Vacay

Whew, what a whirlwind. But now the Art Center is closed until January, the kids are in Colorado until January, too, and we are planning a small Christmas gathering. (Not that I like for the kids to be away, of course.)I am feeling the tension give way to vacay mode. I still have a few meetings and other preparations for 2012, but at an easy pace....I hope.

And I sold a painting! I am pleased.

I am enjoying lunch with friends and carching up, too. Nice.

Winding Down

I am winding down the year, but making plans for a new year with the Art Center, too.

Summary:

Cooking for Thanksgiving
Shopping for Christmas
Writing a grant report - almost done!
Wrapping up business details for the Art Center - not almost done
Planning for 2012 at the Art Center - making progress
Catching up on reading and relaxation - making progress
Enjoying Buddy and Roo - ongoing
Painting a little, now, but mostly planning new work


Our last show of the year at the Art Center is always our student scholarship show. I am proud that we give thousands to high school and college students each year. Receptions and awards were last Sunday.

The Law

So I am required to collect sales tax on the art I sell. To do that I must have a sales permit and a business license. Most artists don't do this, I am sure. But we are supposed to. So Papa and I traipsed all over town taking care of the business license. Now I have to mail in my app for my sales permit.

At this point in life I need a business license? And I may never sell any more paintings. Sigh. But I am compliant.

But the process was fun. The folks at the county tax collectors office and county planning were all pleasant and helpful. No long lines. No hassle. One woman even remembered talking to me on the phone this morning. Enjoyed watchng the puffed up suits running around trying to look important.

I am the curious sort, so I liked poking around. Then Papa and I ate New Orleans food for lunch. Fried green tomatoes - hold the hollandaise. Add red beans, rice, and collards and I feel transported. Beer washes it down pretty well.

I did not need that chocolate cake tonight, but I had to get rid of it. Sigh.

The Griddle is Hot

A creativity and aethetics workshop with David Limrite last weekend was a good way to emerge from my painting hiatus. The outcome is that I have begun a series of paintings based on the magpie.

According to legend, the magpie brings good news, is a healer, can bring riches - even though he is a thief, represents healing of rlationships......and I could go on.

I saw magpies for the first time this August. How beautiful! Yes, they are noisy and they like to dive bomb people, but still gorgeous.

In my research, I found a couple of versions of this chant:

One is for sorrow, Two is for mirth
Three is for a wedding, Four is for birth
Five is for riches, Six is for poor,
Seven is for a secret, I'll tell you no more.

The chant is supposed to invoke the spirit of the magpie:)

I am so relieved to be painting again. And I am enjoying my new direction.

Ahhhhhhhh!

I am so happy!

While I still have lots to do, my head is now above water. I finished - or rather totally re-painted one painting last night and put the last touches on the other. The studio is not in perfect shape, yet, but it is straight enough to manage. Now I can work some and organize some.

I must go through all my paintings, repair any chips or scratches, and have a whole pile of them ready for Open Studio Tour this weekend.

My little open studio exhibit will be all day Saturday and Sunday on the patio - hopefully with a friend, if she is well enough. So now I need to turn my daytime attention to the front yard. In my opinion, it always looks a little weedy - even though there are none. The plants just have that look. Gotta see what I can do about that and pick up and spread several bags of mulch. Then I will need to sweep up all the berries that fall from the strawberry tree.

Work at the Art Center is a bit slower now. Whew!

Didn't Happen

The papers are not filed. My studio table is not clean and organized. I didn't finish all the chores on my list. Not one bit of that happened.But I am on the way to Portland for the encaustic retreat. I do believe I can finish the last of what really must be done while I travel, though.

And my new Mac is in place in my studio. I plopped it on my desk, plugged it in and briefly considered whether I should finish my work on it or Papa's PC. I decided getting the Mac set up with my email accounts would be about as easy as using the PC. It was! So fast! I was up and ready to work in no time. I downloaded two programs I need and will probably need one more before seriously getting to work. But all that was fast and inexpensive, too. And I love the trackpad.

I hate to leave Mac there all alone while I fly away for four days. Waaaah! I wanted to play.

