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Saturday, March 16, 2013

#676



I've been away. Have spent the past month in Oaxaca, studying Spanish, sketching, resting. Eating. Drinking in the colors, sounds and beauty of an advanced culture. 


 I know that's not the perception that our media gives but it's true. Mexico has many problems as we do in the U.S. but in the realm of human kindness they are most advanced. I am always humbled and learn so much from my visits there.


I think after 675 blog posts since April of 2006 (7 years!) I needed a break. It was nice to be quiet and away from Facebook and the computer (mostly). It's reassuring to know the roof wont fall in if I take a break. And the best part was being a student for a change. A student of the Spanish language at which I am a complete dunce. It helps me to know how it feels to be a beginner. It made me very shy.


And I am playing catch up now. I have a basket full of announcements that will be coming in the next few weeks. I'll be teaching less this year; I just passed another birthday and keep trying to retire but then this "just one more" keeps happening to me so I go on. 


Here are some recent journal pages. I didn't take many art supplies to Mexico so they're kind of heavy on writing.


I was really glad to get home to my studio again. Especially my paints which I missed.


I've unpacked and studied Spanish every day since my return but this is the first step in reconnecting with friends. Next comes answering e-mails. Oye, the list!


More faces. 


Joined Mary Ann in a little sketch party before I left. I've experienced a renewed interest in sketching of late. It was my primary creative outlet as a child; drawing people and making up stories in the solitude of my bedroom, lying on the cool cement floor of the Arizona desert. I plan to do more ...

A mi, me gusta dibujar.

Hasta luego!


17 comments:

Unknown said...

Hola Senora Judy ;)

Welcome home! Hugs and more hugs!

Your amiga,
Jenny

Kim Mailhot said...

How wonderful ! So thrilled for you.
learning and life loving continues...
you inspire, Judy Blue Eyes.

Lisa Graham said...

Hola Judy...welcome back...your time away sounds like a dream.

Liz in Washington state said...

bien hecho, me gusta los dibujos. Es dificil escribir en espanol despues de tanto anos.

huntla1 said...

Welcome home. I've missed hearing from you but at the same time don't begrudge your time away at all. Happy belated birthday. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead and many more to follow!

Kathy said...

Nice to have you back and happy to hear you had such a relaxing break. What a dream to "unplug" and just be for a while.

jsantini2 said...

Wow, the trip agreed with you: you're looking fabulous, birthday or not. I'm taking a couple of Mary Ann's bookbinding workshops. Proves it's never too late to learn something, even at my age. lol
Jane

rebecca said...

welcome home mi amor! so proud of you for studying spanish...always good to place oneself back in the learner role, so humbling and such a well of compassion and understanding rises in our souls as teachers.
oaxaca..well i know you know this was my first love in mexico when i was barely 20. and so the affair continues to this day.
so looking forward to hearing from you when you are ready.
xoxoxoxoxo

femminismo said...

Buenos dias, Judy! You look so lovely in the green shirt and shoes! Your face shape reminds me of mine in the sketches. "No recuerdo la palabra." I have trouble remembering words too. Your journal pages inspire me to do more and more and more. Most recently I have been making yarn cupcakes. (foam balls wrapped with yarn and decorated with yarn that looks a little like coconut!) Love you. Trying to find out more about cold wax. Hurry with your video training!

Beth said...

Love these pictures, Judy! My husband and I just got back from a week in Mexico City - our first time in the country - and what an eye-opening trip it was! I absolutely cannot wait to go back. The colors, the people, the beauty, the layers of past and present, were all completely inspiring to me. I'm glad I can understand now some of why you love being there so much. And I'm glad you had a good break from the internet - we all need that from time to time. (My blog will be 10 this week!)

Lynn Cohen said...

Love, love, love viewing your journal pages, pouring over both words and drawings and photos ! Vicariously enjoying your time away, in new environs , admiring your perseverance to learn Spanish ... Bueno! The Steinbeck painting is stellar! Hugs, Lynn

Jeanne Oliver said...

What an amazing trip you were able to take to renew and focus. I would love a trip like that. Welcome home to your paints:-)

dogwood house studios said...

Welcome home, precious friend...my naturopath told me the best way to avoid cognitive decline was either: learn a foreign language, take up Sudoku or crossword puzzles or learn a musical instrument!
I'm proud of you for taking a month away from electronics...relaxing in the sun and caring for yourself deeply.
Dios bendiga...mi hermana,
Jody

Laura Twiford said...

Welcome back! Everyone needs a break every now and again, it feels good to disconnect for awhile and take some time, I did that last year too. Glad you found some peace and renewal!

Clare Wassermann said...

Hi there again! It sounds like a great trip! And just remember I said to you about three years or more ago that I want to come to the USA to do a workshop with you for my fiftieth birthday present...well you cannot retire yet young lady because that is in 18 months time!!!!!!

Parabolic Muse said...

Judy, I am playing catch up with you. Congrats on your blog milestone. I'm glad you took time for yourself. And how fun it must have been to have play time with Mary Ann!

Your journal pages, as always, are magnifico!

Parabolic Muse said...

And what a beautiful photo of you!!