Can't wait!!

Tomorrow morning I'm off to the Art Institute (train ride!!! love the train!!!). I will see the Caldecott Award winners on display----love, love, love the illustrations in a lot of children's books!! And, I will see the new modern wing and find something to write my next paper on! It will be homework and an artist's date combined! I really look forward to being able to wander and take my time in the museum. Haven't been there for quite some time. The Art Institute was the site of one of my first and most memorable artist dates when I started AW about 5 yrs. ago. I was sitting alone, eating lunch, when 2 women who were old classmates from
Australia asked if they could join me. One was a potter and the other did some other type of art which I can't remember. They asked me why I was there that day and I told them about AW and artist dates and they totally got it!!! They thought it sounded wonderful and wished me good luck on my journey. It was soooooooo rewarding because this came shortly after I had tried to explain the AW to some neighbors at a Xmas party and I could see their eyes glaze over and they looked like they were thinking,"Ok, she's a flake, she's lost it!". I have never discussed it with them again!! Even though I really like them all. Staying away from "wet blankets"!!!

Sniff Sniff

A fun night out last night at P.F. Chang's with my very "crafty" neighbor ladies!! It had been a long time but now we are back on our monthly schedule (I think!). Everyone is so busy!!! But now I wake up today with a cold!!! How can this be?!?!? Too much to do to be sick right now!!! Time to ATTACK-----vitamin C, ecchinacae(?), hot tea with lemon and honey, zinc cough drops......I'll try anything!!!

What to do?!?!??!

It looks like a beautiful Fall day today!!! And so, the question arises, how to make the most of this day??? Too many choices!!! I think maybe a drive with my mom to see the gorgeous changing leaves is the answer!!! Forget the house, the yard, the laundry, the bills AND the messy art room beckoning me!! They will still be there tomorrow but this weather may not!!

You need chaos in your soul to give birth to
a dancing star.
-Nietzsche-

Epitaph

The wonder of the world, the beauty and
the power, the shape of things, their
colours, lights and shades; these I saw.
Look ye also while life lasts.

Originally from an old gravestone in
Cumberland, England.

The Birthday Boy!

20 yrs. ago today, 4:55pm, 8lbs. 10oz!!! Time has really flown. Nothing has been better than being a mom!!! Not a very recent pic of the hubby and son but it will have to do for now. I had the best time making a birthday card yesterday!! I do so much better when I have an "assignment" to do!!! Can someone please assign me some homework?!?!?!

Tetons

Arent' they "Grand"???? I wish I felt grand!! Busy day, busy week. Artist's Way this morning---can't wait as I missed last week! Class at Moraine tonight. And, in between, working on a birthday card for my son!!! Trying to come up with something that incorporates his favorite bands. Wish me luck!

Progress????

Well, ain't this lovely!! I can now upload photos from my computer but only my son's photos, not the ones I really want!! These are some of the 1000's of autographs he has collected over the years. I guess maybe this is a step in the right direction......maybe. Back to the drawing board!!!

Murder!!!

I tried to suck you in with that title!! Did it work?!?!? Actually, I was just wondering if anyone likes reading murder mysteries as much as I do?? And who are your favorite authors?? I like everything from quaint Agatha Christie stories to the very gruesome Patricia Cornwell books. Other big favorites are Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, P. D. James, Margaret Yorke, Dorothy Simpson.......I really like the Brits!!! But some of my favorites are getting old and dying so I need to find new ones to replace them. Can't believe I forgot my BIGGEST favorite--Nevada Barr. She writes National Park mysteries. I get lonesome for her main character, Anna Pigeon, when a new book hasn't come out for awhile!! Crazy, aren't I?!?!??!

Question

I have some questions for my blogging buddies!
1. Does your husband know you have a blog?
2. Does he read your blog?
3. Do you want him to read your blog??

I am just curious. I haven't told my husband yet. It's not like it needs to be a big secret but I'm really not sure I want him to read it. Not sure why. I guess I just want it to be read by like-minded people and sometimes that is not what he is.

Beautiful Day!!

If I don't get outside to enjoy the weather soon I'm going to lose my mind!! Too many unexpected interruptions today!!! I'm NOT answering the phone anymore!!!! So there. Harrumph!!

Back Home Again

Well, after a slight deviation in plans due to a plumbing problem, I'm ready to catch up on things!

I had to miss my Artist's Way group to wait for the plumber today. I was sooooo looking forward to it. Oh well---next week!! I had a great time in Madison with my old roomies. I was "balking" on Friday---thinking, "I haven't seen them for 30 years, why do I need to see them now?!?!?". Just nerves I guess. One of the girls, Renee, lives out in the country and has a barn and animals. And they raise the animals to EAT!! She said it's hard because she is the one who feeds them and gets attached to them. She has 3 sons, all students at UW-Madison right now. We met the 2 younger ones (twins) who are freshman this year. Seemed like nice kids! Her husband works for Ducks Unlimited. The other girl, Dianne, is half Japanese and is a VERY good artist!! And she is a sign language interpreter in the school system. Her husband is also a very good artist, middle school art teacher AND has a real live studio outside of the home!! Lucky fellow!!! Their home was filled with their art and it was so WONDERFUL to wander around and see it all! Sure makes me feel unproductive though!!! Why don't I get more done?? Last year Dianne went to Japan with her mom and sister. It was her mom's first time back since she got married and moved here over 50 yrs. ago!!! I guess they had quite the good time reuniting with relatives over there!!! Dianne also makes beautiful hand made boxes and she bought lots of gorgeous Japanese papers in Japan for much less money than she could get them here! She is one of the most generous people I have ever known and she went thru all her papers and cut a chunk of each to give to me!! I couldn't believe how much paper she gave me!! I think I will have to share it with some of my collaging friends!!

Other than that, we had a great time reminiscing, looking at old photos, reading old letters, strolling thru Madison's huge farmers market, stopping in little shops and galleries and eating in cool restaurants. Also wandered the campus and it is so beautiful!!! We parted on Sunday with plans to get together more often in the future!! Sure hope we follow thru!!!

Yesterday's "Play Date"

I had a wonderful time playing yesterday but I did notice that I kept putting it off until later and later in the day--some self sabotage going on there! Once I finally sat down and started it was wonderful!!! I had a few moments where I was judging my efforts too harshly but the end result of it all was that my mind is racing with all sorts of things to try with those watercolor crayons!! But, as usual, it has to wait because today I have to get ready to leave town for the weekend, when I come back I have lots of homework to do and, chances are, it will be DAYS before I can get back to it!! Sorry if I sound like I'm whining. It's just that this seems to be the pattern. A tiny bit of art gets done and then life takes up all my time. But I am going to try to fit in a little bit of creative time at least several times a week!! Wish me luck!!
I'm afraid I am having no luck as far as posting photos!! I will keep trying! Sometimes they say they are uploaded but I can't find them anywhere---am I missing something??????

Today I Shall Play.

Yesterday, when I was busy running errands and doing things for everyone except myself, I made a vow that today would be for ME!! So, I am going upstairs to PLAY with the new, larger set of watercolor crayons I ordered about a month ago. I discovered them this summer at my class in Door County and I just love them!! Such rich, vibrant colors!!! Time to get started!!