Happy Equinox!

Today is the first day of spring! Welcome!

My office calendar graphic for March is a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh and it reads:

Spring comes slowly
And quietly
To allow Winter
To withdraw
Slowly and quietly.

It's a perfect quote for Michigan at least! Today: 40s. Tomorrow: Snow!

On the equinox the day and night are of equal length. Spring is the date the sun enters the sign of Aries -- the first section of the Zodiacal year. (Pam Aries has a birthday coming up this month!) Perhaps we should be saying “Happy New Year” instead.

My spring started joyfully yesterday when I returned home to find a surprise box from Rosemary filled with a beautiful bouquet of silk roses in glorious colors. Don't they just pop?

I instantly got one of my mom's cut glass vases for them and they look lovely! I’m so glad I held onto all her glass! Thank you Rosemary, as you enjoy your vacation! (If you have linked to her blog before, you may have seen these very flowers or some much like it! Hooray!)

I also received a packet from Karla, whose St. Patrick's Day swap I entered. (By the way, right now Karla has a wonderful cardmaking tutorial using vintage papers!) In addition to the two pretty tags I received, she tucked many delightful goodies within, including a crocheted circlet and some vintage papers! Thank you, Karla! And the day before Shelley sent this cute paper egg ornament. I couldn’t quite get the light right on it, but you get the idea! Thanks again, Shell!

I also happened into good fortune. I was assisting a Ready To Learn workshop for our station which was conveniently located next to a store I dearly love (though I love it a little less because they are dumping their art thing and converting into mostly quilts, which I also love, but since I don't sew...) Anyway, I stopped in mainly to get candy from their old-fashioned candy counter for Rick's basket and because of that switchover, I happened into a good sale. A best of Somerset book at bargain prices, along with Adirondack inks, distress inks, some fun little metal pieces, alphabets, mah jong tiles, and lots of this and that! Fun!

Tonight I am joining my group of wildly wonderful women to celebrate spring. We will laugh, talk, catch up and share. It will be a grand time! Anytime with good friends and party favors is fun!
Spring is here -- the light is coming back! Happy Day!

I Got a New Camera!

It's not huge, it wasn't expensive, and I know it has its limitations, but last night I picked up a nice little Olympus that fits in my pocket! The camera was $69 (on sale, half off) and two people had recommended it to me. And I have to say, anything would be better than that other thing that doesn't deserve to be called a camera.

I haven't played with it a lot, but of course I had to take a photo of The Gypsy (just because I can!).

So I leave you with that on this Equinox Eve. May you wake to springtime wherever you are!

Now Hear This!

These flowers are for you! Both as a thank you for visiting the Marmelade Gypsy (hopefully commenting!) and for those of you who have blogs, a thank you for what you do for me.

I feel so privileged to have many creative online friends. Friends I have never met in person, but friends nonetheless. Their blog posts take me to places around the world, they captivate my imagination with stunning art and photography which in turn inspires my own creativity. They tell me of books I must add to my list, offer delicious recipes I can add to my own repertoire, provide valuable instruction and make me smile as they tell stories of family, pets and travels. We support one another in times of frustration and we celebrate each others’ joys and achievements.

Three of my online pals – BethD, Rosemary and Shelley – are really responsible for The Marmelade Gypsy. Theirs were the first blogs I visited (we share an art group) and they convinced me I could do it too!

Shelley (aka Artsy) has just started a new blog, Artsy’s Digital Dreams. This focuses exclusively on her digital collage and the work is just beautiful! I encourage you to take a look and surround yourself with the sumptuous colors and beautiful images she brings to the screen. Shelley gets the Marmelade Gypsy High Five Purr of Approval! Stop by and see for yourself!

A Lovely, Creative Time!

My Artiscape materials arrived on Friday! I'd been a little worried -- neither Kate nor I had received confirmations or noted our checks had been cashed. So I checked to see where things stood and found that materials had been mailed.

I confess I'd forgotten about the collage contest until I pulled an envelope out of the box today to find my materials. They package their registrations very well. The theme this year involves Morocco and Casablanca and so they put all the instructions into a "passport" with flipping pages explaining all the details. There are even pages for taking notes at the Marketplace!

