I caved! The Internet is here in my studio/log cabin! So all
my resolve to be media free has dissolved – I’m reconnected to the world. No artwork yet…
Entries previously written and now posted:
January 24, 2010
It’s been raining
torrentially most of the day here in West Virginia. Yesterday my nephew Brian drove his truck with as much of my art
stuff, etc. that could fit in it. He opted to take his truck rather than AJ’s. We arrived around 2 PM and
he and his brother were on their way back to PA by 3:45 PM. It didn’t take long for me to realize what was
forgotten and after I organized the “stuff”, I took a trip to a nearby town to shop for some needed essentials.
So much for my list of what had to go – LOL.
Although
I’m writing this now at 10:15 PM Sunday night, I’m not able to get online using dial-up on the landline I’d
had installed. I keep getting a message that my destination is busy. However, I did manage to get all the window
brackets, rods and curtains hung and a few shelves and mirrors are up too – good thing I couldn’t get online!
Of course, no art has been done, but I really had to do this little bit of domestic settling in first, then I won’t
be sidetracked later – or so I hope.
January 25, 2010
OK the Thoreau idea ran into reality today when I found myself driving into a snowstorm
on my way to pick up some necessities that were inadvertently left in PA. Since I have no TV, Internet or radio to find
out about the weather, once the rain stopped, I decided to head out. But it wasn’t really that bad, most of it
was north of here and I had no trouble returning. Of course, having driven through a whiteout on route 40 in western
Arizona two years ago, I’m not intimidated by driving in snow. I just don’t like to do it.
The “destination is busy” message just keeps coming up on the computer
for the past two days. So, I may actually have to be totally Internet deprived – wonder if I’ll need rehab
for this?
January 28, 2010
Did you know that the same part of the brain that’s used for creativity is also
used for house keeping and cleaning? Probably why I’ve always hated housework, but this is my lame excuse for
doing no art. I’m actually still trying to do housekeeping here. The well water has iron in it and the stains
are awful, not to mention the smell and taste. I tried the pitcher purification system and I’m willing to use
that water for cooking and brushing my teeth, but it’s bottled water for drinking. It really does leave a pale
reddish film whenever it spends time in contact with a surface. It’s a good thing I already dye my hair red!
I did go out to see and photograph the falls, which is only .3 mile from my place and
then traveled south to see Sutton and the Sutton Dam. Not the Hoover Dam, but a nice looking structure. But it’s
the Falls Mill Scenic area that is so lovely and so close to me. I have to get to work!
Returned late last evening from a short trip to my studio log cabin in
WV. Besides the snow, which I expected, my peace and quiet, which I also expected to have, was shattered at 5 AM the
first morning there by what turned out to be the honking of geese and quacking of ducks. It seems that they congregate
in a small creek run very close to the cabin and when I looked out the window holding a lantern, they noisily waddled right
over. It was apparent that the previous occupant fed them. Something I have no intention of doing, so perhaps
they’ll find another benefactor. Later that day while I was taking window measurements in a back bedroom, I heard
a lot of noise on the front porch and there - looking for a handout - were a family of goats. The young kid was shy
at first, but the parents were ready to come in when I opened the door. Happily, I ran to get my camera and all they
got were their photos taken.
On a more somber
note, my return trip home was marred by a multi-vehicle crash near Morgantown, WV. It became apparent that something
had happened up ahead when all traffic going east on 68 in light snow came to an almost standstill. We crawled for miles
until we were funneled into one lane as we approached the scene. There were fire trucks – one or both of the vehicles
had been on fire, police and rescue vehicles and portable stadium lights all gathered there. I’d been able to
see a little of what looked like a two car crash when I was inching along an upper curve of the highway and an unidentifiable
dark object alone in the snow caught my eye. It made an intriguing design against the white and I wondered what part
of one of the severely damaged cars it was. As I drove closer, I noticed a car pull over and a man carrying a camera
with a large telephoto lens get out to take pictures of that same dark car part. The police initially tried to stop
him, but he must have had press credentials, because he was allowed to continue. Soon I saw one car without doors and
children’s food and drinks spilled in what was left of the rear compartment. I then caught a glimpse of another
car upside down with its roof compressed to meet the hood and trunk. Then the car in front of me was stopped to let
two emergency rescue vehicles leave. We continued at an even slower pace and I finally got to see the mysterious dark
object, its design in the snow initially so attracting me. It was a charred child car seat…
