DOG IN THE HOLE STUDIO

It's spring, I know it's spring, tra la la de laaaaaa.

2012-02-13T15:51:00.000-06:00

Ok, I know it's not TECHNICALLY Spring but yesterday I saw the male and female Red Tail Hawk sitting shoulder to shoulder, high up on a tree branch. This morning I got my first glimpse of the Red Fox prowling our yard for lunch. Pretty soon she will be making her den, probably in the old cave across the field.

I will IGNORE the snow falling. It's a mere blip in the forecast.

It will not last. It will not amount to much. It's like the last of the housecleaning going on upstairs. Sweeping what is left of the snow out the door.

Sigh, I know, I know, it's only February. I want the sunshine from Florida. I want the nice weather to go outside and do stuff. And, no I don't mean winter stuff. It will arrive, perhaps not as soon as I would like but it won't be long. Why, they say we will have temperatures in the 40s by the end of the week. I can live with that.

Beautiful sunrise this morning. Actually, a scant minute before I grabbed the camera and took this shot the sky was bright tangerine orange.

Of course, now the cloud cover has moved in with the snow.

I'm back. I'm physically back but my mind keeps drifting off to our vacation. I go through the motions of doing laundry, dishes, straightening up things but I don't feel like I'm back in my winter rhythm.

Tomorrow, I want to get over in the Studio again. I have some projects to finish up for the Senior Center showing and then I want to start on some ideas that I had while on vacation.

The vacation was wonderful. It's probably NOT a good idea for us to stay in places where we can't really just stock up the refrigerator and eat some meals at home. We ate out a lot and my two pound, well two pounds now but four when I first got on the scale on Saturday almost gave me a heart attack.

I realize that vacations can do that. I thought we were watching ourselves but then I thought back to the number of times we didn't share a beer, had dessert, managed to finish those fries, well.........just not our normal eating.

So, this morning I walked an hour on the treadmill. Yes, I cranked it up to 3.0, no hills. I hear you laughing but that's fast enough for me, right now. I certainly couldn't carry on a conversation going at that speed. Why it's practically warp speed. It is!

My daughter has a good friend that stays with us off and on. She's a caregiver for someone and occasionally needs a break from that demanding routine. She loves to organize. Of course, my daughter is more than happy to have her organize everything. I haven't seen that basement area looking so good since before said daughter and her daughter moved in.

She's a keeper, the friend that is. Perhaps, my daughter could observe and mimic her friend's behavior?

One can dream.

Yesterday, Riley and I went out for some Grammy and Riley time. We did have to grocery shop but she doesn't often get to do that so we had a lot of fun. The fruit and vegetable aisle can take up a good chunk of time when you need to name the item and what color it is.

We stopped for Riley to pick out a donut. The young man took her request for the chocolate one with the most sprinkles, very seriously. We had to vote on a couple that he pointed to in the case before one was selected. I had my coffee while she put away half of the donut and her orange juice. She said she was saving the other half for Grandpa but I remember seeing an empty bag when we got home.

Zeus decided to play Chutes and Ladders with her yesterday afternoon. I just shook my head.

Yes, our granddaughter is smarter than anyone else but she isn't 3+ and the concept of playing that kind of game is just a little beyond her grasp. It started out well, well at least until they opened the lid of the game box and then it was downhill from there. Although, they did have an interesting discussion with the game pieces. Yes, they talked to the game pieces.

I have to go now. Apparently, someone left their phone on downstairs and it keeps chiming to let someone know that there is a message. A person can only take that chime for so long. You go do something creative while I go do something to that phone.

:)Bea

Thanks for all the fish.

2012-02-09T19:44:00.000-06:00

These are so pretty. They were on the display counter in the cafe we had coffee, this morning.

We drove around St. Petersburg this morning after coffee. I put some pictures, of some amazing houses we saw, in an album: https://picasaweb.google.com/103795228076678975944/HousesAndBuildingsOfStPetersburg2012# Some of them are just elegant, some the colors are interesting, fences, porches, all kinds of things. I never get tired of looking at different kinds of buildings.

We left St. Pete's to drive back down to Marco Island. On the way we thought we would drive through Ft. Myer's to see what it was like. Honestly, the parts that I saw did zip for me. It's not a place that I, myself, want to go back to. We did find a rather generic named Buffet place, for lunch. NOT a place you want to go if you are in need of comfort food because, that's all they really had. And, boy were the people putting it away. They had a really nice salad bar so Zeus and I were set.

Back on the road, traffic was light, roads, nice but boring. Not much scenery to see.

This time we are on the 12th floor, same type of room. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach just enjoying the sound of the waves and catching some late sun.

We were going to go back to CJ's for dinner but Thursday night is music night and from the crowd of cars, standing people we decided to just hit Joey's Pizza for dinner. Lots of thick Chicago style pizza there. I did try an Yuengling for dinner. Good! Apparently, a Philadelphia beer although I can't remember ever hearing about it when I was growing up across the river.

I'm here tomorrow, Zeus plays golf in the afternoon and then he picks me up and we drive up to stay with some friends in Bonita Springs. Then home again on Saturday.

We've had a really nice trip, lots of laughs, lots of time spend doing things together but it's time to go home and get back into the groove of our daily lives.

Thanks, Zeus for all the fish.

:)Bea

To tiny, just right.

2012-02-08T13:34:00.002-06:00

We arrived in the St. Petersburg area yesterday after a 4 hour or so drive. Not a bad drive, we put the top down on the convertible, then we would pull over and put the top up, after it stopped raining we would pull over again and put it down. We've gotten very slick at doing this.

We stayed in a lovely Art Deco style hotel last night. The Ponce de Leon. Murals painted on the hallway walls. Interesting features, wall coverings, red and gray being the bedroom colors. The only difficulty is that the bathroom was added to this historic hotel much later and it was 2 1/2 " wide if that. If I stood at the sink I had to reach my hand around to my butt to find the doorknob to open the door. Lovely beds but me thinks there must have been some mold somewhere in the air because I woke up having difficulty clearing my throat.

We wandered out of the hotel to find JAVA.

I do love St. Petersburg. It's a beautiful city. There is a nice mix of ages here. I love the streets, the shops, well just about everything. Last night, David, from the Ponce sent us to an Italian restaurant called Grazzi. OMG I had the best red snapper, with scallops and clams, well I thought I died.

Which brings me to a dream I had the night before. I was in a low flying plane that had the cargo doors open. We were skimming over water and instead of parachuting out we were there to cannonball out of the plane. Every one kept telling me it was a lot of fun, we weren't that high above the water that I wouldn't be hurt if I jumped.

So, I did.

I remember distinctly thinking I should take a deep breath now, because that water is coming right up.

No water.

I told myself to take another deep breath that I was going to hit the water any minute now.

No water.

I decided to open my eyes and see what was the matter and I wasn't heading for water. I was sitting in a large factory and a short, energetic woman was walking toward me. She had a whistle around her neck.

"I'm so glad you finally arrived", she said. "We have so many confused here and I need your help".

"Where am I? What happened to the water?"

"Oh, dear, well............you see you died after you jumped, before you hit the water and well, here you are, now come help me." she told me in a rather brisk manner.

And, she thought those other people milling around were confused.

Apparently, she wanted me to round up wandering souls, try to keep them from drifting off somewhere again and get a group together to move on.

I can't tell you more than that. Being the good "follower" I can be some times I did my best to steer wandering souls towards the light. lol Apparently, there is service work on the other side too.

Ok, back to Florida, we found JAVA which was good because I really needed it. My throat hurt, my back hurt and my brain felt like jello.

We packed up the car and drove to the Dali museum. OMG, did I say that before, is it a beautiful building. It's brand new and they have the most amazing collection there.

We had the headphones and managed to get into a guided tour. Well worth the visit.

Then we headed off to the Vinoy, or as it is now referred to as the Renaissance Vinoy. It's been completely remodeled, picture tomorrow. The bathroom is huge, a family of six could live in there.

The pool is heated, the food wonderful.

Grilled grouper with sweet potato strings. I think I could live on grouper. Although, I like a lot of different fish but grouper............yum.

Zeus is off playing the Vinoy golf course with dinner later then off for night tennis. He's so happy he was bouncing around.

I'm happy because I can breath again and I can turn around in the bathroom. I don't ask for much.

I don't think we'll get over to see the Chihuly collection again. I still remember it from last year.

I will try to find the ballroom here because I understand they have a Chihuly chandelier and I would like to get a picture of it.

I'm off to the pool and then later High Tea at the Marchand. Maybe I'll see Paul Newman, Raquel Welch, Julia Roberts, or Brad Pitt as they tell me in the hotel guide often come here.

But, even if I don't glimpse Mikhail Baryshnikov of B.B. King I'll be enjoying my crumpets and tea.

And, I suppose I could get up early tomorrow and join the Qigong group. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Ok, don't forget your pinwheels, campers.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

:)Bea who apparently really need another vacation.

And, if you haven't had enough of this vacation, so far, here are some more pictures for you.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103795228076678975944/StPetersburg2012#

Just some things I didn't want to forget about.

2012-02-06T19:24:00.000-06:00

Just some images I didn't want to forget, from today. The landscaping around practically every building on the island is beautiful. The flowers are just gorgeous.
I have no idea what kind of sea bird this is but he walked just ahead of me for a good portion of the beach. He had yellow feet.
The inside of what was left of one of the imperfect shells collected. Just beautiful.
This was HER creation and hers alone. And, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. I loved it.
I stopped to interview a young man of about 10 years of age who was in the process of building a castle but wanted me to see his completed turtle. Quite impressive. Once he realized I was perfectly serious about his construction he went into great detail and length to explain the sand building process.

We had dinner at CJ's by the Bay and I admit I was hungry but boy was the food good. Zeus had crab cakes with very little filler and a lot of crab and I had scallops that melted in my mouth. Having skipped lunch I said I was up for dessert and I had the pineapple upside down cake with ice cream.
I proooooooooobly should be dead by now. It was to die for.
Normally, Zeus and I share a dessert. He decided he wanted the key lime pie. It was a really nice restaurant so I refrained from smacking my lips when I finished but I did hold up my knife and softly say, WHEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

:)Bea who really looks forward to what tomorrow will bring.

It's beautiful just the way it is.

2012-02-06T15:04:00.001-06:00

The weather page in the USA today has the tip of Florida having thunderstorms on Tuesday, rain on Wednesday, thunderstorms on Thursday, showers and rain on Friday, although it's hard to understand what exactly the difference is and thunderstorms on Saturday. The entire rest of the country seems to be clear of the dreaded green and yellow colors.

Not deterred in the least, Zeus and I ordered up the convertible, put the top down and zoomed off to find coffee. Sitting outside a little cafe we pursued the morning paper until the skies opened up. We're from Wisconsin, by golly, if it isn't snow or ice we endure. We moved to a table with an umbrella and continued our breakfast. Rain poured down splashing off the back of my chair and soaking the back of my clothes, but hey, we're tough.

Walkers started coming into the cafe, drenched, shirt sticking to their bodies but with smiles of satisfaction. You get wet on your walk you feel like you've been through something.

Of course, we had to put the top up on the car. We drove around getting a feel for the Island. We saw these, people here have a sense of humor. Our favorite being the last picture.

We came back to the hotel and Zeus got ready to go off to play golf. He was all happy about the fact that it was cloudy, off and on rain so fewer golfers on the course.
It's not 1:30pm and the sun is shinning, skies are beautiful and life is good on the beach. I don't know how it's going on the golf course.

I walked the beach. I decided to take pictures of things that caught my attention. First and foremost are the shell pickers. I passed men and women with coffee cups full of shells and plastic bags dangling from their arms, full of their prized collections.

I decided to stop and ask people what kinds of shells they were looking for. I'm guessing here but from the response not a lot of people stop them to ask them about their hobby.
One lady said that today her eye was catching tiny little shells. She knew the names of them but I can't remember what she called each one. Another woman bemoaned the fact that her bag had a hole in the bottom and so all the beautiful shells had been dropping out as she put them in. Her companion sadly said they had to walk the beach again to see if they could find the ones that dropped out.

Now, as you can see from this picture how silly the quest was going to be.

I found myself looking at the shells next to me, on the sand, as I walked along the water edge. Then I glanced up and noticed the thousands of them in the sand, right above me.
How silly. I could just sit down and spend the day shifting through that lot if I was really devoted to the cause.

But, I continued to stop and ask people about their shell collecting. Every single one of them beamed when I asked them questions. They described the time of day that they usually like to come, what and why they looked for certain kinds each time and when I asked them what they did with them everybody had a creative answer.

One lady told me she keeps old glass fish bowls on her buffet, at home, filled with sand and her shell collections. Another told me she likes to glue them to stuff. I didn't get into what kind of stuff, I had a feeling that was going to be a long conversation.

I stopped by a husband and wife totting bags. The husband assured me that his bag contained their flip flops but the wife, seeing that I was really interested, got all excited and showed me that "TODAY", she said proudly, she decided to find the imperfit, the broken, the unwanted.

I asked her why. She looked me right in the eyes and said, "Nobody has ever asked me that". Her husband, nudged her, probably thinking I was a reporter or something and said,"Well, honey, she's asking."

"My mother recently died and when I was looking for shells I realized that we all come into the world, mostly perfect in mostly perfect little shells but that life wears away at the shell. But, what is left is the core, it's strong, it's beautiful and it takes eternity for it to become sand."

I asked her what she was going to do with them. "I don't know", she replied.
I asked her if she did any art did she draw? "Maybe I could start", she replied.
I suggested to her that she use her digital camera and take some pictures of each individual shell and the play with the print in a photo editing program. Her husband was nodding saying, "That's a great idea."
I suggested that one or the other of them could do that and the other one could draw the negative space around the shell.
I suggested that maybe she could journal her thoughts as she concentrated on each shell that she had some beautiful poetry inside of her that was just waiting to come out.

They didn't have to share with me. They didn't even have to listen to me, but they did.
They got excited about their hobby. He saw value in what she was doing. They weren't just broken shells anymore they represented something important to her. He got excited about using his digital camera for more than just taking pictures of where they were.

I got to see their eyes sparkle. I like that.

During our ride around Marco Island we stopped at a red light and I asked Zeus, you know the one with the Master's in English, how he would pronounce a word on a sign nearby, KRIGER. He tried to fob off an answer like words have changed over the years and I said, "Hey, what's the rule about short vowels or long vowels?"
Without missing a beat he said, "PrOOOOOOObly, pronounced KrIIIIIIIIIger.

I suspect you had to be there, to hear the long O and long I. I also suspect that I prOOOOOOOObly won't be able to say prOOOOOOOOOOObly right again. Well, it cracked me up but then remember I am easily entertained, she said as she stuck her pinwheel back out the window. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

lololsnort I need to go sit in the sun, I do.

:)Bea who gets very silly on vacation.

We have arrived.

2012-02-05T21:06:00.000-06:00

We were to fly OUT of Madison at 6:30 am but our intended plane had some sort of mechanical problem. Lucky for our full plane load there was another plane just sitting around doing nothing. We had a three hours lay over in Detroit so the slight delay didn't faze Zeus and me. I sat next to a very tall young man who was positively scrunched in his seat. To take him mind off of his discomfort we discussed his tour of colleges for his graduate interviews. I wished him luck.

Detroit has these large plant planters around with large stones being used as decorative mulch. I love how people felt the urge to make their marks on the rocks.

We had breakfast with Don Quixote and he was apparently as tired as I was. I remember when Zeus and I were first married and because we traveled to Wisconsin so Zeus could get his Master's degree in English, in one year.

Zeus provided me with a reading list of books that he thought I would enjoy reading. I sighed and looked at the list and decided to "improve" my reading education by starting with

The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of LaMancha.

I fell in love with the book.

When we took our middle son, James, to college, Boston College treated the parents to a fantastic

back to school type of experience. They provided us with mini lectures and the reading list for the incoming freshman. I wish I still had that list. Maybe I'll see if I can get a new one. I would love to see what's been added.

Here is the view from our 10th floor balcony. Beyond the pool and buildings is the ocean. I'm sure you will be seeing a picture of that in the morning light.

The hotel is beautiful Marco Beach Ocean Resort. Our rooms are lovely.

Ok, I admit I like to see towels folded this way. They make me smile.

I'm tired, it's been a long day. We rented a convertible, a silver Mustang. We're wild we are.

My mother informed me that nobody that lives in Florida would ever have a convertible. That's us, tourists in our convertible. That's me, with my hair blowing all over the place, holding that pinwheel and squealing, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I'll hollar at ya all later.

:)Bea

Only a man would think to do this.............

2012-02-04T11:08:00.000-06:00

Ok, I know I agreed to him putting in tile in the laundry room. He bought me three beautiful photo panels to hang in the laundry room. He hung one and it looked awful against the beige paint. Then he told me that the paint isn't really beige but the same color as the rest of the house, an off white but in the laundry room with the lighting it looked, well, not off white.
So, he goes downstairs to his workshop and brings up new tube lights thinking maybe it's the lighting. Nope the tube lights are the same.
So, we walk around the house holding up one of the panels against the walls and it looks fine against the hallway, fine in the dining room, all the same color paint. Then he holds it up against the Lemon Drop Room wall and POW, WOW, it POPS.

Decision is made, "WE" will paint the walls.

Now, you have to understand, we leave tomorrow morning at 4:00am for our flight to Florida. I'm packing, doing laundry, tying up loose ends. We have a basketball game this afternoon to go to and he's decided to PAINT THE LAUNDRY ROOM!!!!!!!!!!

I'm told, politely, that I am not needed as a helper, he has one already. Of course, I need to take said helper downstairs to have her Mommy change her into painting clothes. Mommy sends her up in a summer dress, Grammy decides is to pretty to wear to paint and she might be able to wear it this summer and even if she doesn't, her cousin can. sigh

We find an old pair of pj's for her to wear.

There is a great deal of chatter going on in the laundry room. Instructions on proper painting methods, instructions on how many times you can dip the roller into the paint container. I block most of it out with ear plugs so I can get on with concentrating on what art supplies I need to pack.

Riley has finished her part and proudly announces that it's time for her lunch and nap.

Grandpa Zeus is painting my laundry room. He's a keeper isn't he? He wants Hera to be so happy when she is putting laundry in the washer and dryer. He wants Hera to hum while she bleaches his tennis shoes in the laundry tub. Hera is so lucky.

But, these are what those special moments are all about. She probably won't remember this time with Grandpa but if she reads my blog books, down the road, she will know that her Grandpa loved her and was willing to take the time to spend with her.

Grammybea prefers to bake cookies with Riley. A little less mess.

I'm going to have one beautiful laundry room when Zeus is finished with this project. New paint, new art for the walls, new tile on the walls and new cupboards and a new tile counter top. I don't know about your family but I have always seemed to spend a lot of time in and out of the laundry room. With three kids and a husband that were into sports I did mega loads of laundry.

My boys tease me about buying their sports socks with different color stripes on the top so I knew which color belonged to each kid. A heck of a lot easier to toss blue stripes in one laundry basket and red ones in a different one for a different kid. Those were their colors too for their posting of activities on the family calendar. Blue, Red, Green, Purple and Black. I could tell at a glance who had to be wear and when.

My brain was already cluttered with information, color coding the kids was easier and faster. If I could have only put a GPS chip in them. I did for my dog, why not my kids?

I still have laundry to do. I still have a "big kid" that plays tennis, soccer and golf. Mary has Riley and little people seem to fill their dirty laundry baskets quickly. My laundry room is well used so I appreciate Zeus making it nice for me.

Perhaps I will rename it to my MEDITATION ROOM. Put in a little stool and sit and think about things while the washer chugs and the dryer hums, ooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm.

:)Bea

Could be a fish........could be a squid?

2012-02-03T09:04:00.000-06:00

Third exercise for the group. This one involved using skeleton shapes on white background instead of black. Interesting to do. At first the white background seemed so stark and I know many of us would have preferred to use a color or black. Again, these exercises are to push us out of our comfort zones, make us "PLAY" . I have to say once I let go of trying to organize and control the shapes they seemed to take on a life of their own.
I wonder how many times that happens in the studio when I think I have this great idea for a project and I push and push and it doesn't seem to want to happen. When I let go, throw down the paint brush then the ideas seem to flow. I do get in my own way a lot.

I missed getting a picture of Sue's but the above are some of the ones created by the 3150 Studio Artists. It seems that the group wants to include these in the show this year so when I get back from Florida I have some serious finishing work to do.

Yesterday we had hoarfrost covering everything. That with fog made for an erie wonderland look to my world. I could swear I heard a different bird song in the morning, too. I haven't seen anybody new at the feeders but the bird call sounded more like a spring call. I know that pesky old groundhog didn't see squat yesterday. Actually, the two that were running around our yard last year didn't even surface as far as I can tell. It has been a mild winter so far but it would be nice to know that we would actually have a spring this year.

Have a creative day!

:)Bea

From a dream place.

2012-01-30T08:17:00.000-06:00

I'm still debating about this piece. There are days that I like it and days that I think it's strange. It's full of texture which of course, you can't appreciate because you can't run your fingers over it but it's there.

Today I pick up Linda and we take a ride downtown to visit the Senior Center. I didn't get down there last year when we had our display of art work up on the walls. Linda O. took some great pictures and shared them with us.

This time I'll see the layout, meet the coordinator and all the good stuff. Then off to lunch.

You know what's funny is that every time I say Senior Center I'm thinking about older people going there, being part of the programs, etc. Then I stop for a minute, seriously, it takes me that long for it to dawn on me that I'm a senior. I could be spending my day hanging out there or the one in Verona.

There are about three times I think about being a senior, pulling into the close parking spaces, at the local library, that are marked, FOR SENIORS. Going to the movies with Zeus and having him get two SENIOR tickets for the movie and Wednesday's at Miller Market when it's SENIOR DAY and you get 20% off your groceries, if you are a senior.

But, it still surprises me to think of applying that title to myself.

The 3150 Studio Artists meet again on Thursday, the 2nd. Then Zeus and I are off to Florida for a bit.

We're staying way down at the bottom of Florida, this trip, Marco Islands. We'll be checking in with my mother on the way. She seems in good spirits these days. She tells me that as long as she doesn't do anything out of her routine she's fine. That means actually using her walker to get from one room to the other, instead of thinking she can just wing it for that short walk.

I'm going to take this "old" body off to the gym to keep it moving before I go pick up Linda.

You all have a wonderful day, remember to try to be creative today, it's good for your soul.

:)Bea

Update on work in the studio.

2012-01-29T16:36:00.000-06:00

I will be framing this, HOMAGE TO HUNDERTWASSER and putting it in the Senior Center Show.
It's a fused fiber piece, started out with the title Around the Block but the more I worked on it I realized that Hundertwasser was influencing my style again. :)

At the last meeting of the 3150 Studio Artists we buckled down and got to work on some exercises.
Not the losing weight kind, although we, Chris, the two Linda's and myself got very involved in what we were doing. The first exercise was to use square and rectangle shapes on a 12 1/2 inch piece of black fabric. We had fused solid colors and lots of felt to work with.
You can't really see it on this piece but the sky blue fabric is really one piece with a black felt piece with square cut out laid on top of it. Then the other colors were added. There is quite a bit of machine stitching added around some of the squares.

The second exercise was to use fused fabric to create an improvised block based on VERTICAL LINES. I have to admit this was my least favorite exercise. I ended up adding sparklie ribbon in blue and silver just to make myself happy.

The third exercise and the one that three our of four people jumped to, skipping the Vertical Line exercise, I shall NOT be naming names. humph Anyway, the third exercise involved improvised collage creating with color and print fused fabric shapes. All three exercises were done on a piece of black cotton 121/2" square. You were to add the improve shapes allowing some of the black to be visible. I'm afraid I got rather caught up in mine and soon, humming to myself the theme from Planet of the Apes. I think that's what it was I began to call this, THE MILKY WAY FROM ZETTI CORKEY'S EYES.
The three and a half hours flew by while we cut and pressed like little kids. It was pure play with some interesting examples completed. You get four people together and give them simple directions and you get 12 different finished projects.
I'll post pictures of their finished work from our next meeting on the 2nd.

These 12 will be hung on some gorgeous bright colored felt that Linda and I picked out the other day.
They will be the start of our collection for the 2013 Senior Center Show.

:)Bea, who hopes you had a creative day.

The studio is overrun with MONSTERS!!!!!

2012-01-29T14:07:00.002-06:00

These are a hoot. I am so proud of the Artists of 3150 Studio Artists for stepping up to the plate and delivering these amazing monsters, for Children's Hospital. There are still a few more to come in but for now the studio is buzzing with these little guys milling around. Thank heavens they aren't animated I can just imagine what trouble they would get into.

They just make me giggle every time I look at them. I loaded them up in the car and took them to Joann Fabric store so the ladies at the cutting tables could see what we were doing with all that fleece I bought. Then I loaded the gang back in the car, (it's like herding cats) and we stopped over at Stitcher's Crossing so the ladies there could get a peek. They, the Monsters were on their best behavior and now are back up in the studio waiting to be showcased at the gallery showing at the Senior Center.

Then they are off to their new homes.

Yesterday, it was so sunny, bright and just a beautiful day we thought we go out and see the new barn/office that the folks that bought our country house place have just built. They have cleared lots of bushes, scrub trees and it looks just wonderful out there. For those of you that have been out there this is to the left of the A-frame and sitting slightly back up on the hillside. There really wasn't anything there before but bushes and part of a grass cut path around next to the woods.

I am so happy to have people that bought the land love it as much as we did but they are actually KEEPING IT UP. His office is part of the barn space and he has a gorgeous view looking out over the valley.

:)Bea

Inside nose freezing hair cold

2012-01-19T08:26:00.000-06:00

I admit it, we, white, North Americans, seem to lack a decent vocabulary for things that happen up here in the north. We have only one true word for snow, SNOW. We have a number of descriptive adjectives for cold but this is a family rated blog.

It's cold here today. BITTER, BITTER cold. I think I heard the wind chill factor was -25 degrees.

Now, that could have just been the weather people telling tall tales at 6:00 in the morning but I ran over to the studio to pump up the heat for today and I believe those weather people. IT'S COLD OUT THERE.

Linda and I met for coffee yesterday and started to pull together some ideas for projects and experimentation for the 3150 Studio Artists, when we meet. We are trying to build on the things that we have tried this past year and enjoyed doing. A lot of working with mixed media and fiber.

The group is in transition again, with one member going off to the wilds of Tenn. another off to Minn. for four months. Some members have health issues and some have just found it hard to work studio time into their schedule so we thought hard about it and decided to open the group up to another person.

I can fit 8 people up in the studio. If we are working on large messy projects they have to wait until warmer weather when we can meet outside on the barn patio or set up down below, inside the barn.

But, I think it's important to have the energy of 8 people playing and having fun up there, in the studio.

I love the exchange of ideas, the laughter, the pondering on how to make lemonade out of a mistake and so forth.

Today, we are meeting just to cut some strips of fabric for the Down The Rabbit Hole Mystery #2. We're on clue four now and the ladies have been going deep into their stash for ugly fabric, why did I buy this fabric, etc. and cutting or ripping it into different sizes strips. Then they have been sewing fabric strips of the same color VALUE together again. Totally, random sewing. This strips won't stay in this arrangement forever. The goal is to use up some of the stash of fabrics that might not see the light of day, pull them together in unusual ways, take cutter in hand and have at it at blocks and strips, something that some of the people have not had the interest or courage to do before.

I'm off to the gym. I park at the far end of the lot and walk in. It's going to be a cold walk. I know I get points for this somewhere. There must be an angel up there that checks off EFFORT, right?

HEY, this might be a good day to snow dye, you think? Something to thing about while I'm at the gym.

:)Bea

We have only one word for it, SNOW.

2012-01-17T08:53:00.000-06:00

Another snowy day. This time large, thick snowflakes with a lot of blowing around. Mary started back to school this morning with an 8:30 am Math class, all the way across town, a good 45 minutes or more with traffic. Of course, with the snowfall, getting the driveway plowed there wasn't enough time to take Riley to daycare. Zeus stepped up and said he would drop her off. That just made Miss Riley's day. GRANDPA taking her to school.
Riley and I made breakfast and I had time to brush her hair and get it in a ponytail before she had to leave. She was miss chatterbox in the car with Grandpa when they pulled out of the garage.

That leaves Mr. Murphy and I to get some things done today. I will have to put on my big girl boots and tromp over to the studio. I shall carry flares in my pocket in case I get lost in a white out.

Kidding aside, I really do love days like this when I don't have to go out and run errands. I love spending time in the studio. Some days I'm not all the productive but the ideas are bubbling around in my head. I have no real agenda, just play.

I need to make myself a note about planting more tall grasses around the boulders, next to the dry stream bed. The couple that I did get in this fall, are big enough, to look beautiful against the snow.

The snow is now coming down so thick that I can't see the farm house in the field behind us. The snow is blowing sideways. I think I need to have another cup of tea before I venture out in this, for the studio. Maybe I should look for those snowshoes..........

:)Bea

All I said was..................

2012-01-16T09:18:00.000-06:00

I simply said I needed a path from the back door to the studio.
Those of you that have followed this blog for some time know that when I have issues to work out in dream time that involved being frustrated and irritated with people, I tend to find myself dreaming about being , in a orange vest, out directly idiots around a ROUND A BOUT.

So what does Zeus do for me? Creates the mother of all round-a-bouts in my back yard.

I'm going to view it as a MEDITATION PATH and Murphy thinks it's a great exercise run.

If I can keep my cool I can find my way from home to the studio.

Some pictures from our visit to the Rainforest gardens yesterday, with Riley.

Well, sadly my beloved Packers did not play their best yesterday and so their season is OVER.

sob

I did get two fleece throws done while I watched the game. By done I mean that I had cut the fringe and then spent the commercial times, knotting it. I think I have about six more to do, when I'm done I'll post a picture before I take them over to the Children's Hospital for delivery. Just something nice and bright, soft and warm for the older kids in the wards.

I have the patterns cut and the faces embroidered for two more little monsters.

I also worked on my Muse soft doll for the Senior Center display. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

I have to go to the gym then run some householder errands then I shall brave the congestion of the round-a-bout in my back yard. I would drive over but the A-1 gets a little crowded midday.

:)Bea Who thinks you all should be doing something creative today.

And, from Wisconsin, AAAAAAAAAARON and LAURA

2012-01-15T08:19:00.001-06:00

Zeus and I had charge of Riley all day yesterday. We started the day off to the French bakery. It's been awhile since we had been there and Riley had to give the owner, a big hug before she placed her order.
Before we left a lovely lady, that we often said hello to when we came in, stopped by our table to introduce herself. It's turns out that Elizabeth also shares a love of photography and she promised to bring her pictures of dolphins for us to see.
Next stop the Olbrich Gardens and indoor tropical rainforest. Lots of families there, lots of moist air, my sinuses loved it and some gorgeous plants and flowers to see. On the way out Zeus bought Riley a little green rubber tree frog.
The tree frog joined us for lunch at Perkins. Midday at a Perkins on the main beltline brings some interesting travelers and folks in for lunch.
Then home for a nap, for all of us.

Congratulations to Laura Kaeppeler, MISS WISCONSIN, our new Miss America. Does anybody really still watch this show? Except for a lot of dirty old men that need to see the bathing suits strutting? Come on folks, this is so outdated. I'm sure Laura is a lovely girl that knows all the tricks and cons for winning any contest. She can sing opera she does have that in her favor. She can reach out to other's like her, children of someone in jail because her father is in jail for mail fraud. I'm sure her winning just warms the hearts of all those other children out there. Headlines, on my computer, said her winning walk in her white bikini stole the show.

Maybe instead of just voting for officials we should just put all of them in skimpy, tight little bathing suits and let them walk the runway. Either that or have them suit up and play the defensive line on the Packers lineup. We'll see who lasts the longest.

Speaking of the Packers, GO PACK!

:)Bea

If you see a pink and brown turtle on it's back.............

2012-01-13T09:03:00.000-06:00

Snow has stopped, driveway is plowed, thank you Zeus. A good day to work in the studio.
I was working on a few different project yesterday and one of them took me down to the storage room. I found a pile of fleece material, that I had bought to make blankets for the teens at the Children's Hospital. Sigh..........I can not believe that I just stacked them up down there and didn't get to them.
I hauled them all out to the car to take over to the studio, with me. I'll cut the edges and then bring them back home. I can tie the fringe while I watch the Packers play, on Sunday.

I want to try to get two more little sleeping bunny monsters done so I have a half dozen of them and then I can move on to another little monster.

Riley is so excited about the snow. She took her snowpants, boots, extra scarf and mittens to daycare yesterday. What a job that teacher has getting all those little ones into their outdoor clothing, marching them outside, uprighting them when they fall down and look like turtles on their shells. Not to mention herding them all back inside and getting them out of all those wet clothes.

Tomorrow, Mary and a friend are driving to Chicago to go to a show and dinner. It's a belated birthday gift. Zeus and I will be taking care of Riley. That should be interesting. This morning she came upstairs and woke me up, climbed into bed with Pinky and Gray Bear and started a discussion about whether pjs were clothing or not. I can't say I understand 2 1/2 year old logic at the best of times but certainly not before my morning coffee.

Off to do something creative, I hope your day is joyful! :)Bea

It's never the wrong season for Pumpkin Bread

2012-01-12T12:18:00.000-06:00

There was no snow falling at 6:00 am but by 7:30 it was a constant, steady fall of tiny little snowflakes. Tiny and all day means it's going to mount up. Big, fluffy is pretty and short lived.
Well, it's blowing and snowing around here. Those beautiful high 40s temperatures of earlier, in the week, are just a memory.
Today, I stay inside. I knew the snow was coming, I went to the grocery story yesterday and stocked up. I have no errands to run, a full shelf of new library books, projects in the studio and of course the every day householder duties.

I'm feeling pretty happy today. I got my published blog books from 2011 yesterday, in the mail. I just flipped through them to see what I remembered.
On this date, a year ago, Zeus and I were sitting in the UW Hospitals waiting while I took four hours of tests to see if that mass on my ovaries was cancerous or not. I remember every moment of that day. I remember how scared we were, how we stayed very close to one another. I remember how I kept pushing negative thoughts out of my mind as I sat in the cancer ward waiting room, waiting to be directed, to another test.

A year has passed. "Wilson" was removed, all is good and I honestly think that I've made a conscious effort every day to make the most of the day and the moment.

I started the morning making chili in the crock pot for dinner tonight. We have a UW Basketball game to watch on tv and chili will taste good.

Once I cleaned up that preparation mess I started going through what had built up on the kitchen counter. Things shouldn't pile up there but some how it becomes the staging counter, instead of the prep counter. I found my Christmas or rather Holiday Baking magazine I had bought, published by Cook's Illustrated magazine. I leafed through it while drinking my tea and then came to the page with an article about making pumpkin break.

I had two can of pumpkin to put away in the cupboard.
I mean a person can put it away or actually make something with it.
The thing I love about these magazines and the Cooks Country books are that the chefs and bakers give you the scientific reason why you should do something and what's a myth. I never went to cooking school and I don't remember this being covered in my Chemistry class and I love learning about the science of food preparation.

I have three medium size loaves cooling on a wire rack. The smell is heavenly. I added toasted, chopped pecans and dried cranberries to the recipe.

If you see these magazines on the news stand I urge you to leaf through them. They are packed with information and some great traditional recipes. There are 62 different articles in the Cook's Illustrated Holiday Baking magazine, every one I think a winner.

I've been watching a Micky Lawler DVD on painting landscape fabric. She's a hoot.
I'm thoroughly enjoying her technique, her excellent directions, suggestions and ponderings. This is something the 3150 Studio Artists wanted to work on, painting skyes. It's probably the wrong time of the year to do it, since it's much easier to dry the fabric outside in the sun but when has that kind of logic stopped us? We'll probably do it twice and see how the results were different.
She has a wonderful book too, Skyquilts with 12 painting techniques for painting landscape quilts.

Make your day count, live in the moment, remember it's all you really have.

:)Bea

3150 Studio Artists meet

2012-01-10T18:30:00.001-06:00

Well, we always meet around lunch time and bring our lunches up to the studio. These aren't your run of the mill sandwiches these ladies bring. This one was hand crafted with layers all prepared, on site.
Impressive!
The next two pictures are some show and tell from the first three hints of our mystery project, the sewing of strip,s together. Not nicely cut strips but wavy, thin, thick and sometimes "ugly" fabrics strips.
I think they are pretty cool. We are getting hints at each meeting. Nobody, well except me, has a clue where this is all taking them.
We covered a lot of general business for the New Year then I brought up some new business. I asked the group how they would feel about doing some service work, as a group and then I tossed the little sleeping bunny monsters I had made. Well, of course, they fell in love with them. I showed them the other 14 patterns, the stack of fleece I had bought and before I could say anything more they were diving into the fabric, picking out their little monster to work on. I wish you could have seen the smile on my face.
You can see a stack of fleece that Pat pulled together to make her one or two little monsters. I can't wait to see the finished monsters. You know I'll be posting pictures.

And, a note for Zeus, the ladies raved about how great the barn looked after all that cleaning you and I did. I think they were very relieved that they didn't have to follow the goat path from the door to the steps, anymore.

The weather people are gleefully telling us about the cold and snow coming by the end of the week. I understand it's their job but they seem to really get so much enjoyment out of it. I know it's probably not a good thing that our temperature was up to 52 degrees today but I sure enjoyed it. I know Zeus did. He woke me up telling me that this was his HEYDAY, golf and tennis! Be still my heart.

:)Bea

So many things............

2012-01-08T08:35:00.000-06:00

Thank you everyone that passed on a helpful suggestion for turning skinny tubes. It's so helpful when people tell me what they use or do especially when they tell me it works for turning tiny little doll fingers. Actually, that's probably why I never made any dolls like that. I love to look at them but the idea of trying to turn little fingers and toes sent shivers down my spine.
I often pick up the Doll Magazine when I am in B & N and take a look at it while I have my tea. So many beautiful expressive dolls in the magazine done by such talented people.

Zeus nixed the idea of a pocket. He said these little monsters where just fun and that should be their sole purpose. He tied the ears together and tossed the little monster back to me. If that's the kind of fun that some little kid in the hospital has with them and it makes them smile when they play with them, that's it, that's the purpose.

Zeus and I seemed to have talked ourselves out of going to any more live UW Basketball games. I'm not sure how it happened, a comment here and a comment there. It's a looooooooooong cold walk for Zeus when he has to park the car and hike it back to the Kohl center. He usually drops me off first.
Our seats are fine, up in the second balcony but they aren't as good as sitting on our couch, with the big screen, cat on our laps and a dog snuggled up against us. Not to mention if one of us has to get up for any reason the TV will pause the live action for us and catch us up when we get back to our seats. Sure beats listening to the radio announcers, in the bathroom.
We got old, didn't we? lol
Nah, TV got better.
I can't say I miss driving downtown in snowstorms, walking back to the car in the BITTER cold, listening to the people behind me talk about everything in the world BUT basketball, the basketball that is right in front of them. I don't have to go to Rocky's anymore and watch the away game, stretched out on the BIG BIG screen and nurse a beer and piece of pizza for the entire game.
It was fun but staying at home watching it with Zeus and the gang is "funner".

Tonight is the beginning of the second season of Downton Abby. I'm looking forward to that. Thoroughly, enjoyed the first season.

I missed Neverland, the mini series that aired in December. Did anybody watch it? Was it any good?
I was really looking forward to seeing it and then December just seemed to slip away.

Ok, off to create more little monsters. Have a day of creating for yourself. :)Bea

One little monster, many more to go.

2012-01-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

The top picture is my little monster. I figure it took me three hours to complete but I'm hoping the learning curve will cut down on that time. I did find my turning hook so that should make it a little easier to turn the skinny ears and legs. I found that I needed to make the pattern for the legs and ears about a 1/2" bigger and then trim the excess away. Fleece does funny things when you are sewing it. It doesn't look like it is moving around but it manages to do so. I also made my life easier by making the back body pattern larger too. Then when I tucked the ears and legs into the center and sewed around the outside of the body it made it a lot easier to adjust when the fleece wanted to slide around. I pinked the edges clean before I turned it. Stuffing wasn't a problem once I got the right tool, a fat marker, to push the stuffing inside. He's about 8 -9" not including measuring the ears. Very soft. I have to say I like working with fleece, it's got such a wonderful feel to it.

The second picture is from the book and that's Fiona Goble's little monster. As you can see I'm pretty much on target. I didn't stray from the pattern. ALTHOUGH, as I was making it I thought about putting a little pocket between the paws, in front and then slipping a little message inside for a child.

Since I plan to send as many of these little guys as possible to the Children's Hospital I think a little note like , I LIKE YOU, might be nice.

The third picture is the cover of the book. I got mine at Joann's using my 40% coupon. As you can see from the cover there are a number of different little monsters in this book. Actually, there are 15 patterns. I copied mine and then drew them on freeze paper. You can iron the freezer paper to the fleece and it makes for easy cutting. I even used my fabric cutter to do the job.

:)Bea

The problem - The turning of SKINNY FLOPPY EARS

2012-01-07T09:24:00.000-06:00

Another mild day here in Wisconsin, unseasonably mild. So mild that Zeus and his buddies are going to play golf today. They found a local course that still had flags up.
I bought some fleece on sale at Joann's yesterday, basic crayon box colors. I'm getting ready to mass produce these little monsters. I did a test run on the first one, a sleeping bunny. Now, remember the body is only about six inches long so that makes the bunny ears long and narrow.

You can always tell when you are a little rusty at something when you hit a snag right off the bat.
Those of you that sew probably know where this is headed............the ears.
Remember, fleece is thick and fuzzy. Sew the right sides together and then TURN.

ARE YOU CRAZY???????????? I can't even get my little finger in there, TURN????????????????

Ah, yes, some of you are nodding, she didn't put a string inside or something to pull the right sides out.
She doesn't know where her turning rod is.
She doesn't know &#$^.

Ok, the last is harsh but honestly, you would think after all these years of sewing just looking at the directions would send bells clanging and flags a waving.

So, now I have to figure out a FULL PROOF way to turn these suckers so I can get on with the long skinny LEGS. It's a minor blip on the screen.

Of course there are no pictures yet. Wait until this weekend. I figure if I can get a number of them cut and sewn that if I have jury duty I can sit and stuff them. If not jury duty then football.

We went for dinner, last night, Chinese, yummmmmmm. Then took in the new Girl WTDT movie.
Good, very good. Very entertaining. Very, very close to the Swedish version. Different crowd. I remember seeing it for the first time and at a certain scene most of the women in that audience gave out a rousing cheer. Nothing in this crowd except for my quiet YES. I was happy to see that Hollywood didn't destroy the story.

Ok, off to the studio to study on the problem of turning skinny floppy ears. I'm open to any suggestions of what worked for you. Pass them on and THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

:)Bea

Sunrise 1.6.2012

2012-01-06T07:35:00.000-06:00

From a local St. John artist.
Beautiful sunrise this morning. Purple and pink bands of clouds stretched all the way around the house.
I can't be on Island time because they are an hour ahead of EST. But, by 5:30 I'm wide awake.
So, I guess it's off to an early start at the gym.

I was wandering around the fabric store yesterday, you know those 40% off coupons just burn holes in your pockets if you don't use them. It's always an interesting challenge to see what they haven't managed to put on sale. They seem to have gotten wise to me and now the blade cutters are on sale so I can't use my coupon to replenish my supply with those. I did find a book that has patterns in it that looks like something I might actually have some fun doing. It's a book about making monsters out of fleece. They are soft, probably around 8-10" big, colorful and I was thinking it might be fun to make them for the little kids in the cancer hospital. Something they can cuddle, something easy to wash and certainly bright and cheerful if not funny looking. It's also something that I can do some hand sewing when I'm watching TV. Pictures when I get started on that project.

I also found a pattern for little people neck supports for when they fall asleep in their car seats. It always happens and these soft little neck supports will help their little heads from falling forward, which never really seemed to hurt my kids but looks terrible and gives Mommies and Daddies a pain in their necks to see it. I found some soft fleece and terrycloth on sale to make one or two of those.
It's washable and colorful now just has to get made.

I'm always full of ideas, plans and projects when I've had a break from the studio. The difficult part is getting my butt in gear and getting to work on them. The studio is just to much fun. I go up there, look around and lose all focus as to why I'm there. OOOOOooooooooh, let's play with this, or hey, I was going to do that! FOCUS, BEA!

Of course, I still have boxes of stuff that need to be sorted and put away. I hate taking the time to do that. I want to CREATE! sigh........ I need some cheese with this whine, don't I?

Another, rather warm day for January in Wisconsin. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I heard Zeus muttering that he was going to play golf on Saturday if he and his buddy could find a course still open.
That is not a normal January sentence I would write.

Enough ramblings, time to get going on the day! I hope that you manage to do something creative.
Remember you can always chair dance.

:)Bea

The art of listening.

2012-01-05T16:04:00.003-06:00

I've seen the Swedish movie of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and loved it. This weekend I hope to see the American version with Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. I don't know how the Swedish star prepared for her role, she did a wonderful job. Ms Mara has apparently gone through a series of transformations and trials to prepare for this part. She dyed and shredded her hair, pierced her nipple, shaved her eyebrows, learned how to ride a motorcycle, studied kickboxing, brushed up on computer hacking and even took skateboard lessons so she would get that 14 year old boy skateboarding stance down pat. I was impressed.
Gee, my old director simply had us do breathing exercises, grapefruit images, under our arms and looking at the character that was talking to you, for our plays.
And, that last item is one of the things that Ms Mara said was the hardest thing she had to do for the movie. She couldn't look at anybody. Most people actually listen through eye contact and when you are told not to do that it seems like your aren't actually interacting with the person. Apparently, when she does get eye contact with somebody it's a BIG DEAL, in the movie.

Remember when you used to TALK to people on the phone? I was reading an article in the Times about the fact that most people seem to like to text each other instead of talking. And, many are not responding to Facebook or emails but rather communicating with friends with their IPhone on WiFi and through the chat rooms of electronic games, like Scrabble or Words with Friends. In fact, if you really want to reach some people quickly you need to log into say Words, leave a message and get an answer. If you use an email or Facebook post you might wait days for an answer.

That's scary stuff.

There has even been a difference in the attitudes of cell phones users in say the airport since I last flew.
And, that wasn't all that long ago. Now, people seem to think it's their right to talk as loudly as they want, where ever they are and the heck with everybody else. I can remember a year ago, watching businessmen go over to the far corner of a waiting area to talk on their cell phones. I remember people in their seats, trying to talk softly in their phones............not what I saw this last trip home. When I watched a young woman speaking in a loud voice on her cp and listing all her complaints about her supervisor she glared at me. Apparently, I was supposed to look somewhere else and ignore her conversation. I grinned at her and kept staring. She moved off to another area.

But she was at least TALKING on a phone.

I have mixed feelings about phones. I dislike them because I like to see a person's face and their body language when I am talking to them. I also like to be able to give some body language cues when I think the conversation should start wrapping up. Phone conversations leave me cold. I get information but I don't get to hug the person. I don't get to pat them on the shoulder or watch their face light up when they laugh.
I don't even use my cell phone. The most handling it gets is when I have to plug in the car charger every once in a while and charge the thing. I keep it in the car as a safety feature in case, God forbid something should happen to me and there wasn't a soul around that had a phone.

I like email but conversations can get cross wired very quickly if you think what you said was said in humor and the other person doesn't take it that way, etc. But, I also like to get my emails answered and not ignored. How hard is it to read an email and reply? You don't have to write a book just let me know you got it and a response is on the way, eventually.

Of course, you know how much I love hand written things. I never learned how to tell a person's personality from their script but I bet there is a lot of truth to the readings.

