Mommy finally finished this painting for Finley that she started last August when Auntie Paige and Auntie Nattles came. The barely started painting sat in the garage in New Hope until we moved in February and then in Mommy's office at school until recently. Mommy has really been missing all of her creative stuff that has been packed in a pod since February and she started to get antsy to get everything ready for the new house so she finished the painting in record time.
The painting is my interpretation of Finley's favorite song, "I See the Moon," an old Bernhardt favorite. Done in the surreal style, you will see the lyrics "I see the moon and the moon sees me, down through the leaves of the old, oak tree. Please let the light that shines on me shine on the ones I love. Over the mountains, over the sea, that's where my heart is longing to be. Please let the light that shines on me, shine on the ones I love." Finley is holding Mommy's hand in the bottom-center and Daddy's hand in the top right. The fields are from Trimont and are reminders of our farm-roots and her Grandpa Tim and Grandpa Kevin. The field of wildflowers in front of the mountains is based on a photo of California wildflowers for Paige and Nanny who were there at the conceptualization of the painting and, of course, are over the mountains and people we love. The flowers are symbols for important people in Finley's life. There are cherry blossoms for Hannah in D.C., some Minnesota wildflowers and a ladyslipper, a dahlia (Mommy's favorite), and a tulip from Grandma Belva's garden for all of us here, and Wisconsin wildflowers for Auntie Jill and Uncle Josh.
Finley came to school to see the painting before it was brought home today on the last day of school. I told her what everything meant when she saw it a week or so ago. When I showed it to her today, she told me all about it and then sang the song. I think she really likes it. I'm hoping it will help her get used to her new room in a little over a week!
