Art 101

Art is a passion that feeds my soul. Something that brings me true joy.

Josie has a great talent for art. Whether it's writing or drawing there is definite potential. In fact it's more than potential it's a talent that just needs to grow and blossom. Of course you would expect me, as her grandmother, to have that opinion. Today it was validated during my time manning the gift shop at the Lyndon House Art Center.

I told Shannon, a staff member at the art center, that Josie really enjoyed the class she took there. Shannon asked me which one was Josie? I described her and Shannon started saying what wonderful art Josie had created and was amazed that Josie knew how to hold a brush just right. Shannon said that Josie and another girl were the best in the class and Josie definitely should have her art framed.

If I could get her first picture from the that class away from her mother I'd love to frame that!

Bakery Blues

I had a snappier title while I was laboring over a cake this morning but I think I sweated it out. I've been decorating cakes this week because Sandy's been out on a family emergency. I think I'm getting pretty good and if I could figure out how to get the picture of the carrot cake I decorated from my phone to my computer I could post it. I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination a professional but I'm passable.

We usually get in sheet cakes from a supplier but they weren't ordered so Tammy baked a cake in a large pan. I was to cut it in fourths and do a three layer because it was so thin. Sounds reasonable. I don't know what happened; I'll take some responsibility for my fledgling cake decorating skills but that cake was either not done or I don't know the reason. I tried to cut it in the desired rectangles but it was cracking and turning into paste so I did the best to frost it. I'd say frosting can cover up a multitude of sins but even the devil isn't that bad! Basically I ended up with frosted crumbs. I gave the cake the benefit of the doubt and decided to give up for the day and come in early the following morning. Before I left work I decided that my reputation as well as the bakery's was on the line and I couldn't in good conscious sell that cake so I decided to go to the grocery store, get cake mix and pans to re-do the cake.

I left at 6 a.m. the next morning and planned on being at the bakery for maybe an hour. Frosting the cake was somewhat troublesome since the layers weren't quite even but I managed to make it look a lot better than last night's fiasco. The cake was for a piano recital so I decided to make it musical. Well the black was like glue; or too thick; or I don't know and I had the darndest time trying to write with that pastry bag. I kept squeezing and squeezing trying to get an even black line to come out. There was black frosting everywhere! I ended up looking like little black Sambo. Finally I decided if I fooled with it anymore it would be overkill and moved on to the "flowers"; or you could say my impression of the flora. I was at least satisfied with my efforts and yesterday's pile of crumbs is a distant memory.

I enjoy decorating cakes and as I do more and more of them I'm learning a few tricks to success.

Lady in Waiting

It's funny, I've been waiting for the divorce to be final so I could move on with my life. Although I have this niggling feeling that I could walk away with nothing except giving Ken some of his own medicine. I couldn't rely on him when we were married so what makes me think I can start now?

I don't exactly know how I'll do it but I will. I am very grateful for all the help I've received throughout this process. I would have had a hard time doing it on my own so it's great to have such a wonderful support system.

Starving Artist to Frustrated Writer

To look at me you wouldn't think I had missed many meals. I am in the ranks of the millions of artists who think about making a living with their creativity. So, when the opportunity presented itself to join a mainly women's writing group, I jumped at the chance. Honing my "craft" is something I've tinkered with ever since grade school. Now I can put my money where my mouth pen is; get feedback from other writers; and maybe get something else published. Besides pictures of my bears I've had an editorial published in a local Wisconsin paper and edited two newsletters. I need to have up to ten pages ready for the group meeting on Monday night.

Backed Up

Since we were without Internet my blogs got a little backed up. What I'm about to say seems to negate what I said in the previous blog but while I'm having that experience it's good to be positive about it. Of course if you ask me after working 9+ hours I might have another opinion.

I am so grateful to be working at the bakery. I get to hear about people's lives and it's so interesting!

Today a little boy came in to get a chocolate filled donut because it was his 7th birthday. Later I was getting a bit frustrated with a man who seemed to take forever making his selection. I mean it's pastry not fine wine! After talking to him I discovered he had worked all night at Fed Ex and was on his way to a second job doing alterations for another eight hours. He was beading two dresses. He used to own his own tailor shop and hopes to leave Fed Ex at some point to re-open another one. By the careful way he picks out donuts I would say he's pretty good at tailoring and beading. So I felt a little bad about judging him so quickly. I would be moving just as slow if I had an hour's worth of sleep.

