I'm Dyeing…..

to get back into the studio.  It's been quite a while since I've either had paint or dye on my hands. It seems they've been more in the dirt this summer than anything else.  Lots of planting, digging and reworking this summer going on around the homestead in an attempt to spruce up the place for Autumn.

After a long trip up to CT, PA and NYC, it's
good to be home and back in the studio.
And while I really, really don't like NYC, I did enjoy visiting Central Park, Strawberry Fields, the Dakota and the NY Public Library.  I've come to the conclusion that I just don't like the Northeast and all it represents.

 I don't think I will be going back there again - so I was glad to see it one last time.

On the creative front…. I plan on submitting a piece for consideration to be placed in the  Reminiscience exhibit in the winter so I'm working on coloring some silk, cotton and gauze for this project with natural dyes I bought during my journey to Alaska.

My outdoor dye space

On the way home we stopped in Vancouver, Canada and I had the pleasure of stumbling upon Maiwa at the marketplace.  Very cool store run by a super knowledgeable and informed mother daughter team - geared toward natural dyestuffs and education.  I have two vats of  heir indigo fermenting, and various jars of earthy colors  (henna, madder, walnut, pomegranate, and tannins) brewing.

Flour Paste Resist - my FAVORITE

While that's going on - I have been scouring fabrics and preparing various resists of Cleanline (which is some kind of "root",) flour, and glue gel (which is hands down my favorite). I have a nice stack of stuff ready to go into the dye baths and as soon as our weather dries out (hopefully by tomorrow) they will be taking the plunge. But because I couldn't wait, I used some Liquitex Inks and Jacquard Dyes that I thickened with sodium alginate.  Love how these came out.  A nice preview of things to come.

clean line resist -nice results

Fabrics with flour paste resist
still on, and dye painted over

On the home front: Brina is going back to college this week but she will be commuting, as she now has her own home and will not be living in the dorm.  Dorm life wasn't for her (which I knew it wouldn't be.)  Too noisy, too hot, too chaotic, etc., etc.





Like her mom, she appreciates peace, quiet and order and  has really turned into quite the  homemaker.  So proud of her.  I see so much of my mom in both my kids.  THAT makes me happy.

Life has been upside down for quite a few months.  I am looking forward to settling in to Fall and all the good stuff that comes along with that - including a trip to the Upper Pensinsula of Michigan,  and a few trips offshore for some deep sea fishing before the big ones head out when our coastline turns cold.  Really want to catch some Dolphin.

I depart here with a picture of Gizmo (and Toby) that Sabrina took as she was taking him out of  the back of her Mini Cooper after she picked him up to babysit while we were traveling North.

Goofy dog.  

Trying Very Hard to Mentally Prepare Myself for Saturday....

SATURDAY.... is move in day at Meredith.

She says, "We have to be there by 7:30
 because \move in starts at 8:00
and WE must be there
before everyone else.














Doesn't she realize I want to drag this
out as long as possible?

But I don't want to be there.
 I don't want HER to be there.  Yes I do.
No I don't.    What the hell is wrong with me?















I am so elated that she is going to begin living out her life....
making all of those BIG dreams come true.

Yet I am absolutely devastated she is leaving.
She is still just a little girl - I say.
"It's time to let go," - he says.














 "Don't worry Mom -
it's my time now" - she says.

"She'll be fine.  It's OUR TIME now," - he says.



















 I'm happy one minute.
Sad the next.
Is this normal?
Does it go away?


I feel like she is leaving...
and taking my heart
with her.

Why do they have to grow up?
I'm just not ready for this.
I'm really not.


Ughhhhhh.

Graduation Day - Look Out Meredith...

.... here she comes!!

A graduation party on Sunday.  Just family -
us, her man, his family and a close friend or two.
So nice. Except the obvious void left by the lack of
my Mom and Dad's presence.  They would be so
so proud of Her.  She is everything and more
they knew she would turn out to be.

My Dad was so proud of her artistic and
musical talent.  My Mom really never got
to see either of those develop any further
than her performance as the Virgin
Mary in the Advent Lutheran Christmas
Pageant - but she knew (my Mom did)
that there was something special there
when there wasn't a dry eye in the Church
when our little girl sang.

What a wonderfully bittersweet month this has been.
Lots of hugs, kisses, laughter and joy.
My husband and I observed both our kids
at Sabrina's graduation party Sunday and just
marveled at how amazing they both are.
It's hard to raise good kids these days -
decent, moral, kind, grounded, humble, honest kids,
it really is.   For as hard as it is to raise
kids of their caliber - it's equally hard to BE kids of
their caliber.  

To RESIST  and overcome the myriad of temptation and evils
that are thrust at kids today. And while  we will gladly take  credit for raising both of these incredible kids, half of the credit, truly needs to be handed off to them - for  being strong, and staying the course - even when it was difficult, or uncomfortable.

What a busy few months its been.  Finally... We can now sit back, relax and enjoy the summer.   

Girl's Weekend - 80's Style......

Okay, I know I'm going to get a lot of grief about this
but when I found out that Poison is coming to North Carolina August 7th ..... I HAD TO GET TICKETS!!!

I grew up listening to Poison and so has Sabrina. As far back as we can remember she would be sitting in her car seat listening (and singing with me) to all the big hair bands. We now have satellite radio and it is glued to the 80's station - and it's not by MY doing, but by hers. What's on her IPOD??? Greenday, Plain White T's, Underoath..... and POISON. What's on my IPOD? Bon Jovi, Barry Manilow, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Heart, Rod Stewart, some Beatles and POISON. Ah, a rare commonality!

Sabrina's already planning out what she's going to wear. She asked me what I wore to my first Poison concert..... I'm not quite sure exactly, but I think that was during my leopard print, zippers and fishnets stage -- it was the 80's. Ahhhh - those were the days.

Above is a picture of Poison back then. And here is a picture of Poison NOW. Glad we got good seats!! (wink!)