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Two days already seems like forever... Just remember I am always "there"...
"Take a look around
I'm the sunshine in your hair
I'm the shadow on the ground
I'm the whisper in the wind
I'm your imaginary friend
And I know I'm in your prayers....
We may be a thousand miles apart
But I'll be with you wherever you are...." (lyrics by LONESTAR)
xoxo
Mum
Well, after 3 plane rides and 30+ hours buckled with my seatbelt on, I am finally topside! It doesn't really seem to matter if you ride in the front or the back of the "bus" these days...it just seems to take a darned long time to get from one side of the world to the other!
We were all boarded and ready to fly from London this morning when they decided that because of some discrepancy in the baggage tags that EVERYTHING had to be off loaded, counted and corrected again, once more, before we took off. Can't say I blame them, as it's not on my agenda to be traveling with someone else's potentially explosive device...but it did mean another two hours tacked onto an otherwise arduous journey! Then we get to New York only to find that the weather was abominable and 45minutes were needed to circle clouds, mist and other atmospheric disturbances, before we were able to land! I just wish they could have thrown me out an hour early over Long Island, as I swear we flew by my house at least 5 times before finally landing!
Anyway, I'm home, safe and all the critters ( including my husband) were delighted to have me home!
I spent a wonderful week with my boys! Lots to catch up on, soccer games to be watched, long chats were had and some general pampering that only a mother can give.
Our week was spiced by the arrival of "Grandpas" new kitten. Which David seemed to develop a great fondness for.
My Mum also made a cameo appearance during the week. Odd to have my parents under the same roof after 25 years, but it was all good and I think the time will be treasured by all of us!
I did not take so many photos this time around. It seemed that concentrating on family stuff was more important, and I am glad that I did.
Whether it be for health, welfare or any other reason, time with one's family is so precious these days.
This visit home was rather impromptu and predominantly a visit to check on the boys, but it reaped so many other rewards that I am very grateful and pleased that I was able to go!
I'll leave you with a little digital collage of some photos that I DID manage to snap when I went to the Wanneroo markets on Friday....
Nothing like the hugs of my small men, wonderful sunsets across the Indian Ocean, and snaps of the newest member of the family to advertise the fact that I am 'home'...well the downunder one anyway!
Nothing particularly blog or artworthy to report...just having fun being on this part of the planet for now!
I'm heading off tomorrow for a quick trip down to Aus' to see the boys....
a top up of Mom style love and hugs is very much in order and I can't wait to see them!
I daresay there will be some pics and news posted from 'downunder', so stay tuned....
"Plain" old paper collage is what got me into this art 'mess'? oh some years ago, and despite the fact that I'm having a love affair with my camera and photoshop these days, I do continue with a number of projects that rely solely on torn paper and paste.
Case in point being a monthly postcard swap that I do with a bunch of folk who are die hard, traditional collage artists. This month's theme is "Numbers" and these are a few of the cards that will go out in the mail tomorrow. All 5x7", each one an 'original' and most definitely..gruellingly glued! :-)
We took a long and circuitous route to get to the Photography show at the Armory on Park Ave today. Started off down at Spring Street in Soho and slowly wended our way via several shopping spots highlighted in this week's edition of NY Time Out.
I nabbed some cute fabric at a store on Sullivan St, a new pair of funky salad servers at at shop that sold very interesting and "entertaining' table-ware on the same road and picked up some cool alphabet ephemera somewhere down on E.4th St.
We then caught the 'subway'/'tube'/underground' to the chintzier side of town and grabbed a bite to eat before heading off the the AIPAD Photo show.
Not quite sure why you have a contemporary photography show that features a lot of OLD photography work that is either available in print or on the net?
Black and white was definitely the focus of the artwork on display and much of it re-prints or works from an older era. It was rather disappointing to see so few displays of current work and the prices were out of this world!!!
I was quite excited to come upon one booth showcasing artwork from Maggie Taylor ( who is one of THE digital divas in my book)...
They had a huge print of one of her well known pieces, the girl with a flower and bees buzzing around. Trouble was it was printed soooooooooooo big, like 4' tall by 3' wide and the vintage image of the girl was terribly pixelated in comparison to the bees and other components of the image. It was really a horrible let down. And given the price tag which was in the $xx,000.00 - department quite a sore disappointment indeed! - Perhaps just a lesson in resolution and printing to be tucked away for future reference?
Anyway, I'll leave you with today's photojournal snaps....the day and they way it was...
ciao for now
It's amazing what a little sunshine and music can do for one's psyche!
On Tuesday I traipsed off into the big City to attend to some business and capped the day off with a fabulous concert at Madison Square Gardens - seeing none other than the wonderful Carlos Santana and his band, live and on-stage! Although they did not do much of the current stuff or use any feature vocalists, it was incredible to see the "man" perform live and listen to him make his guitar 'sing' for real!
Way to go!!
Wednesday saw the next round of home improvement jockeys arrive. New gutters and more painting in the works. More messed up living, but at least we are making headway...slowly but surely!
Since I have to be here to supervise (criticize, comment and keep them on track) I took some time to fiddle with some of the graffiti photos that I snapped in Brooklyn on Sunday...
And today.....what can I say??? The sun came out, the thermometer hiked itself up to a good 70F and the darned furnace was quiet for the first time in months! Bliss...
I had to get the cameras out to take some pictures for a photo book project that I am working on and took the opportunity to snap a few of the sunshiny elements gracing my kitchen table at the same time!
Yesterday we took life in hand, braved the crazy weekend drivers that dominate the LIE on a Sunday and headed to Brooklyn to check out the debut of their new Flea Market.
I think we came upon the advertisement in the New York Time Out magazine and were fascinated by the concept of a "CURATED" Flea Market. Apparently the only thing that the "curating" element ensured was that there was a lot of HIGH priced junk and really no bargains to speak of, which to me then sort of undermines the Flea-marketty concept!
Plenty of oddities to snap with the camera though, even if my fingers just about dropped off in the cold whilst doing so! (I'd been tricked by Saturday's yummy warm day into forgetting to take my gloves!)
One stall of great interest was this gal's - Lotta Jansdotter she had some really cute things.
I daresay we will give the BFM another go at some stage, perhaps when it's a tad warmer and they've got over a few of their "curative" aspirations!
Joy, oh joy...the sunshine hit Long Island today and without further ado I donned my 'wellies', grabbed my clippers, spade and rake and was off outside and into the garden.
We've already established that the previous owners of this lovely house were nothing short of slobs when it came to taking time to take care of things, be it inside or out, and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction to see just what some TLC can do!
Today hubby and I ripped out a lot of uglied out evergreen creeper things and I'll re-plant with some more roses and agapanthus...a nice wee taste of home... I've got some honeysuckle and clematis acclimating outside away from the chilly nights and will plant them to grow over the gazebo in little while.
This afternoon a trip to Lowes netted some early tomato plants, herbs and sundry other bits and pieces so that we will be in good shape for home-grown salads in a few months time!
Cudos to my Mum and Grandpa for my Green Thumbs and love of gardening!
The topic for this week's challenge over at Illustration Friday is Save.
I thought I would dedicate this one to all the Animal Rescue workers and their furry friends, especially my good friend Bernie Berlin who runs a rescue called A Place to Bark.
We have 6 "saved" creatures in our home and I daresay we'd have more, unfortunately there's precious little room on the bed for the humans these days as it is!
The artwork is a collaged canvas, 8x10, with a transfer of a digitally altered photo.
