I'm Happy

This is a small encaustic piece, Largo, that's just been accepted into the area Oil, Pastel, and Acrylic Group juried Brustrokes show. OPAG, thankfully, includes encaustics as well as mixed media in their group. The organization is part of San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, but the exhibit will be hung at Art Center Morro Bay in late July.

I enjoyed creating this piece - in part because I've included violin scores from one of Mother's old books. I've used her music several times, but this is one of the more successful results. As you can probably see, the painting was done on four permanently joined wood panels.

I'll be eager to see what else is in the show.

Writers Group

My writing group meets at my house tonight. Somehow lately I haven't made much time to write. But here's my stab at following a prompt I gave the group:

Summer Tapestry

Threads of light weave
A tapestry of red, orange and blue
Through the morning sky

Yielding as streams of hot yellow
Bake the homeward path
I walk at mid-day

And after bold blue splashes
Soak lawns, gardens, porches
And children in the afternoon

I hear crickets serenade
And train whistles moan
As they travel through black night

Until scents of purple clematis
Float through my window
And I sleep with sighs of satisfaction

Obviously - at least to those who know about summers in SC - Summer Tapestry prompted thoughts of the beach.

Beach Music

Waves play the cords
And seabirds squawk their tunes
While my feet beat a rhythm
In rough sand
Crunching tiny shells
Yes, humming along
In accompaniment to
Music of the shore

I'm not sure that these poems are done. Are they ever? More than likely I will work on them some more, perhaps not before the meeting.

Internet - Crazy!

I've tried to convince Papa that anyone can find us at anytime, now. Unlike me, he likes to maintain privacy. While I do certainly understand and respect his wishes, I have insisted that some of his efforts are in vain.

Today's example: I bought a kitten for Roo at the pet store. Because the shop owner and I spent too much time gabbing about how wonderful the kitten is, what food she eats, etc., I left without her vaccination information. Neither of us thought of it. Susie, the shop owner, was worried that we didn't have the info. From my name on my credit card, she looked me up on the internet and showed up at my door - papers in hand. Proved two thing - Susie is great and I am right. And I do love to be right.

I should also mention that Susie knew she would see me soon. The store is just down the street, right next to the great local bakery, Carlocks, and in the same shopping center where we go for groceries, haircuts, hardware, wrapping paper.....most everything except clothes. I take Buddy and Roo in at least once a week, and my daughter takes them in often, too. Susie sells the food Buddy needs for all his critters and her store is the next thing to heaven for a little guy who loves all creatures. Susie has a corn snake he really loves right now. So it wasn't like she couldn't give the info to us next week.

Anyway - back to the internet. Tonight I was playing around on the web to see if Art Center Morro Bay pops up more than it used to. I've been trying to create more internet visibility. Of course in doing that my name popped up more often than it used to. I found this http://kitchen-center-small-appliances.com-02.com/omega-kitchen-appliances/page/270/ (Sorry - Blogspot doesn't want to let me do the click here thing.)

I was amazed to find an article about last summer's show written by someone I don't know or know about. Interesting. Amazing.

One of my efforts at Art Center visibility is at www.arthash.com. Check that out.

Roo went to the doctor this morning to be diagnosed with strep throat. Poor Roo. But the kitten and drugs are helping.

Head Tornado

Poor Roo. Abut mid-day today she said her throat was sore and she had a headache. Then she said she was cold. She is NEVER cold. Then she crashed on the couch and showed no interest in her cupcake. Ooooh. Bad sign.

She woke with a fever. Later, when she was feeling a little better, she said she had a tornado in her head. She said storms in the head are really bad.

Tonight the wind sounds almost strong enough to be a tornado.

Hannah Who?

This is Roo in her rock star outfit. Where'd she learn to pose?

Trying Not To

So, every now an then I write a whiny post about gaining weight. I try not to do it very often. Actually, I eat mindfully, exercise, and make an effort not to even think about weight on an average day.

But sometimes heavy thoughts sneak up on me. Today was one of those times. I was invited to a clothes party - think Tupperware concept. I thought about declining the invitation, but my friend seemed to want me to come even if I didn't buy anything. Last time I went to one of those, that hostess seemed miffed that all I bought was a belt. I didn't want that scenario again.

