Christmas Craziness

I’ve been a bad, BAD blogger these days. That’s simply because the holidays have made life very busy. In recent years I have found myself dreading Christmas. I’m beginning to feel more and more like Charlie Brown, and actually being depressed by Christmas, not really knowing why. This year I cringed at the site of the Christmas tree display at Home Depot. Granted it was the middle of October, which seems way too early, but that’s another issue altogether. At first I was surprised at my own reaction toward the holiday season then it occurred to me that perhaps I dread Christmas so much because historically, bad things happen to me right before the holidays.


When I was about ten or eleven, my pony became very ill and nearly died. I spent the week before Christmas thinking we’d have to have her put down. Many years later when I was home from college, I went up to the local mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping. On my way home, I was in a car accident. While sitting in stopped traffic, I noticed the car behind me traveling way too fast. I knew I was about to be rear-ended and there was nothing I could do about it. I was driving my mother’s car at the time, and although it was from the rear, I was hit with enough force that I was pushed into the car in front of me, rendering my car un-drivable.

After moving to Kentucky travel often became the issue. Several times I was caught in Christmas Eve gridlock in Cincinnati. A few years ago, a strong winter storm almost canceled my travel plans entirely. Last year, my car broke down two days before Christmas, and there was no way to have it repaired in time. I chose to drive my second vehicle, a 1973 VW Super beetle, which at the time had no heat. All I can say is that it was a long, cold drive back home.

None of these events are earth shattering; nevertheless it seems that there is always some last minute emergency change of plans that causes additional stress to an already busy time of year. This year was no exception.

Monday evening I came home from work to the sound of running water. Unfortunately the running water was coming from the ceiling in my office. My first thought was that my toilet had overflowed, but I soon discovered that in fact I had a frozen pipe burst in my second floor bathroom. Water was raining in my office on the first floor, and my basement had flooded with four to six inches of water.

My neighbor helped me shut off the water from the street, and after a few panicked phone calls, my friends along with my plumber and a restoration service all arrived offering to help. Apparently, my verbal skills had diminished to “Flood, Help, and Shopvac.”
My kitchen became triage area for books, papers, photos and artwork. God love my friends. They know my priorities. Immediately, they grabbed my soaking photographs, strung up clotheslines, and hung each print up to dry. It was like walking into an old darkroom. Books were sorted by “wetness” and dried appropriately. Artwork was removed from the framing in order to dry out, while soggy paper and cardboard backing was discarded. Meanwhile, the carpet in the office was pulled up, and the water soaked insulation was removed from the attic, and pumps began removing the water from the basement.

Things were not as bad as they first seemed. The pipe burst in an attic space and caused no other damage to the upstairs. Many of the items in my office were salvageable. The water did not reach my computers, or photographic equipment. I tackled the basement the next day. Many of the things down there were protected by being up on shelves or in plastic tubs. The ceiling wills most likely need replaced but I’m not too worried about it, since that space is mainly used as an art studio. Everything is drying out right now and the insurance adjuster will be come on Wednesday.

All and all I’m quite thankful. Thankful to everyone that came to my rescue. Thankful that there wasn’t any more damage. Thankful that it was only water and not anything worse. Thankful that it happened when it did. Two days later I would have been away visiting family in Ohio for several days. It could’ve been so much worse.

So my Christmas plans were thrown into chaos again, as the clean-up and dry-out process began. I spent the next 36 hours trying to get things cleaned up enough that I could leave the house for a few days, and once again I found myself scrambling at the last minute to gather everything I needed to visit my family. Those last minute gifts I needed to pick up, simply didn’t happen, and luckily everyone understood. It all turned out okay in the end. I made it home to my parents and had a lovely holiday, but I think next year I’m locking myself in my home around the 23rd of December, just in case.

A Holiday Classic

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" airs on MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 and TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Fall in photos

It seems that fall was cut short this year. I can remember when I moved into my house a few years back, the leaves stayed on the trees  well into December.  I recall the man at the local hardware store laughing at me when I asked for a leaf rake while standing  amidst the sea of inflatable Christmas decorations. (This was before Home Depot decided to start the Christmas season in early October....which is wrong, but don't get me started on that one.)  Admittedly, my "leaves on trees gauge" has been thrown off a bit this year, since the bulk of my leaf makers were wiped out this past February, but it still seems that the cold winter weather has arrived early. 

