Thursday Coming Down - FAST!

New Charcoal!

I've been busy - too many art shows going on - Just finished one for a juried show that could bring some very nice prize money. (see above link). Hustling to do a drawing to sell to promote our only non-profit gallery, and trying to get enough prints made for my art show and to sell at the non-profit gallery on downtown Gallery Night. Yep, busy. Grandson went home for a few days and I miss him way too much.

It's probably hit the news - about 174 dead according to one report from so many tornadoes through the South. We were all ok, its just humid and cloudy most of the time - and it makes our 85 F. seem very hot - I guess the one tornado we had that time was enough of our share of them.

Trying to pick up the house some, my sister will come visit.

My mother continues to have lots of problems, thinking she has cancer, is going to have surgery and radiation, when none of the doctors say anything of the sort. I should go the end of June - the weather has me sort of crippled up and moving slowly, but at least the pneumonia/bronch - is a thing of the past - it seemed to get 1/3 of my energy from me and keep it though.

I must run - I'm out of coffee and I can't start the day without it!

Happy Easter

Some don't believe in Easter's foundations, but thinking of celebrations for this season, I believe one must respect other's beliefs. This is the one I celebrate, kind of mixed with a bit of passover as well. It's been an odd one in a way, no Easter outfits, or bunnies, nor baskets, none of the American traditions, no ham, no mashed potatoes, no after church brunch, no church. I did make a pink box cake today, we ate left overs from last night, and I missed the rest of my family. Yet I am glad they felt the freedom to celebrate (or not) on their own.

The above picture is an apt depiction of a wound of crucifixion.

I did go Friday to a most extraordinary service at the Metropolitan Community Church - it was called a Taise service and was quite moving. I never spoke to anyone, nor anyone to me - Christ was preeminent and the message of Christ. I wept through the whole thing and felt incredible when it was over.

So that notwithstanding, I am fighting a major painter's block. Ugh - have to break through now that I'm committed!!!! There is so much going on, I'm thinking if I do not develop a workable routine I will have to resign from the Gallery's Board as Publicity Director in order to have time to paint.

Summer! Full bloom here - in the 80's - that's F. Humid. Green, so green. Hibiscus blooming - I am so behind in planting, yard work, its crazy, but my sister is coming and we will dig and plant and continue the garage cleaning that Stagg and Candy so aptly began for us. One of the palms has split which is rare and I'm watching it with interest. Earth Mother I am.

Youngest grandson is going to Orlando with a select choir to sing at Disneyworld. His mom is going with him, they are so excited!! Oldest grandson graduated from IT Tech last month. Granddaughter is finding her way - deep thinking and definitely a free spirit, will be fun to watch her enter adulthood. She will be 17 next week - scary - I got married when I was 17. She has better sense.

My car has taken to falling apart the last two months, expensive falling a parts! Hope this recent transmission trouble is the last of it. It only has 66,000 and Buicks are supposed to be workhorses. Dunno.

My mother has been sick, probably is on the decline towards death, she thinks any moment, but it could possibly be another year as well. She had a reaction to a flu shot which uncovered some clots in her lungs. They are gone, but she has been fighting some fluid in her lung. She wants me to come out and take care of her. Moving in or getting an apartment for a few years or 20 plus years is not an option for me. I keep in touch with her doctors and if she really needs me, then I will go - but not until then, other than a standard visit. I don't know anyone else my age that visits there mother 2000 miles away every year. I think I can count the actual vacations, holidays I've taken in my life on one hand. So I don't feel selfish.

I am so thankful for such a fabulous year last year - it helps bear this one!

Well, that's it for now - nice to be blogging again - Facebook is really irritating me. Long story.

I think I've lost all my Bspot readers - but life changes, ebbs, swirls, and its ok, really - I trust we are all where we are supposed to be when we are there. If nothing else Bspot is a great journal!

The Mockingbird That Would Not Be Killed

For a few weeks, a mockingbird had been visiting me - she (perhaps) would sit on the top of the umbrella on my patio table and often stand on the patio and look into the house. I rather got a kick out watching her. Then a pair of birds would be chasing Psycho, the cat, across the top of the backyard fence. "Ah," I thought, "they have babies somewhere."

Offers of food and seed were ignored.

Several days ago, big Mama cat came in with a good sized bird in her mouth (I thought it was a mouse) and when we were able to take the bird, we noticed it was a baby Mockingbird. In the attempted capture, the cat caught the bird - twice. When baby was finally secured, he was placed in a shoe box. The next morning, my grandson opened the box to see if baby was still alive, and the bird took off and hid behind a China closet. We couldn't get it out as the furniture was too heavy.

Then, suddenly, the desperate screams of a bird, and I ran to the kitchen, and there it was, in the mouth of the cat AGAIN. I rescued the bird, and drove him to the Wildlife Sanctuary which was well-tucked away in an industrial section of town. The workers said a bird so attacked (three times) would rarely live. Sad, and on the way out of the sanctuary I was able to see a Great Horned Owl, which was an awe inspiring sight!

The following day I called the Sanctuary - the baby bird not only lived, but had already transited to a foster home that would nurture it until it could return to the wild. What a bird! What beautiful innocence and strength!

Then I turned inward and asked, what was the lesson of the Mockingbirds - ahhh, a humbling one: I turned to research and some Indian Lore - - - and found it, "Take note of what you are attracting and mimicking." Yes, I got it. It took me a long time. The Indians believe when one gets the "house visitors" it is often a message. I agree.

Hosanna

I have been wanting to paint these for about a year. When I realized Easter was around the corner, I painted them from a photo I took in the Caribbean and named the painting, "Hosanna" which means: Save/deliver me and I pray - and I don't know what the red line and white space is all about. Hey, Blogspot??? More later, I can not shake the red line. Just wanted to put the palms up in time for Palm Sunday.