I Can't Stay Away From You For Long, Can I?

IT'S THE TRUTH, and I know it. Whenever I get something special in the mail, whenever I create something unusual, I have to share it with you, my beloved blog and blog friends.
I got a birthday card from my friend in eastern Oregon - in Monument. I swore I was going to write to her sooner, and then this card comes and I realize almost an entire year has gone by. I made myself wait for a bit before I opened it, so as to savor the experience, and then I laughed so hard when I opened it and saw this photograph.
This is our 8th grade graduating class from our tiny three-room elementary school. No junior high for us, set apart to distance the genteel village folk from the distracting elements of emerging puberty. Pat said in her card that only two of us looked "normal." I am the goofy one, front and center, and I have no memory of that skirt or blouse. Actually I think the blouse must have been adorable! And the hair looks pretty tame; tamer than it usually was. Pat is in the back on the left. (I think she sees something in my hair. Maybe it's a bug that's crawling down my neck and the photographer told us to hold still.)
Here is the envelope and another official-looking letter I got. Turns out it is official. The auditors at work want to make sure their facts agree with my best estimation of how long I've been working there and when I was born and if my figures of a -32 percent loss on my 401(k) is in line with their tally. Sounds good to me. I thought it was more like -50 percent, but let's keep that quiet in case they double check. Ha ha, boo hoo!
This morning, before I left for work, I had to look twice at the maple tree. A few days ago, nothing; now it's covered with bursts of green waiting to unfurl. (The American elm is first, with no leaves yet, then the maple, then the Sequoia and redwood at back. And the cherry tree dressed in full white blooms.) And since it got so cool last night, the tulips may last a little longer around the "Woman With No Face."
She must be happy about that. And I am too, really, despite being cold.
I stopped at Office Depot tonight and found the coolest folders and gel pens in all colors that I could not resist. And some paper that is pre-punched along one side so it can be turned into a folder with a plastic coil binding. But, first, lots of paint! - femminismo

Earth Day 2009 ... and my thanks to Ma Nature.

WELL, for starters, you're probably wondering how I saved my piece of the Earth today.
The morning began much as any other, except for the bucket I now keep in the shower. I use the gray water that accumulates during my shower to irrigate patches of the yard that get very little water because of the overhanging eaves. So proud of myself! (This is a good incentive.)
Also, while I'm running water, waiting for it to warm up so I can wash my face, I save that water that used to go down the drain. I was amazed how much was wasted. And, I washed out my plastic sandwich baggie to use another time or two. And - well, that's about it for today. Small steps, but they add up.
The Mister was even busier, turning over the earth and adding mushroom compost to what will be our garden spot. You can see our small "potting area." (Euphemism for old picnic table.)
The Mister loves our neighbor's old garage. I sort of like it better when the grape vines grow real tall and disguise it a bit. *Note: I've come back into this post to add this because, after looking at the garden picture, up close it looks as though the fence is falling over. It's not. Not to worry!
We are putting in beans, zucchini, tomatoes and some corn - things we will eat and enjoy. The berry vines, on the posts and wire, produce enough for eating when we're working, or for a small pie when they come on all at once. The only problem with our garden is the lack of sun. Because of the redwood tree to the east and our other neighbor's trees to the west, there's a shorter window of sunshine than we'd like. Well, we shall see what happens.
And last but not least I could not pass by my Disintegration Project without taking a peek. The pages have dried out with the sunny weather we had - which is now gone. It was almost 80 yesterday and then 50 (43 with the wind) today. Brrr! There's a fire in our fireplace and things are cozy.
Well, happy Earth Day, Earth. Even though we treat you badly sometimes, we really do love you - femminismo

I Want More Time! Right Now!