And, let's see.........of the news from Verona where Epic Systems Corporation continues to grow and grow. They passed the 5000 employee mark this summer. They are still building office structures, the more recent ones will look like large barns. They continue to dig and dig into the earth to create a pit big enough to build their massive DEEP SPACE auditorium which will hold enough seats to host a Big Ten Basketball game. It should be finished in 2013 in time for the User' Group Meeting which will bring thousands of people to Verona.

NOT TO SHOP, mind you. NOT TO EAT in Verona. No, it will just be endless lines of traffic on our back road two lane highway, winding their way into the Epic Complex. The campus is self sufficient you see. Everything you could ever want or need is there. Got to keep all the young ones happy.

Zeus says I need to write an EPIC poem, in the manner of Homer to vent my endless mutterings about the place. He was so pleased with himself when he told me that. I guess I really don't want to see them clogging up my little coffee shops, The Pigs Ear or Tuvula with their laptops. But, a little binge buying in town would help out the local merchants.

And, from the local police report-----------

A local 25 year old man was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, on him, when he came into the police station to be interviewed about a small bag of marijuana and a pipe that were seized from his parked car. I think my grandmother might say he wasn't the brightest bulb in the package.

We are having cheddar, potato soup tonight, one of the family favorites. Think I better get going on making it, heh?

:)Bea Keep being your beautiful creative self.

2012-01-04T07:58:00.000-06:00

I do miss the lush greens and colors of the tropics. It's always amazing to me how beautiful all these colors look against that blue sky.
No sign of snow yet around here. Well, ok, there is a dusting here and there but it's not serious. I know the ski resort people and the winter sports people are champing at the bit for snow but the longer it holds off the happier I will be. At least now I still can see the different shades of brown and rust and the textures of the grasses and rocks.

I took my camera in to Best Buy yesterday. It's under warranty and for some reason, on the trip, I couldn't get the close up lens to give me a nice clean shot. It looked ok on the screen but when I would upload a picture it wasn't sharp and looked a little fuzzy. I stood in line for 20 minutes waiting for someone to pull up the warranty information and make sure I was covered. So, that delay was my fault, if I had planned I would have taken my folder with the information with me. Then I got shifted over to the Geek counter to a young, young man with a slight bit of attitude. He looked at the camera, he played with the lens and by that I mean he played with it, making it go in an out. Big whoop, I can do that. He took pictures of the lens cap and showed me how clear they were. He suggested that I might do better with a point and shoot camera. I kid you not. He took more pictures of the lens cap and told me there was nothing wrong with the camera. I stared at him and seriously thought about ripping the metal rings out of his lip but then hey, "no worries, mon".
I must be getting old or maye I'm still in Island mode. I shrugged said thanks and walked out. Round one .........this child must think I'm stupid. I know my camera. It's not working right. So, I'll take a picture, show them the picture and we'll do this all over again.
I remember last year having to send my little camera in three times before they actually replaced it. It was a lens problem. As the girl at the counter told me, if you are willing to play the game eventually you will get what you want. I think she was talking about camera returns.

Today, I'm off to the gym. Despite, healthy eating, no real snacking, lots of floating in the salt water I didn't gain any weight but I sure didn't lose any. Isn't it funny how sometimes you can feel lighter, fool yourself into thinking the belly is smaller than it was and look you can see the veins on my feet and still not have lost an ounce?
It's back on "program" that's "Life Style Program" or healthy living or whatever the PR is now for watching your weight.

Then a few errands and over to the studio. I really need to touch base with my paints and fabric.

I hope you have a creative day. :)Bea

A New Year, well aren't we lucky!

2012-01-01T19:25:00.000-06:00

Nothing like the first day of the New Year. Gives us all hope doesn't it? Clean slate, thoughts of "this time for sure", new beginnings, chance to get it done, get it right, a DO OVER.
I haven't given this new year much thought, honestly. I'm happy that I had this past year. It seemed to go by very quickly but them I tend to say that about all the years, months and days.
This wonderful vacation seemed to slip by too fast. It hit me as I was saying goodbye to James and Caitlin and Curren. They left the house first, to have breakfast and then get the ferry over to Red Hook on St. Thomas. We had lunch with Justin and his gang before they too left on the later ferry for Red hook.
Zeus, Riley and I came home and changed and went back to the beach for one last swim. When it was time to leave, Riley turned to the ocean and said, "Bye, Ocean, bye beach". And, then like every other day she fell asleep in her car seat before we had even started back up the hill.
Tomorrow we drive over to Canel Bay Resort for their buffet breakfast then back to Cruz Bay to return the car and wait for the ferry.
A friend staying in our house, in Wisconsin has emailed me to tell me that there is just a dusting a snow so the roads should be clear for our drive home from the Milwaukee airport. We won't get in until close to midnight, a long day of traveling.
I will probably spend the day, on the flights, thinking about the past. Remembering all the fun that we had. I can almost guarantee that I won't be making to do lists for home. I won't be setting goals for projects, or weight loss, or whatever. I just want to savor and imprint in my brain as many memories that I can.
There is plenty of time, heck 373 more days to do that.

:)Bea

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!

2011-12-31T14:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, we are still here enjoying the sun, beach and family togetherness. Amazingly, everyone from big to little seem to be getting along just fine. Grandpa finished reading Bunnicula to the grandchildren, last night. Mary, Justin and Shari went down to Skinny Legs bar and grill to celebrate her 29th (golden) birthday. James I think had planned to go down but fell asleep with Curran. They had a good time listening to the local bands playing.
We spend another long, sunny day at Maho Bay, the beach being perfect for little people and older people that don't appreciate large waves. The water was crystal clear and we watches Needle Fish, little schools of tiny silver fish and Angel fish swim around our legs. The Angel fish seem to like to rub up against your leg like a cat. Feels very strange but doesn't hurt.
A small turtle kept Hayden's attention as she swam out with the snorkel folks to watch it.
The Sting Ray continued his/her swim back and forth along the beach. People follow it's progress but all leave it alone.
Tonight we are making pizza and tomorrow the Neal's from Boston and Minnesota travel back home.
The Verona Neal's leave the next day. A great beginning to the new year.
As the end of 2011 approaches, I am grateful for the friends I have both online and in real time. I'm honored to know you. I am grateful for my family that plays well together, enjoys themselves and their own families. I'm grateful that Zeus and I have had another year together and that (knock of wood) we seem to be in good health.
I don't make resolutions anymore. My only goal is to take one day at a time, make the most of it I can, follow the ten commandants, tell people how much they mean to me whenever I get the chance, try to do something for someone and be responsible for what I am supposed to be responsible for.
It doesn't seem like earth shattering things but it takes being aware and alert and keeping my eyes, ears and heart open. It's making sure that I don't take the easy way and that along the journey I stop I offer a helping hand.
I just finished a book where a young woman recently passed on to what she called her real SERVICE. She said that earth is just boot camp and do it like a Marine and you'll be ready for the real work in the next life. I like that Stormy, well said.
So, dear friends and family we move into a new year, 2012, a year full of wonderful CREATIVE possibilities for all of us.

With lots of love, your friend, :)Bea

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

2011-12-25T09:20:00.000-06:00

Here we are, all 11 of us spending Christmas and New Year's at St. John's, VI. Weather running in low to mid 80s, short showers early and late in the day. We found a beach with hardly any wave action which is great for the little ones. Every once in a while a baby Sting Ray would make it's way back and forth along the shallow part of the water. Not interested in us at all, although most of us on the beach were VERY interested in it's whereabouts.
Santa apparently knew where to find us and everybody took turns opening their presents from Santa this morning.
The Minnesota Neal's have gone for a hike up and down a mountain. The Boston Neal's have opted for the beach again. The Wisconsin Neal's are enjoying a little down time in the house.
The other night they had some rolling blackouts on St. Thomas and St. John's. Makes life a little more interesting traveling the two lane roads, driving on the left side, switchback curves and no street lights.
But, OH THE STARS, which by the way the name of our house of here, on top of the mountain is In The Stars. The night sky is amazing. You forget how it looks when you don't have any city glow to take away from the scene. It certainly reminds you that the possibility that we are the only ones in the universe is really pretty slim. Just seeing the Milky Way is amazing.
We celebrated two of the three birthdays, Justin and Caitlin on the 23rd. Since both families were traveling on the 22nd we moved the date. The travel day, down here, is really enough to almost make you swear you will never do it again. Two planes, a long full van ride from one side of St. Thomas to the other, a ferry ride and then the picking up of a car, in a crowded little downtown, loading up, remembering to drive on the left and then up the mountain. It takes about twenty minutes from town to the house traveling switchbacks, praying that everybody remembers to keep on their side of the double yellow line when traveling down the mountain.
I think my last words to Zeus before I fell into bed that night were along the lines of "shoot everybody". I think I was low on sugar, grease or fat, something.
The next morning you wake up to the island bird song, warm temperatures and a gorgeous view and suddenly all is well.
Justin and Mary got the Memory pockets last night at dinner. There were quite a few stories shared and lots of laughter. I decided to spread them out and not cut people short on their story telling.
It was great because a memory that Justin had sparked a memory for Zeus and James and so forth.
Everybody seemed to get into the swing of it and I was really glad I had decided to go ahead and do it.
My secret Santa was Caitlin and I got a gorgeous string of purple, turquoise and gold stone like beads with matching dangling earrings. Way to go Caitlin, you nailed my colors.
I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful day with family, friends or whatever buddies make you smile.
I hope that your Christmas has some magic and that your dreams are full of creative ideas.
Last night I saw outside, in the dark remembering how we all gathered on the deck, faced the valley below and kuzooed everybody with a rendition of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Then we sang it out and wished everybody a Merry Christmas! I'm sure it could be heard all the way down to the harbor. and I hope out to all of you.

:)Beachbumbea

I dream of sand and salt water.

2011-12-13T08:02:00.001-06:00

Zeus came home with a bag full of musical instruments, for our trip. He and Riley tried out the kazoos, the slide whistles, the cow bell and other assorted cool noise makers. Apparently, he has a plan for us to go Christmas caroling, while on vacation. We have friends that stay, in a home, on St. John at the same time that we are there so I guess we will pile into the car, go up the mountain and kazoo them until they toss us money or a figgy pudding.

Still no snow and I am knocking on wood as I type that. So far, this winter has been mild and that is quite alright with me. Snow in late December is even easier to deal with, then I only have to think FOUR MORE MONTHS of winter.

I decided to make this little project for Christmas Eve dinner. I found a Christmas flannel sheet with a wonderful winter scene on the border, at St. Vincent's. I washed it up then cut it up and sewed it into little pockets using the border decoration on the front of the pocket.
I've been going through old pictures and notes and letters picking out things that I can put in the pocket. My plan is for the adults to each have a pocket with a few select things in it that they can share a story with the entire family. I thought I would tape the conversation or video tape it. Since my boys can't seem to follow through with sending me any picture of their wives, when they were small I am going to have to improvise. I've made up a list of questions and I'll pick a select few, make them into little scrolls and tuck them into their pockets.
I didn't want to leave out the older grandchildren so I am going to place a little scroll at their plates and they can ask any adult one of the questions, on their scroll. Questions like: What is the silliest thing you've ever done? or If you didn't have any bones in your body and so didn't have to worry about breaking any of them-what activity or stunt would you try that you otherwise wouldn't?
This should be interesting.

I've been called for jury duty in January. Yes, I know, my civic duty but frankly I think this process needs a little fine tuning. This will be my third time to be called in 40 some years. Zeus has never been called once. What's up with that?
And, yes it's inconvenient, the 3150 Studio Artists meet for the first time in the New Year on that Tuesday of the week that I am called. I do not want to be deciding somebodies fate in life, I want to create. Sigh.......it's all about me, you know.

My suitcases are out and open and I am throwing things in I think I absolutely have to take with me.
This weekend I will pare down what really has to go. In the meantime, the cats are having a field day crawling around in there and Murphy is looking slightly concerned about them, the suitcases, that is.
Field glasses!! Must remember to throw those in, gently.

:)Bea

Once upon a time..........

2011-12-12T08:41:00.000-06:00

Alma, the third beauty in from the left was an actress, for a short time, in New York. She was my grandfather's sister. I didn't know her or even that she existed. I found out about her from a first cousin that is as young as my children. I don't know what plays or films she did all I have are some pictures that my cousin shared with me.
Last night Zeus was talking to his only remaining sibling, his sister, on the phone. I heard them sharing some stories. I listened to a one sided conversation but from what I could hear I had heard those stories before. Their fathers' life was reduced to a few selected stories.
I've been working on the family genealogy and sometimes I can find a story about an ancestor, on the Internet. Something that was passed down in one branch and thankfully someone decided to post it on their genealogy site.

I've discovered a big quirk of mine. It only took me 63 years but I am bothered, BIG TIME, by the loss of personal histories. Perhaps, that has something to do with coming to a certain age? Everybody has stories, some rather mundane, some wonderful, sad, fascinating, ordinary but it's the stories that connect us. It's knowing, hopefully sharing a story with a person that I think we need, as humans.
The stories help us understand one another and ourselves, our history and so much more.

I came across a story about an ancestor on my grandmother's side of the family. A large strapping Swiss, he and his wife came to the New World. They fought off the Swiss guard that wanted to keep my ancestor in the country by throwing stones at their horses. They came to this country like thousands of others for religious freedom, land and a chance to live the life they wanted. Even when a panther threatened their little stock of animals they worked as a partnership and Christian wrestled the panther and Anna Margaret slit it throat with her carving knife.

Well, that's how the story goes.

I think, in our genetic makeup we resonate to stories. Just like sitting around a campfire, we can be silent with one another, as we stare into the flames It triggers an ancient memory of the clan sitting around the fire. And, there was a storyteller, there was someone that was the holder of the memories who told them to the clan. Stories that helped the group with their moral direction, stories that entertained while perhaps teaching a lesson to the younger ones. Stories that connected the clan to the clan before them, stories that gave them pride and motivation.

Stories do get lost, forgotten and even dismissed.

I guess, you my reader, are in luck. As long as I can tell some stories I'll keep sharing them with you.

In the new year, a friend and I had a thought that we might go to the local senior center and start collecting some stories from the senior members of our community. It's been done before and perhaps it's time to do it again. I also think that we can work some sort of small wall hanging, done by the storyteller, into this project. Perhaps, I'll cut out shapes and patterns of material or paper and as a person shares some of their history, I'll have them play with an arrangement of the pieces. Maybe, my friend and I will take these home and work them up into some piece of art. Maybe we'll have a display put up with the art quilts and the stories. I don't know, just mulling some ideas around in my head.

Think about your stories, think about the people around you that might have some stories that you yourself should capture and put on tape or paper.

:)Bea

Thoughts about the holiday season.

2011-12-11T09:13:00.000-06:00

I try very hard to slow this season down. I try to forget the commercial push that seems to surround us starting in October. I don't want my December to be one of rushing around with a list or schedule of things that need to be done.
A friend and I were having coffee, the other morning and she told me about taking a day trip with some friends. In the car they were sharing memories of some of their favorite moments from Christmas pasts. One woman told them about her Christmas tree and how they decorated it with edible treats and little candied cherries and candles. She said that during Advent, on a Sunday, they could choose one treat to remove from the tree, after dinner. She said that she spend most of the day curled up in a chair, staring at the tree, making her decision.
No one in the car could ever remember hearing about candied cherries being hung on a tree.
They arrived in Cedarsburg, Wisconsin and went to the Tourist Booth to get a map. There, on a Christmas tree, in the lobby, they saw candied cherries hanging off the branches.
Of course, like most of us, they babbled about the coincidence and then somebody thought to ask the information person where they could find these cherries.
Off they went to a candy shop. I have no idea how many of these candied cherries actually made it back home to their respective trees. At least one person will have started a new tradition in her family.

Christmas can be a difficult time for newly married couples. They may come from completely different backgrounds and traditions and now have to blend, ignore and compromise them into new traditions.
Zeus and I came from different backgrounds. Mine was from the more the better, which ranged from the amount of tinsel thrown on the tree to the number of inexpensive presents under the tree. Zeus came from a family that gathered at the grandparents home, waited for the dining room doors to be slid back and the table top size tree, brought down from the upstairs closet. He shared the holiday with cousins and family.
We may have driven up to Shamokin from our house to celebrate Christmas dinner but Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were spent with usually one or the other parent. Somebody was always on call or duty, with one being a nurse and the other a policeman.

In 42 years, Zeus and I have managed to work out a compromise about celebrating Christmas, although some years were harder than others. If you have relatives sending presents to your children, that makes for a number of presents piling up under the tree. If two of your children have birthdays on either side of Christmas that adds to the confusion. When our children were young I would watch Zeus's eyes grow wide at the amount of gifts gathering under the tree. Add that to my philosophy that fun things were for Christmas vs his one good, well thought out, well planned gift and tempers would rise.
We worked it out, although one year, thinking we had got a handle on this, my mother in law arrived and looked at the tree and said, " Oh, my, look at all those gifts!" There was a certain horror in her voice. Zeus looked at me, enough said.

Our old house was gorgeous at Christmas with candles in all the windows. We entertained all our friends at a huge open house. The house was completely decorated. There were trees in all the rooms, a tree in the room we called the library, laden with musical instruments, a large potted tree branch with white lights, in the dining room with all the glass ornaments hanging from it. A Teddybear tree stood in the hallway and of course the fresh cut tree in the living room. I was a regular Martha Stewart clone at Christmas.

There is no tree this year. I figure we get off this year since we had two trees last year. Remember the one we bought at the garden center only to have every single needle fall off of it before we were two weeks past Thanksgiving?

This year is the year we have the whole family and it's the year we are fortunate enough to be able to go to St. John's again. Christmas Eve we will all be gathered around the table on the deck, enjoying the warm breezes and watching the fireworks. Zeus will read the Christmas story to the grandchildren before they go to bed. Christmas day will be spend with family and friends as we gather on the beach.

And, that's what it's really all about, isn't it? Spending some time with loved ones, no matter where you are. Spending some time with people that seem happy to be with you. Sharing the gift of LOVE.

So, however you are spending the holidays I wish you and your loved ones whether two legged or four a very healthy, happy and creative season and New Year.

:)Bea

A post from Zeus.......

2011-11-28T08:42:00.002-06:00

Today, we have a guest contributor to the blog...........ZEUS

Justin and family were here for 2 days, an abbreviated Thanksgiving. Short, but a very special holiday. Granny B hit just the right note with the boys when she gave them each a pair of nifty pajamas. They put them on early, wore them late. Hayden got a voice modulating microphone, which tended to make everyone sound like the mice in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Cool. I took all three on a short "hay ride" at sunset Friday night before Riley and Mary returned from their trip. Hay in the cart was a little damp but no one complained
.
The boys got a chance to break in the new B-ball court when they arrived. It was still very warm, maybe 50, and not dark yet . It was a big hit, and with the basket down to 6 feet. everyone could make baskets.
Yesterday was cool and rainy, so we goofed around the house most of the day. Justin, Hunter, Sawyer Riley and I went to Menards in the morning. Riley was in line with us, and getting frustrated with her shoes, which didn't fit right. She looked down, put her hands out and just made the normal sound an adult makes when they are frustrated, like Huuuumph! Justin broke up. We took orders and picked up Subway for the troops on the way home.
All but B, me and Riley (who was napping) went to the Muppet's new movie in the afternoon. Then we watched some Wisconsin football, then all out to Pizza Hut for supper.In between there were a couple of rowdy games of Crazy 8. Hunter and Sawyer almost fell off their stools laughing when Grandma B mentioned that she couldn't see one of her cards because her booby was in the way. Last night Justin, Ma and I watched "Analyze This." a somewhat silly but funny movie.
This AM, I played tennis with the troops for a couple of hours, then everyone was having a pretty good time until they had to leave for home. All three kids were really in good spirits this trip, virtually no bickering. I took Hunter and Sawyer out for some cold weather b-ball around lunch time, and they really got along well together. I acted as goofy as I could, as usual.
I was filling the hot tub tonight, and the hose coming out of the bathroom spring a leak, spraying quite a bit of water on the floor. I discovered this when I was talking to Riley near the foot of the steps and she said "Look, it's raining." And so it was. No harm done, just got the floor wet in the storage area. When later she was helping pick up and put away the cardboard "blocks," 4 at a time, she mentioned that the floor was wet. I said yes, I had made a mistake. She said "You'd better clean that up." She was up in the kitchen a little later, and I got her a small bowl of ice cream with a little chocolate sauce. She ate some, then decided it was time to go back down stairs. As she rounded the corner, she waved to me, said goodbye, the "Thanks for making me the bowl of ice cream."
Later, I went down stairs to help get her ready for bed. First we took turns reading each other from her books, trading them back and forth. Then she got out her little plates, saucers and cups, and she pretended to serve me all kinds of food and drink, most of it from the Culver's menu, where B and I usually take her on Tuesday night while Mary is in class. At one point l asked for some lasagna, and she said "Lasagna coming up." Right after that, she looked at me with this smile/grin/leer, and said "I want lasagna too." Hard to explain, except she was just bursting with the thought. She really does like playing pretend cooking/serving. I always pretend to drink up her Baba full of milk, which sends her into hysterics.
Finally I insisted it was time for bed. I tried the "I'm tired and want to go to bed too" ploy, but this time she just suggested I should go to sleep in her bed. So I leaned over on it, but she said "all the way!" I pointed out that I wouldn't fit, so she covered the top half of me up with her blanket. Then I asked her to sing me a song.
I asked her for a song about Baltimore and darned if she didn't sing to me in the sweetest little voice, the first 6 lines of "Round the bend I think I hear a steamer dear." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It's the song I sing her several times a week when I put her to bed. And she had learned all the words.
I did object when she threw a fresh diaper at me "just in case" I guess. Finally I got her into bed, sang her some songs, and off to sleep. All in all, a great Thanksgiving holiday memory.

Post Turkey Day

2011-11-25T08:10:00.003-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. Zeus and I had this Thanksgiving off. We are on the Christmas round this year so we spent yesterday working around the compound, putting up tree wraps on the young apple trees, getting the house ready for #1 son and family to arrive today.

I made chili and we watched the movie Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks. Zeus reminded me that after the first mission when the first pictures of our beautiful planet were sent back to Earth it was hoped that we, as a species, would see how beautiful the planet was and take better care of it.

It was a nice thought. I think we have very short

It is probably our last warmish day today. Zeus is off playing golf with his buddies. The weather map shows winter like weather arriving this weekend from the north and west. I guess I'm ready for it.

#2 son called from Boston while we were watching the Packers beat the Lions. He works for New Balance a American based company that provides all their employees a turkey for Thanksgiving. Not only do they make great shoes, I love mine, but they seem to have some old fashion ideals of taking care of their employees. Here's a shout out for them!
#3 daughter and daughter are celebrating the holiday with good friends and their family.

I'm off to finish getting ready for company. Going to make some gingerbread, it makes the house smell great not to mention it's good to eat.

:)Bea

I thought you loved me.

2011-11-21T10:40:00.003-06:00

NOT FUNNY!

NEVER GOING TO SIT ON YOUR LAP AGAIN.

GOING TO LEAVE FUR SPITBALLS EVERYWHERE........................

HOW COULD YOU?????????

is that a can of tuna you are opening?

It's a good thing.

2011-11-21T07:59:00.003-06:00

Not my work but I think it's beautiful,perfect for the season. I wish I was over in the studio working but life always seems to have other plans. Today, the workmen are coming to finish putting up insulation and drywall in the lower part of the barn. It seems like that shouldn't really make any difference on what I am doing but shamefully I have to admit it meant carrying up the boxes that I stacked on the landing. A lot of boxes. Boxes I still have to sort through, organize, toss, give away. Well, that for another day.

Today, I also have to tackle getting Louie into his crate to take to the vet. The door will be open, all exits locked down and hopefully a successful round up. I'll let you know how that goes.

I need to start getting the guest room cleaned for company after Thanksgiving. Justin and family are coming down for the weekend. I've been using the one guest room as a staging area for Christmas present wrapping and mailing. Guess I better get that done and out of there.

It just seems like my life is a serious of domino's. Can't do one thing without doing another and another. Is yours that way too?

