Sculptures

An enjoyable afternoon spent wandering the sculpture garden at the Mill Brook Gallery in Concord, NH. Beautiful gardens and flowers, interesting sculptures. Gallery inside with paintings, mobiles.

There were some real horses on the adjacent site, but Joe didn't get to play with them this time. He's still doing some horse sitting and training, but the economy has put a damper on that part of his retirement. Many people are actually giving their horses away because they can't afford to feed them. Very sad.

Decisions....decisions....

This is a pen and ink sketch I am working on from my trip to Utah in June (11" X 15"). It is a view of Devil's Castle at the Alta ski area. It is on watercolor paper so I can add color, but now I have to make some decisions. If I paint it, I can't go back to black and white. I could paint it realistically (the tops of the mountains had snow on them, the sky was very bright blue, no clouds), or in fanciful colors, or just a little bit of color. Or, I could crop the picture and leave that big rock out of it. I could leave it black and white.

Meanwhile I sent a jpg file to my art teacher. I will be starting classes again in September and she said to just bring it in to discuss. So, I guess for the moment I will just leave it and think about it some more. I have lots of art supplies so I can always start a new picture.

I might take it to a shop with a bigger scanner (mine is too small to scan in) and then play with it on my computer. I wasn't able to get a good photo, the paper is actually quite white, but the photo shows up gray. I probably have to adjust something on my camera. Would be happy to have some reader comments, or you can send me a direct e-mail if you don't want to post on this blog. Thanks.

Later: The first image above was scanned at Kinko's. That is closer to the original.

Havurah Conference 2009 (Rindge, NH)

Just some photos from our vacation week. We had a wonderful time, but now I'm stressed with catching up with my work. We also had a chance to hike in Pisgah State Park. Beautiful hiking trails and views of Mt. Monadnock. The musicians were awesome!

missing you

the stones told the story
born in . . . died in . . .
a name
in Hebrew
in English
dates in both
but I only knew you
from stories
and old photos
immigrants to America
modestly dressed
in old-fashioned clothes
my bubbe
my zayde
gone before I made
my appearance in 1946

what would have changed
had I known you?
maybe I would be
more observant
more in tune with ritual
but I’m confortable
with my faith as is

yet I feel the lack
the emptiness inside
from that missed connection
when I hear Yiddish
or old Jewish melodies
I think about you
and realize that my mother
was a role model for me
as bubbe to my children
since I never knew my grandparents
so I cook
I teach
I listen
I tell stories
and I pass on the love
that I missed
but still have inside to give

draft copyright 2009 Linda H. Feinberg

On electronic retreat this week. No more blog entries this week.