Thar she blows

So we're out on the North Atlantic at Jeffrey's Ledge on my field trip today. Above are some seagulls that followed us in, and below, here's the head of a whale (finback) and

here's one of the many exhales that give that famous spray

and here's one with part of the second whale shown and the dorsal fin of another whale in front of it

Way cool day. Feel bad for the couple of kids who spent their time seasick, but basically it was a gorgeous day, cool but not too rough. Did get cold on the way in when we had total overcast, buut we were 20 miles out off the coast of New Hampshire, past the Isles of Shoals...very cool, very fun and loved being out for the day!!!

Busy

Too busy for art yesterday evening and again tonight. I could have done art tonight-but it was between that and trying to finish the Lost Symbol. Reading did win out, but I'm feeling a desperate need to make art. Tomorrow-definately-- or at least I hope they'll be time. I'm in one of those weeks at work where I'm out straight and its too busy for me...always something to do and things keep popping up-trying to keep track of it all is exhausting. But, hopefully, things will slow down a bit, they always do once you get past the peak...anyhow, here's the daily dose of art- not todays, or yesterdays- got to take some photos of my Halloween book to show you.

ART?

A few mosaics I made with an antique Celtic feel.

Figured it was time to post some art since I keep posting other items, and since the main point of this blog is to post art...well you get what I mean.

Tonight's been very busy-as my whole day has been-non-stop GO-GO-GO. I want to finish the Lost Symbol,,,I have around 100 pages left, but I'm worried once I read I'll fall asleep because although I'm not tired, its been one of those days that when you relax, you collaspe.

But back to work-another busy week in the docket coming up, for me, for all of us here at home. Dave's off to a conference mid-week- Katie has her homecoming game and dance the first part of the weekend- we have Mom's party and I have to make a poster with old photos of her-hopefully tomorrow night since Thursday night is my open house at school so late night for me...should I add all the other details or do you get the point? BUSY? Yes. Oh, whale watch field trip Wednesday I can't wait! Hopefully then will have some great photos to post.

All kinds of things

My Mom, her engagement photo-circa 1956 (I believe). Getting ready for my Mom's birthday party next Sunday- she'll be 80 in October and even though we are celebrating a bit early- SHHHHHH!- its a surprise. I know she doesn't read my blog (or so I hope she hasn't discovered it and gets wind of her celebration) because I can tell you how devious and sneaky I've had to be to get names from her and to get her to this party since she's been invited to her neighbors 90th birthday open house on the same day-and surprise-she actually wants to go to this open house. Won't she be surprised when we go out to lunch and it isn't just lunch.
So raining this morning- not that I love rain but something is great about rainy Sundays. No rush morning, putter about, this morning having some rich hot coco from Trader Joe's. Can't wait to work in my studio today since yesterday I did the usual morning cleaning (plus cleaned the hot tub so it'll be good to go all winter when its hard to clean) and ran errands in the afternoon. Also tonight starts the new season of the Amaing Race which I love and want to record the new PBS series on the National Parks because I love National Parks as you can probably tell from my summer trip blog entries. Also made some yummy chicken soup yesterday in between everything else, and its the perfect day to have it for lunch. YUMMY. Now if only Sunday could be longer than just Sunday-so I could play even longer and not have to go to work tomorrow and get through another very busy week.
CIAO!

Turning

Its starting to look like fall. Some trees are getting color-splashes that spread through the tree turning it all, but not yet. Some leaves are falling, pumpkins are out, cornstalks are out, just not the Halloween things yet. They'll be out soon though-its almost October. The gardens look tired, slightly brown and the greens are very dark and heavy, tired. Its not full bloom fall color everywhere yet, but that's coming, isn't it? The next 3-4 weeks will be color and then that is gone, a good rain brings it all down, and we are in bare, except for the grass, pre-winter mode. Raking time.

Ah, fall-I love fall very much-but its so fleeting-you got to catch it while you can. Just the way summer was this year. Here in northern New England you can really feel the link to supersition and the spooky...all the woods, the old colonial homes, all the small family cemetaries here and there, the cobwebs everywhere. Oo, just spooky.

