A place for l'il ole me to chatter on about my work and other stuff. A kind of E Visual Diary I suppose. I enjoy most things in life so no subject too controversial or too rude ;-)
I've stopped counting now! Who needs to know LOL HAd a great party with family and friends which was laid back and fun- even getting one of my colleagues dressed up in a saree- the wench looked stunning being one of those lovely petite women. Unlike moi being the statuesque type with big knockers LOL I didnt tell all invited it was my birthday because the party was not really about that- it was about survival of the past year or so and the new phase of life M.O.T.H. and I are about to start. But it was nice to have my folks down for the evening and I even didnt mind the birthday cakes my sister in law made for me DESPITE the veritable forest fire of candles on top LOL Rose you looked great
I am throwing a small party tomorrow and after that past fortnight of getting back into school etc I havent done much work at all- oh well needs must as they say. I am looking forward to it because I used to have lots of fun entertaining but that has gone by the board over the past couple of years - that hold health issue being the main culprit. But healthy and more importantly HAPPY again it is time to rejoin the world and have some fun!!! My Mum is coming too which is a big buzz after her surgery last year she took a bit to recover but has finally finished with dressings and stuff like that. She is being very good about her diet and not eating the bad things any more. She has dropped 7kg since the surgery which is brilliant for her. So it is food time in our house because even tho' its my birthday party- well that is the excuse even if it is more to celebrate the fact we survived the past few years- I do the cooking because I have always loved to cook but over the past couple of years that interest like many others waned. I have no idea who is coming - maybe no-one outside a few close friend and family who have responded but I dont really care. I want to cook again because I love it and it give me a chance to cook non vegetarian food. For those who dont know M.O.T.H is a strict vegetarian and has been for over thirty years. This is my chance to load up on some iron LOL Seriously we live a fairly vegie lifestyle but I am still an omnivore. I love seafood and sometimes I just NEED a steak LOL must be iron I crave I suppose. Proposed menu is curried Goat, vege curry, rice, salad and chicken for the non spicy eaters. My sister in law is making a cake so that will be dessert. Although I DO know how to make WICKED desserts LOL But before all that I am making a birthday cake for my little mate Alex (7yo) whose birthday it is today- mine was yesterday (22nd) and he is coming over tonight to have a barbecue with us and blow out the candle- then hairdressers to get the mop cut,shopping for food and THEN cooking BLISS
School is back on and this week and last week has been a tad hectic but I have finally finished going through all my pics of Nth Qld. Because it was the Wet Season there were fungi everywhere and some really spectacular ones too The hairy cup shaped ones were taken at the Mossman Gorge and the brilliant yellow ones in my friend's garden. Spectacular colours but like all the colours up there they seem richer and deeper. Certainly when it is a little clouded you get such rich tones and it was cloudy for all but two days really but I didnt mind in the slightest.
Hmmmn well who ever thought that I would hate a froggy but I did one night this one frog was singing under the window ALL NIGHT!!
he kept saying STEADY MUM STEADY MUM it probably had more to do with the peppermint tea I drank that evening BIG MISTAKE lol which led to a bout of insomnia.
Then another night there were frogs all over the place, we went cane toad racing which is a rather strange ritual that involves catching the dreaded Cane toad that is decimating the frog and wildlife populations in tropical Oz. If you're interested you can check out http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/canetoad.htm Anyway being ever so slightly mad Australians have a love hate relationship with these really UGLY critters and do weird stuff with them like race them. My nephew David runs races at the Ironbar in Port Douglas and we went along to watch and ended up being involved due to the machinations of his son Nathan. The participants are meant to pick up their toad and kiss it- no princes come from that kiss let me tell you- and then they are place on the table and you are giving a paper tickler to get the thing moving and you catch it before it leaps onto the floor from the table and place it in the bucket. I came third in my race. Then later that night back at the house we had a HUGE treefrog in the bath- he usually camps on the front verandah but that night he ended up in the bathroom instead and a few night previously another one was inside and had stayed hidden. And it began jumping around too but I didnt really mind although for a companion it was all a bit too much
It was really interesting to see the Gorge in the Wet although the contrast here is not as strong as another place I revisited while I was up there. Still a gorgeous place although the water was a bit COLD but I was wet from the rain anyway (GRIN)
No not the Billie Holliday song but something I HAVE seen before in Sri Lanka but I have no idea what they are called, M.O.T.H reckons they are Elephant Fruit but I have to do a bit of research. These were beside the road in Cairns. Wild!!
