How dreadful! Where have I been?

Almost a month! Whew!

So much has happened... my daughter went to the prom and I meant to post a photo or 2. She was/is beautiful! Not only that, but she'll be 17 next week. Ok, so here's the gorgeous couple:


Lots of medical testing, so far all results are negative. Just have not been feeling well. My husband is doing a "Take Shape For Life" diet and doing great - and now he wants to get a personal trainer... And I finished another painting. Here it is:


It's actually an old painting that I finished in 2006. It was pretty much the black hole with the yellow membrane and red around it, with the same background, called "Embryo of My Grief." Sometime in 2007 I painted the yellow overlay and didn't know how to go from there. Then one day a couple of weeks ago I just was so overwhelmed and so unhappy because I wasn't feeling well and had no time for my creative life with all the rest of life going on that I just went at the painting. I've worked on it here and there, adding to the piece over the original painting, and yesterday I finished it. Again. But it's a different painting now, anyway.

Here's a detail. It's the egg.


It is a visual art lifelong theme for me - fertility, sperm and eggs. My art therapy thesis was entitled "Egg Therapy" - part of it was doing a bunch of drawings of eggs. Now, I've got these cysts on my left ovary and I might have to kiss it goodbye. Plus, I know I'm at a turning point, because I'm not happy with the way things are and the pressure's building. I have to make more room/time/energy for my creative life. And I hope that I find a way to make it coincide with money!!!!!

Sorry for the grumpy post. It's the rumblings of impending change.

And, by the way, happy Mercury retrograde.

What I'm working on...

I started making this for myself... but have been too busy doing other things this week. I did make a rosary (first, and probably last, ever) for a dear friend, but didn't take a photo of it. I may ask her to let me do that, just because.


So this is what I'm working on, in more than one way. I'm not happy with my wire work and anyway, I've changed my mind about darkening the letters. So I'll have to take it all apart - something I almost never do. I'm so excited about new tools and materials! Now all I need is endless time (but I am hesitant to wish for something as dangerous as that!)

Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral

Life has been so full the past couple of weeks - it's that spring/extra light/warmth kind of energy that puts me into overdrive on external things. Family time and work time, and little creative outlet time. This is what we've done this week, a whole crew: Dad, Mom (!), Lara, Lara's boyfriend Matt, Jay and I collaborated to yield this sacred ground. I have to go measure it so I can figure out what we have room for. It's smaller than I'd hoped for, but considering the size and abundance of rocks that we unearthed, it's good enough. In 2 weeks some friends have an organic seedling sale, so that we be the makings of our garden. Oh, and I did get some organic Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce seeds at one of those big chain hardware stores, and have ordered some more seeds from my food co-op (delivery Monday).

These are the biggest rocks we got out. The small rocks on the bottom right are about 3-4 inches in length, so you can see how big they are. You can also see them behind the garden in the top photo.

And here's a visitor in my flower garden this morning:


Shadu got it and so we had turtle rescue to perform. Not easy. But we did manage to liberate the turtle from the dog and set it free in the woods. I wish I knew what kind it is... The top is pretty plain but gets interesting toward the bottom of the shell, and you can see that the turtle's skin has got some color. The bottom of the turtle had beautiful yellow markings. I couldn't get a photo of that because we had to act quickly during the rescue phase.

Photos of my paintings

I've been meaning to do this for a long time... and I finally spent a good chunk of time yesterday getting it done. Here's the link to assorted paintings. Here's one:

Finally the Ocean

We had 3 precious days at the ocean over Easter weekend...

I've been going to the Jersey shore almost every year since I was born; for the last almost 20 years my parents have owned a place that is right on the water. Usually I wait until the summer to go, but there was nothing that could keep me away after all that winter sickness.

As soon as we get off the Parkway (my son calls it the "Garden Stake"), my heart quickens and I feel as though I fly the rest of the way. It's comforting to see all the familiar stores, restaurants and even gas stations on the way, because this is the way HOME. I love the way my children, too, treasure this place; they've known it their whole lives. I can't think of anything more wonderful.

I took the top 2 photos, and my daughter took the 3rd. Enjoy my heaven on earth!

Dawn through the trees

I couldn't resist photographing my view early this morning...

Selling some beads

Happy St. Patrick's Day (though I have not one speck of Irish in me)!

Just posted some beads for sale...

http://tinyurl.com/2pga8z

If you're interested, please contact me. Thanks!