There was an impossible amount of STUFF going on in my family when I was a kid. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve realized my then-body had figured out a strategy to remove myself from the obligation to participate in the stress: I got sick. There were lots of options, some slightly life-threatening – severe allergies to things like dust, wool, potatoes (though I’d have liked to add buckwheat to the list, I could not); chronic Bronchial-Athsma; severe strep throat; mumps… Whatever was prevailing, I would assume – but these ailments together were enough to take me out of the mainstream and into a place, far from the madding crowd, where I could get serious about playing…

I’ve played solitaire since I was at least seven, so has my mom. I had the choice of 2 NHL decks – Habs or Leafs. Without much thinking I chose Habs because I wanted to improve my chances of winning… (sorry Dad)
So now that the Christmas ‘flu has arrived (& I was due), I’m in my happy place despite the raw nose, stuffed head, aching joints and dodgy stomach. The little things are calling me….

…what would happen if I layered three cello lines and a simple heartbeat percussion. maybe voice, maybe…
And this ongoing game from Virginia Eichorn, our intrepid Chief Curator and Director at the Tom Thomson Gallery:
or a long, ambling poetry/image surf where the most resonant discoveries end up glued in an actual book…
The Poem shown on the bottom of the page is by Liz Zetlin, from “The Thing with Feathers”.
knit a few rows, write a few lines, doodle on the scrap paper. Sort out the D-ring Snaffle Bit painting a bit; sew rocks and beads in not-so-random patterns onto the fabric pieces. Eat Cherries and Broccoli. Sleep. Dream about listening. improvise ways to install speaker/receivers into the backs of paintings. Wake & drink coffee. Read Theories of Modern Art some more. Check in with The Art Game. Eat carrots, drink tea and honey. Play with cat, sleep…
I’m open like a clam with it’s biggest warmest smile. Can’t think of a better way to bring in 2014.
Love to all,
K