Also included in the packet was a set of collage materials. Each participant is asked to make something -- it can be jewelry, a box, ATC, book -- whatever you like -- using the theme "A Night in Casablanca" (movie or the place). You can use the materials included or anything else. The items are turned in at registration and auctioned off at the Casablanca dinner for charity. Only a few weeks on that one -- gotta think!) The packet was very nice -- little stamps, movie posters -- size small -- mini-postcards and script pages. I'm sure I'll have plenty left over!

Of course, that wasn’t what I did this weekend. I went back to birdhouse heaven to add to my houses. I think I’ll be ready for March 27, when Karla’s Cottage hosts Bling Your Birdhouse day, decent photos pending! I still might have to fiddle a tad more with one, but I’m close.
Work in progress

Then I went on to do a few ATCs and made some party favors for our Equinox dinner – this is a group of us who gather regularly. We decided on March 20 – the long awaited, first day of Spring – for our dinner date! So, I had to prep something fun (little tussie-mussies with chocolates and an Easter tag!).

Lousy photo of chocolates wrapped in shimmery chiffon with a collaged tag.

Of course, I had fine assistance from Gyppy. I think it’s Lisa Oceandreamer who calls her cats her assistants. I couldn’t agree more – my boy is quite content to assist with the ribbons and check to see what’s in whatever container that happens to be open! Now if only he’d hold down Spanish moss with his paw while we wait for it to dry. But he’d rather eat it. Or bat it about!

And, I did lots of cutting (prepping ATCs for the Artiscape trade sessions) and putting some base coats on several canvases so I can start messing with some bigger collages.

I confess I really cherished this weekend. It was lovely, but too cold to be outside doing yard things, which I know will eat my weekend days in (hopefully) a few weeks. There was time to go to the gym, time to cook, time for a movie and a concert. But best of all, there was time to simply create.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gypsy looks more like a burlesque comic than a dignified feline in his shamrock bow-tie, but who can resist? (It does look as though if you got too close it would shoot water at you!)

I like this -- he looks like he's ready to burst with "Too ra loo ra loo rah!" or maybe more of a lively tune!

Made corned beef yesterday -- my first (why did it take so long to discover how easy it was to put a slab of meat in a pot and boil it for three and a half hours?)

And, made the great soda bread recipe my pal Shelley sent me. It was delicious and so easy!

A lovely weekend with lots of art and lots of fun. More later, with pix! A beautiful performance of Bach's St. John's Passion last night. It was our symphony orchestra with the university chorale and choral union. It was held in one of our larger churches, but the place was packed. I heard someone say, "there are spots in the basement..." I don't think they had any idea how well attended it would be. Quite beautiful. Quite long. Stunning, nonetheless. There was a spot in the program with the translation from the German where they referred to Mary (as in mother), her sister Mary and their friend Mary. For a minute I began a quiet chuckle, because all I could think of was Larry, Darryl and Darryl from the "Newhart." It was a fairly somber piece -- no Hallelujah chorus type of song at the end. (And no, I did NOT expect "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," but I do love the Hallelujah chorus so much, it just sets the bar for me; Not having a rousing finish was a little bit of a downer.) But it was a good kick off to Easter.

Speaking of which, is anyone else sort of confused or frustrated that Easter and St. Patrick's day are so close together this year? It feels jarring to me. And that it will be a long time till Memorial day. I did see a tiny bit of green (daffodills) poking their heads out of the mulch, so I know spring is really on the way.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

Is it possible that Easter is just a week away? And spring, too, for that matter.

Last weekend I realized this and rapidly took down my last tree -- I call it a "winter tree," because it's all snowflakes and icicles and lovely white things -- not a Santa to be seen. And while the snowflake garlands come down this weekend (OK, I pooped out!), much of the Easter has started to appear.

The bunnies hold court with the felt flower and flamingo lamp!

These bunnies are on the china cabinet. An antique print from my friend in Paris is behind them.

I love the bunnies. They're all over the house. Terra cotta, china, wooden, paper mache, fabric, stuffed. Gotta love the bunnies! Many of these buddies are from my friend Lin in Ohio who always knows exactly what I like (partly because she and I love the same things!) So, there is a good deal of "source memory" and thinking of friends as I bring up the surrogates!

But perhaps my favorites are the two egg trees. These really draw into my past. As a teen, my mom and I would blow out eggs till we were blue in the face and decorate them. Dyes, paints, jewels, trims... we'd buy the satin eggs in the store sometimes, too. I wish I still had the one I made first -- it was a plastic egg with a decal of a collie -- my dog, Major. I'm not sure where that one hangs out anymore, but there are plenty from the mom era of 40 years ago.

This bigger tree was given to me by my friend Bonnie when she moved. I like the bright lights!

When I set up the tree, I find myself carefully studying each egg, recalling its story. On each tree there is an egg made of small fabric flowers -- you know, the kind you might use for a trim on a sewing project? We cut them apart and stuck them to the egg -- all bright pink and green, with a few pearls to bling it up. We didn't call it that then, but we were talking the same thing! Now I don't know which of us made which egg -- they are almost identical. And I really don't care. I just love seeing it there. And the yellow one with the beads. And the satin ones with the pearls.

Yes, there are eggs that have come from other sources -- and more than a few ornaments, some gifts; others chosen by me. But those eggs... that is such a Mom connection.

My mom died around Easter time 31 years ago. That year Easter was in April, an unseasonably warm one at that. So, regardless where it falls on the calendar, I still think of her at that time. Think of the things we did, enjoyed. There is so very much of my life that has changed in those decades, things I wish she'd been around to share.

But one thing hasn't changed at all. Those decorations remain constant -- well, no. They grow and grow! And my love for creating special things grows, too. A seed carefully planted, gently nourished, and then let to flower on its own.

Only a week until spring. The Gypsy holds court, waiting in fear for me to put on the pretty spring-colored silk bandana.

Tough!

We Won!

This is a terrific day for us here at WKAR! We just learned that we won the 2008 PACE Award of Excellence (for "The War: Michigan Voices") in the Community Relations category. They said "Your achievement truly demonstrates the positive impact of public relations."


(This was the one with the notebook that couldn't close! Needless to say, it was worth the hernia we got delivering the entry!)

This morning we also found out “Michigan Voices” won a first in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters competition in the Special Interest Programming category. Plus Ready To Learn won first place in the Best Community Involvement category and "Michigan At Risk: Whatever Happened to Organized Labor" took two first places (Best Hard News/Current Events Story and News/Public Affairs Special).

And, on top of that we were named Michigan Public Television Station of the Year by the MAB for the third year in a row! WKAR Radio also received two MAB awards as well – a first place and an honorable mention!

It's been a very nice day here and I couldn't keep it to myself!

**********
About Silda Spitzer...

I don’t usually deal with anything political in my blog, and this isn’t either, really. This is just a call for well-meaning (or perhaps not) commentators and journalists (none of whom will read this blog) to stop saying, “Eliott Spitzer’s wife looks so bad. She used to be such a beautiful woman…” and “She’s aged years in the past few days.”

Sorry, folks, but the woman’s been through hell. And probably the last thing she needs on top of everything she’s been through with her husband is to have news commentators to keep talking about how bad she looks. Nothing like being told you really look lousy to add to your already awful day.

I’m sure she had a few more things on her mind than doing her best to look perky.

‘Nuf said. Had to rant.

Seven Weird and Random Things About Me

I was tagged by Sandi at Victorian Gypsy to do this (and unofficially tagged by reading other blogs that have done as I will -- if you see this and have time respond, you're tagged; if you don't, enjoy!

1. I work best with noise – generally the telly (keeps me from hearing the sounds in my head, which are tinnitus despite rumors to the contrary!).

2. I put hats on my cat! (Here’s the late Mr. Stimpy – all my cats are cross-dressers).

3. I collect quilts – particularly antique or older quilts. (Or did, till I ran out of room!) (You’ll note I didn’t say I quilted…that requires sewing and I’ll consider it an achievement if I get an art doll made!) The one pictured is one from a summer festival this summer. Don’t own it (wish I did!).

