Peach Coglo

As Life Flows

So as we sit, life flows and churns.  In our household, we are in the midst of birthday season, prepping for Spring concerts and ballets, lots of celebrating, running about, and sighs over life's daily demands.  It's a pretty day, flowing along like any other and then the violence happens-again.  So we sit, think, pray, cry and wonder-again.  The webs of the world are so closely knit, whether we always remember it or not.   Our hearts, hopes and minds are with families, friends and strangers in Boston.

near Copley . . . .

 

Eastertide and Patience

Spring is slowly showing itself around here.  I have heard a lot of frustration with the weather lately.  I am not a hot weather person, so I am having no problem with the weather lately.  However, the weather is providing a good, even if it's unwanted, lesson in patience.  In watching the world around these parts wake up slowly, I am reminded to slow down and appreciate the here and now.  I am trying to apply this to other aspects of my life, where I am much, much less patient-not enough time for this not enough time for that, yet another meeting or another phone call from the school nurse.   I also might need some of you to remind me of this post, when I have had it up to here with blisteringly hot weather. 

As we spring into a season of busyness, I am going to remind myself to try my best to patient and if I don't succeed to try again.  I can't remember who said it, but I love this quote, "Shift your attitude and watch your day shift."   So as I am fighting a cold which almost feels like bronchitis, and head off to the first of three conferences today, I am going to shift my attitude, and remember the beauty and fun of the Easter holiday spent at my mom's house.  Two of these beautiful things included a bowl of Easter candy corn and a mom-made martini.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

 

 

Thinking of Summer and Fall

It's 29 degrees outside and the ground is still covered with snow from the blizzard.  It looks like we might be in for some more snow this weekend.  Nonetheless, I am thinking of summer, fall and two shows I need to populate with some art-a summer show and Hartford Open Studio Weekend-trying to get some art ideas and plans together.  For the first time, I am actually planning and making way ahead of time.  Usually due to child care, Greg's work schedule and life, I don't get started until mid to late summer-not cool, so not cool. 

Having a space of my own and the youngest going to preschool for 2 hours, four days per week helps-tremendously.   The difference is unbelievable.  I get some time to recover from the barrage of words and movement from such a full family life.  Being an introvert, I could always use more time and thinking space, but for now I will be grateful for what I can get, etch out more time where I can, and meet myself where I am.

I read this recently and had to "pin" it.  It's so true and a very nice reminder for when I slide off track or when I am feeling overwhelmed and behind (whatever  or wherever behind is).

So in the spirit of preparation and putting art at the core of my life, I am presently working on some Harry Potter inspired concepts for Open Studio, along with some other ideas.  I am thinking a lot about symbols and myth lately.  We'll see how it turns out.

So what are you creating time for in your life?

The Aetna Show-Part One

January and February have been very full and exciting months.  Due to the generosity of The Aetna, Cynthia, and Artists in Real Time, I hung my first solo art show!  Squee!  Cynthia, the marvelous coordinator of Hartford's Open Studio Weekend, invited me to exhibit at The Aetna's gallery.  I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity!   It is a splendid thing that The Aetna provides such an amazing opportunity for artists to exhibit their work.  

My work will remain at The Aetna for the entire month of February.  At the end of the show, I'll attend a "meet and greet" where I'll be talking to folks about my art and fun things in general.  It's always fun to meet people and learn about their interests.  So far gallery visitors have enjoyed the show so it will be great to talk to them in person.

I better get back to my work, but I wanted to share some of the completed pieces that are being exhibited right now.

 

Hulled

 

Seconds

The Workday Begins

and finally Plimoth Kitchen

 

Have a great weekend.  I hope it is filled with lots of relaxation and time to create !

What to Do? What to Do?

Joining Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along . . . .

A few days before Christmas, I trotted my crazy self over to the LYS for a tutorial on knitting ruffled scarves.  It was a fun 45 minutes and I found some beautiful soft Rowan yarn.  The only problem is I have yet to knit said scarf.  It's a fairly simple process if you remember it.  So it's back to my notes and YouTube to see if I can jog my memory.  If I can figure it out, this scarf will be faaabulous dahling!

I am also taking a minute or two to read Making Color Sing, a Christmas gift from my hubs.  It looks a like a pretty interesting watercolor book.  I am working on some pieces for a show in the Summer and already thinking of things for Open Studio in November.  It should be fun to experiment a bit.

 What are you making and reading?

When Surrounded by Snow

What should you do when you are surrounded (finally) by snow?  Play, of course.  We were snowed in and couldn't get to our favorite sledding hill, so Greg improvised-brilliantly.  He made a snow track in our backyard.  We have gobs of snow, so it was quite doable.  I thank his strong back.  Luckily he had a great time constructing the race track.  So despite the streets being packed with three feet of snow, the kids were able to sled downhill and with a curve to boot.

I am so thankful for this snow and that we did not lose power.  In these recent years, it has begun to feel less and less like winter.  Thank you Mother Nature for a nice wallop.

I love the blues in the snow.  Winter is one of my favorite seasons.  There are so many beautiful colors to see if a body only takes a moment to really look.

Have a  wonderful week my friends.

