Anything we fully do is a lone journey.
When you go over your work, be a Samarain - a great warrior with the courage to cut out anything that is not relevant. Don't be sentimental.
Our rooms are indications of our state of mind. A little apparent disorder is an indication of the fertility of the mind and someone who is actively creative.
We are the sum of our experiences.
In search to belong. A long identity crisis.
Absorb what is useful,
Reject what is useless,
Make life your own.
Cut out paper clutter -
File it,
Forward it,
Fix it,
Fill it,
Forget about it.
Only keep what you love.
Foreign born...art lover...avid reader
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Tha Dammit Doll
It all started when I was having lunch with one of the residents. She has cancer and was having a bad day. I said to her that I had just the thing for her. I will make her a Dammit Doll.
Some years ago, when I belonged to an Art club in Ada, Oklahoma, and we were having a Christmas Party. One of the members made a bunch of clothes dolls for everyone at the Party - A Dammit Doll for each of us. She said that when things did not go well for us, we should get hold of the doll and slam it and swear. A great stress relief Tool!
So I made the lady a clothe doll with button-eyes and yarn-hair. I thought my doll had character, and she did, too.
Soon, I made several of them and gave them away, asking the recipients to make a donation for our Annual Employee Holiday Fund. We are nor permitted to give tips to our employees. So once a year, we collected money from the residents and distributed to all those who serve us all year long. We have the front desk helpers, the behind the desk helpers, the drivers, the housekeepers, the maintenance people, the kitchen staff, the dining room staff, and so on. All 50+ of them.
People started asking for the Dolls. One day, someone I hardly knew, asked me to make her 8 dolls. I looked at her and thought, What Nerve!
She said that she would pay for them. I thought Why Not. It pays for my expenses. So it started. Pretty soon, more people were asking me to make some dolls as presents to their grand-children, for their friends, and so on. I ended up giving a bunch of them away and sold quite a few. People were also giving me scarps of materials and unused buttons and so on.
The dolls brought smiles to many and laughters to some.
When I gave some dolls to those who have issues with their health or feeling sorry for themselves at times, thinking that their families abandoned them, real or imaginary . . .
That made me feel good.
So it went on with the Dammit Dall saga.
Some years ago, when I belonged to an Art club in Ada, Oklahoma, and we were having a Christmas Party. One of the members made a bunch of clothes dolls for everyone at the Party - A Dammit Doll for each of us. She said that when things did not go well for us, we should get hold of the doll and slam it and swear. A great stress relief Tool!
So I made the lady a clothe doll with button-eyes and yarn-hair. I thought my doll had character, and she did, too.
Soon, I made several of them and gave them away, asking the recipients to make a donation for our Annual Employee Holiday Fund. We are nor permitted to give tips to our employees. So once a year, we collected money from the residents and distributed to all those who serve us all year long. We have the front desk helpers, the behind the desk helpers, the drivers, the housekeepers, the maintenance people, the kitchen staff, the dining room staff, and so on. All 50+ of them.
People started asking for the Dolls. One day, someone I hardly knew, asked me to make her 8 dolls. I looked at her and thought, What Nerve!
She said that she would pay for them. I thought Why Not. It pays for my expenses. So it started. Pretty soon, more people were asking me to make some dolls as presents to their grand-children, for their friends, and so on. I ended up giving a bunch of them away and sold quite a few. People were also giving me scarps of materials and unused buttons and so on.
The dolls brought smiles to many and laughters to some.
When I gave some dolls to those who have issues with their health or feeling sorry for themselves at times, thinking that their families abandoned them, real or imaginary . . .
That made me feel good.
So it went on with the Dammit Dall saga.
Friday, January 24, 2020
ANOTHER YEAR
Well, here I
am - into the fourth year of my life at the Conservatory.
I have not
changed too much – except being another year older, not nearly as healthy as
when I first came here (not doing too badly for an almost 91-year-old though),
and a bit more impatient with life at times.
However,
much has happened at the Conservatory. We have had two new Directors, three new
Chefs (one only lasted a week), two new Maintenance-directors, and A Very Large
Stone Fireplace in the courtyard, with all the trimmings. Now, I ask you, why
do we need a fireplace in the courtyard? We are in Texas! Most of the time the
temperature is such, we need the AC more than Heating. Aw, such is Life. There
are many things that we have no explanations for. True?