And I hate to leave Buddy and Roo:( I wanted to play with them, too. And I hate to leave Papa on his own.Yikes. Sad. But the retreat will be great once I am there.

Time to fly.

Ah, they just announced pre-boarding for my flight.

Even Closer

So of course I got way behind again, and I still have not really started painting. But I still say I am getting closer. I have been busy with meetings and putting up a retrospective exhibit to celebrate the 60th anniversary at Art Center Morro Bay. The show is a hit and the reception tunout was pretty good. Now perhaps life can get back on track......well, after I return from the International Encaustic Artists retreat in Portland. I will leave this Thursday morning and return on Monday afternoon. Though I will miss home, this retret comes at a good time for me, I think. I will get my hands back into paint and wax, see new ideas, tools, and material, watch demos, and hear presentations. I should be inspired and ready to work when I get back to my studio. My goal is to file every paper I can, put all the extraneous art stuff away, and have a new board waiting on my table - ready to begin a new piece.

Of course I have stuff to do before the filing begins. Somehow I need to make this happen, though. And I will need to pick up my new Mac sometime in the next few days.

I have seen reallly beautiful encaustic art recently. My brain is busy reviewing what I have seen and gleaning ideas and techniques I can use in my own work. This should help.

I have a new iPhone, making some of my calls easier to make. That is a good thing.

Stay tuned and look for new work soon.

Still Recovering

Do you know that when you need a break the world doesn't stop and let you get off for a few days? I tried. I did little beyond sit on the couch, cook a tiny bit, do the laundry, and point where to plant a tree to the gardener. Kids have been here some, and I have had one meeting. Other than that I read a book and played a video game, conquering the top level. Of course they have encouraged me to go through it again with a harder version, and I am working on that. Oh, and yesterday I went to lunch with a friend. Trying to catch up with her and others I have neglected for months.

The result? So now I have all the piles of stuff I didn't do for the last four or five days waiting for me. And I haven't painted. Still feel I am getting close. In a meeting about a possible 2013 exhibit, I came across some beautiful illustrative art. Very inspiring. Intimidating, too. But I can feel my fingers itching. And suddenly, sitting on the couch is not acceptable.

It Is True This Time

Not too long ago,I said that I had come to the end of several big projects and might be able to breathe again. And paint. I lied. Didn't mean to, but I did.

The last two weeks have been some of my busiest ever. Sort of like moving. A few helpers and I had to pack up one hundred paintings to be shipped out. I knew packing would take time. I wasn't looking forward to it, but it had to be done and I was in charge. I accepted that. But, whew! I didn't realize I would have so many problems getting shipping labels from artists or run into so many complicated sitautions. One artist had moved, so her new address on her package didn't match the one given on her UPS account. FedEx didn't want handwritten labels. I had no labels from many of the artists, and they didn't seem to know how to get them. I could sputter on, but at this point, I am tired of hearing myself talk about it. The job took the better part of nine days. Absurd. I made calls to artists, to UPS, to FedEx in the middle of the night - and you get India then.

And I had to, and wanted to, put in some grandmothering time. And there was a reception at the Art Center. We had just held a clay class - still trying to get masks fired. And went to meetings about the exhibit we want to present in 2013.

Painting? No way. I guess my brain needs to recover. I am reading books, finally getting in the mood to declutter the house, and just catching my breath. We are cooking at home again, I walked yesterday, and finally got to have my toes done this afternoon.

But I feel the urge coming on. Soon.

Inaugural Exhibit

About a year ago, I wrote a grant for Art Center Morro Bay, hoping for funds to purchase a laptop and projector to use in promotional presentations about the center. Of course that meant, if we were awarded the grant, that I had to design the presentations and give them.

We also asked for funds to add storage and a display wall in our Activity Room - primarily to use for our children's program.

We were awarded the grant, presentations are underway, and the new storage and display area are installed. Cork was applied to the wall earlier than I expected and loomed bare and large. A large reception was coming up, and I needed a kids show. I am surprise it took me a day or so to realize I had plenty of material right in my garage. I have hundreds of Buddy's drawings and some of Roo's paintings. That sparked more ideas, and I called the man who installed the wall to ask if his daughter would be in the inaugural show, too.