During the adventure of the water over the road I was too sh*t scared to pick up my camera- funny that eh? But a couple of days later we went into Cairns for Ken to do some stuff he had to do and made a trip to the Crystal Cascades- which I am sure do look like Crystal in the dry season but looked like a white water rafters wet dream when we were there. REALLY dramatic
Aren't they simply gorgeous? The pink and yellow one was past its best he kept saying but it was still fabulous. But the other one- the colour is very similar to a pashmina I bought in India in 2005. Certainly the same tonal range - is simply glorious!! I watched it open from a bud on our first day to the blooms I photographed on my last day. Aargh what inspiration- I am doing Chine Colle in Printmaking as my first brief this semester and am dying to get into it because I intend to use that orchid as my inspiration. I am doing to dye some silk tissue I have to use instead of just paper and it will glow I am sure- I will probably do some other silk too. Drooling at the thought LOL
Needless to say I had a ball in the tropics during my visit. Because of the drought down here being up there was a complete balm to the soul. GREEN!!! It appeals to the Irishness in me for want of a better term. I arrived in Cairns late on Thursday night and went for a quick stroll around town to stretch after the flight then to my room at the hotel and beddie byes. Up lateish next morning so I nearly missed brekkie but fed and watered and checked out to pick up my hired 'bomb' and on my way a bit further north. I dropped in to touch base with my niece and nephew and make plans to catch up and ended up being booked for a cooking session with David. I am a pretty good cook if I say so myself ;-)then up the hill and the long winding road to my final destination to be greeted by a big bear hug and a glass of vino. M.O.T.H. and I were up there back in August and while I loved it for the beauty etc I was not in the right frame of mind to really fully appreciate it. We did talk about moving then but the whole concept just seemed so huge. It didnt help matters that I ended up with a dose of flu at the time either which on top of my other health issue of the time made it all a bit too much. This visit had a couple of purposes, to see if I could handle the humidity- yes- and to unwind and relax- that took a couple of days longer really. But after only an hour or so my sketch book was already on my knee while we talked and inspiration was bubbling to the surface. A good sign and a precursor for what was to come. Saturday morning was spent looking at yachts and Port Douglas then a trip to Mareeba was slated to stock up on supplies. The local supermarkets were not that full because of the heavy rain cutting roads and supplies not getting through. On the way back one of the creeks was well up and we sloshed through with water coming in the doors of the ute- we hadnt taken the little car because of the rain thank goodness- and over the bonnet and washing like a tidal wave onto the windscreen- YYIKES! I didnt lose it - well not completely LOL- until I felt the clutch slip and I swore but was reassured by the calm of the driver saying we were through the deepest bit. PHEW. Needless to say that needed a couple of drinks when we got back to the house. My friend's house is glorious, this very talented man pooh poohed my observation it was a work of art but it is. He built it himself and his talent and taste made it a wonderful building and his partner's contributions of colour and details have turned it into a home to envy. The verandah is my favourite place. To sit there and listen to the rain falling gently while dressed in a sarong and tee shirt was just bliss. A sarong is SO comfortable I would love to be able to get away with wearing one most of the time. The funked up shirts I did a couple of weeks ago now live in the area as pressies for nephews and others too.
Here are a couple of piccies of patterns that inspired me - I can see a lot of green in my work now LOL More to follow- off to class now /R
is North Queensland this pic is just one of a couple of hundred I took during my stay just sitting on the verandah of my dear friend's house - the perfect place in the rain. Had no internet since yesterday so I havent been able to upload things and should be getting ready to toddle to Uni so this is just a taster. A rave about the whole experience is forthcoming /R
Well Far North Queensland is definitely the place for me. The wet tropics in the Wet Season is magnificent. Just the balm for this drought ravaged soul but Droughts are made to be broken aren't they? Staying with a dearly loved and trusted friend was wonderful, long, long chats over a glass of wine or two- even three sometimes!- was just what I needed. And the inspiration for some interesting works in offing pics to be posted as soon as I can charge up some batteries to get the cam up to download but bedtime first
I am heading off to North Queensland tomorrow- oops today-and wont be around for a bit. I did some more dyeing today with some really nice dark navy in the mix which gave me the effects I wanted but no pics yet because they are still curing and I probably wont be able to do much more than rinse them tomorrow and really look at them when I get back. Cant wait for that So I thought I would leave some more music to play while I am away This is a Billion Dollar Blues Band in my eyes- sure a tad commercial but the leader is Mr King and he does have some pretty hefty back up. Ladies and Gentlemen the legendary Louisiana Gator Boys and one special Gal. lol see if you can recognise them?
