fly away home

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home.

Your house is on fire;

Your children all roam.

The bottom scanned blurry because the tag is mounted so it is lifted up off the page.

Except little Nan

Who sits in her pan

Weaving her laces as fast as she can.

 

Ok, the poem is a bit gruesome, but you can see it fits perfectly.

This is the latest installation for the Paper Digital Arts Interpretations altered book swap. The theme this month is polka dots. Enjoy!

Birthday Pictures

Jason, my oldest, was born early on a Thusday morning, after hours of labor that went no where...

He was a big baby at 8 lb. 12 oz., much bigger than expected by me or the doctor. Statistically, nurses who work full time give birth to smaller babies, simply from being active and on our feet. So much for that theory...

Anyway, I bought a strawberry shortcake for his family party. Jason LOVES strawberries.

We got him a new bike for his birthday. He is a brave boy, very coordinated, and has been a daredevil on his bike since he was about 5.

Happy Birthday Jason!!

More Art....

because I'm too embarrassed to show you pictures of the still-in-the-middle of painting my bedroom!

OK- not really.... the wainscoting and trim are all done- black as black. The walls and window/door trim is white. However, I need to touch up the white- boy does black show up!! And let me tell you, the crap advertising about the tape that doesn't let paint run under is NOT TRUE.

The louvered doors got held up as I waited to get my mom's sprayer from Pa. Then, when I finally had hubby take them down, he says "why don't you leave them off and just hang some fabric." Cool. I had thought of that, of course, but there is a shortage of money these days, so the fabric will have to wait. That means = ONE big ugly wall right now. Trust me on that one.

This page is for the Paper Digital Art swap I'm in, with the theme "ripped." I didn't take it too literally... Enjoy.

Sneak Peek (sort of)- Somerset Apprentice Fall

Stampington is debuting the fall issue of Somerset Apprentice, in which I have a 4 page spread.

LINK

Clik on the link, you'll see it right there! I haven't received my early copy yet- can't wait!!!

A Sort of Confession

I have to admit, I was sort of glad to see the boys go for two weeks- for many reasons.

The first being that my last nerve ending was frayed. Frayed like the best jeans you've ever loved, but washed too many times. Sometimes I feel like life becomes a cacophony and my soul cannot take it. I want to cover my ears. Close my eyes. Too much input into my brain.

 I have always been this way. I was the kid who cried at ever birthday party. I am one of those people who gets a little frazzled in department stores.

I was looking forward to the alone time. To the quiet. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. This time will allow me to be a better mom in the future. It has given me time to unwind. It has given me time to appreciate the boys, who I love more than anything. It has been MY time, but in the end, it is really THEIR time too.

A tangle of bikes is waiting for the boys to come back home.

The second reason is this was good family time for the boys. It was a chance to be immersed in cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. And surely, that is a good thing! The boys have been spending the days shooting and riding, playing hard and falling asleep early. That's GOOD stuff for their souls.

The gang in April, when they came to visit.

Jason has been missing me. My sweet oldest boy, just getting ready to turn 8, has been crying a lot, so my sister has said. I have found myself tearful a time or two. Two weeks is a long time to be away, heaven in some ways, hell in another. Adam, at 5, is probably just going with the flow. His sense of time is a bit different than Jason's, I would imagine. I'll bet that both boys will be a bit clingy when they get home. And that's OK. Because I'll be clinging right back.

Mackworth Island, ME. Photo courtesy of Vicki Lund Photography.

hugs- Lee

The Scarlet Letter

This was for last month's installation of Intepretations. The there was "Stained For Life." I took my inspiration from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I know it seems like an odd thing to choose for a theme, but it was one of those things that just rattled around in my head until I made it. The quotes, the hymn paper, everything just came together. **Click on the photos for a better view, they aren't as blurry as they look here.**

If you're not familiar with the story, Hester is a young bride sent to live by herself in America, by her much-older husband. She has a child, obviously not her husband's, and is forced to wear the letter A for adultery.

There are many archetypal images and themes in this classic, which I used for inspiration. Her lover is a clergyman, thus the hymn paper in the background. The quote is from a book completely unrelated to the subject matter, but it fit perfectly!, and it reads " I have heard it preached that pain is the currency of salvation. If it is so, surely we have bought heaven."

One token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another. ~ Chapter II "The Market-Place"

Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Chapter II "The Market-Place"

Despite the persecution, Hester keeps quiet about the father of her child. She lives her life quietly, even though she is tortured by her husband who arrives on the scene (but keeps his identity secret).

Her daughter's name is Pearl (notice her headband). She is called an Imp by some, so the wings fit perfectly.

But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose. ~ Chapter XVIII "A Flood of Sunshine"

Enjoy!

Where the Boys Are

Here's a litte bit of what they boys have been up to:

getting riding lessons from Aunt Teeny at our parent's farm:

Jason is riding Joey's pony Judge.

Matthew is holding his pony Vinny. Adam wasn't so sure about the whole lesson thing...

playing with the cousins:

shooting off the porch... can you say hillbillies??

Jason is right-handed but left-eyed, due to the lazy eye (which is almost normal now).

miss those litte boys!! xo

It's A Little Lonely

In an unexpeted turn of events this weekend, like in a two hour span on Sunday, the boys headed to Pa. with Chris to spend two weeks with in the family.

That's right - TWO WEEKS.

I can't remember the last time I had this much time alone. It's been almost eight years since Jason was born. Eight years. That's a long time. Now, that's not to say I haven't had days here and there. But there's always an underlying feeling of having to rush during those moments. Rush to get things done, rush to pick the kids up-- clock watching. You know what I mean.

Believe it or not, as long as two weeks sounds, I do have commitments to work and babysitting a co-workers kids to keep me busy.

But, there is going to be significant time for me to be alone. Alone! It gives me time to do chores around here- continue the endless painting, purge toys, clean out various boxes and rooms.

It also give me studio time. It gives me time to go to the pond and sit and read a book. It gives me time for reflection. I have a lot circling in this brain of mine. I'm considering a job change. A haircut. Running. Being healthy. Becoming more sufficient here at the farm.

Lots to consider, and two weeks to do it.