flowering and blossoming

Dear Adele,

I hope the summer is being kind to you.

My garden is flowering and blossoming, and I'd like to share some of the flowers with you:

Stargazer lilies with my shadow; first morning glory of the season (on a plant that re-seeded itself), Rose of Sharon, and Day lily.  Even though pictures don't have scent or texture (yet), I hope you can feel the joy of these blooms.  

Much love, Ellen

Hi Adele
  Thinking of you and hoping that summer has offered some inspiration and comfort. I've been spending lots of time up in Kincardine on Lake Huron. I know you have enjoyed time in the county with the beauty of the Sandbanks and the vistas on Lake Ontario. Kincardine has similar vistas and I  never tire of the big sky and vast landscape and of course the gorgeous sunsets! Each evening is a new canvas painted with light and colour.
  Though the water level is high this year and the beach narrow, the children still manage to find ways to build their empires out of sand on the beach. I love watching their immersion and deep engagement as they create stories in worlds of their choosing that they have built. Watching them, I am reminded of the fine work of students and artist educators through all the various programs offered through LTTA and elsewhere. I am so grateful for the encouragement and inspiration you provided over the years. I've attached a sunset photo from Kincardine. I'll select some others as well of birds and gardens that you might enjoy and send them along.
 lots of hugs and love
Julia Pal

Hi Adele, I have been thinking of you a lot and am finally posting on this amazing site.

You are in my thoughts as I teach, so I thought to send you some of my students work.

These images are from Garrison Art Centre, the art school Susan Blersh runs from her home. Every summer I teach a week of classes centred around puppets, and Dash always comes as my assistant. This year the art inspiration was Douglas Copeland, found-object art , sculpture, puppets and painting. We had a great time , frankly the kids out did Douglas.

Hope summer is treating you well. Love Leslie

Sunset at Lake of Bays

Hi Adele,
We have the pleasure of being up at our old family cabin on Lake of Bays for a few weeks.
The time with Leslie, Myrna and Dash in the forest with the woodland creatures is rejuvenating and grounding. 
The free time for making art and napping is very welcome. 
The little creatures come for visits and to eat nuts. 
The sunsets are spectacular. 
Last night the the wind settled somewhat and the sky lit up yellow and tangerine. I did a time lapse video of the clouds while making a little watercolour. The colours shifted every few seconds and it was challenging to do justice to the amazing display with paint.
click here to see a sunset at Lake of Bays

I hope that your summer health journey is going well.

I look forward to seeing you in TO later this month.

hugs,

John

Hi Adele

You may have noticed a few more folks than usual in Consecon yesterday... That's because it was Consecon Day! First thing in the morning I scouted the community-wide yard sales and scooped 3 pots, a toaster and a salad spinner for only $5.50! (Stocking up for my apartment) Then I retreated to yard work for the rest of the day but returned to the street dance after dark. It was really nice to see the street closed out front of the Legion, people dancing to a live band that played quite a range of tunes; Elvis, Neil Diamond, CCR, Pink Floyd, Green Day and more that I didn't recognize. This shot doesn't capture the full moon rising above the musicians but it shows the captivating shadow on the masonic lodge.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Love and good wishes, Martha

Creative Roof Repairs

Hi Adele,

This blog is about sharing creativity with you. Sometimes creativity comes in forms that we wouldn't consider artistic, but a creative approach is used none the less. Having an old and declining house causes me to use the right side of my brain to solve challenges frequently. I would like to think that I used a creative approach to my recent roof repairs. Our old and wobbly house has some ancient trim outside that has needed replacing for a long time. Since the weathered and rotting wood is at the very peak of the third story, the difficulty was in getting at it safely to fix it. I have pondered this for quite a while and decided that I would tackle the challenge this summer.

So I conceived of a platform that would fit between our house and the flat roof of our neighbour. I measured and built this structure and hauled it up the narrow space between our two houses. It was a long way up and a heavy thing to hoist but I somehow managed to accomplish that task. Unfortunately, I discovered a design flaw in the platform as soon as I tried to put it between the two buildings. It didn't fit! The distance between our two buildings wasn't the same at ground level end roof top. And it wasn't possible to the lift and move the structure along the length of the roof line. I should have known better. I find that I often have to do something first, discover all sorts of mistakes that I made and do it over again. So back to the drawing board, but this time I had to adapt it up on the neighbour's roof. 

