some more pics

This continues to be a tough week for me personally. Truthfully, I feel as though too many people want things from me. And I am not at all sure what I am getting in return. Typically, this would not be a problem, but right now it is, and that is okay. I shouldn't feel badly because I say I need help. I either help, or to step back, and I don't know which.



So for now, enjoy some pics I took yesterday at the Pioneer Cemetary on campus. Love some of the markers there.

Spring is here

This is a Random Grave: I think this was one of the prettiest stones I saw. The rain on the flowers was amazing

There are flowers all over the neighborhood and most of the neighbors are out in their yards today. I am sitting at my computer working on my book. And doing laundry. You have to work when the inspiration hits, right?

My book is a little something I like to call verbal vomit. There is a plot and I work really hard on it. BUt I only seem to work on it when I am under extreme stress. I use the writing to find a way for my subconcious mind to work out what ever problems I seem to be having. And generally speaking it seems to work for me.

Lately I have been thinking that $60,000 question: what would I do (work wise) if money were no object? The answer seems to be, I think I would love to open an art center. I love the idea of finding a way to make studio space available to more artists. Additionally, I love the idea of a gallery to show, and sell. Better networking, community, something that isn't cliquey or exclusive. I would love to have a place where artists (even those who have no intention of becoming "professional") can find support and instruction.

Following that train of thought, I wondered if a group of artists could work like a book club. Sort of a "here is what I have done this week, what have you done". I have been trying to find out if there is anything like that here, but have been so far unsuccessful. I think my over all goal is to find a group of welcoming, non-judgemental peers who will help focus and inspire. If any of you know of anything like that or are a part of anything like that, let me know. I would love to hear how it works, or even if it is working for you.

Peace
K

How to kill a morning

You leave the house with no actual agenda, a full tank of gas, and a friend that can be just as random as you. We left early with the idea that we would find some of the smaller towns around here and explore those. What actually happened was we drove by an old cemetary outside of Harrisburg. We got out to take pictures. Then, after my hands had frozen to my camera, we got back into the van and decided to go see some other cemetaries. We found one on the back road to Veneta and then one outside of Noti.

I love old cemetaries. Some of the very old graves had relatively fresh flowers placed at them. I was particularly touch by this one:

This little girl passed away over fifty years ago and someone still brings her toys.

But I was equally touched by the graves that were little more that a plastic marker. THere were several graves that were a simple marker with the name of the person. It seems easy to make up stories in a cemetary.

Here in the Willamette Valley, moss grows on everything that is not moving. There was wonderful moss on the markers and headstones. I love this stone. I had been concerned that I wouldn't have a suitable replacement for the random Santa segment of this blog. But I have enough photos of the grave markers that I think I may use those for a while.

The area surrounding Eugene is truly beautiful. I have a hard time leaving the house and not finding something that strikes me. What I am discovering is that, I could leave the house every morning and drive in any direction and be amused for hours on end. My dear friend and I can get in the car and yap, yap, yap. That makes the exploring so much more fun.

I think that I will leave it at that right now.

K

P.S. If , in the course of posting the markers, I post one of a family member or friend of a reader, I hope that I don't offend you. I photographed the ones that I found interesting or that touched me.

This is it.

This is it, I have gone and done it now. I have a blog (but still no my-space page). I don't know where this will go or even when it will get there. But I figure I will share the journey.

I started reading blogs written by these wonderful artists, and crafters and slowly, some ideas started creeping into my head. And, after several months of an excrutiating job hunt ( that will probably be heard from later), I am seriously looking into inviting art into my life as a dedication. Something that will help put food on the table. Art as a entire way of life.

I am lucky in this, in that my husband thinks we can make this work. I have a studio and an office and plenty of space to work, and ideas galore.

Why did I take the time to tell you all of this? Because I am hoping to use this blog as my giant internet idea board. My space to place my concepts and plans and ideas. Hopefully, I will have readers who will help keep me on track.

So with that I think I will be off for now.