This Day

After running all the errands that have been accumulating on my " to do " list today, I sat down to finish some rosaries for the shop. All the sterling silver centers and crucifixes are pieces that I cast from antique pieces. Nothing relaxes me quite like the gentle zen act of making a rosary. The studio is quiet, no music or television, and as I turn and wrap and link I think each bead is made with a prayer uttered from my lips and certainly from my soul.





When I sit in the living room late in the evening as everyone else is sleeping or off doing their own thing, I ramble in a doodle. My mind wanders and the pen leaps at the chance to put the thoughts down on paper. You can see all the ramblings here. It's always a surprise to me when sometimes days or weeks later I look back at these doodles and wonder where my mind had been!

As A Rule....

I do not like spiders. I would rather have a tooth pulled, scrub a bathroom or dump the litter box than be anywhere near a spider of any size. I do not even go into Jacob's classroom because the tarantula named Rosie, " only escapes once in awhile, Mom " lives there so imagine my surprise at this nicely water jeweled web outside my studio.




I had dashed outside to the studio yesterday on my way to the shop ( again ) to grab a few things and the web was not visible until I came out of the studio door and the light caught the glittery water droplets just right. They looked like beads, maybe even like a piece of jewelry I would wear.

Pause Lois, in the beginning of a busy day, just pause and enjoy the little moments of beauty that spring upon you. Even if the beauty lies within a spider web.

Just Me

Doing the Self Portrait Fridays has been an interesting journey in acceptance and peace with and of myself. Acceptance of the changes in myself and being able to look at a picture of me and saying, " that's me and it is just fine. " I could stop doing the portraits but I feel I am growing as a person and loving myself. I think I will continue for awhile longer. Peace with me. Happy weekend, everyone!

Studio Work Day

A new work in colored pencil and marker in my " TV sketchbook ". I like that it has houses a common and recurring theme in my work and I particularly like the colors. One of these days I may even have to begin to title some of these pieces!


My hard working studio companions, well at least two of the three. They love it when I work out there and they can snooze. They will like it even better when the heat is turned on.



On another note, I have been in a funk all day with the loss of my friend Rusty. I remember our last visit and the kiss I planted on her cheek. I knew it was near the end/beginning for her and suddenly Port Townsend just seems a whole lot empty without her. I can not even imagine the loss her son David feels. They were inseparable. I think in my own life I need to love everyone a little more openly, a little more often and a lot more stronger. I just want to hold onto everybody.

Winds blow in Port Townsend
and I see all of us
on long, long tethers
blithely floating
out over the bay.

The gulls are astonished
(even an eagle or two)
outraged at this invasion.

Because of the leash laws
our dogs anchor us
to familiar yards and hedges.
They will not let us go.
We are their faithful companions
and they cannot afford the fines for strays.

Let’s make a day of it,
blowing kisses and bobbing
at the end of our lines.
O, it is fine up here
when the wind blows
in Port Townsend.
by Rusty North

Rusty North passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. She was one of the most inspirational and incredible women I have ever been honored to know. Artist, poet, mother,publisher, friend and someone I will miss terribly as she passes from my life. Memories will linger, her wisdom has become a part of me but I will feel her loss often.She was one of the first people I met when I came to live in Port Townsend. She was my elder in Quaker meetings. She encouraged my painting and my work. She always found time to see my art shows, to comment on my paintings. Many were the afternoons I spent sipping tea with honey in her kitchen, listening to the fire in the big old wood stove, watching her use her small press to print chap books of poetry. I will miss her but I am a richer person for having known her and having been able to call her friend.

Corn Roast

Today, on this fine Sunday afternoon; we went to a corn roast at Heather and Greg Reseck's farm. This is the end result of fresh corn roasted in a stone lined pit. Pretty to look at and wonderful to eat. Such a pretty afternoon and a wonderfully tranquil spot. You could smell fall in the air and the rainy season hovering right around the corner.











A beautiful feather that I found outside the hay barn's doors. I think it looks like a hawk's feather but then maybe it is from an owl of some sort. I did not see any birds in the barn itself and still wonder what pretty fellow lost this feather which I made Phil carry in his breast pocket so I could press it into a journal.It was a peaceful, relaxing afternoon before the busyness of the coming week.

Friday Rolls Around

It is that time of the week when I
take a picture of myself and call it a portrait. This time I have a picture of me taking a picture in the bathroom mirror. I like the religious iconography I have on the walls of the bathroom. Made by friends or found in Mexico, it gives me pleasure to look at them. Phil says every time he uses the bathroom; he feels like he is in a shrine! That makes me laugh heartily, even at this moment; I am smiling!

The purple painting behind me I did of a traditional english folk art, canal florals and it is done on a refinished wine case lid.

I have no great insights to offer this week but I am wearing one of my favorite shirts in the portrait made of over dyed bark cloth fabric by my friend Katya who now has a shop upstairs from me.

Good night sweet friends until I write again!