Back To Being Alone

Posted on by Sandy Webster

It is now just the two cats and myself. Marla left today with a car loaded with more books, clothes, antiques, artwork and furniture. The past five days were spent loading up boxes, sorting books and watching Anne of Green Gables, a wonderful new production filmed in Canada. And of course playing with Dilly and Sadie.

We also kept up our morning walks at the dam in the fog.

And the river in the frost.

Yesterday we took a walk on Lee’s trail to see the changes and think of him.

And his rock piles now covered in leaves.

I closed on the new house building yesterday. Now I no longer say, “I am going to build a house”, but “I am building a house.” Footings are in place.

This will be my last fall here and I am taking pictures of the lovely color that is left.

This morning another walk on the river but turning left instead or right. Beautiful!

When Marla and I were looking deep under shelves she found an old sketch journal that I made many years ago. It is worth a whole blog on itself. I intend to use it much more now that it has been “discovered”.

There is little left unturned around here. Now that the laundry is finished I will restore the guest room for Patrick who is coming for Thanksgiving to take another trailer home of tools and lumber. He has to make the mantle for the new house before he packs too many of the tools.

I need to find another series to watch on the television and maybe pour the last of our boxed wine.

And I almost forgot! Marla and I got all our Christmas cards dry pointed and printed on our individual presses. Here are mine of a snowman handing off a Christmas stocking that he can’t find a foot for. First the out takes getting everything set just right and then some of the edition.

Til later….

 

Much Needed Additions

Posted on by Sandy Webster

Meet Dilly. One year three months. Yesterday she had been left at the shelter an hour before my friend and I went “to just look.” Here she is in the “to go box” just arriving home.

And meeting Sadie. They are getting used to each other.

There is no need to change her name. It is perfect. We used to live on Dilly Rd. before we moved south.

She is very affectionate and playful. Reminds me of our dear old Spooky with Patches markings.

The walk at the dam was pretty cold yesterday morning. Very few people out.

A new drawing in the Bird Stories Book.

I like adding these very soft watercolors to the graphite drawing after I have sealed the pencil marks.

And being inspired by the birds, I have added a chickadee to the hemp panel. Next will come a scrap cloth nest and then some more patchwork before another bird shows up. I do most of the bird off the hemp then add it where I want it and add more stitching to finish it off.

Marla and I are designing our Christmas cards today for fine etchings on our presses. She brought down her new Sissix one to try out.

Now I am going to go play with Dilly.

til later….

Moving Right Along

Posted on by Sandy Webster

 

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It has turned colder. The walks have required bundling up…especially at the dam where the wind whips across the long expanse to reach the other side where the path through the woods gives protection.

And the Riverwalk is so closed over in fog when I go out so early.

And this tree extended out over the river that I have been watching so as to see its bones.

When I return home after the walk or other errands my road is also inviting.

And closer to the house…

This seems to be the last of the color this year. A poor fall showing.

But some Anzac cookies seemed in order. A few given to the yard man to eat on his way to the next jib.

And this week I am back to my Bird Stories book.

And…

These birds have inspired me to also stitch some to add to the long scroll of stitching. Birds among the patches of cloth and stitched patterns. I will make the birds first and then stitch them to the length of hemp. I was thinking I would take the suggestion of copying my drawings onto cloth and adding that to the strip but then I was reminded of my Night Critters and will use the scraps of cloth to make nothing but birds among the held together patches. That is today’s thinking anyway.

Today the cleaning lady came and I took off to do my walk, get a paper notarized, fill up my gas tank and attempt to get the oil changed. That last bit required another trip to town later where I waited an hour and a half to get the job done. The person in charge told me that some parts for cars cannot be found now due to shortages and people have no choice but to park their cars until these shortages ease up.

Sadie seems so sad now that Patches has left. I may go to the shelter soon to find her a friend.

Yesterday I had a good long call with one of the few people there is to talk about art with. It felt good to hear someone else lament how much art with meaning and message has taken a back seat to just “making stuff” that can be marketed.