WHEN we first moved into our house, we found the kitchen appliances were practically brand new. They were from the late sixties and we moved in about 1994, but the dishwasher and oven might have been used a dozen times.
Now I think I know why. The retired couple who lived here enjoyed working in the yard, the woodshop, doing crafts and reading: the house was stuffed with book club selections that mostly got sold at the estate sale before we moved in.
The retired couple didn't want to cook or wash dishes. They went out to restaurants and spent their time doing things that were much more fun. (The walls were hung with dozens of decoupaged pieces of wood. Somehow those sold too.)
Tonight, as I faced the choice of preparing dinner or stamping paper with all sorts of paint, I knew where I would rather be!
However, the Mister had worked all day too. I wanted to show you what he accomplished over the weekend. On Saturday, actually, he "lined" - trimmed - the bathroom windowsill with some of the copper he has. It's to match - in material, but not in texture - the copper panels that line the skylight over our as-yet-unused shower.
And TODAY I got "Royal Mail." Rosie sent her Library Card Project and it was so exciting to get it all the way from Leeds. The front and back were decorated. I love it! (The back has a film strip with figures of a man on it, in case you can't see it clearly.)
So now I have gotten nine cards and I don't know about the 10th. I know who has it but I hesitate to ask again because I know from reading their blog, they are a bit overwhelmed right now. I think I will wait and see for a few days and in the meantime prepare the "e-book" of the story and illustrated cards.
I've been having such fun stamping colors on cards and painting some pages in my journal. I have a class coming up May 16, and it's going to be an adventure and lots of fun to take a whole day to experiment with different techniques One Whole Saturday! I can't wait. Even if no one else is there, I'll be having fun - femminismo

Disintegration Means Being Eaten Too!

BITS NIBBLED AWAY, that's what the slugs were up to during December, January, February and March. Hidden away and protected from the elements, the bundled and tied pages provided some protection from the winter storms - snow, ice, rain, sleet.
Now it's April and I could stand it no longer. I wanted to see what had been happening under my Disintegration Project. You can see by these results that the paper or gesso provided something(s) with quasi-nourishment. Yuck!
There were also bulbs sprouting under the pages and weeds growing, so they needed to be moved and rearranged a bit.
It is lovely to see words glimmering through the thin application of gesso, and a little gross but nevertheless fascinating to see words through the "disintegration."
THE back yard is so full of blooming things: muscari and dandelions, yellow and blue, are an appealing color combination. The muscari are loved more than the dandelions, however. The tulip tree is in full glory, so I climbed a ladder to get some "underbelly" views. You can see our redwood tree through the upper part of the tree. Needless to say, it's been around for quite some time - much longer than any of the other trees or plants. Longer, even, than me!
Last pic: the back of the house through the tulip tree.
We're going to a barbecue today - first of the season, so I'd better go do something related to housework. I already made a batch of cinnamon espresso chocolate chip cookies, which I sampled, and that wasn't necessarily a good idea. Not a bad one either, since I'm buzzing with energy now - femminismo

Today Is A New Day.

WELL, actually, today is almost over. Only a few more hours here and it will be tomorrow.
But it was a new day today and somehow it finally worked out OK. Some more gloominess today and trying to figure out what is going on. A good cry, some talking, some work in the yard, took some pictures, had a hot shower, then painted some paper.
April is National Poetry Month and I have not honored it here yet - so let's get on with it!

THE RETURN
Earth does not understand her child,
Who from the loud gregarious town
Returns, depleted and defiled,
To the still woods, to fling him down.

Earth can not count the sons she bore:
The wounded lynx, the wounded man
Come trailing blood unto her door;
She shelters both as best she can.

But she is early up and out,
To trim the year or strip its bones;
She has no time to stand about
Talking of him in undertones

Who has no aim but to forget,
Be left in peace, be lying thus
For days, for years, for centuries yet,
Unshaven and anonymous;

Who, marked for failure, dulled by grief,
Has traded in his wife and friend
For this warm ledge, this alder leaf:
Comfort that does not comprehend.

- EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY

I WANT to show you the little book (up above) I made of my papers I painted (last post). There is a special punch and some plastic binders the receptionist at work uses, and she showed me how to operate this and the papers got put together. My friend, JoAnn, said maybe instead of the plastic, use ribbon, yarn or wire. That sounds good, too. Next time.
Tonight I started painting more paper - greens on one side, purple and pink on the other. Does the transfer of the eye detail look familiar? It was on Seth's blog, a detail from an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I believe.
I also took pictures of my Disintegration Project this afternoon as I worked in the garden. I decided to turn over the book pages and allow the back side to get some of the sunshine due in the next few days. AND I couldn't stand giving the slugs refuge for much longer, so they are now g.o.n.e. Pictures of the pages coming soon. May 1 is the day to figure out what to do with them.
And Judy Wise, who attended, taught and learned at Artfest, is doing some self portraits on her blog, and since I like to steal her ideas, I did my own self portrait tonight. I'll leave you with that - femminismo

Spring Comes Calling At Last.

