Spring Fever

UNCC Botanical Gardens & Greenhouses

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago on an outing to the botanical gardens and greenhouses of one of the local universities.  The sites, smell and weather were amazing that day and made me long for my own land to dig in again.  Even without my very own land there is much to be thankful for and in awe of as the city comes alive this spring.  

Here flowering buds are bursting on the red bud, cherry and flowering pear trees and shoots of green are breaking through the dark earth and on many of the limbs of bushes and trees.  The clover has returned in full force causing me to pause in search of a lucky clover when I am out and about or on a walk with Miss Butters.  It is amazing to just watch the world around me change day by day.  

This year is moving quickly and I can hardly believe it was 4 months ago when I last posted, and what a ominous post that was since I have spent much of the time since then healing.  Ocular migraines occurred around the first polar vortex and kept me in their grips for 11 straight days.  I finally went to the doctor and thankfully after multiple trips to the eye doctor, medical doctor and several blood tests and an MRI later found out that there was nothing wrong.  The only thing I can determine is that maybe these were caused by the barometric changes in the atmosphere.  In the wake of of all of this was worry, frustration and severe eye and body fatigue.  

Just as I thought things were back on track an unexplained pain in my left hip has occurred that is just as mysterious.  I am on week 5 now of this issue and no amount of stretching, icing, hot baths, turmeric tea, or ibuprofen has provided sustained relief.  Last weekend I sobbed and could only see loss and fear. Loss in the knowledge that I was not going to be able to run my upcoming half marathon I had been training for (my first 13.1 trail run) and fear that I may never be able to run again or go on the many hikes that Alan and I have talked of for this spring and summer.  This weekend I see more possibility and despite the pain feel stronger and am trying to see this as an opportunity to concentrate more on art and writing while I heal. 

In the Garden

Last week was about flowers and plants and mulch and earth.
It was a week full of sunshine and birdsong,
of stretched muscles and relaxed minds.
It was a week of quiet communing and finding
my rhythm.


Spring 2011



Spring Blooms

Spring 2011 from a brief Sunday morning adventure

Spring reminds me
that life is good, even
a little great,
and filled with trees of cotton candy blooms.
I am mesmerized by little honey bees
dancing from bloom to bloom,
dizzy and drunk on long awaited nectar.
I find myself a little drunk and open mouthed too,
thankful that spring can leave me
gaping and smiling, and feeling
tingly all over.
Spring reminds me of the magic in the world
that awaits me when I pull back
the curtain and open my eyes.

Spring 2011 from a brief Sunday morning adventure

Forsythia Blooms

Today started with sunshine spreading across the bed with Alan and Miss Butters tucked in all around me.  A bird tweeted and I opened my eyes thinking it sounded like spring, not like the winter song of a cardinal or a  junco.

After coffee for me and breakfast for Binky we headed out for a walk and spotted two tiny forsythia blooms before we left the yard.  Those little yellow cups of life took my breath away.  I thought of spring and of snow that often accompanies their first burst of blooms.  Later on down the road we spotted daffodils forcing themselves up into the light.  Spring is on the way in small delightful signs.

Forsythia Bloom

Today was a day of quiet creeping and sorting and purging.  Quiet as Alan is very busy with work and school and quiet because sometimes I would rather hear the hum of the house than the stereo.  Just the pitter-patter of life as my background music.  A car turning around in the curve out front, Butters nails tapping across the hard word floors, Alan's voice drifting up the stairs, the rush of water from the washing machine, the ring of the phone....  I started on the front room, the catch all room where things get lost and found again.  One closet and one wardrobe have been sorted, bags have been filled and recorded, boxes have been labeled, memories have flashed across the back of my eyes and a few tears were shed.

Tonight I find myself wearing a shirt of my Granddaddy's that was found today; soft flannel in shades of green, blue, and honey and thinking of this week's assignment for Get Your Paint On. The instructors recorded some very good pointers that have already come in handy such as starting Wet and Loose.  Basically the paint should be watered down (Wet) and the idea is to get the basic shape done with the brush (Loose) and not to be hung up on the details yet. 

This week's assignment is to interpret elements of one of your favorite artists and apply that in your own work.  I sketched several ideas but scrapped all of that and just painted.  I was not feeling too brave tonight and painted the new piece on the acrylic paper again.  I took the covereing off of one of the canvases and stared at it a while but put it away in the end.  I am excited about this assigment and allowing the process to unfold throughout the week. 

First Wash of Paint

A little more detail