I let Murphy outside this morning and noticed that A RACCOON, a nameless one had tipped over the metal can holding the birdseed and had itself a little feast. Cleaned that up in my pj's and boots waiting for Murphy to decided if the large orange things moving across the field across the road needed barking. It that season again. I certainly hope my lovely stag with the nice antlers manages to evade the hunters this year.

My rock salt for the animals comes looking just like beautiful rocks. I put three of them up by the Moon Goddess statue in the hopes that it will keep the deer hanging around my yard or woods.

I don't play fair. I understand there is a glut of deer and they cause damage and I understand there are "good" hunters out there that dress the meat and provide for their families. Good luck to them, but for the rest of the idiots that are wandering around in the fields, yes YOU who decided to take a pot shot at my barn, one year, find another hobby.

I'm down officially five pounds now. By official I mean that the next morning it didn't disappear when I weighed myself. I'm in week three of my new "readjusted lifestyle". By week three I find myself mentally chanting, "You have no need for salty things" "You have no need for a muffin top" and so on. I've increased my walking by length of time and speed.

Young Thing consultant, suggested that I walk the track instead of the treadmill. It's as if they have to say something different. She suggested that the treadmill was pulling me along. Give me a break.

I can hold the handrails up at heart level. I can increase my pace gradually as I warm up. I can watch TV as I walk. I don't trip because I'm walking in one place, at one pace and when I walk the track I seem to slow down a tad when the herd of Young Trophy Things run by. They are scary. It likes having a band of Amazon's run up behind you, pass you, all in identical looking workout outfits, blond hair, pulled back in ponytails, bobbing as they run. Their ears and fingers sparkle with diamonds. No, I prefer the safety of my treadmill and bike, at the gym.

A ha, I see the workmen pulling up the driveway. This is a good sign for the day.

:)Bea

One cat, two cats, three cats, four............

2011-11-18T13:28:00.003-06:00

NO WAY, NO HOW, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME and as I pushed and shoved the rear end of a 23 pound cat into the cat carrier he planted his front paws and pushed back out again. I tipped the carried on end so he would slide down and into the carrier, he slid and then pushed against the back end, which happened to be unlocked and squeezed his head out.

So, there I am pushing his butt in and watching his head getting squished by the top and bottom of the carrier. I tried to open the back top and bottom to readjust it enough to flip the locking devise when he burst out of it.

So much for taking Louis in to see the vet.

Cleo, sitting on a box nearby, enjoying the show was much easier to grab and shove into the crate. She told me all about her outrage as we drove to the vet. One cat is as good as the other, in my book. I've got an appointment for Cleo on Monday, we can just switch them around.

Cleo, now a mature 13 year old tiny black cat is rather docile. She purrs and rubs her head against my shoulder while we wait, in the vet's office. The technician comes in and starts to reach for Cleo. I back away and suggest that she get someone else to help her. I can tell by the look, in her young eyes, that she thinks I'm a neurotic old lady but I've given her warning. I tell her that Cleo doesn't tolerate strangers very well, new situations very well and has put both Zeus and I in the hospital with a cat bite.

"Unhuh", the Young Thing mummers.

She reaches for Cleo. I hand her off and back towards the door. From somewhere deep inside this 13 pound cat comes a strangled hiss, spit and growl that sends the hair on the back of my neck straight upright.

As I grab hold of the door handle Young Thing shoves Cleo back into the carrier, shouting, "Nice kitty, nice kitty."

There is nothing nice about the sounds emitting from the crate.

I open the door and Young Thing tells me I can wait in the office for the doctor. I tell her no, I'm going out to the waiting room to have a cup of coffee. I want no part of what needs to be done.

I'm not going to be the bad guy here.

Young thing glares at me and then remembers her manners. I close the door and go over to the coffee machine. I'll sit and watch The View while I hear cat yowls coming from behind some closed door.

Once home again, nails clipped, all shots up to date, Cleo emerges from the crate to be inspected by Murphy. "No big deal", she purrs and saunders off to get some food.

Louie peers down the steps at me. As I put my foot on the first step, to go upstairs he scoots off to hide. He doesn't trust me. Not one bit.

But, his turn is on Monday. SURPRISE, SURPRISE LOUIE.

:)Bea

Time traveling again.

2011-11-16T08:17:00.002-06:00

Isn't this a wonderful piece of paper? Well, picture of a piece of paper. In some research I am doing on my extended family, I came across a book about one branch and it had some wonderful pictures of stern looking people, run down castles and letters of agreements, wills, etc.

I absolutely love to see old script on a page.

As I have mentioned before I'm going through a rather large box of things that I had saved and packed up when we moved 11 years ago. I'm not sure if I had been through it before we moved just moved the box. Anyway, I'm finding all these letters, little notes, pictures, cards that my children made for me or sent me. I also am finding letters from relatives, nieces and nephews, etc. that are mostly thank you's but still wonderful to read.

It also has come to my attention that I don't really have anything like that from my grandchildren. They have email accounts and even though they are young and even though I have sent them emails, there seems to be a lacking of response.

When my mother got a divorce I remember my father taking me aside and telling me to type anything to him. If I wanted to write I had to do it by hand. I also remember being so angry at both of them that I swore I wouldn't so much as put pen to paper, in my lifetime. But, hey, I was ten.

My mother worked and using a typewriter was second nature to her. She typed everything and I suppose that's where part of his resentment lay. What he also neglected to mention was that he didn't write letters, period. So, imagine my surprise when , digging in this box I find a hand written note, to Zeus and I, from my biological father.

See, I think I remember things and now I'm finding out that some memories seem to be hazy or lost or foggy or in this case BURIED.

SET SCENE: BACK IN TIME

Zeus goes to Boston to pick up middle son, at college and drive to Baltimore to stay with Grandma, for a visit. Along the way, they decide it would be a great idea to bring daughter and father together. They meant well.

Of course, it also means that they dismissed all my comments about my relationship with said father.

So, they stopped in New Jersey and surprised the man and his family and had a visit.

They were so proud of themselves for tracking him down, visiting the local police station, where he had been a Chief of Police, now retired.

They had a nice visit, Zeus wrote it all down in a story, for me.

They traveled on to Baltimore, so pleased with their adventure and so sure that now they would bring about a reconciliation of daughter and father.

Over the years, two more visits with my family in tow before my family gathered around me and agreed that I had been right that visiting him was not healthy for any of us.

I like his wife. I like my half brothers. I have difficulty connecting with my father. He has trouble connecting with me, enough said.

I write this because this blog gets turned into a book at the end of the year and it's a record of my life and memories, for my family. So, sometimes even the not so nice memories have to be recorded.

BACK TO THE PRESENT:

So, I hold in my hand a handwritten note from my father, to Zeus and I, thanking him for visiting. Since he NEVER wrote anything to me I stare at the letter and think that he had hopes for connecting. He thought it would work out. I stare at his handwriting thinking it doesn't look like mine at all. My handwriting looks like my mother's and she didn't even teach me to write script. It's a letter of hope but not of reality.

The reality is that my father is still after all these years unable to let go of the hurt from his divorce. He is unable to see me because he doesn't know me. He sees my mother when he looks at me. Two visits made it clear to myself and my family that actually seeing "me" brings out a side of him that surprised his family but not me.

It is what it is. I keep in contact with his wife, I send cards at the appropriate times. I made him a healing quilt. He doesn't know it's a healing quilt but if he uses it I hope the positive energy and prayers, I sewed into it, will help heal his angry feelings, towards my mother. I keep his wife updated on pictures of the family and Zeus and my health and welfare.

I'm at peace with the situation and I hope before he died he too can come to piece with his issues.

All this, brought on my staring at handwritten ink, on a piece of paper.

Are pen and ink that powerful? Have we lost something when we lose the handwriting of someone? Does printing illicit the same emotions as when we discover a letter written in script?

Why do we love script so much that we even make stamps of it, to use in our journals?

I saw, Stampington magazine was selling a well known artist's designs of script writing, for stamping in journals, for $8.00 a stamp!

:)Bea

Oh and BTW if you want to turn your Blog into a soft bound book go to BLOG2PRINT.com and REMEMBER TO TELL THEM THAT Bea of Dogintheholestudio.com sent you. I get points.

Have no idea what I will use the points for but it sounded like a good idea. :)

Through a glass, darkly.

2011-11-15T08:23:00.002-06:00

I've been sorting through "stuff" again. It seems to multiply when left alone to long. I found a box with old letters, cards, pictures and stories from my past. While watching the Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings, last night, I shuffled through the box, pulling out a letter, reading it, laughing out loud or wiping away a tear and them tossing it over to Zeus for him to read.

The strange thing is that I can remember when I was younger, when my children were little but I seem to see it all through some sort of veil. It's me but it isn't me. Am I making any sense?

It all seems so terribly long ago.

Two and a half years ago I was exploring where my new "retired" life was going to be taking me.

The studio was being built, I was making plans for people, whether young or older, to join me in the studio to create.

I've been a grandmother for 11 years. My grandchildren visit on a fairly regular basis considering they live in Minnesota and Boston and have very busy, active lives.

When Riley and my daughter moved into my house my role intensified. Now, I was involved in the daily growth and development of a little person. I honestly hadn't expected that to happen.

Zeus and I ate out a lot before, now I cook more because I want Riley exposed to good wholesome home cooked food. I have the time to put a traditional dinner, on the table. Actually, as my daughter said the other night. "It's nice to have dinner ready when we get home it's like having a "wife". I guess everybody would like a "wife". There are days when I certainly wish I had one.

Tonight, I pick up Riley at day care and we go out to dinner. Grandpa will meet us and we will have salads, corn dogs and chocolate milk. Certainly not a GrammyBea prepared meal!

When Riley announces from the bottom of the lower level steps that she is going up to see Grammy and Grandpa I am reminded of one of Woody Allen's movies, where the families lived in an apartment building. Maybe they all lived in one apartment, I can't really remember .

The whole experience seems to flash me back to a period in the 20s or 30s when extended families lived together.

Some day's it's really nice and other's I can do without the extra mess, the putting on of my happy face when I just want to grump around until my coffee kicks in. It makes me sad to hear her cry but I know she and her Mommy are working things out. I know I have to stay, upstairs and let some things run their course. She makes me laugh with some of the things she says and does. And, laughing is probably the healthiest thing a person can do for themselves.

I pull out a picture, out of the box and I can remember when that son was that age. I remember him from the picture. I can't quite wrap my head around what my day to day life was all about back then. Some times it just seems like I'm peeking into somebody else's life, you know?

:)Bea

Taking a step back, in time.

2011-11-14T15:30:00.005-06:00

I've been cleaning out the storage area, AGAIN. What seems like it should be a once done finished job seems to disorganize itself over a matter of months. I did unearth some interesting stories, written years ago, or perhaps one could call them memories of the moment.

Because my blog is for my family and friends here is something dedicated to my daughter, Mary.

Her hair, still wet, gives off a clean but slightly chlorine smell.

Curls fringe her high forehead.

I'm proud of her. She has worked so hard, practiced every day for two weeks, laps and laps of swimming. Far more than I could ever do. Her dives reflect care in mastering how deep to go into the water. How to hold her body as she plunges from a height that makes me queasy just to look at it.

She has overcome every mistake she has made in earlier meets. She is ready for this one.

As she lined up for her first event she would look around, in the bleachers for me, holding up her right hand and wiggling her upright little finger at me. I returned the sign knowing how important good luck signs are. I watched her head, encased in royal blue with a gold octopus bob through the water, her arms flashing with a strength I didn't realize she had, she would turn on the speed. You could see the moment it happened and whole seconds were shaved off her time.

It's hard to appreciate this sport that demands so much from the individual. Progress is measured in seconds, tenths of a second, turns are executed smoothly by somersaults under water.

Tension builds up so quickly waiting behind the block to start. I can see her shaking her hands as if to toss of the excess nervous energy.

She never seems to really know how fast she has gone. Every time she popped her head up, at the end of her laps and as her time was announced she would look up, in my direction, in surprise and her face would light up. Such a beautiful sight.

Wrapping her up in her over sized pink towel I would remind myself that this is why I gave up entire days to sit through these meets, just to see her feel that good about herself.

Maybe next year she'll want to play basketball or softball whatever she chooses I know she will play it with confidence and dedication, just like she has her swimming.

:)Bea

Our first snowfall of the season.

2011-11-09T11:24:00.003-06:00

It started out raining, this morning, cold, damp and rainy but while I sat in the waiting room of Farm and Fleet, addressing Christmas cards it turned to hail then snow. Maybe I should have worked on my checkbook instead?

My car seems to be a southern belle, at the first sign of colder temperatures she gives a huge sigh and lets the air out of her tires. I thought maybe I had run over something, AGAIN, but apparently, all four tires just needed air. The shock of winter approaching, I guess.

I did take the bull or rather the TV remote, in hand, in the waiting room and getting eye contact with the two gentlemen, sipping their coffee, asked them if it would be all right if I turned off the talk show featuring to pole dancers showing off their skills and then getting into a "cat fight".

Honestly, that crap is too much anytime let alone before I've had my coffee.

The eye contact seemed to work, it was like having their grandmother stare them down. I continued to keep the remote close to me for the next two hours.

After a long but rather productive wait I hustled off to the market. The snow now coming sideways and furious. No gentle big puffy flakes for our first snow just a howler.

Riley has taken to suggesting what she would like for dinner when I am going out the door, in the morning. Today, while waiting for her mommy to get the temperature right for her bath a naked two year old stood next to me, holding my hand and asking me, in a whisper if we could have spaghetti for dinner. Yesterday, it was meatloaf. Since when did 29 month old kids have food requests?

Yesterday, the mixed media ladies met, in the studio. After much tossing around of names for the group we all seemed to settle on, 3150 Studio Artists. Once we all agreed we moved right on to learning how to use watercolor washes and transparent acrylics on our gessoed pieces.

Time slips away when you are having fun and after three and half hours they were ready to wrap up their experimenting.

I'm trying to remember my fairy tales. I've been watching Once Upon A Time on Sunday nights and thoroughly enjoying the story line. I can't for the life of me remember why Snow White caused the Queen so much unhappiness. Or why the Queen just plains hates Snow so much.

Any ideas? Anybody remember the original fairy tale?

Zeus had a brilliant idea to wrap the willow tree with Christmas lights. He did the trunk and three branches and now, at night, it looks like a brightly colored palm tree. The wreaths are hung on the barn/studio and the candles are in the windows. It's very pretty to see from the house.

We will skip the cutting down of a Christmas tree, this year. Since the family is taking off for warmth and the Island I see no reason to leave something that might cause a fire, topple over when Louie gets bored and tries to climb it or just drops every single needle on my floor.

Make time to create something in your life. It's good for your soul.

:)Bea

Pre-winter blues.

2011-11-03T08:26:00.005-05:00

I'm still holding on to thoughts of summer. It's windy, cool, damp and soggy around here. Of course, that is much like a lot of places in the north and yes, we don't have snow still sitting in our yards but it's still pre winter, late fall, not my favorite time of the year.

The colors are gone from the trees, the fields have been cut. We did hear a pack of coyotes running through the woods and yard the other night. Murphy was impressed.

The new red leather couches have arrived. I was surprised when the delivery truck came and it was just the driver. He, older than me and looking much out of shape, hauled in the couch and love seat. I encouraged him to take a number of breaks while he was pulling the furniture up the hill on his trolley. We talked about his old Polish Dad, making White Lightening with the Indians in exchange for hunting rights on his Dad's land and how young employees seem to think they know everything and can't learn anything from an old goat.

I know that when he retires in a year, at age 65, he and his wife are going to travel the United States in their Airstream. He has it all planned out. I asked him how his wife felt about this news and he looked surprised. He said he knew she would be happy to go along with the plan.

While he restrapped the couch to bring it in the house I suggested that he sit down with her and at least present the idea, now. Give her some time to adjust to the idea. He honestly seemed surprised, "What's to adjust to?"

Oh, I don't know, the fact that she has had a life in her home, her town, her friends, her activities, her hobbies, interests, shopping, whatever. That being in an Airstream, 24/7 with her husband might seem, to him, as heaven but to her not what she had on her TO DO list for that year.

He told me that she would be happy to go see her children and their families. That he planned on spending about a month at each boys house. I suggested that he run this by them too.

I really didn't want to dash all his plans and hopes but the more he talked about it the more it seemed, from a outside prospective, a disaster waiting to happen. I wanted to remind him about that old expression, something about dead fish and visitors don't smell so good after three days.

I wished him well, on his plans, I hope his dreams work out for him. I hope his wife survives the trip.

I'm listening to Riley taking a shower downstairs. She's singing, in the shower! Nobody, in our hose sings in the shower. Where does a little 29 month old kid learn to to that? She makes me laugh, a lot.

Got a call from second son and his wife, last night. Caitlin had her checkup for the baby and all is good and it's going to be a girl. Needless to say, everybody was extremely happy, except Curran who doesn't even understand why his Mommy's lap is getting smaller. I wonder what Irish name they will come up with? They both have a Bridget for an ancestor. hint, hint.

Got a new book, in the mail, New Creative Collage Techniques by Nita Leland. It has 60 projects and 60 artists in the book. I can't seem to put it down. It's not because it's new stuff but rather it's one of those books that comes along that seems to inspire me, get my creative juices going, gives me things to dream about while doing the laundry. I don't get a penny for endorsing this book but it's one that I think my mixed media group is going to be working with over the winter.

Each chapter has a discussion about a subject, for instance the opening chapter is about collage and although that isn't new to many of us it talks about when it began, truly began and where it is now and headed. Then there is a demonstration , a glossary of correct collage terms, which honestly some were actually new to me and so forth. I'm probably not doing justice to the book so if you get a chance to stop in a bookstore, look for it and take a look at it yourself.

I've been doing collage since high school. It's a style a feel very comfortable working in. I don't remember learning it in an art class. I remember submitting my collage entry for the program for the Senior Play and winning. Art class itself is a blur. I think I spent most of my time flirting with a guy named Chip.

When I had tooth surgery, over an Easter vacation, when I was a junior in high school, I spent the recovery time creating a large Madonna like image, her robes made out of eyes, cut out of magazines. It was really quite amazing but I lacked any real training so the poster board curled up and the paper peeled off.

:)Bea

It's happening again.

2011-11-01T06:44:00.003-05:00

Blogger just isn't letting me publish an edited post. Yesterday's is still sitting in the lineup.

There is something to be said about writing with pen and paper, into a journal book, diary or backs of envelopes.

I want to thank all of you that emailed me or commented about the Type II diabetes post. That's probably one of the big pluses of having a blog vs scribbling in my journal. The support the the suggestions the thoughts and prayers were all very much appreciated.

I didn't make GREAT progress in the barn yesterday. I managed to finish a tiny portion of painting the wall, went back to the house to make some lunch and ended up taking a nap for 45 minutes. Probably today will go the same way except today I will be hauling, stacking, sorting and trying to get as much organized on the shelving as possible.

I took a number of shovels over to the landscaping company that did all our work, for us, this Summer. We have no need for so many shovels and Taylor was grateful to get them. He says they go through them pretty quickly.

When we had the place, out in Ridgeway, we planted hundreds of little tiny pine trees, walnut, oak and something else, I forget, on yeah, walnut.

We organized tree planting parties and friends with their families came out, planted their trees, ate good food and had a good time.

Then the drought came.

You can imagine where this story is going.

We hauled hoses down to the lower field. We tried to keep everything alive. Something chewed holes in the hoses. The drought continued.

Next year we started over again.

Our friends, always willing to party in the country, joined us once again for a tree planting party.

That year they made it and continued to grow. The oak trees not so well but the walnut did. At the time we were planting, per instructions from the DNR to plant trees for harvest. That meant you planted them close together.

The trees that we didn't get into the ground at that planting we "heeled" in, up by the house. Easy to water them until we could get back to them and sort out where they needed to be planted.

When we sold the house, last January, the pine trees were probably about 15 feet high, the walnut, even after I chopped them down one year, towering over 8 feet tall.

We aren't so good about follow through, sometimes.

The new owners seem to like the screen of pine trees next to their driveway, who knew.

I still think it's very odd that I don't miss some places. I drove by our old home, the one we gutted and rebuilt, from the inside out, the one where I was often quoted as saying, "I'll be leaving here feet first" and nothing. I parked and gazed at the house, felt just fine, waved goodbye and drove off.

I guess when you are ready to let something go it doesn't hurt. I was ready to let the house in the country go, too. I loved the land, I loved the view but I resented the time, the householder time it took just to enjoy the place. The older I get the harder it is to get done what I have to do and find time for what I want to do. So, I was ready to let someone else love that place.

My heart goes out to anyone that has to move from a house, a place, away from friends and family and they aren't ready for the move. It must be so painful and scary. A house is just a house but it's shelter and I can't imagine how some parent must feel when they lose that shelter and have to find a safe place for their children and themselves.

I can't imagine a business that deals with this kind of heartache hosting a Halloween party where the theme is The Homeless. I can't even imagine being an employee of that business and attending that party dressed as a homeless person and mocking them by dressing like them and waving empty liquor bottles around. What happened to these people? A doctor said they were just trying to deal with the hardships that they have to see everyday.

I don't buy it. I don't think we get to give people like that an excuse for their unkind, thoughtful, hurtful behavior. Frankly, I think the Puritans had something going when they had public stocks and people had to stand in the square, heads and hands in the stocks and be humiliated for their behavior. But, that's probably one of the reasons my mother thinks I am so "Midwestern" in my views.

Well, the firm, in New York that handles foreclosures, did have a Halloween party like that, last year and a former employee did send the pictures to the New York Times and of course, the firm had "no comment". Shame on them.

Well, as usual I've wandered off and around through the woods. Thanks for taking the time to visit today. I hope that you create some time and space to do something creative. I can't tell you how important it is for your physical, mental and spiritual self.

:)Bea

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL YOU CREATURES OUT THERE

2011-10-31T08:24:00.004-05:00

I'm not ready to let go of fall let alone deal with snow so my heart goes out to all of you that received an unexpected snowfall this past weekend.

Zeus and I saw the new movie Footloose. We walked out when the lead female character screamed out at her father, in his church, that she wasn't a virgin anymore. I had nudged Zeus a couple of times before that saying I was bored to death and could be go but he wanted to old out to the end to see the final dance number.

I tried taking a nap, it didn't work.

There are just some movies that you shouldn't remake, period.

Kevin, oh Kevin, if anything this just made me want to watch the original, once again.

I did finally find the night that Once Upon A Time is on, Sunday evening. They had the first episode at 6:00 and the second, the new one, following at 7:00pm. Still enjoyed it.

Murphy went to puppy day care without a costume this year. He won't be bringing home any prizes today.

I have a morning of sorting and organizing, in the barn. God, I will be so happy when this job is done. Zeus really worked hard on painting the wallboard and building the shelves in the corner.

Both of us are ready for some jobs to be over and never to be done again.

:)Bea Create, create and then create some more.

"You had a good run."

2011-10-28T21:11:00.002-05:00

"You had a good run," Zeus said, when I told him that the nurse had called with my blood panel results and I registered a 7.3 and now officially had
Diabetes II.

What a bummer. My first response was to just ignore what I heard. Pretend nobody had told me. Go back to the time before I had blood work taken.
Childish, I know but I really didn't want to deal or face the fact that I now had a disease that would never go away.

Good news is that catching it this early means I can can good control of it and my lifestyle. My body is healthy, well except for my blood sugar levels. No damage done, at this point in time.

So, I bought a juicer. It had well known, male talk show hosts picture on the box and I thought when I bought it, it was the one that he advertises, on TV.
I brought it home, unpacked it and something held me back from doing what I normally do, all the time, jump up and down on the cardboard box and put it in the burn bag. I just carried it downstairs and stuck it in the garage. I plugged the "juicer" in and stared at it. It was like looking at a blender on steroids.
It was huge. It was too tall to sit under my kitchen cabinet. It was black. Everything on my kitchen counters is white.

And, it wasn't a juicer.

It apparently was an emulsifier.

