Racine: A Day of Magic

I had a fabulous day with my mom and dad today. Hoping that Mom would be up for a day out, I took a chance on planning a trip to Racine today to see the Wisconsin Photography 2012, at the Racine Art Museum's Wustum Museum, where I have three images on display. My hope paid off as evidently Mom was up and ready to go this morning long before it was time to leave!

We had a great time slowly going through the exhibit at the Wustum. If you have not been there, there are many rooms opening into other rooms both upstairs and downstairs. Mine were in an upstairs room and we came upon them at the end of our tour. Dad had gone to find a bathroom, so it was just my mom and I when we came around the corner and saw the three large pieces on the far wall. I was so surprised by Mom's reaction. 

The Growing Season

Bleeding Hearts 3

For the past year and a half I have been experimenting with a new body of work. For the first time in the 35 years that I have worked in photography I have become obsessed with a project. I have been passionate about many other areas of my work but this is the first time that I hate to have to go to bed at night and can't wait to wake up in the morning to work on the project. 

Due to the nature of this project- working with live plants and flowers in bloom I feel compelled to capture as many images as I can before everything wilts or dies. Even within this project I have separate projects,one of which is capturing roadside weeds and wildflowers. I now have to be careful when driving on back roads not to end up in a ditch because I am focusing on all the plants along the side of the road.

Harrington Beach ~ March Snow

As I said in the last post, it has been an unusual winter with little snow. We have had some cold temperatures but little precipitation. The first week of March we had the first major storm of the season. It was like a winter wonderland and I headed north to Harrington Beach State Park. There was sun when I arrived but it clouded up and eventually turned the light quite flat. I enjoyed the many trails with the snow laden trees and the patterns of snow on the beach. It was a truly magical way to spend Aldo Leopold Weekend.

Moonwalk

This winter has been so mild that I have had few opportunities to capture snow and ice photos. The fields are bare, none of the fluffy white stuff to be found. In January, the only place I could find anything interesting was on the shores of Lake Michigan at Harrington Beach State Park. It looked like the surface of the moon, with the snow craters and moguls.

Two Year Update

Has it really been two years since we took this prostate cancer journey?

Buz is still cancer free and doing well. He is now retired and we are enjoying time to do whatever we like. I continue with my photography and he is working on a second novel. We spend time at the cottage in all seasons and enjoy an occasional road trip.

Winterspeak

Our 1886 farmhouse likes to talk to us in winter. I guess its old bones are as disquieted by the plunging temperatures as ours are. When the humidity seeps out of the air our floors begin a running dialog as we traverse the house. Actually, the older floors in the original section of the house are fine. The wide pine boards with their dark amber patina seem older and wiser and resigned to the cold, dry season. It is the whiny younger maple boards in the addition that don’t allow any quiet tiptoeing. They feel some compulsion to speak up when I creep downstairs for a piece of toast in the night. I know enough now to thwart them by using the second staircase, the narrow original one that requires careful attention to my feet as I descend and a reverential bow of my head to avoid hitting it on the ceiling. It is worth the extra effort to silence those high pitched adolescent voices.

Winter Solstice

My husband was born on the winter solstice (December 21), the shortest day of the year. He responds to those who remark on this fact with, “Yes, but it is the longest night… and that can be a good thing!” I dated two other men before marrying my husband; one born on the spring equinox and the other on the summer solstice. It seems I am drawn to men on the cusp.

One Month Update

Hi All!

Just wanted to let you know that Buz is doing well with recovery. At three weeks he was back at work half days and this week (one month post-op) he is back full time. He also returned to exercising this week which has really been a wonderful spiritual boost for him. It seems to shed the stress from his body.

Take care and Happy Easter!

Bye Bye Foley

For Buz who has his Foley catheter removed today

Pack up all my gear and go,
Let me flow,
Swinging low,
Bye bye Foley,
Where the nurse waits for me,
Sugar's sweet, so is she,
Bye bye
Foley!

In Sickness and in Health

On Wednesday morning I helped my husband, Buz take his first post-op shower. As he stood with warm water cascading over his body, the umbilical like catheter coiling on the shower floor it was the first opportunity I had to take in the entire scope of the operation. His belly was slightly distended but it was obvious that the incisions are already healing. Not even a band aid needed. What a miracle our bodies are. I soaped his back and after he had rinsed, I towel dried him below the knees since bending over is not on his to do list yet. He said, “Hon, I guess this is what is meant by in sickness and in health.”

On To Recovery!

Buz's operation went really well today and we are on to recovery. He may come home tomorrow if everything goes well. We will be kicking back for the next 4-6 weeks!

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and good vibes!

Vicki

Into The Wild Blue Yonder

The morning of the operation we had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. Even though we had preregistered there was a back up at check in at that early hour. Several others waited in the lobby for their names to be called before it was our turn. There were carry on bags and suitcases in seats and on the floor and you might even think you were in an airport rather than a hospital. Looking at the couples I tried to imagine which one was there for the trip and which was there to wait. It was easy to guess with some of them as one had a small suitcase at their feet and the other had a cloth bag with a magazine or book poking out of the top like mine. With other couples it was hard to tell as they both wore the same non-committal stare. Some people were alone and when their name was called they wheeled their little suitcase up to the cubicle and sat down to verify their insurance, etc. I wondered what medical procedure they were there for and if they would be alone for their entire journey.

BRING IT ON

We have become hooked on the former TV show, West Wing over the past few weeks. I anxiously open the mailbox these days hoping to see the red Netflix envelope that promises of more Leo, Josh, Sam and C.J. The writing is brilliant and though the first season aired in 1999 it is still amazingly pertinent to 2009. To get a view behind the scenes of how our government actually works at the same time that a new president is learning the ropes in current time makes me feel that I am part of the process. Really fascinating stuff! The character development is so rich that you feel you know the people well and care about them whether you identify with their politics or not. I actually find myself tearing up occasionally.

Photo Therapy

Most of us women seem to be hard wired from birth to be nurturers. If we become pregnant this quality kicks into high gear and never recedes. We are the worriers, the caregivers, the ones who often sacrifice to make sure everyone else is doing well.

My Theory of Relative-ity

c (Speed of Light)

I find myself saying, "Everything is relative." a lot lately. So much so that I thought I would research Einstein's Theory of Relativity online and see if this might provide some insight into what I am experiencing. Knowing that it is a complicated theory and that I am not a quantum physicist I checked out several sites titled, "Relativity for Dummies." I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept but I think I did glean a few facts out of the articles …but don't quote me on this.