Not a Coincidence - art goes viral

Image:  Watercolor:  "Rhubarb is Up" - Melanie Elliott - artist

I am a firm believer that coincidences don't happen.  This interpretation to unexplained sync. events leads me to reflect upon a "happening" in which my art experience went "viral".....all because I had inadvertently pushed a button to "post" on my Facebook site.  Under the category of "photos" I had every intention to utilize this Facebook benefit as a space to store my artwork.  Never in a million years did I think that the word "post", in this exercise, would  engage the sharing of my work with many, many individuals.

     Well the cat is now out of the bag and my artwork is global.  The feedback I have received has been mind boggling and have touched the inner core of my heart.  I am elated !!!

      Messages upon messages from dear friends and absolute strangers have been received.  Several of the feedback messages have spoken to the fact that my artwork is very much like Melodie's (late twin).  Receiving messages of this nature have been well-received and indeed heartwarming in the truest of senses.

      With all this positive and energy filled messages, I now have every reason to believe that my work has now reached a level in which I can return to selling it on E-bay.  I gathered up several paintings and have listed them for sale.  Since Melodie's passing, I have not been selling on e-bay for fear that I would not be able to accurately post them......such a waste of energy as the format of E-bay has improved in leaps and bounds.....so much so,  that I am now very motivated to once again become a regular contributor of art to sell.

     To all of those who have been so generous with incredible feedback of my artwork, please know that you have contributed to my moving ahead within the scope of my gift to paint.

      I recall Mum telling me that her Mother - my precious Grandmother did not actively exercise her artistic gift until she was 70 years of age.....it would seem I am before her time only by a matter of 4 years. 

       Thank you Gram for being a grand role model.

Faulkenham History Moment

"A View of Halifax 1751 (sketch)This is the scene Carl C. Falkenhaym viewed as the ship entered the port of Halifax.....docking would end their hardships on the high seas on board "The Gale".

(excuse spelling and grammar - author visually limited)

The Falkenhayn name has 28 spellings
 in Nova Scotia and all are related to the same ancestor whose name was spelt "Falkenhayn".

Carl C. Falkenhayn is listed on the ships list as a pelty worker.  It is my experience that  other Falkenhayns, with a different spelling, are very reluctant to allow themselves ownership of their history.  There has been debate as to the meaning of the word "peltry".  My research enables me to speak to the word and explain that it described the activity of one who seeks and prepares pelts....a necessary and essential trade and product that would be required by all.    One who works with pelts is a peltier.

      In the 1750's immigrants were in need of bartering for pelts from native Indians and the fur trade in Canada began because man Europeans wanted these furs.
     Indeed, when the year of which this family arrived and settled in the province of Nova Scotia gave them the title of being "Founding Fathers".

Midst researching this family's journey, I felt myself in absolute awe when viewing the actual deed of land that the province offered in the Falkenhayn effort to increase population which, through, taxes would assist in the province debt.  Farm land in the county of Lunenburg was the location assigned to these Protestant Loyalists.

Falkenhayn propriety is now the location of the "Three Churches" in the town of Mahone Bay.  This is spectacular propriety and encourage you take a moment to have a gander....Google "Three churches, Mahone Bay".

These immigrants left their homeland to explore and participate in a journey to Nova Scotia where they would be "given" eleven acre plots of land for farming purposes.  With the failure of crops due to the fact that the area of the south shore is very sparse and growing on the top layers of granite.

Several families endured the restrictions and others settled in the Annapolis Valley where they could successfully farm (as did the Falkenhayns).  A minority of immigrants went to sea or moved to the northeast region of the United States (Maine, Mass.).

My activity and awareness of family stories dictated hours of research.  In one particular research, in the Nova Scotia Archives, I found the original deed of land offered to Carl Fakenhayn.  I do not recall ever being so moved by this discovery.

I encourage you to have a good look at your family as there is, without doubt, surprises ... if you embrace the opportunity you will be providing your family a gift of exception.

Keep posted
Melanie Elliott
carpe.diem@ns.sympatico.ca
(daughter of Frances Evelyn (nee Faulkenham) Elliott