Snails Climb Trees

There is a tiny patch of forest left between a pond and tennis courts near our home. Inside the forest lives a wondrous world of snails. Each tree is covered in the chartreuse creatures. It is a like a magical snail forest. Pippi and I had the pleasure of exploring this little forest before her first day at kindergarten. I think I shall create a series of snail paintings. But after the wolf series of course. 

All my babies are in school. So very unusual. I have had a preschooler at home for 15 years now! Oh, how I love my babies. So now it is time to go crazy building my painting career, publishing all of my waiting books and saving Canadian wolves! Wish me luck.

Very excited to teach my first ZumbAtomics class tomorrow and then I start teaching Zumba at UBC next week :D

A little blown away by the cost of private voice lessons for my Tabs at the Community Music School--don't know how to get out of them now--Tabs LOVES them. Yet, how can I justify 30$ per 1/2h lesson? I thought the Community Music School would be geared for allowing the masses to learn about music. Wrong! The cost makes the school elitist :(

We Stop For Snails

Just have to write to say I have had the best morning and it is only 8 a.m.
I went on a 6 a.m. run up the back of the mountain with Fernando--all of the spring flowers are blooming, the lake was still--it was paradise.
Later, once home, I said good bye to Tabs as she headed out the front door to catch the school bus. I watched her from the living room window as she walked down the street. I noticed she stopped and put down her back pack on the side of the road. I stepped onto the balcony and called to her. She said she had found an amazing snail and was getting her camera from her back pack to photograph it (she is so like her mom). Pip and I whipped outside with my camera and here she(the snail) is above. She is so lovely. And to make the morning even better, as I was photographing the snail, my beautiful niece Anemone walked by on her way to the school bus and stopped to enjoy the snail with us :)

For the Love of Snails

Early this morning I went for a run with Fernando. For some reason I was drawn to try a new trail--one I never take in the mornings. I believe this is the reason why: the most beautiful orange and yellow snails, trying to cross the trail. The snails are native to the Okanagan and have about an inch radius. They are so beautiful. I ran home and burst through the door to grab my camera and shouted "field trip!" Pip was still asleep and my two big girls in their jammies. They threw on rubber boots and piled in the van. We arrived back at the trail in time to see the beautiful snails (they are slow movers luckily).
I love nothing more than tromping through wilderness and photographing wild life! I am so looking forward to completing my thesis so I can return to painting life.
I had a great time at Zumba again. I was born to dance. I LOVE dancing, always have.
Busy night: piano x2, soccer pics, date night (yay!) and preparing for Friday night's movie/pizza party Mist is throwing for all her newly shorn friends.
 Gotta get to work...