It is beyond beautiful outside, bright as June. What a (welcome) change from last year!
I admit to a case of cabin fever–that’s why I bought the seed packets I mentioned yesterday–but I’m on the homestretch with the new book, and sunshine makes it easier to write.
I thrive on sunshine. I know this about myself. Next month, as I’ve mentioned, I’ll be spending three and a half weeks in Barcelona, with my sister, Sally. I fully expect to be restored and strengthened by this lovely holiday, but of course I’ll miss my dogs, cats and horses a lot, and I’ll be happy to return home when the time comes.
I’ve been listening to some interesting books on my iPod lately–“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” was one that really fascinated me, and now I’m into “Nella Last’s Peace”, which is comprised of diary entries written by an English housewife after WW2. I understand there was an earlier book, “Nella Last’s War”, and I certainly intend to look for that. I have always admired the British, but Nella’s account of day to day life following the end of the war makes me even more aware of their courage and fortitude, in the face of privation and staggering loss. Nella was very good at making the best of what she had to work with–not much, by today’s standards–and she constantly found reasons to be grateful.
I have a new painting surface set out to work on later, when I’ve written my pages. It is cradled birch, 24×24 inches in size, and I have a basic plan, but I know I need to be adaptable–lots of times I start a piece and it evolves into something else entirely. That’s just one of the things I love about art–that sense of discovery. Bob Ross called the phenomena “happy accidents”, and I couldn’t have said it better.
I continue to make ATCs, too, and trade them on Swapbot and Art42.org. It is so much fun to receive other people’s art work in the mail, and I love it when someone leaves a nice comment about one of my cards on the websites.
And that’s the news from Linda’s kitchen table.
