The Best Laid Plans...

Yes, indeed. The best laid plans don't always get you laid the way you planned. Love that quote. Can't remember the lady's name who said it. But that seems to be the way life goes. Anyhoo...

October, my favorite month is well underway. My creativity is inching along. Last week was spent going back and forth to my mom's. She fell again, and I went with her to her doctor. A few X-rays later and nothing is broken. Thanks goodness. I made a big pot of veggie soup for her so she wouldn't have to stand a cook. Went and picked up some breakfast things for her to eat when she gets up. Yep, she wasn't eating in the morning while she took her medication. Which made her dizzy and why she fell. Ugh! Two doctors got on her case. Thank you doctors. Did six loads of her laundry and we continued to clear out stuff in the house. Two more trash bags.

Today I'm feeling pretty good. Got my exercise in and even went for a walk. A little farther than the previous walk. It was a beautiful morning, a small wind, brisk temps, the sun shining, just great. I will have to pull out my gloves for the next walk. I got in and did a small drawing for National Octopus Day. October 8th, get it?

I also was able to finally, finally finish a doll. My first Frida Kahlo doll. I couldn't believe it. It's been so long since I completed a project.

And I started some larger hexies to mend my favorite pair of pants that I've had for 20 years. I love those pants and they don't make them like that anymore. I was going to just patch them but I don't like store bought patches, they don't always stay put. Then I saw on Facebook where they were talking about mending items of clothing. So that's what I will do. Mend my pants and stitch on lots of hexies to make my pants fancy. Maybe I'll get another couple of years wear out of them.

I'll be making some green ones today. The pants are a khaki green color. That's my update. Yes, still a little behind but I'm feeling so much better and I'm going to just ride with it.

Here we go!

Sometimes you just need to talk to a good friend, who really knows you, to help you get back on the creative wagon. Things keep happening that want to derail me being as creative as I want. My mother fell again last week. The second time this year. I went into her hometown on Monday to check on her, the house, and I made her a big pot of veggie soup and some rice on the side. I bought her some frozen breakfast sandwiches, frozen chicken and turkey breakfast sausages, and breakfast bars. Why? Because she won't eat breakfast. Then later in the day, she'll get dizzy. And then comes the fall. So I got easy and small things she can eat in the morning to get something on her stomach. Today I go back because she's got a doctor's appointment.

Back to my friend. She helped me get out of this little rut that was about to turn into a canyon. It's the same old negative loop. I have a list of things I want to do. I get a great start in the morning. Then right after coffee, things go haywire. The doubts seep in. Why work on something and it won't turn out. Or no one  will like it. No one will buy it. No one will buy anything because nothing's finished. Then I get freaked out, think about my mother, getting a new job, and it just goes on and on. My friend told me to stop it. Find a beautiful picture of Scotland and put it where I can see it everyday. And tell myself that I need to work on and complete things so I can get there. Yesterday was a good day. Got more Frida dolls stuffed and put together. I didn't get to all on the list, but I got to that.

See, they look like aliens. This is one point where I would stop and do the bad thing of beating myself up. So when I get back from mom's, I will paint pretty faces. Have a great day y'all. Someone should.

Battleground Park - 5 August

Another post dated post. I will catch up on things very soon.  Battleground Park aka Guilford Courthouse National Military Park.  Maya took me to the park so we could play an interactive game.  I love that park.  It's the site for a Revolutionary War battle between General Greene (colonist and supposedly Greensboro was named after him) and General Cornwallis (British), who lost.  Amazing tactics on General Greene's part and now I must brush up on my Revolutionary War history.  There's tons of it right here in my backyard.  This is my first historic battleground I've visited.  I drove past Gettysburg once and that was solemn and creepy at the same time.

There are many monuments and graves there.  The walking/biking/car trails are excellent.  The Visitor's Center is very nice with a museum, small auditorium and gift shop with some awesome books in it.  And once a year, not too far from the park, there is a reinactment of the battle.  I have a friend who would go out there in costume.  I may just have to join her next year, if she's still going.

One cool story (this is a present day person looking back on history and it's many stories, war is not cool at all) is of a British soldier who died and was never found.  Years later, a farmer was plowing the area and found skeletal remains.  Years after that, DNA testing was done and his family found back in England.  I want to find other stories like that and get my costume designed.

Statue of General Greene.

Richmond, Virginia Part II

I tell you, when you go away for a short time, there's so much to do to catch up. Here is the last leg of my trip from the Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Convention. After the con I stopped back to Annie's. We went to an art fair and then to Hollywood Cemetery. It was called Harley's Woods but the name was changed to Hollywood for the numerous variety of holly trees.

There was this huge stone pyramid. When the recent earthquake hit, some of the headstones and decorative statues were damaged. But not this pyramid, only because no mortar was used to build it.

The tip of the pyramid.

There were many Confederate soldiers buried here. And 2/3 of Confederate officers are buried in this cemetery.

There is a President's row.

The James River. Across the river is Bell Island that was used as a Union prisoner of war camp. There is a beach over there and this part of the river is used for canoeing and kayaking.

This is a wonderful cemetery and it seems to go on and on. It's 180 acres and 165 years old. 3,000 are interred with room for 5,000 more.

Part of the James River.

Here is one of the pathways. I found it very inviting and mysterious.

Tours of the cemetery are given.

The stonework on the headstones is amazing.

One of several US presidents buried there.

James Monroe's tomb plaque.

Monroe's tomb. His body was moved from New York to this spot. It looks like a big bird cage. A grand birdcage.

Buster, Annie and Mark's pooch is ready to drive. Or at least go home.

Loved Through the Years: Three Centuries of Black Dolls

 The opening to my show was February 12, 2012. It was wonderful. There was a nice turnout and all my work has paid off. There was also a reporter there from one of the local newspapers, so I'll be seeing my face again.

Here I am with Lee Mecum who helped put this together, and Carolyn Mills Allen who had her collection of contemporary dolls at the exhibit.

The Delta Arts Center people did a wonderful job setting up the dolls.

Here's my group of dolls. They are for sale.

Joyce Stamps had her collection of dolls mostly made by slaves. They were so beautiful.

One of my large dolls. I will tweak the pattern and make some a little smaller.

Here's Emma, the last doll made for the show. She almost didn't make it.

I even spoke about my doll making journey. My ongoing journey.

Joyce Stamps.

  Dolls from Joyce's collection.

I so love this one in this beige dress. So simple but very cool.

Carolyn and her collection.

There were some dolls based on the Hitty character.

I love this little doll with her mirror. I was able to get her reflection in it.

More of Joyce's dolls.

Carolyn's dolls.

This doll is made from a whisk broom. I don't even know if they still make those these days.

I so love this little doll. She's a puppet doll. You stick your hand underneath her dress and your fingers go into her head and arms. I've got to get a more detailed pic of her. I love puppets.

The tall doll is a door stop and the oldest in the group. Her base is a can and filled with probably sand. Her face is embroidered silk and is showing wear. She was made around 1800.

I love her little face and her blue dress.