Summer Luncheon

Occasionally I get to have my nose in on other's doings and today was such a day. My sister, a successful musician and piano teacher had a special "end of year" luncheon for her piano students. And a nicer bunch of kids I have yet to meet. If they are any example, I can attest to the fact that today's kid are not going down the tubes. Bright, polite, talented, and well-behaved, they were a credit to their generation. I began to speculate why? Is it because piano lessons are not cheap? Or is it that they are from mostly upper middle class neighborhoods. Today's newpapers tell me neither could be a solid reason.
I thought of my own classrooms, some 25 years ago. I taught in a poverty-ridden, ethnically diverse, neighborhood. The classroom was a split second-third grade classroom; many families were transient, and I was pregnant with my first baby. Not ideal? It really was. I cannot recall any behavior problems, (I did however have one little girl with a permanent egg on her face who could never find a paper in her perpetually messy desk.) I think the key was they new from day one what to expect. I didn't have to be a talk show host, I needed to teach. It was a wonderful time. Parents were home, lunches were packed, homework was done by the students. Maybe 1981 was the end of a predictable time in our society. But today, for a couple of hours I revisited it.

Native American Image

This is a favorite image I never got to use. Sadly, the project for which it was created was depricated. I happened to run across the website of a colleague of mine who has so richly illustrated the Native American community and whose pieces are in galleries throughout the United States. This is "my two cents worth". It's a piece that shows the reverence this group of people have for family and the respect with which they treat their seniors. I hope I have done this theme justice.

New Things Old Things

Ever come to a point where the past and present merge? Or at the very least, meet. Today my youngest had an interview for a job at a facility attached to my old high school. The nuns retire here and she saw an ad in the paper advertising for a part time trainable position. I was thrilled. As she nervously filled out her application, I sat looking around this amazing facility. Amidst the contemporary eye-ball lighting, muted wall colors, I discovered that the furnishings were from the original building, built at the turn of the century. I had attended college in this building and had loved it's vintage look. AS various sisters moved through, coming and going from their outings, walks and activities, I detected my hands getting moist, a row of perspiration bubbles formed on my upper lip. I was once again 16 and waiting outside the principal's office. What tricks the mind plays on us. This is not about me, I had to remind myself; this is not my past or my future, but my daughter's present. I like that.

Father's Day

Made Mac salad for folks to take to Father's Day Celebration across town. Everybody had a great time. I'd had a few off days due to heat so "babysat" our sweet Lilly. She felt so down with everyone gone, (I don't count that much; I'm basically "mom" to her and while she loves me to pieces, I'm always just there) I worried that she was getting sick. The little "faker" moped around all day, chin to the ground. My boy and I got her out just before a big storm. Wind was blowing fiercely and we lost a number of limbs.
When the folks returned around 10:00, she got to run in the yard without a leash. She was her old self, with her favorite FOLGER'S can,running and growling to herself (I think that's to create more excitement.
Pleasant uneventful day for all of us. My favorite kind.

Cleveland and tents.

Yet another trip. This time for mdh. Traipsed to this perrenially foggy city. Made good time. Discovered navigational skills better than expected. Found a new route saving some mileage. That's good news considering gas prices. We fortunately had some saved up at Giant Eagle and got gas for .16/gal. That must be some sort of record. And home in time to see how everyone was. My youngest had babysat our Lilly and they had spent some quiet time in the tent. Ah, the tent, lovely home away from home; blithely set up in our yard and quietly killing the grass.
Sadly it comes down today, as I speak in fact. We will nag again, my youngest daughter and I for there is nothing quite like hard ground, molds dampness, mosquitos; all worth leaving an air conditioned house, to enjoy. ANd the first week in July will find us all once more under the stars, wondering which Roman candle will land in our yard and end our nights out forever.

Hidden Treasures

It was an unexpected surprise after coming through tiny little Lima, a town I immediately coined one of the dirtier little towns I've encountered. "Let's go on to Delphos," I suggested, the tiny digital camera literally burning in my hands. A preservationist at heart, I love the overlooked elements of Americana, and the billboard view of downtown Delphos promised to supply my fix.
Rising like a Phoenix above the sun-glinted trees was the most magnificent stone church. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
"Wow," I gasped.Does Bishop _____ know about this one? There's one he forgot to tear down, close, re"muddle", or neglect to find a priest for. We rounded the corner and my family generously waited why I got as many pictures as I could. I circled the building, wishing I could get inside. I'd not seen a vintage building in this kind of repair and hoped that this wonderful quiet community knows what a treasure they have.

Semper Fi

Upon passing the funeral home at the end of town, we realized that the person being lain to rest was a child who attended kindergarten with my daughter. He hadn't gone to school with her all through high school, but I'm sure he brought cupcakes for significant parties and birthdays. He was 25 years old, and received a Purple Heart for his bravery in Iraq. Something else we noticed was the motorcycle gang, flag bearers lining the driveway in honor of this young man and in protection of family and friends who could be harassed by protestors. I didn't see protestors, and doubt that I would have in our small town, but it was a kindness.

