― Wendell Berry

I keep coming over to the blog and tweaking and poking around. I am trying to find my way back to this place. I am not quite ready yet (as you can tell from the poor design of the blog itself). My mind and hands are very busy these days with art making and gardening. Words are only being woven together in my brain in deliberate ways these days–ways that connect with my work and my family. I have few to spare for writing blog posts right now, it seems. That won’t last though. I will be back with a post soon. I feel one percolating. Until then, I thought I would post Mr. Berry’s words today as I felt the need to reach out and connect. As I am continuing my work here at home, retrofitting our suburban home into a more self sustaining– more resilient place and, of course, working on art for a big solo show in the fall, this quote resonated this morning. I hope you are well. Have a wonderful summer!

My mind is full of ideas and plans this spring. I am moving deliberately toward realization–toward change. I am busy making–and unmaking. Some days this process is rewarding. Some days, it’s frustrating and exhausting. I mean to come here to blog about the process but all of my energy has been directed toward my hands lately–toward the making part of my brain. Blogging just hasn’t been a priority. Words are always harder to wrangle when I am in this making state of mind and body anyway. Goodness knows what I would ramble on about if I opened that door. Heh. Know that I have not given up on sharing and trying to connect here. I have just needed a little time away while I sort out and test some ideas, I think. I hope you are having a wonderful and creative spring and that your minds and hands have also been busy making.  I’ll pop in again soon.

For years people have encouraged me to illustrate a story. They usually say children’s book but I prefer the idea of telling a story that anyone of any age might appreciate and enjoy so I have started pondering the idea of telling stories with pictures and putting them together in a book. I have resisted this idea for a very long time because I felt like illustrating in this way was somehow less that what I was trying to create in my studio and exhibit in galleries. Times and my mind have changed though and the concept of art is changing in my personal life specifically and in the 21st century generally. My personal audience is larger and smaller at the same time. My reasons for making art are –evolving. I am seeing the world differently than I did way back when I started making art a million years ago. Yes, I still love the idea of one of a kind art objects and conceptual exhibitions and building things and spaces with and for others but the digital world has changed the way I communicate and being a mother has changed the way I use my time and materials –so I am feeling the urge to try something new. Wish me luck–and stay tuned. I might have a story to share down the road a ways.

We have been busy as the bees in the garden these past couple of weeks, hence my Internet silence. I have paint for my bedroom and rugs ready to roll out when I am done. I have moved my studio and gotten it ready to start new art projects. We are winding up our school year and setting our sights on summer gardening projects and camping trips and evenings eating dinner by the fire in the yard. THIS is my favorite time of year–until it is autumn again of course and then I will say that is my favorite time of year. Heh.

I have not felt much like writing as I have been puttering in the garden and spring cleaning in the house but I have taken a few photos so here are a few images to show you what I have been up to this past month. I will start with one of our spring break outings to Black Creek in Etowah County (also known as Line Creek).

We introduced the girls to Princess Nocculula…

and oohed and ahhed at the falls as we read the lovers leap tale from a nearby placard.

We visited O’s old family cabin, the one his grandfather built and shared a little family history with the kids while tromping in the woods in search of oak leaf hydrangea and ferns and trilliums.

And of course, we waded in the creek.

We explored a little and found fun things around the cabin –like this great woodpecker grafitti!

I love wandering around the woods and exploring! We found beautiful ferns and chestnuts and spent time examining the bark and leaves to try to identify trees around the cabin. It was a great day.

I will post something about another of our spring adventures tomorrow.

Do you know the essay by Wendell Berry about the bucket? I actually had two different conversations about buckets today. I took it as a sign to pull out the essay and read it again. It’s a favorite. Scroll down to the essay entitled The Work of Local Culture to read it–or read all of the excerpts. You will find the bucket in there–and then some.

I made my first pineapple upside down cake this week. I made it in my iron skillet. It was so easy and tasty too. I am wondering if I could make this same cake with apples on top and serve it with cardamom cream? Hmm…