A place to show my love for my granddaughter who lives with Cerebral Palsy and my passion for painting. In an effort of raising awareness for C.P. every painting brush stroke I make on raw canvas is a stroke of love, as I discretely paint a green C.P. awareness ribbon in every piece. Can you find them?
Do you know someone who would like to have a painting done? email www.harrold.janet@gmail.com

Monday, April 26, 2010


Hailey "gets it" I know she does!





It's springtime here and there are so many beautiful trees in bloom right now. A nice time to share this story with you. On Wednesdays I take Hailey swimming and on our ride to the pool we usually sing and clap to a custom C.D that a friend made of children's favorites. Last week I turned the music down and pointed to all of the different colored trees that currently line the city streets, (also a nice way to review and learn colors with Hailey) pink Cherry blossom, white Dogwood, Flowering crab apple etc.etc. Because Hailey can't always take part in the same things that other children are taking part it, I think it is important for her to notice the simple yet beautiful things that mother nature has to offer. Sometimes while talking or explaining something to Hailey, she smiles with acknowledgement and other times Hailey has less expression on her face and seems to be in a daze or she just looks right through me. I'm never quite sure if she understands me or not.
This Sunday while my husband and I were taking Hailey to the Trailside Museum, I noticed out of the corner of my eye Hailey casually lifting up her right hand, her arm stretched towards the front windshield (because Hailey is non verbal she typically points in the direction of what she wants) I look back and see her smiling, but still i'm uncertain of what she is trying to say at this point. Another minute goes by and Hailey extends her left arm, (I'm still oblivious) Hailey then lifts her right arm again, this time I get it. Hailey is telling me to look at all the pretty trees. I just smile from ear to ear because I know that Hailey gets it, she really gets it!

Monday, April 12, 2010


"Cafe World"
30 x 40
oil on canvas
for purchase information
email harrold.janet@gmail.com

"Anxiously Waiting"


8 x 8 oil on panel
$50.00
A few people have e mailed me asking why I haven't posted any new paintings recently on my blog, It seems as though I may have a few separate audiences, 1 audience follows my blog for my art work and another for Hailey's progress, and some of you enjoy both. Well I don't want to forget that I am painting for a cause so I painted an 8x8 panel for your viewing this morning, you should know that when I am not working, I like to spend quality time with Hailey and when I am not with Hailey, I am probably painting. I recently finished a commissioned piece (a sailboat) as well as a rather large painting of chef's that will hopefully be hanging among some of my other work at "Ledge" a fairly new restaurant in the Lower Mills section of Dorchester. This will probably be hanging some time next week for 4-6 weeks. If your in the neighborhood stop by and have a bite to eat. The menu at The Ledge features mostly traditional American cuisine and pub grub. I am also working on 2 other commissions from a couple of co-workers. So believe me I have been busy. People ask me where I find the time to paint. Well, I find myself painting late at night and sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, If I weren't painting for such a worthy cause, I would probably give it a break, but "where love is deep, much can be accomplished" as long as people are willing to help out either by purchasing a painting or by letting me get my work out there on the walls of businesses, I'm going to get it done. Enough about art. Let's talk about Hailey...this morning (after I finished my painting) we brought Hailey to her doctor's appointment, that is never, ever an easy task, she absolutely hates it and fears it, crying the whole time, I really wish we could ease her anxiety. (If any of my fellow bloggers have any tricks on making these visits easier please comment below) After that we went for a walk in Olmsted Park, part of the Emerald Necklace. Hailey likes to walk there, Natalie says she likes to see the damn and the geese, so that is where we went today and on the way back home we had to walk past the playground and Hailey extended her arm and pointed towards the slide. The little dare devil that she is, she gets mad if Natalie goes down the slide with her. So with Mama up at the top and Grammy playing catcher, down she goes with a grin from ear to ear. My heart skips a beat, but Hailey just signs for more.