week 30 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

Another little section of  map – the substantial blackberry patch of the people across the street, and the burned shell of a house – set back from the road, black and charred, the lawn overgrown with grass and sumac, next to the far swamp, perfect gloom. And here it is in the context of my growing map.

(click the image for a larger version)

week 29 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

Milkweeds grew behind the house, by the bulkhead – a perfect spot for finding monarch caterpillars and observing the wondrous transformation in a mayonnaise jar. This time of year always makes me think of it.

Regarding my tardiness this week: I missed my Wednesday post deadline and I’ll tell you a little bit about why.  I’ve been super busy all spring and summer, no breathing room at all, dancing as fast as I can.   A few weeks ago a new project came up that I so wanted to work  on – couldn’t not work on- so I did.  I finished this week  and it was really, really fun and worth the extra effort. I’ll tell you a bit more about it next week.

week 28 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

(click the image for a larger version)

This is another little section of what will eventually be one big map.  The end result is going to be much, much larger – even though I’m working as small as I possibly can-  and more detailed  than what I pictured when I first started. I can’t bear to leave anything out, not the dirt pile or the aluminum lawn chairs, or the raspberries  or the poison ivy or the big rock or the little gate on the corner with a fancy latch or the  tree near the asparagus patch where my mother so famously saw a great grey owl.

week 27 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

One day a huge hot air balloon passed over our house – very low – you could see the people and details of the basket and hear the whoosh of the  flames. We  all stood on the back steps with my mother and watched it float past. It terrified the cat.

week 26 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

I finished my painting of the little depression era mini land fill next to gingers barn today. It was a do -over – after struggling for weeks with my original effort I scrapped all progress and started over. I’m happier. But not thrilled. I’ll take that though – progress.

week 25 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

I remember wanting the dollhouse for a very long time. I remember getting a full sheet of quarter inch plywood for my birthday, the hours and hours spent with my father in the basement on winter evenings working on the house and the importance of having a plan and measuring twice and cutting once etc, etc.

It had real wood shingles and flower boxes under windows with a diamond lead pattern made from tiny and  precisely cut strips of black electrical tape on rectangles of plexi glass that fit  perfectly into each little window opening. It was carefully decorated and furnished with things either made by me, purchased with saved allowance or  acquired on birthdays and holidays – every bit of it  treasured and wonderfully fancy and precious and magic and small.

I still have much of he furniture and little things I made – I used some of it for the bird production of red riding hood.

And here are a couple things I made. The chair is made from a mini cereal box and an old bathrobe – I made it with my brilliant Aunt Rita on a summer  I spent with her that was largely devoted to creating things for the little house.

week 24 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

I dreamed I was standing alone, at night,  by the stonewall  looking down the hill to the neighbors barn and the moon fell out of the sky, in a long arc, like a shooting star.

week 23 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:

A very little bit of  progress –  a tiny  thumbnail sketch – something I’ve been thinking about. I’ll be back later in the week I hope with more progress and to tell you about the image.  I’m having an extra busy day and an extra busy week.

week 22 in my “this is where i am from” year long project: My father was not great at occasions- birthdays anniversaries etc. But one year for my Mother’s birthday in January he surprised her with a number of small improvements – little conveniences and pleasures. A reading light over the bed and lots of others I don’t remember. I do remember the thermometer – installed outside the kitchen window. Placed, I’m sure, to factor in light and shadow to offer the most accurate reading. I watched the thermometer carefully in the last weeks of winter hoping for 55 F – when it got to 55 spring was a real possibility.