So, I returned it this morning. Not a juicer in sight, in the store, so I went home empty handed. Then I got the phone message about my blood work. Then a friend told me that juice is the worst thing for her, sends way to much sugar into her system.

I guess I wasn't supposed to buy it.

But, then again......... I was really looking forward to that spinach, carrot, mango drink.

:)Bea

A sun needs arms all the way around.

2011-10-27T09:40:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite local back roads has this tiny little bridge over a tiny little creek. It's a place I love to stop, get out of the car and just enjoy my morning coffee listening to the water moving over the rocks and the peaceful serenity of the spot.
I recently read about a blog, by a friend, that said she had given up on her photography for the time being. She had lost interest in it.
I understand that happens, God knows I've certainly done it enough myself with different projects.
So, while leaning over the bridge railing, sipping my coffee, this morning, it occurred to me that one of the reasons I and other like minded people lose interest in projects is because our original intent might NOT have been in our best interests.
This person upgraded her camera with the intentions of creating a business of taking photographic pictures of people. I'm not sure you can combine, well at least in the infant stages, an intent to make money with a passion.
Friends of mine that have turned to Ebay and Etsy to sell their quilts have told me that they have ended up creating a quilt that will sell. It's not the colors or pattern they might have wanted to do but it's what Ms Public wants to buy.
I have had people ask me how long something takes to create and what do I do with it when it's done. A perfectly ok question but one that means that the starting gate is to making money.
I take my camera out to the back roads and take pictures of probably the same things over and over, different times of day, different light, seasons, moods, angles, etc. I do it because I enjoy it. Whatever I am taking a picture of is something that resonates WITH ME. I need to take the picture. And, when it's self published in a calendar or book and somebody tells me that they really love it and would love a copy, that's nice. That's an end product.

This is not a judgement call on others.

I'm just musing about the idea that when we create something with a OUR PASSION foremost and forgetting the big picture that we allow our soul/inner creator/creative self/whatever you want to call it to express itself fully.

There is a period of play and then we slip into that creative mode, that moment of time when we actually forget about time and the outside world. That we are the eyes, hand, voice of something much greater than ourselves and if we are lucky and our little hands and eyes and voices can express that inner creative self we create something that other people can resonate with or to.

I'm not sure that can happen when we are thinking about it being a "product". When we are trying to please potential buyers. When we are working on something that doesn't capture our entire being while we are working on it.

I was sorry to read that my friend had put away her camera, for a while. I wish I lived closer so that I could take her out for a ride and no not slap her silly, but show her how wonderful taking pictures of trees, or creeks, barns, streams, fields, rusted walls can be. JUST PLAY.

On a photo outing with Murphy I may take 100 or more digital pictures and only one or two make it into a keep folder. It took that many for me to slip into that mode to use the camera like it was actually part of my vision. It wasn't a waste of time. It wasn't for profit. It's actually for my health and well being.

I need to create. When I don't I start to slip into an unhealthy state of being. It's not depression it's just a off balance, not feeling whole. And, the by product of that is that I can very well get sick.

I was drawing pictures with Riley, 28 months old and she was making a sun with arms. I made a sun but didn't put arms on one side. She looked at it and then me and said, "Grammy, it's not right, it has to be whole, arms all the way around."

Maybe we are all a little bit like little suns and we need to make sure that are inner rays of light are streaming all the way around, making us whole.

:)Bea, who now has to go do laundry and resume her balance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2011-10-26T07:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to youuuuuuu, happy birthday Little Bea who is now much, much older, Happy Birthday to you/me.
Yup, 63 today. I can remember quite clearly what I had for breakfast, what I did yesterday, where my car keys are but for the life of me I can't remember where I hid the Christmas presents I bought for the grandchildren, this summer.
As a dear friend often says, "Life is Good" and how right she is.
The guys came yesterday to put the winter cover on the pool. Soooooo sad to see if covered up. I know I will be excited again, in the spring, to have it opened up.
I cut the lawn for what I think is the last time. Managed to get it done right before this loud crack of thunder and a rain shower.
Honestly, this 19th summer seemed to go by very, very quickly.

I loaded firewood from a tree that was cut down, into the tractor wagon, then hauled it up to the front deck, unloaded it, walked each heavy log back to the log holder and in the process managed to pull a muscle in my upper arm.
So I either need to do more upper body strengthening or less log loading and hauling.
I'll probably opt to do neither of the above. I'm a slow learner.

Riley is very excited about the upcoming birthday cake. I told her she could pick out what kind of cake Grammy should have for her birthday. Apparently we are going with a yellow cake, chocolate frosting with lots of pretty flowers. It floors me that a two year old even has an awareness of different kinds of cakes and frosting.

I remember the boys going to Farm and Fleet with Zeus and each picking out an over sized jug of bubblebath for me, for my birthday.
I think I still have those same bottles. I've never really been a bubblebath kind of girl.
This year the cards have arrived on time, I went out and bought my birthday present, from the kids, told Mary and she told me that the boys thought that sucked.
Hey, I wanted a juicer. So, since they are rebelling against my picking out my own present they are sending me a gift certificate to the local fruit and vegetable market, for my new juicer. That works.

One year I thought I would be clever and send my mother roses on MY birthday as a thank you for having me. Apparently, she liked the idea so much that she announced that she was no longer going to send anybody cards on their birthday. I think she got confused and thought that I would be sending her something on my birthday forever. So, although no one is to forget HER birthday she doesn't send anything to anybody in the family. She has never really gotten the grandmother role down.

If I am not mistaken the above picture was taken when I turned four. I'm not sure where the doll came from, I don't remember it being one of mine. My father was doing a lot of photography at that point in time. I remember he had a darkroom, in the basement.
I know this was a posed birthday photo to be sent to relatives. My father's favorite subject was my mother not a restless little girl.

I hope you all have a birthday like day, full of surprises, friends and family or if you can't have that, at least go have a nice piece of cake.

:)Bea

Bumblebee Princess

2011-10-24T08:02:00.001-05:00

I have no idea what my other grandchildren are going to be for Halloween. I suspect something much scarier that this little bumblebee princess. I'm sure pictures will be arriving in my mailbox after Halloween, hint, hint.

The weather people, delighting in this news, are telling us to enjoy today and tomorrow because the cooooooooooold weather is arriving on my birthday, Wednesday.

I will spend today and tomorrow attempting to finish up all the outside chores that I managed to put off so far. Gathering up hoses, putting garden beds to bed, etc. I think I need to put something in the slow cooker for the end of the day.

The Mixed Media Ladies of Dog In The Hole Studio have been working with the book, Collage Lab by Bee Shay. It's a very basic introduction to the foundations of collage but an excellent book to work with. We have moved from the joys of texture with gesso to gel medium and lightweight papers, creating textures and making layers.

I think the hardest part for some is NOT falling in love with their first layer or two and be willing to keep on experimenting with their project. If you have never really done layers it can be hard to say goodbye to an image as you paint a wash over it. The delight is to be able to see it under the new layers. To have it be a surprise, something that the viewer "finds".

One of the members was looking at a magazine that showcases artist studios. We were all commenting on the different sizes of the studios and how organized some of them were. Then one member said the sweetest thing. She noticed that all the studios highlighted seemed to just be for one person. She was glad that I had room in my space, to share it with friends.

I love working in my studio, by myself. I also LOVE it when like minded artists come in to play and work. We feed off of one another, get inspired by one another, learn from each other and frankly, it fills the studio of Dog In The Hole with this wonderful creative energy that just resonates in that space.

The walls are now up and insulated on one side of the lower level of the barn. Zeus was out taping and cleaning up, last night, after the Packer game. Next is the big job of shelving and organizing all that "stuff" that you seem to need as a householder.

Soon..........well who really knows when soon is........my Down The Rabbit Hole Hallway will be finished. Then I get to put up all the stuff I've been collecting for about a year now. I plan to hang Alice from the ceiling corner as if she was just falling down the hole. I have the dress, thanks to last years Halloween sales, the tights, shoes and blond wig. Now, I just have to make up a muslin body.
I have the shelf, the bottles of Drink Me that I found antique hunting with Donna. I have a wonderful poster of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and an old barn sash window. I'm sure there is more stuff. Zeus pointed out that I may be mixing up my fairy tales in the staircase but I told him that anything goes down the rabbit hole.

Which by the way, did you catch the new show about fairy tales?
I'm not quite sure what the title was, Once Upon A Time seems obvious but it might be something different. I thought from the ads that it would be scary and not really something I would enjoy but it's starting out as a really interesting story. The curse for the fairytale characters is to be trapped in present day, in Storyville, Maine. And, Emma, Snow White's daughter, with Prince Charming managed to escape the curse as a newborn, put into a magic cabinet tree. Well, I'm not going to tell you more but maybe you can catch up with the first episode on the Internet.

I usually give most shows one or two times before I decide if they are wasting my time, lacking in any true enjoyment or the writers just took a holiday and let the monkeys type out the script.

Time to get on with the day. I hope yours is filled with lots of creative endeavors.

:)Bea

Beautiful Fall

2011-10-23T08:48:00.001-05:00

We are certainly having a beautiful fall this year. The color has been gorgeous on the trees and bushes. Now all that is left are the beautiful shades of rust and brown on my oak trees.

Zeus is working hard on finishing up one side of the lower level of the barn. He's installing insulation and sheet rock. Once that side is completed he'll build shelving and I get to move all the "stuff" from the other side of the barn to the new shelves so that someone else can come in and finish up the job.
At some point we WILL be organized and this kind of job won't be ever done again, in our lifetime.
I'm slowly putting garden beds to rest for the winter. That involves trimming back some plants, pulling up others and raking out leaves. It makes me a little sad. I so enjoyed the color displays this summer. It seems like it went by so quickly.

I've been working on the genealogy of my mother's side of the family. I would really like to pull some sort of book together for her by her birthday, this June. Although, I suspect that I'm far more interested in this stuff than she is. One thing I've found interesting is the "grain of truth" that seems to be buried in family stories. If you pick at it enough, check our different resources you can eventually see what is true and what has been added to the tale.

And, what a wonderful thing that so many people are doing genealogy research. As a result there are listing available on the Internet that just weren't available unless you traveled to that part of the country and did the research yourself.

I was able to discover a cemetery listing for my great grandfather that included his parents names, something that no one in our family seemed to know.

Once I had those, it was much easier through Ancestry.com to find the rest of the huge extended family.

I have so little extended family it's amazing to me that so many people, related to one another, lived in the same town and yet seemed to have nothing to do with one another. Sad, too. It reaffirms my conviction that family is what you make it to be and not necessarily blood relations.

:)Bea

Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley

2011-10-14T12:37:00.001-05:00

CAN YOU SAY WOWOWSER? Bring those four great guys together, for a jam session, in 1956 then turn it into a musical. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, playing at the Apollo Theater, in Chicago.
Zeus, got us tickets and we went last week to see them. A small, theater where you felt like you were right there in the Auto Body shop/studio of Sam Phillips.
It's based on the actual spontaneous, impromptu jam session that occurred on a cold Tuesday afternoon in December.
The actors all talented in their own right, took on the personalities, voices and singing styles of their characters. Amazing. I don't think there was a person in the audience that wasn't toe tapping, or swaying or clapping along with the music. A truly magical night.
If the company comes to your area and is playing in a small theater it is well worth the price of the tickets. If they are playing in a large theater, I honestly don't know if you get the same feel. The music will still be great but there is something about being so close to the performance.

We traveled the back roads home from Chicago. Zeus being keen to help me add more photos to my ever growing collection of old barns.

The past week has been just ordinary work of cleaning and sorting junk in the barn. Most of it to donate, it came when we sold the cottage. Zeus is putting up insulation and wallboard on the lower level of the barn to help keep it warmer in winter. That means new shelving and a chance to get this mess organized.

Then there is the picking up and putting away of summer fun items, pool toys, etc. The taking out of screens and washing of windows and the looking at and feeling guilty about the time I didn't spend in my garden.

I took a day off today to go over to Olbrich Gardens and look at the little quilt show they put on. Beautiful quilts and gorgeous mums surrounding the quilts. Some very talented artists and their quilts.

Then I stopped in the new library in Fitchburg. It's ok. It doesn't seem as warm and friendly as the Verona Library. On, my way out the door I actually opened and held the door for an old friend I haven't seen in awhile. We both were amazed.

She's almost retired now, just puts in 8 hours a week at her old job.
She's said she's discovered that she's an artist. She didn't realize that she had such a passion and talent for jewelry making.

I have to say I absolutely love to hear people, especially women, talk about their newly discovered passions. Most of them have put years into raising their families, taking care of their homes and jobs and now, when they enter their 50s and 60s they discover something about themselves that they never knew they had within them or had forgotten.

:)Bea

YES, somedays it's a two post day!

2011-09-26T13:54:00.001-05:00

I've had a productive morning since I posted. The bones of the studio are fine, it's my sloppy, creative nature that makes it look like such a mess. I spent the morning re-organizing the far back, right, hand corner. Where I keep some of my fabric but mostly shelving devoted to bolts of muslin, thread, Wonder-under, etc.
I have half of my cutting table exposed and the other half is piled with fabric that needs to be refolded and put away.
I absolutely need space to start working on my projects.

The above is the end result of the Ladies of Dog In The Hole Studio, Mixed Media & Fiber Experimental Group. We really do need to come up with a cooler name.
It's printed fabric using fabric paint with a floor tile. Then stamping with the hand created, foam stamps, I made. Some accents with paint markers and the addition of some buttons.

It's called, Z'Hitchcock takes a walk in his neighborhood.

It's a Zetti thing I have. If you know me you know it pops up a lot in my artwork.

I loved making the foam stamps and I still have ideas about the making of more of them.

This is the result of our spray painting day. It has a multi colored painted base layer then stamped and collaged items. Leaves and branches, etc were laid on the fabric and then a light, white spray paint applied. The finishing touch was the painted fabric curtain edge.
It's called, Grandma is losing her memories.

The Senior Center, downtown, has asked us back again in 2012 to put up our art work in their building. They seemed to enjoy having it there.
We thought that those of us, in the Mixed Media Group, participating, in the show, would have a Expressive Self Portrait of ourselves for the viewers to see.

This is mine. They are all 12"x12" and all amazingly different.

Ok, back to the studio, I go. It does feel good to see some progress being made.

:)Bea

Time, where have you gone?

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Time does slip by. Lately I've been aware of a number of things relating to time.
One, it takes me almost TWICE the amount of time, to do something, as it did ten years ago, heck maybe even five years ago.
I have a To Do list that, once upon a time, I could complete in a day.
That's not happening anymore.
I need more breaks, more sit down time then I used to need.
And, that brings me to another TIME waster.
I had the lap top on the dining room table an easy place to plop myself down while having a cup of something and spend time on the computer.
Two things waste my time, on the computer. Sifting through stupid ads or emails passed on from one person to another. One out of 100 of these are even worth taking the time to read or link to another spot. Some are old, bad, tasteless, racist, fear of minorities crap that some people just feel a need to keep passing on to friends. Why?
Do you not know me by now? Apparently, not.
The other is Facebook. Boy, I got off Twitter when I saw that I was going to be reading the minute by minute accounts of some people.
Yes, you are stuck in the airport you do not need to announce what you are doing every five minutes.
Now, it seems that the Facebook is fulfilling the same need for many people.
Trust me people, I do not need to skim down the list and see that you are putting out the cheese and opening the wine for your dinner party. I don't need to know you need coffee. The photo you took of that great meal, looks like crap, on Facebook.
You do realize that professional food pictures are created by experts?
I know where the delete key is, that isn't the issue. I honestly thought that when I joined Facebook that I would be kept in the loop for important things that family and friends needed to share and for some reason they no longer could pick up the phone or email me.
So, I've stopped reading Facebook.
I moved the lap top to the front room a good walk from the coffee machine or water. I'll take my break, read a chapter in my book and get on with life.
I will blog and check my emails while having my morning coffee, that works for me.
After a number of years we have finally gotten cable. Zeus was sure it was going to be a time waster for us. Much to his surprise it hasn't. Now, we can watch the Packers in an hour and a half and get things done on a Saturday afternoon. We don't have to endure the commercials or the long windy discussions by the "hosts" of the game. We just see the game.
When Zeus does need to sit down and watch some TV or catch a quick nap he can do it watching a show he really does enjoy not mind numbing stupidity just because it was the only thing on to watch.
I treated myself to some new pads of paper for my clipboard. I'm hoping that some of these changes will help me make a little more progress on my To Do List.
Of course, there is the whole energy issue to deal with but that's on the list.

:)Bea

You have got to be kidding me.........

2011-09-23T17:30:00.002-05:00

I picked up the local paper, this morning and sat down to enjoy my morning coffee, in the local coffee shop. I'm turning pages, slowing, waiting for my "hair will grow on your chest" coffee to cool, a little.
I notice a picture of an view , from an air plane, of two barns.
"HEY!", I gasp, I know those barns.
I've photographed probably every barn in my area at least twice if not more times, different light, different weather conditions, etc.
But, these barns are even closer than the ones I travel the back roads to photograph, these barns are right at the end of my road.

The smaller of the two has so much charm and age. I find there is always a picture waiting to be taken early in the morning.
Anyway, I read the article and it seems that the owner of the 19,000square foot home, at the end of the road.
Yes, children that is the correct square footage.
The owner of said home wants to TEAR DOWN the smaller barn and use the larger barn as a Youth Training Facility.
As, a dear friend of mine often says, "Huh?"

The owner, a business woman, that owns three if not more hotels, in Japan and her husband, an ex hockey player from Canada, want to buy the land from an absentee landlord (he now resides in Utah)
and revamp the barn for her new facility.

Town meeting is next Thursday night. Stopping by the Town Hall this afternoon I pumped the secretary for more information. Not, really a difficult thing to do because if there is coffee made she is more than ready to pour us a cup and gossip.

The Town has asked for plans, over and over and nothing has appeared. Apparently, Ms So&So thinks that she doesn't have to send anything before hand because after all it's just a barn, for goodness sake.

Once Darleen is on a roll it's not good to stop her. She had more than one or two thoughts about the 6,000, yes, again children, the number is correct, visitors to, a large medical, computer program company, this past week. The company, which was supposed to be built on 345 acres of land but has been buying and building on everything (the owner) can get her hands on.
True it is a beautiful campus with many truly unusual and earth friendly buildings BUT it has doesn't have to pay any taxes until 2014. And, the traffic it has created, on our rural back roads with it's 3000+, employees who don't car pool, well don't get me started on that.

Those 6,000 visitors never stepped foot into the downtown area. They didn't come in to eat, buy a paper, buy a magazine, get their clothes cleaned or dry cleaned. They didn't buy groceries, a soda or even a get well card for their collective mothers. Zip, Nada.

It's a very well planned self sufficient campus. It has no need for what the local downtown offers. Trust me when I tell you the current rulers of downtown didn't expect that when they opened the gates.

So, here we have two powerful women. Two women used to getting what they want, need, lust after. Because after all they have the money and power to do just that.

Ladies, the local high school has a serious problem with their football and track field. It needs to be drained. Football becomes a muddy mess after a slight drizzle. We have an Ice Rink and training facility. We have the PeeWee football team practicing next to the cemetery, no fence and trust me when I say there are some 8 year old's that will not go chase a ball in there.
Our local firefighters were on duty, all day, at the "convention of 6,000). Did they mention that they have NO MONEY, Zip, Nada, the treasure chest is empty.

Yes, you are correct, it's not really their problem. The problem lies with the ordinary folks that were in charge when the first proposal was put on their metal desks. They didn't have a plan so yours sounded good. They didn't ask the right questions or certainly didn't know what to ask you. I still don't think there is a growth or development plan for this area.

So, I will give up my Thursday evening and go sit with my neighbors and listen to the sweet voice of money tell me how there will just be a few, just a tiny little bit of improvements made to the barn, the road, the entrance, off of a major two lane, highway, the parking, the youth and their cars, etc.
Maybe down the through time they will need to expand the full to bursting barn and build onto or around it but we don't need to talk about that now, do we?

I will go on Thursday night and I will wonder if this is the "short con" or the "long con".

I'll fill you in later.

:)Bea

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZEUS

2011-09-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ZEUS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

:) You know who

2011-09-21T08:18:00.003-05:00

I sat down in the chair and Natasha placed a tiny little cup with saucer, in my hands and said, "Drink, you look pale." She also said that my hair looked terrible and that I should use better judgement about changing my appointment when six weeks was obviously too long.
That's how it is with my new hairstylist. You get a little nice with the not so nice. She's tough, she's Russian.
We discuss a lot of different topics, she has healthy opinions about everything and feels no problems with sharing them, with me.
Somehow, we got on the subject of psychics and she told me this story.
"My grandmother, a devote, Russian Orthodox, had strong beliefs that anybody that could tell your future was in league with the devil.
When I was a small girl I would visit my Grandmother, in her little village outside of Moscow. We, the little children would play in the fields next to where the Roma's (Gypsies) camped.
How they stayed warm in winter, I do not know because they lived in large tents.
One day an old Gypsy woman came out in the field towards us children. She had a huge, long skirt, lots of shawls wrapped around her.
We were running around playing and she stood and watched us all.
Then she came towards me.
I was scared. I thought she would snatch me and shove me under her skirt and steal me away. But, I was frozen on the spot. She reached out to me with her old bony arm and said, "Let me tell you your future, child."
I knew my Grandmother would be furious with me if she found out I had listened to the Gypsy. I told her no no, go away.
She looked at me sadly and then reached into her pocket, of her skirt and pulled out a pair of scissors. She placed them in my hand and turned away.
I had been holding my breath thinking she was going to stab me.
I wasn't going to tell my Grandmother about the scissors but my cousins told her and she did a lot of yelling at me.
I forgot all about this event for years.
When I was ready to go to University and I had straight A's the Soviet Union collapsed. To go to University meant very expensive bribes and my family could not afford these.
I told my father it was ok because really I loved to play with hair and that I wanted to go to Beauty School. He said it was a waste of brains. I went anyway.
I cut the hair of my first husband and we married and because he was a diplomat I was able to come to America. I was also able to bring my family.
I cut the hair of my second husband now.
I have family, my boys, my daughter, a loving husband, a good job and finally I remember the story of the Gypsy lady and her scissors and my future. Was all good after all."

:)Bea

A little of this and that.

2011-09-20T09:14:00.000-05:00

Digital Alchemy, Printmaking techniques for fine art, photography and mixed media by Bonny Pierce Lhotka arrived at my door, yesterday.
I've certainly gotten my money's worth with this book. Three hundred pages packed with clear instructions and projects for the artist that wants to transfer pictures to different kinds of substrates.
She covers alcohol gel and "supersauce" transfers on to wood, fabric and paper. She covers gelatin transfers, direct printing onto metal and so much more.
I'm looking forward to experimenting with this book, this winter.

It's a beautiful, cool fall day here in Verona. My annuals seem even brighter like they realize it's their last hoorah. I've brought inside my fragile plants that spent the summer basking, out on the deck.
I've been taking some screens out of windows that most likely will not be opened again until April. I probably have a ton of weeding I should get to that never got done this summer. It would be nice to actually look at neat garden beds during the winter months. At least until the snow covers them.

I've been working in the studio doing some more printing and stamping, on fabric. I thoroughly enjoy using my own homemade stamps. I have found that Fun Foam stamp, not stuck to a firm base, will start to curl up on the edges when you have used it a lot.

I have a number of them that are a little larger than the pieces of foam kneeling pads that I had Zeus cut for me. So, I purchased a piece of thick foam board. I'll have him cut pieces out of that and then glue down my stamps on the foam board.

I also found that using Heavy Body acrylic paints works much better on fabric. The craft paints just seemed to give to faint an imprint on fabric.

Off to get my haircut, run errands and etc. today. I get to pick up Riley at daycare, this afternoon. She and I made plans to got to dinner and then to the Library. Last Tuesday was the first time she had ever been to the Library. She had no idea that they had a wonderful play area and so many books.

We limited ourselves to two books although I have to say she was more impressed with the paper receipt that she got when we checked out.

Last week after the Library and on our way home we stopped at the nearby park to play on the equipment. I hadn't been to a playground for quite a while. Last time they were using wood bark around the equipment. This time it was tiny pebbles for the base and then about a four inch layer of chopped up rubber. What a great bouncy, safe, ground cover!

:)Bea

The lazy days of summer are over.

2011-09-16T11:06:00.005-05:00

Yes, a sneak peak at one photos from one of the upcoming stories from The Adventures of Gray Bear & Friends, Book II.

The middle picture is one of drying paper and fabric that the Ladies of Dog In The Hole Studio printed, last Thursday. It was a glorious day, a little windy but what the hey. We gathered at noon and set up outside and spent the most enjoyable day printing Deli wax paper, fabric and speciality papers.

At an earlier meeting we had spend a wonderful afternoon creating our own stamps, see top picture, out of Fun Foam. Here's a tip that I picked up somewhere.....buy some $1.00 store garden kneeling pads and cut them into easy to handle stamp block size. Cut your sticky sided Fun Foam sheet to fit the pad. DON'T put it on the pad until you have created your block. Trust me if you have pieces hanging over the edge of the sticky sided ff it's harder to trim them if it is already stuck to the garden pad block.

We had Fun Foam letters, numbers, shapes and somebody found a puzzle shapes at the dollar store. We created out own unique stamps by sticking these or cutting them up, onto the flat sticky sided FF. When it was done THEN we peeled off the backing and stuck it to the cut garden pad block. They are easy to wipe clean with baby wipes or a spritz and rag. But, I rather like the look of a well dyed stamp.

We printed layers on Deli wax paper (from Costco's) following the instructions from the Anne Bagby, Pattern & Form: Advanced Collage Techniques video, that we watched.

We had a 12"x12", or there about, piece of floor tile that we used as our printing base. Acrylic paint could be applied straight to the tile or it provided a firm base for stamping.

Oh, yeah, I finished canning my grapes and making Chutney. Most of the Grape jelly set up nicely, some looks like it's going to be pancake syrup. The Chutney was made from plums and apples from the yard and tastes wonderful. So, all in all, although it was a looooooooooooong day of standing and working in the kitchen I couldn't help but stop and think how my female ancestors would have loved the kitchen appliances that I have.

Getting ready for more company. The chili is in the crockpot, need to put clean sheets on the guest room bed, do the laundry, wash up the dishes and the fold and put away the early morning laundry. Since these are golfing buddies of Zeus arriving tonight I think I will take myself to a movie. I'll let them play Sheepshead into the wee hours.

:)Bea

20 pounds...oh hum........20 pounds.....ooh hummm

2011-09-15T11:52:00.003-05:00

Actually, the title sounds more impressive if you sing it in a low voice and as if you were dragging a heavy ball and chain behind you.

How I wish the twenty pounds were a joyful proclamation of weight loss. It's not. It's 20 pounds (and yes Zeus I did weight them on the bathroom scale) of white grapes from my garden.
Oh no, not nice pretty Concord grapes like I thought I bought but a prolific grape vine producing sweet smelling, seed inside white grapes.

A couple of years ago, the Mexican contractor that put up the wallboard in the studio, spotted them on his way out the driveway and lusted after them. At that time I only really had a few grapes hanging there so I told him to help himself.

Move on down the road of time and this vine went nuts this summer. Apparently, the rainy spring, heat wave for three weeks in summer and just neglect on my part has produced a bumper crop.

I have spend one hour at the grocery store, buying supplies, one hour cleaning said grapes, cooking them, washing jars, checking lids, putting away other groceries and then going downstairs to inventory to see where the heck the food mill was that I bought the Great Year of the Plums.

I now am staring at 10 half pint, little itty bitty jars of Grape jelly. It's the color of apple butter.
It tastes ok. I'm supposed to let them sit, the longer they sit the firmer they will get. Then and this is what I forget to read to the end to see, they can go in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks.

Sigh

I'm telling myself that it will tastes really good with cheddar blue cheese and that this might actually be a special end of the season, special occasion, for me to give myself the OK to eat cheese again.

I'll let you know how that thought goes.

It's been a fantastic summer. Lots of parties, lots of company, lots of swimming in the pool, not much in the way of weeding and Zeus replaced one of the upper decks with that polyboard that doesn't require anymore painting or staining. WHOOOOHOOOO Not that I had much to do with that but it sure looks a LOT nicer than a deck that is flaking paint.

I still have eighteen pounds of white grapes to deal with so I'll be closing now.

I think the next 100 batches better be chutney. I need to be able to store this stuff on a shelf and not taking up room in the refrigerator.

:)Bea

Got to rearrange my speed dial.

2011-08-16T07:28:00.002-05:00

Let's see, news update.......no blood clot. I had an ultrasound done yesterday and it showed that everything seems to be in order. Of course, with the obvious ruled out now the doctor is perplexed as to why just one foot looks like a marshmallow.
On the home front, the air conditioner guy is coming to install a new air conditioner. It seems even what you think might be the best on the market doesn't seem to last ten years anymore.
Even bigger news, is TOMORROW we will have cable. I worked out a sweet package with my telephone carrier that has me paying just $10.00 more a month and I get cable with all the goodies and a bump up in my megs for my Internet, so as a good friend often tells me, LIFE IS GOOD.
Not that I need to watch 220 mindless channels. We are primarily getting this for the sports that our regular station doesn't carry. Those away games, etc. At least that's the story we are putting out there.

The amount of time you can spend on the phone these days is amazing. I did balance my checkbook, pay some bills, read a few flyers while I was put on hold, waited for call backs or just got moved from one person to another.
I joined Plato, the Adult Education Classes, through the University of Wisconsin. I'll see what daytime classes they are offering.

I'll see if I can get the plants, around the pond, weeded and mulched today. I probably should cut the grass too. The rest of the week is going to be busy enough.
Mary and Riley arrive home today. They have been missed.

:)Bea

2011-08-15T07:35:00.002-05:00

My mother has told me that her Grandmother grew up in a one room log cabin in Winfield, PA. There were 13 children in that house. It's not surprising to me that children moved out at a young age. The story in our family is that my Great Grandmother traveled to a town in New York where other relatives lived, at the age of 15. She sold pies on the street. That's the story of how she met my Great Grandfather.

Often when I am tracing family members I will see them listed in living with a relative and working on the farm, at age 14 and up.

We passed this little one room house on our travels along the back roads of Wisconsin. I'm glad that the owners of the land have continued to maintain it, even if they use it for storage.

It's not that I need visual reminders of how good my life. I don't need them but I appreciate them.

Now, that the cooler weather has arrived I'm trying to catch up with some of the weeding that didn't happen for almost a month. A month to a weed means that they think they are home free and stretch out those roots and send that flower head up to the sky. Honestly, I'm pulling some weeds that are four feet or bigger! Now, I'm not a skinny minnie but you would laugh to see me grabbing those weeds with two hands and trying to yank it out of the ground.

My peppers and tomatoes seemed to have enjoyed this summer. They are doing well as are the pumpkins. This year I planted my pumpkin plants in recyled, large, plastic pots that I saved from bushes I had bought. I removed the bottoms of the pot, dug a hole in the ground and sunk about 1/3 of the pot in the hole. Then I filled the pot with manure rich soil and planted my little plants in the pot. I covered the entire pot with a thick mulch of marsh hay and kept them watered. Zeus and I counted eight green pumpkins and more flowers coming.

Mary and Riley get back home on Tuesday, Justin and family come back down, for a wedding this weekend and then it's the last week of August. It seems like the summer has just zoomed by.

Tomorrow, the Mixed Media group has our Playdate meeting. We are working on a 12"x 12" self portrait. The Senior Center has asked us to exhibit our artwork again, next spring and we thought it would be a nice idea to introduce ourselves to the public with fiber self portraits.

Trust me these are not all, if any, going to look like a real photograph. We all seem to be going for the bright, funky, silly looking style.

:)Bea

Rude Awakening

2011-08-14T08:28:00.002-05:00

One of the things I love to do is take a car ride down back country roads. It started when I was six and stayed with my Grandfather and Grandmother Krieger. Grandpa would come home from work smelling of grease and oil and take a shower before dinner. I sat next to him at dinner and he smelled of Thayers Witchhazel Aftershave. Dinner, in the summer was almost always just vegetables and pie for dessert.
My Grandmother, an excellent cook, following in her Mennonite tradition would whip up corn fritters, fried green tomatoes, cabbage and one of my favorites beet pickled hard boiled eggs.
I loved the pink color of the eggs when they came out of the canning jar.
After dinner we piled into Grandpa's pride and joy a BLUE, they were always blue, Chevrolet.
I had the entire back seat to myself but I was glued to the window. There was a reward, you see, for the person that saw the first deer. I earned many a quarter during my visits.
We drove the back roads around Shamokin, Pennsylvania. I was instructed on what crops were growing in the fields, what large birds were flying in the sky and my Grandmother's unusual aggressive behavior towards other drivers. Which is funny in itself because she never learned to drive.
I would frequently here her say, "Hit, him George, that will teach him."

Lucky for me Zeus shares my passion for drives. And, now that I take photos he has become even more involved. In fact, on this recent drive down from Minnesota I had to listen to him rant about not only did he have to back the car up for me to get a picture of a barn, that I didn't see but he had to take the damn picture too.

Key grips can get mouthy.

We wandered down Murphy Road, a must once Zeus saw the sign. We stumbled on Route 33 which took us through beautiful, GORGEOUS Amish countryside. I posted some of my favorite pictures on my Sun Dog Studio Blog. The link is on the side of this blog.
We were tight on time which probably saved Zeus a bundle but frustrated the heck out of me.
We passed, Amish furniture sales, up in the barns, Quilts For Sale signs and Amish Bakery and Gifts, located up behind a barn.

We slowed down for horse drawn carriages and little boys peeking out the windows of the carriage at the English.

We followed a rain storm and drove over roads that were releasing steam from the recent rain.

I saw barely maintained farms the crops the most important item the barn second and then the house. Paint is expensive for private farm.

Many of the Amish Mennonite groups here in Wisconsin still dress reflecting their Old Order Amish connections but they do drive cars, use electricity and send their children off to high school.
I could understand why many of the Old Order Amish had tucked themselves away in these beautiful valleys. We were miles and miles away from any town of any size. We passed home made signs for Saddle repair, Metal work, Woodworking, etc.
The hardest was passing by a young woman sitting by her road side stand, her jars of preserves stacked up and a homemade sign that said, BAKED GOODS.

Zeus promises me that we will go back another day and spend more time.

:)Bea

"Boy, I got vision and the rest of the world wear bifocals". Butch Cassidy

2011-08-13T09:08:00.004-05:00

Time to travel the back roads back to Wisconsin from Minnesota. We passed a number of Cranberry Bogs on our way up here. I asked Zeus how they grow and why they have to flood them. Zeus gave his enigmatic smile and changed the subject.
This is when I love the computer. I could look up Cranberry Bogs 101 and find out exactly how they grow. Who knew, well not me, that they were a vine that grew naturally in bogs and the Native Americans harvested them. They act as a natural filter for the water. I'll let those of you interested in more info, do your own research.

The new sliding door is installed. It took all day and part of this morning but it looks great. I wish they lived closer so we could help out more on these kinds of repairs. I'm glad Zeus is able to help out.

I dreamed of a young Robert Redford last night. He was remodeling a house which for some reason I kept wandering around in. Everytime I found a room it was stacked with furniture. I mean piles and piles of furniture. I couldn't find a place to sit down. All I really wanted to do was watch Redford and hope that Paul Newman would show up and do the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Actually, that was probably the highlight of my night. I find as I get older that unless I'm exhausted it hard to sleep well in a strange bed with strange pillows. At home if I'm not sleeping well I wander around the house, listen to the waterfalls, look at the stars. Motel rooms are a little more constricting, a shorter wander.

It appears that I may have a little blood clot in my left leg. My ankle and foot are swollen and although it's not uncomfortable it doesn't look very nice. My DIL, the nurse, suggests that a visit to the doctor is in order. I was rather hoping that it would go away but it has been three weeks.
Actually, longer, probably since after my surgery but it would come and go and I blamed it on excess salt. I really don't want to deal with a doctor visit again. sigh

Somebody emailed me a question about my art piece from yesterday's post. Yes, it's fused. I never did applique and now with my fingers getting so sore my days of using a needle and doing hand work are almost over. Fusing is my new love. What I liked about this technique, too was you use wool felt for your batting, it's a blend of wool and polyester and wool felt for the backing.
The majority of quilting is done before the backing is attached. You could put a piece of double sided Steam A Seam II on the back when you go to attach the backing. I didn't but I probably will for the next piece.
There is no need for bindings which frankly I love. I'm tired of doing bindings. You can cut the backing felt any way you want, loopy, scalloped or even wompy. You can attach the piece to the backing with a decorative stitch or an overcast stitch. It's fun art quilting. It's not made for the eons or washing but for your walls.

:)Bea

Let the fun begin.

2011-08-12T09:09:00.006-05:00

A Silver spotted Skipper for you this morning. My Butterfly bushes are now two years old and big and attracting lots of beautiful butterflies. Unfortunately, I don't always have my camera around my neck.

I spotted a black and orange one, the other day. When it spread it's wings there was a bright orange bar that when straight from one wing edge all the way across the body to the other wing edge.

It got me thinking about how somehow in the evolution of this butterfly the makeup was changed to add or subtract color to make it easier for the butterfly to hide from predators.

I don't quite understand the DNA or science of this process but it amazes me. I find it hard to believe that it happens without a higher intervention. I don't want to put a label or name on this.

It's just impossible for me to process that this just happens by magic.

I'm up in Minnesota visiting my oldest son and family.

Zeus and I took the long drive up, taking back roads and enjoying the scenery and giving me lots of opportunities to take pictures of things that I love. Zeus is very patient and without complaint will turn the car around, back up and give me a better shot of something.

I also included some pictures of the recent pond addition. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it. I can hear the sound of the waterfalls in the house and I discovered that when I angle one of the kitchen windows just a bit I can get the waterfall sound in stereo. Sound waves, again MAGIC.

We had a Sandhill Crane come and visit the pond. Zeus was sure that he was looking for frogs.

I've noticed some rather large and quick ones in the pond. They must have gotten the formal invitation to the opening of the pond.

And. finally something from the Studio. This is the latest piece I've been working on. It's called,

THE START OF SCHOOL WAS ALWAYS CONFUSING.

As usual it started out as an experiment for an entirely different technique and involved on it's own. It tickles me when that happens. I sometimes wonder if I'm really in charge.

:)Bea

It's a dog's life.

2011-08-10T07:41:00.003-05:00

This is NOT my Murphy but rather Finny, SuziBlu's dog. BUT, I love the photo and he looks a lot like my Murphy.
After our last dog passed away I was not eager to start over with another dog. We've always had large dogs, full of energy dogs and having to walk one that would pull my arms out of my sockets just didn't appeal to me.

Zeus just had to have another dog. What's with this guys and their dogs? If they did the grunt work of training, taking care of them, nurturing them you wouldn't hear a peep from me but in our house that seems to fall on my shoulders.

I put off thinking about getting another dog. Then for some reason I was in the dog store where people are actually ALLOWED to bring a dog into the store and there was this woman carrying around this ADORABLE LITTLE WHITE DOG that looked just like an Ewok.
I think I experienced what a stalker feels like. I followed that woman around the store. I can honestly say all my judgement was suspended, I just followed her, hoping to get to see more of that little dog.

Finally , the very nice lady asked me if I wanted to hold the dog. Smart move on her part. 101 on how to get rid of me. Well, second MAJOR HAPPENING. I fell in love.

Last time was the first time I saw Zeus standing in a doorway, of an apartment in Boston.
I never really experienced this rush of emotion for an animal. If I could have walked away with her dog I may have. Like I said, all reason and judgement had flown the coop.

I came home and told Zeus that I had fallen in love. He nodded asked if it was anybody he knew. He's very stoic about these things. I told him about my little white Ewok. Of course, he isn't a Star Wars fan so that just zoomed over his head.

But, knowing the ground rules I had set for another dog he was happy to go along with anything plan I had if it meant getting another dog.

Murphy is going on three now. He's settled down. He's still a bundle of cuddly, loves to sit on part of my lap when we watch TV, loves to run around in the yard like a banshee, thinks Louis the cat is his older brother and is jealous of little Riley.

He has this thing about chasing those cheap little rubber balls that you see in the store for playing catch. They last about five minutes with him pushing it and chasing it around the yard before he gets a good bite of it and it explodes.

Since these balls usually belong to Riley she is not happy with Murphy. Zeus explained to her that Murphy is just a rascal.

Last night, while Riley was eating dinner we were having a discussion,between a 62 year old and a 2 year old, one of those that has her mother rolling her eyes. I asked Riley if she likes to play ball. She said yes. She then informed me that Murphy likes to play ball too but he bites the ball. "He's a rascal", she told me.

"Yes, he is", I said. "And, do you like to bite the ball?"

She thought about this and then gave that, melt your heart sly smile and said, "I'm a rascal, too."

:)Bea Have a creative day!

Happy Anniversary James & Caitlin!

2011-08-04T12:47:00.002-05:00

Curran isn't so little anymore and you've both got five years of marriage behind you. I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating.
And, yes I do have a more up to date picture of the family but it seems to be on the other computer which is the way things have been going lately.

Yes, I'm back, for now. Let's just say trouble seems to follow me where ever I go blogging and since this one was less trouble (hard to believe I just said that) I'm here for now.

This summer like my blog updates has been a blur. Too wet, then too dry then too hot, I'm sure I'm not alone is wondering if all our summers to come are going to be like this or is this just one of those 100 year cycles. I'm not putting any money on the cycle theory.

I have no excuses for my last post being sometime in the middle of July. I have been living life and dragging hoses around the yard. I am watching the beautiful annuals that I planted looking like the end of October. Some of my vegetables loving the heat and some just zooming past bolting to just plain dying.

The pool water has been 88-90 degrees which is refreshing when the temperatures are up there close to 100. Not unusual to have a hot spell, in Wisconsin, just unusual to have one for three weeks or more at a time. Remember, we are fat here in Wisconsin, we do start to melt when it stays that warm.

I would love to say I have been busy, busy, busy out in the studio but frankly the window ac that Justin left for me is barely chugging along. It's just too warm to be out there for any length of time. As a result we have had to cancel two workshops with the Mixed Media/Fiber Arts Ladies.

They don't do well when they "feel the heat".

Besides talking about the weather the local news for my little town seems to center around trapped racoon babies in a trashcan, local police called, door to door salesboys selling cleaning supplies but not really, just doing a scam so they can come back later and rob houses, local police called. Downtown main street has to be dug up and redone, the common council has been in closed meetings trying to figure out how to do this without the local business owners, back to school kids, busses, parents and everyday traffic going bonkers.

On the home front, entire family was here for about a week and everyone got along, played well together and ate everything in sight. We moved as a pod to the Children's Museum, the Zoo and to the pool.

I'm off to the dentist for a cleaning, discussion about new things I "could" try like brushing my tongue, fluoride treatments, massaging my gums, etc. They talk, I use their voices as background noise so I can concentrate on what my next art project will be.

Had a dream the other night that I was frantically finishing up multiple art projects. I also remember myself standing at the studio door saying, "BUT, BUT I haven't even started them yet." I'm going to call that my frustration dream.

Blog has moved!

2011-06-08T09:58:00.002-05:00

NEW HOME:

DOGINTHEHOLESTUDIO.wordpress.com

Honest, I think I am melting.

2011-06-07T08:54:00.002-05:00

I think a Purple Finch got lazy and pulled a Cowbird stunt with this nest. It's tucked in my purple sage plant and I know five of the little eggs belong to a little Song Sparrow. That big brownish egg looks exactly like the eggs in the Purple Finches nest in my hanging planter, under the back deck.
A Robin has made a nice nest tucked into my climbing rose bush. Last time I checked she had three bright blue eggs.
The barn swallows that used to build nests in the old barns across the street have apparenty run out of room and the grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc. are branching out. We have a pair that have created a nice little mud nest, under the deck.
The Phoebes are in their usual nest, under the other deck. They found the perfect place and year after year they return to the same nest.
No sign of the confused Robin building her artistic nests on my deck lamps. Maybe, this year she isn't even bothering with the facade of being a mother.

Our weather is unseasonably and I mean unseasonable HOT right now. The pool temperature is 87 and that's just due to 95-98 degree temperatures.

Riley has learned the art of jumping off the pool edge into the water. She doesn't seem to mind getting her head wet which is great. She does wear her arm floats and a grownup is always in the water with her.

I was supposed to have the Mixed Media & Fiber Arts group over here today to work in the studio. Pam was going to demostrate a new technique. Unfortunately, today is also the day the town has decided to finish working on our road. With their usual advance notice of one day they stuck a flyer in my front door that told me the road would be closed. So, no meeting. BAH HUMBUG.

We haven't had a bit of rain for about two weeks. I'm watering my garden and keeping my fingers crossed that some promise of rain this week actually arrives.

It's too hot to work outside so this is a great opportunity to go over to the studio and work on some projects or at least start cleaning and sorting some things.

:)Bea Who hopes you are finding time to create today.

HEY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU!

2011-06-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

Forty-two years, Zeus, forty-two years. Ok, there was that year we didn't tell your Mom that we were living together but still forty-two, forty-three, I mean who is really counting?

I AM. Any couple that has made it past the dreaded 7th year knows how hard it is to make a marriage work. It takes compromise, respect, listening skills, communication skills, a willingness to overlook some things and go for the throat on the really important issues. It means working as a team, being partners, somebody having your back, thinking about the other person at least some of the time and knowing which buttons to push and when not to push. It means having a sense of humor and remembering that you are in this together.

All of that said, there are just some relationships that don't work. That, for whatever reason can't be fixed. The ending of these relationships can be painful, hurtful, unloving and just a nightmare. Others can part and remain friends.

And, that's probably the bottom line, my partner is my best friend. We have a history together. We can finish each other's sentences, if we wanted to. When I mispronounce words he no longer corrects me and when I make up words he understands what I am trying to say.

He knows when to push and when to pull back. After all this time we seem to have worked out the zen of marriage or at least put to good use the message from The Karate Kid (the original).

I'm not going to get 42 more years with this man. I know that. But, I plan on enjoying every years left we do have together.

He's a keeper. Happy 42nd Anniversary, Zeus.

:)Hera

I am not turning on the heat.

2011-06-02T06:31:00.002-05:00

It's 60 degrees right now and windy and by looking out my front room windows, that face West, we are going to get some rain, very soon. Yesterday, I worked in the yard from 10:00am to 4:00pm, cutting grass, digging weeds, planting flowers, cutting back dead plants and removing the old wood, hay bales and junk that had gotten "placed" behind the barn.

I say placed because we all know that when we put said items back there it was "out of sight and out of mind".

I announced myself and stomped around before I started pulling things out of the weeds. I didn't want to surprise anybody or thing. I did disturb two little green snakes. We parted company very quickly.

The landscaping company is going to build a "basketball court and art patio" behind the barn.

It will have multiple uses and basically is a cement slab but I know I plan on using with the art group when we need to do outside painting or project. The grandchildren and my DIL see it as their personal basketball half court play area.

I think the rule still holds, first person to get their toys established wins and all I can say is basketball people, watch out for the pots of flowers.

They are starting work on the landscaping tomorrow. This is a big project for us and one that we have put off for ten years. I had a request from a grandpa, at the Memorial Day party, if he could bring over his grandson to watch the big trucks.

Tomorrow, the digging out of major large volunteer and not native to Wisconsin bushes begins.

The front yard is going to look less wild and a little bare for a season. Not to worry, I have plans for it.

Next week the big equiptment will arrive to do the digging out of the foundation for the "court" and the reshaping of the pond.

Our "pond" as we lovingly call it looks like something from outer space hit the surface of the earth. It's a rather round deep impression, in the ground. When they put in the pool they dug it a little deeper, in the center to use the soil around the foundation of the pool.