SUNDAY was a gloomy day for me. I don't quite know what the reason is for my "downness." Maybe you've noticed there haven't been quite as many posts. I've noticed others post about their bad days and health problems, but I really haven't wanted to do that. But this isn't just a blog for others. This is my journal. This is where I go to when I'm remembering the good times and the bad times.
Even this sunny picture here of the tulip tree in the back yard couldn't quite dispel the darkness.
So, yes, life has been gloomy lately and I've been fighting my own unhappy demons and regrets. But I think this keeps things in perspective. My life - no one's life - is all happy times filled with constantly blooming roses and sun shining in every window. Sometimes there are cobwebs in the corners and ugly little spiders lurking about. Memories come calling and bring with them sorrow and guilt. Time flies by and the calendar pages are ripped off one by one without goals being accomplished.
On Saturday I screamed as loud as I could - twice! I was so frustrated. I drew a picture of myself screaming. I looked mad and frustrated in the picture and you know why? Because I WAS!
(Here's a picture of my faceless lady statue in the back yard. A little blurry, but she's getting surrounded with a tulip uprising and the johnny jumpups are creeping up on her.)
Well, today I don't feel quite so hopeless but I can't tell you why. I didn't sleep well last night. I went to work today and it was a fairly busy day. After work I went to the Nordstrom Rack to return a pair of pants and ended up with another pair, a skirt and two cheap, thin tops I can layer like light underwear that will help keep me warm until summer is here. (I am perpetually cold!) I also bought a new purse. It's green. I'll show a photo of that tomorrow. I really hope this purse works out. Buying purses is sort of like trying to find the perfect babysitter for your children. None of them is ever quite "just right."
And I have more pictures of the papers I've been decorating. Can you find the bird I mentioned in the last post? It was a "happy accident" of the paint brayer.
Tomorrow night I am going to go quite mad with paint and do just gobs of these pieces of paper with all sorts of colors. But now it's almost 10:30 p.m. and our accountant still hasn't called with our tax information, so I'm wondering if we will have to file for an extension? Does this mean more money for Uncle Sam? Drat! I shouldn't have bought that purse - femminismo

Mail Call And I'm So Lucky!

MAIL arrived Friday and one package was the cutest little heart-shaped needle case from Arlene at heartrockshome.com. We are doing a trade for this wonderful item, since I commented on it and then she let me know she was going to send me one! (Yay!)
In the other artistically decorated package was the Library Card Project from Nathalie, so I can put it into a book, and she also sent me some of the many library cards she has - with books and authors and stamped "in" and "out" dates on them. These should be really fun to do projects with.
On Saturday we attended an elaborate Easter egg hunt at my brother's and sister-in-law's house. Their huge back yard was stuffed to the gills with eggs, and plastic baseballs hid in the grass too. I think I might even have seen a football, but I'm not sure.
There were plenty of prizes for everyone - with special goodies for the kids who find the fewest eggs. The bunny, who lives in their back yard, has his own special little house at the base of a tree. The tree is hidden away so he gets his privacy, since I'm sure he was busy behind his little door, working away, preparing to hit other homes today.
Little Bobby, my brother, even had presents for his favorite sisters. He is a dyed-in-the-wool kid and we hope he never grows up.
Today I could no longer withstand the siren call of the paint and the brayer and went out to make a mess, rolling the brayer in acrylic paint and then stamping elongated 30# index card paper with a blue foam block stamp.
I used orange, purple, terra cotta, white, yellow and put them all together. As you can see the back of the cards aren't done yet. I then turned them over, drew squiggly lines with an oil crayon and rolled the brayer through white gesso, more paint. I added orange ... hmm ... then what? Don't know. Yellow? Ochre?
Finally I added some blue stamping to everything (down below).
I would like to bind the cards into a booklet and then decorate the "pages" with whatever comes to hand.
I came up with one magical stamping pattern that looked like a bird's head. So magical what you can "see" when you look at these abstract, randomly produced "paintings." (I don't know if you can find it here or not. The papers are now hanging in a spare room drying throughly before I glue/paint/distress them any further.) I think there might be glitter or some shiny stuff coming along, with text from an old physiology textbook and maybe some letters stamped on top of that.
It felt good to be slopping about in the paint, adding this and that and seeing my hands get all colorful too. Therapeutic is what it was - femminismo

