Artist/Picture Study - Yayoi Kasama

Yayoi Kusama was born on March 22, 1929, and is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation. She also does performance, painting, fashion, fiction, poetry, video art, and other arts. 

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According to Wikipedia, Yayoi's work "is based in conceptual art and shows some attributes of feminism, minimalism, surrealism, Art Brut, pop art, and abstract expressionism, and is infused with autobiographical, psychological, and sexual content. She has been acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan."

She was raised in Matsumoto and then trained at the Kyoto City University of Arts in a traditional Japanese painting style called nihonga. However, she was inspired by American Abstract impressionism. 

In 1958, Wikipedia states, "Yayoi moved to New York City and was a part of the New York avant-garde scene throughout the 1960s, especially in the pop-art movement. Embracing the rise of the hippie counterculture of the late 1960s, she came to public attention when she organized a series of happenings in which naked participants were painted with brightly colored polka dots. Since the 1970s, Yayoi has created art, most notably installations in museums around the world. 

She has been open about her mental health, and says that art allows her a way to express her mental problems. She reported in the interview she did with Infinity Net "I fight pain, anxiety, and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieved my illness is to keep creating art. I followed the thread of art and somehow discovered a path that would allow me to live."

Below are several pieces or installations that Yayoi has done and what Olivia remembered about them after studying them for a while.

Obliteration Room

Olivia remembered: 

- In the room, there is a dining room/kitchen presented. Everything is covered in polka dots. There are polka dots on top of polka dots. 

- There are definitely areas in the room where the polka dots are closer to one another and on top of one another.

- There is a dining room table with six chairs. There are plates, cups, a wine glass, and a pitcher of some sort...like a tea kettle. They were all covered in polka dots.

- On the wall to the right, there is a cabinet - it's open on top, but there are doors on the bottom. Following along that, it looks like there is a counter or a kitchen sink. I couldn't tell if there was a picture or a window above the sink.

- There also appears to be a plant in the back of the picture. 

- The walls are definitely more heavily polka-dotted than the floor. 

- The polka dots were in colors of red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, and green.

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All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins 

Olivia remembered: 

- In the picture, there are a ton of yellow pumpkins with black dots all over them. 

- The dots are all neatly in order. Starting in the center section of a pumpkin, they get smaller. 

- They also seem to move the natural lines of the pumpkins. 

- Even the stems are painted black with gold dots matching the sides of the pumpkins in reverse. 

- It looks like there are mirrors on the sides of the walls and ceiling to make the room bigger than what it is actually.

- The floor looks like it is somewhat reflective as well...just like it has been polished. 

- The pumpkins seem to glow from the inside - like they are lamps.

- The colors look yellow and black - like a bee. 

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Pumpkin (M), 2013, Victoria Miro, London

Olivia remembered: 

- In the picture, there is one big lone pumpkin. It appears to be made out of metal and I can't tell if it black first and then painted gold in some areas.

- The polka dots seem to be cut out of the yellow/bronze/gold metal that is laying on top of the pumpkin.

- The stem is in the reverse of the body where it's gold dots with a black surface.

- The ridges on the pumpkin really stand out. 

- In the center, the dots are bigger and as they move out they get smaller.

- There are willow trees in the background. It is definitely outside. 

- It kind of looks like a big piece of Swiss cheese. It kind of reminds me of Swiss cheese.

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Flowers that speak all about my heart given to the sky, 2018, 

Victoria Miro, London, 2018, photo: Thierry-Bal

Olivia remembered: 

- In the picture, there are three big flowers. Each flower is a slightly different color. The one on the left has yellow petals on the inside with black polka dots with pink on the outside of the petals. The inside color with a different outside color repeats for the other two flowers. 

- The inside is painted with a bright color - like red, yellow, or green. Those three colors make the seeds on the inside of the flower. It gives it an interesting look.

- They are in the shape of little rectangles. It kind of reminds me of a spider web. 

- The leaves of the flowers also have polka dots on them. 

- They look like they are on some wooden deck or platform. 

