Illustration and picturebook creator artist
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
Well, this.
This whole year has been one long learning, growing adventure. It was a series of decisions that started with one, then another one. Finish the book. Move across the country to help Gs mom. Some decisions I made, some we made and some were made for us.
Isn’t that the way it goes? it’s kinda what I think I signed up for. Come to earth, experience a bunch of things, learn, grow, find the joy…repeat.
My daughter changed some things on my instagram account. She knows more than I ever will about that and she’s not even that into it.
I appreciate knowing and accepting this. I also appreciate all the help my kids offer me, because often I don’t even know what help to ask for.
Our worlds are so different. I have no wish to be younger and be in the thick of it, living in their worlds. I say worlds because every one of my kids has a different life, not just from me but also from one another. I remember being their ages. Even back then it was intense. I never had time to look around and enjoy life like I do now.
I am the opposite of a social media influencer. I don’t see how anyone would want my influence? I’m trying to mind my own business over here. Sure breathe and tell people about my books, but I dearly hope everyone is doing life the way they like. It’s taken me a whole lifetime to find some peace in doing things my own way.
My way is slower and much more meandering, likely way less efficient, but it’s mine. I can’t explain it or even defend it. I just have these books that kids and teachers love that I feel responsible for. Plus a drive I’ll never understand, to keep making stuff. Lately. I’m feeling like painting again…
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?
Huh. Things I never think about. Maybe an RV park in one of those tiny treeless towns with nothing going on, maybe in Nevada?
The North Pole or just any freezing cold dark town nearby?
Any place in the middle of a war.
Enough brainstorming this topic? I’m good
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.
My daughter in law called me up right after Christmas. She noticed there were some cheap flights on New Years Day. Did we want to come out? The kids were missing us…
When she called, we were parking at Yale hospital, and then walking in. When I mentioned it to G, still on the phone, he looked around as if to say “How ?!” Or maybe, “impossible!”
Hospital visits were a daily thing at that point. Cold gray New England winter had set in and we were all tired. Nothing was changing, I told her I would come. (a least I wasn’t needed at that point)
That one phone call, her generous invitation, set us on a whole different path . When we saw our patient that day, he was recovering well. For a guy who had nearly died twice in the last week, he was making a miraculous come back. They were going to transfer him to the closer hospital and from there to a rehab facility near home.
G saw his chance. He set out in the car before my plane took off. I jetted happily to the west coast.
One fortunate thing after another, kept us in California all winter. ALL winter! Thanks to my sweet son’s wife, and the miraculous set of circumstances that followed, plus some amazing friends, I got the best reprieve anyone could have ever asked for! G did too.
We are on our way to the East Coast. Yesterday was a weird day. After driving for hours through super windy Kansas, we made it to my daughter’s house.
One speeding ticket and a lost wallet later. This morning I woke up with a headache. And no coffee…
Already discombobulated, emotions were running high and I knew I needed something. I wasn’t sure what, but SOMETHING.
Later… ok coffee helped. A little Tylenol and I managed to find the wallet. G was on the phone to the bank. It had fallen into a spot under the seat that we both had checked at least a dozen times each. Caught on a metal lip that was barely wide enough to catch a wallet of it’s size and impossible to see from any direction. We had nearly given up. G told me later he already had.
After the stress had started to disapate, my head was feeling better and I could think again, I realized I was a little hungry. Sometimes it’s as easy as taking care of my physical needs. A little food and I’m good to go. Neither of us had slept well because of the lost wallet, so probably a good night sleep will be nice. I got a little walk in the sunshine, G went for a swim. Lots of quality time with the kids. I’d shake my fist at the confounded planet. Really Mercury? Instead, I trouble shoot as if it were any other crazy weird day in Kansas…
What is your favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant is in Mystic, Ct. It’s called The Oyster Club.
We found it many years ago when we owned a house in Quakerhill. This restaurant has never once not lived up to its own high standard. The first time we stumbled in, it was chilly outside, probably early spring. We sat in a tiny room with only four small tables and a bar. It’s coziness and New England charm might have been enough that day (I’m a sucker for atmosphere), but then came the food. Every single thing on both of our plates was amazing.
We eat there often. The prices are reasonable, the staff is lovely, there are places to sit outside and in different rooms, all are nice. I always hope for one of those bar tables hoping to recreate our first experience because it was and has remained one of my favorite dining experiences ever.
Their muscle dish has ruined any and all other muscle dishes elsewhere. It’s truly that delicious. They recommend getting the toast with browned butter butternut purée dip which for us now is a must.
I googled the name of the bread place where they get their bread. We went there. Also high standards of excellence.
