I love pink and red and candy.

Littlest Kitten and I made the most lovely Valentine Boxes.

I think they will look good for Easter too. She has been painting the most lovely paintings as well.

Cameras constructed by Littlest and Middle Kittens

Prom

I'm sure that Nina and I weren't the only mom's who would watch their cutest little baby kittens playing and say things like... "maybe one day they will go to prom together." Actually I'm not sure that we said that exactly, but something like it. So when Collins asked Teen Kitten to prom, we knew it would probably be even more fun for us than it would be for them.

Now Teen Kitten is a bit shy of sixteen so shouldn't the mom's go to prom too? The perfect excuse! And will they let us design every bit of their outfits? Oh my goodness yes, a dream come true!

Tune in for photos very soon!

Frida Bonita

Art is Fun

What would you write about string? Minnie niece kitten wrote her beautiful words.

Each time I went to see the dancers on BYU campus last week, I packed my car full of kittens and had spontaneous art adventures.

We were extra lucky that Pam Bowman was there with her artwork. It's mobile so keep your eyes out for the art truck/van. Right now it's in front of the MoA.

In Gallery 303 there was an installation that's pretty cool, Beauty for Ashes. The best part was that from the BF Larsen Gallery we could watch people inside the installation.

I was curious if my kittens would behave so I middle kitten and I spied. They danced. Duh! They just danced and it was pretty to watch. I didn't think to take pictures until they were done. We spied several university students touching the artwork, funny!

The dancers (Sarah, Emily and Brooklyn) were beautiful. The performances in the HFAC were so Fame. People stopped and enjoyed. I loved it.

These days are so short. On December 21, I'm going to be having a big celebration, at least on the inside. I really do love the sun. I love the sun and sugar. It's been eighteen and a half days since I've had sugar. One of my kittens has suffered from some allergies and a doctor we saw suggested a 'no yeast diet'. She was excited to try it and so, to support my lil' kitten, I volunteered to go on this very restricted diet. We can't have wheat or sugar or even fruit. I've never done this before in my life. She hasn't cheated and so I haven't either, even on my birthday. It's an odd time to be avoiding sugar but it's become more than just a really hard diet. It's about control over my body. It's liberating to know that I have the power to overcome physical weakness.

I've gained a lot of respect for my sugar-junkie, middle kitten. I would have bailed a long time ago if it weren't for her iron will.

Do we feel better? Not really. Is it getting easier? Not really. I actually gained weight the first few days of eating meat and lots of butter. It's really expensive too. I'm looking forward to longer days and my favorite food group....dessert.

Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell, Taste, Phone...

I'm confused. In teen-world, is a cellphone a sense or is it a vital organ? It is through the phone that my teens seem to be experiencing the world, connecting to it. At the same time, like the heart or lungs, they don't seem to be able to actually live without it connected to their person.

Teen world for me was on a different planet. For example, in my teen memory, if I had a crush on a boy and saw him in the lunch line, would I give him a flirty smile or look him right in the eyes in a passionate searching sort of way? Not exactly. I remember blushing, looking at the floor and trying not to throw-up. My teen relationships were silly and a little embarrassing at best.

I was listening to bits of conversation between the clutter of tom cats and teen kitten I could hear from the studio. They are so savvy and comfortable. Via texting it seems they have evolved beyond the awkward. The more I thought about it, the more I started to worry. What will happen to the teens of today if they skip this important rite of passage?

As I listened a while longer, I could hear giggling from the kitchen as the tomcats competed to see how many Swedish Fish they could stick up their noses. This set my mind at ease, not everything has changed.

I find it is important to have everything ready and accessible so as not to hinder the creative process. Like when I cleverly hang angel wings in place of a wreath, but see that it needs a white flower to cover the handmade pipe cleaner hanging device, it's imperative that I know right where to find crafty coffee filters without searching or digging.

Little kittens have been working on a whole city for these tiny, charming people. They use everything in sight. I'm going to sneak these little gems onto the Christmas tree.

There was something in the air that lasted all day long. I wasn't the only one who felt it.

My middle kitten said, "we need more wind." And then the wind began to blow. There are several stories about the elements bending to middle kitten's will. The sky gods (Theoi Ouranioi) listen to her like they know her.

Littlest Kitten enjoyed her stardom as she signed artwork in front of her fans.

I dare say their collaboration was the most popular painting in the show.

