So where was I?

I've got to change the header on this blog. "Day by day" works for living, but I sure haven't applied it to my postings. So what have I been doing?

Well... recovering from Lyme disease, for one. I've had it for years, do pretty well most of the time. I do routine tick checks because I am PARANOID about them. Last fall, duh, guess I missed a tick and got a whole new Lyme infection. Babesiosis too, which I did NOT have before. So there went a couple of months while I went through the early stages of treatment (I'm not done yet). Never stopped sketching, but for a while some days that was all I could do.

In case Babesiosis as much a mystery to you as it is to most folks, it's caused by an amoebic parasite that is carried by the same black-legged ticks that carry Lyme. It's a lot like malaria, though the two aren't related. Aren't you glad you know? You should be, 'cause you could be next. Be careful out there, and do those tick checks!

Okay, once I started feeling better, I became a delegate to my state's Democratic convention, and since I seem to be stuck living where I am instead of moving back west, I infiltrated the local planning commission. Got a batch of paintings ready for the gallery spring changeover and a couple more for the Vermont Pastel Society member show. Did a radio interview with a clueless producer and host. Hate those.

Then the weather hit. This is Vermont, not Georgia. Why are we having 90 degree weather with humidity to match and nights that don't cool off in early June? Oh, yeah... global climate change. And to think some people still think it isn't happening. Go figure. They do NOT live on the same planet as the rest of us.

But today was lovely, and my flowers are blooming. Tomorrow will be even more lovely, and I can finally get some work done in my vegie garden.

I did do some pastel work while I was under the weather (in both senses of the phrase). No, not work: playful experimentation. I thought I'd share a couple here. You'll have to scroll down, because I'm going to date them the days I did them. But to make up for all these words with no pictures, I'll stick in a couple photos of my lovely flowers.

Imaging Chelan

pastel on archival paper, pumice ground

38x51 cm (15x20 in)

Lake Chelan is a narrow 50 mile long lake mysteriously located in the desert mountains of Central Washington. Oh, sure, geologists have figured out why it's there, but that doesn't change the mystery of experiencing it. The place is stunning, and changes character with the seasons and the time of day. It is only partly accessible by road, and the far reaches can be reached only by boat in the summer. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This painting is far from a literal rendering. It is my imagining of the lake from a memory of a long ago kayak trip, nearing sunset.

(Note: this painting was difficult to photograph and to color correct for the screen. It looks a bit garish here. I'll try again later and see if the subleties of the color can be brought out better. Addendum, Feb. 3, 2009: in addition, I've since worked more on this painting, so it looks quite different.)