Snow Cray

Oy!  I think we had a bit of snow.    At first things were nice and gentle - cute little snowflakes but then,

You see that golden blur? That's snow and wind.   It wasn't so cute at that point.  Luckily, we didn't lose power.  We have a warm house and some food, even though the kids drank one gallon and a half of milk on Friday.  Perhaps today we can get some more, but cars are banned from the roads.

My pilates class was canceled as was Helena's ballet and girl scout field trip.  No word on Elijah's violin lesson.  It's nice to be able to stay in and not have to go anywhere.  So we are hunkering down with tea, making stew, bread and sweet potato pie.  I think it's kind of a sweet potato pie weekend don't you?

 

The leaf is about an inch off the ground.  At this point Greg had only shoveled a bit.  In the end, the pile was about 8 feet high.  There is a two foot bush under there somewhere.

There was about a four foot drift on our garage roof.

"Ergmergerd!  Enough already!"  Poor Doran.

Somebody was cold.

It's going to be 2 degrees tonight.  We're thinking of those without homes or heat and hoping everyone will be warm and safe.  There's so much to catch up on; I'll be back at this space soon.

<3 Ang

Happy New Year!

It's Wednesday.  I can't believe that we have already arrived at the second Yarn Along of the year-wow!  If this is a measure of the weeks to come, then this year will blast by just like 2012.  Joining Ginny and friends today . . . .

 After weeks and weeks, which turned into months, I finally finished that cray Azkaban scarf for Elijah at 1:30am on Christmas Eve.  At that point, I was simply attaching the fringe.  It was simple yet tedious because I had cast on so many stitches.  Most importantly, though, Elijah loved loved loved the scarf!  Yay!  It was such a simple and enjoyable pattern that even after swearing off, I will be making another-this time for Poppa Bill, but shorter and narrower-lesson learned.

Elijah wore the scarf all during the holidays and would wear it to school if I would let him.  I have too many memories of left-behind backpacks, homework, boots and backpacks to be that brave yet.  So he wears it on weekends and when he deems appropriate drapes it over his snowmen.

As for reading, I am in the midst of several books (something I swore off of doing but find I have to adjust that promise to the reality of my life).  First I am skimming through Organized Simplicity as well as Simple Country Wisdom.  Both of these books are helping me "firm up"  a workable routine for home stuff and work stuff.  I also referred to Heather's awesome housekeeping routine to provide a shape for my days, weeks and months.  Things have worked out well so far and life feels a bit more manageable.  Things are by no means perfect but they do run more smoothly.  I don't know if it's my attitude, my desperation or readiness, but I think I have found a flexible approach to dealing with all the work of tending to a home while tending to myself and others.

As for a novel, I am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  I had no idea the water in Tuscon was in the state it is in.  It's a scary, but great read so far.

What are you reading and making?

 

Nutcracker Reprieve

The past few days have been trying to say the least.  There are simply no words that truly suffice.  I know all of you are holding your loved ones more tightly.  So many feelings, from sadness to confusion and yes I must admit disgust and anger.  Then I remember what Fred Rogers (what a genius) said-something he learned from his mother.  Look for "the helpers".  So whenever I start to get that hopeless and powerless feeling, I remind myself of the helpers.  Helpers like you.  I am reminded that we can all be helpers in our own way.

If you or your child is looking for a way to contribute and support Newtown, there is a group called Hearts to Newtown.  You can find it here.  Also I read a suggestion of Twenty (or more) Promises.  You can sit down with your children and think of twenty acts of kindness that you and your children can do throughout the year.  They can be super small things like thank the person who bagged your groceries or share popcorn (without complaint) with a little brother and sister.  These are two ways to get involved and spread the love.

One thing I was grateful for during all of this madness was Helena's Nutcracker performance.  It was a hard balance-dealing with what unfolded and trying to provide a routine for my children.  The Nutcracker saved us in a way.  Being with other loving people, bringing joy to other human beings through art and music.  It was a salve for our souls and broken hearts.  It was heartwarming to see how the professional dancers heaped attention and love on our little ones.  The smiles on our children's faces were a reprieve from all the sadness and reminded everyone that we are here to take care of each other, especially our smallest and most vulnerable.

 

 

 

 

 Love to you all,

 Ang

Officially Cray

It's Wednesday and time for Yarn Along with Ginny.

So okay this Azkaban scarf is officially longer than my very tall three year old.  It's about 44 and 1/2 inches long and I am still.not.done.  Help me.

Despite the drama, I am enjoying knitting it because it's easy and it's Harry Potter related and my son will love it (if I ever finish).  However, despite knitting during Nutcracker rehearsals, ballet classes, late at night and some during the day, this cray cray scarf takes a loooonnng time to lengthen.  

That being said I haven't been reading too much due to this scarf.  When I have had a moment (usually when Elijah is around and awake) I have been reading Home Comforts (this book makes so much sense; perhaps I am relating to the author's lawyer brain), and A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote.  I read this with the kids.  I enjoy Capote's writing so much and it's cool to watch the kiddos enjoy it too.  He had such a way with language.  

Given the state of Elijah's gift, the calendar, and the fact that I have some "to-do" tasks gnawing at the back of my head, I gotta bounce.  Hopefully by this time next week, I'll be putting on the fringes.

What are you making and reading this week?