- The second flower to the right is red and white. The other one is pink and blue. 

- Some of the leaves have yellow or blue polka dots. 

- Some of the undersides of the leaves are lighter green with polka dots. 

- The flowers look like they could swallow you up and the petals would close in on you. 

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http://tokinowasuremono.com/e/artist-a08-kusama/177flowersfw.html

Olivia remembered: 

- In the picture, there is a vase and four flowers in it. One on the left is hanging down and is open. It is pointing to the table. The other three are pointing up and are open. 

- The whole picture reminds me of a mosaic and those dot mandalas.

- The whole picture is black and white too. 

- The surface of the table is white with black dots that seem to be going in a wave motion. 

- The vase has two handles on the side. 

- On the center of the vase has bigger random circle. As you go out, they are smaller and they are squished in between the bigger dots - or tucked in - giving it a 3D look.

- Some of the flowers reminded me of dandelions - especially the white ones. 

- The handles look like they are made out of rope looking like how the dots are formed on it. 

- The background is a bunch of little pieces that look like a mosaic. 

- The opening of the vase looks like a clamshell with curves in them. It reminds me of those bigger clam shells that - I think I saw something where they are really big and could swallow a person. Not like they could actually do that. 

- Some of the leaves look like them are snapped onto the stems - not like they are growing out from them. 

- The leaves kind of reminded me of dandelion leaves because of how jagged they are and how many points they have on them.

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Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms

Tate Modern in London

Olivia remembered: 

- In the room, there are a bunch of lights. There also looks like there are mirrors in the room to reflect the light and make it look bigger.

- There's also a walkway in the center of the room - a path - and there is a big blob in the center of the photo. That could have been the camera taking the picture. 

- The lights were purples and yellow - contrasting colors. They looked like they were hanging from the ceiling.

- Definitely looks like you are in space. Each of the lights is a galaxy.

- Definitely looks like there are pillars in the room to support the ceiling and the room. 

- It's an empty-ish room with mirrors and lights.

- I think it would be cool. It reminds me of a mirror maze. It would be disorienting. You wouldn't know what is a wall and may walk into that. 

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Artist/Picture Study - Paul Cezanne

Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose artistic creations provided the foundations of the transition from the 19th to 20th century of art.

Cézanne’s exploratory and often repetitive brushstrokes are clearly recognizable and characteristic of his style. He used small brushstrokes and planes of color that build up to form complex fields.

The paintings convey Cézanne’s focused study of his subjects. Cézanne can be said to form a bridge between late 19th century Impressionism and the early 20th century’s new method of expression,  Cubism. Both Picasso and Matisse remarked that Cézanne “is the father of us all.”

Below are six pictures that Cézanne painted. Olivia studied these for a while and then recalled what she could remember about the pictures.

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Mountain Sainte-Victoire1882-1885

Oil on canvas, 65,5 × 81,7 cm

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are two big tall trees that you notice. The trees are right up front. If you look past the trees, you can see buildings, a bridge, and mountains. 
- The mountains look more like giant or very big hills, especially when they are painted green.
- The bridge looks like it is going across a large river and it is very long. 
- Some of the buildings look like they are just painted squares. 
- Also, it looks like it is the country because there are different farm plots. 
- Close to the river on the right side of the picture, there looks like there is a village. I couldn't tell if they were more buildings or trees.
- The two big trees look like they don't have any branches on the trunk. There is one little scraggly branch...and that's about it. 
- The picture looks like it is being painted from the perspective that the painter is on top of a hill. Everything seems a little faint, or smaller in the distance. You kinda feel like you are looking down slightly. 
- There are also smaller trees in the very front of the picture. 
- There looks like there is a house hidden among the trees that has a chimney.

- The whole picture is mainly done with greens, yellows, and the sky is blue with very few clouds. 

- It looks like it was done in watercolor - just how light the colors are and the blue in the sky. You can't really see the short, precise strokes. They are all blended out. 

