God speed John Glenn....God speed.

In 1961 I was just eleven years old but I remember watching the television in the living room with my family ...in black and white of course; this incredible journey into Space!!! His lovely wife of 69 years Annie joked that she called him her astro-nut. He spoke at Ohio State University this afternoon encouraging the youth of America to reach for the stars and continue his dream to explore the far regions of our Universe. God speed John Glenn...you are a real hero and a national treasure.

Ken and I worked from home today to celebrate President's Day. I spent six hours rereading all of my collection of books on the different processes to explore once more with the fiber reactive processes. The Dawes Arboretum broke ground last weekend on a new and large building being supported by the family members of the Dawes original founders. The sky was clear and beautiful ...a day for dreams to begin and reflect the History, the Nature and the Trees on this precious ground.

I also worked upstairs in my sewing studio to collect samples of dyed cotton colors and recipes for a vibrant color saturation and variety of backgrounds to develop further with the stencils and carved stamps. I still need to find an appropriate Burr Oak Leaf design so I can begin cutting my own stamp to be used on each panel ...in a sense of a series and signature. Hopefully I will complete the few stencils left to be cut so when the workshops begin I can have an assortment to be employed by my groups of volunteers. I still need to find my Ann Johnston dye process books. I studied with her years back and she was the most generous of teachers I have ever worked with. Joyful, generous and very patient in her presentations as well as encouraging us to experiment with our sacred marks and brushstrokes.

Tomorrow I am heading over to Ohio State to meet with my Lupus specialist Dr. Hackshaw. As many of you know methotrexate has been in the news because of a shortage in many cancer treatments. The news casters reported even at our children's hospital is feeling the shortage need but the drug companies really do not make a profit on this medication. Hopefully there will be another medicine I can try to maintain my life quality as an artist. No one enjoys spending the day with doctors and tests and blood work...but it is a trade off and I am grateful that I am still here. I have been so blessed! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart