Looking back at 2009

I wanted to capture the year in pics... but of course that would be an impossible project... So here are some that bring back happy memories for me.

Hydroharvestfarms.com

If you are in the Tampa Bay, FL area... now is a great time to pick strawberries. And if you don't want to pick them... you can just go there and buy them.... prepicked.

1101 Shell Point Rd E
Ruskin, FL 33570
813.645-6574

Today we did... what has become a Zee family tradition... picked strawberries during winter break. Then I made jam. I only made four batches of jam so it seems to me that we should of picked more... We'll see how long these batches last. The problem is Ted... he'll wipe out a whole jar in one setting... slathering it on his toast as a special feast. Can I complain? No, of course not. It's my duty to make the jam and his to eat it. It's so much better then even the best jams you can buy at the store. But perhaps I am partial. Yes, I think I am.

I'm exhausted. Just want to chill... not have to worry about mail art or art or kids or messy sticky kitchen floor... Now, who stepped on grapes and just left them? Wasn't me. Yeah, yeah... that's what they all say. Sticky mess... Jam making is almost totally cleaned up.... just a few lids to put away... for next time. And all the empty jars that the kids were using as drinking glasses are all filled up again with the red concoction. (you know after they were washed and boiled)

Secret Admission #3

Secret admission #3

I like rich, chocolately, Ovaltine with lowfat milk.

The Ovaltine man is ok. I'm not too hip on him.

Just give me the chocolate powder and leave the man out of this.

this morning's tsuff.

sewing on printed silk.
mail art, photo montage...
It's not done yet...
phase one.
And will eventually mail it out.
To one lucky recipient.

Did you know that people get annoyed with receiving my mail art?
Yes, it's true.
My mail art is a burden.
I have to find new addresses.
New people to bother.

What am I saying? I have more addresses than I can fulfil.

60 degrees warm enough to go to the beach...

sun warmed my back.
crumbcakes ran barefoot.
mini watercolor fantasy
bikini vs. sweater, cap and scarf, jeans, socks, tennis shoes... all meant to keep that heat in.
We landed on the moon...
You come too?
desert before dinner.
Mom, Aunt, Artist, Maid.
Today all.
Beaming day.
And my scarf smells like beach.

mail art heading out...

I just
I just don't
I just don't know what to say anymore.

Lost in a sea of stamps and chores

Dark curtain is closing
I don't want to go back there.
I want to save myself
Misery's hand is so warm
Like fresh blood from a wound

This pressure on my heart
that forces tears
Takes my affectation

And leaves
nothing.

Blue skies are coming and I know that it's hard.

December 23, 2009

First of all I want to say thank you to my four fans. You mean so much to me... my faithful and loyal readers. I'm saying that tongue-in-cheek. I am still writing this as my dear diary. So if you read it pretend like you are, in fact, reading my diary... so you should probably be a little embarrassed and never bring up what you read here...


Today in the car, my Moo moo and I were heading to the local grocery store... The "Point" was playing on the radio... it's the station that plays the best of 80s, 90s and today... It happens to be Crumbcake #1's favorite radio station. Today's daily dose of memory was Guns and Roses, "Every Rose Has it's Thorn." That song takes me right back to high school. And to that girl. She sat behind me in History class. She cheated off of my quizzes... on a weekly basis. She was the prettiest girl in the school and a cheerleader. She was nice enough. I always felt bad when she cheated off of me because history is not my strong point. One Monday I came to school and the grief counselors were present. There was a car accident and she wasn't wearing her seat belt. And how fast a young life can come to a grinding, crashing hault. It was a convertible car and her body flew out on impact. Gory, gory details that don't need repeating. The whole memory of her... brought back with a song. The school had a memorial service... and that song was played. The things you don't think about... until the trigger brings you right back.

Xtra whipped cream please...

When you are down and out just remember that Abalcabal loves you.
Ha!

