I'm with it now!

I bought a new computer. My trusty old laptop just wasn't so trusty anymore. Lots of times it edited my work without my permission. The last months it often refused to work altogether. For the past month, I have either been without a telephone, a computer or a camera at all times. You might as well tie my hands behind my back.
Anyway, I hope to do a better job of blogging. I always have plenty to say but sometimes no medium to say it with. Hopefully this is now past history.
A YELLOW HOUSE will be featured at the Prime Time 50+ Summer Exposition at Jackpot Junction in Morton next week, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 and 27. I'll be there promoting my artwork and classes, as well as a new art blog designed to bring together artists and the public wanting special art work created, called: www.postandpaint.com .
Renting a table was pretty spendy, but I wrote a letter to the organization suggesting they hire a real senior citizen to demonstrate senior life skills. Lo and behold, somebody on top thought that was a good idea and therefore I will be there.
Immediately after that show comes down, and I mean the next day, it will be time to put my display up for the Fourth Annual Art Show and Sale for Olivia's Corn Capital Days celebration. This event is brought to you courtesy of the Tatanka Artist's Cooperative and Master's Coffee Shop, which so generously donates the space each year. It will be held Friday, July 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In case you don't know, Master's is one block east of the stoplights on Highway 212 in Olivia. You'll find a delicious array of breakfasts, lunches, beverages and treats to purchase while you enjoy the free show. And coffees to write home about!
Last year a very popular display was the Community and Student Artists booth. Again this year, artists of all sorts are invited to display something they created along with promotional materials free of charge at this booth. Students of all ages may also demonstrate something they have done in any kind of class. The idea is to highlight the wealth of artistic talent amidst our cornfields. If you'd like some recognition but don't want a whole booth space, this is for you. It's free and you don't have to stay at the show. You can bring items any time during the show--we'll be setting up Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. if you want the most exposure.
And new this year, I will give mini-art opportunities to show attendees. You will be able to try your hand at drawing or water color painting (with real watercolor equipment) and I will spend as much time as possible giving tips and instructions. These sessions will also be free.
People tell me Olivia was once a center for artistic activity. It still is. I aim to point it out.

The lady who eats weeds and takes home garbage continued

For some reason, I was unable to edit my last post, or add the photo I promised. I'll ask you to forgive the misspellings and I'll make another attempt to add the photo! Obviously, it can't be done, at least not tonight. Sorry!

The lady who eats weeds and takes home garbage

Yep, thats me.  I earned that nickname when I worked a stint at my nephew's Amoco service station several years ago.  The only garbage I took home was the used coffee grounds, but in the Como Avenue neighborhood where I worked, people liked to drink coffee!  And when others complained of purslane invading their gardens, I gave them recipes for this nutritious herb.  I bellieve it has more omega-3 than fish oil.
    Anyway, I'm  still at it.    Yesterday, digging periennials out of one of our raised beds, my husband lifted out a beautiful green dandelion with a long tap root.  "Do  you want it?" he asked.  He didn't have to ask twice.  I  soaked it in a pail of water to loosen the dirt while we finished our chores.  At supper time I scraped the skin off the root with a potato peeler, sliced the  white remains into coins and sauteed them in olive oil with the celery and onions for the hot dish Iwas preparing.  I kept a little to the side for a quick taste, as I had only used dandelion leaves before.  It was delicious, a  bit bitter with a hint of licorice taste.  Too much might be overpowering.  One nice root was a great addition.  The sworl of leaves was so plentiful that I sauteed what was left of them after making salad, and sauteed them as well.
    Dandelions in my pesticide free yard have a whole new meaning.  Spring is so late this year, that dandelions, chives, and onions that sprouted after I missed picking them last year are all the fresh greens we have had so far.  Can't wait for the lamb's quarters!
    Easter flowers from the backyard were also scarce this year.  Even my hardy forsythia failed to blossom out in time for a table bouquet.  On a whim, I cut off a few branches on Saturday and stuck them into a pail of warm water.  Lo and behold, the branch burst forth with cheerful yellow flowers by Easter morning! 
It was another kind of resurrection!  I'll include a photo--the bouquet is one week old today and as perky as it was on Easter morning!  The tiny bouquet on the right contains some bulbs that naturlize in my yard and the plant on the left is a succulant gone wild.

