back from wherever

and still in the middle of whatever.  These last couple of weeks have been fraught with food poisoning and a bacterial infection, along with family involvements and a few other adventures.  Life is doing its thing - and I am trying to keep pace with it. Not easy.

I've been dealing with insurance adjusters over water damage to my mother's apartment and have been spending much time there (without Internet access) photographing, wrapping, and packing her fragile things so the apartment can be fixed and painted.  Time consuming, boring, and exhausting.  It goes on and on and on.

Last week, both my daughters had birthdays and over the weekend, our granddaughter Kayla's bat mitzvah -- a joyful but bittersweet occasion for me.

  Miss Emma in her party dress, looking slightly tipsy at that late hour.

 Hilary and Jessica - each of whom turned a year older last week.

 And here I am with Jeremy, who told me I "clean up nicely."  LOL

Finally, I got into the studio on Tuesday of this week and brought home a piece that has been on my wall.
Here it is, almost finished.  I spent Tuesday night and Wednesday stitching and it was the first time in ages I have done any real work. Felt good.

Now I have to go make spanakopita to take to a gathering tonight.  Rachel and Debbie, two of my studio mates, are moving away from New Jersey and we are throwing them a "we will miss you" party.  I have not made spanakopita in years, but I am just in the mood -- so I had better get busy.

I will try to be better at blogging, now that the last two difficult weeks are over. They may be brief and not art-related, but I will see what I can do.