THE WAY I WORK

WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL,  GRADUATE SCHOOL,  ALL OF MY YEARS,  I REALIZED THAT I LEARNED DIFFERENTLY THEM MOST.   I HAVE A RIGHT BRAIN.  IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STUDY.   I MADE INTRICATE INDEX CARD CHEAT SHEETS.   DETAILED WITH DRAWN IMAGES WITH INFORMATION THAT I COULD RECALL DURING AN EXAM.   I HAVE TAUGHT SOME OF MY STUDENTS MY TECHNIQUES.  I KNOW.  IT HELPS ME WITH ART BUT MAKES ROTE MEMORY DIFFICULT.   WHEN I TOOK AN ART HISTORY EXAM DAYS,  ARTISTS NAMES,  PERIOD STYLES AND TRENDS WERE IMBEDDED IN THE PICTURES THEMSELVES.   I WONDER HOW MANY BRIGHT AND TALENTED PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE TESTS AND MOVE AHEAD ACADEMICALLY.  NOT EVERYONE LEARNS LINEARLY.   I THINK ART ORIENTED STUDENTS NEED A DIFFERENTLY.  I CAN SHOW YOU.

COUNTRY LIVING AND ME

WHEN I MOVED TO THE COUNTRY, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I COULD GET MY DREAMING WORLD BACK.   I HAVE BEEN DREAMING IN COLOR,  DREAMING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT I KNOW,  DREAMING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HEBREW PADDED ON,  IT'S WEIRD, I KNOW THAT I AM ON THE RIGHT PLACE.   I KNOW WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR ME,  BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.   I GUESS THAT IS A METAPHOR FOR LIFE IN GENERAL.   SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY IMMEDIATE NEEDS.   WISHING THAT I NEEDED ONLY THE MINIMUM TO SURVIVE,  BUT I HAVE BECOME A MAGNET FOR STUFF.  I NEED A PLACE TO GET RID OF THIS COOL STUFF.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

I MAKE ART BECAUSE THERE IS A LOOMING QUESTION IN MY MIND OF "WHAT IF".  WHAT IF I MIX THIS AND THAT?  WHAT IF THESE COLORS COEXIST?  WHAT IF THESE IDEAS LIVE TOGETHER?  WHEN YOU LOVE ART AND IT BECOMES SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH ALL CONFIGURATIONS OF ART, THE POSSIBILITY OF BEAUTY AND EVEN THE UGL,  ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MORE IDEAS THEN TIME LEFT ON EARTH.  I CAN'T WAIT TO FINISH THE HOUSE, MAKE IT TO A PLACE WHERE I CAN GO UPSTAIRS AND CREATE.   I LOVE THE FEELING WHEN I HAVE NO IDEA OF TIME.   EVERYONE IN THEIR LIFE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS FEELING.  IT'S AWESOME.   IT ELEVATES, IT MAKES ALL OF THE CRAPPY THINGS IN LIFE WORTH LIVING.

FINALLY BELONGING SOMEWHERE

THERE IS SOMETHING SO COMFORTING IN KNOWING WHERE YOU BELONG.  I BELONG HERE.   I KNOW IT,  I AM PREPARED TO BATTLE THE REST OF MY LIFE, KNOWING THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY BE BURIED SOMEWHERE ON THE PROPERTY.   IF I THANK MY LUCKY STARS...I KNOW THAT GOD IS AT MY BACK.  I HAVE OVERCOME A TERRIBLE HURT AND STOOD ON THE OTHER SIDE.  MY LIFE IS BECOMING WHAT I HAVE INVISIONED.  CLASSES, WEDDINGS, AND ART AND ANTIQUE SHOP ON THE SAME GROUNDS.  HOW GREAT IS THAT?

WELL, MOVING AND MOVING

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO SORT AND SORT, AND FIND THINGS AS YOU ARE SORTING, THINGS THAT WENT TOGETHER-NO LONGER ARE TOGETHER, NAILS, TOPS TO CANNISTERS, BOTTOMS IN ANOTHER BOX, ANOTHER ROOM, UP AND DOWN STAIRS.  THERE IS A FINE ART IN REORGANIZATION.   IT HAS TO DO WITH PURPOSE AND INTENT.   NEITHER OF WHICH I GOT GRACEFULLY.   IF I AM TO BELIEVE A RIGHT BRAINED PERSON CAN ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE ALL OF THE CONTENTS OF A HOARDERS HOME, THE DISCARD PILE QUITE SMALL,  I KEEP TRYING TO GET RID OF STUFF BUT I BET YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO REMOVE THE POSSIBILITY OF FINALLY GETTING INTO A SMALLER SIZE,  OR IS SUCH A COMMITMENT TO ACCEPT THAT, WELL, YES HOPE DOES NOT SPRING ETERNALLY.

