Looking out my front door we see a late look at the beauty of the trees left with leaves. A sudden brightness from what was quite dull last week. Here are some more.
And after Lee runs down two batteries blowing them off the driveway, he just can’t stop.
He simply gets out his broom and continues.
Right now I have him vacuuming fern droppings on the porch. He is focused!
I have talked to two homes that care for those with dementia and he is now on a list for when a room becomes available. There is no reason for him to go now or in the near future as far as I can see. Our doctor and I will make that decision when the time comes. Both places that I called were very helpful in what to look for when the time gets near. It is a relief that both places are close to home and he is on a list that I can turn down when they call, if he is not ready. We simply move further down. Private rooms are hard to come by in these facilities but a shared room can be used by only one if the costs are met. So far all seems possible. Now I wait and watch. Their only precaution was that I look to my own health needs as well because caregiving can take a toll. For now the three afternoons a week for relief seem enough and we are settling into a routine of one caregiver keeping an eye on him instead of an assortment. He doesn’t mind the extra company in these isolated times and I like the bit of freedom of going to the store without leaving him in the car, having time to talk on the phone, work in the studio, etc.
Speaking of which….I finished the first sketchbook for 2021.
I like to hammer over my corners to make book more inviting to the touch. It gives it a worn feel.
I will continue to make blank journals for next year and beyond. I need to use up materials instead of hoping that I will have private students again. Then I will need to pack some of it up to give away.
It is sort of like how many wine glasses do you need when the dinner parties have stopped.
Here are some more scarves.
The conclusion is—-
drawing an eco printed
scarf – impossible!
Resist dyed large scarf
made by textile artist and
teacher from Africa.
Nuno felted scarf
that I rolled up to make it
easier to draw.
Two shades of blue knit
scarf with lots of overlock
stitches in between.
And a bit more journal entries.
Nov 1, 2003 Gympie, Queensland
My last teaching obligation of nine in six weeks. I am on the deck of a apartment type room on the country side of town. The drive here from Bundaberg last night was horrendous – wind and rain in the dark on the only road – a fallen tree left traffic backed up for miles.
It can be very dark here in the country or “outback”. So dark you want the terrifying lightening to strike so you can see if you are still on the road.
This place is connected to a bottle shop/hotel/casino/bistro. Ordered two Toohey’s Old Stout before I even sat down to a meal of corned beef (the only thing left as it was closing time. The meat came smothered in white sauce and filled the plate – served ourselves the vegetables and salads from the counter. Over salads hung a lace table cloth to keep the flies away while the hot starchy vegetables were not covered – no flies seemed interested anyway. Interesting dish with sweet potatoes and coriander (cilantro) – tasty. A very Australian country experience in hostelry. We return here tonight and I look forward to seeing what else is offered – hopefully wine and seafood.
“In my view, the best art is vulnerable. It is when the artist has given something of himself to the world. Perhaps what is most personal is also the most universal. In a classroom setting where student are set up to compete against one another and where the instructor inadvertently acts as judge over them, they are less likely to chances, to risk acceptance, to expose their vulnerability, and to deal with personal issues in their work.” Agniewszka Matejko, Canadian artist and teacher
Til later…