading skills, watching Acorn TV (some good dramas) and making simple meals that might be repetitive and even boring but did the job. I did some work on integrating an online "yogaesque" Program into my routine but I still a long way to go. 

The snow left fascinating evidence of the animal population and now i need to find info about identifying those various foot and hoof prints. Apart from that, the local buck white tail  deer seems to show up frequently . Not sure I mentioned before but the local variety has a much shorter tail, presenting as a genetic defect or difference from those in VA.  One evening at dusk i watched the deer,  that has a rack of at least 8 points,  walk across the grass and stand beside  a tree on what presented as  high point in the garden. The deer positioned itself to face something like north/south and held its head up looking straight ahead for about 30 minutes, not the slightest movement at all. I was surprised because i thought most animals were constantly checking around them for safety . Watching this deer reminded me me of that shot in the movie about The Queen in her landrover in Scotland where she regards the deer the deer as an animal to be revered.The metaphor we noted was the beauty of this creature was likened to princess Diana. Later in that movie we see that deer strung up after it has been been killed.  This deer also made me think of the way it stood so still ,as if posing for a figure drawing session.

Two days ago the neighbour very kindly took to the much revered bakery, stuffed with lots of really tasty looking goods. I decided to stay a while and have coffee and something to eat as breakfast. From there I trailed my way around the region by short bus rides and very long waits and sometimes walks to move me through the day. The ultimate purpose of travel was to track down a thrift store to buy a painting shirt , a glass or metal tray that could be a paint palette, a spray bottle to keep acrylics from drying and bag clips that could double as bulldog clips to hold paper on a drawing board. 

Mission accomplished;  all I needed to do next find a sandwich for lunch and  return to home. Lunch was okay at the Fountain cafe . A sandwich served  with fries and coffee is an amazingly pink minnie mouse mug. Walking to find buses and then waiting up to 40 minutes can and does loose its novelty value , especially at below 0 degrees!!! 

Eventually, (i had been out 7 hours in total) the bus was nearing my stop at the bottom of the hill at the house. i pressed the bell requesting the stop and the driver just kept on going . Up the hill round the corner and the next stop at least 1/2 mile away . This was not a good day for me and the transit system.

The plus for me on this day was finding that despite my own lose of confidence to navigate apps and other aspects of technology that insist on presenting themselves with variable words to mean the same thing, I can do stuff. I can go to You Tube like Amenie suggested to find most pieces of info; i can have a  phone call with an airline or car rental person and gather information, i can make clear and well considered plans; I can also book an airline ticket, travel to a new place by air, train or car ; make my own  introductions and express myself with whole sentences about many subjects. Some of those subjects are tough and require a sense of resilience when it comes to recent events.  But I AM HERE  AND I can do this.

PS I even made a frittata in the new air fryer !

lunch

fern and snow is a great pairing

bark of the regional arbutus tree

pen, ink and watercolour fuccshia 

the buck

my one path through snow to the road

deer posing at dusk