I picked up a friend and drove up the coast to the party. I'd skipped lunch because I knew the hostess would serve excellent food. Of course she did. We all nibbled, talked recipes,then viewed the collection.

Most of the clothes were not the kind of clothes I like or can wear. But I saw a few pieces that appealed to me - all tops. Well, everyone of those vests or jackets hit at a place that showed off the biggest part of me. Our family tends to sport bubble butts. And when we age and gain, they get bigger, with a shelf effect. I hate it.

I could have bought one cute bomber style jacket that had a ruffled front. Sounds weird, but it was cute - except from my backside. To feel better, I ate a brownie. I didn't feel better, but I really enjoyed the killer brownie.

This morning I had begun a closet purge - a chore I'd been putting off. When I came home I returned to the task, going through the pile of clothes I needed to try on. Lo and behold! All the clothes I thought were questionable fit!!! Praise be!

So all is not as bad as I feared. I decided closet shopping is way better than shopping in the wrong place.

Celebrating seven - again

Last night, we gathered again at my daughter's house for Buddy to celebrate his birthday with friends. His friends? All little girls who are willing to hunt bugs with him on the school playground. Daughter picked them all up at school. Papa and I and parents came later for sliders, fruit, salad, beans, potato salad, and cake - of course. Sunday's celebration was a quiet family one. Last night was the opposite. Lots of boisterous play - well mannered chaos, if that makes sense. The daughter and son-in-law seemed to have survived nicely. I enjoyed watching the kids and eating - and eating. All good.

We took the fruit salad. That effort was almost thwarted by our nutty dog. Long story. We did make it there with salad. All's well that ends well, I suppose.

The cool part is that for favors Buddy gave each departing friend a just-hatched praying mantis and a flower planting kit. With little pots that kids could decorate. How cool is that?

Today was a fun day with Roo, then the two of them for the afternoon. Beads and baking with Roo,and both playing with a neighbor friend in the afternoon. Nature walk, too.

This week-end they are off on a trip to a bug pavilion - still celebrating seven years.

I think I will farm tomorrow morning, then have a pedicure.

This is where the bug fair is this weekend: http://www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/bug-fair

Honoring Mother

Yesterday, I wanted my post to reflect the here and now, so I talked about the Mother's Day celebration for my daughter and me and our celebration of Buddy's birthday. But I also want to honor my mother and pay tribute to the example she was. Please click on February posts to read all about her. She was really something!

This year marked 99 years since her birth. She lived a full and active life until her death at 95. She died within a few days of Mother's Day in 2006.

Nice Celebration

Not only is today Mother's Day, but it is my grandson's birthday. We gathered tonight to celebrate both. We opened gifts, then went to dinner. What fun!
Thanks everyone.



Gaga and Buddy at our Mother's Day/Birthday Dinner - I love this sweet boy!



Beautiful Daughter - I am so proud of the woman she has become, and especially proud of the mother she is.



Beautiful Granddaughter - I like the way she enjoyed her brother's birthday. She was affectionate, helped open gifts, and didn't seem jealous. Very good for almost five.



Daughter and Buddy - This photo makes my heart sing.



Buddy at Birthday Festivities - Presents to open and a caterpillar to show off. I like the way he shared with his sister tonight. And I loved the way he said thank-you for all his gifts.

Now That's Better!

Cable guy came this morning - early even. So Roo and I enjoyed the new TV for a while. Now that we have the new one, I can't imagine dealing with the discarded one! The picture and sound are both sooooo much better - luxurious even. I am amazed. I thought it was my eyes that were dim, not the TV. But now I can read the guide waaaaay better. Whoa!

Shiny and New?

So... my studio TV developed a hum louder than the tinnitus in my left ear. And that is very loud. We'd been putting off replacing the old thing because we are cheap. I think that TV is the one Papa bought for his office years ago and then I used for playing instructional videos at the Needle Niche. It had a built in tape player.