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The Peppermint Bottle, 1893-95 

Oil on canvas, 65.9 x 82.1 cm

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, it looks like there is a chest of drawers and sitting on the chest of drawers is some fabric or tablecloths. One is blue and has like swirly flower/fern patterns on it. 
- The other is plain white.
- Sitting on the fabric, there are two bottles - 1 that has a red label with a cork it; and the other looks like it is a jug or a vase, and it looks like it is completely see-through. 

- Also on the table are several peaches - at least I think they are peaches since they are orange or yellowish.

- It also seems like the fabric is propped up with things because of how it is draped and holding stuff.
- Behind the chest of drawers, there is a window and the whole background is painted this tealish-green color. The whole picture is painted like that with the exception of the red label and peaches. 

- The bottle with a red label - looks like it could be an alcohol bottle with wine or something. 
- The jug looks like it could be empty and appears to be completely see through. There is a peach that is hiding behind the vase. The vase is clear. 
- The colors are mostly greenish-blue with blue. 

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Le Jas de Bouffan, 1878

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there is a row of trees going off the page on the left-hand side.
- To the right of the trees, there is a house. There is one big part and there is a slightly shorter side next to it. There are a bunch of smaller buildings next to it. 
- The house reminds me of an Italian or Spanish or Mexican style. You got those ridged rooftops on the little buildings...that could be outdoor stoves. They also could be animal coops. 
- On the big building, there is a white staircase that goes up to the second floor. 
- On the trees, it looks like the branches are coming down and they have lots of little leaves - almost like willow trees.
- To the right of the picture, there is another tree that has a much darker bark and has a much skinnier tree trunk than the other trees. 
- The sky is blue and there looks like there is a bunch of fluffy clouds. 
- Again, the colors of this picture are brown, greens, and yellowish-browns...or like tan. 
- There looks like there is brown mixed into the tree. It looks like it may be fall because the leaves are ready to change. 

- The bark on the other trees is very smooth. 

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Still Life with a Ginger Jar and Eggplants, 1893-94

Oil on canvas 72.4 x 91.4 cm

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York NY

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are some pears, two jars, a wine bottle, a wooden stick with some eggplants tied to it.
- One of the jars and the wine bottle have twine wrapped around it and it looks like they could be hanging or hung. 
- The other jar is like a dark green and looks more heavy-duty than the other jar. 
- There's the same tablecloth with the blue and black swirly design from the other still-life design. In this one, you can see that the design is like a bunch of suns in a row...like a quilt block or quilt square. 
- There's - what I'm guessing - is a white tablecloth and what looks like a white vest. It looks like it is a different texture than the tablecloth.
- The back wall where you can see next to the eggplants, it looks like it is made out of glass. So, I feel like some of these items are being stored in a greenhouse or a glass sunroom.
- There's a wooden drawer or a chest or shelf/desk, and the top drawer is slightly open; and the next open drawer - it's hard to see the knobs since it is same texture as the wood. 
- The light looks like it is coming in from the left, and you see the reflection of the eggplants in the glass.
- The pears are orangeish/reddish/yellow - so they may not be completely ripe.
- The vase with the rope around it is white on top and then it looks like it is blue - like a big blue stripe on it. 

- The fabric is all bunched up - like there is something underneath it. 

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Dovecote at Bellevue, 1890

Oil on canvas 58 x 78 cm

Private Collection

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there is a house on top of a hill and next to the house there looks like there is a silo. In front of the house there looks like there is a pine tree.
- Off from the pine tree, there looks like there are smaller pine trees.
- There is a big pine tree growing behind the house. 
- Next to the silo, there are smaller trees. Some of them look dead. One might have white flowers on it. 
- The sky is a much brighter, darker blue with less clouds. 
- There is also this little shrub growing on the hill, and by the way of the brush strokes, it looks like it is kind of tall.
- The silo has a burnt-orange top/cover and the house is tan with more yellow in it. There are two windows on the second story are completely black. 
- On the first floor, there's a window and what looks like a door - a greenish color. 

- You can see a lot more of his tiny, short strokes in this picture. 

- I feel like the house is abandoned. The whole feeling looks like it is slightly unkempt. 