Check out the results in the pix above. Problem: Buddy and Roo were in Colorado. I am sad that they didn't get to see their show, but I will share it with them here. Their work had to come down to make room for the children's summer art camp work.

The juror for our encaustic exhibit, Consequential Fusion: Messages in Wax, spent a long while examining each of Buddy's drawings and photographing them. I am proud.

Ahhh!

Ahhhh! Home! Yes, the trip was fantastic, but I will tell you that when the intersection of Old Creek Road and Hwy 1 offered a gorgeous glimpse of the Pacific this afternoon, I thought perhaps I might be just as impressed with home as with any other place on our tour.

Then Papa and I rolled down the windows to take in the cool beach air of Los Osos. More ahhhhs. The house is tidy; the dog and cat seem happy to see us. Red flowers are blooming in the front yard. I checked my messages to discover the Art Center had sold another encaustic painting (not mine, but one form the IEA exhibit), and all the other messages were good ones, too. Now we are home with glasses of wine. Life is good.

As was the last leg of the trip - Bakersfield to Los Osos with a detour (literally) to Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Tillie the car girl had no clue how to get us there. The map was vague, and iPad offered little better. So we wandered. A CA Wildlife Official intercepted us, told us we must really be lost (I think he meant stupid), and set us on the right path. But all in all, we liked the adventure. And we finally reached Kern. We saw four or five great blue herons, great white herons and another roadrunner. Fun. The scenery was inspiring. We will go back next winter when the bird population is at its best.

Now to unpack, do laundry, and hopefully settle into a slow, comfortable pace. Is it possible?

Up and Down

Right on time, at the early hour of 10:00, we left Bishop, CA to drive through the Owens Valley area along the eastern side of the Sierras. We stopped in Lone Pine to gape at soaring Mount Wnitney. Many years ago, Papa had climbed that mountain, starting in Lone Pine and concluding his hike in Tulare. Now I can see why that eight day expedition still stands out as one of his important accomplishments! For many years he saved the boots he climbed in. Finally age and mold got the best of them. I am sure I was the one who insisted we toss them, but I did draw one boot first - the drawing is hanging in our kitchen.

The visitor's center models and maps gave me a better understanding of the Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Mount Whitney, and entire Inyo areas. What wonders we have seen!

Today was a day of contrasts - from the broad valley to magnificent hills that abruptly spit us out into the flat town of Bakersfield. The temperature was consistant.....HOT. Tonight our dashboard display showed 87 at 7:17. 100 when we drove into town. I have enjoyed feeling warm, but now Los Osos is looking good.

Meanwhile Papa has totally corrupted me. For lunch we ate hot dogs from a convenience store we found right in the middle of nowhere. Then tonight in Bakersfield, we ate Basque food again. Not. The big difference in tonight's Basque restaurant and one we visited several days ago is that tonight the restaurant was packed. For the life of me I can't figure why. Yes, they serve family style, but there any resemblance to Basque ends. I think Basque has become an excuse to sloppily serve an odd assortment of greasy diner-type food. Again, Papa was in heaven. Hid did later agree that our waitress' style was rather like throwing paint at a fence. She brought bowls of soup, bread, beans, a dish of hot sauce for the beans, salad, nasty spaghetti, blah green beans, soggy french fries, and tongue. Most folks also ordered an entre. Not me. My ice cream and decaf were good. And so was our wine. In any case, dinner did provide an interesting adventure.

Spoiled

So, I am spoiled. We have established a morning routine. We wake. Papa goes to get my decaf and toasted raisin bagel while I check my mail. Eventually we muster enough energy to get ready for the next leg of our trip, usually about 10:00.

So we pulled out of Reno according to schedule and headed through Carson City and across the basin and range area into the Sierras. Papa explained that subduction of the ocean crust formed a massive batholith of magma over four hundred miles long. Millions of years ago the upward force of the magma formed the now extinct volcanoes that comprise the Sierras, mostly massive residue of granite exposed by erosion. Who knew?

At some point they were covered by glaciers that, when melted, left behind lakes like the beautiful Mono Lake we saw today. I gasped as we rounded a mountain curve to see the big, salty, very blue water. Though all the scenery today was stunning, Mono Lake was my favorite. Papa said the glacial moraines were his favorite and were worth the whole trip.

The combination of heat and altitude were ruthless, so were were happy to get back down to four or five thousand feet in Bishop tonight. Mono Lake is over nine thousand, and we were, for a short while, higher than that. Whew! No energy, I could barely move. I was happy to get back to the cool car.

Tomorrow we head for Bakersfield.

Irritation

So, last summer in Europe, I had just had my iPad for a few weeks. I thought I was a total incompetant for not knowing how to insert my photos into my blog or facebook. When I left for this trip, I figured I would research and figure it all out. Had to be simple, right?

So I have researched and found easy instructions. I have followed them exactly. When I insert a pic on my blog and preview it, the pic link is there. But it isn't. If I then publish and click to view the blog, poof! Gone. Same with facebook. I have downloaded several apps that are supposed to make it easy.

So far - nada. So I can't share photos of our trip:(

Riding High

Thankfully we were awake by the time the bikers took off from our Best Western this morning. We left a little while later, heading for Lassen Peak.

What a beautiful day! We saw more lava, of course, gorgeous vistas, and finally snow-capped Lassen in the distance. We stopped at an RV camp for lunch and resisted the cherry pie. Figured we had done enough damage.

We wanted to see as much as we could, so we picked the scenic route to our days-end destination - Reno. Our road took us through time warp towns, around many a hairpin curve, and finally up into the snow we had seen from a distance. All the smart people had come prepared with sleds, skis, and snowshoes to enjoy the spotty but deep snow that probably won't melt completely before they have more snow. I saw some drifts that were more than eight feet. I really couldn't tell how deep some of it might be. What a strange sensation to stand in the snow with the temperature at about seventy.

Of course our road didn't take us all the way to the peak, but we were way up there! About half way down from the highest point of our drive, a sign said we were at 4,000 feet.

I was still hoping for a magpie, and we sighted one in flight. I loved the beautiful tall pines, and when we stopped for photos or rest stops, the pine fragrance was powerful, nostalgic.

By about 4:00 this afternoon, we left our wonderful mountain drive and began our last stretch of the day by driving through a vast valley, leading to Nevada.

Now with a tummy full of Indian fare, Papa is snoozing in Reno. Tomorrow we head south and back into California along the eastern side of the Sierras. Tomorrow's destination is Bishop, CA.

More Tripping

So, back to the trip. We left Redding this morning, driving up I 5, the Pacific Crest Trail, with impressive Mt. Shasta as our first destination. The snow topped peaks are beautiful. We stopped for photos, of course - from every angle.

Then we headed northeast on Hwy 97 to the top of CA, then east along the CA-Oregon state line on 161. After a morning of mountains and pine trees, we headed into a huge valley toward the Klamath Wildlife Refuge. We had the road to ourselves, so we could stop on a whim to take photos or just watch birds. On our drive into the refuge, we began our bird search in earnest. I hoped for eagles and magpies, but no luck on that. We saw an enormous bird that was probably a great blue heron. He was too far away for us to be sure. So big! We followed a great white heron for a while, then ran into a flock of yellow headed blackbirds - making Papa happy. Many families of cute little grebes swam in the open water areas, and we saw swallows, a big white pelican, and gulls.

There was no shortage of turkey vultures; we came across four or five of them eating roadkill lunch that used to be a beautiful little fox. EW.

Then came the big excitement of entering the Modoc Plateau and the Lava Beds National Monument. Lots of lava and more talk of subduction, volcanoes and such. The beat part was being questioned that we were both at least 62. Well, at least it was a good part. The lava was abundant! Nice visitors centers. The scenery and leisurely drive were good medicine.

Tonight we are in Alturas with a bunch of bikers. Dinner was in a Basque restaurant that really isn't. They do serve family style, but mostly the food was just deep fried everything. Papa loved it.

Tomorrow is Mt. Lassen then to Reno.

International Encaustic Artists

So, because I am on vacation and have a little time, I will mention that between my April post and this latest flurry, I have been working on an exhibit of encaustic art, Consequential Fusion: Messages in Wax, now showing at Art Center Morro Bay. To see go to www.international-encaustic-artists.org. Sorry I can't put in the link. IPad does not want to do that. I think most of you reading this have seen it, anyway.

I am proud that we are able to host the show and pleased at the response. While preparing for the show, we were also making some needed renovations to the Art Center and I was working countless hours developing a promotional slide presentation about the center. All that is done now, and I am enjoying making my presentations around the community.

Now I have a mountain of boxes in my garage and dread the end of the encaustic show. We will have to move all the boxes back to the Art Center, repackage all the art, and ship. In the end, it will be worth it though. So far we have sold one piece. Let's hope for a few more. There is really wonderful stuff there. How I wish I could own several of those pieces.

After months of working nonstop, I am enjoying a few days away. Daughter, SIL and children were in Colorado when I was the busiest. I am happy they are back home, now, and am looking forward to a return to a little more normal schedule - whatever that is. When school starts, both children will get out at 2:30. What will I do with all that time?!

Just drivng

Yesterday we drove and ate. We left American Canyon, wound through Napa and the hills beyond, then entered the great valley, heading for Redding. Lots of eye candy.

Papa had the strange idea that I would do that fast food thing again. No way. I held my ground this time. Using Yelp I found a little Mexican place in Clearlake for lunch.

We had been looking forward to Korean food for dinner, but got there to discover they are closed on the weekend! What? Landed at a cute little bistro with sort of OK food.

We will see Mount Shasta today! And drive up to the Oregon border.

Meanwhile I finished reading Siddons latest, Burnt Offerings. As always, I enjoyed her descriptions and her twisted mind, but didn't feel the book had a very meaty plot, somehow.

Right now we are in our hotel in Redding; Papa is brewing my decaf while I catch you up on our progress.

Picasso

Another memorable day. Papa brought me a warm, lightly toasted, raisin bagel and decaf to my bed this AM. So spoiled.

We relaxed awhile, then drove from Morgan Hill to the de Young Museum in San Francisco - a relatively easy drive. Tillie the car girl led us right there but couldn't tell us how to find the parking garage. After we missed a turn she told us to take, we accidentally found the entrance we wanted. We must be doing something right.

We found our way to the right desk to pick up our reserved tickets and rent our audio tour equipment before making a quick stop in the cafe. We entered the Picasso exhibit right at our assigned time of 12:30... and....well..... it is hard to tell you how wonderful I thought it was. It is the traveling exhibit from the Picasso Museum in Paris, a collection of the work Picasso saved and wouldn't or didn't sell. I will not forget this day.

From the de Young, we drove across the Oakland Bridge and then on to American Canyon. We just finished another fabulous meal, and are settled in our hotel for the night.

All in all a great day. We made few wrong turns, got everywhere we wanted to go, saw wonderful art, and ate well. How could a day be much better. Now I am going to read the new Siddons book for a while. Tomorrow we head toward Modoc Plateau. Papa has high expectations. I will report.

Road Tripping continued

I learned all about conglomerate rock, subduction zones, anticline, and syncline as we headed toward Pinnacles National Monument. And Papa says that those pinnacles are what is left of half a volcano that was dragged from LA by the Pacific plate. Apparently after millions of years creeping, it is still moving part of an inch each year.

Our car registered 62 when we left home. When I was snapping pix of the peaks, the temperature was 97. Too much for us. We didn't linger. But we were duly impressed.

Lunch had been a square fish sandwich and fries near Paso Robles. Ugh. But Papa had done his homework and dinner was amazing at Maurizio's in Morgan Hill. We beat the crowd by just a few minutes. Seeking absolution for my lunchtime sins, I ordered "just" an appetizer and salad. Very good thing. My slab of polenta was topped with a bechemel sauce with gorganzola and mushrooms. My spinach salad was chock full of dates, cranberries, and gorganzola. Not light fare, but crazy delicious.

Now we are snuggled into a Holiday Inn Express in Morgan Hill and will head for the Picasso show tomorrow.

Road Tripping

Well, If I took time to catch up on my life in this post, I wouldn't have a minute to blog about now. So, suffice it to say I have been really really busy and now have escaped with Papa for a little vacay. And I needed it. I have been working almost 24/7. Retired?

Anyway, Papa took a geology class last semester. The more he learned, the more he wanted to take a drive to see some of California's geological wonders. Then I mentioned that the Picasso exhibit would be at the deYoung in San Fran.

I calculated when I could get away, Papa researched and planned, and here we are at the end of our first day on the road. Papa has many expectations for each stretch of our journey. I love just riding along, listening to explanations, and examining the scenery......imagining paintings. Anything more is frosting. No demands, no expectations.

So the first frosting today was a red tail hawk swooping down a ravine along Old Creek Road, giving us a marvelous view from above. Sunlight showed his colors to their best advantage, providing our first important nature moment of the trip - not long after left home. The second came as we drove parallel to 101 on deserted Indian Valley Road. As we headed north examining rock formations, an adorable roadrunner popped out of the brush and ran along in front of us. I almost got the camera out before a car came from the other direction, frightening him away.

What a beautiful drive through almost unspoiled territory. We didn't see the raptors and bobcats Papa had hoped for, but we did see ash throated flycatchers, western meadowlarks, acorn woodpeckers, and doves as our little road dipped and rose along the San Andreas Fault. Baked, golden, tree dotted hills surrounded us and finally ushered us onto highway 25.

Buddy and his butterflies

A few weeks ago, my friend asked if she could give Buddy several monarch caterpillars. Of course I said she could. For safe keeping, we put the caterpillars, along with their milkweed plants, in our guest bathroom. The plan was to make some sort of wire covering and then transport them to Buddy's house. Before we could get our act together, they formed chrysalis, and we were afraid to transport. In fact, one chrysalis was attached to the bathroom vanity.

Eventually I got smart and covered them with nylon mesh laundry baskets - the pop up kind.

In the last several days, all three have emerged. Buddy has released one, and the others will be set free this weekend.

We have all enjoyed watching them, but Papa and I have mostly enjoyed watching Buddy. What a wonderful experience for him! I learned a lot, too; Buddy was the teacher - he explained every step and predicted just when the butterflies would emerge. Today, as he was enjoying dying Easter eggs, he remarked that he has had many wonderful days recently. Of course that thrills me.

Happy kids, happy Gaga.

SOLD!

Yes, it is true. I sold a painting yesterday! I love to sell paintings - not for the money, but for the validation. Everytime I sell a piece, I feel a little less silly for buying wax. paint, and boards. My show at the art center will be up one more week, so I will cross my fingers that I will sell a bit more.

Also on the art front, I have a piece in our local Oil, Pastel, and Acrylic Group show, Inside Out. Thankfully that group includes mixed media and encaustics. The show is fabulous, so I am honored to be there. The winning painting is a wonder in technique and concept.

On Monday I will teach two students who want to learn encaustics. I love to share, so I am looking forward to my time with them.

Meanwhile, I am so bogged down in art center related projects, I am having to delay starting a new painting.

Lapse

In the time lapse between my January and March posts, I was very busy. I should say busier than normal. I enjoyed visits by family and friends, prepared for an exhibit at Marina Square Gallery in Morro Bay, was sick with a bug that made me cough for five or six weeks, enjoyd time with my gramdchildren, and kicked off the new year with the Art Center.

My sisters and South Carolina frineds were here to attend my opening at Marina Square. Great fun. And about that time I sold my self portrait, "FAB." The down side of that is that I didn't photograph FAB before I left for England, and Papa delivered it to SLOMA for me the day after I left. I remembered that little detail somewhere over Greenland. When will I learn.

Wax 'n Wood will be over soon, and now I am busy working on an Inyernational Encaustic Artist show, Consequentiql Fusion, that we will host at Art Center Morro Bay in July. And I am working on a promotional presentation about the art center as well as planning more image polishing for the center.

I am telling myself I will get it all done if I take one step at a time.