I feel like we were cheated out of fall a bit this year. But given the shortness of the season, I'm extremely thankful that I had the opportunity to enjoy the few days we did have. Here are some photos from my few fall excursions.

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I've always suggested the Lexington Cemetery to clients as a location for photographs. When I worked for another studio, I can remember talking to a lady on the phone.  She said, in a thick country accent, "Y'all take pictures in a graveyard?"  I had a hard time convincing her that it was a really beautiful place especially during the spring.  

So, a couple weeks ago my mom came to visit and she said "Can we take a drive through the cemetery? It was so pretty in the spring I want to see what it was looks like in fall."  I reluctantly agreed.  I've never thought to go there in fall.

I was blown away by the pallet of colors. I'm so glad my mom suggested it, and luckily I had my camera with me.

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The following weekend some friends and I traveled down Loraine, KY to visit the Maker's Mark Distillery.  Nestled down in a little valley, Makers Mark loaded with classic Kentucky imagery. 

We took the distillery tour, did a bourbon tasting and even dipped our own bottle. It was an awesome field trip on a dreary, rainy day.

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Now almost all the fall color is gone, and Christmas is looming. We've already had a significant snow (aka: a good dusting. It is Kentucky), and although I feel fall was way to short, today I'm going to tie up loose ends and prepare to embrace winter even if it's early.

This is why I wear converse.

Anyone that knows me or has perhaps looked at this blog, knows that I have a thing for converse tennis shoes, specifically Chuck Taylors. It all started back in college when I bought a pair of  white hi-tops. They seemed to be the perfect shoes.  They were classic, comfortable, but most importantly they were cheap. Since then my collection of chucks has grown. At last count, I have about 30 pairs of converse raging from classic white, to hounds tooth, plaid, even alligator skin. (hmmmm.......I see a future blog theme on the horizon "Chucks of the month.") 

Anyway, you might be surprised to learn that excluding the converse and one notable pair of Doc Martens, I have pretty boring taste in shoes. Simple oxfords, or loafers in black and brown and perhaps a sandal, will just about do it for me. My best friend, on the other hand, has shoes in every color and style imaginable. Conveniently, we often wear the same size. So when she decides to clean out her closet, I'm generally the recipient of her gently worn, yet greatly loved cast-offs.  Recently, after a visit to T's house I found myself the new owner of about six new pairs of shoes, including one pair of bright red Mary Janes.

Last Friday as I got ready for work I contemplated my shoes selection. I was dressing somewhat dressy. The outfit was not chuck appropriate. I was going to be wearing basically all black, but I'd also be wearing a red raincoat. "I know! I'll wear the Mary Janes." Which I did, and for once I can actually say the outfit was cute. So off to work I go.

While making the long trek from the parking lot to the office, I noticed that shoes felt funny. I chalked it up to the fact that they had been broken in by someone other than me, but then later as I walked to lunch it seemed to be worse. And, the weird thing was that one shoe was now significantly worse off than the other.  I reached down to feel the sole of my shoe and to my surprise I found a large chunk of it missing.  After lunch I looked at the other shoe, only to find that it too seemed to have bits breaking off the rubber sole.  

As I walked back to my desk I noticed tiny bits of black runner all over the office.  Apparently, I was leaving a trail everywhere I went, very much like Hansel and Gretel. My co-workers got a good laugh out of that one.

Around 2pm my shoes looked like this.

By this time it had started to rain outside and given the fact that the shoes seemed to be melting off my feet, I thought it best to save what was left of the shoes for the walk back to the car. So the rest of the afternoon I ran around the office in my socks. (Luckily these socks didn't holes in the toes like most of mine do. Talk about embarrassing.)

I did manage to make it home with some shoe still intact and without major incident, however I did almost slip when I lost my footing (literally) as a large chunk fell off somewhere between the UK Fine Arts Building and the President's home.  

At the end of the day my cute Mary Janes looked like this.

They were  cute... for about 2 minutes; that is the amount of time I suspect they remained in tact. When I got home from work I had to laugh when I found little bits of black rubber sole on my front porch and sidewalk, left there from the morning.  Yep, my guess is about two minutes.  

After this all I can say is, that I've never had this trouble with my chucks.

Double Bonus

About six or seven years ago I was commissioned to make a minister's stole using my salt-dyed silks for a lovely lady named Kayt Ward. At the time I didn't get the chance to meet her as I was in Kentucky and she was in Ohio, but I heard she was thrilled with the end product. I kicked my self repeatedly for not getting a photo of stole before I shipped it off to her.

