Dad — Page 2

Bittersweet Memories

April 7, 2022 at 8:33 am by Claudia

We’re getting a ton of rain today and tonight – close to 2 inches – once again, the remnants of the storm that has wreaked havoc in the south.

Yesterday, I was feeling down. Everything going on in the world – the invasion of Ukraine, the devastation there, genocide, war crimes, climate change, the GOP which is now the party of Putin and fascism – all of it was constantly in my thoughts. That’s not new, but it was particularly strong yesterday.

To give myself some sort of task, I cleaned out two drawers in the little table next to my chair. Something constructive to do.

And I came across this:

Newborn baby Claudia – maybe a little over a month old?

My dear, beautiful brother with his holster and toy guns. A child of the 50s.

My mom, clearly tired, but dressed up for the photo.

My handsome dad with a rarely seen bow tie.

Barkcloth curtains. Where did they end up?

My brother David has been gone for 30 years.

Mom left us 7 years ago.

Dad left 6 years ago.

So bittersweet. I found myself missing my brother so much. He would be 74 now, 75 next month. What would he look like today? Grandchildren he never got to meet. Spouses of his three children never met. I want to reach inside that photo and hug that beautiful boy.

It would be 8 years until another child came along – that would be L, my sister who has estranged herself from everyone in the family, including cousins, nieces and nephews.

Then another 3 years until my dearest Meredith came along. My brother was 17 years old when my mom was pregnant with Mere.

It’s Mere and me now.

I miss him. I miss them.

I’ve been thinking how horrified my dad would be by the rise of nationalism and fascism, the very evils he fought against when he went to war at the age of 18.

This little photo was designed to be put in a wallet. I don’t know where I got it – from Gram? From my parents? I’m not sure.

Yes, I look very much like my mother – except for my brown eyes, which come from my Dad.

__________________________

We’re getting our Covid boosters this morning. Times have changed – we went online this morning and got the appointments for the same day.

So I’m prepping for the nap that will come later. That seems to be my reaction to the shots – crashing in the middle of the afternoon.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Current Painting Project & Easel

June 20, 2021 at 9:52 am by Claudia

This is the tabletop easel I purchased. In my research, most of the tabletop easels looked a tad flimsy. I wanted something solid that would not move (as did my previous easel) when I painted. It’s made of oak and it’s made in America (so rare nowadays) and it will grow with me when I graduate to larger canvases. As you know, right now I’m staying with smaller sized paintings as I explore this new passion. Eventually, fingers crossed, I’ll be brave enough to tackle something larger. By the way, the easel had nothing but great reviews.

Kitchen photo is as is: real life, with coffee cups and a bag of popcorn on the counter. If memory serves, I think Don had just returned from the store.

It’s a hot one this weekend and we’re limiting our outdoor time. Plus, I had an allergy attack last night. with watery, itchy eyes, along with a sneezing fit. This has been one of the worst years for my allergies. I’m so, so over it.

Don is currently mowing the paths up in the woods. Truth be told, he’s been neglecting them a bit because he’s so into his music right now. But he’ll catch up. We also cleaned up the growth in front of the trailer bird house in case our friends want to rent it out again.

I’m working on this right now:

I need to fix one or both of the handles. I know they’re off, but I have to look at the vase to see which one is more accurate. That’s on the docket for today. The blue will eventually be darker to match the color on the vase. I have a lot more detail to add, as well. This pattern is Snowberry.

Don wants to frame each of the paintings in the Roseville series. He has some ideas as to where we should hang them. I have to say that it’s wonderful to have his support and enthusiasm.

Father’s Day. As with Mother’s Day, it can be both positive and negative. For those who have lost their fathers or had complex issues with a father or didn’t have a father growing up, I wish you peace. We honor our fathers on this day but allow for complex emotions as well.

I miss you Dad.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

My Dad’s Paintbox

May 13, 2021 at 10:13 am by Claudia

A little tour for you of my dad’s paintbox, with some commentary here and there:

The back, where the hinges are, has some duct tape on it – just two pieces. It must have seemed a bit rickety, so Dad secured it.

The top tray.

A bottle of linseed oil that leaked long ago. It’s now permanently attached to the wood. I tried to loosen it and it’s not budging.

Character.

The bottom tray. He had lots of brushes, some of which are unused, palette knives, big brushes for priming the canvas, I expect, and lots of oil paint.

Winsor and Newton has been going strong for a long time. My oils are made by Winsor and Newton, and so are Dad’s.

I remember Grumbacher paints and brushes. They’re still being sold today.

Dad’s palette and a Grumbacher brush.

Now I remember dad occasionally watching Bob Ross on PBS.

I think the box itself is a work of art. Well used tubes of paint, brushes, solvents, cleaners, paint marks – it’s all lovely to me.

It was airing out on the funky patio all day yesterday. I’m going to do it again today. Hopefully, that musty smell (which isn’t all that bad) will dissipate.

Some of the brushes are new, still in the package, so I might use them. Or I might just leave everything as is in homage to my dad, who found peace through painting, a respite from the demons that sometimes plagued him.

I’m so honored to have it here at the cottage.

Love you, Daddy.

Happy Thursday.

Bittersweet Memories

Current Painting Project & Easel

My Dad’s Paintbox

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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