By: Amy C. Moreno,
on 2/13/2008
Check out The Portrait Party...a blog that deals with portraits and is now accepting posts of artist's self-portraits. I don't have time to do one at the moment, but am posting about it for you all. It sounds like a fun challenge.
By: Garden Painter Art,
on 6/18/2007
Good Morning:
I'm back from what is traditionally a busy week. My wedding anniversary is on June 13, my oldest son's birthday is on June 17, and Father's Day always falls on Sunday after our anniversary.
Altogether, we had a great week, but today is officially "back to the norm". This is always a sad and melancholy Monday as Gary goes back to work after being off for days. He has always planned days off around our anniversary and Garrison's birthday. We're somewhat like "Siamese Twins" when he's home from work for an extended period of time. When he goes back to work, I just find myself a little dis-gruntled. I'm not sure what to do with my time.
I've been to the garden this morning and enjoyed the cool of the morning.
It isn't as hot today, but in the next day or so, we're going to get blasted with daytime highs in the 100's. I'm making a conscious effort to breath in the sights and smells of the damp morning that's upon us now, as I know full well what's lurking around the dry, desert corner!!
Don't get me wrong, it will still be hot enough to turn the air-conditioner on in the afternoon, but I might be able to squeeze in a few hours with open windows.
I have plans to meet with some dear friends for dinner this evening. Nothing more than a Subway sandwich, but nevertheless, it's always nice to steal a few moments with friends that you don't get to see as often as you would like. I'm also hoping to work on a collage ACEO that's almost finished. I'd like to get it listed in My Etsy Shop tomorrow morning.
Otherwise, I have a new "Set of 3" ACEO collage prints entitled "Plumpy Babies" listed today:
Forgive me for such a scattered blog entry. I'm simply trying to get back into the "swing of things" after such a perfectly dreamy week.
Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
By: Garden Painter Art,
on 5/30/2007
Good Morning:
It's May 30th in the Southern California desert and I'm wearing a jacket!! There's a Spring chill in the air that has me wishing I could crawl back in bed. The sun has played peek-a-boo with me for the last 30 minutes but it looks like it's finally here to stay.
I have a busy day ahead. Grocery shopping with my mom is at the top of the list. She'll buy only what she truly needs, but it will take several hours to accomplish. A slow pace and lots of browsing will take place. I must admit, as my mom has aged, I have learned a lesson in patience. These weekly shopping trips are just as difficult or just as enjoyable as I make them. I chose, long ago, to make them as enjoyable as possible.
Ultimately, I try to imagine myself in her place. Will I be slow and a little adled when I'm almost 80? I'd like to think not, but truth is brutal and chances are, I WILL be slow and a bit adled by the time I reach 80, IF I reach 80! Will I have someone to take me shopping and lavish me with patience and understanding and share my slow pace? I hope so... but honestly, I can't bear to think about my senior years. I am fearful and almost sickened by it. Isn't that terrible? I remember a time when I thought that those days would be calm and almost sweet. Then, I witnessed my dad die in my home on hospice. I participated in his care and comfort, and now, I have a dis-gruntled fear and loathing of age that is probably out of proportion.
I enjoy talking to my mom on the phone. She still sounds the same as when I was a little girl. I can't see her through the phone. It's the visual that hurts. And, to be honest, I'm selfish too. I don't want to go through hospice with her and I don't want to take her to the Dr. appointments or tests. I just want to talk to her on the phone.
I'm guessing the reason that all of this has come gushing out is the fact that I've been looking through old photos, hoping to find one to use in a new collage. The beautiful photos of mom in the 40's freshly married, wearing her "I Love Lucy" dresses. She was so young and had her dreams in front of her. Now, in what seems like a blink of an eye, she's in the late winter of her life. My dad's gone and my mom lives in a senior apartment. Yet...I have daily access to images on old photo paper that proves otherwise. Youth and hope and life are captured within a rectangular piece of paper. Stored away in a box, only to be brought out on certain occasions.
So, I'll take mom shopping today and, thankfully, she's alive to shop. I'll make sure to get her home in time to go down stairs in her apartment building, and play pokeno. I know that she needs and absolutely deserves every ounce of patience and understanding that I can give her. And...I have every intention of giving her all that I can. I'll do my best to leave my fear and loathing of age at home. This journey should be joyful...and I will try my best to make it that way.
**************************************************
I listed a set of 3 ACEO prints in My Etsy Shop
today. The first 2 collage ACEO prints are my mom and dad:
"Happy Desert Couple #1" My mom and dad
"Happy Desert Couple #2" My mom and dad
"Happy Desert Neighbors" A vintage photo image of some strangers that I thought would make handsome and attractive neighbors in this collage series
Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera
This is too much fun to ignore. I hope I have time to do one. The ones that are up already are great.
What an interesting idea...and a good idea.