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!