I need photos

I need to go take some new photos. But in the meantime, until I do, here's a few older ones for you to enjoy. Of course, since its fall, they have to be of apples. Who doesn't love crisp juicy fall apples?

Decided today I need to go take a bunch of new photos. Little mini trips. I got this thought after reading some archives on a blog from England, and this lucky woman seemed to make a lot of mini trips. Today I walked around downtown Portsmouth as Katie was getting her senior pictures done and saw all these things that needed to be shot by me. I live in such a great place and I need to snap. Time to go out with camera I guess. Put it on my list, this weekend, photo time. (and this week is going fast so it will be the weekend soon!)

Now and then

Here's my daughter Katie and my husband Dave when we were in CA last summer. This isn't the best photo of Katie, but still not bad. This is when we were on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.

And here's one of the photos of Katie I pulled out last night to send into the yearbook. She was so cute...can't believe she was that little once... this little blue car was originally mine, though my mom insisted on keeping it and she'll tell you it was my brother's, anyhow, not going there and complaining about my mother. Its interesting to see how she's not only grown but how her face has changed in all those years. I'm guessing here she's maybe 3, maybe 4. Maybe even 5, not exactly sure and I'd have to go back to the album to get an exact number.
In a month this little cutie will be 18-18!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it. We're in spirit week this week at school and Thursday is 50 years from now day-making me 99-99!!!!!!!!!!!! That seems so old to me but being 49 probably seems so old to the kids at school. Looking at this photo of Katie makes me feel like I'm getting older too. Not terribly aweful mind you...but its a thought. I must say, lately I've found this great peace with myself...guess its being old and maybe having reached the point where it doesn't matter what other people think so much...Anyhow, how did this turn to me when this post was about my beautiful daughter?
Hey-by the way- it is now officially autumn-as of 5:18 this afternoon. (And guess what-its really humid...go figure)

Right now...10 things

1- I am into work right now, enjoying my intern, enjoying my classes. As long as I don't have to work too many hours outside of school grading papers-ugh-that is 1 thing I don't like about teaching. Funny how you go through the ups and downs of work.
2- I am feeling like Katie is moving away-though it is gradual- she's a senior in high school now and I miss my little girl.
3-I am feeling broke with SAT sign ups, senior photos, doing the yearbook ad, my mom's 80th birthday party coming up, etc. I think I need a second job.
4- This fall weather is good for drinking chai and sleep. I am sleeping a lot lately.
5-Though I have to get up at the aweful 5 a.m. I hate getting up that early.
6- I have been back into cooking lately, not a lot, not all the time, but its a pleasure to pull out recipes and make somethign yummy.
7-I am into reading a lot right now and wish I had more hours in a day to do some art- Halloween is my theme right now. I do some, but wish I had time to do a lot.
8-I'm not feeling very adventurous right now. I'm very happy to stay home and enjoy some domestic time.
9-This weekend I want to make chicken soup with some alphabet pasta I bought last week at Trader Joe's.
10-I realize I'm not a very exciting person right now, but that's ok. I'm content and that's whats matter.

Its Fair Time

Yesterday was crisp and breezy, so typical fall, and we went to the Rochester Fair. Not the best aggie fair on the planet, but we had fun and its close to home. Love looking at the animals and of course eating some fried dough, sausage subs....grease-city. Haven't been to a fair for a few years, and going during the day made a big difference-at night there's some "interesting" folks at that fair. But it was a lot of fun.

Today we've been hanging low, did some Halloween stamping, watched some of the Pats game, read some of Dan Brown's the Lost Symbol, now we're watching a recording of the race at Louden. I was tired today...needed a real lazy down day...and needed to get myself out of my exhaustion from getting back into the work mode. That's what weekends are for, having some fun, resting, playing, getting a few chores done....and it almost Monday and back to work for another week-wow where do weekends go?