With some major adjustments, the new version fit well between the buildings and allowed me fairly easily move it along the length of the house. Now I can walk out safely, high over the alleyway and start the replacements on the old wood. That was still a complicated job with the 100 year old wood containing a century of hidden treasures including lots of dust, crud, old squirrel residences and an active wasp's nest right at the peak. I removed the unwelcome guests and pulled away the old boards. The old wood is quite beautiful in it's own way, grey and weathered. I saved some for a possible artistic project to come. Lovely as it was, it just wasn't doing a very good job of protecting the insides of the house.

Their was some fun of getting the old boards and detritus out. I came across some splendid old wasp's nests; their intricate combs of grey paper-like material are so beautiful and delicate. The treat of those little finds was offset but the shear dirtiness of the task. Many years of coal dust and debris covered me as I pulled off the old to make way for the new. Of course I managed to choose the warmest days of the summer to be up on the roof. It was literally too scorching to touch the roof with exposed skin and metal tools became too hot to touch too. I had a new found respect for roofers who go up and do this everyday. Lots of water helped but I still got some nasty headaches; my brain was melting!

One pleasure of being up on the roof is the view. I've been able to see the street and surrounding neighbourhood from a brand new perspective. People walking by, squirrels scampering along the shingles, birds pecking and chirping from the nearby branches. I was up there this week as the sun was setting and the moon was rising. It was a lovely scene. 

The task is getting close to finished and I hope to complete it tomorrow. When I'm done, I won't miss the heat and the leaning over edge of the roof with a three storey drop, but I will miss the view and the quiet, contemplative time up on the roof.  I'll also miss the pleasure of tackling challenges and finding solutions to the repairs difficulties. (To be honest, it wasn't all quiet and a pleasure. There were many choice curses used as particularly difficult boards or siding was attached) However, I'm not too worried about those absences with the completion of this job. With an old house, there will always be the next task that needs doing and the unexpected crumblings that will be calling out for attention. 

As you can see, in this last photo, the job is progressing. 

The platform is seen here being used for getting in and out of the house through the window to Leslie's studio. That fading and peeling window trim is the next little challenge that will rise up for repair. 

Good wishes and hugs to you,

John

One more post today, Adele... have to share the glorious sunset on Weller's Bay.
xo Martha

Hi Adele

Earlier in the week I took my nephews (10 and 13) to the zoo to see the pandas. It was so hot the kids were melting so we had to sit in the shade for about an hour. Luckily I brought drawing materials. One of their favourite games is for me to draw a scribble and they turn it into something. Here is a medley of their doodles.
And below that, the most surprising residents at the zoo... could have photographed them all day... sea jellies!

with love,
Martha

Live theatre extravaganza

Hello Adele,
The summer is a terrific time in Toronto to experience lots of creative festivals and see live performances. I've seen some really wonderful ones as part of the Fringe and Panamania.
One of the most exciting and dynamic ones featured Ciara Adams and the bluemouth theatre group that she works with. "It Comes in Waves" is an immerse theatre experience with lots of audience participation and movement. It is definitely not a sit back and watch from your seat type of show.
It starts with a group paddle in massive canoes over to the Toronto Islands. We then walk through and experience and interact with the Island and site based performances. It is a unique theatrical event that explores loss, memory, community and mortality. 
It reminds me of how incredibly powerful the arts are to touch your heart, mind and spirit and embed new memories and evoke old ones.
I highly recommend it. It runs until July 24.
http://www.toronto2015.org/panamania-details/it-comes-in-waves-by-jordan-tannahill-and-bluemouth-inc/29
Here are a few photos to give you a sense of what it looks like but they don't begin to do justice to what it feels, sounds, smells and tastes like.
I look forward to having tea with you very soon,
John

https://soundcloud.com/pat2013-1/puppet-fantasia-m3p/s-Hroq3

And this link will hopefully work!

Hi Adele,

The puppets say hello!

