making an effort.

i really learned to paint when in high school under the instruction of Micheal Dente.

i learned to love expressionist and impressionist artists and most importantly it is when i learned to develope my own style of painting.

i love everything about oil painting, the smells, the feel, the mess!

i still paint atleast one major paining a year...yeah, that's not much.

(this is the painting i gave mark for christmas last year)

last week i set up a baby-proofed area so that i can start painting more. exciting.

i love to paint but most of all i love that i'm making an effort to do something i love!

chocolat.

chocolat by joanne harris

i love this book, here is why: it makes me smile, makes me feel empowered, makes me crave chocolate (although i did before and probably always will), makes me want to visit france...move to france...open a chocolaterie...

the novel tells the story of a woman who is traveling europe with her young daughter in tow. she begins to run a chocolate shop in small french town but there is more about her than meets the minds eye. the woman seems to be a whitch...you would think the story might turn hokey here but it doesn't! in fact, this aspect remains sort of a mystery because the woman never reveals herself to be any different than the towns people.
the story follows the woman's struggle to fit into the old-minded catholic town. it describes her relationship with her daughter in fantastic little glimpses of fear and joy.

the mood of the book almosts gives me the feeling i'm watching the movie amelie.

here is why you might love the book: it will probably make you smile, make you feel empowered to do something creative and crave chocolate...although who doesn't?