A really good friend bought her first house right after we did (copycat) + we have a joke that a mortgage does not make us adults, it's things like her buying her first sofa, us getting a real coffee table + having popcorn* + wine for dinner without apology that make us adults.
After the teaching trip I was already exhausted + after last night I'm exhausted + I've lost my voice, but it has all been so much fun + I'll recover. With the exception of 6 people from NJ + NY, who had been following the tour, our section was a little quiet + I guess I felt the need to compensate during the sing-along songs + of course Rosalita.
It was not all teaching for those 3 days, we also killed some time in an antique mall + a couple thrift stores. I do have to tell you that after the great purge I have not returned to my old ways of impulse thrift shopping, I keep a list in mind. I was able to cross 2 things off the list, a vintage starburst clock, found in Knoxville for a mere $24. The other item was a camera bag (not shown) for $1.00.
Someone who had lived in Johnson City insisted we eat at her favorite restaurant + it became a running joke how much EVERYONE loved this place + how much we didn't. The 2nd night we ate at Stir Fry, a totally unassuming Thai restaurant in a strip mall which more than made up for the previous night.
I spent the last 3 days in N/E Tennessee, with my friend Claudia, teaching. First was the Arts in Education conference in Johnson City where I did 2 workshops I titled Printmaking in Any Classroom Setting. Both workshops filled up + the response was great. I'm hoping they ask me back next year.
As part of a grant program we were asked to spend a day as "guest artists" in an area elementary school. I taught an origami single sheet book form, which we printed (using rubber stamps + ink pads) to 6 classes of 2nd, 3rd + 4th graders. What a blast + the kids were really great. Some who initially though this was "stupid" found out they kind-a liked it + one 3rd grader by-passed the printing + made a flip book!
In the midst of all the teaching I forgot to take pictures. The first photo is work by one of the workshop students. The last pictures were a little stroll down memory lane. I taught in the art room + took pictures during my lunch break.
As the visiting artist with The Printing Press Project this semester
Being an alumni of the college, the focus of my talk was
After the talk everyone got the opportunity to print on the
Videos about the press can be seen here + here,
Lots to do, but there's still time for movies!
Any Tupperware in our house originally belonged to either my boy's
At the request of my boy, this set will remain in the house.
For the most part it looks like The Great Purge of '09 is winding down.
So there it is, our latest projects as homeowners have involved
I don't like to complain around here, but it seems like more tea
I have this weekend, next weekend + then it's 2 weeks of non-stop print-related craziness (with 6 birthdays + a Bruce Springsteen concert scattered in there).
My job pays once a month + as a result I do all the month's grocery shopping at once (with a couple additional trips for produce). I have worked out a routine with a really good friend where we go to the big Nashville city together for Trader Joe's + bulk foods shopping (we are 30 mi. outside the city). When fuel is available, we travel in her veggie oil Mercedes.
Among other holistic practices, she does naturopathic work + nutritional consulting + the first time we went on this excursion I admitted to her that I was concerned that she might judge some of my food selections (although we are cutting back on the processed foods, even if they are made with organic + good quality ingredients). She pretty much laughed at me + said that if I wanted her opinion I could ask for it, but otherwise there was no judgment. Funny thing is she asks for my opinion almost as much as I ask for hers.
Later: upon review we realized that we have been going about our shopping trip all wrong. First stop was the highest $ store, last the lowest because we were starting from the farthest store, working our way back home. A simple reversal of stops could save some $ next month. You know, sometimes things are just so obvious that they get overlooked.
My boy's boss gave him tickets to a Predators' hockey game.
Good thing I love him, even after a comment like that,
The great news is that it looks like people are feeling more comfortable
Around Claudia's studio
Inside, fibers galore!
Display of my prints (top)
~This is where I will be all weekend~
In cold weather it's hard to get Monk to do much,
As No Impact Week gets underway, it seems like a good time
I have been working on all my studio tour + printing stuff,
AH! Fall..soup time! I've started making a pot of soup a week again, this year it's lots of vegetable based soups (the garden is still producing zucchini) with cannelloni beans, Tofurkey Italian sausages + grains on hand: quinoa + barley or couscous.
And of course no soup is complete without a chunk of homemade bread. Last year I bought a bread maker at a yard sale for $5.00 + I am still using it on a regular basis (a co-worked commented that I was the only person she knew who would not stick a bread maker in a cabinet + forget I owned it). Over the course of the year I have developed this tried + true vegan recipe*
It's not that I don't love the store,
For $3.95 I could not resist this find
A million years ago I signed up for the Favorite Things Swap and luckily I had a partner who also had way too much going on for the August 28th deadline. We just sent ours last week.
For the third year my boy ran our town's half-marathon, this was his second year raising money for Special Kids. He did not train as much as last year + was not feeling 100% + only added 5 minutes to last year's 2h 3m time.
I have a formula that I came up with over the years.
Monk hung out in the studio with me today.
Thanks to SF Girl by the Bay I was directed to the above poster depicting the Santa Monica Pier. I wanted it instantly, I have so many great memories of the pier, but since I am trying to restrict my spending I held off making the purchase. The deal I made with myself was if I sold something in my Etsy shop today I would buy it.
It's gone beyond having good Dansko karma,
Yesterday I met with the people who are overseeing the Franklin Printing Press Project about my artist-in-residence position for the fall semester. I am taking on a pretty ambitious project for the piece I will produce. In addition, I will have to give a lecture in front of an expected crowd of 60 which makes me nervous.
We have been super productive working on projects around the house.
Years ago my friend Nancykins (not her real name) taught me to "un-shop," where you reevaluate everything in your cart, basket, arms, (buggy, if you are in the south) before you make your purchase. I do this everywhere I go, even in the grocery store + usually end up putting a few items back.
We are spending a lot of time here,
This week we hung the $20.00 porch swing my boy bought at a yard sale earlier this summer. Right now it's the most perfect place to be.
Last night Dexter, our beloved cat + the namesake of LALA dex press, passed away. He was about 16 + his health had been in decline. Our pet sitter has been taking very good care of him, staying at our house for hours with him on her lap. We came home + he was lethargic so we took him outside, sat on a bench + stroked his fur, talking to him until he died. He is now buried behind the garden.
(click photo to enlarge)
Relaxing + bumming around day. Went to a bunch of thrifts stores + bought these vintage Frys boots + 2 books friends have said good things about: The Old Patagonian Express + Accordion Crimes. There was no need for self control or much contemplation because the want was not there.
Funny to think that yesterday I was sitting on a beach on an island.
That's my boy being a robot in the Heath store.
(overlooking potato cove)
my brother
my aunt, who is in town from NYC
my dad took about 50 shots + this is the only good one
