They're Here!

 %$#* &^

That is how I feel about this.

Not politics

Not stupid ignorant people

Not the yahoos I've been dealing with for months

over SS and insurance issues.

NOPE

Those damn AEDES mosquitos have hit Las Vegas.

You remember the ones that bit me 18 times in CA;

caused me to have massive welts and 

rashes all over that developed into Skeeter Syndrome.

Skeeter syndrome is diagnosed when you have a

 strong reaction to a mosquito bite. 

You may see a large area of swelling, soreness, 

redness, and itching or pain at the location of the bite.

 Such a reaction can develop within hours of the bite,

 and it may last for weeks

(yep it's real).

Took me nearly four months for the last spot to heal and I have scars

and discolored skin where they were.

Just when the weather has cooled and I NEED to hit the yard

for cleanup. sigh

I wore long pants and shirt in CA and they still got my hands, face

and crawled up my pant leg. Their nickname is ankle biters.

It made the news when the Urgent Cares here starting seeing folks 

with unexplained welts and rashes.

When I told my GP  back in July about what had happened to me,

 she had never heard of them, but a new Dr who was shadowing her that day 

said "oh yeah they're awful!" She was from CA.

So be warned if they come to your area. 

The latest outbreak is NV and in AZ

You can't see them - teeny tiny, can't hear them, and won't feel the bite at all.

Within a few hours though OH the itch and then you scratch a few times,

and I swear it "Activates it" somehow and you're in for it.

Now in some tropical areas this creature from hell causes dengue etc.

I do not believe that is the case in US

From a google site...

They usually bite you on the ankles and elbows. 

The only way to differentiate between a dengue mosquito bite

 and a normal mosquito bite is that that 

a dengue mosquito bite is much redder and itchy

 compared to a normal mosquito bite.

Aedes aegypti is a small, dark mosquito with a white violin

 shaped marking on its back and banded legs. 

Aedes aegypti has the ability to transmit dengue fever,

 chikungunya, yellow fever, and other viruses.

So be careful please.

Z

See update of last post

 Please see my update on my last post.

I need to double check these posts more and read out loud

to catch such silly errors. I apologize.

I am fine - I've already made it to 70 and plan/hope to 

be around a lot longer.

Studio work

 The last week or so I have been taking Louise Fletcher's

Find your Joy Taster Class

It was tremendous fun and also thought provoking.

This free "taster " course is to introduce you to Louise

if you don't already know her, and then many students go on to take

her year long course which I hear is tremendous. 

I won't go into the object of each lesson just show

you the fun projects and the experimentation I enjoyed.

These were quick mark making studies.

The paper is sectioned off with tape and

 you paint the entire study then remove tape.

My tape stuck a little but it won't matter when I turn into note cards.

Below was using foreign materials and foreign to you techniques and tools. 

I sketched with pencil onto a wood plank,

finger painted the background, finger-painted metallic inks onto deli paper

and then collaged. This was far outside the class idea, as I watched everyone 

else but well, it's where the path took me.  

Trying out collaging metallic deli papers

Very much outside my usual, but 

then that is where the exploration comes in.

We all get stuck in our "box" and repeat

the familiar and comfortable.

For me, these classes are not for 

finished art work so much as educating my own 

eye and techniques that I am unfamiliar with, 

or even better, uncomfortable with.

This process then applies to many aspects of my life.

My life veered off radically the past couple decades,

and I've taken a ride I never could have imagined. 

I've hung on for dear life, and managed to 

educate, graduate and watch my kids soar onto new heights.

They are in loving relationships, highly successful careers, and 

are just good people. 

Becoming ill threw me for a loop, I will admit,

but 6 years later I am still here, and was shocked to hear my primary Dr

tell me at my last visit that she wasn't sure that I would see 70.

I need to amend this : What I should have written was

that the Dr had not been sure that I would see 70 

because of how ill I was. Poor sentence structure-my bad.

I can see why several folks thought my Dr was awful- she's not - she's wonderful 

and I am  fortunate that we have such a great rapport. 

All my life, since I was first cutting up paper samples my dad brought home

when I was in elementary school,

I have turned to creative pursuits for my sanity and escape.

Paper, fabric, paint, bead, hooking, knitting, home design...

Art therapy has seen me through it all.

I'm still at it.  

Rainbow Bridge Day

IYKYK

Eisenhower (Howie)

 Howie   Justice

Liberty (Libbey)

 

Rainbow and UH OH

Yesterday was this gorgeous rainbow

Full side to side and a double! 

And the...

UH OH

Looks like my kiddos and I are both in for some 

"Weather" with a capital W.

Constant boomies, and alerts on radio,

tv and phones.

Here in Vegas many of the houseless

live in massive storm drains and the local 

emergency folks have been trying to move them

 and all their belongings ( including furniture etc) 

out of there as quickly 

as possible so that their belongings 

don't wash out and block 

small drains. Teams have been going all

 over the city clearing drains of debris,

as much as they can.

Even a light sustained rain here can cause serious

flooding, and foolish tourists and idiot locals

do NOT heed warnings and have to be rescued

or worse. 

When I first moved here in the 70's, it was common

 for many of the parking garages to flood entirely,

and even grand hotels to have dripping water 

during storms. All the streets flooded 

but decades of building water retention basins 

solved a good bit. The basins were used as parks and 

soccer fields. Win Win 

The LA folks are also worried about high winds

and mud slides. My neighbor has a dangerous, 

nearly dead, pine tree that concerns me.

It could take off the front of my house.

We shall see.

Hopefully the concern is a reaction to the horrors

of HI and BC.

Let's see what all the climate deniers 

have to say about a tropical storm almost in Vegas?

Although it will no longer be a tropical here, but it 

will be the first to hit CA since 1939.

I tried unsuccessfully to load a video of Walter 

on here, but it is on my IG if you love him.

https://www.instagram.com/oldgreymareprimitives/

Stay safe - and Be prepared,

not just when emergencies loom,

but always, every day.  

Z

 

 

Said it Best-

  I have loved these two for years

 Margaret and Helen

We've all read, listened, and watched 

the insanity for far too many years.

These two are saying what I have been ranting 

to anyone who will listen, but they are funnier than I,

which it makes it more frightening and 

important with all that is at stake. 

It's worth a read- honest 

             https://margaretandhelen.com/2023/08/04/trump-is-a-hemorrhoid/

70

 

The birthday plans changed as I drove to LA so that

 I could attend bonus son Ivan's competition.

First night there Hannah and Nick went to a

 friends B-day party Barbie themed.

They went as Barbie and Oppenheimer

First two nights at Ben and Helene's 

Ben grilled a lovely meal and I was eaten alive (over 40 bites)

by these nasty mosquitoes that invaded CA-aedes - I'll spare you the photos.

In fact I had an allergic reaction called Skeeter syndrome.

It'll be awhile for swelling and infected areas to go away.

Bright and early Saturday after Ben prepared a lovely light breakfast

 we drove to Anneheim for Ivan's event.  

Ivan did great ( second from left),

but was disappointed at second place 

After event lunch at this smorgasbord place.

Many restaurants for takeout and then we reconvened to eat.

I love this photo of Ben and Ivan.

Best buds since jr high. 

That evening a takeout Chinese feast 

Are you grasping the gastronomy path 

we take when together?

 Then kids treated me

 to luxury suite at Mr C's Beverly Hills.

Comped Peach Bellinis to start

Walter and Hannah on one of two balconies.

In the room my favorite pizza caceo pepe, 

and mushroom, both wood fired.

Next day lunch with all-

Here Hannah, Ivan, and Ben

Ben,  Helene and Kevin, Ivan's boyfriend

Walter did great with his new just for the trip, pup cart. He loved it!!

It will totally change how we get out and about.

I highly recommend.

He felt safe and so no barking at strangers or dogs.

 Walter made best friends with security guard Julian. 

We also crammed in a little traditional Target run, 

a visit to Culver's terrific farmers market Saturday morning.

I am so envious of their farmers markets.

Hannah gave me a Taro reading that was freakishly spot on.

Breakfast at the coffee shop where

 Nick and Hannah had first date.

Then salt water pool date at Mr C's with her two besties

Heidi and Jenny.

These thirty somethings even played Marco Polo.

Hilarious!

These three started a very cool writer's group

and all are doing great things, well, WILL

continue as soon as strike is over.

Walter enjoying our last morning.

Oh and yes this is dog friendly hotel.

A doggie area right near the front so we went up 

and out easily as needed.

Gorgeous landmark hotel and it turns out I stayed 

there the last day it was Mr C's. 

It was sold Monday to a large corp.

I sure hope they keep all the staff.

They were exceptional.

So this is 70

A wonderful visit with the most important people in my life.

I hate sharing any photos of me, as those of you who have been here

 since 2008 can attest. However it seemed to be a requirement for this post,

even with my swollen, red, arms and hands from those horrible bites. 

 It's an important milestone and although

I felt guilty for all the kids did for me, it was such a blessing this gift

of time we all shared. 

I gifted them each part one of my Story Worth. 

You saw the wrapped versions in a previous post. 

