I had to take yesterday a bit easier after working on glue removal with my mom on Tuesday. It’s not that it’s physically demanding, but the process requires a repetitive motion while kneeling on the floor. That means everything hurts after you work on it for an hour or two! Your hands, shoulders, knees, back, and hips are all complaining. It worked itself out and I wasn’t as stiff as I initially thought I would be, but I still needed to give myself a break! We’ve had some lovely early Spring weather, though, and that’s gotten me out on some longer walks, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.
Here are my four things for the week…
what I’m reading
I recently bought the newly-released Gustave Caillebotte Painting Men and it’s an excellent book about his work. He really was revolutionary when it came to painting ordinary people and even working people, going about their daily lives. One of his best-known works, The Floor Scrapers, is a wonderful example of that. I realized when I selected this image to feature from the book that I can sympathize after all of my carpet-glue-scraping! I’m definitely not going to relive that in an oil painting when I’m done.
Anyway, if you like Caillebott’s work, this is a wonderful book to check out at the library or add to your wishlist.
what i’m watching
I go through watching Jane Austen movies and series about once a year. I just enjoy them so much! Jeff and I recently rewatched the 2008 BBC series Sense & Sensibility and there are so many things I love about it. The costuming is beautiful, the casting of Eleanor and Maryanne is perfection (even when stacked up against Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet), and it gets a little deeper into the story than the 1995 movie. I also love their little cottage by the sea and how they decorate it with watercolor sketches and garlands made with twine and seashells.
If you haven’t seen it, before, I would recommend it. There are a few things I could critique, but it’s very good and worth watching. It’s available on Amazon Prime HERE.
what I’m loving
“The humblest task gets beautified if loving hands do them.” – Louisa May Alcott
I happened to read this quote the day after steaming and scraping carpet glue and it somehow seemed fitting. While it’ll be satisfying and rewarding to have completed, it’s a job that doesn’t feel at all beautiful. But, I’m doing it because I love our home, even the carpet-glue-covered basement floor, and I want to make it the best we can. This quote was a good reminder that there is beauty in that.
what I’m working on
Among other things, I am trying to knock out as many pet commission paintings as possible before we head to the beach in a week! Here are a few of my most recent paintings…
9 Responses
I love both version of Sense and Sensibility so much. They’re different enough that it’s not like a poor copy or a dated version. They both speak to me in their own way.
April Cornell has been selling a dress very much like the one Eleanor is wearing in this photo. I’ve been tempted to purchase.
Also, meant to share the other day, but my comment didn’t pass the sniff test, if you ever want a quick(ish) read, Nick Cave has a blog called the Red Hand Diaries. People write in with questions and he converses with thoughtful and philosophical answers. Since you quoted him, I thought you’d be interested.
I also love that version of Sense and Sensibility…except for the massive spoiler in the opening scene!!! Other than that, it is a lovely film to watch.
If you haven’t already, try Persuasion with Dakota Johnson on Netflix and Death Comes To Pemberley (a continuation of Pride and Prejudice) on Amazon Prime both excellent!
I’ve already watched both! Love both!
Your pet portraits are beautiful! I would love to commission one but couldn’t find the form to start the process.
I am so glad you mention Sense & Sensibility-also my favored version. I don’t have Prime but do have every Jane Austen movie on DVD and I think I will put it on tonight.
Sorry, Melissa! We used to use a form, but I switched it to having requests e-mailed to me directly. I updated the text and you can find all of the details here -https://missmustardseed.com/commissioned-painting/
Oh!!!! Marion!!! You really have a talent for the pet paintings. That first Carin terrier (?) is pure perfection! I think they would be a lot of fun to do also. All your paintings are wonderful but I love the pets the most. You capture the heart of their soul.
I spent a Sunday afternoon last year watching every version of Sense & Sensibility I could get my hands on (on Prime). Each version has a different strength and a different feel. I do agree that the 2008 version is excellent. But the scenery & photography of the Emma Thompson version is just spellbinding! The pet portraits are so evocative ! It just goes to show how much we love our fur babies!
Wonderful job on those pet paintings. And I, too, watch the BBC versions of JA’s every year at least once.