- The grass is very brown and light in color. The trees are more green. 

- His other landscapes always have brown, green, and yellow, and sometimes orange. 

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Les Bois, Aix-en-Provence, 1890

Graphite and watercolor, 46.6 x 30 cm

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge UK

Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are three trees to the right and one tree to the left. 
- The trees appear to be growing on the side of a hill. 
- The trees are very tall and skinny.
- The trees don't look like they have any branches on the trunk. It's only on the top that you see a few branches. 
- There doesn't look like there are any leaves on this tree. So, they may be dead trees.
- The trees are brown, but there are hints of green, reddish-purple - like a red grape color, mixed into the trunks. 
- There are also these circles that paint. It's like when you drop water onto watercolors and then it spreads out. 
- The grass is very, very light...a vibrant green. 

- There are some tree trunks in the distance, but you don't see the top of them. You just see the trunks.

- The rest of the background is white. 

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Artist/Picture Study - Flavia Arlotta

On May 9, 1913, Flavia Arlotta was born in Naples into a cosmopolitan family. Her father Ugo was wealthy and her mother was a Russian sculptress. At the age of 17, Flavia went to live in Florence to study painting. 

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According to the Giovanni Colacicchi website, Flavia met Giovanni Colacicchi through Felice Cerena, and the two married. She received her diploma at the Accademia in 1935. Giovanni and Flavia then had two sons: Piero in 1937 and Francesco in 1942. 

Flavia "participated in various collective exhibitions in the 1930s and 1940s at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and the Galleria d'arte Moderna in Rome. In 1939 her father bought her the studio house in Via dell'Osservatorio which remained the well-loved residence of Flavia and Giovanni for the rest of their lives. 

She painted still lifes, portraits, and landscapes, and had three solo exhibitions in Florence in 1979, 1984, and 1998. Besides her art, Flavia dedicated her life to the conservation of Florence and the environment. 

Flavia died in Florence on December 13, 2010, in her house in Via dell'Osservatorio.

Below are five of Flavia's pieces that Olivia observed. Without looking at the pieces, she recalled different aspects of each one as noted.

Natura Morta con Scatola di Datteri

(Still Life with a Date Box)

Olivia remembered: 

- There are two pieces of cloth - one is gray and the other is navy blue.

- There's a vase, two halves of a shell, and two blue rectangle-shaped boxes stacked on top of one another.

- The vase is small and white. The boxes - they look like they are light brown to yellow in the center - and it looks like there is a wrapper on top that has been broken. 

- The shells - they are kind of long - they are almost like oyster shells of some sort. 

- You can see all the creases and folds of the fabric. 

- The vase is narrow at the top, then it gets wider, and then it gets narrow again. 

- Most of the background is the fabric. To the left, you can see a light brown table. The wall or flooring is a darker brown or tan. 

- It almost looks like she used pastels because there are white spots. 

- The top of the boxes looks like it has a pattern that was done in white. 

- It was a pretty simple picture. 

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Il Campo Degli Hildebrand a San Francesco di Paola

(The Hildebrand Orchard at San Francesco di Paola) 

Olivia remembered: 

- This picture reminds me of the Italian countryside. You have lots of trees and what looks like little plots of vineyards and then you have some houses with walls surrounding them.

- The trees are all skinny and tall trees. They aren't very wide. 

- The houses are very normal, rectangle-shaped houses. There isn't a lot of detail on the houses.

- Some of the trees have white flowers or leaves on them...so I feel like this is maybe springtime or maybe late spring because some of the trees are still bare as well. 

- Whatever is in the field is low to the ground - like they are shrubs. 

- The sky is blue, but there are light grayish clouds, and some of the same colors can be seen in the background in the plots that are further away. 

- The trees on the left are tall and they look like they have gold leaves...so I don't know if that's the color of the leaves or something...I'm not sure. 

- You can see a little bit of a road leading to a house in the distance. 

- It also seems kind of hilly.

- You can't see very much of the sky.

