Warm skies, long days

 

 

Yesterday was the summer solstice- the longest sunlit day of the year.  I used the extra sunshine to create a playful spread in my sketchbook.  I'm calling this one Entrance To Summer.... who knows what you will find! (summer is my favorite season)

 

Father's Day

 

Hooray for positive male role models!  Maybe it's not a dad, but an uncle, older brother, coach or teacher.  There's real power from learning how to be soft and strong.  Hope you have someone in your life that can share this with you. (and someday you'll pass that along)

Loss

 I recently lost my dear friend Gina.  And I should say WE because she meant so much to so many different people. (it's never a singular loss)  She had a long battle with cancer.  She was brave, vulnerable & slowly had to deal with compromising one bit of her independence after another until there was little left.

I felt lost, wanted to give her space to navigate her new unchosen world but, also wanted her to know I was still there.  So many transitions were packed into the last couple uncomfortable years.  I'm relieved that she no longer has to keep accepting & being so damn strong. (no one required that it was just how she decided to handle this)  

Working on my own for almost 20 years now you lose the connection of coworkers. (the good and the bad) You become your own little independent island & find ways to process things you use to do in a group.

I made this tribute for her the day she died.  My eyes filled with tears as I frantically drew.  (art helps me process my feelings although some things can only be felt & never really understood)

This is a poem by Shel Silverstein I heard as child & felt the raw truth in.

The response (although I really didn't expect one) was lovely & universal- something I tend to forget. (no one likes to think about death)

We all go through this painful loss of sooner or later having a person we love severed from our everyday reality.  We are human & this is part of our experience.  I'm grateful for the kind words & some people even offered links to podcasts or places that had helped them find some peace with grief.

This was so beautiful & appreciated & necessary.  When we hurt our light dims, when others see us hurting they offer a light back to help guide us to a brighter spot.  There is something to be learnt in everything- even death.

 

 

 

Gina was a graphic designer & had a whimsical/ wonderful style.  She loved all things vintage, liked to embroider in her spare time & played the accordion.  You can see the blog she kept for many years:

 http://doecdoe.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Signs of SUMMER

 

 

This first sign of summer is real fun & you can hear it coming down the street.  Nothing beats seeing an ice cream truck on your block!

 

Equally as sweet but with a whole lot less sugar– fresh strawberries.

YUMMM!

Last but not least, a parade of pretty blooms around every corner.  Summer makes me happy!

Especially June when the heat hasn't wilted me yet & everything feels alive again.

OCEANS

 

 

It's World Oceans Day! About 71% of Earth is covered in oceans and it is home to some of the tiniest sea animals (zooplankton) to the largest sea mammal, the blue whale. Much of the ocean has not been explored so... there's still so much to discover! (art from HELLO, WORLD! Ocean Life board book/ Doubleday Books)  What is your favorite thing about the ocean?  Mine is how it can change color from deep dark blues to crystal clear aqua with shades of blue & green in-between. (it reminds me of a mood ring)

Garden

 

 

 

We decided to try and grow a small garden this summer.

My husband and son built a rectangular box in early spring- to contain it some.

We fenced it off because our neighborhood is bunny central.

A family trip to the plant nursery provided a chance to select our favorite vegetables, fruit and some herbs.

 

I'm excited to document the process this summer.

We're not avid gardeners but, we're willing to try!

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing the different shapes, colors & flavors that appear!

 

 

DOGS!

 

I love the playful nature of dogs.  I think it brings out the best in us. Which one would you like to go on a walk with? 

Here's a few more just in case you couldn't make up your mind. (which can be hard... they're all fun)