Spring Runoff near the Village Inn

I painted this morning sitting near the Village Inn here at Manitou Beach.  This rock formation was created last year as part of a major overhaul of the beach front needed to deal with the increase of water coming into the lake.  The result was we gained a lovely water feature complete with a Fred Flintstone type of bridge spanning over the creek.  A nice place to be, our family installed a bench in memory of our sister Angelene Tysseland who passed away last winter. 

Lao tzu

Life has an amazing way of being.  Last Saturday Crystal and I met with Leisel, the daughter of our dearly departed Angelene Tysseland.  We had the opportunity to go through some of Angelenes books and papers and keep or borrow what we liked.  I came across a number of books that resonated with me, one of them being Lao Tzu's "Way of Life".  For those who are not aware, this man lived around 604 BC and his words resonate with a profound relevance in this day and age.  I have since re-read it twice and intend to continue doing so because his message speaks so strongly to me and clarifies so much that seems murky about life today.  Please read this small poem as an example.  I appreciate that it might not mean as much to the next person at this time as it does to me.  Nevertheless, it is a profoundly simple and strong message.

As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone,

So to yield with life solves the insoluble:

To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.

But this unworded lesson,

This easy example,

Is lost among men.

                                                                                                               Lao Tzu  604 BC

I am amazed that this man, who lived 2615 years ago, possessed such common sense knowledge that the majority of the earths inhabitants lack today.  Why is this so? All of us are so out of touch with life, with life as it should be.  The great events happening today can be a lesson on the right way to live. Thank you, Angie, for the book.  I know that you read it many times, judging by all the footnotes I have come across and I now know that your latest Cantata "Labyrinth" had its roots there as well.

Waters of Life

Tumbling Waters

Something amazing happened the other day at the funeral service for Angie Tysseland in the stunning 3rd Avenue United Church.  Family and friends remembered her in song and word where many people were so overcome that they couldn't sing and others poured out their hearts in soulful performances.  Angies brother Scott spoke of his sister in a manner that made people laugh put them at ease and Nick Nostbakken gave his mother a send off worthy of speakers like Obama or Winston Churchill.  Where does this strength come from?  I know that Angie is a great composer but I always come away from performances of her music with a stronger belief that it is destined for greater audiences.  We will miss you.

Celebration of a Life Lived

The Red Umbrella

Tomorrow, starting at 10 am, many people will gather to celebrate the life and music of my sister in law Angie Tysseland.  We will gather at 3rd Avenue United Church in Saskatoon and remember an amazing women who had a great musical talent.  I commented to my wife Crystal yesterday how my grief could be compared to an ocean of waves, the big ones crashing over  and overwhelming you with wild emotion, never knowing when they will overtake you.  This oil painting I have posted is a plein air I painted near the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon while Crystal was with Angie for her first Chemo treatments.  It is a wonder how memories come back, much like the ocean waves I have spoken of.  If you care to, please come tomorrow and help us celebrate Angies life and accomplishments!

Going to Sleep

Winter Birches

Crystal and I just came back from Saskatoon where we visited her sister Angeline, who is dying from Ovarian Cancer.  It goes without saying that it is a sad thing to witness, such a vibrant personality laying in that bed.  She has been writing a book, for God's sake, in between chemo and radiation treatments and is fretting now because she feels she might not be able to finish it in "time".  She told me I would be the first to read it as I guessed the geographical location part of it is based on.  This painting, a watercolour of birch trees in early winter,  kind of sums up my day today.  Faded glory but still very beautiful, maybe even more so.  Love you Angie.

Pausing to Notice

With every passing day it is becoming more apparent to me that one must live their life moment by moment, such is the preciousness of the gift of life. I know so many people that are holding on to life by a mere thread, their courageousness astounds me. I think of my sister in law Angeline Tysseland and her life with Ovarian cancer. My friend Brenda and her life with cancer. My Dad and his life with Dementia. Then there are those who have lost their partners, Carol Harrison from Winnipeg lost her husband Earl just recently. The wonderful photographer Courtney Milne is no longer with us. Do what you have to do to be happy now, just don't hurt anyone in the process. My painting of these lilies came from a small body of water just off of Highway # 85, near Madge Lake, SK.