"Share your Banket, Gampa."

Meandering and Fellow Artist Promos

I have been very busy lately with photography.  Very busy for me, you understand, is busy relative to the speed of a day with two children whose legs are at most half as long as yours...in other words, not terribly.  But it's kept my mind occupied, even when I'm not physically going.  Today, for the first time in a while, I decided to take a day off of editing and thinking about editing, photo shoots and thinking about photo shoots, designing and thinking about designing...and I'm finding it difficult to sit still.  I wander around thinking there's something to do, but have trouble directing my thoughts into and all the way through an activity.

I am meandering.

Is there a cure?

I wonder if this is a result of our society's emphasis on production = success...
I wonder if this is a result of my genetic similarity to Judith Bergen ...
I wonder if this is a result of not doing much photography for so long, and then so much all at once...
I wonder if I like being busy with photography...
I wonder if this meandering is my mind "detoxing" ...
I wonder if I shouldn't have given myself a break, but just kept pushing through until it was all done...
I wonder...is it good? is it bad? is it a sign of something else? am I thinking too much?

As part of this meandering journey, here is something I allowed myself to be distracted by for a large part of this afternoon: a woman with whom Dad and I attended a cheese workshop (my Dad, the lactose intolerant, attended a cheese workshop just for fun - that tells you a lot about him) a couple of years ago phoned me today to let me know she had painted a watercolor from a photo she took that day...here's the painting...isn't it lovely?!  Well, sure it's lovely.  But it's distracting is what it is.  Click on the photo to see Diana Persson's website and gallery.  She's a very talented painter!  Her talent has kept me from doing all kinds of things I should have done this afternoon...yes, I am passing the buck.  But since she will likely never see this blog, I imagine she won't mind.  And in the meantime I'll feel better about my indecisive activity.  Oho!  I have just linked you to Diana Persson's website, so now I'm doing artist promos on my website - I've never done that before - I'm being uber-productive! It's all in your perspective.  Let's ask Dad what he thinks:  Hm, it's a tough one.

This painting is called, "Thinking of Cheese".

I think my mind kinda looks like swiss today.

Bouquet For My Dad

Dear Dad,
         I can't be near you today, when I'd really like to be.  I know you don't need me as much as you need skilled surgeons.  And since that is who is with you instead of me, I am somewhat comforted.  Perhaps you would find my presence comforting; the way I would be comforted knowing you were just behind those Operating Room doors, instead of 2,000 miles away.  I am sorry I am not nearer.  All my thoughts are on you this afternoon and I can't sit still.  I keep calling Mom, Sarah, Melissa, Derek, on the phone.  Listening, waiting, talking, talking and saying nothing important, and waiting to hear the words I'd give anything to hear, which are, "All's well.  He's doing great."  You have been incredibly patient these last few weeks, and now it's our turn to carry on the waiting game.
         While we wait to hear those magic words, I took these photos in my yard.  It's a lovely time of year here.  You would like it.  It's like April in Shafter!  June in Winkler.  My largest tomato plant has set two fruits.  My strawberries are pushing out green fruit.  The lilacs are at their peak, wafting scent up through the kitchen window.  This is my first poppy.  The hawthorne is attracting lots of bees.  I have a tiny "Prairie Joy" rose bud (not pictured).  And daisies and lavender and flax and honeysuckle and chives and irises and lily of the valley and pansies and spinach, spinach galore!  This is my bouquet to you, Dad.  I hope it cheers you.  It has done it's work on this end: reminding me of color, brightness, giving me fresh hope, and getting me out of my house and into the warm growing places you helped and inspired me to make.
          I love you so much, Dad.  So much.  So.  Much.

                                              laura

photos at last

on the way home from the airport Luke tries on Grampa's assortment of hats.

the last rescued veggies were made into the most delicious turkey pot pie.  um - yum!

Like mother, like son.  When a mother goes around half-dressed and doesn't bother to do her hair, what can you expect from her precocious two-year old?

what are they making?  now that's a silly question.

Grampa and Luke go for walks to the park.

race cars need somewhere to crash...playdough!

sorry for the crazy eyes.  just had to wait too long for somebody to take the picture.

oh but you should see it.  it's a thing of beauty.  all cleaned up.  yucky old stuff that I never harvested tossed away - never to be seen or heard from again!  and tomorrow's task:  buy and plant the perfect apple tree (requirements: hardy, good for pies AND juice/cider, and preferably something that will grow several feet per year - we're in a hurry for apples).  All of this thanks to my Dad who claims, "I know nothing about gardening!...in Manitoba."