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It's been a while. A lot has happened. And I felt that the blog needed a Spring clean, so I created a new header. What do you think?

So, first, goodbye to an old friend ...

Dessie passed away a couple of weeks ago after many months of suffering with congestive heart failure. She beat us to the final vet visit by passing peacefully the night before, and for this we were happy. No one likes to have to do the deed. Oddly enough it was the same night Liz Taylor trundled off this earthly plane, with the same condition. Who knows? Perhaps they're out there somewhere snuggled up on pillows.

We called Dessie the 'Pillow Princess', because she'd roll all the pillows on the sofa together and crawl into them ... or get up on the bed, as you see here, nesting contentedly. Although it is nice to have all our pillows where I put them, I can't help seeing a tidy sofa and filling up with tears. She had a good, long life - 20 years old. She was rescued from a trip to the pound by hubby, long before I arrived from England. Her favorite trick (apart from the pillow antics) was to dig out of the garden (typical beagle) and trot down to the store in the village and beg at the deli. The phone would ring eventually and I'd go and collect her.  For the last year or so she was my constant shadow, curled up on the futon behind me with her pillows. I still expect to see her when I turn around.

The other dogs (3) are grieving still. Takes them a while to adjust. Sleep the cat however is disturbed, because Dessie was his favorite dog to ambush. He's started accosting Sprout, but as she's blind and doesn't see him until he is upon her the thrill is not the same and the attacks are half-hearted.

Onward.

NEW friends! Pretty much a couple of days after Dessie passed I left on a trip to attend the final weekend washup of the mentor programme I've been part of for the last six months. (My mentor was Priscilla Burris.) It was good to get away. The last three weeks nursing Dessie had really drained me, with the constant worry of whether it was 'time'. The warm days in Virginia City, NV, with a whole bunch of writers and illustrators were just what I needed. Here's the view from my window ...


I will be sharing 'Doing's in Virgina City' in another post (sounds a bit Alan Bennett-ish). So you have that to look forward to ... with more photographs.

Meanwhile, back at the artist's desk. The layouts are all finished for the 'Hidden New Jersey' book for Charlesbridge (wipes sweat from brow) - 'How to Talk to an Autistic Kid' is on sale - and I have begun the project with the very enthusiatic 4th grade at the local Corinna Elementary School - 5 weeks till we have to have a BOOK produced ... yikes!!

On the horizon - New England SCBWI conference in May, Fitchburg, MA. For this conference I will be entering the Poster Showcase - recreate a loved cover from a picture book or novel ... hmmm.

I also submitting for the Boston Library Association's Art

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At last - birds, grass, decent temperatures. Things are looking UP in Maine. Put the fence up over on the big field (in winter the snowmobile path goes across it) and turned out our horses. There was galloping and bucking and BIG farts. (They do that when they are happy). Me, I just do the galloping and bucking bit.

Last weekend I trotted off to Boston with some girl friends. We had a blast, the sun shone and it was 50 or so degrees. Even the daffs were flowering! Stayed at a lovely little hotel (John Jeffries House on Beacon Hill.) It was good to get away from the studio, see some sights and people, eat (too much) at nice restaurants and browse in galleries. One of the fun things is getting on the DownEaster Train in Portland and cruising to Boston North Station. Nice not to drive, kick back and relax, have a drink ;-).

Saturday night we went to the Opera House and saw Mary Poppins, the Broadway cast. Just stunning! Great set, singing and an escape from reality. I particularly enjoyed the sets, which were very illustrative and made to work like a doll's house. Of course Disney always but on a great show, love' em or hate 'em. Well I loved it and took some inspiration from it.

More inspiration on Sunday - Boston Museum of Fine Arts. One afternoon is far too little time to do it properly - and viewing fatigue sets in after a while. It was good to sit and contemplate amongst old masters, the paintings old friends from books and posters, from essays written at college and lectures received. So I mused among the Impressionists and spent a while with John Singer Sargent and his beautiful brushwork. Roamed in the Egyptian room and pootled in the new Art of the Americas wing. Totally missed the musical instruments and costume though. Rats.


And in breathing the atmosphere it reminds you that this is still just paint on canvas, one brush stroke, one observation at a time. Take that home and recall that what you do is not so much different.

Meanwhile back in my real life ... still trying to throw off the kidney stone episode with has left me pretty exhausted. I am deep in to the compositions for 'Hidden New Jersey' for Charlesbridge. There is a lot of detail and research for each spread ... they are packed cock-a-hoop full of history. Hopefully I can share them here soon. There's a lot of work to do before then though!

Good news also this week - 'How to Talk to an Autistic Kid' goes on sale from Free Spirit Publishing. I received my copy and it looks fab! You can buy it now on Amazon If you have a child who is in contact with an Autistic child, perhaps at school, or just to educate them that an Autistic child acts a little differently but is highly intelligent, this is a great book. Also if your feeling generous, purchase a copy for your school or library. If you would like a signed copy, please let me know and I will try to arrange it.



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