Another weekend rolls around

Its that time of the year-fall is about here- and the days are cooler and the nights are GREAT for sleeping-crisp and chilly but not really cold. Here's a shot taken last fall when I went apple picking.
First five day week- am so glad its the weekend. Last night was Katie's open house so it was a later night before I got home- and tonight I went and picked up some B Line stamps I special ordered at Ink About It down near Lowell, MA, and then I stopped in Nashua to run errands- and now I'm home and beat! But love my stamps! so the trip was worth it. Listening to the wind blowing-its really chilly here. The leaves are starting to get a bit of color and a few have even fallen- still a few weeks before we get to peak leaf season, but hard to believe we're here already-wonder what the date for the fall equinox is?

Brain dead

OK, so its not a bad day, and after school I meet Katie at TJ MAxx's for a quick sh0p and then we go to Panera for dinner and when I get home its like 6 and I want to pick up my kitchen and make a cup of red zinger tea and relax, read some more of the Lost Symbol- Dan Brown's new book which came yesterday from Amazon and just look at the internet a bit and there's Katie...who threw this assignment at me during dinner that she needs to write 3 first sentences for college essays as part of her English homework, and then she tell me I'm being no help as I try to get ideas to tell her but I'm not writing her first sentence...and I give her some ideas but it is her homework, isn't it? Hate when you're the bad guy when you're trying to be helpful but not do it for them. Teenagers. GRRRRR. Give me a break, I know she has a cold but I'm also tired as we trudge through our first 5 day school week. Right?
Thanks for listening and letting me unload.

YAWN

I am tired. Typical MOnday night work night. Want to finish up the last 50 pages of Dead as a Doornail but not so sure I have it in me. Did scrap a couple of great pages after dinner tonight, but need to get back into my night schedule after working all day. Plus, when it gets dark, which seems earlier and earlier...or at least house falls into shadow.

So Dave is off to the Pats game, his first, and he's sooooo excited. Lucky him-one of those things you wake up not expecting and then it happens. Spontaneous. got to love it.

Grrrrr

This computer has some software issues, meaning the internet keeps jamming. Am trying to check out a stamp catalogue and after about 10 attempts and its not opening...grrrr...I had it up and open and accidently clicked it closed...am so tired of not working though.

Otherwise, it was a good weekend, not exciting, did 3 main things- relax (read, scrap a bit, walk), start to clean up some of the clutter around the house, and get my chores done. No dinenrs out, no movies, nothing special but still, it was a great weekend and I didn't really feel I needed to do anything wild. Busy week up ahead, so another reason to relax this weekend. Sometimes weekends get so busy they feel just like the work week. But not mine, and I'm good with that!

Loving this digital artwork

More digital Paris. What a fun thing to do while chilling in front of the tv at night-and I've done so many pieces just since I figured this out last weekend.

So its Friday night- home alone. Katie's been in and out-she's off to the football game right now, and Dave had to head out of town again today and he's on the road coming home. But productive night-although not exciting-did the laundry and a few other chores, but feel good that got so many of those little chores done. Now I'm going to make some art and finish watching last night's Project Runway. Oh did I mention I'm reading Dead as a Doornail-book 5 of the Sookie series. So far- its great. Glad I discovered that series. Just glad its the weekend and I can sleep tomorrow- I am definately not liking the 5 a.m. wake up calls-though once I'm up its not so bad.

Blessed

Some days you realize how lucky you are. Its something small, not something big-that even that usually brings on this knowledge and this realization. You say, my life has been good to me, really, and what I think I need is not what I need. Had a moment like that today, when a woman in the dentist's waiting room (as I waited for Katie) got talking about her breast cancer and then pulled off what I thought was her gorgeous red hair to show how bald she was from chemo. And she was waiting while her daughter- many years younger than Katie, was getting her teeth cleaned. That reminded me of how lucky I am, how good my life has been and hopefully will continue to be. And when you discover this (whether its your first discovery or your millionth) it gives you this sense of being able to just stand tall and do for others and forget about yourself a bit. All because you have been blessed when you might have felt a little bit over looked or forgotten or not really as lucky as you realize you are.

