I am feeling like...."52 pick up cards"..... a whirl of changes.............

It has been at least three weeks since my last post...I am running still and the Trinity house is becoming  more home like for me.  Ken is in the final  weeks of radiation and it cannot be soon enough.  He has lost energy...the fatigue hits him a lot harder now and has lost weight also.  For a tall Maasai warrior...my warrior ...he can not afford to lose any weight.  Tonight I am making mashed potatoes...with pork roast and an some deep 12 grain breads.  I have fresh fruits and the end of the brownies for dessert.

I am at the cabin right now in Newark....honestly taking baby steps in selection ...donate...give away...or move from one location too the next.  My own blood pressure is acting temperamental right now and leaning on the high side.  I am needing to slow down more...and rest when I can but we still have a lot to finish before winter.  I am needing to create a retirement work for Josephine from Dawes...for decades she has understood the importance of making Art connections with and to Dawes Arboretum.  One step at a time....that is how all little turtles finish the race.  I have been documenting the transitions in photos...but we need two computers now for both locations...and that costs money...you all can appreciate this right now....but what the Hell is our government doing these days???   It sounds so childish...has anyone heard of compromise??? I guess I am just too simple minded to truly understand how the politics really work.  When all else fails ...I return to my family and dear friends. 

Katie and Mary on a cool Fall day...preparing for the final cookout  in the Learning Garden in Dawes  Arboretum...

 washing out final Harvest for the tomatios fresh dip...I am not sure of the spelling....

 Our final walk to pick apples for our dessert.........the sun was shining on us all.....

 the remembrance of the wonderful people who came before us...thank you Rosalind..........

the guys are pros by now.......

 I am always taken by the language of the tree limbs...the lichen is almost poetic in form and textural marks.........

 the juiciest apples are always up high.....but well worth the stretch...and the use of simple tools....

 I need to remember these limbs...for further development.........

 I see the gentle eyes of an owl..............

a sweet harvest for all to enjoy............

 Katie is preparing the special fresh garden dip for the four varieties of corn chips we can explore.........

 Aah and Jenny share a moment of quiet reflection...Ash gave us a very poignant gratitude declaration....where did the three months go???

 Mike is chief cook and bottle washer here ............he is the Pro.......

Clinton and Mary supervise...........

 nothing tastes better than grilled hot dogs on a cool Fall day..............they were yummy!

 Ruth helps is assisting the beginning of the feast.................

 Katie is adding the finishing touches to each certificate for each participant..............she is already a wonderful teacher...........

 I am going to meet up with Ash in Columbus....I know now where their offices are located............

 Yummy yummy yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Mike is such a gentle giant............

 Ash is as sweet as one can be working to make each day count for these gardeners and artists............

 David is a bit sad...but I assured him I will see him soon...........

 Love always wins!!!!!!!!!!!

sweet memories.......

 Jenny ...you have made this dream come true.......we are all blessed............

 beautiful Katie....I look forward to working with you again........

 Ruth and I are both grandmothers.........so we enjoy this special group of artists.....

Fall is gently blooming here in Ohio...city living is different but Ken and I are close to his needs and grand kids....what else does one need?  Peace be with you all.  Imagine......and Live in Peace each day!  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Friday with my artists....and my beloved Dawes Arboretum

It is difficult for me to believe that this is going to end next week.  We have a special treats and a cookout planned as well as a golf cart rally around the grounds.  We worked on the leaf printing exercise with Katie direction and the crew did a wonderful job!  Simple steps to select their leaves...paint the back with inks and acrylics... then gently press them onto the cut black foam core squares.  By adding the natural twine...poof! you have created a very special Fall hanging for 2013!

 Katie gently guides her artists through the process after their morning walk to collect leaves....

 add one color first....

 then select different leaf patterns.... add the construction paper prints too for a variety of prints....this is Jason's...

 Cliff enjoys working with prints...until it is time for lunch........

 This one is David's...so textural.... beautiful job.......

 Michael worked personally with Katie today.... I know he was very proud of his leaf compositions...........

 another selection....I do like the addition of the acrylic ink in orange...

 Miss NeHa is back...I worked with her last summer and I have missed her sweet smile...........

 Katie shares her final project....great process for everyone.........

 the deep orange inks pop on the black foam core..........

here is my auction collage/assemblage for the Fur Ball art auction fund raiser for the Licking county Humane Society....foxy Roxie inspired!

 I can not help but thank Miss Roxie ...for her personal inspiration...

 a fun...colorful  addition to anyone who loves animals might enjoy....

this may be an early Birthday present for our director!  Have a great weekend!  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Sorry...I am peddling as fast as I can..........

Please forgive me....
I have been absent from technology...........
I am grieving the loss of my dear brother Larry in May........
My beloved Ken has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer........
the search has been intense to find the right procedures ....
Ken has begun his chemo...and has 43 days of radiation ...8 weeks....daily during Monday > Friday...
He wanted to be closer to Columbus..we saw a small Grandma house 5 minutes from Erin......
Close to the hospital...doctors..and the grand kids..............
We saw a house on a Monday..put a bid in on Tuesday.....and closed on my birthday 9/6/13.........
We have been making decisions about colors.....moves.....adaptive plans...... and grand kids..........
This Saturday we are planning on our first night in the new location with the three small grand kids......
I have been able to continue my work with my artists at Dawes Arboretum but next week is my last session....
I have created a colorful assemblage for the Fur Ball fund raiser this Saturday night....it has been my salvation.... Art Saves Lives.
Thank you all for the generous prayers and loving support ..........I will have to stop in from time to time........
I miss you all......... your loving support is beyond my tired words my body is struggling to find....
I am including some photos of our new collaboration.........Imagine and Live in Peace.

my first attempt for the Fur Ball auction this Saturday

 Make ART...and a glass of iced green tea........

 Shine on...puppy............Fur Balls save our hearts....they love us with zero judgement

 Maya Rose is now 14 years old..........she is such a beauty..........inside and out......

Sabrina is video taping this for her parents.......

 Hannah Marie is a giggle box.......

a few more colorful design details...........

 now what???????????

 I have chosen a beautiful blue....morning glory blue that reminds me of Mexico...............

 I do believe Miss Morgan like her bedroom..........and Lyndon Allen is making the bottom bunk his own............

 Mister Cole loves his special room for over night visits...........very colorful for my young artists..........

 Grandpa and Chance are trying to move the dresser up from the storage area downstairs.............not an easy feat..........

 sweet moments on the back steps with root beer Popsicles

 Cole is carefully examining the found rocks ...granite with quartz..........

 Morgan is searching for a stone with pink colors..........

 but Morgan loves these smooth specimens..........Lyndon has the largest collection of his own rock specimens.......

 the new kitchen is very small........but we can make it work......

 Ken caught me off guard..........

 Cole has his own art and miracle book on the black dresser.....

 the desk is now under an art work Erin Elizabeth made while in high school............the Velvet Ice Cream destination.......

 the colors of this room are very inviting.............cuddle time for reading late in the evening........he has rediscovered the Froggy puppet.......

 small but it will work for right now...........

 this small work is made by a wonderful quilt artist Edith Mitchell who I have know since 1990............

 the rooms are almost ready for an over night..........

this is the special Sassy Violet color Miss Morgan requested........and the quilt is one I made back in 1986 for Erin's twin bed.........full circle ..........

I do not know when I shall return......please know we are peddling as fast as we can.
Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart