For this road trip I went to Gatlinburg, TN for a metals workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. You can read about the workshop over on The Adventurous Silversmith blog.

I left early Saturday morning and made it to Memphis, TN. I had a cooler with food so I only stopped twice for gas or at rest stops to eat and "bio-breaks" and to stretch my legs after so much sitting. It was to bed early and up at 6 am so I could get to Arrowmont in the afternoon. I arrived around 4pm with plenty of time to unpack, and rest before dinner and orientation.

Monday - Friday it was up by 7:30 am, get breakfast and a cuppa coffee and then head over to the workshop for our class. We broke for lunch between noon and 1:30 pm and dinner was at 5:00 pm. We fell into a route where about 5 or 6 of us would eat our meals together. During lunch and dinner we shared about ourselves and even started to play a game where you had to choose between two things like: coffee or tea; beef or fish, etc.  We talked about where we lived, going to school, work, retirement, travel and so much more. 

The school also has several galleries where the resident artists and the visiting teachers display there work. In the store you can buy some pieces by all of them as well as supplies for the classes or not.

At 7:00 pm, Monday through Thursday there were artist talks we could attend too. It was great to hear how the other artists/teachers got started and how they make their stuff.

Since Gatlinburg, around where the school is located, is really a giant amusement park, a few nights we went off campus and did things like riding the tramway to the top of the hill/mountain and the aquarium which I think was pretty good. We showed our Arrowmont badges and got discounts on the admission which was great since admission to the places wasn't cheap; the tram was free and the aquarium was only $10 for us. On Friday night, after the workshop was over 3 of us drove to Nashville to view art in a few galleries and go to dinner.

I do have to say that for those of us that were "older" the younger kids certainly made the time fun and inclusive which I really appreciated because when I was at Haystack, took a long time to happen or not at all.

The calendar year is now half over; we now begin the slide into the second half.
The drought in Texas continues and despite getting some rain we are, here in Canyon Lake, over 5" behind the YTD average on top of being far behind what we would have gotten over the past few years. The lake is still very very low - it's only 46% full and the last time it was at this level was in the 1960's. Those in the know say it will take a few years of average rain to get it full unless we have a MASSIVE rain storm and then it could fill within a few months.  

I have FINALLY finished cleaning the house and I am currently working on the purging of stuff, again room by room. No, I am not spending all day doing it, which, would get it done in about 2 weeks. I a do some purging and then record what is being donated to Goodwill or Habitat or even friends. When that's done I go play in the studio and watch movies or other TV in the evening. I do hope to finish this before school starts at the end of August but if, that's OK because I would assume there wouldn't be much left to do. 

Last week I purged vacation pictures by tossing general scenery pictures; if it did not have either or both of us it was tossed. I decided to do this because my sister and I spend daaayyyysss going through thousands (at least) of slides when my parents passed and I figured I would say my heirs from doing this.  I am also starting to purge art stuff. I had to buy supplies for classes and some I won't use again or never used at all. There are crafts I tried and don't do anymore so those supplies are being purged as well. I also have craft books I have collected over the years that I no longer use or do or need. All of this will be taken to an Art/Craft Re-Sale store in Austin where I can get a donation letter and even shop, at a discount, for other things I do not need.  Along the way I am putting larger items for sale on eBay. The small 8 shaft folding table loom, warp yarn, even fancy serving dishes I don't use.  
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I think you get the picture. Here's a picture from a HOADER's house - IT isn't mine.

I think I am recovered from school - whew.
AND I have finished cleaning the first floor but I have not completed the purge or taking things to the various donation places.

While working on the first floor, I was also working on another Klimt quilt for Elisa of Scotland. Yes, this is third one and I used the larger left of sections of fabric to put multiple borders around a center panel. It finished the top and back about two weeks ago and took it to the quilt shop for it's assembly. I picked it up last Wednesday.  I then spent all day, yesterday, making the binding, squaring the quilt and then putting on the binding. It shall be shipped in a week or so.  Enjoy the pictures

I guess I was more tired than I thought. I am still sleeping 8-11 hours a night UNLESS the *Fuzzy Alarm Clock* wakes me at 7-ish, and those days I then go back to bed a few hours later for a few more hours of sleep. It should be noted that I am not normally a napper.

