my family reunites...we are the world....

my journey home
to Louisville ...a family reunion
with six siblings returning with different chapters of their page in time...
as we arrived at Iroquois Park I was immediately transported back to the 1960's
and the moist humidity enveloped my total being... summer fun in the heat by the River
what would my hair look like? who cares...I am here
then the Truth hit me and I realized the importance of the day and just being together on July the 11th...
this would have been my mother's 80th birthday and my first trip home...yes still home in my heart...since she died last Fall.
My world began here in humble family reunions and now we were together for a moment in time to embrace each other as we are today...changed, graying and with our children and grand children...
shared meals, water games, croquet tournaments, babies to hug and embrace, connections made and recognized
the threads of my life were woven with these people and we have been there for each other when the times get rough with the passage of time and loss of families...
I lost track of how many photos I captured and Ken has created a dvd to document these embraceable moments
our lives are in a constant state of flux
and when we are together we surround our families with circles of unconditional love.
Celebrate these moments just because we are still here on earth and love never dies.
Gratitude fills my entire being as I return to my home and work to make a better day for you and me.
We are the world...if everyone took the moment to recognize and respect each person's diversity our world would find and cherish a serenity and peace that continues to bloom in our hearts.
Imagine and Live in Peace,
Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

joy and exhaustion in one simultaneous moment...

My brother Mark and his son TJ and Rachel with their little one James Timothy left early this afternoon and I felt pangs of loss as I watched them drive down the driveway. I wanted to weave a memory of experiences, great foods, wonderful desserts, quiet walks and just plain being together in our home. I think we were all worn out but oh what a couple of fun packed days for everyone. Mark became "PaPa" to Maya and Sabrina as we challenged ourselves to flips, dives, and headstands at the Pool...as children Mark and I swam every day at a family pool eight houses from our house and for only $8.00 a month. With six kids in our family this was pretty inexpensive entertainment as well as great physical exercise to keep us too tired to get into too much trouble. Ken made his incredible baby back ribs so when we arrived home the whole house was overwhelmingly inviting. Erin had also arrived with her two little ones Cole and baby Morgan...she happened to get her first tooth today also. Of course we all ate way too much and laughed until we cried. We were all in bed by 9 PM and sleep never felt so welcomed.

Ken had his classes and tutoring at Capital so when he left I stayed so busy with laundry and putting the house back together so I would not have time to feel the quiet in the cabin envelope me. I then went to Goodwill and scored another old Scrabble game and some wonderful hand embroidered linens and such to incorporate into my pieces. Ken called and we had a quiet dinner of eggplant and pasta and came home to recuperate for the next adventure this weekend. We have two weddings in the next 5 weeks so we will be traveling so I am working on a "Traveler's art kit" to use on the road. Life is great! Enjoy some of the photos and Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

my gift is my family....

My brother is here for a couple of nights to just spoil them rotten with the love I have trouble expressing in simple words. I will write more later but for now we are just enjoying the moments together!!! We have had a huge dinner and a short walk in Nature. Tomorrow we will have our first art lesson.. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

insight ...one gift we need to cherish and hold onto....

As Mondays go my medications were bearable...maybe I was distracted by the beauty in the newest blooms on my day lilies. On the other hand, a young mother deer ate three glorious blooms right outside my garage door but she is pregnant with what I think may be her first off spring so if she needed nourishment I think I can share with my newest mother. This afternoon I was amazed at how long she could dance in a silent melody and balance on her hind quarters and snacking on some of my lower branches on a sweet little maple tree. She seems to sense that I am a safe human being and there is no need to fear or stop eating for that matter. Simple gifts are meant to be shared.

My youngest brother is coming tomorrow with his family to visit on his journey down to our family reunion on Saturday. Ken and I went crazy at the grocery to make home-cooked goodies for a picnic and all the little snack foods one could desire on a hot summer afternoon. Fresh fruits, a big tossed salad, barbecue chicken, corn on the cob, German chocolate cake with ice cream and chips and dips. I know I left some things out but I do not want anyone to tell the family I let them leave hungry. I want to give them a warm memory to take away with them...his grandson thinks I am "Rosie"...my mother and I looked a lot alike. Family is a precious gift with the passing of each day and we are all still here so I want to show them and tell how much they mean to me.

