A few years back, my sis and her hubby took a trip to Madagascar. They came back with some amazing pictures, and I begged her to let me paint one specifically. It had this thread of exotic and familiar all at the same time. While it may be from Madagascar, I felt it could be anywhere in Europe in a time gone by. The big, beautiful flowers are the tell tale sign that it’s somewhere, well, not in Wyoming!
Yet, a lot of people who know my family in this small community have asked if it was a painting of my dad. It isn’t, but my subconscious may have been influencing me more than I had realized. Another sis shared this picture recently of our dad (with my super-cute nephew).
My dad holds a spot in my heart that no one else does. He was the one who took me on my first horse rides, who corrected our English (he’s fluent in French as well), who stayed up late almost every night when all seven of his daughters were going through their tumultuous teenage years, talking with and guiding us. Even at that age I would proudly talk about him to my peers. When we won our state basketball championship, and we needed an escort for the celebration assembly, many of my teammates were wondering what cute boys they could ask. I just wanted my dad to walk by me. And he’s spent his whole life working in this barn, milking those cows day in and day out. My goodness, I love him. In a very real and quiet way, he showed me what a good man is, and I think that’s why I picked the great husband that I have.
I’ll let you decide if he influenced my painting…….
I’ll keep rotating my paintings through this blog every now and again. I know many of you have seen them, but the followers of this blog are steadily growing, and I like all the new visitors/followers/friends to see them as well.
After I write a post like this, I feel the connection I have to the painting. While I hesitate a little, because part of my heart is in all of my work, I want you to know that this painting is for sale. If you are interested, send me a message via my contact page.

I am impressed with anyone who can milk a cow and raise daughters. We only have one girl and we are in the midst of the teen age years. Not easy. I am doing my best to guide gently and lovingly. I just walk in faith.
Your painting is lovely. I know you will sell it…..to an appreciative buyer.
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