 I'm thinking that this next year I will 

search thru the years of blogs for some writings 

I am pleased with and add a few more gems

 to who Suzan Rennie was.

This was the bookmark I added to their books

One of my favorite photos of me at 24,

before I was no longer just Suzan Rennie.

oh so very long ago.

Z

 

Gifting

One of the perks in creating a mix of 

projects is you acquire a variety of materials and 

not all are used for prints, paintings etc.

Some are useful for everyday items.

Different handprinted tags with 

hand painted ribbons.

When I'm stuck creating something 

large, or just can't get started at all,

making some quick embellishments or 

ribbons, or making various gelli prints, 

is productive "thinking" time or

mindless distractions. 

Having supplies like this at the ready allows

for very personalized gift giving.

I had planned for hand painted paper 

for these gifts but ran out of time.

It's on my list for the next

 crafting time.

That is if I can stop doing sudoku.

I had an issue with it several years ago,

doing far too many,

but now I've found an on line spot and 

well...

 

Only 112 today, some parts of town

 got rain and hail yesterday, but nada here.

 

Hand Painted Ribbons

I am still enjoying the daily fodder challenge and today

 I made these ribbons out of linen.

 I have a plan for them to wrap 

some special gifts for the kids. 

The Fodder Challenge and Fodder School 

really puts your creativity into high gear.

You can follow the teacher's instructions

exactly, or if you don't have those supplies, 

you can detour and use what you have, or what 

you are comfortable using.

With every lesson, it becomes a jumping off

point to other ideas and inspirations. 

With it being 117 degrees here today, 

doing anything but holing up 

in the studio was out of the question. 

What are you doing these days?

Z

 

Finished

Sister Moon is finished 

The line is from the lyrics of Blue Moon

Blue moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue moon

You knew just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then, there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will ever hold

I heard somebody whisper, "Please, adore me"

And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold

Blue moon

Now, I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

DJR

My father used to hum and croon songs

while we spent time in

his workshop.

Blue Moon was one of them 

Catch A Falling Star was another

 

Getting Mojo Back

 For so many years I spent days, weeks, even months

at a time in my studio   

 sewing, creating, preparing for classes, 

painting furniture, making purses,

 bags, dolls and ornaments. 

There was always something new I wanted to learn, 

or attempt, or teach to others.

Life intervened and I'm pretty sure my mojo

took a walkabout.

Oh, it returned in spurts,

but I never could just lock it down for good.

I don't know how long this will last

but for now I am free wheeling ideas in

all directions.

Taking the fodder classes has been the jumping off point,

but I've climbed the high dive myself.

This moon piece is now nearly complete;

it took some time to cover the entire canvas in moons.

I'm a cancer sign and have always had an affinity 

for the moon. Since I was little, 

when I saw the moon I would whisper, "sister moon". 

This was the test run for another I have planned.

I'll be making some fabric sunflowers later in the week,

as well as finishing the fodder challenge.

Too dang hot to be anywhere but in the studio anyway.

My fab four will be coming in for my b-day soon.

I'll have to stop playing and clean house.

Z

Gelli Fever

So I had made some more prints, and then a few more, 

and then well, you get the picture.

I repurposed an old canvas that had printed tissue on it already,

in fact for about 4 years untouched,

then dry brushed some color on, ( hated that) 

so then some torn, textured, tissue from the cold pack 

that Prime wraps around delivered fridge worthy products.

Been doing watercolor circles in a class,

 so stayed with that theme,

and cut circles out of the gelli prints

and ta da!!

It's texture upon texture.

My upstairs hall is becoming a gallery of all my class

and post class projects.

I have to remind myself that I'm the only

 one that has to like it.

At 70 ( coming up in 11 days) it's 

still a lesson I need to work on.

I've spent too many years pleasing others

 before self, and in spite of self,

 and worried about pleasing others,

Finally, I have narrowed my focus 

to a few honest and dear loved ones that matter.

I have also learned, far too late,

 to set and keep boundaries.

My mind can easily slip into rehashing betrayals 

over the last couple decades. 

They lay just below the surface ready 

to pounce at the slightest opportunity.

Gelli printing garners quick results and 

successful results more often than naught.

Great music, or a good streaming show

and the hours zoom past,

 with not a negative thought or fear.

I highly recommend any type of creative pursuit.

So good for the soul and hopefully wards 

off the age issues we all eventually face.

Throw in a couple sudokus, one mini crossword,

 one spelling bee and 2- 3 on line 100 piece jigsaws

daily and you have...

well, me

It's damn hot here but then isn't it everywhere?

DO NOT say "but's it a dry heat" 

You'll hear me scream.

Z