Flamingos in Chicago

It was such a hot day walking around in Chicago and the galleries were on the European Schedule - closed in August!!! So... we are in the meatpacking district or one of them. The train crossings grew the tallest weeds - admirable. On our way back to the bus and someplace to eat lunch the flamingo just HAD to ride the rails.

A new flock of flamingos!!

I have been shopping for some new yard flamingos but the cost makes me pause. These little cuties I found and are keeping me smiling. I have one friend who will take them traveling with her. Can't wait to see their travels documented. But for now just Iowa antics around the house.

More chalk work

Helen returned from Russia and since she was arriving late I colored the driveway in case I was asleep when she pulled up at the house.

Moving on to the next thing

A few vacation days does alter thinking. The thing i liked the most was not wearing a watch and pretty much refusing to look at a clock. I had a long list of things that I might do and after I wrote everything down then I asked what's first? GOD what do you want me to do? So I worked and cooked and sat and did nothing, ate and slept and read my way through the days. I met people and I had time alone. Most of all I liked the non-clockness of the time. Of the thime, that's curious. Now I wonder how to keep the calm sense of not measuring time in the middle of a day that is pretty much ruled by the clock. A good challenge for me to change language from busyness to focus. Hmmmmm. More later for sure.

This is the food heaven for the moment. Homegrown raspberries and New Jersey Blueberries, Sigh... Grilled peaches with 3-B Sauce (butter, brown sugar and Bourbon) is coming in a close second.

New animal sighted in Clive

Here just for a visit but settling in nicely for the visit. This is a sort of spa/vacation time for this celebrity cow before appearing at the Iowa State Fair. Feeling lack lustre lately she has opted for complete rest and relaxation in order put the color back into her cheeks.

Went to an Art Fair

I went to the Midwest Art Fair, the alternative art fair in town and I am now the proud owner of a silk/wool scarf, a smart spoon rest and two fab cards to mail. I sigh with contentment. On another note I received news that my Aunt died yesterday. This drawing is about her and the family. The garden is different?! Don't mind feeling sad but I don't want to feel regret. What did I learn from her? I hope there will be a memorial service because that would be a good place for all kinds of thoughts.

New Animal coming to our house

I am going today to pick up a concrete cow, 24 inches high, to paint for CFUM. Our design was one selected to compete in the 100th Anniversary of the State Fair Butter Cow Competition. So when I asked the flamingos what they thought of a cow coming home they were not thrilled and called the sky to gray up and the rain to come again. Hey flamingos may look flimsy but they got some power going. The other resident weighing in was the cat who welcomes a new smell in the garage but declines to comment on how it looks - touchy subject since she uses her seeing eye whiskers all the time now.

Mulling over thoughts after reading Helen's blog about latest goings on. I think this may become another pavement prayer. Always there is a tension between the doing of something small in the face of the object that is big. Boy oh boy, social issues, art expression, faith all have this in common.

Walked at 6AM then got a massage at 9. The morning is my own and I both want to do nothing and have too many things to get done. When in doube get a cup of tea - return to routines!! I made a list. There you go. Nap later was the first thing I wrote.

Friday Morning - between storms

Went walking this morning and almost thought I saw a rainbow. It was just the way the sunrise was lighting up the broken up storm clouds and the sky between the rain that had been and the rain that was coming. I wonder if I could paint the morning/record the morning 365 days in a row as a way of opening up my eyes to daily miracles. Hm....

Was in Boston for the weekend and got to see a dead relative. It was after the State House grounds were closed but the State Police let me inside the gate to get a couple of pictures. She was hanged in 1660 by the Puritans for speaking out on religious matters. "Uppity Woman"

I am fascinated by the iris in the yard now and what they do when they are done blooming. The way they curl back onto themselves in tight fisted swirls and cauliflower like heads. Sketches are not doing them justice yet.

In the studio for a quick few moments this morning - needing yellow and - well just a shot of color. Found this prayer.

Friday, May 27

Looks like some rain will come our way. Reading more of the Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. The creative inventory early in the book made me think about how important words and writing are to me and how much I like the act of writing. Writing words is another line drawing really. Then I connected the dot to the Project Code Blue book and now am mulling over creating another book. Hm.....

Wednesday, May 25

Rainy morning means the chalk is gone. No mind. but i am thinking about the next drawing to do out on the driveway. Clouds last night driving home were so varied. Some massive but then other areas of the sky just had long stripes stairstepping their way from the horizon to as high as I could see. Black, Purple, dusky glow of gold on the earth side.

Monday May 23, 2011

Daughter is off to Chicago to catch a plane for Russia. She will be there for 6 weeks.

I did a visual prayer for her trip. When I got to the end of the driveway and the end of the message it started to sprinkle. I didn't know what I could do to preserve the chalk until she woke up and would see this. Then I looked up and saw a full rainbow and the whole spectrum was visible. Thank you GOD. Sigh..My prayer for her was heard and answered.