On Friday, I am going to a Garden party to plein aire paint with a few dear friends. We all bring our stuff to work with and a sandwich and I will make another wonderful cool crisp salad to share. I am hoping the weather continues with our cooling breezes as our muses guide our brushes onto the canvas and capture a summer's mid morning dream. A circle of friends is another blossom in my heart's garden and I look forward to enjoying the garden party.

I need to close for now because I have a lot of baking to do and I want the table set and ready to welcome into our home. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

walk in empty and leave full...Seth Apter

Our holiday is closing down as we ready for the new week. Family coming home and family coming to visit and then a weekend trip to Louisville for a family reunion. I remembered to feed the kids fish and then hit Joann's to pick up a few 50% notions sale for my studio ongoing supply list to have ready and at hand. I sorted through some more clothes for a donation site and to give to a young mother for her job requirements. I live in simple cottons and some linen now but to work, paint or dye I have my required uniform and still some for my grand daughters to wear at the pool and for soft night shirts...I remember when I was young I also like wearing a favorite aunt or my grandmother's cottons in the summer heat of the nights in a humid Louisville. These were the days before air conditioning was seen as a normal luxury for all households. Now I depend on this utility to keep my body comfortable so my blood pressure remains in the normal range. I have to admit these last couple of days with cool breezes and subtle temperature changes have been a welcomed change. I thought when the heat returned I would got a short swim in for the day but went to the grocery instead...eating is important. Maybe tomorrow I can get some water walking in in the late afternoon. I keep collecting my mother of pearl buttons etc. but Ken is still picking up after me because Mark will be here for a couple of days. I feel somewhat immobilized because I am not getting anything accomplished these days... I have a frazzled energy that needs to come out but for now I can not make any more of my messes. I love Seth's quote I titled this short conversation with because the serenity I find myself enveloped with all my mysteries revealed in my cluster of ideas and art supplies uniting with a mind of its own and if I listen I can discover what is inside on my soul's song. I can walk into my space empty and if left alone I walk out full of surprises even to myself.
I am sorting a carry on portable case to take with me when we travel to Kentucky and sort more supplies and threads for the trip to South Carolina for my niece's wedding and our stay in North Carolina after the ceremony. I still have a lot of production work to complete before the week of the Newark Artwalk. I am melding the past with today hopefully to create the return of the mother's second pair of hands in the soft folds of her daily working apron. How many of you can recall those moments when tears were wiped and a scrap on a bruised knee was first wiped clean with your mother's kitchen apron. Little by little they. the aprons, are creeping back into the costume of a man or woman's ceremonial works and rituals in the center of the house...the kitchen. Now I even spy garden aprons for those who love working in the dirt and planting new plants to bless the colors of our ever evolving gardens. The transplant from the farm are already showing their beautiful colors and blooming in a soft song to announce their arrival. My tomatoes now have a few small vegetables making their appearance and there is a promise that real soon we will enjoy them with our bacon, lettuce and tomato lunches. We enjoyed fresh zucchini and yellow corn for our dinner tonight ...the corn was a little tough but had a fresh flavor so we all can look forward to Silver Queen in the next of weeks. Our farm stand is always an entertaining and inspiring experience when we stop and the owner's children and now grand children all work to supply us with the bounty of his fields. Images are filling my little brain so I had better sign off for right now. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Happy 4th of July....

It is a cold and rainy day but the 4th of July is still a restful day to reflect and thank all those who have served to preserve our America. My children are celebrating with their children and next week we will head home for a reunion. Yes, we are all experiencing difficulties but our country will be resilient and times will slowly rebound. I am hopeful you will have an enjoyable restful holiday and remember to thank those who have served for our country. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