Lost in the Black Forest

Help! Where is my trail of crumbs to lead me out of the black forest?

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my job and love the people I work with. However, it has consumed my life. Case in point; e-mail has become a communication tool because I'm never home.

A filler job so that I could make a go of my bear business is now full time. I know I agreed to working more hours. Wouldn't less hours and more pay be more advantageous?

I feel kind of stuck because until I go back for my final hearing I need to have flexible hours so that I can take off for a week at a time. On the other hand, I'd like to take weeks off at a time to go visit friends; go on vacation; and/or bear shows.

I'd better start pounding the pavement.

House Whine--Again

I'm sure I've broached this subject before so that's why I put again. I was feeling depressed about the part of my life that is almost the past and needed something to uplift me. When I stopped at Barnes & Noble I saw a new book called Stop Whining, Start Living. That helped me to remember what accomplishments I've made in the last few months. Today it started again and I couldn't remember the name of the book so I looked it up on Amazon. Apparently there is more than one on the subject and with about the same title. That kind of company I don't want to be in.

So, I did a lot of stuff I shouldn't have; maybe could have taken deals offered. But what happened, happened. Get over it and keep living!

Beans

This is not a story on how many beans I've eaten in the last few months. Although I have eaten more beans lately than I ever have in my entire life. For me the taste and texture is rather abhorrent. But, somehow they're not tasting so bad. Maybe the rinsing has something to do with it or making them from scratch is the key. Don't get me wrong, I won't become a card carrying bean eater any time soon but I will be more open minded.

The gist of my story was the chili Matt made for dinner last night. It was particularly good; I think the best he's ever made. I did, however, have very weird dreams. I married my brother (where his wife was I don't know) and after the ceremony realized I was still not divorced and would be a bigamist. It didn't seem to matter to my brother because he was off motorcycling with a friend. I was then taken to a Thanksgiving feast where an aunt had been up all night cooking three turkeys without stuffing. Then a group of friends and I went walking through road construction (I think it was a neighborhood where I grew up in) to a Baskin-Robbins' like place to buy a bunch of cookies. Those are all the major details I can remember.

I think I would prefer that beans just be a musical fruit and not a hallucinogen.

One Letter Off

It's amazing how you can wake up one morning; feel great and look forward to the day. In fact, the day can go very well even though you didn't do everything you had planned. Then a letter from your attorney arrives (however innocuous) and your world goes into a downward spiral.

When is my old life going to be over? I'm doing a lot of things and trying not to feel like I'm in limbo but with court proceedings still hanging in the balance it's hard to secure a final future. At this moment (and hopefully for not much longer) I feel like it will never end. I know this is all stinkin' thinkin' but this is the way I feel right now.

Maybe I should blog later.

Daily

I was at a meeting of the Athens Art Association the other night and during the business meeting they were discussing their new website. A lot of linking is good for business. The web designer was describing some of the website's features. Blogging was one of them; she said a blog is what you do every day to let people know what you are doing. Yikes!! This blog I'm better at updating than my bear one. I just thought I was doing well because I post more often than some blogs I read who haven't posted since last year. I'd better get cracking.

One reason for not posting as often is the fact that I've been working 9+ hours a day at the bakery. Mostly it's a lot of fun but long. Sandy's out for a few days and before she left I thought I'd try writing on some cookies that were ordered. Well, fun turned into writing on 300 tiny cookies. It also turned into "you can write, if anybody needs a cake while I'm gone you can do it". Okay, I was willing to give it a go. Sandy makes it look pretty easy. I practiced on some waxed paper and it didn't look too bad. The cake was passable Then we got an order for another cake and I accepted. Still it needed some more practice but it turned out. Two more cakes but this time I didn't need to do any writing on them. I was on a roll. It was really fun.

Blogs are nice but grandchildren in your bed early in the morning is MUCH better so I'll post again soon.