It's Our Net

Don't you hate the way Corporations, our Government, the Man.? Love to get you dependant on something then start to charge for it or take it away entirely. They operate just like the dope dealer the first taste is free, and when you're hooked you've got to pay, pay, and pay. Now we are used to paying $2.00 a liter for water, think about it, it’s not like we can go without water. One day the free water will gone and Coca Cola and Pepsi will make us pay whatever they want. It's a scary thought but true. Personally I have gone off expensive bottled water just on principle alone. I can bring water from home.
Now they are taking away our high speed internet. Perhaps we can make a difference before it's too late. Go here and sign up drop a note to your legislator. Let’s do something about it before we have to go back to the slow internet instead of the high speed super highway. This is important!!!!GET MAD!!!
It's Our Net

Cabin Fever (what's in a name?)

OK so I've heard some flack about my choice in the name Cabin Fever In Alaska. Shut Up! I like the name. If you live in Alaska and have experienced SAD ie cabin fever then you know what it is. Still its all just tongue and cheek ment to be funny and clever. I googled the phrase cabin fever and here are my interesting results
Cabin Fever Distress or anxiety caused by prolonged confinement in a small or remote place, as in We've been snowed in for a week and everyone has cabin fever. Originating in the West, this term at first alluded to being penned up in a remote cabin during a long winter but has since been applied more broadly. [Late 1800s]

Boredom, restlessness, or irritability that results from a lack of environmental stimulation, as from a prolonged stay in a remote, sparsely populated region or a confined indoor area.
Cabin Fever the Movie for a real scare.

What the _ell am I doing here anyway the temperature is going to reach 75 degrees today and the sunset is not until 11:30 pm and then its twilight all night. What is the complete oppisite of SAD that is what I have today.

Is there really a difference between contentment and just lowered expectations?

When I made a decision to make a living with my art I quit my job January 1st 2005 and focused on an art career. I began marketing, selling, getting recognition, having shows spending all my energies figuring out what will sell.

I know it was just my attitude and desperation to sell and prove my success by the bottom line, but it took some of the joy out of just creating and being proud to show people my work. Today, I need to work at other things to help support our lifestyle. But my love and passion remains with art. I'd love to "have it all" recognition, success, bushels of money. But art and success in art is so completely arbitrary, that I’ve learned I can not take myself or other peoples opinion of me so seriously. It is really hard for me to let go of my obsessive ways and my “all or nothing” thinking but I’ve decided….

I’ll just keep creating because that is my joy and passion. God gave me a talent so I'll accept his gift and use it. If other folks love it to and I’ve managed to spread some happiness and joy then it’s a bonus and I’ve done something good and my world is a better place.

The Loons of the Lake and The Fool

The loons are the proud parents of two new chicks. They are so unbelievably cute they are not even 4" long,little black puffs of feathers, it is so dear the way they ride on their parents back while one fishes and feeds them. I will post a photograph just as soon as I get one I haven't wanted to disturbe thier little family with my picture taking,(unlike the papparrozis (sp) I will respect their privacy at this delicate time).

Here is my latest work a Scaramouch, harlequin, jester,or fool what ever you want to call him.


God gave them wisdom that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents. Twelfth Night, act I, scene v. Shakespheare

I've been inspired to paint the fool. In the Tarot deck the Fool or simpleton could be seen as the sin eater, like today’s comedians, the Fool has been mocked and scorned. On the one hand and has become a vehicle for many profound ironies. In Shakespeare, it is the Fool who speaks the most profound truth. In the game all other cards are in competiton with each other but the fool is outside the game and the usual rules. In every hand he appears once somewhere unpredictably, never taking anything never being taken. He just is.... total humility bestows invulnerability. My Fool dances in the clouds totally happy and carefree juggling his balls. LOL

It’s a Looney Tunes Day and I am Blissfully Happy

The lake was like a mirror so I decided to take my husbands Pelican that’s his flat bottom boat with an electric motor (we use it because it is blissfully quiet and there is no nasty oil and gas being dumped into the lake) and stroll to the other side of the lake to see if I could spot the loons nest. I took a circuitous route to the nest on the other side when I got to the other shore I slowly, quietly, trolled along the side. Then there she was sitting on her nest I was not even 20’ away. Oddly she did not seem to mind my presence so I snapped a few pictures and left. Here is a rare picture of a loon nesting. I plan to paint this one.