It's a bit of a buzz to realise I have seen quite a few of these characters live
B. B. King - vocals and guitar Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitar Gary U.S. Bonds - vocals Eric Clapton - vocals and guitar Clarence Clemons - vocals, tenor saxophone and tambourine Jack DeJohnette - drums Bo Diddley - vocals and guitar Jon Faddis - trumpet Isaac Hayes - vocals Dr. John - vocals and piano Tommy McDonnell - vocals Charlie Musselwhite - vocals and harmonica Billy Preston - vocals and synthesizer Lou Rawls - vocals Joshua Redman - tenor saxophone Paul Shaffer - director and vocals Koko Taylor - vocals Travis Tritt - vocals and guitar Jimmie Vaughan - vocals and guitar Grover Washington, Jr. - baritone saxophone Willie Weeks - bass guitar Steve Winwood - vocals and organ. Enjoy the Music and life and see you around the 12th or so
is not so good at present. Over the past couple of months he has been losing weight but he is an old kitty (nearly 15). He has always been a rangy cat and gets a bit skinny in summer but this time it is walking skeleton- not quite but he IS very thin. His coat and teeth etc are in good nick but his kidney function is that of a 15 yo kitty -working okay at present and possibly could improve a little with treatment - so the vet is recommending drugs to improve the condition. I love my 'kids' but I am realistic about their care and treatment- being brought up in the country saw to that. I was wondering if anyone had been through this and whether in the end it is worth it- emotionally for me to keep him going would be fabulous of course but quality of life for my Bandit is the issue. I cant abide those people who keep an animal alive for their emotional benefit over the welfare and well-being of the animal.
I will always have a soft spot for Bandit because he chose me! He moved in one hot summer as a kitten to backstop my older cat at the time and befriended my puppy and they became inseperable. Bandit mourned for that dog as much as we did when we had to let him go when he got sick. Despite being a very good hunter as a youngster- too good for comfort actually- he is a very gentle cat with us and our friends and family but is feral in his behaviour to strangers. He became the toughest cat in the neighbourhood purely by default and virtue of his size - the older cat I had when he arrived WAS the toughest cat in the neighbourhood so Bandit never really had to fight for his place in the world.
A dear friend of mine knows about my 'experiments' well this one is completely innocent a sample of the kind of music I love the one and only Mr BB King and his slowhandedness Eric Clapton
These are just a few bits from my playing this week with various bits of dye and stuff around the place. The one on the left is actually a commercial fabric with a gold painted detail -which was truly YUK in colours until I dunked it in the blue pot I have brewing at present. The others are going to end up in a parrot inspired design I am working on as a housewarming gift to a dear friend who I miss so much now he has moved to Mexico. He sent pictures of his house under construction and it looks FABULOUS. We'll get there one day Paolo! I managed to get my results for last year last night-finally. Two High Distinctions, one Distinction and four Credits so I passed everything. Maybe not as well as I would have liked but with the personally disastrous second semester it is not so bad. And to top it off I found out I managed to get into all but one of my elective classes and all of my classes this year are afternoon ones- Yippee! lol Which means I can stumble around in the mornings here before going in and be halfway human before I have to take part in social intercourse. And have lovely conversations with time challenged mate on the other side of the globe without needing to dash
I had some white cotton and an pack of old Gilseal navy dye and have been having fun with it this afternoon. I remember my Mum using it to dye a bedspread when I was a little gal and I found this pack in my dye box- not sure where it came from but I think it might have come from my mother in law's sewing box which M.O.T.H gave me after she passed away.
The beauty of it from memory was that I was able to dye lots of my doll's clothes for days after Mum has used it so I can use it again unlike a number of other dyes. And turn myself into a 'woad dyed pagan' according to my auntie after I managed to get it all over myself- some things just dont change
The other bit is a space dyed shibori style length I did with an eye to turning it into a summer tunic top but not sure about that now.
is one of my favourite activities according to members of my family. I have been playing with my dyes for a couple of weeks- and getting pink and purple fingertips - and toes LOL. Despite all good intentions and wearing gloves I always manage to get coloured hands- probably because of impatience when I want to see how the dyes have taken etc.
