Lovely Lilacs

A friend brought a bouquet of lilacs from her yard, in colors that the lilacs around my cottage don't produce.  My lilacs only bloom in pale lavender and brilliant white.   

I love the different colors of these lilacs.  Blueish lavender, lavender pink, and a deep, slightly reddish purple. 

It's so lovely to have a friend that brings you flowers! 

Linking with: Our World Tuesday

Settled In

I finished this painting of a friend's cat a few days ago and remembered, for once, to take a photo of it before it went to live in her home, although I should have photographed it before I put it behind glass and framed it. She saw the small version a couple of years ago when she was out here visiting a mutual friend and called me last summer to ask if I could do a bigger one.  She sent me a photo of her cat; she wasn't kidding when she said the kitty in my original small painting looked just like her Tomaso.  I'm going to try to remember to take photos of each of my paintings before they go to their new homes because I know there is a day coming when I won't be able to paint; it will be nice to be able to look back at what I created.  I wish I had started taking photos of all of my work a long time ago.  Ah, well...

I Wish...

I was on my way to a luncheon at the home of a friend of a friend today.  While looking for the address I came across this great street name sign.  Of course, I had to get out of the car and take a photo.  As soon as I left the car and approached the street sign a man came out of a house across from the sign and called to me, "Leave that sign alone!"  I told him I was just planning on taking a picture of it and that was all.  That mollified him, so I asked if they had had trouble with people defacing the sign.  He replied, "No...we have trouble with people stealing it!"  He said it had been stolen so many times the county now refused to make a new sign with the name stamped in the metal and just lettered over old street signs.

I wish whoever was in charge of street names way back in the 1920's when my cottage was built would have given the street it's on a name as cool as this one.  I also wonder how Willow Witch Road got this particular name.  And, I wonder what it takes to get the name of a street changed, or if it even can be?

I have some sleuthing to do!

Changes

It occurred to me today as I was watching yellow leaves being blown from the trees by the wind, that I also am in the Autumn of my life.  Time is no longer my friend, no longer 'on my side' as Mick Jagger sang.  I can't say I'm in middle age anymore...who lives to be 124?  Who would want to?  It would be horrible to outlive one's family and friends. 

My dearest friend and neighbor has also made a change.  No longer is she just down the lane and around the corner from me as she has been since 1978.  A few months ago she retired and has now, at her son's insistence, moved to Oregon to be close to him.  It makes sense.  He is her only family and I know he is much easier in his mind having her close. After she called me today to let me know she and her animals had arrived at their new home safely I walked over to her house, as I have done countless times before.  It felt very strange to look at her house and know she is no longer there.  Of course, we'll talk often on the phone, but that's a poor substitute, at best, for having a dear friend actually being close by and IN your daily life.  Still, it's better than nothing. 

If growing up is a process of accumulating, growing old is a process of letting go...and, sometimes, that's really hard.

Vandalism

I just finished this commission for a client who is also a good friend.  She showed me a picture of the style of painting she wanted.  This is not normally the style I paint in, but she likes it, so I said I would design something.  Then she said she wanted me to paint it on her antique butter churn.  I said, "Annie, you can't be serious.  That must be over...well, I don't know how many years, but I don't think I can deface it, even if you are going to call it 'art.' "  As you can see from the photo, she's very persuasive.  Most importantly, she loves it.  But, I still feel guilty.  I feel like I sealed all its stories under layers of paint.  I feel like I committed vandalism.  If it had been anyone else but Annie, I would have declined the commission.  But, she loves it.  I just keep repeating that to myself...

Faeries Friday - Akiha and Akiye

Akiha is on the left (her name means 'Autumn Leaf' in Japanese) and Akiye is on the right. (Her name means 'Autumn Painting' in Japanese).

They were sent to me for my birthday last year by my dear friend who lives in Alaska. She named them and told me what their names mean, but forgot to tell me how to pronounce them. And, of course, every time we have a phone visit I forget to ask her.

