January 10, 2010

FEBRUARY AND MARCH BJP PAGES

Once I started working on the first page, memories and images just started flowing.  February's page is a fall colored tree. 



From May 2004 to July 2005, we lived in Williamsburg, Virginia.  During the fall of 2004, Tommy and I drove the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.  Everywhere we looked were these wonderfully colored trees.  The colors were so bright and vivid, especially with the sun hitting them.  It was so beautiful.  We drove the parkway and laughed and talked.  We would stop at various points and explore.  We started at the beginning of the parkway just off I 64 and took it down to Roanoke, where we spent the night.  The next day we visited an animal safari park and the Crystal Caves.  It was a wonderful time and the memories will last a lifetime.

In 2005, from July to early October, we lived on Kimball Hill in Whitefield, New Hampshire.  I had never been that far north before.  We rented a two room cabin that was part of an 1865 farm "complex".  Previous owners had turned the place into a bed and breakfast.  Our cabin, along with a second one, were actually across the street from the inn.  From the porch, we could see across the valley to the MountainView Grand Resort and Spa.  This was where Tommy was working as Chief Engineer.  He liked getting up early in the morning, especially on his days off, getting a cup of coffee, and sitting on the porch watching  his hotel.  He would call and talk to whomever was working and tell them that he could see the hotel from our front porch.  By the middle of September, the leaves began changing.  We could see two mountain ranges from our portch, the Green Mountains and the White Mountains.  They seemed to catch fire as the leaves changed.  The colors were so vivid and beautiful.  Neither of us had ever seen anything like it before.  (I'll post some pics when I find them).  We were so very happy there.  We always planned on returning, possibly retiring, there.  It was our own slice of heaven.


MARCH BJP PAGE
                                                                                       



This is the Lutheran Cross (actually one of a couple by that name).  I am Lutheran.  Tommy was a non practicing Roman Catholic.  We were married in my Lutheran church and the same minister presided over Tommy's funeral.  The little cross in the middle is supposed to hang straight.  It is only attached at the top and whenever the scanner lid was closed it moved.  Caused my mom no end of frustration.  The date,  10-29-09, is when Tommy died.  Two days before his favorite holiday.  I also had this cross put on his marker.

I have two other pages in progress.  Each one is filled with memories and is helping to ease the pain somewhat.  None of them are going as planned, except maybe this one.  If things keep going this way, I may have all my pages finished by the end of the month.  I think Tommy would approve of what I've done so far. 


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The way your first three projects flowed so quickly is a testament to your emotions. They are lovely and extremely touching.

Carol Creech said...

What beautiful work. I especially love how you captured the look of the fall tree. These are wonderful expressions of the experiences you shared with your husband. Wishing you peace as you work through your grief.

Karen said...

Love the tree! Sure reminds me of fall in the midwest! Tommy would be so pleased with what you are doing.

Timaree said...

The Bead Journal Project seems to have come at a good time for you. I hope it helps you move through your sorrow. Your pages are beautiful.

Give yourself time. Nine weeks is a mere drop in the bucket as far as mourning goes. Even a year or more is small in time. Wishing good memories replace the sorrow as time goes on.

Magpie Sue said...

I'm glad you're finding a degree of solace in your beading. It's amazing how healing artmaking can be, whatever media we choose to use. I'm also glad you're not waiting for the next month to do the next "page." You obviously need this. Keep on, and know there are those of us who have been where you are now and have managed to find joy again.

Robin said...

These pieces are very moving for me... each of them tells a whole story, with such beautiful and elegant simplicity! Thank you for sharing your heart and your work and you beloved Tommy with us.

Robin A.