Holding on to Paradise

I riffling through a stack on my desk and came across a photo of littlest kitten. I thought about her. I thought about how perfectly perfect and lovely she is, and how I want to hold onto this part of her life, where everything is beautiful and exciting and innocent. 

I wanted to paint that innocence on the verge of growing up. She's holding a peach. A peach can be a symbol for immortality, or maybe the forbidden fruit or maybe just something sweet and precious.  I painted her at dusk, my favorite time where one day is about to turn into another. 

I'm getting excited for my show in Cannon Beach. This painting and all but two little paintings are on their way.  I hope to see people I've met there again. That's the best part!

Studio time...

"I'll be in the studio if you need me..."

I've spent the past two weeks (or so) totally focused on painting. I can't remember the last time I had this many shows back to back. I've been so immersed in painting that I almost forget that there is a world outside my house.

I've had to decline outside invitations of fun with friends for a while but it seems like I've actually spent more time with family because of it. I take breaks with them to swim or go work in the yard, or go running with Dan Barney for fun. It is fun. It's been nice having Dan home from his travels for a bit too.

My kittens have each made really great artwork this summer. I love that.

Oh those tomcats! I do enjoy having them around. I like to hear the long boards pull up and see them parked in the garage. I also so enjoy listening to tomcats playing music in the family room while I'm working in the studio. I heard Dawson's music before I met them and was impressed. They are ambitious and passionate about what they are doing. I love it. They're playing tomorrow night at Muse.

Que Rico

Do you ever get so tired that you are sure there must be something wrong with you? Then do you think back to the past few hours/days and think... duh! No wonder I'm tired, I'm lucky to still be standing. My life is pretty full.
There was a quiet time this weekend that was so sweet, it makes me warm writing about it. I sneaked into the studio late Saturday afternoon. I decided to spend just a bit of time working on one of my little tin paintings. Just a few minutes after I started working, middle kitten came in and asked if she could paint with me. Soon after, littlest kitten and teen kitten set up and got to work as well. We listened to three episodes of This American Life on NPR. It's one of my favorite things to listen to with them because it gives us interesting topics to talk about. Time slowed down as we worked side by side. It was like our hearts returned to the same rhythm. Sigh.

I enjoyed having Noah's art group visit the studio. They asked a few questions while I talked their ears off.

Since it's just too cold to re-decorate our mailboxes, we siblings have had to find creative things to do indoors. My mom and I went a little paper-flower crazy on her dining room light.

When Teen Kitten told me it was Joan of Arc's birthday today, I got that same feeling inside my chest that I do on the Fourth of July or when my middle kitten plays the violin. I felt all swelled up and proud. Her story is so brave and valiant. I think every time I do something that is beyond myself, it's very Joan of Arc. In heaven, I want to meet her. I could start a fan club, make t-shirts, buttons...cool! I wrote more about her here.
To my delight I was doing my daily check to see if Kate posted anything new on her blog and I found this:

A Reading from the letter of Joan of Arc to the Adolescents

for Sunshine

God knows it isn't easy
being fourteen. Breasts alone
are strange enough; don't get me started
on the tinny chorus of expectations,
the fire in your dreams. It has taken me
more than a little time to get it
but trust me, when you feel your heart thrum
strong and sure in your chest you will know
what breasts are for. When the king plants
an iris in the swollen dark earth, when your mother
lays your armor to sleep deep in the ground,
you will see how your brave bright love
was never the wrong choice.

Kate is magical with her words. I'm sure we could do a whole series of work from stemming from that poem. Thanks Kate. Teen Kitten loved it too.

I wrote a major essay about passion vs. frantic, time, teens and other important stuff, then I got side tracked and forgot to save it. The gist of it was that sometimes passion for life and all that it has to offer drives me into a state of frantic living. Frantic living time moves really fast. Knowing that my days are numbered for giving good night kisses to all three kittens, safe under the same roof has given me reason to want to slow time down. So maybe that's my theme for next year, no more frantic living. Maybe I'll start my day with some warm ups like sauntering. I'm going to go saunter down the hall now.

While the Barney Kittens are feeling the sand beneath their toes, Dan Barney is at home grueling over the last few days of writing his dissertation. We are so proud of him and we miss him very much. Dan's dissertation is a work of art. I can't even imagine accomplishing such a feat. We're cheering for you, Dan!

I like what is in work – the chance to find yourself. Your own reality, for yourself, not for others. What no other can ever know. -Joseph Conrad