End of the Pumpkin Give-away

Last night was the last chance to win Paisley Pumpkin!
www.dailypainters.com/blog/content/win-pumpkin-painting-tilly-strauss
And the winner is...

"Pack" is not just a four letter word

You can't cross "Pack" the list even if you've worked at it all weekend... because there is still more... and so the list looks practically the same as it did Friday night!
There is something wherevcr you look that needs to be wrapped, or fixed or cleaned. I'm so sore all over.
With the help of my friends, ( the amazing Michael, sweet Sue, calm Rosemary, handy Kevin, chicken-man Mark, Diva Leesah, infamous Ben G, best friend Krisse and of course, my dad), we've moved the house much closer to being ready to rent and me, much closer to Miami. The kitchen is down to plastic forks, the laundry room is bare, the dining room is manageable, the boy's bedrooms are DONE. There is a plan to deal with the car, the yard looks great...BUT the list stays long and I'm not ready to hand over the keys.

Students at work

You can hear a pin drop at the end of the week... How would you paint your symbolic self portrait?
I would have feathers!

The chickens are gone

sold
They left tonight. We carefully grabbed each one with a blanket and I was able to carry them quietly to the back of the truck where a transport cage waited... and I told them, in my daily crooning voice, about how happy they are going to be in their new home. I knew it had to happen- but I had no idea this morning that it would be the last time I'd wake to the rooster crow.
Sad.
I guess I have to believe I am going to be happy in my new home too.
Encaustic hen on paper, 6 x 8 inches. 2008

Repetition and Contrast

Back in the art-room again! You could have heard a pin drop as the kids worked on their triptychs.
I snuck a quick illustration of them at work.

Trading the maple forest for the palm trees

Suitcase with gold leaf, 6 x 8.75 inches, wood panel
I am moving my studio headquarters- Trading the maple forest and farm
life for a couple palm trees, big city, and a fabulous teaching
opportunity at the Palmer Trinity School in Miami. It's a leap into
midlife, a move of blind faith, and a quirky search for a vibrant new
scene. If you live in Miami please let me know what's going on and
what I need to see. If you live in NY, know that I will be back some
day, because I love Dutchess County.

Moving out of here...BROOM

A relic that keeps on being handy.
A fabulous moving sale weekend. So much has moved and the place is looking a little airy. But there is still a lot to do.
I'll take any and all advice, all clean boxes, any help!
;-)
8.75 x 6 inches Mixed media on wood panel