Eggs & Grapes

In the first pic, steam fogged up my lens so the eggs were very blurry. Photoshop filter to the rescue!

Also from the kitchen, grapes

It's been so long since I posted from a computer instead of my phone, the keyboard feels strange. 

Still Here

I haven't posted anything for two months! How is that possible. Life has been quiet and uneventful (for me, thankfully). The devastation in western North Carolina is , well, it's hard to describe. Small towns basically wiped out by flooding. People are still being rescued, more than three days after the storm. 

It has been 37 years since my cancer diagnosis, always good to celebrate that milestone. My prognosis at the time was, AFTER chemotherapy and radiation therapy, I had a 40-60% chance of surviving five years. I sometimes forget what a dark time that was for me and my family. But here I am, still. 

It's nearly impossible to avoid the political storm in the country. In less than 3 weeks, early voting begins in South Carolina. I can't wait to cast my vote! 

Here's a photo from 2009, taken in Bloemfontein,  South Africa. 

 

Celebrate

I celebrated another trip around the sun. Thanks to my family for making my day special. 

The summer doldrums have a stranglehold on me. No creativity - painting or photography - have occurred for at least a month. I suppose that's not so very long. Perhaps a respite is good for the soul. You can't force creativity, of that I am sure.

A little minor surgery for a skin cancer and now I'm good for another 50,000 miles. 

Time

Holy moley, I've just realized that I painted this 34 years ago. It won a blue ribbon (and I have no idea where the ribbon is today) in a county art competition. I took a photo of the loom while visiting Cades Cove, TN. 

Back then, I wasn't afraid of a full sheet of watercolor paper (22"x30"). Today, I'm painting a 5"x7". 

 

Sally and Sunflowers

Reminiscing about the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph, Charlottesville, VA 2015. One of the guest speakers was Sally Mann and I was lucky enough to get an autographed copy of her book - "Hold Still". 

And a collage of sunflower paintings. I think I should move on to a new subject.

 

New Moon

Lately: 6 month checkup with the doc (everything is cool), covid and rsv vaccinations (had a slightly achy reaction), managed a sunflower watercolor that I'm actually happy with. 

Tomorrow - starting a new acrylic painting. 

Sunflowers and Lists

I'm currently working on a sunflower, in watercolor. I haven't had much success painting sunflowers in the past. As with all things, I'm hoping that patience is the key. 

 I also came upon a poem by Linda Pastan: 

Thoughts for Thursday

It's a beautiful morning here in South Carolina. Coolish temps, sunshine, a light breeze doing its job on the wind chimes, and coffee. There is work to be done inside but not just yet. 

Calming down

After the shark tale, I felt the need to cleanse my thoughts. I've had a sketch waiting for the first brush stroke so I began a new acrylic project. A blank canvas, a blank sheet of paper, both so daunting and taunting. As though the canvas is saying "I'm still waiting... I'm not going to paint myself you know". 

 

No Fishing!

I watch a lot of live beach webcams. I enjoy watching the waves and listening to them as they crash onto the shore. There are often people surf fishing. Yesterday, while viewing South Ponte Vedra island, I watched a couple of guys reel in a shark. Now, their method for shark fishing is using a drone do take the baited hook further from shore than they would be able to cast manually. The drone drops the line and returns to shore. Eventually, a shark takes the bait and is (after much exertion on the part of the fisherman) reeled in to shore where the hook is removed, measurements taken, and released back into the surf. The first catch was a tiger shark and it was kind of exciting to watch. The second was a large hammerhead shark. Again, hook removed, measurement taken, photo snapped, and released. The THIRD was reeled in in the early evening and by now I'm sympathizing with the sharks. This morning, they're still there, having camped overnight. I can't watch any more. Florida is a horrible state. To be honest, South Carolina isn't much better but what am I to do. And with that, enjoy Memorial Day... unless you're a shark of course. 

MidWeek

Today is cheerios and watercolor Wednesday.  This week seems to be test Faye's technical problem solving abilities.  So far, I'm winning.

Refreshing

Coffee, on the porch, 63 degrees - that's what I'm talking about. 

My son took me to a paint-n-sip for mothers day and it was such fun. I'd always wanted to go to one of these parties but had no one to go with. There were about 15 people there, painting tulips and drinking wine. 

Update: I was prepared to write that the painting break had ended but after a couple of watercolor attempts, I'm more frustrated than ever.  

Untitled

Poets don't write about cloudless skies.

Songs aren't written about calm seas.

Broken hearts are the stuff of stories, told over and over. 

 

Welcome, May

For some reason, someone I haven't seen in 40+ years has been on my mind lately. They have been very successful in the business world, that much I know. But why they're in my thoughts now, I haven't a clue. 

Anyway, today is a beautiful day - sun shining, birds singing, a painting in progress. 

  

Goodbye April

I have a memo/picture board in my kitchen area. I've had it for many years. I used to change the chalkboard picture each month; then it became a seasonal update. Now, there's no schedule - other than 'whenever the mood strikes'. 

Pastel sunrise.

 

A short detour

Today is one of ten palindrome days in April. 4-24-24 Along with the pink full moon, what to expect?

I haven't painted in acrylics since I finished the triptych on my backyard fence in Georgia. 

I thought I'd take a break from watercolor; probably just for one painting. Who knows? The differences in the two mediums are significant enough that I have to rethink my process. It's taking me out of my comfort zone for sure. 

April 21

It feels like it's been weeks since I've posted but it's just been five days. It's going to rain all the live-long day, so here are a few pics from last week.

Poolside

My walk took me by the pool area. No, not going swimming, just enjoying the sunshine and flowering plants.

 

Sunday, Fun Day

Washing windows was not on my dance card today but I felt whimsical, so why not. Painting was on my list so I'm multitasking.   

Frayed

Not me, I'm cool as a cucumber! Life is still lifey. 

Eclipse

It was a very veggie day with some eclipse thrown in. I had eclipse glasses so I was able to view the partial eclipse but alas, none for my phone or camera so eclipse shadows are all I have photo-wise.

Blowin' in the wind

This little froggy is the top of a small wind chime. He used to hang outside my kitchen window in my house in Georgia. Then he stayed in a drawer at my previous apartment because they had a 'no wind chime' rule. Now he hangs on my porch and happily swings in the breeze. 

 

Enthusiasm

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." ~Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

Enthusiasm and creativity, I'll take a cup of each, please. 

This photo was taken because I was perturbed (enthusiastically) that the neighbor's visitors had left their shoes scattered (creatively) in the breezeway.

Happy Saturday!

  

Inspiration

Inspiration requires seeing, looking, noticing.

It was a Thursday.  The first Thursday in April. Changes needed to be made. Healthy changes - physical and mental.

Later: Couldn't fall asleep so I read some of my old blog posts. I used to share much more of my thoughts and feelings than I do today. What's changed? Life. Death. Loss. Getting older. Fewer shutter clicks. Have I ceased to recognize the inspiration all around me?

Sigh, so much work to do.

Meanwhile, inside the china cabinet:

April 1

April. I had an enjoyable Easter, spent with family. And yes, Angie was missed very much. Each holiday brings sorrow anew; milestones we'd rather not meet. 

It seems 2024 is on track to proceed at full speed, so hang on to your hats.

Almost forgot the blueberry, feta, and caramelized onions pizza!

 

Shell Game

Mixing neutral colors was an interesting exercise, as well as discovering the different hues of the shell.

Strawberry Math

+

=

 

Be a Berry

This project is a work in progress. The basic idea is a color study of - whatever.