Time and Place

Ok I am still working on setting up my new computer. Files to be moved, saved or discarded. Programs installed and set up. All the while keeping up with the normal attention everyday requires. So last night while doing my usual muti-tasking of tending to e-mails, watching dancing stars, reading Danny Gregory's Peanut on the I-Pad and playing Word with Friends with my mother, I screamed "enough"! So I ran to the studio, grabbed a sketchbook and stuff, went back to my computer and did these in the dark while still watching DWTS.

We are headed to Santa Fe this Friday for a blissful week without computers (well, just the 'pad' - for GPS, you know) where my normal everyday activities will be art galleries, museums, exploring and sketching without so many distractions.

Networking...

At breakfast this morning with hubby looking out kitchen window:

With 8 month old I-Pad between us playing this video:

We looked at each other at the same time in amazement. Who knew that on this day in 2012 we would be eating breakfast watching this thing on an unplugged little piece of electronics, metal and glass?

I can understand why our grandchildren have that vacant look in their eyes when we describe the absence of technology when we were kids. Knowing there is still more to come can be a bit overwhelming.

It has come time for a new computer. I have a Sony Viao running WinXP that I purchased used five years ago for $100 bucks. Paid the same for a later model of same computer that I hooked up for my husband because it had Excel which I never use. Networked us together and believed we would be good for at least 10 years. Ha!

Of course, I am the culprit. With Photoshop, my picture and font files, videos and apps, I have pushed memory to its limit. So I ordered a ZT Infinity with 2 TB's and sporting a 6-core processor! Whoopee!

Should be here today. Now my old Viao will be just somebody I used to know. 

Day 6 of Cat Nanny Confessions

Sharpshooter failure! Extra Frisky Critter! Me and the boys searched high and low cussing and hissing half the night. Finally decided best to turn in but not much sleep to be had. Wyatt at my feet, ears perked at the slightest sound. Buck up on the table tirelessly keeping an eye out where we last spotted that rascally varmint. Dawn cracked and I opened one eye to see Wyatt on the night stand looking particularly proud. I said "Did ya git him boy"? He just smiled. Swung my feet out o covers for my waiting slippers and right there, o man, was my morning present. 

Seems to me like there is some kind o competition between Buck and Wyatt as to varmint rustling. Buck seemed all ticked off at Wyatt and headed up the bluff after his morning rations.  Corky, she just sits back and looks pretty.

After that needed some nerve juice.

Perfect to start or end a day. Adore Chamomile. Reminds me of Granny Julie's Sassafras Tea.

Decided to have my tea on the patio. Beautiful morning.

After we settled down a bit, we read his MAM'S post from over there where she is galavanting in Paris. 

He meowed and sent her his love.

On Loving LA

Delicious salad we had. Vietnamese Cafe. Yummy. Notice the coconut milk? My first ever.

View from a certain window.....

A day later out for a stroll. Lovely singing bird I had to stop and take a photo. Won't tell you what the angry man said. Not important. I think he thought I was hurting the bird.

Adore white picket fences.

Speaking of fences - love this gate! A new take on chain link.

Okay, this is the bottom of the palm tree. Love the vine growing around base...

And this is the top! Tallest palm I have ever seen!

Maybe Californians are used to such tallness...I am used to the short fat variety. 

I am picturing a local native over in Tahiti climbing up there to collect a few coconuts.

Flowers in bloom everywhere.

And it is only March. Hope you have enjoyed our little stroll. MAM has given me directions for the 25, 75 and whole buck tour de gris to explore whilst she is traipsing around in Paris. 

I can see why she loves LA

Rhythm of Life

Ah, yes, it has been over a month since my last post. Mom spent 8 days in the hospital and ended up having a stint installed in a collapsed vein in her heart. The week following her discharge she was tired and weak of course and hardly wanted to leave her room. I am happy to say the last few weeks of her visit we were finally able to relax and spend some quality time together. Although we did not get into making journals as we hoped (except for one I gave her to keep up with all her meds), I was able to share some of my painting methods and she showed me her bead and jewelery making skills. We had a couple of nice sunny days that she sat in my yard and talked to me while I tackled all the weeds that seemed to have appeared from nowhere. She is back home safe and sound and I miss her already. The first 3 days after her flight, I finished tackling the weeds and doing some late spring cleaning and now I am finally getting back to art - hooray!
As in life, it is important to find rhythm in and when we tackle creative pursuits. My sister wrote a compelling article about rhythm as it pertains to the written word in her blog here.

Painters Way To Rhythm


Now I am off to find my muse and get my rhythm back.

Mom on Life

Copyrighted 'Mom at 18'

I will be forever grateful that my 80 year old mother was determined to travel so far to visit with me for two months. We had visions of making jewelry (her passion - she brought a huge stash of beads), art journals, quilts, and of course some trips to the casinos for a game or two of Bingo. She has been here for 2 weeks and 4 days and we have done some of that although most of the time she has been gasping for air and taking to her bed. I had to take her to emergency yesterday and they have kept her overnight for 'observation' just as I and my brothers and sisters have done so many times in the past. She suffers from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder), CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) HBP (High Blood Pressure) , Diabetes and Leukemia. Throw in Diverticulosis and allergies and yes, it is amazing she is still with us. She looks ten years younger and most people are unaware that she has so many health issues.

I leaned on the window frame, above the curtain, where she couldn’t see me, and watched the sun dapple on the balcony and her. The lake below sparkled and danced; at the horizon the sky swelled up behind lazy sails. Sea gulls were soaring and screeching, searching for breakfast washed up from the night before. Two white butterflies wafted up to the balcony cavorting and spinning, seem to say, “Look at me, look at me”! Yet still she kept to her multi-task of working the morning’s crossword and searching for a recipe for tonight’s dinner. She moves her head up and down, finding the right spot through her bi-focal. The bright light on her unkempt hair shows not a strand of gray, but is shocking nonetheless. A soft breeze floated the cheap polyester fabric with its huge red poppies from her shoulder to expose the smooth plump flesh hanging just below. She calls it her calf-a-tan and I can’t remember a time when she never wore it.

I watched her head bob for a few more minutes, when she looked at the window I was standing, then off towards the lake. After 30 seconds, she was back to her crossword.

A long time ago, I remember being a part of the scene I was watching; her gently holding a bird that had flown in the window and was injured. The sun shining on her then made her look as if a high priestess while she tended to the fallen sparrow….. excerpt 'Remembering to Forget'  Journal CAEden 2001 

I hope mom will be with us for years to come. There is still so many layers, so much to learn and remember. On my way to the hospital where I hope it will be good news that she is stable and can come home so we can start our journals.