For the first week I was off, I started work on a scrappy Klimt quilt for Elisa of Scotland. I bought another panel and then using up the left of fabric from the other 2 quilts (yes I bought too much) I was able to sew a twin sized quilt top. Then using the left over backing fabrics and some larger scraps, I was able to assemble the back which has to be 4" per side larger than the quilt top. I made it work!!! There are pictures below. It's now at the quilt shop and should be read in 3 weeks.

As I said in an earlier post, I think, I am now cleaning the house. I actually started the 2nd week I was off and I alternated days of cleaning with the quilt sewing. I have done the front entryway; the living room; dining room; kitchen; pantry; laundry area; and bathroom. The cleaning consist of dusting shelves, wiping counter tops, putting things away, cleaning the oven, sorting things in the closets, cabinets and such and then taking the stuff I don't use to either the library, Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity re-sale store. I have now made three trips.

Friday I started the studio and I am almost half way done with it. Yesterday I went knitting and today I will finish the studio. THEN the main floor of the house will be done.

Well, I do know - it was school which completely took over my life as I was working on big homework/projects. As a result I not only neglected writing on this blog, the house chores were not attended to and so now I get to spend time cleaning, doing laundry, and getting the place back into a good clean condition.

In review, the semester was very stressful and having assessed the situation I think, for me, taking 3 art classes while trying to take care of a house, a cat, and all the other adult things in life is a bit to much for me. I am scaling back to 1 or 2 classes per semester and this will allow me to enjoy things more and not stress.

As for my grades - I am certainly getting A's in Core 2 and Studio 2, and in Beginning Drawing it could be an A or a B... so I wait.

My plans for the summer are to clean and even purge more stuff. There is still stuff I never gave away last year and having not used lots more things over the past year I feel it's time to pass it on.  There is a second reason for all of this too. I would like to move into New Braunfels. There's several reasons - the first is that the house is now just too big, there are several rooms that aren't being used; secondly being in NB would cut my commute distance to school in half; third I would then be closer to my friends; and lastly the new house would be a single story which is important as we get older and live alone... and being in NB puts me closer to a local hospital IF something would require the use of one. 

I also plan on sewing 2 quilts, one for Elisa of Scotland as she's not been gifted on in over 10+ years. The second quilt will be for my niece's son who turns 1 year old soon. 

Finally I will be doing stuff in my studio - some metal work, possibly some more drawing and coloring.

Here's the last thing I drew and colored for my beginning drawing class - an Amonite​

Here we are at the end of March, on the cusp of April and I am in the wind-down of the semester; and many other things too.

For those other things.. 
The rental is was vacated in January and since then the house has been and is being worked on. Paint the entire inside including the kitchen cabinets, paint the entire outside, install new inexpensive carpets, repair the back porch and step and then paint that too, clean out the garage of left junk and the small craft/office building, and spiff-up the yard since there lots of little schmutzzzz everywhere. I expect the listing to be up soon, PLEASEEE. I also own the empty but small lot next door to the garage and that will also be listed, separately, but both will be cross listed.

Cowboy Boots was taken to the vet for her checkup; she's now an old lady as she's pushing 19 years old. The vet says she's doing great for a cat her age but she does have some kidney function issues which is why she throws-up every once and awhile. Her weight has fallen, some, she's now 4.6 pounds but that's due to age and the kidney issue. The vet said that lot's of little meal, like I have been trying to do, is good as it might help her put on some more weight and lower the chances of throwing up. I also asked about treating her to huban things she like to eat - yogurt, goat cheese, chicken, tuna, shrimp caesar salad dressing, meat sauce from the spaghetti and the vet said YES! but avoid high salt items but if she's interested in eating it let her have it. The last thing was that the cataracts in her eyes have progressed and that she's probably mostly "blind" in the left eye - she can probably see big blobby shapes and see light/dark but no details. This might explain why, when she has some food that's been pushed around in her bowl she meows for more food - she can see it. I have been pampering her but now I really will.

Here's a picture from Boots enjoying the left over tuna and salad dressing from last night's dinner

The past two weeks were stressful for me because for each of the 3 classes I had at school, I had big assignments/projects due.

First I got stressed over the assignments because I was having difficulty grasping what I needed to do for the assignment(s). Then I stressed over coming up with ideas or "concepts" as they are being called.  And then it was creating what was required for the assignments.  This is supposed to fun, right??
I did get them done on time and as the grades are coming in, I am getting A's on them but... For each assignment we did class critiques; I am looking at the other students work and now I am thinking "oh, that's a good idea" or "hmmm, I had not thought of that". 

The gist of this is I am still trying to break out of the stoic, engineer box that I have lived in for the past 40-50 years were I was told not to act strange, crazy or weird or ..... well, you get my drift. Trust me, it's in there and has started to come out of it's hidey-hold but I need more of it.

I am also having trouble getting a grip on the drawing. Once again, I will say, I have not done much creative drawing over my life. Last semester in Studio I I did start to explore it and in Beginning Drawing we are, in the class, spending each session discussing and playing with proportion, perspective, measurement, shading/tone and shifting subjects. It's supposed to be fun (where have we heard this before) but I am putting pressure on myself to draw better than I am currently able to.  ​

After a long drawn out reassessment I have decided that getting the B.F.A is not what's important. To me, learning what I WANT TO LEARN is what is important. I have also realized that THREE art classes at the same time is also too much as the classes are, for 3 credits, over 6 hours of class time in addition to the homework - I actually don't have time for me, Boots, and taking care of chores when home. I have gone through the course work and identified the classes I want which are not just metal but also include Printmaking, Ceramics, Sculpture, and 3D Printing Technology. I am NOT going to take 4 classes in Art History, Modern Communications, 2 classes of American History - Before and After the Civil War, or 2 classes in Political Science - Principles and Function of the American Government. I will sign up for 1 or 2 classes a semester and I might take the summer off if there isn't a class I want offered.  

I feel better already.

Another thing I did this week was to delete my profiles on LinkedIn and Dice. I am not going to go back into the workforce and IF I do, it's not going to be a full time Sr. Engineer so why have that information out there.

I also reassessed what I was watching on the streaming services I have been using since cutting the chord over a year ago. There are several shows that the Shop Elf and I would watch together along with pauses and discussions on what was being presented. For example we would watch the various Gold Rush shows. I have still been watching then but over the past few months I find I am doing something else, and I am not watching nor listening. I decided to cancel my subscription to that streaming service; I can alway come back to it but for now, why waste the money. I also canceled/deleted my accounts to a few other "free services" like Pluto and Sling because I never find anything to watch on them.

Here is a gif I made for Studio II, it is called Surfing with Dust Bunnies - Yes I am in an orange outfit with orange yarn on my feet to aid in the sliding around the floor.

I have thought long and hard <grrrr> about this new year.
The 2nd Yahrzeit (anniversary) of Erich's passing was last weekend; I this point it's a given that he's not coming back (yes, that's a joke). Boots is pushing 19 years old and at night I wake up and touch her just to make sure she's still breathing; I don't know how much longer she has left but let's hope it's until 2026.

School's going good and even though it's just the first week I am enjoying the classes and the teachers.  Last year I took the bus from the parking lot to the LBJ Student center and then walked to the Art building for my morning classes. My afternoon class was on the quad so I would walk there and usually have lunch in one of the dining areas and after class then walk back to the car. On average, per my Fitbit, I was walking 2700 steps, 1+ miles, and 7 flights of stairs.  I plan to walk both ways this year unless I am carrying too much stuff, it is brutally hot and/or humid or freezing or raining. I did this Monday and I walked 3+ miles, 24 floors, and 8+ thousand steps.  I am also NOT going to each lunches in the dining areas... I am packing a sandwich, fruit, veg, snack, and water. I might each lunch or dinner either in a dining hall or nearby restaurant if I forget or stay late on campus. I am also planning on going to the Rec Center on Friday mornings to get in a weight workout; I shall get my walking in as mentioned in the prior sentences. My GOAL is to drop another 10+ pounds, at least. I lost 20 pounds last year.

