I’m Back

I’m back from a most wonderful reunion with my children and grandchildren! But I’m still not back from posting on social media. The time zooms by each day as I continue to focus on works in progress, and tasks ahead of the Open Studio on November 6. The joy we experienced reconnecting in person with family and long time friends and by heading out on the open road adventure is still feeding my soul.

Gratefully there was very little traffic on the less traveled roads we traversed. After cruising the Great Rivers Road we crossed the Mississippi into Twain’s Hannibal. The next 1000+ miles we zoomed across the great plains on the Pony Express.

Route 66 along parts of the Great Rivers Road in Illinois

A distant sculpture of a Pony Express Rider at a station in Kansas

In eastern Colorado we passed through a hail storm that literally blinded us for a while. Navigating to the barely existing shoulder on the 2 lane road, via the passenger window, was hair-raising. But that same storm resulted in a most amazing double rainbow above daughter’s home when we arrived. Seeing everyone in the driveway flagging us in was the best sight I’ve had in ages.

double rainbow above daughter’s home

I usually do not make art when I’m on holiday. This time, since I am focusing on making books for Alexander’s Library, I made a 16 page book and tucked it inside a travel art bag. I gave much thought to paring down the amount and type of materials to include that would be conducive for any age person, artist or not, to add their artistic comment.

Travel Art Kit with organic Colorado peaches

The result was A Journey Memory Theater, a souvenir book from our summer adventure. Everyone had a hand in it from green scribbles of the baby, notes about treasure hunts our older grandson set up, son, daughter, son-in-law, friends we visited, and sketches of fiestas, bonfires and outings.

Pages from “A Journey Memory Theater” souvenir book from summer adventure

It was inspiring to see the progress Robert Bellows and veterans assistants have made since our last visit to Warrior StoryField.

The Dragon and Phoenix at Warrior StoryField, photo by Robert Bellows

Robert Bellows with the Phoenix at Warrior StoryField

Each sculpture as hundreds of individual pieces that are cut, hammered and assembled into place. Robert gave us an extensive tour of the studio, CRC Plasma laser cutter and forge he had to create to fabricate the long feathers of the dragon. The most wonderful synchronicity was that the night before, son-in-law and grandson commented that the next project they wanted to pursue together was smithcraft. It wasn’t planned but Robert let grandson use a forge to heat a small piece of metal that he then hammered away at, making his first small sculpture. He was hooked! They will both be returning to help out on the huge project.

Robert Bellows showing grandson the scales of the Phoenix at Warrior StoryField

Me wearing the mask we had to use to watch the CRC Plasma laser cutter and forge

We spent most of our time at home playing, staying cool, cooking, shopping at beautiful farm stands, eating and catching up. We had several trips to the mountains to visit our dear friends. It was also a big treat to visit Sherry Hart at her new home nearby. She has spent a full year transforming her yard into a sacred Buddha Garden. How special she is!

Sherry at the entrance to her Buddha Garden

One of the 5 stations in the Buddha Garden

As wonderful as it was to be away with beloveds, it is good to be back in the annex, back to work.

Studio Annex