Lunch and changes

We all arrive at a crossroads in our lives and none moreso than my darling young lady daughter. Lots of conversation about programs and where lives are directed. Wonderful lunch with sister and her friend. Chimichangas and sherbet. Fun, jokes and conversation. But back home to serious conversations. I wonder how I'd illustrate someone at the crossroads of their life. Not sure. Wonder if we could solve it in a half hour like the Gilmore Girls. Ah, Luke would come in and save the day I'm sure.

A New Day

Surprised by SOLUMEDROL treatment arriving in by FED EX this AM. Didn't expect treatment until the 31st. This means we can all go with JUJU to Lima. Day trips are always great and welcomed. Might do a dry run today. And on a nice sunny Saturday with lots of kids out and enjoying the day; I'm just as glad to be going. Spent some time along the river as is our usual haunt. Campsite at Hull Prairie was pretty well vacant, the walleye run now over and the river too high for the bass run that usually comes in June.
Then dinner out, a treat, with a Reuben from Arby's and Diet Mountain Dew. So thirsty and it was so refreshing.
Cleaned area this evening around the area that had been inhabited by Pidge. Time to contemplate, remember, and be grateful for her wonderful 11 years of companionship.

Laughter and Tears

We all saw this coming; the demise of a dear friend. My pigeon, Pidge, has lived with me in my studio for 11 years and judging from the early events in her life was possibly 12 or 13 when we said our goodbyes. She survived pneumonia and probably succumbed to cancer. I will always be grateful for the special veternarians who made her last days comfortable and her passing easier. I hurt today, along with my other family members; dread going into the room, my studio when she left such an imprint. But wonder where else the lessons learned could have been learned without the pain. I think of the funny things she did and it brings laughter. The last week or so, "force feeding her" brought a chuckle to my daughter and I as she characteristically swung her head around spitting meds and a yeasty smelling food in our direction.
She never left "nesting" mode, tugging on shoelaces when she could no longer fly. As we saw her neurolgical system seriously compromised, we knew a final decision had to be made. She passed peacefully with mild anaesthetic at Dr.Tim's office. We appreciate the kindness and compassion of this fine vet and his staff.

The Road Not Taken

I always loved this poem by Robert Frost:



TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Like the poet, I chose the road less travelled, at least by many of my illustrator contemporaries. I didn't have the opportunity to attend many conferences and as a writer and illustrator have often been conflicted as to which to pursue more passionately. I was probably one of the last to open an online journal and to become agented.
I pondered all this as we river walked last night. No sooner had we gotten out of the van than we were met with heavy sprinkles. Not a deluge, mind you, just sprinkles that sharp and cold would have sent most people back to the van. We ended up in a gazebo type shelter over looking a pond. My daughter teased me about looking like the scene in SOUND OF MUSIC where Rolf is pursuing young Liesl in the glass gazebo.
The rain let up and we wandered down a hill and to the main road which we followed along the river. Suddenly my cane wnet nearly to the ground and I realized I'd lost a bolt and wing nut rending my cane pretty useless. (I can walk without it, but use if for balance for long distances and to maintain energy especially if a leg goes out; a nasty symptom of MS.)
A quick trip to a hardware store and my dear husband's ingenuity, it was quickly usable again.
Once home, I had some internet time and discovered paths some old online friends had taken. Enviably clever, moving from their traditional mediums with skills I sadly don't possess had shown them to have smart business savvy. So I glowered through the evening wondering what piece of the puzzle I'm missing. Then it occurred to me that while we're watching what others are doing, we might be missing our own uniqueness. A reminder to happily stay on our less travelled roads.

Treeman

A favorite illo done for WEE ONES ONLINE. I think of this now as we enjoy new spring buds. The meadow walk, freshly mowed is filled with a tree called "redbud".

Beginnings and endings

Therapy ended for me today. Glad in a way. I don't have a problem that can be rehabilitated so having the tools to go on at home is nice. And my book finally arrived at the library. It's been on reserve. ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS by Rendow Yee. Wonderful detailed book of architectural drawing and sketching from the representational to very technical. I can't wait to dive in page by page.
Need to re-send a watercolor and colored pencil to editor. Australia is a long way even for email and sometimes things get lost. New book (illustrated, not written by me) soon to be released. Will eagerly promote it.
Enjoyed walk along the river again. Took the meadow walk with my family. Dinner in the car with windows down. Wendy's chicken sandwich. My favorite. It sounds strange to eat out in the car but it's much like an old fashioned picnic with windows down; and we have our privacy and space. Great fun.

Boys on the Beach

Love the summery image of children playing near the water. This is a rough graphite image. Enjoy

Schedules

It always happens. My best intentions foiled by someoneelse plans. I'm going to be setting new studio hours. More serious. More shortterm long term plans. today should be an at home plan, and if I work it right, determine EXACTLY when I sit down at the drawing table, I should get something accomplished. I have an idea for a seasonal series and the "winterone" is already on the lightbox.

River walk.

Today we wandered along the river. I kept wishing I'd had a sketchbook to render the fishermen getting the last of the walleye run. Lilly wandered beside Bob and my kids picked up doll flies and aother random fishing tools left behind. I spent some time wondering how one captures the last of the day's sunlight glistening on the water.