These are a couple of pressies I am making with an eye to test marketing some work in Mossman
now all I have to do is get Ken and David to try them out
Hey guys would you wear them? LOL The colour saturation is a bit off - will try to take a better shot tomorrow
Its' probably the weather but I cant seem to settle on any one project at the moment. I have been dyeing fabric and bits and pieces, embroidering parrots with my machine and doodling and such but I just cant resolve anything at present.
A bit frustrating but there are other ideas bubbling through and that diverts me even more which is interesting to say the least.
I suppose I have always worked best with a deadline and not having any at present makes it easy to give in to being lazy- and of course there is always the weather to blame. It was scorching on Tuesday when the car died - see previous post- although I am getting her back tomorrow.
The other thing I have been trying to locate is rayon yardage so I can play with my dyes on rayon, silk is wonderful but bloody expensive and not all that practical for some of the ideas I have in mind. Oh well here's hoping I come out of this fog of laziness
Coming as I do from a family of rev heads, lead foots and petrol demons I am sometimes teased mightily for my attitude to cars which is A car is a car is a car!!! I dont mind admitting I enjoy driving- or I did enjoy it when I was clocking up in excess of a 1000km a week during my previous career and had the joy of company vehicles - no mess no fuss no worries but when I took the step to change careers and found myself car less. But cars are just the means to an end really and not an object of fascination to me that they seem to be to others- you know who you are *grin* nya nya nya nay
I managed pretty well for a bit but when my parents bought a new car for my mother and wanted to trade in the old but they were appalled at how little the old lady was worth. So I took her on for a bargain basement price because I knew every km that had been driven in her and I didnt mind that she was an 12 year old motor car, she wad comfortable and easy to drive. And Dad was annoyed the dealer would make more than a few grand more for the crumbs he offered.
Oddly enough this is the first 'female' car I have owned- the rest were referred to in the male gender- Horrible Horace, Brutus, Harry Hotrod,The Hashmobile - aint telling THOSE tales LOL- Bertie and Flash. Bertie wasnt a beetle and was my favourite car in all the world- I would have him back tomorrow- so maybe I am a bit like my family after all? LOL but the fairlane has always been the Old Lady.
But today the Old Lady had to suffer the ignominy of being towed for the first time in her life!! I was on my way to meet with the exhibition group- for the first time since August I was actually able to meet my obligations in that quarter but the warning light went on and being well trained by my Dad I pulled up as soon as it was safe to do so and found water leaping about 20 cms into the air once I opened the bonnet. Too much water leaking according to the RACV man and it was a tow job!
Even when I have been involved in a collision (2) I have been able to drive away- well sort of in one case LOL. So this was all new to me but a quick call to my dear mate Joe and we were off
I was dreading hearing the fateful words. Scrap heap but it turns out to be the thermostat housing so I am hoping to get her back in going order asap but it was the end of the plans for the meeting and it turns out I am running a workshop on the day of the next one.
Oh well hope to sort it out sooner rather than later
Today much was made on the news that we have had 45 days of bushfires and 1 million hectares of land burnt. Officially we have six weeks of summer remaining but the risks linger well into March and April realistically. There is something majestic about summer downunder, not just the heat and dust and roaring flames but the everyman (AND woman too of course) who serve in our rural fire brigades. the Country Fire Authority in Victoria is made up of an 80% volunteer 'workforce'. ( I imagine it is pretty much the same in most states of Oz) and has 60,000 active members at present. They raise funds, take part in community projects and train as hard and long as most soldiers to do their thing. Their training tells them they are not heroes, they are human but to grateful country folks and their offspring they ARE heroes and supermen and women. And they are volunteers! Outstanding! But I ask all to spare a thought for those poor buggers in the hills tonight, tomorrow is another crucial day in a summer of scorching harrowing crucial days. Wish them well and to come home safe. And thanks Kiwi's and Canucks for the firies helping out
PS and to global warming naysayers - global warming is not just about heat it is about EXTREME weather events DUH!
suntanned! Usually the preying mantis population of my garden are green but this year they are suntanned. Probably to match the crispy brownness of the garden LOL
is one of my favourite activities but this was at a nearby coastal park. I love the colours of the heathland and it has given me some nice ideas- now just to implement them
Over the holiday season my creativity has been in my cooking.