Three Hundred Twenty-One Posts, Oh My!

CHOOSING sleep, reading a book or blogging, I find myself irresistibly drawn to the computer and recording some words and thoughts here.
The ancient practice of journal writing made more simple - or maybe not. Sizing the photos and then sitting down to complete the task: There's nothing simple here.
But I have some things to show you. I transplanted two miniature roses in the front yard on Monday and it was very, very warm here suddenly. So when I decided to take a break, I got some water, fruit and then checked in the old mail box - the one that sits by the side of our road - not the one on the computer.
And there in the mailbox was my artwork from Seth Apter, the Altered Page guru. I admire his work so much I sent away for some of it and now got to take a break! A cool glass of water, a piece of fruit (yes, that's a pear that's very well traveled on the bumpy road of life) and a package to open is so.much.fun!
I really like the Madonna and child, Seth, and thanks for the wonderful wrapping. I have taken the plastic bag inside and filled it with the string, tissue paper, and some items from my work table and desk. JoAnn, my pal, also donated some great stuff. Now to leave the baggie of stuff somewhere so someone can make a grand art project from the findings. More fun and nothing goes to waste.
I also worked in the back yard at the potting table, and although I think I've done it again and waited too long, I decided to start some globe thistle seeds in peat pots so I can watch them more closely and then just stick the whole thing in the dirt.
At the back of the yard I was leaning over the fence, admiring our neighbor's orchard and the way the sun was setting in the west. The grass is carpeted with white violets - if you click on the sunset photo and look toward the base of the tree on the left you'll see a bed of them. It appears the tree did not fare well during the snow and ice storms this past winter. Oh I love saying that: This PAST winter!
Here is a closeup of some of the white violets that have crept over into our yard. (The purple and white ones cross pollinate (I guess?) and we have lovely light blue and lavender ones.) The Mister is such a sweetheart, since he puts off cutting the grass until the crocus and the violets have had their time.
The soft, warm spring air is full of sweet flying insects and the birds are getting their fill in this pleasant weather. I hope you are happy, safe and content tonight and I hope tomorrow finds you with something to do that makes you feel even more content and pleased with yourself and the world - femminismo

Spring Is - Incredibly - Really Here.

LIKE a forgotten memory suddenly nudged alive by a quiet reminder, spring has finally arrived. Just when I had begun to think warmth and that certain shade of green in the grass and the riot of birdsong would never come again it's here in abundance.
Whenever I've walked out the front door I've found water all over the stone path and I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't raining. And then I noticed how little water was in the bird bath. Wow! Talk about walking around a Gloomy Gus with my head in the gray clouds.
The cold hard earth is sending up shoots and leaves, and today while I was trimming back the frost-burnt, bent fern to let the new shoots unfurl (say that three times fast) I found other green shoots that indicate the Solomon's seal is well on its way.
The yellow johnny jump-ups are flowering in the back yard and seem to be spreading, which is good news to me. The forsythia, above, and the Oregon grape, at left, have filled in the fence line with yellow and it looks like the cherry tree may be filled with blossoms very soon.
This fine weather couldn't have come at a better time. We'll enjoy it while we can and put some seeds into the earth so on Wednesday, when the rain arrives, it can help us instead of entirely disappointing us.
Here is one last picture of the moon peeking in the sunroom at us while we ate our dinner - femminismo

Library Cards ... Plus One.