- The colors are greens, browns, and white. Nothing is eye-popping. All the colors go well together. 

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Natura Morta col Nastro Rosso

(Still Life with a Red Ribbon)

Olivia remembered: 

- She seemed to have a thing for shells. Again, she has shells in this picture. 

- There are two shells - one on the right and one on the left. In between the shells, there is a vase with flowers, and a red ribbon with what looks like more shells in it. 

- All of the colors are blues and grays. The color that stands out the most is the red ribbon.

- The flowers in the vase look like they are arranged to be a sea anemone. 

- The vase they are in looks like it has blue swirls all over it.

- Everything looks like it is on a blue shelf against a wall.

- There looks like there are two shells on the ribbon and they are darker. 

- There also looks like there is something coming out of the big shell on the right. 

- The flower arrangement looks like it is more than one flower. It kind of looks like a sunflower except it is not yellow. It is dead. It is made out of more than one flower too. 

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Flori de Campo

Wild Flowers

Olivia remembered: 

- In the picture, there is a single vase filled with flowers. There's several of them at the base of the vase that look like they are little daisies.

- There's light coming in from the left of the picture - showing there is possibly a window, even though you can't see it. 

- All the flowers in the vase are kind of hanging over, like they don't have strong stems to keep them upright. 

- Some of the flowers in there are roses, daisies, there's one that looks like a hyacinth, there are some yellow flowers and white ones, and some grass blades and ferns in there too. 

- The vase looks like it is silver, but it is actually made out of glass since you can see some of the stems. 

- One of the yellow flowers on the left looks like a little yellow butterfly.

- The table looks like it is covered with a tablecloth that is white/light gray.

- The wall behind the vase is blue and kind of looks like it has a swirly texture to it...or just the way she painted it. 

- For such a small vase, there is a lot of negative space around it. 

- There's not a lot to these pictures. They are very simple - not super distracting. 

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Presepe Dipinto Per Giovanni

(Christmas Creche Painted for Giovanni) 

Olivia remembered: 

- This picture is like a very chaotic setup of a manger...like we set up for Christmas.

- There's a little rectangle/square in the middle on a platform surrounded by some rocks. There are people and animals all over the rocks. 

- On top of the manger, there's some grass or something. Standing on top of the grass are three angels - one has blue wings, the second has yellow or gold wings, and the third has green wings. There are also like these big leaf plants that look like palm leaves....just a little thicker.  

- To the left of the angels, there is a more leafy branch that is trying to be a tree. Then right under the tree, there are some people who are standing around - the three wisemen - and they all have gifts. You can tell they are wisemen because they are on donkeys. 

- Next to them, there are some more people with gifts and some people are carrying gifts on their heads. They are in urns or jars. 

- On the big rock there's a woman - or at least what I think is a woman - and a sheep and then there's a boy behind the sheep who I think is the shepherd. 

- There's some more people behind them, a little lower down, on a rock.

- In the manger, you have Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Baby Jesus is facing towards the wisemen. Joseph is standing in the back like he always is, but you can't see his face. There's a blue glow over his face - like he is a ghost. 

- Mary is in the classic pose with her hand over her heart. 

- In the upper right corner is a star. It's suppose to look like a shooting star, but it looks more like a shooting daisy.

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End of the Year Questions - Reflecting on 2021

These questions are from a swap on Swapbot that look back on 2021: 

1. If 2021 were a movie, what was the title, and what happened? The first thing that comes to mind is "Where Did the Time Go?" 

Even though the past year was packed with lots of activities, milestone birthdays, and challenges (like doing the 75Hard challenge and drastically changing the way I ate, exercised, and approached life), it went by so quickly. It seems like each year there never is enough time to get everything done that I want to accomplish. 

2. What worked well in 2021, and for what are you grateful? For the first 75 days of the year, I was using a habit tracker and doing the 75Hard challenge. I was eating well, exercising 90 minutes a day, reading at least 10 pages, journaling, and doing other activities that I wanted to do. 

I really liked the program and ended up continuing a modified version of it until about October. Then, I started getting side-tracked with the holidays and they took priority. 

I am very grateful I did the program because it showed me that if I set my mind to something difficult, I can do it. It is a matter of setting small, achievable steps to reach the major goal. 

3. What was challenging or disappointing about 2021? We had multiple major problems with our only car. This was a huge setback financially which was disappointing. 

We also struggled with Hoss's hooves from February through September, and worked with our vet and farrier to find a solution. They (and we) tried everything. In September, we made the difficult decision to give Hoss and Bailey (who were now a bonded pair) back to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation. They ended up being able to discover the problem (an abscess in one hoof) that, thankfully, was caught in time. Olivia was very observant and - had she not been - things could have been a lot worse for him (either long-term issues or euthanasia). 

The good news is that both Hoss and Bailey were adopted within a month of going back to MHARF. Although they are in different homes, Hoss has a miniature companion and goats at his new farm and Bailey is at a stable with 15 other horses, and she is used for giving lessons. So, she's getting lots of attention.  

4. What were your most meaningful moments this past year? At the end of the year - from December 23rd to January 4th - we quarantined at the request of Sophia's study abroad program. In order to board her international flights, she needed a negative COVID test. So, we didn't want to risk it given the appearance and easy transmission of the omicron variant. 

Although we were sad that we couldn't do things we normally did - like go to Christmas Eve service, spend time with extended family on Christmas, go out to do special things for Sophia's 21st birthday, and go out to a Chinese restaurant on New Year's Day - we celebrated these occasions at home together as a family. 

We started some new traditions (like playing Risk together as a family over multiple days after Christmas and into the New Year), watched movies together, and made food together. We worked on projects that we hadn't had a chance to do because we were always out and about...rather than at home. 

5. Where did you spend a lot of time and energy? Although I felt like I was driving a lot to take Olivia to the homeschool co-op twice a week and to speech therapy, I did spend a lot of time and energy at home which I enjoyed. 

I enjoyed watching Olivia paint many barn quilts during the summer for clients. She was earning a lot of money that she has set aside for college.

6. What did you learn this last year? I learned how to take better photos and use my camera in ways I didn't know how to use it. 

I took a photography course at North House Folk School with Layne Kennedy, a very talented photographer. Olivia and I enjoyed photographing waterfalls.

We also explored places on our own - like High Falls at Grand Portage State Park. This park is adjacent to Canada, although - at the time - we couldn't go into Canada because the border was closed due to the pandemic.

The photography course challenged me to look at taking pictures different than I normally would do, and learn to tell a story about the places we visited.

7. Looking back on 2021, on a scale of 1-10, how happy were you overall, with 1 being depressed and 10 being happy and content? I think about a 7 or 8 in terms of being happy and content. 

8. As you look to 2022, what will be the highest use of your talents? As I think about different skills and talents during the upcoming year, I would like to use my:

- research skills to help find scholarship opportunities for Olivia, 

- writing skills to write a book for Olivia to give to her as she starts college, 

- organizational skills to keep everything in order as Olivia finishes high school and Sophia studies abroad, 

- decluttering skills as I get rid of things we no longer want or need in our home, barn, and garage, 

- organizational skills as we plan for a trip to England and Scotland for Olivia's graduation trip,

- gardening skills to make the farm look nice for Olivia's graduation party, and 

- communication skills to help me talk with potential employers as I search for a job later in the year. 

9. What will success look like in 2022? If I am able to accomplish all the things I mentioned in #8, I would feel like 2022 is successful: 

- help Olivia secure scholarships, 

- write a book for Olivia, 

- see Olivia complete high school after being homeschooled since Kindergarten, 

- hear that Sophia had a successful trip in Thailand, 

- get rid of a dumpster of things from the home/yard/barn (so a thorough deep clean and decluttering), 

- have a great family trip overseas, 

- complete the gardens so they look full and colorful, and 

- secure a meaningful job. 

10. If you select a "word of the year" - share what it is for 2022, and why you chose it. I'm not sure what word I pick. I go between four words: Trust, Acceptance, Embrace, and Change. 