Mmmn mmmmn Indian food and beer too!
This is a light little repast prepared this evening when unexpected visitors arrived- not that it was a problem because there is still oodles of holiday food around but frankly I was hammed out and needed some seafood so last night did a quickie to Little Saigon and picked up some King Prawns to cook.
Ever since I bounced back after the op have not had the inkling or energy to cook much still but had to bite the bullet over Christmas because the folks were coming for Christmas lunch and the Boxing Day extravaganza as well.
Anyway I cooked half the prawns in a Fiji style curry last night with lashings of coconut milk and chilli YUM but tonight the remainder were fried with fresh chilli, ginger and garlic then lemon juice and black pepper and fresh coriander. Finger licking good- MUCH better than the stuff that line was used to advertise!!
With rice and M.O.T.H's volcanically hot chick pea wonder and the fresh sambols, chutney's and roti it was a mini feast
which was also enjoyed by the feline members of the household too- Bandit loves prawns as he proved as a very young cat when he hooked a single prawn off a plate without touching the plate or any other item upon it the naughty pussycat.
waiting for prawns Mum!
I firmly subscribe to the belief that the 'complete' artist is discerning in dining and wining as much as the visual arts LOL. I wholeheartedly agree which is why I am definitely built for comfort and not for speed!!!!
M.O.T.H being vegetarian means we eat fairly well, he is very fussy about the quality of food but not obsessively so. And when I do indulge in a carnivorous feast I am my mother's daughter. If it aint good-it aint worth it. I was appalled recently by an acquaintance who admitted feeding her family almost exclusively on those frozen meals and take away. Brrr no thanks.
Enough raving on food I have come up with an idea for a piece of work and have been sketching parrots for the past few days- such clowns. That is the only hint until I do some test pieces but I promise to give tasters as it goes along
Well how about that- this year has been a shocker and been roundly topped off with surgery last Tuesday for gallstones. For the past few years I have had bouts of indigestion which I usually linked to stress- which is surely the cause for the initial attacks. A couple of months ago my dearest friend went through some tragedy which was awful and that was closely followed by my Mother's trauma with her emergency by pass surgery etc. While Mum was recovering and I was running around like the proverbial headless chook the indigestion manifested again. After the initial attacks it had settled into a weird pattern which was linked to my cycle- indigestion in the period between ovulation and getting my period- BLAH! but it would settle down but it flared during Mum's hospital stay and really did not settle down which made completing my folios rather interesting to say the least. Finally M.O.T.H. put his foot down and prodded me to go to the doctor after one evening of sobbing with pain from the 'bloody indigestion' so off I trotted in the last week of madness with the assessment going on etc. By this time I had modified my diet to the extent all I was eating was fruit and water because anything else killed me. Gradually i did get to expand it rice paper rolls- not pork ones though BRRRR lol A raft of blood tests and ultrasounds later I fronted back at my GP's office to find I had gallstones she made the call on the spot to the surgeon to get me an appointment that evening and by 7pm on the 16th it had been arranged for me to be put on the list last Tuesday-the 21st. Thank heaven I kept my health insurance current because after the surgery my surgeon informed me that my gall bladder was quite large and very inflamed and he was pleased to have been able to do it then and there rather than waiting another week because the inflammation was on the brink of becoming a full blown infection- yikes- and probably Christmas would have been ruined by my recovery. Because it was a laprascopic procedure I was out of hospital the next day but in hindsight I probably should have stayed another night. They gave me the chance for out and I took it but I had just had a morphine shot so they could remove the drain tube- OUCH beyond belief. And the morphine headspins kicked in as soon as I was put in the wheelchair. Motion seemed to trigger off the nausea I had missed out on post operatively. The nurse wanted to take me back upstairs but I wanted fresh air and out of hospital- stubborn wench that I am. She took pity on me and got me a plastic bag and one of those big disposable towel things "Just in case" because I was doing the breathing thing to keep it at bay. M.O.T.H. arrives and I almost knock him over to get into the car and AWAY from this place! We had hardly got moving and my head was in the bag. Poor M.O.T.H. was freaked but I growled just take me home! and like the love he is he did. Slept on and off in half hour batches til about Thursday evening and then was wide awake for twelve hours straight before passing out again and sleeping soundly for five hours- bliss. Then on Friday was pretty good- actually damn good because I was still flying from the morphine so I hung out two loads of washing- yeah yeah I know that was silly but I was careful. It was a glorious day and I tottered back and forth -SLOWLY - with one piece of washing at a time and was really pleased with my progress. That caught up with me yesterday thoough and I spent the day on the sofa watching the idiot box. MY GOD That was boring LOL but the dressings came off my four little holes yesterday and they look good. I have a nice little pattern somewhat reminiscent of the Southern Cross around my belly button. Suffice to say I had a lot of gallstones- little hard buggers around the size of pea or larger and as I observed to my doc if they had been diamonds I would have been set for life but the thought of being able to eat something I like for a change is bliss and Friday night I had pizza1 just two slices of vegetarian pizza but OH BOY was it GOOD. Thank you to the staff of Western Private Hospital and Mr Jason Winnett my surgeon. Check him out ladies he is very very nice even this old married lady enjoyed that part even in the midst of pain and drugs. Onwards and upwards and looking forward to the Christmas celebration at my home with my family and M.O.T.H 's family- yep I am going to do it and enjoy it because I can eat again!!!