Meanwhie, my garden is a disaapointing, sad mess. On my January 8th birthday in 2010, I began harvesting lettuce every day and continued through June. My summer garden was sad, but I enthusuasticly planted greens in late November. Nothing. I tried again in January. Failure. What's up with that. Clearly I have much to learn about growing veggies here. My flowers are wonderful and seem to be enjoying our monsoon season.

AND, Papa and I just marked 37 years! Impressive.

Wax 'n Wood exhibit at Art Center Morro Bay

This is why I haven't been posting lately. Show is up and open. The reception is Sunday.

Encaustic Show is up at Art Center Morro Bay

Well......

It has been a while. Let's just say I was overbooked. You don't need a laundry list. Nor do I need to revisit my overwhelmed feeling.

But the weeks have not been all bad. I have had nice visits from family and friends.

And I have painted and painted. I am one of three featured artists at Art Center Morro Bay. Our show opened today and will hang through April 10. Reception on Sunday, m

Included in the show are another encaustic artist and a wood sculptor.

I am relieved to have finished painting and hanging. I am proud of some of it.

Forget It

So... I woke up coughing. Thinking that if I propped up I would be better, I moved to the couch. The cat heard me and yowled,causing the dog to growl. The furnace came on, and the growls became barks. All the commotion woke Papa who came to the living room to talk, get the paper, make coffee, and turn on the light and gas fire.

Yowls, growls, prowls. Forget sleep.

Sense of Place

I believe most of us have some understanding of our place in the world, how we rank in relation to all others with regard to beauty, talent, strength, intellect, etcetera. Of course some of us have an inflated sense of self, and others see themselves as less than they are. Me? At seventy, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how I measure up.

Then I attended the British Society of Eighteenth Century Studies with Daughter. I have already mentioned how smart those people were. What I realize, now, is that listening to Daughter and other presenters has required an adjustment in my self-evaluation. I will just say that I haven't moved up.

I suppose I will get used to it.

Good News

The good news is that Papa bought a new battery for the scale. I know that does't sound good, but it is because by the time the scale was in workinig order I weighed in at my pre-trip weight. Very good news.

The bad news is I don't feel quite normal yet. I am still a bit too sleepy when I am supposed to be awake. Tonight Papa poured wine that pretty much finished me off for the evening. Too groggy to work. And I have stuff to do. Lots and lots.

But the other good news is that I had successful laser surgery on my right eye this morning, had a great lunch at Big Sky with Papa (Grilled romaine with tomatoes, goat cheese, apples,pecans, with grilled chicken) went to the SLOMA to see my painting on the wall, met my friend for a pedicure, and went to the new show at Art Center Morro Bay. All this time, my handyman was working on chores at the house. Love it.

Home

Home is soooo good. I loved everything about my trip except the sleepless nights and sleepy days. But home is wonderful, too, and I am very happy to be back.

Daughter worked very hard to find the best places to stay, eat, and see. And we ate so well that I was reluctant to step on the scale. When I finally mustered the courage, I discovered that the battery had died.

Yay.

Encaustic

I have to also say that I saw numerous encaustic portraits at the British Museum! What a lucky day!

I do believe that I may be a spoiled brat.

Seventy!!!!! Really????

How is it possible? I have no clue, but I do know I am milking it for all it is worth.
I have moaned and whined and have probably garnered all the attention I can from the event, now.

I have told you the wonders of Oxford, but let me tell you, London is certainly no let down.

We ate breakfast at our B and B, then walked to the Bristish Museum to spend the entire day! Yes we did! I could spend three more I am sure.

From the museum, Daughter led me to an adorable pub right in our neighbor hood. First we had beer and stout(me - love it)with the best olives I have ever eaten, and a nut and seed mixture. I ordered a fennel fresh mozzarella appetizer, home made bread, and carrot/parsnip soup. Everything was beyound good. The we ordered tawny port and chocolate truffles. Swoon. So good.

I am full, sleepy, ready to see family, but will miss the time Daughter and are spending together.

It has been a fantastic birthday!

