Opportunity

Violets Oil 9 x 12

Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. ~William Arthur Ward

Dear friends of mine rarely use the word "problem," preferring to use "opportunity." While using this word switch tends to keep the conversation more positive, the truth is that our opportunities do come out of our difficulties. Not always what I want to hear, but it is the truth

Nobody ever promised me a rose garden. The roses I grow in my yard, I had to plant and nurture myself. Since growing them has been a learning experience, I have lost some. The cold froze off the top graft leaving the root stock which produced wild growth and "undesirable" blooms; the mutated plants had to be dug up. Having roses is a lot of work--- that I have to do. Yet I am rewarded with the scented blooms, which touches me in a deep place. I am waiting for the day where my current "opportunities" will produce a fragrant beauty in my life.

The painting is Violets, of one of my African violets. It was tricky painting the reflection of the blooms and curtain on the glass over the landscape outside the window, and still make it believable; I don't know if I accomplished that, but I like the reflections in the pot and the feel of the bright sunny day.

Chop Wood, Carry Water: I watered the violets and house plants, poor things! I started detail cleaning the kitchen and and of course there is always the laundry.