Turquoise Tangles

I Dream of Lilac Time

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:07:31 -0400

This morning as Blue and I walked through the park I savored the scent of the lilacs. Their fragrance reminded me of a long ago art fair conversation, with a painting woman who has the same first name as mine. She told me she was named for the song, “Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time.” I found it years ago to listen to, but had forgotten. Rediscovered it today on YouTube, and listened again with a smile this morn. Ah yes. It’s lilac time.

I’m letting Blue dog curl up next to me in the empty love...

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:09:27 -0400

I’m letting Blue dog curl up next to me in the empty love seat spot
There is a doorknob jangle
Nearly 8:00am
First boy is out of bed
My oldest, The Early Bird (like me)
He saw Blue on the love seat and said, “Oh boy. Mom!”
Then he pet Blue and said, “Look at him. He likes this I betcha.”
Yep. He does. Spoiled rotten love him too much Blue dog.
Nearly 9:00am now
Youngest son joins us in the family room and says, “There’s another Blue on the couch.”
To the dog he says, “Blue, you’re in my spot.”
What follows made me laugh aloud…
Youngest boy climbs across arm of love seat, surprised dog gets down, then once my nine year old son is tucked tightly up against my side, Blue jumps up again in the space remaining
Quiet from earlier is replaced with a WWII show from History channel being played back via DVR
Saturday morning has truly begun
Blue is even sleeping on the floor
Breakfast for the boys is next
Good morning

May 18, 2013

morning calm

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:37:46 -0400

quiet stillness
except for a l’il birdsong
dog’s tags jingle
children sleeping in
my breakfast gone
one cup o’coffee left
Saturday morning

P.S. All I have to do is say or think, “Ahhh, quiet” and it disappears in less than two seconds. Next thing I knew Blue was wild woofing out the front window. Silly dog doesn’t understand that on Saturday his boys get to sleep in because there is no school today. Once the woofing stopped he started racing around like Rodeo Dog going for first prize in the Barrel Racing Competition. Now?! Well, I shouldn’t admit it, but I let him curl up next to me on the other half of the love seat. We’d done such a good job keeping the dog on the floor until recently when he sort of snuck up onto the couch to try it out. I shoo him down again…eventually. Amazingly enough, my two sweet boys are still sleeping, tuckered out from the last five day school week, with just a few more days to go before Summer Vacation arrives. That last cup o’coffee is nearly gone.

May 18, 2013

I’m sorting Art Club’s artwork into portfolios to...

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:27:58 -0400

I’m sorting Art Club’s artwork into portfolios to give them at our last hurrah lunchtime pizza party today. I’m as excited as they are that we get to be together one last time this school year. We’ve had fun AND they made some cool art. Win win!

May 14, 2013

the first iris bloom all the more special because it is a...

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:45:58 -0400

the first iris bloom
all the more special
because it is a transplant
from Grandma’s garden
Grandpa chose the colors
sent them North
in five gallon buckets
with my father
who dug up
the boring white ones
and planted vivid hues
that my grandmother first chose
and I prefer too
oh, the first iris bloom
looking forward
to yellow, pale blue, two-tone
the other colorful iris
that will follow
soon

May 13, 2013

Pretty purple trees blooming along the boulevard in the...

Sat, 11 May 2013 08:16:04 -0400

Pretty purple trees blooming along the boulevard in the park.

May 11, 2013

The white petals fall and look like snow. The purple petals just...

Sat, 11 May 2013 08:13:56 -0400

The white petals fall and look like snow. The purple petals just make me grin, especially when Blue gets them stuck to his ever sniffing the ground nose.

May 11, 2013

Blue and I had a quiet walk this morning. Less traffic noise and...

Sat, 11 May 2013 07:50:44 -0400

Blue and I had a quiet walk this morning. Less traffic noise and fewer joggers on Saturday than the weekdays. The purple petals along the boulevard in the park charm me. We walked atop white petals too. Ah Spring. You’ve been a beauty!

May 11, 2013

I LOVE ART

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:12:36 -0400

I enjoyed being a Career Day guest speaker. The fourth graders were great listeners! One class even clapped after I read my poem, “sing your song.” Others ooo’ed and ahh’ed at my artwork as it appeared on the smart board. I have a new skill now too: Smart Board Operator. I’ve already been invited back for next year!

May 10, 2013

This afternoon I’ll be speaking to three 4th grade classes...

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:39:26 -0400

This afternoon I’ll be speaking to three 4th grade classes about careers in art. I’ve had a few: gallery watcher, gallery crew/gallery watcher, graphic artist and art director. Currently I’m a fine artist and volunteer art teacher. I’m also to work in references to reading and math. I’m going to thrill the teachers when I say, “Artists need to know how to add and divide fractions.” ‘Tis true! I’m sending each child home with a copy of my poem, “sing your song”, as well as a brochure of summer classes offered at the McLean County Arts Center and business cards for Main Gallery 404. I added an extra copy to each stack so the teacher can have one too. Next week my Art Club will receive the same packet. Oh, how I love sharing the fun of creating art with others. Especially children. *happy sigh*

May 10, 2013

“sunset” May 7, 2013 Photograph taken from the...