A few nights ago, Papa was working at his desk and became so annoyed by the hum he asked me to turn off the TV (Yes I control the remote in the studio!) Well, that's not good! How can I have the TV on for company while I paint? I don't usually watch - but listen - to HGTV or the Food Network. I look up for the good parts. I also use my TV for Roo to watch DVDs. And I confess, the noise was bugging Roo and me, too.

Since we had to go into town today, I suggested we stop by Costco for a new TV. We did that, and I have a large high def Sony atop the file cabinets. We also went to the cable company to pick up a HD cable box. All good? Not. There is a dialog box on my screen that reads, "Your EXPLORER settop is NOT AUTHORIZED for use. Please call xxx xxx xxxx."

How aggravating is that? I think the cable box is faulty. The cable company has already sent a new signal to it twice - to no avail. They say they will have to come to the house to fix it. I made an appointment for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, tonight I'll have to watch Idol downstairs. It's the only program I regularly watch. Papa will be sad to switch from his "news" programs.

Disappointed:(

On the bright side, though, we did enjoy a good Asian dinner while we were in town this afternoon. And we checked off a few other errands; one was to submit my entries to the Brushstrokes show. I would like to have a painting accepted, but we'll see. I haven't entered that show before. Some pieces in last year's Brushstrokes were wonderful. I am not sure if I can compete. I could submit up to three paintings. They will accept only one painting per person - or no paintings per person.

OK, downstairs for Idol.

Yuck

For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by nature's rhythms: growing seasons, weather patterns, animal babies in the spring, swallows returning to Capistrano. What a phenomenon, those birds flying in at the same time every year. How romantic. Not! Those crazy swallows also return to my house every year - usually on May 1. How do they know May has arrived?

We didn't see any swallows the first couple of years, then, boom, swarms of them nesting under our eaves, pooping on my roof outside the studio window. And I need to open that window when I heat my wax medium and paint. Ewwww. Now on our new patio, we sit right below the other high peak of the roof - just where the swallows like to nest.

Finally last year, we had our pest control man spray a repellent. When it seemed ineffective, he returned and resprayed. That worked. Birds liked my roof, but didn't nest under the eaves. So he sprayed again this March. Then on Saturday, May 1, I noticed a few birds. By yesterday, swarms of them. Today, pest man sprayed again. It is illegal to spray or do anything to nests once eggs are there. So we had to hurry.

The birds are beautiful. And I do like them when they aren't bombing me on the patio, but I really really want them to nest somewhere else. Please little swallows!

Yuck.

Celebration

Photo courtesy of Sam Peck, publicity Director of Art Center Morro Bay

Go here to see how it looked a few years ago. We'd changed it a little before this latest facelift: http://www.morrobayartassociation.org/locate.html


This is a press release sent out to all our local media by the Art Center publicity directory, Sam Peck. Sam has also been our guide in this effort. Our weather was grand, so we could celebrate outside. Enough people attended our festivities to help us feel duly dubbed Art Center and to make us proud. Papa was bartender for the afternoon and he says we went through our share of champagne and wine. Our kids' art looks cute on the wall, and our featured artist and member shows look good. I am thrilled.

The new ART CENTER - Morro Bay, was christened during a celebration on Sunday 02 May. Formerly the Morro Bay Art Association Gallery, the new name and look is a dramatic change. Speaking to those in attendance, MBAA President Flo Bartell said; "The Board of Directors
decided that the MBAA Gallery needed to update its name and
appearance to be more consistent with its role as Morro Bay
community's center for the fine arts". She added that; " In addition
to having one of the largest gallery spaces on the coast, the Art
Center manages Art in the Park, the Morro Photo Expo, and is the site
of many art related events during the year, including local artist
shows, children's art, art classes and demonstrations. This also
coincides with the coming 60th anniversary of the MBAA next year".
Speaking for the city, Planning Commission Chair, Nancy Johnson said;
"The new Art Center is a bold step in the revitalization of historic
Downtown Morro Bay". The ART CENTER, at 825 Main St., is open to the
public daily from noon to 4PM.



For friends and family looking for me in this picture, I am behind the man on your far left, blue shirt. He's tinkering with the PA system while I am talking.