Mother’s Day Dreams
I haven’t written for my blog since March 23rd. Life has been busy, but it didn’t seem worth writing about, however, life is what I’m here to write about.
I’ve been to see both the Princes Di and the Monet exhibits. Interesting. The dogs got out while I was at glass class one Monday night. Found out what great neighbors I have. And I’m trying hard to paint. However, the most wonderful happening was receiving Matt’s request to read and critique six chapters; a first draft of a novel he’s writing. I’m so happy that he’s writing and honored that he asked for my input. That responsibility has taken many intense hours full of the gnashing of teeth and belly laughs . . . time well spent.
My calendar is so full that I’m trading events. I sacrificed two excellent art society demos for the five Monday night glass classes that will be over next week. Sometime later this summer there will be an intermediary class I will take.
I’m glad that I took a year off from painting, however developing watercolor paintings is as difficult as it was before. It’s hard to say if I’m glad I’m back into it, because it’s so rough for me. Painting is a huge problem solving challenge. I know this difficulty is partly responsible for throwing me into art quilts and now into stained glass. But I’m back and in over my head, again. Sometimes you just have to drown.
After much sole searching I decided to go back to work for my portrait photography friend. If nothing else, it’s something different to do a couple times a months. I entertain children while Kathie snaps and snaps and snaps. We’re a good team. As long as my health continues to improve it shouldn’t be a problem, which brings us to Weight Watchers. I’ve been monitoring my food with WW’s point system for almost two months. Can’t say I’ve lost much; 11lbs, but I like how I’m feeling and know that a snail’s pace is still progress.
Because I’ve developed so many food sensitivities, in my old age, it’s kind of not an option. I probably had all these sensitivities all along, but the terrible and drawn-out grief my husband’s death thrust me into, threw my physiology way out of whack. Each food allergen’s effect has doubled, at least. Hence, no citrus, (that may mean no vitamin C also), wheat, barley (gluten), nor the nightshade veggies; tomato, potato, peppers or eggplant. And I have to be careful with rice. I’ve mentioned all this before, but it’s become quite clear that these food items also affect how I loose weight. Ya see, I allowed just a wee little bit in, and gained three pounds. Uuuugh ! Out they go !
My contractor is finishing the huge deck pictured at the head of today’s post. It’s about 820sqft; two levels and a pergola from which to hang lots of plants. Mmm good. This is the culmination of a long awaited dream. The back yard needs only a Koi pond to complete the dream, but I haven’t yet figured out how to afford another big project. Time & money ?.
My first year in the Methodist Church choir was okay. They did lots of old hymns and a few schmaltzy songs. The group was small and many had little experience. I think we sounded acceptable when we were given good music. I also think that we could have been challenged a lot more than we were. It’s one of the issues I have with the choir. However, because the stained glass project came up, I’m happy to be where I am, and so I guess I’ll hang in with the choir. I might visit the local Lutheran church my neighbors attend this summer just to save gas. When I was just eighteen years old, a Lutheran church hired me to sing; $5 a Sunday. That seems so funny now, but it was a good experience. Because I’ve moved around so many times, and subsequently attended different churches, I’ve been privileged to sing in many different Christian sanctuaries. There are lots of good churches. I usually only contribute by joining the choir, but this time I’ve been presented with the brand new challenge of creating stained glass window ornamentation. I did not have some long drawn out desire to learn how to make leaded glass windows. The whole concept came over me as if it was offered, or presented by the Holy Spirit. That’s what I like to believe. The beginner projects are not noteworthy, but I can see in the simple step by step lessons we’ve been going through in class, some grand possibilities. Think about it; I put aside art quilts without a second thought. I knew where the glass shop was. I had heard several times over the years that the owners of Leaded Glass II were mean and difficult. My inner voice urged me to ignore these rumors. Joseph and Kayla, his helper, are fine, pleasant people who seem to know what they are doing and are very willing to pass it along. It’s been a very worthwhile experience. It will be awhile before I get to designing my own creations in glass, but I like what I see ahead of me.
It’s possibly a tad brash to publish these thoughts and ideas on the web, since I barely finished one art quilt before I broke into glass. Nevertheless, I can see watercolors and computer-generated images transformed into stained glass. You may remember the design, The Arc. It will translate into glass as well as fabric. Last night before I fell asleep, I saw “windows” hanging from the pergola that Bob is building on the newly finished deck, and then I saw glass panels hanging in the front yard. Next, I remembered the three thousand dollar French doors with the stained glass pattern of leaves and flowers I’d seen in a catalogue. Mmm, mmm mmm ! 
I think I’m going to have a good time transforming a few of the Wishwood illustrations into glass creations.
This life is a very interesting journey.
