DONE -- times three! There were moments (hours) when it seemed a happy ending would never be reached, but the Blue & White Triptych at last came to completion the day after Canadian Thanksgiving. Let us give thanks.
So let's relax with kindred spirits and our beverages of choice and see how it all unfolded. The inspiration for the series was described when I posted the first (left-hand) panel of the threesome, "Fishing with the Blue and White Girls."
Some months later, with a sigh of relief that I'd overcome (more or less) a lot of obstacles, I celebrated the literal midpoint -- "Celebrating with the Blue and White Girls."
Since then, it's sometimes seemed that the celebrating was premature, but now many months later, "Relaxing with the Blue and White Girls" falls into place as the third and final (right-hand) panel. You can follow its evolution -- and those many What was I thinking? moments -- here.
Here's the best I could do shooting the three panels together -- meanwhile proving that no matter how amazing 21st-century cameras have become, there will always be amateur photographers. (Is there something you're supposed to do to eliminate the wavy distortion? ...like hire a photographer?)
Despite the occasional teeth-grinding, I made the final painting with a warmth of thoughts as I considered who might drop in for this relaxing tea party. (But what would we all drink, with our different preferences and only one mug and two tea cups? Maybe it would be like a chapter from Mary Poppins , where there would be more than enough cups and mugs, and the beverage poured from the small bottomless teapot would turn out to be the drink that each person liked best.)
First in the door would of course be the Original Blue & White Girl who would surely bring us something delectable to eat. Right behind her -- the first to chime in when the series was announced, "I'm a blue and white girl, too!" -- my photo artist friend whose magic camera might somehow capture the surreal multiplication of cups and mugs. And it would be so lovely once again to have a coffee date with my "Summer's Best Blend" friend, arriving with a whiff of Galiano Dark Raven Roast even though she can't enjoy it herself. And maybe my friend Durdlin would hop back from Brisbane -- she who understood my hazelnut addiction and truly knew how to take a coffee break from workday chaos.
Positioned close to the tea would be my last/best boss -- ah, memories of many compatible thoughts -- and the golden teapot. "With milk, please, but NO (shudder) lemon." And maybe her teenaged daughter -- who, at age 8, taught me how to fan napkins -- might whiz in for a quick London Fog.
While I'm savouring the spirits of this small corner just off Memory Lane, my mom's spirit would be there, too. She loved the hydrangeas of her native Charleston and was astonished to see them blooming here in Vancouver.
The blue hydrangea flowers have faded now and turned to pink, but this whole excursion has been a great adventure -- a real trip.
