Working On Re- Entry

I always seem to have trouble with re-entry after a trip but this time its been especially hard. On Christmas Eve we learned that our sweet niece Britney lost her battle with brain cancer. She was only 21, engaged and planning a wonderful life.  Its so sad.

On Christmas morning we packed the truck and headed out on our 1800 mile journey across the country. You know when you travel on Christmas Day nothing is open. I was happy we had brought a cooler with a few things. Christmas dinner was yogurt, cheese and crackers and Apple pie. The roads were good going out the trip is just long.

Amidst all the sadness there was new life to celebrate.  My sister-in-law Sue with daughter Leslie and Leslie's son Cody.  We spent a few days with family in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and then headed to lower Michigan to visit my sister, brother and cousin.

Here is a view going across the Mackinaw Bridge, it connects both parts of Michigan together. It was wind and cold, this bridge is 5 miles long and not my favorite bridge in the world. As you can see there was very little traffic that day.

















This is a view of all the ice on the lake. I got a very frozen tundra like feeling looking out the window.

This is my sister Peggy with her two boys Casey and Jamie.  They are all grown up now. The last time I saw them they were little boys, how time flies.

This is me with my favorite cousin Norah, and my sister Peggy and brother Tom. It was so great to reconnect with family.  It had been a really long time. I always feel closer to my mom when I am with Norah. I learned a few new things this time.  It was fun reminiscing with her, she is such a joy in my life.




















I didn't do much art on the trip but here are a couple pages. I call them Light unfolding. I needed to see some light amongst all the sadness.

They were both created with Faber-Castel Gelatos.
Just layers of color smeared together. Its a favorite way for me to use this medium.

In addition to the gelatos I had brought my Koi Watercolor traveling set. I drew this in pencil first and then just added the color. This piece has a lot of light coming through too.

Saying Goodbye

I had to say goodbye to my boy Flynn on Tuesday. This is the last picture I took of him. He was the first dog that was just mine. He was my mothers day gift fourteen years ago. We spent so many great moments together. walked together, herded sheep together, traveled to many states, camped together, and so much more. He was my companion and my friend and he has left a huge hole in my life. I like to think he is off chasing sheep in a huge pasture in the sky.  So long Flynn you were the best dog ever.

The house has been so quiet, I have had a hard time getting used to it all. After a session with my coach where she suggested a memorial rock or something for my garden to remember Flynn. It being winter I thought of something else, an altar.  So I collected all my border collies and added Flynn's picture and a little sheep for him to chase.  It will do for now.

Then I turned to art which I have missed.  It felt great to be working on my journal again. I loved how this background turned out. I didn't quite know what I wanted to add to the page.  It has been awhile since I painted a face so it felt great to be painting again.

I played with this page some more. I am not sure what will come next but its fun to play with.

MIssing Ninnie

This is Ninnie my friend from Alabama,  She was one of the Glitter Sisters. A group of artists who met online through Violette Clarke's message board.  We shared our loves and lives and our art over the years. She lost her battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer today.  Hold her family in your heart. Follow your dreams, take that trip, don't put things off.  Life is so short live to the fullest while you can.  I miss you Ninnie.

Saying Goodbye

We are saying goodbye today.  This is Lucky. Sixteen years ago I found her in the ditch across the street.  She was cold and really young.  She didn't know how to eat, so I fed her with an eye dropper. She survived and grew up. We called her Lucky because she was lucky we heard her cries and could rescue her. When her mother was killed by a car and her other sibling was found dead by a neighbor then you know she was truly lucky.

She was a good mouser in her youth. Our relationship was not always cordial especially when she would pee in the house. I would put her outside when she really didn't want to go.  She became more my husbands cat. She'd hang out on the back of his chair and then we'd call her the Parrot Cat. When friends came over for a weekend she would hide the whole time. The last year or so as she got old she wanted to sit on my lap a lot. She'd let me pet her and groom her since she didn't do a great job any more.  She had the most beautiful eyes.  Really intense blue with flecks of color. I am going to miss her. She had a great life with us.

Gabrielle has left us

We found out that Gabrielle my favorite she died today.  Yes she was old but it is still hard to deal with.  She is the only sheep that I bought by myself.  She turned out to be my favorite of all my sheep and she was Dave's too.  I didn't want her body just to go to the dump so we dug a grave in the pasture and buried her there. It was hard work, the three of us took turns and then we said our goodbye's.

We had been treating her extra special so she would stay alive.  Just yesterday I brought her a branch from a willow tree that had broken off.  Sheep love to eat willow leaves.  That is the last time I saw her alive and she seemed so happy and content.  I am glad that she died naturally and that she has gone on to greener pastures but I sure am going to miss her. I think this week I am going to have to spin some of her fleece.  She had the softest wool and the sweetest disposition. Goodbye Gabrielle I am going to miss you.