I have a secret admission to make... Last night we watched "The Rocker" with Rainn WIlson... and I really liked it. I hope you don't think less of me now. Maybe I just need some comic relief.
Last week was difficult but I"m certain that this week will be better.
I sold the Green Goddess painting... my green portrait of Lulu. I think it's at the bottom of this blog. If you scroll down, down some more.... ok... there! Ted will be working again all week away from home... this has become my new life. And we are all adjusting to it. We are becoming a well-oiled machine without Ted around... on schedule... He was home today and took the kids with him to the grocery store.... since I kinda get tired of grocery shopping--I was so thankful that he went. I did make a list though. While they were gone... I went by and visited my friend Hugo Porcaro... he is an outsider artist who is just awesome! He wanted to trade one of his paintings for one of mine! I love trading--the barter! So we traded and I have a cat tea party hanging in my living room... painted on a glass window! I really wanted to buy a really nice piece of watercolor paper but that place isn't open on Sundays... I did get some fimo clay for the kids.. cause they do wonderful things with it... especially Ben and I have two weeks with crumbcakes!

I stopped by a yardsale today... secret admission #2 I LOVE YARDSALES. A while back the cakes wanted to buy a little Shilling accordion. I think it was $20-$30. And I thought it was cute but said, "No." Well today I found an almost brand new one for $3. The teenage girl was happy to get the three dollars and the cakes are having a grand time playing it. Everything I want I can find at a yardsale. It's just a year or two later then when I first wanted it... *chuckles to her self...* I think the exception is shoes. Still, I believe that God supplies my every need and if I really needed a pair of shoes I think they would come to me... one way or another.

Well... two new crumbcakes are playing in my yard... a two year old and a four year old. That is outrageous... who lets there two and four year olds play in a stranger's yard down the street?? But in this neighborhood... I have aquired extra kids for many, many a year... especially in the spring when I pass out citrus and in the summer when I hand out cookies and popsicles... Ok... gotta go watch wee ones... cause someone has got to be responsible.

Truth

Sometimes I could just cry
But that is what you would be expecting a
mom of three crumbcakes to do
you'd expect her to fall apart
Art was never meant for mothers...
Maybe not even for women
It's a boys club
You can cry about it
Or you can just keep trying
Your one hope is that history:
the collective group think tank
will recognize how much you did
how much you accomplished
How you opened your soul and poured out your heart
At that time... the dermestid beetles
will be devouring my bones.

Artpool Gallery and the ABC 123 show!

Here is my latest work that is at the Artpool gallery. Check them out here--www.artpoolrules.com

PHOTOS BY MARINA WILLIAMS!

Visual Aids benefit art show

Here is my piece sent off to the big Apple!

My latest pursuits... Arthouse Sketchbook Project 2009

the Spiral

My world has been turned upside down...
life and art as I have known it...
may be a lot different in the future...
it feels like drowning right now.
Like I am breathing water and pretending to be a fish.
Cough it out and try it again.
Prepare the resume.
My head is pounding.
I could of almost tasted my dream.
Burned on the stove, oven, fireplace, bonfire, too close to the sun.
Hot molten lava slipping down my spine.
Stand up straight, never mind the wreckage.

December 11, 2009

Two of my doll are pictured in an article about Sarah E. Condon and her Eclipse Gallery. See the article HERENot the dolls posted above... kind of confusing I know... keep reading...


I've been a busy girl lately... Come see me tomorrow night at the Artpool gallery! I'm looking forward to seeing Geri X too. This will be her farewell concert as she is moving north!! She is playing at the State Theater this Saturday night... one of my favorite grundgy places... especially the balcony...

One more week of school and then the kids will have a two week break! What to do?? I have exciting news... the picture above is a hint. :-)

I won't bore you with the details of my life... but I'm still chugging along.

Artpool Gallery and the ABC 123 show!

For anyone interested I have small paintings, jewelry, zines and this and that at the Artpool gallery in St. Petersburg, FL. Also this weekend starts a new show... ABC 123. I'll have three pieces in that show! Come Saturday night to the opening!!