April 30

It was a beautiful day for walking. I went to the Dollar Tree store (3100 steps) to see if there were any cool art-triggers, but there was nothing I wanted badly enough to (a) stand in line to pay for and (b) carry home. But I did find this appropos declaration in the footpath nearby.

Note to self: Don't take long walks wearing rubber thongs. I developed a blister on the top of my right foot less than halfway into the journey, so completed it barefoot. Now my feet hurt on the top AND the bottom. Another note to self: Buy some shorts.


Earlier, I made Lime Squares with Pistachio Graham-Cracker Crust for tonight's dessert, and was so taken with the beauty of the pistachio shells I had to draw them.

April 29

I finished my bag late last night. I am in love with it.


I spent all day cooped up in a sign language workshop, so took the opportunity to surreptitiously sketch some of the other attendees. I did walk over three miles during my lunch break. I bought a pedometer yesterday, and am aiming for 10,000 steps a day. For my stride length, that's about 4.5 miles (7.25 km). So far, so good!

April 28

I walked to my Weight Watchers meeting (loss to date: 36.4 lb/16.5kg, woohoo). I had intended sketching on the way home, but an urgent call from Lauren, who had left her lunch at home, necessitated a fast return. Instead, I sallied forth for an additional amble this afternoon, to the nearby Hidden Chateau where I sketched for a while in their lovely garden, then bought a punnet of fresh strawberries at the adjacent fruit stand. Life is good.

April 27

Walked back the fabric store to buy embroidery threads. I'm embellishing my new scrunched-dyed shoulder bag -- pictures will be posted when it's finished. These long daily walks feel great, but unfortunately I'm spending money every day. Tomorrow I'll walk AWAY from the mall!

Do you think it looks like this tree is waving good-bye to the kids on the bus? I do.

April 26

I walked to the supermarket to buy shrimp for dinner, and took a bunch of photos along the way. These are some of my favourites.

April 25

This afternoon I read this post from Julie Oakley, and got fired up with enthusiasm for her idea for combining art, blogging, and exercise. I immediately put on my walking shoes and hoofed it (1.4 miles) to my nearest fabric store. I've been thinking about making a new shoulder bag for the summer. I haven't been in a fabric shop for quite a while, and I was irrestistibly drawn to the batiks and tie-dyes. Knowing I had a LOT of fabric dyes at home, I bought some white cotton with a concentric-circle weave, and walked back home, ready to don rubber gloves.

All this has nothing to do with the picture above, which is of a curled up leaf I found in my backyard.

April 24

Played with fabric dye over oil pastels. I like the effect.

April 23

Tonight Rhea returned to Australia. I am bereft.

April 22

Tonight I painted a bunch of papers to use in making cards and envelopes. Fun.

April 21

Rhea brought a box of ephemera with her, as a birthday gift for me. One of the treasures is a bunch of plastic Australia templates, such as I used in school as a child. There's also maps, postcards, programs, local newspapers, a cross stitch embroidery, and a truly lovely letter ...

April 20

April 19

April 18

Neither the street artist nor I did a good job of capturing my daughter's likeness.

April 17

April 16

April 15

April 14

Watched Lemony Snickets' A Series Of Unfortunate Events with Rhea tonight. Love that movie -- it is so visually rich.

April 13

April 12

Well, I worked, got the house fairly clean, and did the rough draft for my essay on the new NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct and how it will impact the interpreting profession and the Deaf community. So that was good. But after five months of careful and conscious eating, today I flipped a switch and ate any old thing .... which has made me feel crappy, on at least two levels.
Tomorrow is another day. I am so glad about that.

April 11

Full time work sure interferes with all the other things I want to do.

April 10

April 9

I am still smiling.
See my "birwedding" photos here.

April 8

Well, so many of you knew before I did .... tonight my romantic, loving, amazing husband threw me not just a surprise birthday party, but a surprise WEDDING. There were no guests at our first wedding two years ago; it was just us, Elvis and a webcam. So tonight we got re-married in front of our friends and his family. I so wish my family could have been there too ... I miss you all so much.

The party was just fabulous, and I am still stunned and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from so many people. Thank you Kate and Gary for opening up your home to us ... thank you everyone who helped and who kept the secret all these months and who came along, even from far away, and thank you also to those who couldn't be there but whose love I also feel every day.

I am truly, truly blessed to have you all in my life.

April 7

April 6

It's Blind Contour First Friday, and the theme is "Out Your Window!"

I have to admit that I'm feeling a little unhinged, like this chair, right now. My baby girl was a few hours away from boarding a plane to fly here for my birthday (which is tomorrow), when she realised she had lost her passport. She is stranded in a big city, far from her home, with a huge suitcase and $20.

I've spent the last five hours phoning, faxing and emailing the airline, the travel agent, the passport office, the registry of births, deaths, and marriages, and my lovely friend Elizabeth, who has unhesitatingly stepped in as Surrogate Mama for me while I'm halfway round the world, biting my nails.

The odd thing is that, in the ten years since I've moved here, this is the third (count 'em) time Rhea has had a passport emergency prior to flying. I'm becoming an old hand at long-distance beauracracy-wrangling.

So she won't be here for my birthday, but hopefully she'll be here five days later, safe and sound. P.S. This was the Big Secret I learned about two weeks ago.

April 5

April 4

A very unartistic snapshot of today's creative effort -- the window portion of Ian's bedroom makeover. I'm in love with these clip on curtain rings. I was also delighted to find the fabric in the form of two single, complimentary curtains on sale at Linens 'n Things for three bucks each! I pieced them together to make what you see here. I'll try for a better picture once The Boy cleans up his room.

April 3

Following Danny's suggestion, I drew this upside down while copying from a book of old woodcuts. The original lady looked pretty sour, but my version looks even grumpier.

April 2

Josh and I spent the day re-doing the veggie plot. Here's how it went down:

April 1