Taylor, the gentleman handling the landscaping project just shook his head when he saw my little hose going out to the pond. He told me that he thought we could do better than that.

He'll be putting in a liner, reshaping the pond so that it has a more natural look and adding a bog type area for runoff of water.

Unfortunately, there isn't a natural spring under this pond so it will require us to top it off with water from the hose but we are also going to put in a drainage system for the water that comes off the barn roof.

I was going to go with rain barrels but I like his plan better.

Tomorrow, they tell us the temperature will soar up to 88 degrees. Yup, summer in Wisconsin.

:)Bea Who is creating with natural things, right now.

Take the leap!

2011-05-31T16:49:00.005-05:00

I rather like this photo of my grandson, Sawyer. He approaches most everything in life like this.

I'm still recovering today from the party yesterday and that statement just makes me feel old writing it. I'm not sure if it was the overdose of Vit. D or just the amount of happy noise and people but I'm dragging my butt around today.

We had a wonderful time and quite a few families showed up with parents and grandparents in tow. We had quite a few near two, just turned two, will be shortly two year old girls doing a lot of jumping in the water. All it took was for one to watch another jump in to a grandparent and then they were trying it too.

Zeus and Number #1 son decided that Hera was not going to be happy grilling in the sun all afternoon so they found a new large plastic tarp in the barn and screwed it to the top of the wooded structure where the grill is located. It worked perfectly. Hera worked her grill magic in the shade and didn't snap at anyone.

I had one glorious moment, this weekend, when I was sitting in my bedroom, reading and Sawyer wandered in and decided to sort my meditation stones in my meditation bowl. Then Hunter, his brother wandered in and sat on the floor, by my chair and played with my stuffed bear, Gray Bear.

Hayden wondering where everyone was came peeking in and very quickly had my jewelry box on the bed, as she sorted through it trying on jewelry.

Sawyer, picked up the book I had self published for the grandkids, The Adventures of Gray Bear and Friends and asked me if I would read it.

So, there I sat, in my chair, having one of those dreamed for moments when my grandchildren were gathered at my feet listening and looking at a book at I had written for them.

The rain we were supposed to get has not come but the temperature has dropped down to comfortable nighttime sleeping temperatures. Tomorrow, I will have to water my garden and do some serious weeding. I've done the rest and be a slug today but tomorrow, there is much to do.

:)Bea Dream creative things.

Just one little thing, dear...........

2011-05-27T07:33:00.003-05:00

Some days it seems like householder chores just never end. I have a couple of projects in the studio that I want to work on but a TO DO list that trails out the front door.
I suggested to Zeus that he take my car, when he went to play golf today because it needs a good spin on the highway. What I didn't realize with my generous offer, my car is clean inside and out, is that his car needs an oil change.
So, I need to move that item to the top of the list. Women are masters at multi taskings so I will balance the checkbook, pay some bills, make notes on the book I read for the book club so I can drop it off at the library while I wait for the oil change.

Justin and family arrive down here around dinner time. Zeus mentioned to Murphy that Penny was coming. Penny apparently has gotten her summer shave and Justin said she looks like a large lamb. It's the poodle in her. Murphy has been walking around rather glassy eyed this morning. He's thinking of the tall blonde with the legs up to here.

Memorial Day Monday is supposed to get up to 88 degrees. That's perfect for the gang. Mary has invited two of her friends and their families. There will be a LOT of little children running around and lots of adults to do lifeguard duty.

Ok, I'm off to get the oil change, then the gym, then back home to cut the grass, then OMG this list just won't stop. I have to get those plants in the pots and ground that I bought. I need to clone myself, I really do.

:)Bea Have a wonderful day and create!

And, let the summer begin, please.

2011-05-26T14:54:00.001-05:00

It was 51 this morning that's too cold for end of May temperatures. BUT, the sun is shinning and although it's windy there is hope that by Memorial Day, on Monday it will be 88 degrees out. Party time! Justin and family arrive down here tomorrow night. Mary has a friend arriving too. We'll have a full house so I really need lots of sunshine and warm temperatures.

Riley has learned how to hop and now hops most everywhere. I was watching her and thought of what a thrill that first time she did it must have been. It's been a long time since I hopped. Probably not a good idea to try it now. If it ain't broken don't fix it. Hopping at this point in my life could get me into some serious trouble.

The torch may have been passed from Zeus to Mary. I heard her yelling for the pool net and then watched her rescue a frog. She claims she watched him decide to just jump in and go for a swim except he sank. Now, another has been trained in frog rescue. Riley was impressed.

I need to go out and weed the gardens, haul mulch, finish cleaning out the barn, CUT THE GRASS, sigh...........what I really want to do is curl up in the sun, drink a nice dark beer and read my book. Good thing there is too much wind out today to enjoy doing that. I'll have to save it for the weekend. Yeah, right, like having four grandchildren around is going to give me any down time. Maybe, I'll curl up with some cards, some kids and a dark beer and play Uno with them or Crazy Eights.

I joined LinkIN the other day. Apparently, do to my lazy attitude, instead of checking off or removing the check next to names AND not even thinking about where in heck they got all these names, I clicked some button that said it was ok to send an invitation to everyone in my address book. So, if some of you got an invitation and you are wondering why, that's my story.

Just delete it if you aren't interested. A fellow artist buddy suggested that I join. I'm not selling anything at this point in time but she said it's a nice way to build up a body of contacts.

I did get some emails from some old friends that I haven't heard from in ages. That was the up side.

Some ramblings about the end of the TV season

Kristy Alley said she went from a size 14 to a size 6 on Dancing. What I want to know is do Hollywood stores have a different numbering system for dress sizes from the rest of the world?

Is Kristy only 5 feet tall or something?
Kristi Yamaguchi may have been a size 6 more like a size 2 but Ms. Alley? I am glad you were on dancing in the beginning but how you managed to hang on to the final three is beyond me. Do you really have that big a fan base? Or, is it true that all the Scientology people were out there voting?

Scotty you won. Good for you. I didn't think it should have been you but I was outvoted.

And, don't you think the Biggest Loser should go home with more thatn 250,000 dollars?

I know it's a lot but they have been working hard, away from their families it just doesn't seem like enough money. I mean those other shows are handing out a million.

Now it's time to turn off the TV for the summer. Time to kick back and play outside. Time to take those after dinner drives to chase the sunset, play kickball with Riley, swim laps, tend the gardens and work in the studio, at night.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........................

:)Bea Go, do and be creative!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GUY!

2011-05-25T15:45:00.002-05:00

He's one, ONE, ONE! Happy Birthday Curran!!!

No exit here.

2011-05-25T07:01:00.004-05:00

This picture reminds me of a NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. Actually, it was taken from inside a structure on the island of St. Johns. It's how I felt yesterday when I went to the barn to find some decorative stones I KNEW I had put somewhere.
I opened up the barn door to face the reality of the mess in there.

You know how you can walk by something, a pile of papers on the dining room table, for weeks on end and it doesn't disrupt the flow of your walk or thinking? You just, as the song says, "pass on by" and by and by.

The ladies of the Mixed Media & Fiber Art group have been following a goat trail up to the studio. Maybe they consider it an adventure? To me it just looks like poor manners or bad business.

So, despite the other 100 chores on my TO DO list for yesterday I started hauling out things that were in the way. This barn could be a poster child for that expression "if you build it - it will fill up". It's 20'x20' which is probably as big as some houses, or at least that's what our builder told us. Actually, if it wasn't the barn and studio it would make an adorable house, ok, it needs running water but........hey!

I loaded up the back of the car with things that I could live without, the metal plant stand, the plastic plant stands, the old cushions for deck chairs that we no longer even own. Old nice plastic pots. Honestly, every plant is in a pot in my house and I certainly don't plan on bringing in more. We've finally established which plants can live with my schedule without dying on me.

I saved old hanging pots, I no longer even bother to put real live plants in a hanging pot on the front decks. The birds just trash them when they build all their nests in them. I've had Purple Finches build up to four nests in one season in one fake hanging plant. I can hose that thing off in the fall and put it on a shelf for the next season. I used to be a purist but not any more. Life is to short to make pronoucements like "I would NEVER use a plastic pot or hang a fake plant".

I've gotten more realistic about life, I guess. I like the birds. I like to watch them raise their families. I don't like spending $20-$40 dollars on a beautiful hanging plant only to have them crush it, trash it and not be able to water it because there are little bird heads cheaping at me.

So, back to the barn. I moved some of the furniture that we had brought back from the sale of the cottage in Ridgeway under the steps. I rounded up all the snow shovels and put them in the barrel container where we keep them until next October.

I looked at all the bags of compost and giggled to myself that I sure do like to collect "shit".
On so many levels that one just tickles me.

I plan on creating two new garden beds so I'll be using up those bags. That's my new motto, use it up. I started to gather up all the garden tools.
I need to take all the things that are supposed to cut something somewhere and get them sharpened.

It seems like I check off one thing on the TO DO list and 10 more items get put on from that first one. It's like those damn round-a-bouts. Which, by the way, they are actually building MORE OF THEM around here. I guess someone has done a safety study and determined that they are
safer than four way stops. I used to find that hard to believe but after watching some of the strange driving decisions at four way stops I'm not so sure anymore.
I actually had a woman honk her horn and wave her phone at me when she decided that her rolling to the stop gave her the right away over my actual STOP and WAIT. Not to mention that I was on her right and going straight. I guess the details of that stop weren't on the text she was reading.

I get distracted, it's how the barn clean up went too. I tried to sort into like minded piles of things. I tried to load the tractor wagon with things that went to the pool area, the garden area, the trash pile. Murphy followed me for a while and then gave up and went to curl up on the deck chair cushion. I can be very boring.

He did rally when I tossed a plastic spiderman ball on the lawn. He chased it, chomped down on it and then spent a good 15 minutes enjoying himself while he gutted the ball. Another stop with the tractor, get off, pick up pieces of rubber ball, get back on tractor and add said pieces to the trash pile.

Today, it's pouring rain and I need to start hauling up, sigh, feel very sorry for me now, supplies from the old sewing studio, in the house, to the new studio in the barn. Actually, it's all piled up by the steps but it's going to be a morning of taking things upstairs. I will consider it my step climbing activity that I don't have to do at the gym. Next week, a dear friend is going to come over and help me sort through this stuff and get it put away in it's proper places. I offered to buy her lunch, some people will do anything for food.

:)Bea

Wait just a darn minute.

2011-05-24T12:50:00.005-05:00

I would love to post a photo for you all but blogger is doing it's USUAL thing and taking forever to upload anything. I really must find time to move the blog. It's on the TO DO list but somehow other things move up to first place.

I have to say I am dismayed at the thought that it is the 24th of May, already. I know we had a iffy start to spring and my lilacs are finally blooming but, but, but..........................the end of May already?

I'm working on cleaning up the garden. I seem to say this every year when spring rolls around and I've got to deal with the mess that I blew off last fall. IF I had just cleaned up the garden then this wouldn't be such a big deal.

I was trimming dead brush, leaves, stems and whatnot in one of the garden boxes when I realized I was staring down into a little tiny nest with six little eggs in it. Of course, that was the picture I wanted to share with you and maybe later in the day after blogger has lunch, coffee or a break it might cooperate with me.

I know some of these little birds like low bushes but this seems a very unsafe place to raise a family. Let's keep our collective fingers crossed that it doesn't draw the attention of some four legged animal that likes eggs.

It was cool and supposed to rain today. It's still rather cool but the sun is trying to peek out.

I will post a link to an album of pictures of the last project that the Mixed Media & Fiber Arts group did when they were out to the studio, last week. We had a lot of fun working on the painting of the fabric. To me it looks a lot like sun prints but you paint the fabric with gesso first, let it dry then paint a background onto the fabric. We found that the brighter and more random you did this the more interesting your final piece was. Then we took the fabric outside to tables and put silk and plastic flowers and leaves on top of the painted fabric. Carefully and the whole spraying technique is another topic, we sprayed over the whole thing with white, flat spray paint.

Of course, where you had something covering your background those colors popped out. The rest of the piece was covered with a white haze. Gives the whole thing a really neat look.

We actually so much fun and came up with new thoughts about the process that I think we will probably be doing this again on another Playdate.

https://picasaweb.google.com/bea3150/May192011MixedMediaFiberArtsPLAYDATE?authkey=Gv1sRgCNHun4DNsZTZwAE#

:)Bea

2011-05-11T07:12:00.004-05:00

I just want to start my day remembering the color of the water, the relaxed way I started my day, with no list of things to do and bring that all into my current reality. With hot weather we suddenly got my gardens are growing up faster than I expected and that includes the weeds.

Missing a spring entirely I haven't had a chance to do a decent clean up in the garden beds.

I love working in my gardens but not at a catch up as fast as you can pace.

What happened to Spring?

My Lilacs which normally open on Mother's Day are still just in the process of leafing out. The tulips are up and beautiful. None in my yard, sadly because the deer think I plant them just for a special treat for them.

The landscaper came by the other night when I was at that meeting. He and Zeus talked about what we wanted done in the yard. We've been in the house going on ten years now and we decided that it was time to get to the next things on our list.

The landscaper, from the stone company, Glacier, right down the road, from us (I like to support the local businesses's) is going to level off the ground on either side of the driveway so that I can actually plant grass and cut it. Right now it's almost a ditch and Feverfew which got away from my garden has taken over. Pretty to see when it's blooming but this stuff is so hardy that you begin to feel like it is going to smother the car as it goes up the driveway.

He's going to take out all the volunteer honeysuckle which is not native to our area and takes over.Then next fall I will plant an orchard on one side of the road and prairie grasses in the open areas. The trees will provide more nesting spots for the birds and the grasses will provide cover and nesting areas for the ground birds.

While I was waiting for the guy to come and I had been sitting out on the giant boulder on the front lawn. It's a great just sitting and thinking place. I was quiet and surprised a BIG healthy looking red fox that came wandering up the driveway. He stopped cocked his head and looked at me, right in the eyes then I swear he shrugged and just kept walking over and through the field.

Hmmmm, overweight, middle age woman on rock, not a threat.

We had our Mixed Media & Fiber Arts group meeting yesterday afternoon. Oh boy, everybody seemed so excited about projects and getting together. I can't wait to get that energy into the studio.

We've decided to meet three times a month at the studio. First time as a show and tell, business meeting, catch up on some projects, the second a Playdate and the third I will be teaching a class.

This is big for me, not the teaching part but charging for it. Of course, someone said $5.00 wasn't enough but that's ok, I'm taking the step. Years ago a psychic, one that I trusted told me that I have trouble taking money for my art or teaching because of some former lives where I money exchange was not a healthy thing for me. She didn't go into it and I didn't ask.

It didn't have anything to do with not valueing my abilities or work but it was "old" stuff that I just needed to move beyond. The psychic also told me that I was a "teacher that didn't or wouldn't teach". So, I'm pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and "getting over it all".

Growth doesn't happen unless we make a choice to tackle those unpleasant issues, one step at a time. And, I can't think of a nicer, safer, bunch of women to take this step with.

There were a lot of excellent comments made about my last blog. I've responded to people privately if they left an email addy. Because some of the material in the blog resonated to so many people I probably will do another blog, one of these days about some of the issues they brought up. So, stay tuned. I think making positive changes in our lives is something that most people would like or are trying to do. Getting some help along the way to maybe make it a little easier would be nice, right? Can't say I have all or any of the answers but I can tell you what has worked for me and for people that have worked with me.

:) Bea who has to go spread manure and think creative thoughts, hows that for a combination?

What to do, what to do?

2011-05-10T07:46:00.005-05:00

I dislike trying to move around in big crowds but I enjoy eating lunch in the middle of the food court when school is in session and the kids fill up the tables with their energy.

I can play nicely with others and for hours by myself.

I grew up for 10 years as an only child so I always found ways to entertain myself.

I dislike most parties with strangers because I seldom can have a decent discussion with a person about a subject.

I love parties with my friends because we have a common interest and can talk for hours and hours, finishing each other's sentences and always having new ideas to share.

I am very happy with my life as it is.

Recently, I met a nice woman named Heidi and we talked about many things and she invited me to a group that she hosted. My discussion with Heidi had a spiritual issue theme so I assumed that she was inviting me to the group becuase is was a group of like minded people.

The group is based on the writings from the book called The Secrets by Rhonda Byrne. They focus their attention of the Laws of Attraction. From the jest of last night's meeting the emphasis seems to be on using the Laws of Attraction to make money. Lost of money.
Perhaps, I'm not being fair to the group because the speaker was late and the host of the group allowed one of the members to "hold court" until the speaker showed up. BIG MISTAKE.

Dr. George, Director of a his own personal rehab clinic and his wife Mrs. George the Vice President of said rehab clinic, is a dues paying member of the society, Global Information Network or GIN as he liked to refer to it.

Dr. George, who has a PhD but is not a medical doctor told us in great detail, with great energy, in his fast talking, brook on interuption voice about how making MILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars would make our lives wonderful. That if we joined GIN we would find the information, contact, maketing skills, etc. that we needed to employ the Laws of Attraction and change our lives.
For twenty minutes, at least, I listened to Dr. George and maintained my poker face, clenched my purse, regreting not getting up when the lady next to me did and leaving.

I was there to hear what the original speaker had to say. I was feeling like this had all been a big mistake and I didn't need to find more like minded friends, that what I needed to do was stay home, be with my family, watch Castle with Zeus and work in my studio. What was I thinking?
Why did I think I needed to get out more, see what people were doing? What did I think I was going to learn at this meeting?

Dr. George went on and on and even when the speaker did show up he didn't turn over the floor. He passed out his business cards. He was using the principles he had learned in his GIN group and by golly he was going to use them in this group.

I'm all for networking groups. I understand they serve a purpose for people. My disappointment came from the fact that I was observing the group of people, at this meeting. People who seemed to really be trying to change their thoughts, their lives, find new ways to bring positive energy into their world.
I resented Dr. George telling them that money was the answer.
I resisted the impulse to jump over the 300 pound man, next to me and throtle Dr. George.
I held fast to my committment to stay and listen to what the speaker had to say.
I wanted very much, after the meeting to go up to Dr. George and say, "SHAME ON YOU." Instead, I shook the real speaker's hand and thanked him.

I heard first hand stories about how the law of attraction changed some people's lives but unfortunately what I heard where stories about how they won tickets to a Packer's game or how they got a book published.

Those of you that have read my blog over the past two years know that I have always said, if you want something you need to put it out there to the universe. You need to make "the list" you need to read over the list and make sure you have included EVERYTHING that you think you need and want to make your list a reality. I've told you to be sure about your intent, to read the list outloud, looking into the bathroom mirror because when you face your own eyes you will know how honest your real intent is. I've told you to be patient and go about your life working towards that end goal on your list, DO THE WORK. And, I've told you that when the universe responds you better be willing to walk through that door.

That's information gleaned from thirty years of reading and working with self-help books. It's not magic. It's being clear about what you want, why you want it, what you are willing to do to see that it happens and when the universe give you an opportunity you seize it.

There is a spiritual component in all of this. It's an understanding of our connection to the energy around us, the earth, our fellow human beings on this planet. It's an understanding of our souls and our need and our souls need to BE CREATIVE. In my mind it's not possible to separate these things. They all work together.

I can't tell you how uncomfortable I was when it all seemed to just be about making MONEY, lots and lots of MONEY.

I don't know if I will go back to another meeting. I'm not sure it's a good fit for me. Everyone has to find their own path and perhaps Dr. George resonated with some in the room. I didn't care for his approach. I didn't care for his group, GIN and his plans to start a "clubhouse" here in Madison. I think I would tell anybody I knew to run in the other direction if somebody starts talking about Global Information Newwork. Remember, if you want to truly learn their "secrets" to how to market yourself and your product the dues are going to rear their ugly heads and they aren't going to be cheap.

The Law of Attraction..............well, it certainly has merit but people need to have more than just words thrown at them. They need techniques that will help them develop a more positive mental and verbal language for themselves. If they want to make changes in their lives they need to get centered first and be able to listen to their gut and learn how to dismiss the negative tapes that run through most of our brains 24/7. They need more than what I was hearing offered.

:)Bea Who has a great deal to think about and welcomes any of my readers thoughts on the subject.

Last Day............sigh

2011-05-04T08:35:00.005-05:00

http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Peace%20Hill.htm

We climbed the rocky path up to Peace Hill the other day.

We were sure it had been a lighthouse for rum runners and maybe the slave traders. It turns out it was a windmill. There used to be a GIANT statue of Jesus next to the old stone building. He like the GIANT statue of Jesus in Ohio was destroyed by the forces of nature.

Maybe we shouldn't be building GIANT statues, of a make believe likeness, of god like people?

I love the colors here. I love how people paint their houses, lavender, yellow, with contrasting colors for the shutters.

Today, we wander down to Mongoose Junction, in town and take a look in some of the shops.

Yesterday, we took a drive then headed down to Cinnamon Bay to just sit in our beachchairs, soak up the sun and float in the water. Well, one of can float, "not at our desired weight" bodies float much better than strong muscular bodies.

I'm still dealing with cravings for salt. I was hoping that a good long float in the water would soak up enough salt in my body to manage those cravings. Guess it doesn't work that way.

I can finally see the veins in my feet and my left ankle looks normal not wearing a skin inner tube around it. Zeus handed me a potato chip, yesterday, during our beach lunch. I held it and made a conscious decision to hand it back. Oh NOBLE BEA!

We travel all day tomorrow and arrive back in Verona very late in the evening. Friday is a day of laundry, cleaning and shopping to restock the larder and get ready for the Kentucky Derby party on Saturday. It looks like the weather is not going to cooperate with us so we will most likely be indoors, which means I have to do a better job of cleaning the house. Oh well, get it down now and ignore it for the rest of the summer, right?

:)Bea Who sends you peaceful greetings from the land of the sun, green hills and turquoise waters.

It's only a bird!

2011-05-02T13:46:00.007-05:00

We drove down some roads where the true locals live. Not the displaced American trust babies or Brit's or Auzzies. The people that work here and make the life of the tourist a little nicer.

I loved this picture of making use of the fence for his laundry.

Lots in the news this morning. I shake my head, over my oatmeal and coffee and wonder what's true and what isn't true anymore. "They say..." But, I'm a child of conspiracy theories. I wonder why they buried him at sea, was it really him, etc. Then I think about what this is going to do to the "alert" status at the airport. Will I be strip searched now since a pat down might not really be doing the job. I can't wait for Madison, airport to get a full body scan machine set up. I am really tired of having a strange woman run her hands around my boobies and up and down my legs and crotch. Even having her run her hands around the inside of my waistband to my pants is getting old. My knee doctor was so cute, he gave me a little laminated card showing an xray of my new knees to show the security people. I mean, isn't that the cutiest thing, like they gave a rip.

Oh, Georgia, you are certainly on my mind. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING putting up billboards of overweight children and then using them to point out that childhood obesity isn't a good thing. Did the shrinks that deal with children lobby you to do this? As if these children don't have enough issues to deal with in their lives. Now, their faces are up there on billboards to what? SHAME THEM? Yeah, how does that work for people.

There are a number of people that truly deserve my chanting outside their homes, SHAME ON YOU! Overweight children will never be on my list.

I once wanted to teach a Weight Watcher's class designed just for children AND THEIR PARENTS. It was a no go, from the start. I suspect a certain amount of greed entered into the equation with the owners of the local WW organization. They wanted to charge the parents, too.

I thought it might be a better idea to charge the child, let the parents in and educate them on a healthier eating program for the family. BUT, BUT, but if they lose weight they got all that information for free. sigh

I admit, it's a problem but Georgia's way of handling it leaves a lot to be desired. NOT A GOOD IDEA people.

We've rested, stood in the pool, the water took a little time to get used to , read, got some sun and now we're...........oh wait, I need to tell you about Zeus's need to make friends with the local birds. He's been putting bread, bits of muffins, ham and apparently pieces of banana out on the deck ledge. All offerings have been snatched by this rather large, crow size, brown bird. It almost looks like the Thrashers we have around our place in Wisconsin. Anyway, he's so tickled that the bird comes and takes what he puts out. He also leaves the front door open for the breeze.

We had a "discussion" about the possibility of the "bird/birds" coming inside. Sometimes 60 year old men act like 13 year olds. Have you ever noticed that?

We were down by the pool and I decided that I had enough thinking about salty snacks and needed to go make myself a cup of tea. I walked in through the open door, you know where this is going, right? And, what do I find but the bird, in the house, sitting on the counter, eating our bananas. He/she is throwing banana slush on the floor.

I have to admit it left without a lot of to-do. I put the banana outside on the railing, cleaned up the floor and reamed Zeus out.

Did no good, he laughed and asked me if I got a picture.

:)Bea who has no interest in reenacting a Hitchcock film.

A different slice of Paradise

2011-05-02T07:34:00.002-05:00

https://picasaweb.google.com/bea3150/MorningAtCaneelBayResort?authkey=Gv1sRgCNzd5t-N6OeveQ#

This morning we got up early and drove over to Caneel Bay resort. It's one of the Rosewood resorts. We've stayed there in the past and it's sister resort on Virgin Gorda is where we stayed, for our honeymoon, ages ago.

John wanted to play some tennis and I wanted to just hang out and people watch. The pictures in the album are of the old sugar mill that is one the property and of course the bay, beach and that's the view I have from where I am sitting, right now.

The weather forecast looked a little glum last night. Rain, rain and more rain but as an employee here just told me, "heh it rain maybe on one side and not the other and I brought de raincoat today so it not rain, here, at all."

Remember that little guide book I was mentioning yesterday? On one of the pages a local skipper lists all the questions he has gotten from people he has run into. I know he was being funny and I suspect that he really was asked most of those question. I would like to think they were from children because if adults asked them, it's a little sad.

These are some of his replied; " No, we do not paint the bottom of the ocean turquoise."
"If you fill all those little bottle with sea water you are going to be disappointed because you won't get that turquoise water color."

"We usually put the turtles and fish back in the ocean early in the morning so they can have breakfast before you see them."

I know people can ask stupid questions, or ask questions without actually thinking through them. I probably do it myself. I know once or twice I've heard Zeus say to me, "Think about it." Which I can tell you raises the hackles, whatever they are. I hate that expression. How condensing. And, of course I've let him know it.

Which brings me to my other thoughts about this subject. If it is children asking these questions it must mean they have nothing else to base it on, no other foundation to link their question to a thought process. Have we cut off some of this thought process by giving kids the answers to everything, right away?

Is it easier to just tell them what something is instead of asking them to "worry it out". By that I mean asking them the traditional who, what, where, when or why question to get them thinking about the issue?

I haven't been involved with elementary education in many years. I hope that there is time in the classrooms these days for this sense of discovery, exploration, linking of knowledge to come up with answers to questions. Understanding how things work is important. It helps us understand why we should care, be upset, make changes and build on that knowledge. If you don't have a foundation for something, of course you question is going to sound silly to some people.
If you have never seen turquoise water or the stars in the sky they seem very strange to you.

I remember reading about a program that brought inner city kids out to the country, at night, to show them the night sky. They thought it was fake. They thought there was a huge black covering over them with pink pricks of light behind them. It was too much for them to take in. In their world the sky didn't look like this at all.

Ignorance is sad. I know the booklet is meant to be funny but I think it's sad to mock people for not knowing. Once mocked in real life, some people seldom ever raise their hands, to ask, again and that is NOT a good thing.

:)Bea Who has a lot of time to think about a lot of things while staring at the ocean.

From paradise, what day is it?

2011-05-01T13:18:00.003-05:00

Last night we drove down the hill and around the hill and up and down the hill into Cruz Bay. We had dinner at the Banana Deck. We sampled a nice little drink called The Dirty Banana. Shari if you are reading this know that this drink is going on the menu at Sammie's Place, this summer.

I don't know the measurements, which should make it more interesting to experiement with.

It takes Bananas, of course, remember everything is going in the blender, rum, creme de banana, something I hadn't heard of before, Kahlua and real cream. Ooooooooh my, it came to the table look like a little ice cream drink, little pink umbrella and all. And, it was soooooooooo so, so good.

I had the chef's special. I always think it's a good idea to try out what the chef feels like promoting that night. A beautiful piece of "flipper" as my kids call it with a wonderful light sauce on a bed of rice and the best veggies I've had yet.

We were eating rather early, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE OLD AND WE DO THE EARLY BIRD SPECIALS, but because we wanted to get some sunset shots.

There was only one other couple eating when we arrived. Ok, so they were old, like us.

During dinner Zeus overheard the gentleman talking to the waiter and comparing notes about Maryland. Apparently, they both hailed from there.

We all left at about the same time and Zeus stopped the gentleman to say that he too hailed from Balitmore. Well, small world, not only Balitmore but they both came from the same town, went to the same private boys schoo and, had the same tough priest for some subjects.

Small world.

This morning we took a drive. The clouds were moving in and we decided to pass on going to a beach. Skinny Legs, a local bar and eatery was just the place for stop for the famous blue cheese hamburgers.

I have to wonder about the "locals" that were sitting, at the bar. All men pretty much around the 40-70 age, beards, long hair, often in pony tails, bright colored shirts, shorts and flip flops.

There they were lined up for lunch and a beer.

According to a little hand out booklet I picked up at the Cool Breeze car rental place, "the laid back vibe here has appealed to all kinds of people."

According to the write up, "Everybody here is an individual yet it's a close knit community. We have the truth seekers look for something, mystery men hiding from something, sail boaters from all over the world, gin from England, retired couples too cool for Florida, turn on, tune in drop out hippies, honest musicians, way cool trust fund babies and misfits from every walk of life."

There are tourist things to do, like sailing, diving, beaches, hiking, camping, all that kind of thing but what do you do when you live here day in and day out? The guys at the bar were all shooting the bs to each other, watching the bar tv. I wondered if they were artists, writers or just people that wanted a lot of distance from their old lives and the people in them?

Most of the people, not native to the Island, tell me they have been here 20-40 years. That's a long time.

I think I could live in this type of environment when it's the middle of a long winter in Wisconsin.

I tell myself that I could get used to the even tropical temperatures, the fantastic views, the gorgeous colored water.

The reality is that I would miss the contact with my family and friends. Sure, I have phone service and a computer but I miss seeing my kids and grandkids. I would miss my library book group, my art groups, my local market people, etc.

And, dare I say it, I probably would miss winter. ONLY, because when it finally leaves and spring starts to arrive I tend to get giddy about bushes leafing out, bulbs starting to pop and bloom, the grass getting greener. I start to get excited about what to plant and where, spending time in the pool with the grandkids and just enjoying summer.

I'm not crazy about long winters. The first snow is exciting and usually beautiful. By month four and the snow is still sitting around and the skies are gray I've had it with winter.

Could I live in paradise year round? I don't think so. Not if I'm being totally honest.

But, I sure do enjoy it when we visit.

We're not in Verona anymore.

2011-04-30T08:40:00.002-05:00

SIGH............that's the view from my deck. I had my coffee and yogurt looking out over this bay.
We're in St. John's for a week to celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary. I wouldn't mind celebrating all the rest of them like this, too. ARE YOU LISTENING, ZEUS?

Nothing planned for Day one but to just shed the tension and stress from our bodies, relax, swim in the pool, maybe go to a beach and just adjust to a slower pace of life.

Travel day, yesterday went smoothly. Three different planes, plenty of people to watch, I'm very easily entertained. On the last plane, a large jet from Charlotte, NC to St. Thomas, the lady two rows in front of me suffered from lower back pain. I could see she was uncomfortable even sitting.
I got up to use the bathroom and when I came back she was sprawled across the lap of the gentleman in the aisle next to me. At first I thought she had collasped but then I noticed he was giving her a massage. I didn't even know they knew each other! People watching is so entertaining. She chatted about her running, her kids all the time with her head on his lap and he was rubbing her back. He seemed to know what he was doing but it was very strange to watch.
And, watch I did. I mean after all you don't see something like that often, on a plane.

I just thought they must know each other, maybe part of a larger group traveling together?
After he "adjusted" or did whatever he did, she thank him, adjusted her clothing and went back to her seat. Her husband got up, came over, thanked him and gave him a business card.
hmmmm

It's the kind of things like that that just get my story mind a cooking.

I have a new laptop a little 13 pound Toshiba. We are very happy together. The battery pack lasts for three hours so that's a nice plus. I hope to catch up with my blogging so stay tuned.

:)Bea who is enjoying her life on the island, mon,

It's a wonderland out there.

2011-04-19T08:12:00.002-05:00

I had a wonderful visit with my best friend, Donna. We visited antique stores, strange warehouse stores, ate pulled turkey barbecue that was cooked in a big old boiler type of grill, out in a parking lot of an old strip mall and sat in the sun, on the steps of an old general store and ate ice cream. A good time was had, as always.

It's snowing here. I really shouldn't be surprised because for over 40 years I've used the parks department date, for the removal of snow fences as the date I would even consider putting up the window screens and that was April 15th. So, still no screens in the windows around here.
It's cold, down in the low 40s. I'm glad I refilled all the bird feeders yesterday.

I haven't been over to the studio, still catching up on householder chores from being away.
Apparently, while I was gone Riley found a green magic marker and decided to leave pretty drawings, for GrammyB, on her new white dresser and new pink walls. Zeus was able to clean it all off with acetone. He said that there was no yelling but a very concerned and deeply serious talk between Miss Riley and Zeus.

When I was spending time with Donna we went to a Tea and Spice store. OMG, what wonderful smells. I used to think working in a really good bakery would be a dream job but I think this tea store would be a close, very close second.
The walls were lined with gorgeous glass jars filled with teas and of course, spices. I think we opened as many as we could just to inhale the scents. I'm sure it didn't help my sinus problems but it was wonderful. I did buy a few packets of different kinds of loose tea. If we have a store like that around Madison, I still haven't found it.
I know they have something on a smaller scale at the health food stores but it isn't quite the same or as pretty.

Off to bundle up and then to the gym. The pool guys are supposed to come this morning and open up the pool. I don't envy the one that has to actually get into the pool to screw in the underwater light. He must wear a wet suit for this but brrrrrrrrrrr, nope, not a job I would like to do. They tell us that the earlier we open up the pool the better it is for the water and of course, they like us to wait until late in the fall to close it up. Too many warm days with that winter cover on and your water has a beautiful pea green shade to it.

Anyway, today, snow and the opening of the pool begins the 19th Summer. I plan to make the most of it, how about you?

:)Bea Be creative in your thinking throughout the day.

Come on green!

2011-04-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

I'm back from Boston and visiting middle son, wife and my fifth grandchild, Curran. We had a wonderful visit. The baby isn't such a baby anymore. They grow so fast. Pictures are on the other computer, of course, so I'll have to try to add them or post them later. The grass is green, that's about the extent of spring here. The birds are busy. I haven't seen the Bluebirds, I thought I heard one, in the woods. They have a soft little call so I really have to spend some time outside listening for them. I haven't seen anybody claiming the bluebird houses but then I've been pretty busy, unpacking and doing laundry. Tomorrow morning, very early, I head out to visit my old friend Donna. That's another fun trip for me. This April has been quite busy so far. Old Zeus has surprised me with an Anniversary trip to St. John's, at the end of the month. We'll be celebrating our 42nd on a nice warm beach. In between all this traveling I need to get into my garden and get it cleaned up, clean out the other garden beds around the house, get the pool area set up, put away bird feeders and clean out bird boxes again and WORK IN THE STUDIO. I can do this, I AM WOMAN, hear me roar. Ok, now off to do some more errands and then to the library for my monthly Mixed Media and Fiber Arts group meeting. :)Bea Create and then create some more.

APRIL FOOLS from Mother Nature

2011-04-01T10:37:00.002-05:00

Oh, she is such a kidder, she is. Yes, that photo was taken five minutes ago and it's still snowing and starting to stick. I know it won't last so I am enjoying how pretty it is and pretending it's November and our first snowfall, instead of April and hopefully, our last snowfall. I've been working on finishing up a baby quilt for Curran. We travel out to Boston next week and I want to give it to him for his baptism. I've also been working on a fabric painting from some of my photographs of New Mexico. My plan is to complete the rather large painting, then cut it up into sections, add more fabric and create a wall quilt. So, far I have really enjoyed the process and find it very relaxing. If I really don't like a section I'll be cutting it out. Takes any pressure off for getting it "right". I won't say the studio is completely clean or organized but it's neatened up and I can work in there again and so can my Mixed Media and Fiber Arts group, when they come over at the end of April. I've been taking up an armload of stuff from the barn, first floor, and putting it away. It's a big job because I think things have multiplied over the winter. I'm sure there wasn't this much stuff in that little guest room, I used, in the house, as my studio. After the Boston trip, I get home in time to do my laundry, repack and then I'm off to visit an old friend for a few days. Someone referred to us as Lucy and Ethel. I didn't ask which one they thought was which. I honestly think it's interchangeable. I know I'm getting older when I found myself musing about coffee cups, last night. I was eyeing the new mug that I got at Target, a pretty white and blue, rather Oriental looking mug and thinking how nice the handle was because I could get my fat fingers around it, comfortable. Also, it had a nice weight to it, not to heavy, not to light, substantial. And, the rim...........just thick enough but not an uncomfortable thickness. You laugh, but I have some mugs that are pretty to look at or just make me smile, like my happy face yellow mug but they are terrible for drinking my tea or coffee. Yes, this is what some old people reflect on while they are drinking their coffee. Not world affairs or their TO DO list, but simple things. Don't even go there. I would like to say I am just about finished with the first six generations on my mother's side, in my genealogy quest but I am getting sidetracked with history lessons. I guess this is a longer process than I expected but a quite enjoyable one. I new episode of The Adventures of Gray Bear and Friends is ready for Easter. As we get closer to the date I'll post the link. I did indulge myself and have the three stories self published. I'll give a copy to each family and they can do what they want with it. I remember my mother wanting to write books. She had some wonderful ideas before their time. She wanted to write a book about NEW YORK CITY on FIVE DOLLARS A DAY and that was back in the early 60s, long before books of that nature were published. We actually took a trip to New York City, all five of us and did, in fact, manage to survive on five dollars a day. I wouldn't say I would want to travel that way again but she made her point. Unfortunately, like a lot of her wonderful book ideas, it never got into print, or rather she never put pen to paper and make it happen. I have my own ideas, my own photographs, my own stories and I'm finding it rather fun to actually see them in published with a professional look to them. They aren't earth shaking and won't even come close to the New York Time's Review list BUT they will be something that my grandchildren can hold in their hands and get some clue what their grandmother was like, I hope. My local drugstore, Walgreens has a new photo center that will take your pictures and make it into a glossy, page protected little book. It's not that expensive and I'm going to be making one for Riley and Curran for their birthdays using the colorful pictures of fruits and veggies that I took a while back. You can add print so it makes a really nice little book to use to learn words and colors and it's something that I did. I guess leaving a little mark, in this world, turns out to be a tad important to me. Ok, go be creative..........let that soul out to dance and play. :)Bea

Little Red Riding Hood

2011-03-27T07:31:00.003-05:00

Isn't this darling? I just spent about half an hour posting a blog entry. The entire blog entry is gone. I haven't got the time or the energy to do this again right now. I need to move on and not let this negative energy get me. So, be patient, my friends. I'll be back, after I get some more chores done, drink more coffee and forgive Blogger. That last one may take a while. :)Bea

Happy St. Paddy's day tuya!

2011-03-17T09:45:00.006-05:00

He was going off to small dog day care today. With a name like Murphy you know he had to have some bit of green on him. We did his ears with green food coloring. Last time he went to day care he had just finished cleaning up a lasagna pan. His face smelled delicious. I think the other dogs spent the day grooming his face for him. I don't think they are going to be impressed with the green ears, no good smells BUT the girls at the center liked it. As, Murphy is one to do things to impress the girls.

Apparently, he has a new little friend, a puppy named Molly which apparently according to the slip I get at the end of the day, when I pick him up, says that he has a crush on. They played the entire day together.

It didn't seem to bother Murphy, at all when I dropped him off this morning. He never looks back when they take him off to the play area. I feel like a mom that is dropping off her toddler.

Come to think of it, they never looked back either, just ran in and started playing.

He's there for the weekend, a BUNKHOUSE BOY. That means he gets to sleep with one of the staff and not in a kennel. They tell me Murphy does great "backs". No surprise here.

We're on our way to Wisconsin Dells the water park vacation spot for winter weary Wisconsinites. Justin and family are driving down from Minnesota to meet us. A fun filled couple of days with the family, grandchildren, water park and basketball to watch.

Zeus called me yesterday about 1:30 in the afternoon to ask me if the Red Wing Black Bird had arrived. I told him I hadn't noticed anything new in the yard. Zeus was POSITIVE that he would be arriving. He's funny like that. Like he and the bird have each other on speed dial.

Well, damned if 15 minutes later, I'm walking out of the laundry room and see the Red wing Blackbird sitting on the back of the deck chair, looking in the window at me. Just like he did all last summer and right before he took off for the south, for winter.

How does Zeus do that? I checked my blog for yesterday's date, late year and they hadn't arrived yet. In fact, they didn't show up until the 24th of March. Very strange. I may have to change his name from Zeus to Birdman.

I did hear a Baltimore Orieole singing up in the highest point in the tree by the edge of the woods.

Speaking of woods, I really want to get in there, on Sunday and start marking a trail. If we don't get in and start clearing the brambles out before they start to leaf out, it's almost impossible to do.

I have to go pack up, load up the car and make sure there is plenty of cat food in the bowl. Louie and Cleo aren't going to be very happy with this break in their routines.

Have a great day doing something creative. Anything, just do it.

:)Bea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyl2tOaKxM

Chant with me...................

2011-03-15T22:16:00.005-05:00

MELT SNOW, MELT SNOW, MELT SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Gorgeous warmer day today and tomorrow maybe up to 60 degrees. I am hoping that it will do some serious melting of what is left of our snow.

Met with the Mixed Media Fiber Art group today. What a fun bunch of ladies. So much creativity being sparked, ideas flying around, show and tell and just a really good get together.
I got to see the pictures of our art work that was hung at the Senior Center, downtown. Boy, they did a nice job with that. KUDOS LADIES!

We talked about all sorts of topics, most of them dealing with art but some off topic subject as well. One that was rather interesting was the fact that all of us seem to have a piano. For some it was something that was passed down to them and for others it was bought because a parent always wanted to play or wanted them to play. Whatever the case, I think 5 out of 6 had a piano and hardly ever played it. AND, had a great deal of trouble letting go of it.

In some cases these pianos have been moved from state to state. They take up room. There have been offers from partners to buy them keyboards so they could NOT play those but get rid of the piano. And, yes, I meant NOT play.

I have a piano. I bought it with my retirement money, from the state when I retired back in
about 1972. I retired from one job to take on being a full time mother and worker in the home.
I don't know what it was about buying the piano. Yes, I had lessons but I never really loved the piano. Maybe, it made me feel connected to something from my past?

I started piano lessons at age 5, serious lessons. My mother would drop me off at the home of a well endowed German lady, who sat next to me, at the piano, with a ruler in her hand and who did not hesitate to smack that ruler on my knuckles when I played a wrong note.

I distracted myself from her behavior by paying attention to the row of Angels Of The Month she had lined up on the top of the piano. If you made it through your recital piece, perfectly you were presented with one of these little china angels.

By, 8 years old I still hadn't gotten an angel. That year I was assigned The Warsaw Concerto to memorize and play.
By the end of the actual performance I still didn't get an angel. I did get a round of applause even if I did have to have the sheet music, in front of me, while I played.

I did get to wear a formal, prickly, dress that was uncomfortable and poofed up when I sat down to play.

Google Youtube for the Warsaw Concerto. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS THAT TO GIVE A LITTLE 8 year old kid to play? Geesch.

I hope somebody, over time, got to take the October angel home. I know I never did.

My piano is still in our living room. Mary has a post it note on the back of it that it belongs to her if I kick the bucket. God knows what she's going to do with it, the child never did finish her lessons. Maybe Riley will surprise all of us.

I know my DIL, Shari announced to her children, ages 10, 8 and 5 that they were all going to be taking piano lessons in the fall. Two of them were resigned but the 5 year old ran crying from the room. Shari said it was about the same response she got from him when she asked him to eat a cheeseburger, she had made him, for dinner except their was some gagging added for effect.

Tomorrow, I'll dust the piano. Maybe, just maybe I'll sit down and .............no, that's not going to happen, the dusting or the sitting down. I would rather be painting or sewing.

:)Bea

Swaying in the breeze.

2011-03-14T12:55:00.003-05:00

When I was much, much younger and visited my Grandmother, we would often take a walk to the downtown, from her house. She had bills to pay and gossip to collect from the local drugstore.

It wasn't far of a walk, perhaps a mile and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My grandmother on the other hand, kept complaining that I looked down to much. That I should walk with my head up, looking around me. She had a point. I, on the other hand found some many objects that I could put in my pocket for examination later. An old wasps nest, piece of run over paper, bottle caps, interesting twig that could be made into a stick figure and so on.

With my camera I tend to look ALL AROUND me now as I take a walk. I was out with Murphy, this morning, in the yard, marveling at all the bird song. Three days ago, hardly anything. I was still playing my CD, of bird song, inside the house. Now, all I have to do is go outside and listen.

I just love it. For people that live in a climate that is warmer and always have bird song, let me tell you that the lack of bird song, in winter, is depressing.

I was checking the status of the amount of snow, left in the yard, to melt, when I glanced up at a tree at the edge of the upper woods. That looked a lot like a Baltimore Oriole nest to me.

I went inside and did a Google search and found what looks very similar.

Since we have had Baltimore Oriole's in the yard for the past four years I was hoping to see more nests. I guess this is the only one that has survived the winter winds.

A dear has scraped the bark off of a large center limb of my Lilac bush. I used to paint those damaged areas but the last Wisconsin Gardner show I watched recommended that you do nothing to it. It will heal itself or not. Kind of iffy advise. I really don't want to lose the bush but on the other hand they really are hard to kill off.

Murphy and I need to take a drive to the market. I hope you all are doing lots of creative things.

:)Bea

It's soooooooooooo pretty and crouching tiger and wiley dragon were at it again.

2011-03-13T10:00:00.005-05:00

Of course, it's hard to show you the proper soft shade of pink on the walls but trust me when I say that everybody in this house, seems to love it and they aren't pink people. This is the chest of drawers that we got at the Ikea store. The framed pictures, on the wall, are close ups of my garden flowers. Zeus and I worked together to get just the right balance with the pictures.

I had a plan but when we measured there wasn't enough wall space and I wanted to work around the lamp. I think we got it right. I am pleased with the balance.

The pictures are double matted which although cost a little more to have done was worth it. It just adds something to the whole look.

Zeus replaced all the original knobs on the dresser with china ones that he found with roses painted on them.

The wooden box holds all my inexpensive bracelets. Riley loves to climb up on the bed, ask for the box and then sit there sorting out the sparklies and putting some up on her arms.

The top of the dresser is covered with a piece of glass that we had cut to fit. I don't know why but I really like that look.

When Mary was little I did it for her dresser and then slid pictures of family and friends under the glass. She loved looking at them when she got dressed.

Yesterday, at the French bakery, Riley was sitting on her booster seat when she suddenly pushed her feet against the table and started to tip backwards. The couple, sitting at the table next to us, said it was like watching a movie in slow motion. As Riley started to tip and her chair was going over backwards, both Zeus and I, in coordination raised up out of our seats and grabbed both of her arms. We kept her from falling as the chair crashed to the ground.

It was rather like watching the movie Crouching Tiger, etc. with the perfectly coordinated ballet like moves, through the air.

She didn't even really have time to cry before I hugged her to my chest and rubbed her back. We removed the booster seat. I guess she is going to have to sit on the chair now.

Off to the studio, today. Yesterday, I did enough householder chores to choke a horse. Today, I need to get out there and start cleaning things up. With the nicer weather it would be nice to have the art group meeting out there again.

:) Bea