Now, don’t
get me wrong, the Conservatory, as far as being a facility goes, is not too
bad. We are being fed and being taking care of by an Army of Staff – all 50+ of
them. Aside from our Executive Director, we have a business manager, a group of
front-desk workers and behind the scene workers. Not to mention the Kitchen and
dining-room staff and servers, the maintenance staff, the gardeners, the
sometime painters (wall-painters, that is), and so on. No Security persons,
though. An oversight??? But then, it is definitely not easy to take care of
some two hundred old and stubborn, very opinionated, and grouchy people. Don’t
you agree?
Life is not
too bad really? Life is what you make it, after all.
I try to
keep busy – lest I fall asleep in front of the TV. I paint a little, I read, I
tend to my plants, I play Games several times a week with my new friends, etc.
And believe it or not, I have been making Dammit Dolls for the last few months
– mostly for people who live or work here. It is a stress release tool. When It
brought some smiles to some who live here, it made me happy...
All my three
daughters, and their spouses, are well.
Cynthia, my
optometrist, retired this year, and her husband, Steve, the attorney, will retire
soon. Cynthia’s daughter, Natalie (my
delightful grand-daughter) is now in Seattle, WA. Melinda and Mark take time out
of their busy life to take care of me, here in TX. Cissy and Rick (the physical therapist) are
super-busy with work and raising two teen-agers, my grand-children, Boone, and
Edie.
Wishing you
Happy 2020 and a less Crazy Year on the political scene, my old and new friends.
From Loretta
Saturday, May 4, 2019
My Battle With Modern Technology
Give me a challenge and tell me that I could not do it, I will prove you wrong, even if it kills me!
Call me a stubborn old woman!
Except when it comes to modern technology. I surrender to:
Computers
Notebooks
i-Pads
i-pods
May be even i-phones.
Give me back my Pen and Pad! (Pad of paper, I mean.)
I do enjoy being able to obtain information on the Net. I can find out the facts and correct my faulty memories on most any given topics. I can find out how I can go from Point A to Point B. I can gather information on most any subjects that I wish to learn.
Hooray for the Internet!
And I am awed as to what Power the Net has - it is allowing me to share My stories with you. Especially with those of you some thousands of miles away from me. All with a click of the Key.
But, it also leaves it wide open to anyone in the world who wishes to invade my "domain."
"The Big Brother is watching you." Remember "1984"? The book by Orwell.
It is here in this 21st century.
It has also enabled unscrupulous people to gather, and sometimes alter, and spread false information about us.
And we are helpless and not able to defend ourselves.
So my advice to all is: Be mindful of what you say and wish for!
You don't know who is listening!
Call me a stubborn old woman!
Except when it comes to modern technology. I surrender to:
Computers
Notebooks
i-Pads
i-pods
May be even i-phones.
Give me back my Pen and Pad! (Pad of paper, I mean.)
I do enjoy being able to obtain information on the Net. I can find out the facts and correct my faulty memories on most any given topics. I can find out how I can go from Point A to Point B. I can gather information on most any subjects that I wish to learn.
Hooray for the Internet!
And I am awed as to what Power the Net has - it is allowing me to share My stories with you. Especially with those of you some thousands of miles away from me. All with a click of the Key.
But, it also leaves it wide open to anyone in the world who wishes to invade my "domain."
"The Big Brother is watching you." Remember "1984"? The book by Orwell.
It is here in this 21st century.
It has also enabled unscrupulous people to gather, and sometimes alter, and spread false information about us.
And we are helpless and not able to defend ourselves.
So my advice to all is: Be mindful of what you say and wish for!
You don't know who is listening!
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
A New Year
I cannot tell you how my "time" went. I have been living at the Conservatory for a little over two years now. But-
I have neglected to keep up with my writing.
I have somewhat neglected to do some real painting.
You see, I have being piddling - doing little watercolor cards at the kitchen counter. Watercolor is cleaner and far less toxic than oil, and painting little watercolors takes little effort or thought. A cop out, I know. I make birthday cards and send them to selected "neighbors." They love the cards and praise me. Hence, I paint more little cards. What a "circle of events."
And, I have spent a lot of time watching News on television. What happens in the country worries me a lot.
What is happening?
Throughout my ninety years, I had seen a lot, lived through a lot...
I am not afraid of change, but I am afraid of "unreasonableness" and "madness."
I, like many, have "blinders" over my eyes, live on.
I have neglected to keep up with my writing.
I have somewhat neglected to do some real painting.
You see, I have being piddling - doing little watercolor cards at the kitchen counter. Watercolor is cleaner and far less toxic than oil, and painting little watercolors takes little effort or thought. A cop out, I know. I make birthday cards and send them to selected "neighbors." They love the cards and praise me. Hence, I paint more little cards. What a "circle of events."
And, I have spent a lot of time watching News on television. What happens in the country worries me a lot.
What is happening?
Throughout my ninety years, I had seen a lot, lived through a lot...
I am not afraid of change, but I am afraid of "unreasonableness" and "madness."
I, like many, have "blinders" over my eyes, live on.
ON TURNING NINTY
Last Wednesday, I turned 90.
Among my ancestors, only my paternal grandmother lived past 90. I believe she was 94 or 95 when she passed away.
Grandmother refused to leave China when my family fled from the Communist invasion and went to Hong Kong in 1949. She and her second-daughter, my single aunt, lived together. For almost thirty years, she lived under the terror and suffering from the new government. I vaguely remember stories about how she was made to live in only one part of her three story home, having to allow others to take over her other parts of the house. And, how, during the young Red Army "madness", she lost everything. The story was that somehow they found out about her diamonds hidden under the floor boards and confiscated them, among other things.
My mother said, since my father's mother would not move to Hong Kong with us, she could not take her mother, my long-widowed maternal grandmother, to Hong Kong with us. Her logic, certainly not mine. If only I had any say-so in those days. I would have at lease made some "noise." Grandma went to live with one of her brothers-in-law and passed away a few years later.
And here I am, ninety-years-old, living comfortably in a nice two-bedroom apartment, in a modern and fast-growing part of Texas. I have a view of the most wonderful sunsets a lot of the times. I am well-fed and well-cared of. I am surrounded by some good friends and caring staff. I am well-loved by my children and their spouses, and by my grand-children. What is more - I can still walk without a cane. My middle daughter, Melinda, gave me a plaque that says, "Age is like a hat. It's all in how you wear it, Honey."
My cup runneth over.
My only worry is the "craziness" in the country.
I am not a praying type, but for the sake of our children and grand-children, I am praying that "This will pass."
Among my ancestors, only my paternal grandmother lived past 90. I believe she was 94 or 95 when she passed away.
Grandmother refused to leave China when my family fled from the Communist invasion and went to Hong Kong in 1949. She and her second-daughter, my single aunt, lived together. For almost thirty years, she lived under the terror and suffering from the new government. I vaguely remember stories about how she was made to live in only one part of her three story home, having to allow others to take over her other parts of the house. And, how, during the young Red Army "madness", she lost everything. The story was that somehow they found out about her diamonds hidden under the floor boards and confiscated them, among other things.
My mother said, since my father's mother would not move to Hong Kong with us, she could not take her mother, my long-widowed maternal grandmother, to Hong Kong with us. Her logic, certainly not mine. If only I had any say-so in those days. I would have at lease made some "noise." Grandma went to live with one of her brothers-in-law and passed away a few years later.
And here I am, ninety-years-old, living comfortably in a nice two-bedroom apartment, in a modern and fast-growing part of Texas. I have a view of the most wonderful sunsets a lot of the times. I am well-fed and well-cared of. I am surrounded by some good friends and caring staff. I am well-loved by my children and their spouses, and by my grand-children. What is more - I can still walk without a cane. My middle daughter, Melinda, gave me a plaque that says, "Age is like a hat. It's all in how you wear it, Honey."
My cup runneth over.
My only worry is the "craziness" in the country.
I am not a praying type, but for the sake of our children and grand-children, I am praying that "This will pass."
Monday, September 17, 2018
Good Design In PAINTING
No, I have not abandoned my blog or painting. It just seems that my days slip away from me, without me doing any productive works. But then, at almost 90, I am entitled to "goof -off". Right? There is nothing urgent that requires me to "get with it." Isn't there?
I still read, paint, and I study about art and life - that is to say that I LIVE.
But, the days do seem to slip away faster than I realize.
So back to the idea of Design, John Carlson, the great artist and teacher said, "If you approach nature without some idea (that is, when you are painting nature), she is merciless in the way in which she piles lumber in your way."
Because you are not really painting the world out there. You are painting a design that you impose on the world. Without that design concept, you can get caught up cataloging what is in front of you.
