The Third Act

the sun came out today...

...and it's been glorious.

 

 

April

Where did March go?  It seems it was the month...that wasn't.  A lot happened...and because a lot happened, a lot didn't happen.  We're all in limbo, but we're all together (alone) in this.

I'm grateful for my garden and my art.  I'm grateful for the internet and all the ways available to communicate.  

There was a gentle rain throughout last evening.  This morning it's cool, but the sun will be breaking through at some point.  The garden received a lovely watering.  There's more to do, of course, but it's coming together and I can see the momentum of growth in all the plant beings.

I put a pack of Instax black and white film into the camera.  I have to say, I'm very pleased with this film.  Yeah, it costs twice as much as the color, but will be worth it for specific work (I think...although I can't say exactly what that is right now).  

 

 

 

enjoying the view

It turned cold and rainy this afternoon.  When I went to get the mail, I felt chilled for the first time in a few days.  Fortunately, the garden got more attention before the rain started to fall.  Looking out my upstairs windows, the colors of the blossoming trees were popping.  A nice little lift to a dreary evening.

 

 

 

The backyard...

...it doesn't get quite the attention the front does.  But someday, it too will be something more than it is now...or shall I say, its true self will be revealed.  Nature is quite willing to be an accomplice to creating magic.

 

 

Sunday in the garden

It warmed up to the mid eighties today.  That's a lot warmer than normal for this time of year.  It felt really good, though, to be in the sunshine and warmth, to have my hands in the dirt.  I got a lot done in the four hours I was outside.  Little by little the garden is waking up.

This morning I picked a good bunch of greens...kale and mustard.  They're cooked up now with onion, mushroom, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and will be placed in (on top of?) puff pastry, along with crumbled feta and baked.  That will be dinner...along with a salad.

I feel longing for my old life these days.  Even though I'm introverted by nature and am used to spending lots of time alone, the self isolation that's come to be with the pandemic is making me weirdly homesick.  I feel home and grounded, mind you, but I miss partnership and the company of family quite keenly.  Making these photos reminds me of all the Polaroids I have from life in California...and I hold the appreciation, the longing and ultimately the acceptance for what is now, in my heart.

 

 

 

 

Saturday afternoon

Avery and I are taking a little rest after working in the garden today.  And what a delightful day it's been!

 

 

Friday

It was a super lovely evening...

 

 

It's time for an update...

The garden is building some momentum.  And what a joy to be out there making discoveries!

 

 

 

 

 

 

another rainy day

I really can't complain.  The rain has been moderate, but winds calm, no severe storms and we need the moisture.  But the grayness on top of these days of isolation is getting to me a bit.  I'll be okay, but just by virtue of observation I know I'm feeling...melancholy.  I'm missing my family and living in partnership...and I'm trending nostalgic.  As long as I'm aware of what's going on, that's okay.  The feelings will process, the sun will shine again (making it easier to get out in the garden to work and absorb those beneficial UV rays) and, some time down the road, this current crisis will have moved on. 

 

 

drawing

After completing my daily drawing project from 2019, I returned to photo/blog post dailies.  This past weekend, however, I finally pulled out the brush pen Julian gave me last Christmas and started playing with it.  I don't set out to draw something in the sense that I have a preconceived notion of the image.  Instead, I start with a shape that pleases me...that somehow feels physically good to make...and let the drawing go from there.  Sure, the designs are kind of weird, but I actually like that.  Some times when I'm done I go back to see what's there, how the shapes come together to remind me of...something.