which is tomorrow and this was completed today I have two that are incomplete but I can submit them for assessment still PHEW
this is an 'expressive' landscape means it is not and 'objective' landscape so I can do what I like with it Only to tidy up my Visual Diary - which is almost non existent this semester "blushing" A painter I am not but I am learning things only drawing folio to fix up after this and that really is only one drawing to complete and some tweaking of a couple of others
Wont be around much except for the odd pic maybe assessment is Friday week and I have two paintings, three panels of a 5 panel piece, a quilt and a box to finish as well as a couple of drawings OH MY GOD but I refuse to get stressed about it all - lets see how I am on midnight on the 9th anyhoo this is one painting- my figure study and yes it is a painting- gouache underpainting with pastel overlay
Despite the drought my garden is surviving in parts, we are keeping the heirloom flowers alive. That is the flowers that came from my family- mostly my grandmother who has a fabulous garden still and the M.O.T.H's parents garden- we have their asparagus crowns YUM and the fluffy pink poppy above. The iris is from my Nanna- I also have a rose bush grown from a cutting from my parents garden which in turn was grown from a cutting from my great grandmother's garden. I dont know longterm about the survival of any of these with water shortages and possible move's north but I intend to enjoy them while I can
Faith is something we are all conscious of at present, the faith of those who believe and those who dont believe but my personal faith in people has been somewhat restored. Last week I managed to leave my wallet on the station in Yarraville- realised as soon as I boarded the train and got off at the next station and raced back but it was gone. I did the reporting thing and cancelling cards etc straight away with no problems thankfully then on Friday evening I got an email from a man whose son had found my wallet at another station in the general area. My cards and personal bits and pieces were intact although the money was gone- not that there was really any money in it anyway but the person who took it was a complete amateur it seems because there was nearly $40-00 worth of met tickets and a Borders gift voucher in there as well- although another voucher for $5-00 was missing- probably because it looked like a cheque. The young man's father was insistent that his son not be rewarded for doing the right thing but M.O.T.H. and myself decided he had to be acknowledged and thanked appropriately. When I thanked the father of this young guy he said he hadn't done anything but I said of course he had, he raised his son to be honest and responsible and that is a very valuable contribution to society as a whole. Thank you
Well that was an interesting time of it, Mum has had her operation and been discharged after 8 days which is pretty normal. Very confronting having your parent going through something like this. My Dad has been copping the brunt of the outrageous family- for those who dont know me personally my Dad is one of nine and his father was one of twelve so we have quite a sezeable extended family. It got to the stage with him that he actually began to let the answering machine pick up the phone which is something my father would NEVER EVER have allowed before this. I must admit to being oddly exhausted by the whole process so had a very quiet weekend and starting to pick up on doing the backlog of stuff I need to complete for school- eeeks looks like painting and painting to go on with the list is frighteningly long but I refuse to get stressed by it- we'll see. This afternoon in between fighting with the washing machine- which wants to wash my floor for me and various other things I took the camera out into the garden to capture some spring for myself for inspiration. I have to do a diptych about myself in some form- the brief is wide ranging as to materials and techniques so I am actually looking forward to it and I am painting a chocolate sponge cake for another brief- pity I am using an illustration as my guide rather than making the thing for a model- trouble is I would eat it LOL Check out my garden