It's Almost Summer Solstice

I have a personal tradition up here in Alaska. On the shortest day of the year I spend the day in my pajamas hunkered down reading, looking at movies, reflecting, stoking the fire, basically hibernating like a bear. And on the longest day of the year I stay up all night...............feel free to imagine..........................
Early on in my Alaskan adventure I noticed when it’s dark and cold I love to just stay home close to a warm fire expending a little energy. But come June 21st I am absolutely manic (and I love it)! It's good to be bi-polar, ha ha I crack my self up get it BI-POLAR/Alaska.
During this time I have an abundance of energy and my creative juices are flowing too.
I painted the Old Fashioned Girl recently. Please let me know what you think the antique frame came from an antique shop in Waxhaw, North Carolnia. I got the frame first and waited for inspiration. The beautiful girl came next from an antique post card.



In my messy shed I found the perfect frame for my Angel Gabriel, The frame was plastic so I painted it ivory and added faux gold leaf (very shabby chic don't you think). Perfect, Gabriel deserved a wonderful frame.


Maby I should have been in bed when I painted my Gothic Girl but she was screaming to come out.

Arlo Guthrie and the Salmon on Parade in Anchorage

Last night my hubby me and some friends Mel and Rose went to see Arlo Guthrie and Family in Concert. We ate hot dogs from the street vendor and walked around downtown for a spell before it started. I took pictures of the Salmon on Parade. The IBEW calls for artists to submit their ideas then they are given a form to create their masterpiece. They are displaied all over downtown Anchorage, people vote on their favorite and then in the fall they are auctioned off for charity. I wanted to enter but missed the call for artists totally. My idea was a salmon covered with encaustic wax. I would make it look so real you would want to eat it! But just look at these other creative ideas.


Roe Salmon the name tag was missing so I can't give the artist credit.

Year of The Dog Salmon by Jenifer Cameron

Copper Salmon by Joe Friday








Arlo Guthries show was great! and yes, he sang Alices Restaurant. His music and message of peace from the 60s and the Viet Nam era is once again relevant with this Gulf War. He said and I paraphrase, "If we lived in a perfect world where everyone was fed, warm, there were no floods, and we all got along in peace and harmony, it would be pretty hard to make a difference. But since we do not, a person dosen't really need to try very hard to make a difference."
That is really worth considering hummmmmmmmm even better do something good today for someone else, Love and Peace.

First Friday Art Walk In Anchorage

The only two places that I visited on the First Friday Art Walk were Pat Taggemeyer at a Novel View", and Chris Wakefields show at the Artic Rose Gallery". We had a great conversation about all about all things art. I simply love Chris' art it is bright, colorful and individualistic. Even though Chris describes his art as "eye candy" these two new pieces seem to be showing humans encroaching on the animals territory. The population is rapidly increasing in Alaska and saddly we are crowding the animals "worlds colliding". It also seems to remind us animals speak their own language and care little for humans unless we interfere with their purpose. These paintigs say quite a bit to me.
The raven is eating berries next to a police line and left over Christmas ornaments.
This one is cool! I think the man went fishing late fall, got his hook snagged on a branch, fell in, hit his head, and drown. Before anyone know he was missing the lake froze. Now its spring and the lake is thawing the animals are coming back and he has become blue fish food.

Wakefield Arts" Chris Wakefield says about his art “My art is about pushing color to the limit, about making people smile. I don’t have some deep philosophical meaning behind my work. I want my art to make people happy. It’s candy for the eyes. Period.”

Could You Spend the Night Here?

These are the dead animals in my friends husbands den. Den is right the last time I saw this many trophies was when I worked at
Brashers Auto Auction" in Salt Lake City. When I approached the room and saw all the stuffed animals I literally backed up. It gave me a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Anyway we ate dinner together the three humans and all the animals. We watched a movie and I got some photographs of the animals.