Rain, rain, rain. 25 degrees warmer than our minus teens of last week, and what a relief! Gord got bone-chilled and lay shivering under a heapful of covers that last night at the hotel in Toronto. He's slept a lot on our return, made a fire tonight as he works in his studio on new designs for his 2010 project. Jaz flies home from Montreal this evening with Tim, and I'm still receiving Christmas cards from family. In front of a flickering fire, Spaffy curls up even as Toronto and Niagara are getting buried in snow, and Paddy Parr wrote today. I only met her once, but it felt like I was hearing from an old friend. Her confiscated paintings are . . . changing. "The large one on the tree, is turning to 'lace' most amazingly!!" she said.

I played squash early today. Although I'm still buried under all those receipts, I did send out some envelopes yesterday and today. There's been no usual Let Down, just determination to get through this necessary sorting of expenses, etc. I really like snow, but we missed the skies opening with our exit West, and even though our paintings have been dismantled, the internet is alive with Paintings Below Zero. It's wonderful to see what other's have seen.

Here are two photos from sjgardiner on flickr.com and we have been included in the 'art and photography' blogroll on publicbroadcasting.ca! Last week, Paintings Below Zero was featured in 'artist spotlight' at http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/visarts/


Here's another, this time from Maria, from her blog called Adventures in Downtown Toronto.

This one from ComeUnDone, with a link to Now Publicnews: Toronto Knows Winter.

Tomorrow, steps towards my April tour in Nova Scotia. News! My short story, "Catholic Love" will be published in Fiddlehead's spring issue. It's almost Valentine's Day. I got a red chocolate heart from Gord, and Lisa sent me an e-card about love!