As fate would have it our paths crossed again this past spring. Kayt called Village Artisans trying to track down the artist that made her stole. Luckily, I was working the shop that day. She explained that she needed another stole for the officiant at her daughter's wedding in the summer. Even after moving to a new house and a couple of studio purging incidents, I managed to dig up my pattern and even some pieces of silk that I used on the first one.

This time Kayt and I arranged a time to meet to pick up the stole. What a delightful lady! We immediately hit it off and ended up chatting for over an hour in the shop. She's been to Italy several times and we shared stories of amazing experiences each of had there. After our meeting I emailed Kayt and asked her if she could send me a picture of both my stoles being used at her daughter's wedding. She happily agreed.

So a month or so later, as my cousin was trying to tie up loose ends for the wedding, he said the person that was presiding over the ceremony had to back out. "I just may be able to help you out with that." I contacted Kayt and she happily agreed to do the ceremony. She even posed for this picture, so I might be able to document my artwork. So, it was kind of neat that I was able to contribute my artwork in two different ways. A double bonus!

A big thank you to Kayt in so many ways!

I've finally finished editing Rob and Kelly's wedding photos. To see more of photos click here.

Sneak Preview-- Rob & Kelly

Rob and Kelly were married on October 31st, (HALLOWEEN!) 

Rob is my first cousin, and the closest thing I have to a little brother. When, his twin sister married three years ago, I was the maid of honor.  This time I traded in that role, for the one of photographer; one I'm admittedly more comfortable with, but I know if I don't post some photos from the wedding soon, I'll be flooded with emails and phone calls from my relatives. Patience is not a trait that runs in my family. So, this post is to pacify my family, who I know are eagerly awaiting.

Although, the temperature had been in the 30's earlier in the week, things had warmed up by Friday and we had a beautiful fall day. There ceremony  took place outdoors under a gazebo, then everyone moved inside for a casual reception at Gilbert's Party Barn.

The wedding took place, quite literally down the road (or gravel path) from where I grew up.  My parent's house quickly became the meeting point for everyone before the wedding. I ended up doing quite a bit of these pre-ceremony shots of the bride and groom there.

Kelly even got ready in my old bedroom, which photographed much better than I ever would've imagined.  Then again, after living there for nearly 20 years, I guess I you could say I was familiar with the location. 

(For some reason I LOVE this first image of Kelly. It reminds me of something you would see in a magazine, although, I suspect my family won't love it as much as I do.)

Admittedly, these are more of the artsy-shots.  I'm still working on the rest, and to any family out there reading this, I'll let you know as soon as the rest are finished.   I hope these will tide you over in the mean time.  Enjoy

Seasonal Changes

I've been a bad blogger this week. I try to post something at least once a week, however sometimes life just gets in the way. One would think that a 5 day break from work would give me plenty of time recharge, but actually I think I'm more drained than when this all began. My 5 days off consisted of 4 in Ohio and 1 catching up on all the things at home. As for the rest of my week, I quickly found myself with something going on every night .
It is when life gets to this pace that I experience Einstein's Theory of Relativity. In my space-time continuum, it is the end of September, but when I watch the Weather Channel every the morning, they are quick to point out that it is all ready November. Somehow I feel like I missed October. How does this happen? Why can't I keep up?
November means the end for me in so many things. The end of leaves on trees. The end of my garden (although mine petered out much earlier this year.) The end of time to get those outdoor projects done. I'm afraid many will be remain unfinished this year.  

November has an impact on Bianka. It means the end of snake-season.  She's had a good run this year.  I neglected to post the latest standings.   She caught snake number 9 in early October, although it was hardly worth mentioning.  It was a tiny, garter snake not much bigger than an earthworm.  Truthfully, I think she was disappointed with the catch.  It gave me hopes that perhaps she's had an impact on the garter snake population in my yard, that is until she got snake number 10. 

Snake number 10 gave us insight to the much asked question, "What does she do with the snakes after she catches them?"  

Mystery solved. She plays with them until she's done and then she's ready to come inside....

....and rest.

Final Standing for the season Bianka 10 snakes 1

Now I'm off to try to soak in the last glimpses of Fall, and take care of a couple of those remaining projects.  And who knows, Bianka still might come across a no-legged friend.

Thriller

I'm so bummed that I'm going to miss this. It sounds like so much fun. (This is from 2006) Next year I want to sign up to be a zombie.



For more info on Thriller:
Thriller in Lexington