Blizzards, magnolia, stormy seas, and feet

Dear Sarah - Day 88 of our daily drawing exchange

March 29, 2025
Hi Nikki,

I can't believe we are almost at 90 days!! Pretty amazing, don't you think? Everywhere I go, I see things that I'd like to draw: the funky cafe I was in this morning, the magnolias blooming (see attached). I'm going to try drawing the magnolia soon, but today I thought I should do another lesson in the online course I bought.

Alas, I am not finding the course enthralling, so I shut it off and did a drawing based on a photo I took of a storm over the Olympics, with Trial Island in the foreground. Draw what you love, right? And I love the coast. I blocked it out first, then filled it in with soft pencils (your fave) and various kinds of charcoal. I did it in a small sketchbook, so that I wouldn't be overwhelmed by trying to get the scale right. The sun was shining on the mountains, and I couldn't figure out how to capture that, but I still like the drawing.

XO Sarah

Hello!

Well, it would seem we are living in the same country but experiencing very different seasons… Magnolias? Sunshine? It was a full on blizzard when I left home today and a miserable drive into the city. Multiple cars and a tractor trailer truck in ditches… Arrived at my hotel and the car was encrusted with brown yucksicles.

After finishing work (you gotta’ love the way we can be so connected, even when not at home - submitted an offer for my clients in the US who are purchasing in the Bow Valley all from my hotel room office) before snacking, showering and setting up my drawing pad in bed.

What to draw? Well, what was in front of me? My feet. What ugly appendages they are. That said, note how nice and straight the right big toe is - that’s the one with the permanent rod driven through the joint, the one that underwent fusion surgery a couple of years ago. The left one will need to be done one day, but for now, it isn’t giving me too much grief so I’m leaving well enough alone.

I am hoping we don’t get too much more snow tomorrow - while we desperately need the precipitation, I have a couple of appointments I need to keep and slithering around on the roads is not much fun.

Enjoy the flowers!! Dani said she and Toryn went to Butchart Gardens today and it was glorious. They have annual passes and go often, sending me photos that make me fill slightly ill. While I do not miss the endless, dreary grey skies and abundant rainfall of Vancouver Island, I do miss the exuberant growth of all things. Magnolias.

This was the view from my deck this morning - more snow fell after I took this. Note the gorgeous view of the mountains… oh. Wait. Never mind.

The mountains, when they reappear, will look stunning freshly decked out in crisp white snow. I’ll send a photo next week for contrast.

See you tomorrow!

Nikki