Arrival

No, not an arrival at Versailles as in this other piece of digital art I am working on shows, but the arrival of autumn. Maybe not the equinox (not vernal, what do you call the one for fall?), but still how much the light has changed. Its just after 5:30 and the house is so dark. The shadows are so long. The mornings are darker too, until after 6, and the night cool-if not cold. Warm days follow, and then cool again. There's a nip is in the air-as people say. How long it took for us to get sumemr this year and how fast its gone or waning.

More of MY Virtual Art

Got to love these and so much fun to make. These are photos from my CA trip and some old photos I have.

Otherwise, must say I feel in a strange place today. Always happens when I wake up from a very real weird dream-weird places, twists and disasters. Things seem to affect me more, and though I had a good day, talking to my brother is enough topush me slightly over the edge-not that he's a bad guy, but he and I are sooooooo different. Plus have to get these invites out for mom's 80th surprise party, and called her cousin I don't really know and he was a bit confused, scray but really more sad, kind of added to the weird feeling. So, its a weird kind of karma day. But I hope, tomorrow will be better and my weird karma will be gone, gone, gone.

OK, been playing a lot off and on today with Photoshop Elements and made a bunch of cool photo collages using a picture I snapped in Paris last Feb. Here's 2. Also made some clay tiles today so did a lot of playing. Finished reading my Barbara Pym novel and Dave and I went out for pizza for dinner. Great relaxing day-but cool today, only in the 60's.

Will post more another day, but wanted to share these masterpieces with you.

So just found this list on a blog: My year in Paris, and I love lists so I have to come back and add it. Anyhow, let me update this to my eating habits as an omnivore.

) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.2) Bold all the items you've eaten.3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk%20linking%20to%20your%20results./

The VGT Omnivore's Hundred:
1. Venison-yup

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros-yum, love them

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile-does alligator count because I've had that as Disney World years ago

6. Black pudding -kind of scares me because I know why its black-not a biggie here in the US

7. Cheese fondue-yum

8. Carp

9. Borscht-not a favorite but have had it

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari-good when its fried

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich-a favorite still

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart-yes-and they are the best

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes-have had blueberry and I think apple at one time

19. Steamed pork buns-yummy

20. Pistachio ice cream-oh yes!!!!!

21. Heirloom tomatoes-maybe not heirloom-but garden fresh are sooo yummy

22. Fresh wild berries-lots of blueberries and respberries and blackberries-favs!

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans-oh yes, a great meal especially in Louisana

25. Brawn, or head cheese-would rather not

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper-I'd like to keep my mouth intact

27. Dulce de leche-I think so, if I'm thinking of a carmel cream tpe of dessert-baked I believe

28. Oysters-fry them up and I LOVE THEM

29. Baklava-oh yes

30. Bagna cauda (Can't believe I haven't had this; I love garlic!)

31. Wasabi peas-wasabi is a bit hot for me but have tried them

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl-hey I live in New England home of the best chowder-you don't need te bread bowl- just some great chowder

33. Salted lassi (I've had mango lassi.)

34. Sauerkraut-on a hot dog

35. Root beer float (It's funny how root beer is so culturally specific. For example, I've never met a Japanese person who likes it!)-don't like root beer at all

36. Cognac with a fat cigar

37. Clotted cream tea

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O-I'm not giving that away

39. Gumbo-oh yes, go to New Orleans for this

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects (I would try one, but they would have to be cooked.)-does a mosquito/blackfly that flies in your mouth work?

