I began this blog a little more than three years ago - since then I have made much art and made many friends. I am so glad do many were dispersed over this beautiful earth - Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Holland and the UK. Upstate NY, Tejas, California and the Pacific Northwest.

I think I will stop blogging for now - I may return, but I need to focus on other things. My recent illness has given me time much to think and I see that I need to make some new healthier priorities.

I do want to thank all of you who have visited and left comments, many have become my friends - Kim, Sue, Lisa, Mick, JGY, Irene, Debi and others. Andrea, please call me when you come east. We all want to see you. I have missed you.

Two days ago there were four crocuses on my lawn, three purple and one yellow.

All my best. Peace.


"one.crocus.heart"

"the.thaw"

I am feeling better - a second opinion and lab results confirmed it was whooping cough, but it looks like I am in the third phase of the infection which is slow recuperation, with some ups and down feeling good then worse.

Here it is a bit warmer which has melted some of the snow, but there may be more snow later in the week. I want to see a crocus.

"tap.estry"

"tones"

Thank you for your good wishes.

"a.second.later"

Tested positive for whooping cough. County board of health called me. Need to wear a surgical mask to the doctor's office for second opinion.

Hell of a month. Peace.

Working with large photo files supplied by Debi Cates I see that my computer does not have enough RAM for work I have done fairly easily with smaller files. Very interesting yet frustrating explorations....above is a detail from a much larger draft.

Still out sick and coughing. Getting better, very slowly. Oddest coughing fit of my life. Still waiting for lab results on whooping cough.

My best.

"with.pome.granites"

The image above incorporate some details from photographs graciously provided by Debi Cates. It is not representative of where I see our collaboration going, but as of late I have less energy to create so I combined limbs etc into a work in progress. Thank you, Debi - you are most gracious.

Please also check out her new Creative Round Table blog.

Below is a shot from our front door of the mid week snow storm. The snow fell very wet and clung to all tree limbs, more so than I have ever seen. Our old dogwood was bent over in by the weight and we did lose one small branch from the ordeal. You are looking at a cherry tree in the foreground, a linden tree at the curb and the not yet plowed street.

These BBs were taken on February 2, the only day I have attempted to go to work this month. The first is on the morning LIRR, the second on the 5th Av. northbound platform and the last two on the southbound 5th Av. platform at night.

I am waiting for test results, but I think I have whooping cough. This is relatively rare in adults, but becoming more common as the bacteria has evolved and vaccines seem to not work after many years. Coughing can last for six weeks.

Ten years ago I went to a good motel and we were attacked by bed bugs, this incident also has become more common. I seem to be a lightning rod for old fashioned calamities.

Interesting symptoms about whooping cough is that it stats out "like a cold" with a fever ands runny nose, then a week later you think you are finally feeling better until you get a two minute bout of uncontrollable coughing that might even make you want to throw up.

We have had a blizzard in NY yesterday. I went on my front step and took a few shots and will post one soon.

Breathe. My regards.

been.sick