Thinking

While trying to come to grips with losing Lucy I'm taking time to look at my life and see if I'm really making the most of my time, in both work AND pleasure.

LIFE IS SHORT! It passes in a flash. Did we really have her in our lives for 18 years? I think of all the changes we went through while she was with us.

My friend Donna loaned me a book, "A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolrick which I'm enjoying sitting the the sun today. I NEVER do that!!!

I've read reviews that went both ways but right now I am really enjoying the way it is written. Why I mention it here is I do need to take more time to do what I love, we all do. For me it's reading, painting, drawing, designing, and traveling.

I am quoting a line from the book here - where Catherine is talking about beginnings and endings - "The beginnings were sweet, the endings were usually bitter, but the middles were only the tightrope you walked between the one and the other."

Hmmm.

It really needs to be a lot more than a tightrope! It needs to be a beautiful path you follow I think.

I also just read a blog posting about simplifying your work day, so you have more time to have a life.

13 small things to simplify your workday

1. Start early.
   
2. Limit your hours.
   
3. Make a short list.
   
4. Batch distractions.
5. Limit meetings.
6. Automate.
   
7. Eliminate paperwork.
   
8. Clear your desk.
   
9. Get away.
   
10. Take breathing breaks.
    
11. Practice a focus ritual.
12. Schedule big blocks of creative time.
    

To read more about each of these things and how to do them go to the Blog Zen Habits. Thanks Susan for sending this!

Now I've got to go paint a picture and glaze some pottery.

Lucy Fur Francoeur

It was a sad day in New Bern today.

Our Lucy died.

She lived with us for 18 years and had many close calls. In October we were told she had kidney failure and a list of other ailments, all which were life threatening.

They said she could live weeks so in her usual fashion (she was one tough kitty) she was with us another six months. Fortunately it was only the past week that she really seemed to be ready to go.

The house really seems empty tonight with both of our babies gone.

Bridge Opening Celebration

Here are some photos of Downtown merchants walking the new bridge just before it was opened. We are thrilled to have it back.

Photos by Lou Plummer.

Thanks Lou!

A Well Deserved Vacation

Michael and I spent last week in Key West. We had a great time.

We read, hung out, took pictures and generally just vegged.

Mike Rooney and I painted one day in Downtown Key West and on Stock Island. Here's a photo of Mike painting.

We stayed at the ShipYard Condos in Truman Annex. It was like an oasis in the midst of all the chaos. Key West is a lot of fun but what I really love is the beauty of Key West, the architecture and the flora & fauna.

Here are a few photos I took, some I'll do paintings of.

Now we're both rested up and ready to get back to work.

We were glad to drive across the bridge when we got home. I got a great shot of town from the airplane when we were getting ready to land.

I've got a show at Carolina Creations coming up in September so I need to get busy painting!

Finally!!

The main entrance to our downtown, the Alfred Cunningham Bridge, has been closed for 34 months.

During that time we have had the worst recession since the great depression, Broad Street, the 2nd main entrance to our downtown, was under construction for almost a year, and this year we've had the worst winter anyone can remember.

And we survived!! Whew.

Our new bridge opens tomorrow!! I can't wait to start a new painting of it. Even though it structurally isn't as interesting as the old one, the fact that it has light poles like those we have downtown and will have flags with a back drop like our skyline it can't be anything but beautiful.

I'll post more photos once the bridge is actually open.

Douglas Hoover

We've just gotten some great new work in by North Carolina artist Douglas Hoover!

Douglas says about his work. "My passion is observing and capturing momentary impressions of life around me. These moments are what makes up the perception of my existence. Infusing these concepts with elements of impressionistic style, good composition and brilliant color, allows me to capture the feeling of the moment. I want to paint what I see, but more than that, I want feeling and truth to become the subject of my paintings."

To see more of his work, sizes and prices visit our website by clicking here or better yet stop in and see them in real life.

New Bern Spring Home Tour

For the ?? year in a row my artwork is featured on the Spring Historic Homes and Garden Tour poster and brochure in our town.

New Bern is celebrating its 300th Anniversary this year so this will be a great year to come visit and no better time than the beginning of April.

If you're not from here our area is STUNNING this time of the year with the azaleas and dogwood in bloom. It is like a picture postcard.

The date of the Tour is April 9 & 10.

As has been our pleasure for the past 4 or 5 years we will host a reception on Friday evening, April 9 from 5-7. I will be signing prints of the art work and we'll have refreshments too.

The prints are also on sale on our website.

You can see the sizes and prices by clicking here.

You can purchase tickets for the tour online by clicking here.

Hope you can come! Jan Francoeur

New work wall sculptures

It seems I've spent the past two months going to shows, doing taxes, advertising, inventory, and not much art work.

I've been dreaming about doing more sculpture but don't have a lot of time right now so decided to do some small wall hangings. This is what I came up with and I'm kind of excited about it.

They are still wet and will take a week or so to dry, then I have to figure out how to glaze them.