Where were you, John, when I needed you, when I was in Europe painting landscapes.
Design is the over-riding structure you impose on your painting. Without it, details, incidentals, nuances and distractions can easily bury you.
Wow, that is profound!
So begin your painting with a design idea firmly in your mind, then you have a road map.
Follow the road map.
Every mark is doing something.
Be aware of that "something" when you paint.
Each mark influences the entire dynamic of your painting.
Do thumbnail sketches (that's what every teacher says.)
Use a view-finder.
Stand back 10'-12' often.
Chang your view orientation.
Walk away sometimes.
Crop and frame dramatically.
Find large, strong value masses to drive your painting.
THINK in terms of design!
Your paintings become more engaging and your success rate soars.
DO IT!
I still read, paint, and I study about art and life - that is to say that I LIVE.
But, the days do seem to slip away faster than I realize.
So back to the idea of Design, John Carlson, the great artist and teacher said, "If you approach nature without some idea (that is, when you are painting nature), she is merciless in the way in which she piles lumber in your way."
Because you are not really painting the world out there. You are painting a design that you impose on the world. Without that design concept, you can get caught up cataloging what is in front of you.
Where were you, John, when I needed you, when I was in Europe painting landscapes.
Design is the over-riding structure you impose on your painting. Without it, details, incidentals, nuances and distractions can easily bury you.
Wow, that is profound!
So begin your painting with a design idea firmly in your mind, then you have a road map.
Follow the road map.
Every mark is doing something.
Be aware of that "something" when you paint.
Each mark influences the entire dynamic of your painting.
Do thumbnail sketches (that's what every teacher says.)
Use a view-finder.
Stand back 10'-12' often.
Chang your view orientation.
Walk away sometimes.
Crop and frame dramatically.
Find large, strong value masses to drive your painting.
THINK in terms of design!
Your paintings become more engaging and your success rate soars.
DO IT!
Thursday, January 18, 2018
EDIE'S POEMS
Where I'm From
I am from the books crowding the shelves,
siting around.
I am from the old rotten apple tree
From the tree-house that has gone with the fallen limb.
I am from the red brick school,
sitting there.
It is no longer mine.
I am from pillow forts and gun fights with my brother.
I am from the stuffed tiger who came with me everywhere.
I am from homemade soup stirring in the kitchen,
And shrimp Wonton with my grand-mother.
I am from photographs lining the walls,
Mysterious figures of the past.
I am from shelves weighted down by trinkets and tokens.
I am from the green house on the corner,
The old swing-set and the playhouse.
By Edie Olderman
(my 11-year old grand-daughter)
I am from the books crowding the shelves,
siting around.
I am from the old rotten apple tree
From the tree-house that has gone with the fallen limb.
I am from the red brick school,
sitting there.
It is no longer mine.
I am from pillow forts and gun fights with my brother.
I am from the stuffed tiger who came with me everywhere.
I am from homemade soup stirring in the kitchen,
And shrimp Wonton with my grand-mother.
I am from photographs lining the walls,
Mysterious figures of the past.
I am from shelves weighted down by trinkets and tokens.
I am from the green house on the corner,
The old swing-set and the playhouse.
By Edie Olderman
(my 11-year old grand-daughter)
Sunday, October 22, 2017
WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
Here I am in Plano, TX, for the tenth month.
Almost ten months!
Where did the time go?
Yes, I have been very content in this old folks' place. It is not home, but it is okay.
Living among some 200+ Seniors is still a "new" experience for me. I do, however, finding it interesting.
I have found people from all different parts of the U.S. and beyond, and people with very different backgrounds.
Lots of materials for a story teller.
Someday, I will tell you a story or two.
In the meantime, I have learned a lot about people and life.
I came across this and wish to share it with you -
The best part of life is not just surviving
but thriving -
With passion and compassion,
And humor and style,
And generosity and kindness.
Almost ten months!
Where did the time go?
Yes, I have been very content in this old folks' place. It is not home, but it is okay.
Living among some 200+ Seniors is still a "new" experience for me. I do, however, finding it interesting.
I have found people from all different parts of the U.S. and beyond, and people with very different backgrounds.
Lots of materials for a story teller.
Someday, I will tell you a story or two.
In the meantime, I have learned a lot about people and life.
I came across this and wish to share it with you -
The best part of life is not just surviving
but thriving -
With passion and compassion,
And humor and style,
And generosity and kindness.
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