A WOMAN of my word, tonight I will produce for you three library cards and one surprise: an epilogue, of sorts.
Dawn decorated her library card pocket, front and back, with a chilling reminder of this disquieting little tale.
She got the very first part of the story and really set the tone for the whole shebang - in my mind, anyway. The kitty footprints on the card's back are also her doing.

The other card I got was from Michelle (Part 2) and I loved it also. Its tin foil heart is perfect for Johnny, the "hero" of the story. These artists have all focused in on elements from the tale and then found just the right words and/or images to put onto the card pockets. I know I've told them all before, but it is really thrilling to see these works and the imaginations bubbling away, turning them into certifiable gems.

Then Nathalie turned hers in, and what fun! There's love in this story and Michelle and Nathalie both illustrate it. Nathalie's working on the jealousy factor. Oh those blushing cheeks!

So what happens, but the other day someone dropped by the newspaper office where I work and left a library card with the receptionist! However, the receptionist didn't get her name and I didn't get a look at the mystery artist and I was left only with my detective skills - which the Mister says are pretty sharp. Here's the card and see if you come up with the same information I did: 1. Has access to a typewriter. 2. Knows the Dewey Decimal System and has classified my "book" under the 700s, "arts and recreation" category. 3. Has access to her own stash of library cards. 4. Knows I've been working on this project. 5. Knows where I work and how I spell my name. 6. Is a creative person.
All deductions, my good Watson, that led me to believe it was CAROL at the Main Library.
And it was!! Oh, I love someone who wants to play my games. (I think I will have to write an epilogue to the story for Carol's card contribution.
NOW, since today is the last day of March, it was the unofficial deadline for the cards - which, to be fair, I did not tell everyone. So JoAnn, my friend at work, marched in this morning with her finished project and it.was.right.on.the.money.
I think all of us felt we might not come up with the "right stuff" and be "good enough," but forget about that. It's been fantastic.
When I get the last of the cards I am going to make a small "publication" and turn it into a portable document file - the story with illustrations. A little digital e-book that I can e-mail out to anyone who wants one. There is a cost however. Comments! Comments will have to be given to the artists. It's only fair - femminismo
p.s. Thanks to everyone who's played. The rest of you know what you have to do now.

Here's The Problem ... There's Too Much To Tell.

INDEED. You let just a couple days go by and so many things have happened - you've experienced such exquisite moments of joy, longing and pure love and now you have to pack them into a post that won't cause those reading to fall asleep or give up before the end. But, then, I'm really writing this for myself. I have to remember that.
Since I last wrote I attended the writing seminar which really should have been stretched into two days, there was so much information. Some good, inspiring information.
My friend, Barb, has been visiting from Michigan, and Saturday night we turned out the lights for an hour - for the good of the earth and its people - and sat in front of the fireplace in the warm glow, listening to the crackle, the faint smell of wood smoke in the air, and just talked. (We are friends for life.)
The Mister said we talk so honestly to each other - Barb and I, that is - and I have to say that about sums it up. There is not much we do not know about each other, since we have been friends since high school.
We went to church together on Sunday morning, to a Baptist church in a nearby town. I knew a few of the people in the crowd - hadn't seen them in a long, long time - and enjoyed singing the hymns. Getting that oxygen in your lungs and then throwing it back out invigorates a person. Singing is good exercise!
We were sitting in the back of the church and it was not crowded that morning. As I looked out over the people I was filled with the sweet sense of how connected we all are, the energy flowing through the woman over there, the child in front of us, the elderly man seated down in front - all the same. I felt such love for everyone in the building and remembered what my mother told my sister: "I just love people. I always have."
I guess I inherited that, for I "just love people" too. Although many times - too many times - it's only "people" in the abstract, at arm's length that I love. Well, I hadn't been to church in a long while, not since Mother's Day about a year before my mom died. Now I feel I would like to visit all sorts of different churches on Sundays and I think I may attend Seder at the All Saints Episcopal in town on Wednesday.
One thing I loved in reading the scripture was this from 2 John 12: "I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete." (Maybe I should have begun this post with these words for I would so enjoy talking with you all face to face.)
After church the Mister and I went up to our property, which is where I found the trillium above. The first one of the spring in my photo album. And don't you love these catkins. I was moving branches and kept seeing "dust" flying around until I realized it was pollen. I like the contrast between the rotting leaves and these fresh, fallen catkins.
This was the first time we've been up there since our December snowstorms and ice. There are several alders down, with one across the bridge, and we had to clear some large branches on the road going in. There is a lot of work to do, much more than can be accomplished in a couple of weekends. We need a work party up there soon.
NOW, on to the Library Card Project. ARE YOU ASLEEP YET? Dawn sent me hers, front and back, and they are awesome. She got the very first part of the story and did a fantastic illustration on both front and back. Love it, love it, love it!
Then I got a library card from Michelle. It combines a couple of elements from the story and made my heart sing! How thrilling to see someone pick up on what you've written and make it "concrete" like this, with substance and heart.
And, someone (a mystery someone) left me a Guerrilla Art Library Card at work today. She didn't leave her name at the front desk so I don't know who it was - but I have my hunches. Tomorrow I will post the library cards - maybe all of them, up to date, so you can see what's happening. One last photo of me and my friend, Barb, for she's leaving on a jet plane tomorrow and I won't see her for a while - femminismo
(Thank you, Ruth, for taking the photo - but it really doesn't look like either of us. haha)

