as I sit here

... drinking my evening gin over ice with calamata olives (much better than the green ones) I'm looking out over the lake or lagoon or whatever it is that was in yesterday's sunset photo.The sky is about six shades of grey, the lake another, and even the lone palm is a dark neutral. There is a blessedly cool wind and it is raining. The mass of egrets, who were digging for worms in the grass this afternoon, have flown. And there is no photo I can take from here that will convey the scene accurately. There is a poignancy to this visit. My motherdoes not say it in so many words, but knows at some level that she will most likely not be back. It is the elephant in the room, too heartbreaking to contemplate. Even for me. The rain has stopped; so has the breeze. And I am going to retreat to the air conditioned interior with a book. Tomorrow will be another adventure.

environment as influence

It seems that people who live in tropical climates make art in brighter colors than those who don't. I remember Jette Clover saying she thought her work was so bright when she lived in Holland, but after she moved to Florida her blues were so vibrant that her earlier cloth looked grey in comparison. Fascinating how our surroundings inform our subconscious and as a result, our work. As I was uploading a few shots from my camera just now, I came across this rather fuzzy picture I shot through the screen as I sat on my mother's porch Saturday night at sunset.

The next shot, of fabric I printed yesterday, gave me rather a shock. Have you had that experience? I must admit it weirded me out.

On another subject, before I retire for the evening. My cousin sent me an e-mail with a link that is exactly what I needed today. You need it, too.

If you always thought you could paint like Jackson Pollack try this>>>> Jackson Pollock by Miltos Manetas Just remember to click your mouse now and then to change colors. This is FUN!! Enjoy it.

art on dial-up

View from the porch last night at sunset. MY sky in New Jersey doesn't look like this. And if Thomas Kinkade had painted this scene, it would be nauseating. Another photo I couldn't resist. I keep meaning to get to the art topic, but my brain has shut down after another day in paradise. Tune in tomorrow.

thanks

To all of you who left me messages - you have NO idea what your words mean to me. I know so many of us have been there/done that, so thanks for the support! Deb - I have been following the travails of your Auntie E and the move and I am so glad it's working out. And LizzieB - I know what you're going through. So, a public big hug to all of you. On a more cheerful note, I plan to go to the Norton Museum this weekend to see the Front Range Comtemporary Quilters traveling exhibit. Will report back.

hope springs eternal

I took this picture yesterday, after a rainstorm in which I could not see the white lines on the road. The deluge hit as my brother and I brought my mother back to her apartment in West Palm from the rehab place. Without going into details, suffice it to say I need to be reminded that SOME stormy periods have rainbows at the end. My sister-in-law and two kids are stuck in a motel in Monticello, NY in the tsunami that has hit Pennsylvania/NY state - en route to taking my niece to camp. It is a disaster area and they got the last motel room in the area. My brother Jon and I are trying to keep our senses of humor. My mother has lost hers.

Antidote to aggro: art. I set up a bridge table late this afternoon on my mother's porch - and tomorrow, I hope to get some fabric printing done. Hope - not expectation. But we shall see. I do not have a wireless signal here and am using my husband's dial-up AOL account. We never use AOL but keep it as an emergency backup. Thank goodness. I will try to check in periodically, and if there is anything art-related, I will let you know. I want to go home.

hello from sunny Fla

I can receive e-mail but can't send it for some weird reason. My mother fell and fractured her hip and had surgery yesterday. I hopped on the first available plane and got here last night. Don't ask. Meantime, I'm hijacking somebody's signal which is so slow that I'm having trouble loading any pictures, so this will undoubtedly be a text-only message unless I can go to the library or somewhere. I can receive e-mail but not send it. Huh? The SPUN opening was terrific and there were lots of people there. A number of pieces sold (including mine) which was good. I must say it was a beautiful exhibit of small pieces. Here is the link, which I can't even get to on this slow computer. Elin Waterston assures us there will be more pix posted in the next few days. http://www.katonahartcenter.com/currentexhibit.html . That's all for now. I'll post more if I can get a faster connection later in the day.