Salem Abstracted #2

I'm very happy to report that the commission that I've been working on for many months is finished and nestled (or hung, I guess) safely in it's owners home. The idea behind it was similar to my first abstracted Salem painting (seen here) - a fragmented, cubist portrayal of our city, showing the old and new, the layers and clusters of homes and buildings that fill our neighborhoods. 

My first piece was titled "In Salem as it is in Heaven" and I'd like to think that this work also has the feeling of light breaking through darkness. I had a blast working on this but I'm relieved to have finally finished. Now to start on a couple late wedding gift paintings!

Detail:

Ferrying to the Fishies

This trip has been a while in the making.  Taking the Salem Ferry to Boston has been on my summer list at least 2 years in a row, but for some reason we just never made it.  This month, the ferry was discounted for residents AND because of some awesome grant, Salem residents are also able to go to the Boston Aquarium for free for the month of September! How could we pass that up? Along with some friends from church, we decided to make a day of it; walking to the ferry, boating up to Boston (which stops right next to our destination, no less) and enjoying the newly renovated aquarium. A perfect way to spend a warm and beautiful New England day!

still here :)

Still around, just crazy busy. Hoping to get back into the blogging groove this week! For now, I leave your with a recent family portrait... 

The Autumn List

fallmost

According to my husband, it's the season we're in. Almost fall or "fallmost". The school year has begun, some leaves are even changing color, but I also sweated through my art classes this morning, some summer flowers are still in bloom and the AC units are running around the clock in my house. The seasons are definitely in flux. 

Despite the recent September heat wave, I've started writing my "Autumn List", the knitting needles are back out in earnest, scarves and vests have been dug out of the back of the closet and I'm dreaming about apple crisp and drinking pumpkin spiced anythings.

The last couple of weeks have been a doozy, mostly just beginning of the school year stuff, but I'm looking forward to things dying down a bit in the coming weeks and getting back into a rhythm of sorts. For now, I'm trying to enjoy and savor the wonderful season of fallmost with my favorites.

a date night diary

(I'm afraid a few more less-than-ideal iphone pics may be in this blog's future...Sure, I'm loving the convenience of the iphone, but I'll always prefer my nikon!)

It seemed a little crazy. A date in the middle of the week, after a tiring (but great!) first day of school at one job and the night before my first day of school at my second job.  I mean, I still had seating charts to figure out and piles of paper strips to cut. And honestly, I wasn't feeling that great. And Levi didn't nap, so he'd probably be cranky for whoever babysat him..blah, blah, blah. 

Crazy, sure, but also perfect and just what I needed.  Brian's a pro at listening to my list of hesitations and gently reminding me how much fun we'll have and how it always helps to just get out and do something. I'm usually smart enough to comply and it turns out that he's always right. 

We headed to the next town over where we spent some time perusing a quirky bookstore and then walked next door to a newly renovated theater for dinner and a movie. It's a cute little cinema (2 screens, I think) and you can even have your dinner and/or dessert served to you while you watch the movie. (oh and did I mention that my date wore a bow-tie? He did and it was awesome.) 

And now look at me. It's only 10pm and I've been on a lovely date, finished seating charts, cut piles of paper and I even have time for a blog post. Not bad. :)

First Days

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 

as faithful stewards of God’s grace..

1 Peter 4:10

The last few days have been spent cleaning desks and scrubbing sinks, organizing art supplies and ordering new ones, printing and laminating new posters and job charts, hanging art and colorful decor, printing syllabi and putting finishing touches on lessons plans. I'm ready and raring to go, which is fortunate because classes begin today!

As always, my unending gratitude and thanks to Katie, Mom James and Nana, who love and care for my little guy while I spend a few hours each week encouraging and inspiring the creative artists and thinkers of tomorrow. You guys are truly the best. :)

streams of mercy

Come thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

And teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

I'll praise the Mount I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

-R. Robinson

Thankful, for...

- streams of mercy, never ceasing
- a birthday party shared with Kimmie and Grandma; good fun and thoughtful gifts
- a fancy schmancy iphone for my birthday, from my parents (!!)
- warm biscuits
- a beach picnic with Kimmie and a farewell dinner
- time to read
- story time with Tirzah and Elsie
- couch cuddles
- unexpected time with an old friend
- this in my inbox- "I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" - Psalms 116:1, 2
- Fro-yo for lunch, courtesy of a sweet husband 
- a fun day at the Gloucester Maritime Festival with the James parents; crafts, seeing friends, a foggy harbor, Levi love of snakes, holding creatures in the aquarium touch tank, a yummy lunch...