SO MANY PROJECTS, SO LITTLE TIME

WELL, MY LIST KEEPS GROWING, I'M ACTUALLY ADDING THINGS, SO I CAN SCRIBBLE THEM OUT SO I CAN FEEL LIKE I'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.  ANYBODY ELSE DOING THAT?  IT SCREAMS OF OCD/ADHD...SCARY COMBINATION OF BOTH "ATTRIBUTES".  NICE.  IF I EVER BEGAN A PROJECT WITH A TIME FRAME, COST, AND ALL THE TOOLS I NEED...I'D CRAP.  IT SEEMS LIKE EACH PROJECT TAKES ON A NUANCE.   I BEGIN EACH DAY WITH HUGE EXPECTATIONS,  EACH DAY SPRINGING ETERNAL.  I NEED A SECRETARY, A PLUMBER, CARPENTER, PAINTER, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER, OH YEAH, THAT'S ME.  I'M THAT.

I HAVE SOME NEWS

I HAVE TAKEN SOME PICTURES OF THE "IN PROGRESS" HOMESTEAD, I THINK OF IT AS JOURNEYS END.  I LIKE TO THINK I WILL NEVER HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN.   I HAVE FOUND MY PIECE.   OF COURSE I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE SNAIL PAVE AT WHICH THINGS GET DONE BUT I THINK THAT IT'S PART OF MY LIFE LESSON WITH PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING.   IT IS MY WORST TRAIT.   AMONG OTHERS. WE'LL DISCUSS LATER...

SETTING UP SHOP

I WILL OFFER SOME RUSSIAN TEA , TO THE BRAVE SOULS  THAT VENTURE OUT...VENTURE, JOURNEY,  TRAYPSE, WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SEE DIFFERENT STUFF, THE CABIN WALLS HAVE CLOSED IN.  TIME TO EXPLORE.  WHATEVER NEED YOU MIGHT HAVE.  STUFF WISE,  I MIGHT HAVE IT AT ART & TIQUES IN DOWNTOWN EXETER, NH.  I'VE BEEN DIGGING THROUGH STUFF AND I AM AMAZED AT WHAT I HAVE FOUND.

GETTING SETTLED

WHEN I TRY TO THINK ABOUT HOW FAR I'VE COME IN A MONTH IT MAKES ME REALIZE ALL THAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED.  IF I LOOK AROUND A ROOM,  I SEE PROJECTS GALORE.  I TRY TO KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE ABOUT HAVING UNFINISHED PROJECTS, I THINK OWNING A THREE HUNDRED (ALMOST) YEAR OLD HOUSE WILL TEACH YOU PATIENCE...NOT A QUALITY THAT I OWN.
IT'S FUNNY HOW LIFE TEACHES YOU THE LESSONS THAT YOU MOST WISH TO AVOID. 

WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING

I'VE GOT LOTS OF CIGAR BOXES TO MAKE DIORAMAS OR TO HOLD YOUR SEWING NOTIONS.  THEY'LL COME IN GANDY IN YOUR REORGANIZATION PROJECTS FOR THE NEW YEAR.  I HAVE MADE AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLAGE WALL OUT OF THEM, THEY ARE LIKE A THREE DIMENSIONAL CANVAS...

DRAFTY FARMHOUSES

THERE IS TRUTH TO THE NOTION OF A DRAFTY FARMHOUSE.   THERE IT IS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TEMP DIPS BELOW O°.  I HAVEN'T OPENED THE SHOP IN A FEW DAYS, AND ARE IN THE THROES OF NOR"EASTER, THE LIKES OF WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER.   I'M GRATEFUL THAT I WASN'T MOVING THIS WEEK.  SOMETIMES I THINK THAT IT'S A TEST.  I GUESS ALL OF LIFE IS A TEST.  A TERRIFYING TEST.  ARE WE ALL GIVEN THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED?  I WONDER.   I CAN'T WAIT TO SET UP V MY STUDIO AND MAKE ART.  I HAVE BEEN SEEING UP THE HOME.   IT IS A LESSON IN ORGANIZATION, THE LONG,  LONG, LESSON.   I CAN'T SEEM TO STAY ON TRACK,   I HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM THING TO THING,  NEVER FINISHING ANYTHING.   IT MUST BE A METAPHOR.   THE TIME THAT I WASTED TRYING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN HAS BEEN FILLED WITH LEARNING-I GUESS.   AGAIN, THOSE LESSONS...