"Art is idea. It is not enough to be able to draw, paint, and sculpt. An artist should be able to think." Gurdon Woods

When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time.
Cy Twombly

I am acting like my grandma Martha now; I fell on the steps at work and severely sprained my left ankle. I get to spend a few days at home. I am suppose to wear a brace for two weeks and then go back to the doctor.
I really banged up my shoulder and leg, also, when I fell.
My friends here are being so good about checking up on me.
I hope to get lots of art work done on my time off.

My ever growing crocheted coral reef. The jelly fish are very fun in pink.
Crocheted corals are hyperbolic planes. An interesting math concept
I found the concept at theiff.org/reef/index.html or google crochet coral reef and the Institute for Figuring should come up.
I made the coral on the left with the fuzzy yarn on Friday night while watching a movie.
Another of myAnstis traits; useless things from yarn. My grandma Anstis used to knit animals that were stuffed.

This is a garden by my apartment complex. Notice the Forsythia?!

More Forsythia. I can't remember ever seeing forsythia bushes so covered with blooms. They are very beautiful. And the color is incredibly cheerful!!!

The trees that are flowering right now are cherry and apricot trees. Apples trees are starting to bloom now.
Friday night Barb had Isobel and I over for supper and we watched Roman Holiday starring Katherine Hepburne.
I went on the shopping trip yesterday to the big market. I finally found a lamp for my bedroom. I also bought clay pots. When I got home I re-potted several house plants. My bromeliad has two off shoots forming. I divided my African violet.
Last night 20 of us from the school went out for supper and drinks for Kirsten's birthday. We had fun.
I am reading the Red Tent.

My favorite art student at KIS was accepted at Savannah college of Art and Design!!!!!!!!! I'm so thrilled for him!!! He also was awarded a a scholarship.

The heat has been turned off. It is too weird not being able to control your own heat. It is down in the low 30's at night which makes the apartment cool.
Tonight I am having our group over for my mushroom and barley soup.
Last night we went to eat at Oliva. It was very good as always and we had our favorite waitress. I wonder if she ever has a day off.

The yellow and pink flowers are Primulas. I haven't looked close enough at the white ones to figure out what they are.

Some of the blossoms that are out now. Kyiv is about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of our area in Minnesota.

When I was home last week I saw two Sandhill cranes, Turkey Vultures, Red Winged Blackbirds, Robins,
a Cedar Wax Wing, and nine wild Turkeys.
I have seen some interesting birds over here but can't identify them. I haven't found
any bird ID books for this area.

This is a Forsythia at school.

This is rhubarb coming up at Cyndy's. I will miss getting to eat it this spring.

I went home during our break last week. My Dad had a heart attach and congestive heart failure about 3 weeks ago and I thought it best to go home to see him. I spent four and a half days with him and Mom. Easter was a good day as everyone was at my Mom's. My great-nephew is the star of the show and he knows it.
I also helped Mom with cleaning up her gardens and I did some weeding. I love digging in the dirt!!!
It was great sleeping in my own bed which is at my sister's. The bed I have here is not good.
Alan took me shopping on Wednesday. I picked up two art magazines, some groceries, and went to Jo Ann Fabrics. They were having a big sale. I bought patterns, fabric, and some art supplies. Kala and I went back on Friday morning before I left. Today I have cut out and started sewing a summer top out of the fabric I bought in Italy. I am also making bread today.
Trees are starting to leaf out here. I was surprised by the change in just one week.

YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON YOUR JUDGMENT WHEN YOUR IMAGINATION IS OUT OF FOCUS.
Mark Twain

Today has been a good! Another day of great weather. I got my wallet returned after leaving it in a taxi on Saturday night. I received a book order from Amazon; so right now I am listening to a new Neil Young CD. We had supper at Barb's.

Today it has been 66 degrees and sunny. I have been sewing today. I made an apron from a printed pattern that i brought back with me after Christmas. Also, I am finally quilting the table cloth that I made.

On the left is Irene (not the one who went to Italy with us) a teachers aide at the school and on the right is Louise who teaches 9 year olds.

Irene S., who went to Italy with us, and a friend hosted 3 artists/artisans at a party last night. Suzanne, Louise, and I went together.
One of them makes shoes using hemp fabric. They were fantastic!!! The workmanship and quality of materials was incredible!
(Again, I apologize for not being able to flip the pictures.)
This first boot is a mans boot.
He can make any shoe or boot for you. He takes lots of measurements of your foot and calf. He employs people in a village or villages. The first woman's boot pictured, with the flat heel, costs $120 USD. What a price for a hand made pair of boots with a custom fit!!! I want to bring the guy to the states to sell his shoes and boots.

Another person had paintings to sell. The third person did hand embroidery, painted scarves and traditional dolls. We have booked her to come and teach some adults how to make the dolls.

There was lots of great food at the party and we had a great time.

My Dad has had a mild heart attach and has congestive heart failure. They are releasing him from the hospital today and he actually gets to go home. I am very glad.
I am going home on my week break so I can see him and Mom.
I haven't posted any more pictures from Italy due to the fact that this little computer won't turn my pictures so they are right side up and my computer at work has decided to quit reading the USB stick that they are on.
We are finally getting sunshine here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Four days of blue skies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is in the low to mid forties for temps. It is wonderful!
I finally purchased a sewing machine. I have been so distract about my Dad that I haven't done anything more than take it out of the box. Hopefully this weekend I will start using it.
I am reading the Lord of the Rings for the sixth time in my life. I found someone who has the Red tent and am going to read that again. I also started the Harry Potter series again for the fourth or fifth time.