4. My favorite place to spend time (creative and otherwise) is at my cottage in Northern Michigan. 5. I’m an only child.

6. For 10 years I volunteered as a children’s grief facilitator at a grief center in my community called Ele’s Place.

7. My two most treasured moments meeting someone famous were meeting Mister Rogers and Caroll Spinney – aka Oscar and Big Bird.
You're it!

Merit Badges

Thanks to Tina at Garden Goose, I was the lucky winner of a great book called You Can Do It – which is basically Girl Scout merit badges but for grown-ups!

Each chapter is a different topic (you can learn public speaking, art, dancing, better interview techniques, etc.) and includes a “mentor” who is skilled in that area and offers tips. At the end are great little “merit badges” (colorful cardstock circles with cool graphics that I’m sure will end up in an ATC or collage somewhere!)

Thanks, Tina! I’m so excited I was the winner!

This all reminded me of my Brownie Scout days. Most of us were actually rather bratty, but there are some I’ve been aware of in later life who actually turned out quite well! In fact one of us (and she was NEVER a brat), my friend Michele LeVett, is now a full-time artist listed in my links. Stop by and check out her site!

A lovely weekend. Sunny. Melting snow. (The big snow went south of us!) I pulled out much of the Easter decorations, realizing it’s only two weeks away! Yikes! More on that later, but I’ll leave you with a springy carrot salad, just to get you thinking of bunnies! (Get your cooking merit badge with this one!)

Quick Carrot Salad

This makes me two really hefty lunch servings -- probably a little more than a cup or so -- because that's all I eat. You would probably want to double it for more people. It would also be good at a picnic because there's no mayo so it wouldn't rot in the heat.

1-2 bags shredded carrots
1/2 c. cilantro (parley is OK, too.)
1/2 c. raisins (boil them for a minute or so to puff them up – sometimes I skip this step and sometimes I use golden raisins or dried cranberries)
Mix together and pour dressing over the top.

Dressing:
1/4 c. lemon juice
2 t. red wine vinegar
1 t. olive oil
1/4 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1/4 t. paprika

(I use more of the spices because I love it really zesty, and maybe a little more lemon juice. You might have to adjust olive oil if too much more juice.)

Also good with the following add-ins -- cashews or almonds or some other crunchy thing; cherry or grape tomatoes.

You can make this in five minutes or less and it holds up well in the fridge for a couple of days, too.

Finished, Fabiano's and Letting Rick Ride!

Finished!

Last night I put the final touches on Iris’ shawl. The true color (and of course softness) of this yarn doesn’t come through in a photo, but you get a pretty close look. The fringe is long and on some strings include beads.

I’m thrilled with it. The only thing that worries me is that it’s a little long. It works for me, but I’m a good five inches taller than Iris, and I fear the fringe might drag on the floor! But she can toss it around her neck in a rather funky look – or use it as a lap blanket or lap shawl.

(Incidentally, I just added a couple new links for knitters – Rob’s blog and Matt’s blog. Rob and Matt own Threadbear Fiber Arts (there’s a link there, too!) and for knitters it is a haven!)

It’s about two feet wide and I am afraid to measure how long! But I do think she’ll like it! Hope so!

I’m also sending her some candy from one of my favorite local candy stores – in business since 1924! Fabiano’s is a terrific place – here are a couple of pix.

Finally, thanks to all who have gone to Let Rick Ride (and if you haven’t, click on that and go!) and voted for him to ride in the Dalmac ride! Remember, I’m thrilled to hear in comments that you support him, but comments to my blog won’t go directly to the ride coordinator, but Let Rick Ride will!

Let Rick Ride!

On a lovely day like this (OK, it's about 25, but the sun is out, so that's lovely by me!), my thoughts go to summer, spring, planting things, birdhouses (which I have on the brain) and heading to the lake.


My Rick's thoughts go to one thing. The bike. He rides over 5,000 miles a year and is passionate about it, longing for long-distance rides, as well as the "short" 25 or 40 mile versions. We live by the Tour de France when July comes along. (He has me watching it even when he's not around and even did my "Tour" ATC!

And one of his longstanding events is a ride from Lansing to Mackinac called "DALMAC," which he's participated in for 20 years.

Now, Rick is a big safety fan. And I don't think anyone knows bikes and both competitive riding and road riding better than he does -- at least, not in my circle. And he can be a little opinionated when he is making a point, especially when the fate of his own safety -- or that of other riders is concerned.

Well, last year, he may have been a little too opinionated about the safety of tall flags on sharp sticks on the back of the bike ("you'll poke your eye out!") which were a "requirement" of the ride. The short end of THAT stick is that this year, they told him he couldn't ride.

SO, I am asking my blogger buddies to click here on this "Let Rick Ride" link and vote "yes!" to let Rick ride. You'll see his point of view and it's just an email thing (click yes or no) -- it won't come through your as your email address and you won't get spam or a reply unless you ask for one. (If you're into biking and want to see the newly formed Astana team ride in the Tour, click on the link after to "Let Levi Ride" as well!)

Thanks for helping out!

Monday Madness

Why Monday madness? Because there's so much to do here and I would really rather be doing other fun things at home! I've a yen to play in the glue and paint today and it's not going to happen!

So this is brief, but first...

Thanks for many lovely comments on both Iris' and Mutty's birthdays! I'm printing them out to mail to them!

Second, I didn't have a Public TV pick of the week last week or this week (or next) because stations are all in fundraising periods and the schedules are wildly divergent by market. My favorites? The new James Taylor concert we are airing tonight and "Celebrating Jane Austen" which is a behind-the-scenes look at the PBS dramas. (It will tank in our market, but I don't care. It's still my favorite!) There's also a great profile of Pete Seeger and if you are a folk fan, this "American Masters" portrait is a rich one.

Third, I am having great fun prepping to "bling my birdhouse." Visit Karla's Cottage and take her tutorial. Then on March 27, post your entry. (You may enter without Karla's tutorial, but I recommend it, just because the photos are so great!)

My first bird house

Finally, I leave you with some pictures of my favorite household helper, Gypsy, the Laundry Boy. So glad he's domestic -- now if only I could get him to pick up the fur that seems to fly as he dashes through the house!

Gotta love the Gyppy!

Hope to go blog visiting tonight between pledge breaks... or tomorrow...or soon!

Iris is 95 Today!

Imagine what all has happened since 1913 -- cars were still a special luxury, no one would consider flying an airplane, and indeed, most of World War I, which began the year after, was a ground war. No atom bomb, telephone, television, microwave, ATM, man on the moon, VISA card, frozen packaged foods, electric vacuum cleaners, super stores, or computers.

Now, imagine being born then and seeing what all has happened since.

Iris with my grandmother, Minnie Wood Leatherman.

Here’s a birthday salute to my aunt, Iris, who is 95 today!

The Leatherman Family -- Iris is in the center, holding baby Grace (mom of cousins David, Patty and Mutty)

Iris, Eleanor, Jean (my mom) and Junior, who died aruond the age of 7.

Mom (Jean), Iris and Eleanor

Iris was the oldest of my mom’s sisters, and the only one still alive. And, I might say, doing very well at 95! She lives near her daughter and one of her sons (the other isn’t too far away) so she’s able to see some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren regularly.

These are the sister on Grace's wedding day -- Grace, Eleanor, Iris and Mom

Iris (also known as “The Big I”) was the first of the women in our family to really be employed outside the home – that was in the 40s, maybe even before. She worked for my grandfather, selling insurance, and a woman I have run into here in town who knew her said she was really one of the first working women in the community that she was aware of. Around the time I was a teen, she and my uncle bought a sporting goods store in Gaylord, Michigan – a town that gets much of its support from vacation tourism. I can still see her working the counters there – she knew everyone, and they all knew her!

Iris is the “Last of the Moms” in my family and so she’s my honorary mom! She’s tough, caring, sentimental, smart, and all together!

Grace's wedding day -- the sisters with my grandparents.

Happy Birthday, Iris! May we all make it so long as you have -- and so very well, too!