Our Blessed Mother

All who know me know my first love is "plein aire painting". As a member of a 3 person group callled www.pleinairecottageartists.com I spend a large portion of my life outdoors.

The beautiful summer weather I love and when the heat gets too much to bear, my air-conditioned studio beckons.

Spiritual paintings are also a passion.

This painting of Our Lady of Sorrows has my late sister (Philomena Glynn Doyle) as the model. Like Our Lady my sister was a humble, gracious, kind, beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent, passionate, fair and unselfish, always wishing the best to everyone.

St Nick's Historic Street in Toronto and poor city planning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7OGQpmrQ9A&feature=related

This poem and painting were created to support "Save St. Nick's". This picturesque, historical, charming and many say 'sacred' street comprises of a row of beautiful historical cottages which adorn a red brick street in downtown Toronto. In the 1980's architects developed the property across the road from these beauties and the kind, talented, thoughtful archtiects decided to create a mirror image of the homes.

Fast forward to 2009 and greedy city planners, under the guidance of Kyle Rae have decided to allow a 6 story beautiful historical building (formerly the Jesuits) to be destroyed and to put in its place a faceless, glass condo to the height of 29 stories. Sadly the new building will overshadow and diminish the charm of this street.

More than 80 concerned citizens attended this meeting at City Hall and stated our objections and offered what we felt were solutions.

Sadly, Counsellor Kyle Rae has made up his mind to grant the builder permission to build and this was very clear that this decision was made prior to our meeting.

What saddened the 80 concerned citizens was the lack of respect for our time and for wasting a morning. 80 persons times 4 hours. =320 hrs of lost time.
I have uploaded my painting of St. Nicks street and the accompanying poem

Youghal Ireland

A store on Main Street, Youghal

Our View from the breakfast room

Our Living Room - tall ceilings, waterford crystal custom chandelier

Painting from the Old Monastery is an absolute pleasure. I feel I could spend one month here and still have new vistas. The town of Youghal (pronounced Yawl) has many wonderful restaurants. Ahern's seafood chowder is the best I have tasted. Ballymaloe Cooking school is about 20 miles away and lunch there is delicious - organic dishes cooked under the watchful eye of Darina Allen.