Christmas is arriving in a big hurry. Most of the Christmas notes have been sent to our Painter and Poet collectors. I treasure all the warm connections to family, friends and you who appreciate our painting and poetry. You fill our hearts with gratitude.
Before I was born, and prior to the "great depression" over 80 years ago, my mother grew a Christmas cactus. As a young girl I remember admiring it blooming in the living room of our Ohio farm home. My mother had a "green thumb" and her plants thrived. When I had my own home she gave me cuttings from this cactus and I enjoyed taking care of them, but none of them lived for years and years like hers did, until..... at the age of 95 she came to live with us, and along with her came some of her plants including her cactus pictured above. That was over 25 years ago and Ward and I now still have the same cactus she started so many years ago. Several times it became "sick" but it always "pulled through".
Mother's Christmas Cactuis" seems very happy in my studio, a room with lots of light. And right now, it is blooming. I took this photo several days ago so I could better share its story with you.. "Mother's Christmas Cactus" prints and note cards may be found on our web site in both the Christmas series and the Floral series.
Studio Update: We have just finished installing a new credit card processing program for phone and gallery orders.- now we are fully compliant with upcoming credit card safeguards. In our gallery and over the phone we are now able to accept 4 major cards - Visa, MC, Discover and American Express, as well as personal checks and money orders. While on our web site, we accept PayPal.
Since our last blog, I've finished another large commission and will post a photo after it has been delivered. Within a day or two, I'll be starting another house painting - a cozy fall scene on a brick street.
After Christmas, my oldest grandson, Michael, - and his girlfriend. will be visiting us on their way back to school. Am hoping to find time to paint a small watercolor from an awesome wooded fall scene that Michael photographed in Germany several years ago. When the painting is done, I'll share photos with you. One of my "hopeful" goals for this winter is to work toward painting a small watercolor for each of my grandchildren.
In my life as an artist, the lines between art and family continually blur. And I will be moving back and forth between painting and family life. Probably some paintings won't be done when I had hoped, and some Christmas notes will become New Year's notes. But Ward and I are thrilled to be happily busy - as oldsters "enjoying the journey".
We wish you blessings and peace and joy at this remarkable time of year
******************************************************************************************
Visit our web site www.painterandpoet.com to look through a wide variety of prints, note cards and books. We nake it easy for you to purchase with a check or money order - or using our shopping cart and pay/pal or other credit cards. Free shipping within the 48 states - email us for charges outside this area. Phone orders welcome. Ask for Esther at 574-842-8888. Email us at: info@painterandpoet.com
If you subscribe to our blog, it will be sent to you automatically. To go directly to our blog, enter this link: www.painterandpoet.blogspot.com
Painter and Poet Gallery hours: Friday and Saturday 10 till 5. Sunday afternoon 12 till 4. And by appointment or chance.
For awesome and continually updated Culver info go to www.maxinkuckee.com and to Culver's official Chamber of Commerce web site: www.culverchamber.com