I've found yet another MOOC platform.  It's FutureLearn run by Open University in Britain.  I'm taking a course from the University of Sheffield on how to write your first song.  My song is still under construction so I'm resting on my laurels and posting another How to Write Like Mozart piece. Yet another piece written in a music writing program and altered with a virtual synthesizer.

 https://soundcloud.com/pat2013-1/puppet-fantasia-m3p/s-Hroq3

Hope you are feeling strong.

Dear Adele,

My current path is crisscrossed.

I am heading, shedding, impeding, second guessing…

Navigating, negotiating, procrastinating, recalculating…

Leaning in!

All in silence within.

I say: It is my present.

Keep up with this time to “BE”

Just “be” enjoying the beauty of the power of now.

So for now,

Sharing art found @ the grocery store that seemed to be conspiring FOR me.

Hi Adele
I just got back from my kayak trip in the Johnstone Strait in BC. It was a full five senses experience. The waves splashed my face and I could taste the salt water. The ocean water was very cold up that way. The soft spongy ground we slept on was often a midden, made of millennia of clam shells, topped with soil and pine needles. The whole place smelled so fresh and earthy. We could constantly hear crows squawking and bald eagles squeaking. The landscape was beautiful, mountains, islands of rock and trees, glistening whitecaps and we even saw a humpback whale slowly surface and dive and heard it breathe. Here are a couple sketches from my waterproof sketchbook (which was never truly tested); one of giant driftwood on a beach (everything seems to be Jurassic-sized in BC) and another or moi paddling!
Hope to see you in Consecon.
With love, Martha

Hello Adele,
I am out in the countryside on the land belonging to my extended family/ intentional community which has shared lives and homes for 44 years now. My parents, brothers and I used to visit from St. John's every summer, and it would strike me how lush the Southern Ontario countryside is: green, full of birds and insects, warm and moist. I still see it through that lens somedays; the landscape I grew up in was rocky taiga gnawed by the North Atlantic ice and gales.

Today we took down a venerable barn which was the original homestead from the late 1800s. It was sagging badly, so we have decided to build a new one for the next century or so, as a family/ community building project. One of the elders told us about the time he met the family who built the homestead, and then instructed my son to tell the story of the old barn once he himself graduates to old geezer status.

Soon I go to Italy, solo, and put on my artist cape. I will visit the Tarot Garden of Niki de Saint Phalle to see her monumental mosaic sculptures/buildings. I will take a three-dimensional mosaic course in Ravenna. My mother and son will join me for a brief tour of Venice, Florence and Rome. My son wants to see Rome, partly because of Asterix. This is a trip that I saved for for many years.

Here are links to pictures from the Tarot Garden:

http://www.giardinodeitarocchi.it/immagini/p-3-05-03092012120247.jpg

http://www.grossetonotizie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Giardino-dei-Tarocchi.jpg

http://notizie.comuni-italiani.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tarocchi-giardino041.jpg

I am feeling very privileged right now. It is good to be able to fill up on experiences. To be able to include my son and mother is so special. I will transform my adventures into ideas and experiences for children.
Love,
Cass

                      Dearest Adele, 
                      It's that time of year when 

                     
                     blooms are bowing to the sun

                     paths are illuminated 

                     views are plenitful

                     ...and when taking long city walks in our 
                     beautiful emerald city at dusk 
                     is wonder-filled 
                     Love and Joy to you. Michelle xo

Flowers for you

Dear Adele,

On July 1, we took a terrific drive through the countryside. The day alternated between beaming bright sun and dark, stormy clouds with rain. 

We managed by good luck to be outside for each of the sunny periods and back in the car travelling for the refreshing rain showers. 

We came upon a massive field of Black Eyed Susans (correct flower name?) and we all piled out to pick a big bouquet. 

As we carried on to visit Leslie's cousin's farm, we gathered a bucketful of the freshest, still warm eggs from the hen house. The yokes were as golden as the petals of the flowers on the table. We also picked up some amber maple syrup boiled from sap this spring in the maple bush that has been in Leslie's family for generations.

It was such a treat to be out in the countryside on a glorious Canada Day. I hope that you had a fine day too.

Good wishes to you as the summer days grow and the breeze feel like warm silk upon your skin.

Cup of tea upon your return?