43. Phaal

44. Goat's milk-in cheese

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more -well, not that pricey

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala-I think so-not sure though

48. Eel-would rather not

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut-not as good as I would have guessed

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal-too many in my life, time to give up Big Macs

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV-maybe

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips-not as good as chocolate

61. S'mores-who hasn't?

62. Sweetbreads -something else I know what it is and its not sugar and not bread either

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs' legs -no but not sure they sound appealing

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake-oh yes, New Orleans for the Beignets and churros on many Costco trips

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini-I have

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill-there was cafe called the roadkill cafe in Laconia years ago only it wasn't really roadkill-I want t believe

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie-ok, why? As a kid they tasted great

78. Snail -but I've had their cousin conch

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict-yes I have

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant-I honestly don't know as I've never checked

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash-yes

88. Flowers-as a garnish

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam-it was a staple in my mother's cooking vocabulary

92. Soft shell crab-maybe as I've eaten crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish-yes

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox-oh yes

97. Lobster Thermidor-just give me a plain old lobster anyday

98. Polenta-yes

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee-don't drink coffee

100. Snake-not if I could help it
some of these I wouldn't even try-sorry list maker, and some of these I'm not sure what they are to be honest with you. And ignore the underlining, not sure who added it but was in the blog I copied it from and I don't have a way to get rid of it.

How about you? What would you eat?

Random 2

So playing with photoshop elements tonight and did my first digital pages- only 2 problems-1-I keep hitting the wrong button and this poopy computer keeps losing what I'm starting (they're not too exciting yet) and -2- I need some digital tools other than what comes with photoshop but they cost cash, and though not a lot, I need to get paid again for some cash-that's because I shopped again-today! That's good but also bad now that I am out of cash til payday. Anyhow- love learning how to do this digital thing- not too hard-now I can scrap and watch tv- yahoo!

Above, a few more random photos. Perhaps next post I'll have a digital scrap page for you.

Random

For those of you traveling over the long weekend, here's some random travel images from places here there and everywhere. I'm hanging low, and loving it. Today was a great lake day-read half of the Darwin Lincoln book that arrived from Amazon-Angel and Ages! Amalso reading No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym (like time 5 or 6 but I bet its been 20 years since my last read). Anyhow, just some photos to enjoy-can you guess where each is from?

Weekend has arrived

So week one has gone by and my school year is going really well so far. I will say getting up and going in the morning has been tough-but its amazing how quickly old habits return. Tonight I came home to an empty house since Dave is still in western MA and Katie is off with Brian. Just me and the critters. Took a nap, which I really needed and made this awesome pasta for dinner from a recipe I found in the Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook. It had apricots, garlic and this wine sauce (just wine with olive oil reduced over heat). YUMMY. After some scrapbooking am watching some pre-recorded Ghost Hunters until Project Runway and Katie gets home. I don't really have big plans this weekend but I don't mind because I want to recharge, enjoy some sun that we're suppose to have-before you know it beach days will be over-maybe 1 more weekend and then chances are it won't be really beach weather-could be warm but Septmber evenings get cool-even today, when it was in the 80's, by 5:30 I needed a sweatshirt. Anyhow-can't upload photos for some reason, blogger isn't letting it work...that's it!

Being back and being self critical

above-A really old card from the files!
Ok, first, let me whine though don't take me to be ungrateful. (its just the adjustment of being a working gal from being a summer stay home and vacation gal). I had to get up and go to work this morning. I didn't mind getting up or the going to work, but I missed my lazy eezing into the morning and my walk. But otherwise, the kids are back today- had a good day-a bit exhausted from the new year readjustment but it took me 25 years to get over being nervous because I wasn't nervous this morning.
OK, second thing though this time you shouldn't just shrug and say I'm being silly. I've fallen into an art hyper self-critical stage. I look at my work and say "Boy is that bad." Really bad. Why am I doing art? I know, or I think I know, lots of people pass through this, and it shall pass for me too, I hope. Maybe I'm just tired from getting up in the morning. Maybe I feel a bit like I want to be a full time artist-employed, instead of being a teacher-still-though I love my job, I lvoe doing art more. Maybe, I'm just all over whining. maybe what I think I want isn't what I really want and I'm putting pressure on myself for NO reason. I don't know what is causing it though.
Maybe I should just finish my awesome book, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson because I'm in a reading mood and that will get me out this whining I'm doing on this post.