I finished my latest short story today…Loose Threads. It can be found on my website under “short stories”.

I think it is time to have a glass of wine. A friend comes down this Friday to spend some time helping with packing up things and being good company.

Til later

 

Picking Back Up Where I Left Off

Posted on by Sandy Webster

October is coming to a close. It was Lee’s and my fifty-fourth anniversary this past week. Not many can say that even in our circumstances. They continue to look after him at the Care Center during difficult times. When they call to give me updates it is to let me know in so many words that he is failing. And so it will continue.

Here is the view from the deck off my studio.

I like the modification of light and perspective that shooting it through the screen have done to “out there”. It is almost like a story book image that fits my disconnection to my place of so many years with Lee. I think about walking the trail but find an excuse not to every day. Maybe tomorrow I will go out there and pick up some leaves to place in a bowl on the table.

Besides watching every episode of The Crown this week I managed to get back to my stitching and drawing.

I would like to find a way to put drawings into the stitched panel but so far have not thought of how to do that. I am such a poor embroiderer that stitching the drawings would be pretty sad. So I will continue jabbing the needle in and out in some sort of semblance of order. Placing bits of cloth next to each other and holding them in place first with a pin and then rows of stitching seems to be such a nice thing to do. Completely useless but pleasing. These patches are me I think, holding things together and moving on to the next bit that needs some control.

And back to the Bird Stories…

I did not like those eggs unattended so yesterday gave them someone to watch over them. Bird feet are so interesting, so fragile. Today I will draw some more bird things in the book because it is rainy and what else is there to do? I would work more on my short story but unfortunately my laptop has decided yet again to go black and deny me access. A new one is coming by next Friday that will be so much more cooperative.

The builder called me yesterday morning to ask if he could make a change to the window by the front door. Seems that there is now a shortage of windows and I will need to go to a side panel by the door rather than a separate window. It ended up me making a trip over to meet up with him in his office and making the decisions on everything pertaining to the new home. White kitchen cupboards, mottled grey and ochre granite counter tops, sage green house with white trim, a certain number of canned lights in the ceilings, what kind of faucets, door and drawer handles, and on and on. The only problem I reminded him was that the closing with his lawyer was not scheduled until the end of November. To this news he promptly went across the road and asked them to move it forward. The answer was they would try to get it in before Thanksgiving. That is the best that can be done but I don’t think there has ever been a builder and homeowner more in sinc in our shared desire to get going on this project. It will take eight months from the time of our closing before I can move in….all due to shortages anticipated in the process of getting materials.

So I continue to walk in the mornings when few people are out and about. I am able to put my mind to something and figure things out on those walks. Sitting at home I am lured into watching British drama and turning my mind off completely. What I really need to do is go into the studio. Stop avoiding it and DO something. I think the last of my autobiographical heads needs finishing. The Homemaker just sits there with all her paraphernalia gathered around her. When all are complete and my son will make the glass specimen cases for each, I plan on placing all four on top of the old wooden post office table in my new house. Then I can see myself for what I am and was, something to be closely regarded behind a piece of glass. I am fascinated by the prospect of having that perspective.

Anyway here are some pictures of my walks.

When I got home yesterday morning I was struck by how beautiful Lee’s grape vines are this year. He ripped out most of them close to the ground in a fit of frustration shortly before he left last Spring. I think he would have liked the result.

Such a dull and colorless fall we are having this year and then suddenly a reminder of what is possible when the temperatures and humidity combine their efforts. I like the dark beckoning of the forest beyond the deep reds of the dogwood trees. Whatever is there seems to be comforting. Maybe a small fire with a stump just the right height to sit on, and a large wool blanket to wrap around myself holding a small cup of something warm to drink. Or maybe just more cold dampness and soaked shoes while I cling to branches wondering what the heck am I doing out there. Best to just stay inside today and watch the woods….it is dry and warm here with things to do.

Til later…..