The past few days have been a bit surreal to say the least. A dear friend's misfortunes have been much in mind for the past couple of months. And then top it off my Mum who thankfully is a stubborn woman had a heart attack last weekend. The dramas of the past few months added to the latest would have to make my life seem like something out of Days of Our Lives or the like. Last week was my Dad's birthday and we were all keyed up for lunch together on Sunday- I had cooked something yummy in preparation the day before and had a bit of a late night- the old insomnia has been kicking in over the past couple of months again but I am keeping an eye on it- so I was pretty dopey when the phone range and it was my Dad to say Mum was in an ambulance on her way to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Dad was doing his best to put a brave face on it all at the time but I could hear from his voice that he was pretty shook up. I get dressed and go up to the hospital Mum was being taken to- only a few minutes from my home thank goodness. Seeing Mum on a ventilator made it all too real. But thank goodness for my own curiosity when I was able to see the monitor they had hooked up and the readouts were all pretty steady- and for two aunties who are nurses and answered questions straight when I was growing up. Anyway Mum was hospitalised and went through a raft of tests and found that an artery was completely blocked and two more were sufficiently blocked to require by pass. But waiting for the verdict and while she was operated on was awful. I have never been the most patient person in the world but this was hell on wheels. They moved her to another hospital here in Melbourne to do the operation yesterday and she came through- after the meeting with the surgeon on Thursday night and his reassuring attitudes of the routineness of the operation I did feel a bit better but honestly this guy was talking about my Mum!! That AINT routine!!To top it off the surgeon who was operating on Mum is a complete hottie- like something out of a soap opera which sort of added to the complete surrealist nature of the past week. Weird the things I notice but this guy had beautiful hands. Yesterday is a bit of a fog- Mum decreed that none of us go to the hospital yesterday because she was going to be so out it etc. Everytime the phone rang I shot through the ceiling - dopey bloody auntie gave me an ear bashing the night before and I didnt absorb a word. Sometimes my extended family are completely outrageous and on the most part I can deal with them but I didnt need her rabbiting in my ear that night at all. When Dad got the call he rang and let us know she was out of surgery and okay- No visitors today except Dad but tomorrow I am going over and need to see my Mum. I have seen friends and family lose parents and have dread for that time for me- although everyone assures me Mum will now bounce back better than ever.
Hmmn that could be dangerous- she's a fiery number my Mum- lol just like her daughter.
The resolution aint so good but I am relatively pleased with the piece. Incorporating stitch and painting Inspired by Ray Charles and B.B. King doing Sinner's Prayer- an old Lowell Fulson number with Billy Preston on organ on Genius Likes Company.
My two devils together Miss Jazzy reeks of tomcat and is keeping her distance while she cleans up or the big fella will not be impressed- usually he gives her a hiding when she drags her fluffy butt home after playing with the boys.
Thinking of a dear friend today who has had some bad news and will now go and spend the day in the garden to think of him and his family.
Well this morning is glorious and I could do a million things to take advantage of the weather before it disappears tomorrow. But I am tied to the PC at present trying to get my journal up to date for a theory subject- with company. Miss Jazzy is my adorable fluff ball who is the ultimate lazy kitty. She sleeps 20-23 hours out of 24 depending on the weather. In cold weather she goes to bed to keep warm and warm weather she sleeps to stay cool. She is a positive menace while quilting because she is totally in love with natural fibres. No cheap acrylics for this little aristocat!! No thank you! Wool is nice, cotton is better but silk is just heaven to this kitty. And of course being so cute she tends to get away with it. She gets up with hubby some mornings and this morning was one of those and goes and plays with her boyfriends of which she had two at present. Bandit stays with me, the big sook, and she comes in again when she is hungry. Unlike Bandit who is very vocal-and probably snoozing in the sun under the rosemary or my roses- Jazzy does not have a meow. Her attempts at getting food are silent touches and deep affection. And when Mum is busy she does the passive insistence like this morning curling up on the table on my hand the mouse. The minute I move towards the kitchen the little tubby will charge down that hallway looking for food- yes she is round- but she is NOT fat despite getting called Fatty by the M.O.T.H- men can be such bastards lol
Pity about that mouse eh Miss Jazzy? Despite being a complete floozy and very, very lazy she is actually a very good ratter- ewww she brings them home to share after catching them in our neighbour's fruit trees- the neighbour is pleased- Jazzy is pleased and I have stick the corpse in the bin.
