Domino Decorating

I went to my brother's to pick raspberries and pick up this loan, painted by another brother, David.  Love his artwork.  I moved everything around to give it a prominent, showcase spot in the front hallway.  This shows the front door skeleton decoration alongside it.

For awhile I had auditioned this painting in the dining room, where I have had 4 of his paintings hanging for the last year plus...but I moved two of them into the living room and put up Emma's DC Temple altered quilt. This is the gathering place for the seminary students who come early to drink hot chocolate and talk before class begins at 6 am.  It needed a sanctuary feel, a focus on what I want for them as a goal.

So far, the living room has two of David's paintings hanging by our blonde piano.  I still want to paint the piano orange.  Not this week, but it is in my thoughts...

One change leads to another...

Thankful for Brothers & Bodies!

Four of David C. Babcock paintings hanging in our dinning room.

First I was born. Then Deborah. Then John (2nd from left). He taught us what it meant to be different than girls. Diaper education is a great way to teach gender uniqueness. Different physically. Different roles.
I have been blessed with four brothers by birth. Each of them are talented, unique, inspiring. (How did Steven get away with no glasses? 7 out of 9 of us wear them.)

I've been thinking a lot about David, brother on the far left in picture above. He painted the man on the rocks below, faithful copy of "Jeune Homme nu assis au bord de la mer" 1836 by Jean Hippolyte Flandrin, hanging in the Louvre in Paris. Sigh. I love this painting. Wish it were hanging in my home.

(Hi, Emma! Photo from 2009 Thanksgiving!)

David and his wife are talented artists, house designers, gifted photographers, fascinating people to know and love!

I am thankful for their art.

I am thankful for BODIES! Physical bodies are a great blessing! Even when they ache, and grow old, feeble. I am glad to be alive!

Old Quilts Reprise

I just figured out I cannot upload new photos-but I can talk about old ones!

This was a altered-spray paint and resist, permanent marker, dyed whole cloth quilt. Pre-quilted by anonymous. Thrift store quilt. To see the back (originally the "front") of green and red applique scroll back to Oct 2008 posts.

It's been two years. Two years since the last quilt show.

Two years of healthy brother.

I remember when he was born. How easy it was to love him. He was beautiful! Gorgeous eyes. I was a freshman in college. I would come home to see him and pretend that he was mine. Take him shopping. Snuggle with him. I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to be married. He made it easy to look forward to that blessing and want it even more!

Mental illness is real. Support needed. More talking, more loving communication. More understanding. If you don't know about someone in your family who is suffering, they might be hiding it too well. It is okay to talk about. Okay to admit. Not taboo. Real.

And we love you enough to deal. And accept. And love even more. You are mine. And I am yours.

Happy Father's Day from DAD to DAD!

My Dad by marriage lives 2 blocks away. It has been a huge blessing living close enough for the kids to walk over. He is a good grandfather to them. He taught his son well how to treasure the mother of your children, how to honor your wife. I am thankful for the son this man raised.
This is John and his 3 sons, last Father's Day. I hope they grow into the kind of father their Daddy has taught them to be. I hope that for my future grandchildren! And daughters-by-marriage!
My four brothers, more great men to honor in my life (picture before Michael's wedding--4 years ago?!)

http://www.youtube.com/mormonmessages

My dad sent this in email--a great link to a touching video, "A Father Indeed." Nice message, as we prepare to honor our fathers this coming Sunday.