a day of friendship on a farm ...a summer day to cherish

Today we went to two dear friends for a picnic lunch and a day exploring the intricacies of Nature's gifts. Vicki and Jennifer prepared shredded chicken, fruit salad, a fresh vegetable relish tray with dips and potato chips...all displayed in red, white and blue serving dishes. A gentle breeze filled the house with a cool moment of serenity and communion of spirits. We celebrated just being together and shared ideas for photography transfers, sheer veils of portraits and our love of the flowers and gifts from a garden. Ken made his famous fudge and a banana cream pie for dessert and we all enjoyed the leisurely lunch together. After lunch we walked the farm and Jennifer and I took some photographic shots of mulberry fruits, the multitude of day lilies, the quiet beauty of their pond and small lily pond... to name a few. We walked over to the garden and I was deliciously surprised by three glorious pieces of rust...a large grate and two long pieces to wrap in cloth. I am hoping these lovely design elements will work better and faster than my original subject... transfer is working but very slowly...I need more moisture so they will be placed on a tray of some sort. I hope you enjoy a few of the pictures and know the fresh air and wonderful foods filled my belly and my soul. Gentle kindness would be difficult to find on this planet that compares with these two women's generosity and hospitality. We all commiserated on the act of down sizing and purging but will continue to support each other in this endeavor. I do feel better if I can find my supplies easier so work will have the opportunity to flow more freely. We compared the remaining summer calendar dates and family requirements so we can get together again after weddings and family reunions and other obligations. I came home with blooms in my heart and future blooms in my small garden...color color everywhere. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

This is the coldest July that I can remember... fireworks really?

It was 64 degrees when we came home tonight from running errands to the post office, Lees delicious chicken and then to JoAnns for those space age /vacuum storage bags to hold my winter woolens and scarves. Ryan and Tina made it to Myrtle beach and it was 84 and sunny...the girls were ecstatic running in the waves on the beach. I am so glad they arrived safe and sound in South Carolina and will enjoy the next couple of days being beach bums. I was irreverent today while Ken made his way over to Capital and watched Bill Maher's Religious... a thought provoking movie about Faith and Institutions that proclaim "theirs" is the very best! It was a good movie to watch while I sorted winter clothes for storage or Goodwill...do I really want to give away my warm clothes? Tonight after answering my emails I worked on a new folder for day lilies and monarch butterflies ...the little flutter-bys are very prolific this summer and the humming birds are back but I am way too slow to capture them. Give me time...I guess the hummer does not understand my slow slothful camera moves.

I was given some exquisite antique Needlecraft magazines and they have already sparked a new direction for some small works I have in mind for the Newark Artwalk on July 31/August 1 for Liz Argyle's ...I will be out of town once again but I want to have some funky items to share. My brother will arrive on Tuesday with his family and then we will all head down to Louisville for a big family reunion...yikes I am running out of time and feel pressure. Tomorrow I will head over the a farm for a picnic lunch with dear friends and hopefully be able to take some more Nature inspirations and maybe even find more Rust process materials. Stay warm and enjoy your fireworks all weekend! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

July first and the summer roars on....

We had a rainy day today but the flowers were oh so grateful and I took the time to clean...really clean my bedroom. I washed the white drapes with a bit of trepidation because they were inexpensive and I was not too sure how they would wash and wear. They did just fine and look great now. I hand washed my glass paper weight and perfume bottle collection and they look so beautiful when the Sun came back out. Ken washed the windows and the floors so we really performed a top notch job and it feels good. The sheets have been washed and the room has a fresh clean smell...I will enjoy sleeping in my bed tonight.

I went over to Tina and Ryan's to say goodbye before they take off got their first family vacation to Myrtle beach with my other daughter Sherry. Excitement filled the room and I know they will have a wonderful time once they get down there and settle into the beach mode and RELAX! I will miss them so much but I am glad they get a chance to get away and play in the healing waves of the Atlantic ocean. The girls will have a great time and I look forward to hearing all their stories when they return. I will try to put up a couple of the pictures I took tonight at their house as they loaded up the car.

I want to continue my observations of the latest LCA exhibit and please check out Carol Vasenko's wonderful assemblages and a new member Danny Towning's Raku and woven entries... they are remarkable. Barb Sterling celebrated this year with her Mother and Daughter plus her Vanity entries. David Williams soft brushstrokes touch my soul as I come close to gaze into his intimate oils. Jo Rice's Mystical Forest is so touchable ...I didnot touch but I wanted to. Constance Faddis Dragon Play possesses kinetic motion in it swirls of moving colors. Don Cochran's Guardian Angel is a miracle in soft pastel and has an energy that will soothe a viewers nerves with its inner quiet. If you get a chance go back for a private viewing and take in the wonderful gifts present. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart