Christmas Day

This Christmas was one of the lovliest,liveliest, and most enjoyable I have had in many years. It certainly was the very best of both of my worlds. Christmas Eve with my parents, cooking with my beloved mother and the reminiscing of past holidays. Just to be in her company is pleasure enough. Visiting with friends of my parents that still come to see them even though they are well into their 80's. Christmas day was loud, and rowdy with the nephews there along with their significant others, my sweet daughter who brought the most elegant and tasty raspberry and white chocolate trifle for our dessert, my sister and myself. It was the first time in many years we could all be together for the holiday. Lana brought many lobsters and stuffed shrimp for dinner and we savored every morsel. After cleaning up and sharing dessert we all left for other destinations and gatherings. I had been invited to share Christmas dinner with David and Cheri at David's home along with Sydney, Richard and Elizabeth. I was just under the gun for arrival due to fog on Route 9 which slowed me down, but managed to arrive fashionably(ha ha) late to a lovely blue martini, and my wonderful Eastport family all gathered together for a lovely meal, good conversation, and as usual many laughs.

Dinner was served by our attentive host and hostess, each course delightful in color, texture and flavor. The menu was pumpkin soup, garlic mashed potatoes, finnan haddie, and tomato aspic. Dinner was served with sparkling wine. Dessert, was Cheri's (crust to die for) deep dish apple pie decorated with fall leaves (baked as part of the pie crust), coffee and cointreau.

The meal was unrushed, delicious, and enjoyed by all. Kudos to our host and hostess for the caring and effort put into this lovely meal. Happy Holidays

Isabella-Maria

THE PHOTO

Another Photo of the Beach Area

Forgot to download this other photo of the beach area I wote about in my previous blog. Enjoy

I am absolutely amazed at the speed of time! The past two weeks have passed by so quickly I can hardly believe that the first of the Holidays is upon us, and that soon a New Year will begin again. I just became accusotmed to writing 2005.
I knew that this week would be a bust as far as getting anything constructive done. This was COMPUTER week, and what a week it was. Every day for the past three days I have been at the computer, on the phone, etc, for a minimum of 3-4 hours each day trying to get everything taken care of within the computer, so it has been conversations with techies all over the world to try and fix my computer. Everyone has been very nice and helpful, but it certainly has taken time away from the things that I like to do. I guess the bottom line is, I have viruses. We restored all today, but Sunday I will be on line installing the antivirus software and working with the Dell techies to correct all that is wrong, hopefully for the last time.

We did manage to get in a little bit of an "art day" this week, albeit a day early, and no light to work from as we lost the electricty for about four hours. However we managed to do some work until it was dark, and candle light was necessary, but certainly not enough light to work from. The candlelight, however, provided a nice ambiance, so Sydney, Cheri and I enjoyed our wine, snacks, and conversation by the forgiving light of the candle. The wind was howling, and the afternoon was delightful.

Earlier this week, I went for a lovely walk with Patti and our dogs. This time I brought the camera and got a few photographs of the walk. At the end of the road is a beautiful little beach. It was high tide this time, last week it was low, and I picked up a few shells. I did find a nice piece of driftwood that I will probably use in my "bird sanctuary" garden. After our walk we rode around the area. Patti is so nice to show me these different places.

We were driving slowly, and I couldn't believe my eyes. I pulled over to the side of the road(Patti thought I was going to let a vehicle pass). When I showed her why I pulled over, she was as delighted as I was. Sitting on a STOP sign was gorgeous, large owl, who kindle turned his head around to look at us with the huge eyes. What a thrill. God, I love this place. I so feel like I really BELONG. This area is everything that I hold dear, woods, water, wildlife, wind and rain, fog,boats, and I think some of the most wonderful, intelligent, diverse people I have ever met. I am so thankful for it all (even the troublesome computer).

Walks and Fabrics

THE REMAINING 'OVERLOOK' PICTURES

I am hoping the last of the "Overlook" photos uploaded. It was such a glorious day that Sunday when I took them, they just need to be shared

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

This has certainly been one of the most industrious weeks that I have had in a long time. I had definitive plans for the week,and it seems as it always has, that if I plan the following day, and set goals, I seem to meet them.
Monday, I wanted to do some painting as I wasn't real happy with the comp0sition of my still life,so worked on that for awhile in the morning. Did laundry, and have my work clothes ready for the Other Life. Tuesday was a great day. I cleaned the whole house, and had one heck of a hot fire going in the wood stove, nearly heated my self right out of the house. I just love it when the house is put together and neat, all vacuumed and dusted, floors swept, and it smells so good..

I had made a wonderfully tasting chicken stew with rosemary dumplings on Monday, so I didn't have to cook at all. It really hit the spot as it was a bit cold and windy this week. Anyway, not having to cook anymore for the week left my time wide open, so I was able to ball up some of the sari silk yarn that I had ordered from California about two years ago. It is just beautiful, and I plan to make a VERY COLORFUL scarf from it. I need to keep my hands busy in the evening so thought knitting would be a little relaxing.

Today is art day, so will be painting this afternoon. I'm hoping Patti comes with her spinning wheel. I certainly enj0y all the folks that come, and I love the idea of everyone doing something different. I am thinking about making homemade pizza for everyone today. I have some ripe tomatoes so thought I would make a fresh tomato,basil, kalamata olive and two cheese pizza for after the work session.

Next week, I won't have all the cleaning to do, so I will be able to do more painting. I also want to do another lamp and lampshade.

I also put away all my summer clothes and brought out the turtlenecks, sweaters, and comfy and soft lounge pants. My bedrooms are all ready for winter, I just need to get a new blanket for my room, and I am going to check out the curtain shop for some sheer curtains of the living room.

It sure feels good to get all this "stuff" done.

I took Sierra (my sweet Golden Retriever) for her walk up to the "Overlook" . I have added more pictures of this unbelievable view.

Here I am at my other Life

Hello faithful readers, here I am at my other life. Actually it's been a relatively good weekend, very busy, but lots of fun with the wonderful group of women with whom I work. Looking forward, of course, to my return to my real life. I'm excited about my plan to paint in the mornings, walk the dog, and do what needs to be done in the house for the restof the day(I like to call it puttering). So I am off now to do my work, so that I may have my real life.

Getting Back onto Blogspot

It's just so hard. Seems as though I get kicked off Blogger all the time. Anyway, after some frustration this morning I managed to get back on and here I am with photos. The two landscape photos got reversed. Sunday I was gratefully here in Eastport, and took the dog for a little hike up to the Overlook at Shackford Head State Park. It was an extraordinarily beautiful day, andI was glad that I brought my camera. I took 6 photos and will publish those as well in hopefully the correct (left to right order). It has been a busy couple of weeks for me. I am still in the nesting mode, and spent last week making ribbon curtains for the upstairs guestroom, little cafe' curtains for my bedroom made from a lovely candlewicking material, and a pair of very long curtains to disguise bare wallboard and framing. The color is luscious,"Paprika", and will cover a piece of furniture with it when the carpenter work is completed. I am now thinking of having some curtains in the living room, at least for the winter. Emma made a good point about the black rectangles at night. Will need to think about what I would like to have, and more importantly what I can afford.

The Gallery meeting went well on Tuesday evening, and the Policy Nazis did very well, as all was agreed upon with only a couple of addendums. Food was delicious as usual, and casual conversation rounded out the evening.

Art Day was fun as well as fruitful. It is truly a wonderful afternoon. Folks working on their art of the moment, drawing, spinning, knitting, and of course the painters. Lisa worked on a fall stilllife that was just beautiful, and our Cheri worked hard on a portrait, I began a new stilllife, and am still unsure whether or not I will continue with it. I have another idea for the same subject matter, but will probably finish this one before I do the other one.

Weatherwise this week was unbelievable, lovely warm days, and cool nights. Love having the woodstove going it is so cozy and snug. I have so bonded with this little house and surrounding property. It really just dawned on me last week,IT'S REALLY MINE. There are times, believe me, that I still can't believe it, but here I am, and don't plan to leave, anytime soon.

I'm back to the 'Other Life" today, but I'm certain that I will enjoy the ride down Rt. 9. It is always a pretty drive, if you like the woods, and I do. The scenery is breathtaking from atop the hills. Hopefully the next three days won't be too taxing, as I really want to get into my painting next week, and throughout the winter for that matter. I really need to take time in the morning, three to four hours, just to do that to keep my hand and eyes skillful. The more I paint, the more comfortable I become with my paint, and my ideas.

I will publish this Blog, then I will also post the other photos of Shackford Overlook.

NESTING

What is it about the fall season, I ask, that one must rearrange, move the heaviest, bulkiest pieces of furniture only to find oneself and her furniture in compromising positions???? It must be the NESTING SYNDROME.

While I was away in my other life, I was thinking about what tasks I would accomplish this week in my REAL life. I became very excitied about bringing in more of my furniture from the garage and rearranging everything so the house is comfy-cozy and inviting for the fall and long winter that will be rearing its head in a short time.

Sooooo, I decided that I would move the loveseat to the big room and bring the full-sized goose down sofa into the living room. Afterall, the television and one of the wood stoves is there, and I am bored with laying on the floor watching tv (actually I watch little tv, mostly movies from Netflix),not to mention the fact that it's getting harder to get up off the floor.

Moving the loveseat was a snap. Easily got it through the door between the living room, through the kitchen, down over two stairs, across the floor, then down three steps to the big room, no problem.

Next was to move the big goose down sofa(from this point on to be known as the BGDS) up over three steps, across the floor, up 2 steps, across the kitchen and between two cabinet sections and through the doorway into the living room. No big deal, right? WRONG

First of all this sofa weighs about 10x's the weight of the love seat. It is old and VERY WELL MADE, but managed to get the thing into the kitchen. I then decided it needed to go in at an angle (as all good movers know), so I flipped the sofa onto it's seat edge and began my quest of moving my piece of comfort into the living room. Three hours later I have managed to wedge the thing between the two cabinet sections, and it is so heavy that I am unable to lift it up and over the protruding counter top to move it any further. So, now the BGDS is not only tightly wedged, between the living room and the kitchen, but one of the rounded arms of the BGDS is also tightly pushed up against the drawers of the cabinet, and in one of those drawers lurks my blood pressure medication, that I cannot get to, and I didn't realize that until I was headed off to bed about 6 hours later.

So, when I realized that I wasn't going to be able to do this myself, I called Tony, the magician moving man, and God bless him, he arrived the next morning (Tuesday) to unwedge me,and he and his brother-in-law managed to get it unwedged, moved it through the kitchen and brought it in through the other door, but had to lift it up and over the wood stove. And I quickly took my medications.

Since I had the luxury of two strong bodies, I also had them move the china closet up onto the mezzanine area, so now the buffett, and the china closet are together as they should be. I then spent the rest of the day moving in the oak book case, my handpainted chest (which went upstairs for storing fabric, etc), and I think I brought something else in, but can't think of what is was. Anyway, finally got the place together. All in the name of nesting...

NESTING

What is it about the fall season, I ask, that one must rearrange, move the heaviest, bulkiest pieces of furniture only to find oneself and her furniture in compromising positions???? It must be the NESTING SYNDROME.

While I was away in my other life, I was thinking about what tasks I would accomplish this week in my REAL life. I became very excitied about bringing in more of my furniture from the garage and rearranging everything so the house is comfy-cozy and inviting for the fall and long winter that will be rearing its head in a short time.

Sooooo, I decided that I would move the loveseat to the big room and bring the full-sized goose down sofa into the living room. Afterall, the television and one of the wood stoves is there, and I am bored with laying on the floor watching tv (actually I watch little tv, mostly movies from Netflix),not to mention the fact that it's getting harder to get up off the floor.

Moving the loveseat was a snap. Easily got it through the door between the living room, through the kitchen, down over two stairs, across the floor, then down three steps to the big room, no problem.

Next was to move the big goose down sofa(from this point on to be known as the BGDS) up over three steps, across the floor, up 2 steps, across the kitchen and between two cabinet sections and through the doorway into the living room. No big deal, right? WRONG

First of all this sofa weighs about 10x's the weight of the love seat. It is old and VERY WELL MADE, but managed to get the thing into the kitchen. I then decided it needed to go in at an angle (as all good movers know), so I flipped the sofa onto it's seat edge and began my quest of moving my piece of comfort into the living room. Three hours later I have managed to wedge the thing between the two cabinet sections, and it is so heavy that I am unable to lift it up and over the protruding counter top to move it any further. So, now the BGDS is not only tightly wedged, between the living room and the kitchen, but one of the rounded arms of the BGDS is also tightly pushed up against the drawers of the cabinet, and in one of those drawers lurks my blood pressure medication, that I cannot get to, and I didn't realize that until I wa

ART DAY AND GALLERY MEETING

Wednesday was a busy day, and had a difficult time getting started, but once I did it certainly went roaring along. Mowed the lawn,AGAIN, thinking once more this should be the last time. Somehow I doubt that as the weather has been moist and warm. Rain is predicted for the weekend, so I am certain I will once again have a field to mow. God bless horse manure.