Tue, 07 May 2013 21:58:16 -0400

“sunset”
May 7, 2013
Photograph taken from the sidewalk, where I was walking with Blue after supper. It was a peace full, happy moment too. (The shot itself was downright lucky - I only took one, as the dog and I paused in our walk long enough to get it…or should that be paws’ed?!)

Sunday afternoon

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:36:39 -0400

Sitting on the back patio now. In the shade to avoid sun glare on my laptop screen. Have the wind in my hair - a l’il breezy but overall not bad. My dog is keeping me company and my youngest son just joined me. I’d summoned him out of doors to have a conversation - about cussing…because he said if he could cuss it’d let some of his mad out. I hear that! So much like his mama the way he slams doors, stomps and grr’s. I call him my grizzly bear cub and sign notes to him, “Grizzly Bear Mama.”

April 14, 2013

excerpt from personal email correspondance

HOPE: a l'il powerhouse word

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:59:17 -0400

I hope. Hope never leaves. Hope endures and abides and remains. Hope also sustains.

First written within an email reply on April 11, 2013, after a HOPE FULL conversation at Art Circle a few hours before.

Western Wisdom

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:28:02 -0400

I’m in the midst of typesettin’ two more of my grandfather’s Western Tales. Yesterday I caught myself readin’ instead of movin’ fast, flowin’ type, applyin’ style sheets, and fixin’ up his wonderful words for bein’ self published and bound into yet another family and friends book. Perhaps his last, as at 97, we know his body is wearin’ out.
Certain phrases and plot twist moments, keep jumping off my computer screen as I work, that make me grin and guffaw. Then there are others that make my heart squeeze in empathy.
The line of dialogue speaking to me right now is after the sheriff received a letter from concerned parents, asking after their hastily married off daughter who was sent away, “in trouble.” Instead of replying that she’d had her baby, and a few days later her worthless, no good varmint, rat of a husband was dead - murdered - Sheriff Wells simply said where they could reach their daughter. His mentor, John Wade, replied after readin’ the communique in progress, “Good shot. Let her tell her own story.”
Indeed. Yes. The other bit of advice I keep readin’ is to keep your head up high, no matter what the circumstances in your life. Lots of horse talk too. How I love that!
I’m completely charmed by my grandfather’s writing. Stories. Songs. Poetry. I have been since childhood. It’s more poignant now. Readin’ with a woman’s heart.
He’s a marvel. Still alive and kickin’, atop a bluff overlookin’ the mighty Mississippi River where he’s lived since he was nine months old, other than those years he was needed to serve his country in WWII. He began writing stories while recovering from night patrol injuries in a hospital in England. The Red Cross gave him paper. He mailed the stories home. All because he’d read everything he could get his hands on, and figured he could do as well or better. Once he started writing, he never stopped. That is a lesson for me, and all the aspiring authors I know. Writers write. A lot.
~ Janean Marie Thompson Baird

April 10, 2013
Quote from, “The Invincible Three” by Erwin A. Thompson.

Dog Walkin' Story For Today

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:27:51 -0400

As I think, “What’s that? Looks like a stick.”
Blue pokes it with his nose and then suddenly jerks back.
I laugh and say aloud, “A wiggly worm.”
We timed our walk just right, for between rain storms.
Peacock covered rain boots on my two feet.
Blue rockin’ four furry paws.
The early birds are feastin’ this mornin’ ‘cause the wiggly worms are right out in the open.
Monday again.
Have a good one.

April 8, 2013

tick tock chirp

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 07:14:22 -0400

I’m sitting still, in the dark, quiet of morning, before the sun lights up the dawn, listening to the most melodious of birdsong.
Quite lovely.
Blue dog is sleeping at my feet.
Two sweet boys are still asleep in bed.
Will move in a moment to get the coffee on.
For now, I’m a bit hypnotized by the sound of the family room clock tick tocking, intermixed with an upbeat chirping song from the other side of outer wall.

April 7, 2013

I’m not so grown up that I don’t still enjoy a bunch...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:19:11 -0400

I’m not so grown up that I don’t still enjoy a bunch o’mini marshmallows happily bobbing atop a mug o’hot chocolate. Dark Chocolate Sensation at that. Gone now. Considering mug two.

April 6, 2013

sustenance

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:56:20 -0400

My hair is a rats next of tangles from that wicked wind.
I’m am so wrung out and weary I’m leaning against the wall as I stand and type.
Will take more Tylenol next, find something hot and filling for supper, and look forward to the soothing water of a hot bath later tonight.
Much later.
Sometime after the dog is walked for the last time and both boys are tucked into their beds.
Later.
Hopefully within the next three hours.
Hope.
A sustaining emotion.
The ultimate Soul Food.

April 6, 2013

There is a storm brewing. Hopefully not a funnel cloud kind. Have I mentioned today’s massive...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:12:13 -0400

There is a storm brewing.
Hopefully not a funnel cloud kind.
Have I mentioned today’s massive high speed winds?!
19mph at the 8:30am soccer game.
Up to 33mph in time for the U10 boys to play at 1:00pm.
Somehow the wind felt even faster than that!

April 6, 2013

a pastel sunset always prettier in person muted shades a quiet...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:23:41 -0400

a pastel sunset
always prettier
in person
muted shades
a quiet decent
from sky
to horizon
wispy clouds
with soft edges
made me think,
“a pastel sunset”

Photograph taken from the sidewalk while I was walking Blue dog last night.

April 5, 2013