The rental property is having work done on it. The floor in one room needs fixing, the inside and out needs to be painted, and the entire yard needs work too. Then it will go up for sale. The sale will then fund the purchase of a new, to me, home in New Braunfels. It's after I move in the the new home that I will do some fixes on this home and then sell it. I am in no rush and I have a list of requirements such as a good space for my studio; this could be a home with a workshop, a 3-car garage or a game/media room that would hold the tools and equipment. Another requirement is to NOT be in a flood zone. Realtor.com and Homes.com display the flood risk to I want a 1 of 10 but a 2 or 3 would be acceptable too.

Last year my sleeping was OK but below my goal of 8 hours per night, it was 7.75 hours. During the winter break it was less than that. I have set an alarm on my phone for bed-time with an hour earlier notification to take my meds, fill Boots's bowl with food, freshen her water, push shit in messenger bag for the next day if needed, etc. 

Lastly I am organizing my Things-I-Want-Make list - some things are make a baby spoon, make a new quilt for Eliza of Scotland, master making/soldering pin back, more drawing/coloring/painting, and make stuff to sell through the metals guild on campus to just make and get some pocket *mad* money. 

During the summer, when I took the Easy Peasy Japanesy quilt in to the quilt shop to be quilted, I came across the Klimt fabric. I knew it would be the next quilt so I started buying fat quarter and full yard cuts along with one of the Klimt style panels which was a cat. I knew I was starting school soon so I set it aside for my Winter break project. 
Winter break started on December 13 and that's when I sat down and finalized the block for the quilt which would be for the couch in the family room. I my plan was to everything on 2", 4", 8", or 12" sizes of 4-Patch, Half-Square Triangles, Ohio Stars, Hour Glass, and Flying Geese. Below are all the pictures of the progress. 
I also planned on using some of the extra blocks to create a center panel for the backing. That soon got away from me and I ended up with a second top which is a "quilters casserole". AND I have enough fabric to put together a lap quilt for Elisa of Scotland... which she will get sometime next year.

The semester is over, one down and another 11 semesters to go until I graduate - that's taking a reduced load in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

​How did I do? Let's just say I am beaming because I am quite proud of my grades and the extra work I did certainly paid off! 

But first let me tell you about College Writing I. I really did not want to take this course; despite not being required to take the majority of the Texas State Core Education requirements I did have a Core set of classes as a Post-Baccalaureate student and so Writing I and Writing II were part of it. I found it odd because I did excused from a Foreign Language which was taken 50 years ago in High School. I took English all through High School and I had to take an English class and a Technical Writing class for my Undergraduate degree. Go Figure. Well, I figured I would do the work and just put up with it only to discover the teacher was really good and the majority of the course was learning to write four different types of Essays with little lessons on grammar and MLA style. I was actually enjoying it and spent quite a bit of time on the essays. For the first 3 essays I received grades in the high-90's having lost points on stupid things like missing periods, formatting, and other minor grammer things.  I was determined to get a 100 on the last essay. Oh, the essay was supposed to be about our our career goals but because I am retired and don't have any, the teacher gave me permission to write about what I wanted. I decided to write about my love of learning and how I arrived back at school to get the B.F.A. I wrote the essay the weekend after it was assign and I did 10 revisions on it. The work paid off, I did get that 100!! The final, for the class, was to talk, 4-6 minutes, about our essay with some sort of visual aide but NOT a PowerPoint presentation. I brought in some of the products I worked on, as an Engineer, and some of my metal work. I volunteered to go first because I knew the other students would be nervous and reluctant to be first. Well it went smoothly, and no I did not prepare nor did I have notes, and every one was interested in looking at my items as I passed them around. 

​I have now checked and my final grades are:
Studio I: A
Core I: A
College Writing I: A
Semester GPA: 4.0