Art afternoon was quiet, just David and I for the first hour or so, then Cheri arrived, andI was pleased she was there. Somehow it just isn't the same when she isn't. Must be her artist and guru genes. I worked on the stilllife for the kitchen that I saw in a catalog. I'll be glad when it's done. I love the colors, and shapes, and know it will fit right in with my kitchen, but I know I will feel better about doing my own work. I'm taking my camera everywhere I go now. Need to get ready for this winters work including the theme shows for the gallery as well as exploring and experimenting with my paintings. Sometimes I feel so uptight about trying new directions. Sometimes I really miss Mike and school. It wasn't so hard then.

I thought the gallery meeting went well, and much was accomplished in a short amount of time.
Cheri will be our new Gallery President, and quite frankly I can't imagine anyone else in that position. I know she will do a good job. I put myself on the policy committee along with Patty Music, June, and Cheri. I feel comfortable doing that (after all what is nursing all about?/plus I love the business end of it),and hopefully I will be able to learn more about the workings of the gallery, and most importantly , for me, it makes me feel more a part of the gallery.

After everyone left(I kept looking at the clock) I watched LOST and went to bed to start a new book. I was relieved not to be reading the "KITE RUNNER". My God, what a powerful book. A beautifully written book, brutal and savage, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, but nevertheless timely and real. It certainly had an effect on me, and a book not soon forgotten.

So, Thursday's chores are done, plants watered and brought in as cold evenings and nights are in the forecast, cat boxes at the ready, backpack and work bag packed, lunches for the next three days ready to go into the cooler. All I need to do is get gas, go to David's, go to the Gallery and th IGA to pick up cat food for the next three days and then I'm off to the "OTHER LIFE".

Books and Dreams

Another chapter in D0wneast Living. Quiet week so far. Getting ready for my wood delivery, all 4 cords of it which will need to be stacked . Cleaned the garage to make room for it all. Took me a couple of days,but finished pushing, lugging, and throwing "stuff" yesterday. and now there is room for the new wood and my Jeep. As a result of my physical work, I collapsed late in the afternoon and slept like an infant. Got up, fixed a wonderful oven roasted mushroom soup, spoke with my daughter, then off to bed at 9.

Finished reading the "KITE RUNNER" prior to going to sleep. I understand now why people wept, and were unable to turn pages to continue on with the book. As for me it conjured up vivid dreams that left me breathless, uneasy, and sad. My grandmother, who passed away nearly 23 years ago was very previlant in the dream, and after all this time I am missing her in a way I don't quite understand. Childbirth, a cousin, massage therapy for the masseuse, and unfamiliar territory that seemed familiar all blended together leaving me distanced from myself as I rose to consciousness.

Thinking that doing my normal morning routine( letting the animals out to relieve themselves, having my morning coffee, and reading the newspaper) would ground me ,only drove me further
into despair,turmoil and rage. Every article my eyes fell upon seemed only to reflect the book I finished last evening. Three young teenagers killing a beloved 15 year old cat belonging to neighbors, multiple articles on sexual abuse by men in their fifties to young teenage girls one of which was under the age of 12 when the abuse occured. Grown men sexually abusing young boys. What in hell is wrong with their psyches. What is wrong with this world.

I don't understand this predatory behavior, and the devestation it causes the young victims,who have to live with this throughout their lives. I imagine their lives are totally altered due to the sick, selfish behavior of one person. Interestingly enough it appears that males are the rule and not the exception, and ,I ask, what should the punishment be?

Preying on innocent young girls or young women, killing or maiming trusting, loving family pets
seems to be happening more and more, leaving me distressed and saddened by the callousness of the human species.

Isabella

NEW BLOG

To my faithful/unfaithful readers, I now have a new Blog. I couldn' wait any longer to find out what happen with my new password, so I created a new Blog. Very Similar to the other one. It is now titled DOWNEAST LIVING,PEOPLE AND PAINT. Isabella-Maria will keep blogging along now. The other address is now "judith'spoint.blogspot.com.

Have no time now to continue with the weeks events, as I must get ready to go the THE OTHER LIFE a few miles from here. But.,"I'LL BE BACK'

Isabella