Spring is in the air

      My garden seeds arrived this week!  The garden beckons  on these snowy March days.  I'm always anxious to get back outside digging in the dirt, but this year the need seems unusually urgent.  Maybe it is the mile high snow drifts we've been looking at since December.  It's hard to believe they will be gone in a few weeks and bright green grass will sprout overnight.
     A YELLOW HOUSE  gardens are its most charming feature.  I could rent the house out, or (shudder) even sell it, if it weren't for the gardens.  When I first purchased the house I didn't envision living in it for a few more years, but I wanted the gardens ready  when I was.  So I put countless hours and every cent I could spare into improving the soil, building raised beds, buying shrubs and perennials. 
      My neighbor, Dave Tripplett commented once, "You better not ever move to Alaska."  When I asked why he said that, he answered, "Because you don't leave the garden until it's pitch dark and in the summer it never gets dark in Alaska!"
       Life has a way of happening while we are making other plans, and my plans to live out my life in my precious house were waylaid by my husband's unwillingness to settle in there.  So now we live 8 blocks to the south in a perfectly lovely house.  It also has lovely gardens.  So what does that make me?  It makes me a double duty gardener.   Where is the unlimited Alaskan sun when I need it?
     You might have noticed I am not scheduling  art classes after April 1 until summer is over.  That doesn't mean I won't do any.  What it does mean is that I will schedule a class for 4 or more any time at your convenience, but you'll have to visit me in my garden to talk about it.  Of course, I will answer phone messages (320-523-4162) and e-mails (gingearl@yahoo.com) , and I might even hit the house now and then when I get really  hungry.  And you might find me painting the flowers after I have planted the flowers.
      Come join me in some plein aire painting!  We can set up shop on the picnic table.  Even if I don't plant another thing, my garden lavishly re-seeds itself!    The volunteer sun flowers and morning glories are, well, glorious!  

      We're still eating like royalty from last year's bounty.  Raspberries, blackberries, green beans, to name a few favorites.   Just today I made dried green tomato pesto (fabulous) and raspberry shortcake.  Just so you know spring will surly come again, I'll include a photo of last year's garden.  Happy spring!

       Petunias in bloom? No, not yet in the Minnesota great outdoors, but in A YELLOW HOUSE art studio this Thursday evening, Feb. 3.  Yes, there's still room in this class.  This class is a bit more involved than some--it will take us two class periods to finish our petunia bouquet.   The second one is Feb. 17.   You'll learn some new techniques and come out with a nice painting to frame.  Give me a call right away if you're interested. 

      On Tuesday, Feb. 8 we'll be having high tea--or at least using the bags for another interesting painting experience.  We have our tea and then press the   used wet bags onto watercolor paper.  The resulting design makes a great basis for a bouquet of antique roses or the printed material of a woman's skirt.   Your imagination is your limit.  Here again--there is still room in the class for you.  Call Ginger, 320-523-4162 or e-mail me at gingearl@yahoo.com.

My nesting birds have a new nest

   The busy goldfinch pair you can see above (you can see them right side upon gingersyellowhouse.com store where the picture poster person is more knowledgable) have flown away to make a new nest in the home of my friend and high school classmate, Mary Dolan Ronk.  Mary and I have kept in touch all these years through high school reunions and Christmas cards, but we recently became closer through internet communications.  Mary has a collection of bird paintings by artists she knows personally, and I'm lucky enough to be one of thm.                                                                             

     Selling a painting feels strangely like giving up parental rights to a child.  I don't have much to do with the creation of  my paintings, just as I was only a bystander in the evolution of my children.  I  put out the supplies,  dip my brush  first into water and then into  paint and  make contact with the paper, but the painting develops on its own after that.  I stand by helplessly, watching it grow into something other than I envisioned. Much the same, one by one, my children grew up into personalities of their own.
      I have no desire to hold them back, but as they fly away, a piece of  my soul tags along and I never get it back.    Happy new nest, little birds.  I'm happy you are with a friend.

