As They Drive Away, I Settle In!

off they go!

© Nicki Ault, 2016

I rarely make blog posts that don't involve showing you a painting, but today is an exception. I am on holidays! Like actual holidays. Like holidays from real day-in-and-day-out life as I know it!

You see, I have four days at the cabin to myself. My family was with me on the weekend, but they left for home yesterday and I stayed behind. Don't get me wrong, I will miss them. I love my boys. But I am embracing the quiet. And, people, it is quiet. Not silent, but quiet. There is nobody arguing about who is sitting too close to who on the couch, or making poop and fart jokes (when does that end?), or squirting water from a water bottle at an unsuspecting brother, or not answering me when I ask a question (cue husband). The cabin is tidy; I cleaned right after they left and it will stay like this. And I am not responsible for feeding anyone. Just me. And there are enough cooks in the restaurants up here who would like to feed me that I may just take advantage of that!

As I type this morning, I am sitting on the deck lake in my jammies and fleece jacket (it is a bit cool), drinking coffee (unfortunately I make a lousy cup of joe) and listening to trees rustle, birds chirp, and people jog and bike by (probably what I should be doing instead of blogging). I feel calm and relaxed. This is what I needed. For awhile now I knew I needed something and now I know what. I needed me. The me that is the other side of being a wife and mother. The me I used to find at the Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus. The me that slowly gets tucked away in the daily operations of life.

Yesterday afternoon, when my holiday got underway, I gassed up the van and took a drive to McPhee Lake, the Waskesiu River and a few other scenic places I enjoy. In the evening I set up and began painting for an upcoming show- more to come on this exciting opportunity.

my lake studio

© Nicki Ault, 2016

I felt giddy and silly. I rarely take selfies, but last night the mood struck.

no make-up, no hair product, no worries

© Nicki Ault, 2016

awkward angle back of head selfie

© Nicki Ault, 2016

looking up at the trees from the deck

© Nicki Ault, 2016

blurry, starting-to-lose-my-light shot

© Nicki Ault, 2016

end of evening fire pot

© Nicki Ault, 2016

I will get the paintings I need for this particular show done today and tomorrow because they have to dry in time for shipping, then I will get my little boards out and go on a few painting adventures! Please come back to see what comes of my holiday!