My friend doesn't have a computer (GASP!) nor does she want one, or I'd e-mail her. Instead, we write letters to each other in between our phone visits. Actual, on paper with pen and ink, letters. I have to admit, I really enjoy getting a letter by 'snail' mail, and I also enjoy writing letters to her. It's a dying art...

Faeries Friday - Luna Selene

Well, she's not really a faerie. This is Luna Selene, the Goddess of the Moon. OK, an interpretation of the Goddess of the Moon. A friend who makes dolls made her for me.

Usually, dolls creep me out. Stuffed toy animals and statues don't affect me in the same way as cute, pretty dolls. Those dolls are the kind that will grow sharp teeth in the night and have you for a snack. The fact that there has never been a documented case of murder by doll means nothing to me; phobias are not rooted in rationality.

When Marissa gave Luna Selene to me she warned me that there was a doll inside the box. She also told me the doll's name was Luna Selene. Marissa knows about my phobia. I nearly dropped the box, but she asked if I would just trust her. I've known Marissa for ages, so I agreed to open the box. Honestly, my stomach was churning and I was afraid I was about to have my first-ever panic attack. How silly was that? But we are what we are.

So, I cautiously opened the box. I didn't say anything for a minute, just looked at Luna Selene. Marissa said, "Oh well...it's all right if you don't like her..." and I interrupted and said, "No, no...I think she's beautiful, exquisite. She doesn't scare me at all. She's a Crone, and her face is so wise and kind. How did you know?"

Marissa simply said, "I know you."

It's wonderful to have a friend who can see you so clearly and still love you, craziness and all.

A Few of My Favorites

This little cardboard house is my most cherished Christmas ornament. It's worth nothing monetarily, but to me it's priceless. It belonged to my grandmother on my mother's side. When I hang it on the tree I think of all the other hands that have touched it; my grandmother's hands, all of my aunt's hands, my mother's hands and my sister's hands. They have all moved on, except for my sister, but I keep them near me with things like this.

The golden-colored bell was my first ever present...and, at the time it was given, I wasn't even aware of it as I was only one day old. Granny Edwards, not a blood relation but a wonderful woman who was called 'Granny' by all who knew her, gave a set of four bells to my mother the day after I was born, and told her that they were for me because "this child will love Christmas and it will love her back." The set contained 2 golden and two deep pink bells. I still have all of them, although they are faded and worn.

The red and white beaded ornament next to the bell was made by my sister about 20 years ago. She made one for me in every color imaginable.

My husband and I bought these darling little mice in 1992. We've bought a dated ornament each Christmas since we've been married. We should have 34, but the cats ate the one dated '1977' so we only have 33.

The ornament on the right is the second oldest ornament that I have. My mother and dad bought it for their first Christmas together in 1927.

Since my husband's favorite holiday is Halloween I bought this Christopher Radko ornament for him. No, really I did. Just because there's a little red haired witch with an adorable black cat on the pumpkin had nothing to do with it. ;)

My husband made dozens of these 'candles' for our tree in 1998. He used doweling then drilled a tiny hole for the piece of pipe cleaner. To make it look like wax has dripped down the candle he dripped a really thick gesso down the sides after he painted them with the same gesso.

And this sparkly reindeer is the newest member of our Christmas decorations. When I saw them (I bought 6) I just couldn't resist!

Best of Both Worlds

This was what the light looked like this afternoon when I was leaving my friend's house. She has a wonderful view of one of the lakes up here. Every time I visit, I lament the fact that my home is down in a valley and it gets dark two hours earlier at my home than at hers. If I want to see the sun set or rise over the lake near me, I have to hike up to the ridge line or down to the lake. And her home is nearly new, it's not a money pit like mine.

Every time she comes up to visit me, she laments the fact that I have a creek, a "fairy-tale cottage" (her words, not mine) that was built in the 1920's and my own studio which is separate from the cottage.

Now, I don't think either one of us would trade but we always ooh and aah over the other's home and bemoan what we don't have, then say: "But aren't we lucky we're friends? This way, we have the best of both worlds!"