Thunder Bolt

So yesterday I was walking from St. Hugh's College, Oxford, to our hotel, The Old Parsonage. Even though I was barely awake, a sudden feeling of wonder grabbed at me. What in the heck am I doing walking down Banbury Road in Oxford, England? I felt overwhelmed with the idea of it all. Daughter had just presented a well-received paper at the best university in the world. And we had toured the oldest library. And I had heard some of the brightest young scholars talk about their work. What????? Me???? How did all this come about?

After a blissful night of sleep, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, packed and checked out of The Parsonage. They held onto our bags while we visited shops and the beautiful Ashmolean Museum.

A cab took us to the train station so we could make the one hour ride to Paddington Station, then change to the tube for a quick trip to our charming hotel in a beautiful old London Neighborhood.

Daughter and I had a bit of a wet trek from the train station, but that was actually a fun adventure, too. Daughter stays here every time she makes her way to Wales, so I will be able to imagine her here during future trips. For dinner, she suggested a small Italian joint just around the corner. Yum. Good pasta, surprisingly good wine and dessert. So spoiled.

Jet Lag

Oh my, where to begin.

I think I will have to summarize:

Grand food!!! Thanks to daughter's blog friend,we knew where to dine. One recommendation was our hotel. It was so good Monday night, we did a redo on Wednesday night. To die for.

And Tuesday night's dinner was just as good. Swoon.

Wednesday was spent mostly at the conference. Today I went to daughter's amazing presentation, a keynote address and lunch. I was awake for the first, barely for the latter two. So back to the hotel to get a few winks. I had slept maybe two hours Wednesday night. My days and nights are still upside-down.

Now I feel better and will join daughter st the college for dinner and festivities. The chilly walk will be good for me.

Overall impression of the conference is that all these people are crazy smart and know vastly more than I do. I am hoping to absorb a little.

Tomorrow, after a morning session, we will go by train to London.

All's Well That Ends Well

Last night candlelight transformed our hotel dining room into the perfect setting for my marvelous beet salad, mushroom risotto, and divine "chocolate nemesis" - the best flour less chocolate cake I have ever had. Viogner and port paired well. Heaven.

We staggered to our room, enjoyed glorious hot showers, and turned in about 8:30. Burning foot pain jolted me awake a couple of hours later. I massaged the cramped foot and tried not to move more than absolutely necessary with the hope of going right back to sleep. Eventually I discovered Daughter was awake, too. We gave up on sleep and read, then finally drifted off again at four or five and, thank heavens, slept until after ten. Oh joy!!!!!!!

We skipped breakfast and rushed to make our 11:30 tour of the Bodelian Library. After that we ate lunch in an organic restaurant housed in a centuries old gathering room. With little time to spare, we met our walking tour guide about 2:00. Both tours were very informative and wonderful. We learned about the university and enjoyed seeing the city.

My coat kept me warm, but my fingers and toes are just now thawing. Oh my! Very cold. Dinner soon.

Oxford is a beautiful old city and I am thrilled to be here. Of course there is more to do than we can possibly manage, but we are looking forward to the British Society of Eighteenth Century Studies conference, concerts, museums, and....... Who knows? Stay tuned.

Oxford!

So here I am in Oxford, England, sitting by the fire in our cozy hotel. Daughter and I are both busy on our iPads, trying to stay awake. No napping allowed! We want to stay up until a reasonable, though early, bedtime.

The outside temperature is hovering around 30, and we saw little spits of snow when we caught our cab from the train station to the hotel. Our hotel, The Old Parsonage, is, indeed, old. But it seems clean and comfy.

i am glad I don't have to go back out tonight......brrr. We have 6:00 dinner reservations here. Then after that I make no promises about when I will crash.

Our first flight left about an hour late, but daughter had made sure to plan a long layover in LA. So no worries. Both flights were bumpy, especially the first small one. Otherwise the trip has been uneventful. Oh, except that daughter almost lost her coat. She left it in a LA restroom. We ate lunch, then she remembered and rushed out to look for it. She arrived at the restroom entrance just as the cleaning woman was exiting with her coat. Whew! We figured that her good luck was a sign that the trip would go well.

So far it has. We took the Heathrow Express train to Paddinton, then, with just a title searching, bought tickets and boarded our train for Oxford. So here were are.

More tomorrow.