The Oystar Club managed to come through the difficult Covid years as good or better, which isn’t the case for most restaurants,unfortunately, at least in our CA home. We were happily surprised when all these years later, it still tops our list of best restaurants and favorite dining experience . Each time we go, we are surprised and delighted by something new.
I got to hear some opinions from exactly the people I care most about hearing from on the topic off my book.
I have always enjoyed the point of view of children. When I used to teach, my favorite lessons were inspired by famous artists from history. I noticed that the younger the grade, the more profound their comments. Kids embraced all styles and were especially receptive to abstract art. I really wish they taught more art history in elementary school. They are sponges, interested and thoughtful and can fully grasp the emotional elements of art.
Plus they are quick to learn. I taught grades 1-5 how to breathe consciously and how to make butterfly neuro graphic drawings plus shared my book in only forty-five minutes. I love this about kids. Get them a little interested and the speed of their minds is impressive.
One of my favorite pictures is the one with the kids holding one of my paintings discussing the illustrations They remind me of mini art collectors.
Once I taught a lesson about the painting Whistler’s Mother to first graders. I will never forget the compassion these 5 and 6 year olds had for the woman in this painting.
do you see yourself ?
Is it always windy in Kansas? It sure has been since we arrived. It’s a beautiful morning as we are setting out. Like the John Denver song , “…windy Kansas wheat fields…” So many possible wheat fields, I can’t tell if they are wheat, lots of hay too. Do you know about wishing on hay and looking away.? Plenty of wish opportunities and wind in Kansas.
G pointed out that I can’t know if it’s always windy here because I don’t really know Kansas at all. Ive been around myself all my life and sometimes I don’t know myself. It occurred to me that I sometimes pay selective attention. Not on purpose, but some things stand out and some don’t.
Yesterday we thought it would be nice to eat outside. We got our order to go and headed toward a nice looking park. We’d been cooped up in the car all day so it seemed like a good idea. Fresh air, a short walk, why not? Well. One word: wind. We had ironically just seen the Wizard of Oz Dorothy house in the same town. I said something about the plausiblity of a house lifting in off the ground…
Try to take a bite of food, hold onto a napkin, and the box, even with hair pulled back. Take a sip of water? It was like being in a wind tunnel. The wind was blowing in several directions so I couldn’t NOT pay attention to wind in Kansas.
Since I was wishing on a lot of hay, I was noticing that too. These things had my attention. I have learned about attention and intention. I have learned that what I give my attention to seems bigger and more memorable, but the best thing I’ve learned is that I can decide what I want to place my attention on and make that more in my life. I may get distracted by wind or people or situations, but I love knowing that I have a say in where I place my attention.
Do I know me? Do I know where I want to end up in ten years? Feeling joy and love and still having fun…
We left this morning. The drive has been beautiful. I’ve never seen the desert so green. The saguaro cactus which were everywhere until they weren’t, looked especially healthy and hydrated. More flowers than I’ve ever seen along this highway. I kept trying to take pictures, but we were moving too fast. G said we would stop but there was never a place to.
Soon the elevation changed and the cactus was replaced by cedar trees. The rock became a deeper reddish brown. More gorgeous views. I was just reading about places to see wild horses running free. Arizona has a few spots, one caught my attention. Unfortunately we didn’t go through the exact area, but the landscape looked like horses could be anywhere. There were elk-crossing signs at the highest points. It wasn’t the right time of day either, but I looked and hoped anyway.
Driving across the country is different every time. We both actually love this. We were going to stop in Holbolt, Az but couldn’t decide on a place, it was early enough to keep driving into New Mexico. We stopped just over the border in Gallup. I never saw any wild horses but we saw some pretty landscape.
We will get to my daughter’s by tomorrow night.
We left this morning. The drive has been beautiful. I’ve never seen the desert so green. The saguaro cactus which were everywhere until they weren’t, looked especially healthy and hydrated. More flowers than I’ve ever seen along this highway. I kept trying to take pictures, but we were moving too fast. G said we would stop but there was never a place to.
Soon the elevation changed and the cactus was replaced by cedar trees. The rock became a deeper reddish brown. More gorgeous views. I was just reading about places to see wild horses running free. Arizona has a few spots, one caught my attention. Unfortunately we didn’t go through the exact area, but the landscape looked like horses could be anywhere. There were elk-crossing signs at the highest points. It wasn’t the right time of day either, but I looked and hoped anyway.
Driving across the country is different every time. We both actually love this. We were going to stop in Holbolt, Az but couldn’t decide on a place, it was early enough to keep driving into New Mexico. We stopped just over the border in Gallup. I never saw any wild horses but we saw some pretty landscape.
We will get to my daughter’s by tomorrow night.
Peace Kit