John

a magical story

Dear Adele, I'm starting week two at the Banff Centre for the Arts. What an incredible life-enhancing first week I've had! So many amazing experiences. I couldn't have dreamed up a better learning adventure for myself. It is deliriously wonderful.

Today I want to share with you a more playful and intimate story. My good friend's children, Morgen and Lillian, are out here in Banff. They are moving back to Ontario tomorrow but today I got to spend the whole day as Aunty Nicole. Oh the play-stories we wove! In the morning we were acting out stories about all kinds of magical creatures and Lillian said she wanted to be a magical creature that had never been known before - had never been named before. She called herself the magical nothing. Later, we were sitting outside by the beautiful Banff forest and I began the kind of story where they can fill in the blanks. Kind of like, "Once upon a time there were... what are we?" Or later in the story something like, "And they knew they had to ask for help...So who did they ask?" This is the story we found together. On the deck there were some random pieces of broken plastic that ignited the beginning of the story. Who the characters were and the crux of what the problem in the story was and how the characters worked to solved the problem of the story really came from the girls themselves. They began to act out the characters and to tell the story themselves. They spontaneously created a work of art with found objects to go with the story. Curious about the story now? I'll share it. So here goes.

Once upon a time a group of magical nothings lived in the forest. A little magical nothing found something small and broken in the forest and she called to the other magical nothings for help. Together they studied the pieces. They felt the pieces belonged to something very important but they didn't know what it was or how to fix it. They knew they needed to ask for help. So they danced and sang and called on the deer to come and help them. The deer had forest knowledge different from that of the magical nothings. The deer recognized the broken pieces. It was something that had broken a long time ago when the forest stopped being loved. The magical nothings vowed to work to put it back together. They looked at all the shiny pieces and try to puzzle them together. They worked late into the night. As the pieces fit together they began to glow. The moon saw this and it smiled. As they worked the found some of the pieces didn't fit back together so well anymore, so the the little magical nothing suggested that they add in gifts of nature such as bark and flowers and leaves to the grand design. The stars saw this and they began to dance. The deer came and helped the work until the almost had every last piece together in one beautiful design. The insects saw this and they began to sing. But even with the moon smiling and the stars dancing and the insects singing they found that there was one piece left that just did not fit. And do you know why it did not fit? Because the forest was still unloved. Try as she might the little magical nothing could not make that one last piece fit. Her sister magical nothing had an idea. She flew around the whole world and collected love offered from all of the living creatures on earth. Her plan was to carry that love back to the forest and to breathe it out onto the broken pieces. But did it work? Did the pieces finally fit back together? Did the forest finally feel love? I don't know, cause that sister magical nothing is still out there collecting love. Better offer some of your love to the forest today. I'm sure it will help.

Mary, my great-grandmother

  

 Hi Adele, this is a picture of my great-grandmother, Mary Becker Axelrod, who came alone to New York from Lithuania when she was 14 to join her parents, already there. Her brave journey, her enthusiasm for life, and her love have always been an inspiration and comfort to me; she lived into her 90’s and I am glad I had many years to know her.  I love this picture of her on the beach: she was in her late 70’s, or even 80 at the time! It shows her spirit.  (and it’s good to see on this rainy June morning).  Here are a few lines from a poem I wrote about her (adapted a bit from the original).  You, too, have been an inspiration in my art, work, and life – and I hope you have people like Mary in your heart, to keep you safe and warm.

Speak to me of love, sweet as honey and jam,

seasoned with tears...

I talk to you now, across the years...

The plants on your windowsill

grow green beside a brick wall. You are warm

as fresh-baked bread.  I need you now,

and I knead these images in my mind

like challah to be braided, shaped, leavened,

rising in the dark into words we can eat like bread, stories

to help us through the night.

You are warm in a cold season –

Over the water of time, I call to you, 

in a language I am learning to know.

Ellen S. Jaffe (whole poem published in Skinny-Dipping with the Muse, 2014)

Sunshine and Shadow

Love from Sheila

Hi Adele
I'm trying out my waterproof sketch kit (stone paper, pencil crayon & permanent markers). For a test I re-drew my own version of a little zen saying that I love... Of course, it needs to be waterproof for the bathroom. Enjoy!
xo Martha