I'm thinking Change might be it because there is inevitable change that comes with aging, seeing the girls get older and move to the next stage of their lives, and change in relationships. 

Then there's change that I initiate that can be positive - like saving over $70 per month by changing garbage collection companies and changing phone companies so we get faster and more reliable internet while saving ourselves money. 

2022 will be filled with many changes. I just need to trust, accept, and embrace them - whether I am ready for them or not. 

Happiness Scavenger Hunt #2

Earlier in December, I did the Happiness Scavenger Hunt #1 on Swap-Bot. This is the second Scavenger Hunt in a series of three.

The goal is to photograph something that fits each of these six categories. Something that: 

You are thankful for - rain and snow. After a drought this summer and seeing the impact on the grass, flowers, shrubs, and trees, any type of moisture we get I'm thankful for. 

On December 3rd, there was rain and snow...kind of a sloppy mixture. There wasn't a lot, but there was enough for the ground to be wet and raindrops to cover leaves and drip off of tree branches.

I'm hoping that the plants and grass make it through the winter with whatever rain and snow falls.

Makes you laugh out loud 

For the past few years, we have tried to take a photo with the dogs and girls by the tree. When we had two dogs, things were a bit easier. With four dogs, it has become more challenging.

We all end up laughing as the dogs try to find a spot to sit and girls try to get them to face forward. The only one cooperating right away was Scooby. I think he just wanted to get the photo done.

After a good 20 pictures, we finally had one that turned out good enough. The girls and dogs all are facing forward, and the girls both are smiling. 

You use all the time

I use my sewing machine quite often. It's my favorite sewing machine even though it is very basic. I've had it since I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the late 1980s.

Olivia is using to make a bag that she started on Christmas and finished on the 26th. 

Reminds you of a happy memory

On Christmas Eve, I made a maple twist coffeecake. This is a recipe that was from family friends of my parents and then one that my mom made around the holidays. They made the maple twist coffeecake on a traditional-size pizza pan. The one we had is much larger, so I made a double recipe. It took 4 hours to make - from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The center coveted piece was large enough that there were 4 pieces...instead of the single one that a single batch makes. It reminds me of Christmas Eve growing up when my mom used to make this recipe.

For Christmas, we quarantined again this year. This time, however, it is because Sophia is leaving for a semester to study abroad in Thailand. She needs a negative COVID test before she leaves on January 4th. So, we are not taking any chances with the omicron variant. If she tests positive, then she cannot do the program. She would be devastated. 

Anyway, for Christmas, we had a simple meal - ham, baked potatoes, cornbread, Brussel sprouts, dressing, and fresh fruit. The tablecloth belonged to my parents, and the Advent wreath reminds of the one that they used to light each year (except the candles were purple and pink).

My mom always made a nice dinner for Christmas. However, she didn't make so much that we had a ton leftover (like I do for Thanksgiving). I put cloves in the ham like she did and also wrapped the baked potatoes in foil like she did.

After dinner, we went on a drive to Minneapolis (the Kenwood area) and wound our way to Edina. There were so many decorated and lit-up buildings and homes. This church - across from the Walker Art Center - was lit up. It reminded me of going to church when I was growing up - either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 

Makes you feel safe

Fencing around our backyard makes me feel safe. On December 26th, two coyotes came through the west pasture, walked towards the barn, and stopped a couple of feet from the backyard by both cattle gates. The fence, though it may not seem strong, was enough to keep the coyotes out of the backyard. 

They both heard Cooper and Aspen (our two largest dogs) barking, which made them turn around and head back into the pasture. So, my dogs - all four of them - make me feel safe too. 

Sounds beautiful - On December 4th, we went to hear the Festival of Christmas at Bethel University. Sophia is in the handbell choir and it sounded so beautiful.

They played quite a few songs for about 30 minutes before the performance. 

The 90-minute Festival of Christmas was spectacular! There were three choirs, the handbell ensemble, the wind symphony, and the chamber orchestra. In total, there were over 220 student performers and musicians.