     Workshops!  That's the order of the day.  Several people have mentioned they would be interested in an evening of comradarie, working on  arts and crafts projects with like minded people.   A YELLOW HOUSE is open for workshops every Monday night, 4 to 9 p.m.  Bring a project and a snack--the coffee and tea pots are always on. 
     Workshops involve no teaching--I'll be working on a project of my own, but will be able to critique and assist when asked.  In fact, the fun of workshops is critiquing each other's work.
     I have lots of books and equipment I'm willing to share.  Materials are available for a reasonable cost.  It's fine to bring your own materials, too.  Catalogs are available to order materials.  If several order together shipping costs are waived for orders totalling an amount designated by each catalog.  If you are finishing a project started in A YELLOW HOUSE class,  there will be no additional materials charge.
     The heat has to stay on at A YELLOW HOUSE.  Therefore, I ask each workshop participant to throw in $5 for use of the space.   I don't want to turn up the heat for an empty house, so be sure to register in advance if you want to workshop with  me.  Just call me at 320-523-4162 or e-mail me at gingearl@yahoo.com   .   If you think of it at the last minute and want to know if anyone is working at A YELLOW HOUSE on any Monday night, call my cell phone:  218-368-6555.  I'll try  to remember to take it along!

Resolution time

Blackberries in Ginger's garden. 

      Happy New Year!  It's that time of year again when we all vow to do better than we have in the past, secretly hoping to do at least as good as we did in the past.
      Here's mine:  In 2011 I resolve to:

1. Blog whether anybody reads it or not.  Writing is balm for the soul.   At least it is for me.
2. Continue my 10  minute daily yoga routine.  OK--this is one I hope to do at least as well as last year.  I do my yoga on the living room floor.  If I get up later than my husband and the football game is already on, I have to do it upstairs in my studio, which is not overly warm, so I have been known to skip.  What football game you ask?  The one that is on at the time.  What time"  Anytime of the day or night.  There are times when no football game  is being broadcast  you say?  Somebody should tell my  husband.  Maybe he purchased a  TV backdrop  like the fireplace one where it just goes on and on and on with appropriate sound.   I have never entered the living room when there isn't a football game on, once he has arisen from his bed.  I swear.
3. No.  I do not have to resolve not to nag my husband about his football habit.  I love TV football, yoga nothwithstanding.  It is the best husband sitter I know.   He surfaces when the room becomes unpassable with my on-going projects or when he  is hungry whichever comes first.  In the meantime, I project away, undisturbed.
4. I am going to garden more, preserve more garden produce, try more new recipes for garden produce, eat more garden produce and try more garden ideas and solutions.  You say that can't be done because I have  already been observed gardening anytime it is light outside and the temperature is above freezing?  Come now, that has to be an exaggeration.  Maybe this is a "keep up with last year" proposition.
5. I am going to learn to paint with watercolor.  There are those of you who think I can paint already.  Which means you are slightly behind me on the painting curve.  I love to impart my collected knowledge to eager students and workshop with those who have collected even more. 
6. Ditto drawing.
7. And cooking.  

           I have taken  a very big step since I moved to Olivia in 2005.  I have limited my daily pursuits to  the above four things:   painting, drawing, gardening and cooking.  No more hang gliding, political aspirations, deep sea fishing or other time consuming tasks.  No regular occupation.  No housework.   OK, sometimes I clean the toilet.  A few committees refuse to let me off.  Maybe this is another "keep up with 2010 accomplishments" category.
          That's enough to keep me out of trouble for another year.  Let me know what  your resolutions are.  You say you have attempted to comment on this blog and haven't been able to?  Good heavens, that reminds me that I have to make one more resolution.  Number 8.  Learn how to operate my own website.  If you've tried and haven't been successful, e-mail me at gingearl@yahoo.com.   I'd love to hear from you!