Simple Pleasures Got Tagged.

AHOY THERE! Where are you from and where are you going? Comment me that, if you care to. Seth at The Altered Page is doing a polling of "guests" who pass by. We all wonder who our company is and if they are bloggers (or Web siters too) or just passersby who got off on the wrong track. Leave a comment if you have a moment.
In the meantime, Veronica Funk, Simple Pleasures, got tagged today. I've been thinking about some questions like this. I offered up a couple more, perhaps not quite so ordinary. Let me know if you copy and answer these yourself.
These were some of the questions she had to answer, and a few I've added, replaced with my own answers:

What are you wearing now?

Jeans, black wool socks, green Danskos, green long-sleeved top.

How often do you blog?

5 times a week or more!

Who was the last person you hugged?

My significant other.

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?

My jeans.

What's for dinner?

Ground turkey meatloaf and pea salad.

What's the last thing you bought?

A lamp and small side table.

What are you listening to right now?

Can't hear it too well, back here in the office, but it's a mix of lots of stuff on the 60-disc spinner.

What is your favorite weather and why?

Warm summer so I'm not cold.

What time do you usually get up?

6.45 am

What is your most challenging goal right now?

Getting my head on "righter."
When have you been happiest?
Coaching girls softball one spring/summer.

If you could have a house-totally paid for, fully furnished-anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?

In the deep, deep Oregon woods.

Favorite vacation spot?

Italy.
Last person you saw crying.
Barb.
Last person you saw laughing hard.
Barb.

What movies can you watch over and over again?

"Groundhog Day," "Pride and Prejudice," "Wonder Boys," "Roman Holiday," "Penny Serenade," "Like Water for Chocolate," "Wings of Desire," "It's a Wonderful Life."

What is your favorite tea?

Starbucks Chocolate Hazelnut.

Who are you tagging?
No one. I'll leave them alone for now.
AND this weekend I'll be attending the Oregon Press Women Conference in Troutdale at McMenamin's Edgefield. It will be fun taking a writing workshop from Jessica Page Morrell. She is going to show us how to make our writing *sparkle* - femminismo

Another Library Card ... Another Joyous Celebration.

WHOOPEE! I love you people ... the ones who wonder where they will find the time but go ahead and say "yes" to fun.
Brenda sent me her library card all finished today. (Well, she sent a picture of it, and that's the next best thing.)
I love all of these illustrations because, in my mind, I can see them "happening" in the story I wrote. Thank you, Miss Crafty Chook. You are a sweetheart.
Got home late tonight because I spent the evening out with four fantastic wimmin! All related to me by hook or by crook, we share a lot of history together. There were two mother/daughter pairings and it's so - can I emphasize this too much - nice to sit with your adult offspring and have them openly and willingly forgive you for not being the best mother in the world or always making the perfect decisions.
We have some good wimmin in our family, I'm proud to say. With a catch in my throat and a tear in my eye, I'll say again it was a really special evening out. Even though I missed "Lost" - femminismo