It's My Birthday!

(My sister and me in our authentic Geisha Gear brought home from Japan by my grandparents.)
Today is my 33rd birthday. I'm spending it so far babysitting my newphew, Brady, while my twin sister goes to the doctor. (It's her birthday, too!) I stayed up all night working on a painting, and plan to do more work on it tonight, as well. I don't know what my night has in store otherwise, yet, but I'd like to do some sort of celebrating! I am going to have dinner with my sister, my nephew, and my brother-in-law in a bit. I think it will be Lebanese. MMMMMMM. Happy Birthday to me!

Get it While You Can!

I just put this new painting for sale on ETSY!

It Never Snows In Baton Rouge! But Yesterday, It Did! WEEEEEEEEEE!

Another Great Poem In The Name Of Worms...

Song Of The Worms
By: Margaret Atwood

We have been underground too long,
we have done our work,
we are many and one,
we remember when we were human

We have lived among roots and stones,
we have sung but no on has listened,
we come into the open air
at night only to love

which disgusts the soles of boots,
their leather strict religion.

We know what a boot looks like
when seen from underneath,
we know the philosophy of boots,
their metaphysic of kicks and ladders.
We are afraid of boots
but contemptuous of the foot that needs them.

Soon we will invade like weeds,
everywhere but slowly;
the captive plants will rebel
with us, fences will topple,
brick walls ripple and fall,

there will be no more boots.
Meanwhile we eat dirt
and sleep; we are waiting
under your feet.
When we say Attack
you will hear nothing
at first.

A Few More New Pieces

Back Again

Today I am giving thanks for that little warm feeling in my brain that I feel when I wake from hibernation. I often go through little phases of taking in, and then production. But it's been quite a while since I've "produced" anything of note. I have been very focused on work and also in a bit of a funk in the other areas of my life. So I'm quite grateful to whatever it was that sparked that little fire in my imagination to burn a little brighter lately. :)

Feeling Good...

So, clearly I've been in a funk, which is evident by my lack of art creation and blog posting, etc. However, for the past few days I've been feeling it in me more and more. I started playing around in my moleskin and made some little doodles. Nothing to really jump up and down about, but at least something in me is beginning to stir. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the fact that my computer works again, or maybe I do this every year and it's in my nature to hibernate sometimes. Whatever the reason, it feels good to awaken my senses, stretch my doodling fingers and create something...anything. So here's a little sample. Like I said, it's nothing fancy...

It's Been A While...

So I guess I lied when I said I'd be posting over the summer. I got distracted with summer fun, and also had no internet availability. So now school has started. I'm at my new school in Donaldsonville, and I'm loving it! It is quite different from where I have taught in the past. For one thing, I'm now teaching art to 5th and 6th graders. I used to teach 3rd grade: math, science, social studies, and art. This is quite different. It's also a much different population at my new school. The school is sort of what you'd call an inner city school, except that most of the town doesn't really lie within the "city" but, rather, surrounded by sugarcane fields. These kids have never taken art classes before, so as far as what they know and can do at this point, it's comparable to what my 3rd graders were able to do. It's an amazing opportunity to get to bring the arts into their lives, though. I love it so much. Even the ones that are "trouble makers" are slowly warming up to it and realizing that they don't have to act up in order to have fun in my class. So far, the most challenging part of it is when I try to get them to write about art, because I suppose they see it as "work" but I have high expectations for them and I know they'll eventually come around if I don't give up on them.
Meanwhile, my life is going well outside of school, too. I haven't been creating much art lately, but I am feeling the inspiration creeping in and I know I'm about to start making some new things. I've always sort of gone through waxing and waning periods of production with my artwork. So I'm about to "wax on" as Mr. Miyagi might say. Stay tuned for upcoming developments.

Update...

As you may have noticed, I haven't been posting daily, as I had previously been doing. This is because I'm winding down the school year with my third graders and packing up my class to move to Donaldsonville for next year. It's been very busy as you could probably imagine, so please don't think I have abandoned my blog. I promise to begin posting more regularly probably by Saturday, when I will officially be on summer vacation! Don't forget about me! I'm still here, loving my blog and my few, but faithful readers!
In the meantime, here are some pictures of what we've been up to in class. My kids sure do love me!

Donaldsonville

Last weekend, I went to Donaldsonville to check out the town I will be working in next school year. (Remember my promotion?)
These first two are of the ride over the Sunshine Bridge, which I will ride across every day next year. I know the plants are not typically something you like to see, but sometimes I think they are like Emerald City or something. My way of ignoring the problem, I suppose.


Once across the bridge, Maria needed to take care of some business at the bottom of the levy. Can you see her? She looks so tiny!

Here we are! The enterance to Donaldsonville! Did you know that for a year it was Lousisana's temporary capital? From 1930-1931.

I tried to go to the Houmus House, a lovely plantation, to see their beautiful gardens, but it cost $20 per person to go on a tour and I was broke, so I had to peak through the gate to steal a few pictures!

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1...

I officially have 9 work days of school left before I'm out for summer! I am so ready because the weather has been wonderful outside! It's been sunny and warm and It makes me want to swim, soak up some rays, go outside and play, ride my bike, go out into nature, walk the dogs, work in the garden, paint, read, or just close my eyes and turn my face up towards the sky, just to feel the breeze and sunshine!

Oh, please let 8 days go by quickly and without too much trouble out of my anxious little angels!

Maneki Neko

I taught the legend of Maneki Neko to my students and they created Maneki Neko collages, which I think came out really great! Here are some of my favorites:










For those of you who don't know the legend, here it is...
This is the legend of the Maneki Neko:
In the 17th century, there was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. The temple's priest was very poor, but he shared what little food he had with his pet cat, Tama.
One day, a wealthy and important man was caught in a storm while hunting and he took refuge under a big tree near the temple. While he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling that he left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual cat. At that moment, the tree was struck by lighting.
As a result, the wealthy man became friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The priest and his cat never went hungry again.
When Tama died he was buried in the Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love, and the Maneki Neko was made in honor of him. A Maneki Neko in your place of business, your home or on your website is said to bring in good luck and visitors.
Maneki Neko is Japanese for "beckoning cat." The message he's holding says "Please come in. You are welcome!" and he is beckoning you with his paw . (In Japan, the gesture of beckoning is pretty much the reverse of the gesture used in the West.)

Am I Blue?

This past weekend was one of many ups and downs. It's funny how no matter how hard to try to have a good time sometimes, the universe has other plans.
First, I went to the art car parade, which was really exciting. I have pictures on my camera at home and will post those soon. But, while there, I ran into my past, creating many feelings I didn't expect to feel on such a beautiful day. I managed to keep my chin up somehow. Sunday my boyfriend, and our dogs went on a picnic. That was great. I have pictures from that as well, but there was just a tugging at us from the previous day, that made tension follow us wherever we went. Try as we might, it finally caught up with us and the day ended in sad feelings. Today is better though, and hopefully it will remain that way for a little while. Ghosts are hard to confront sometimes, but I guess it's a necessary part of life.
On a happier note, here are some cute pics of the babies.

Hedgehogs!

One of my students brought his new hedgehogs to school yesterday!!! I tore my hands up trying to get some good pictures for you guys, but it was worth it. They are adorable, but not very cuddly! Ouch! Plus, they make really weird hissing noises that almost sound like a rattlesnake. This was the first time I ever got to see them in real life. They were so strange! I always imagined they would be cuddly, but how can you cuddle with a ball of toothpicks?