SUMMER
all caps, because it's SOOO HOT.
I’ve re-opened my shop! There are new prints, stickers and shirts are on sale!
I’ve been away, maybe you’ve noticed. I’m just back from a glorious month at home in Washington State, where the weather was perfect, the saltwater cold, the food delicious and friends and family filled me up to the brim. It was a busy time, but fun too- a sailing lesson, walking, beach combing, swimming… and some actual rest in between bouts of everyone getting covid.
After such a busy Oklahoma spring, I drank every ounce of cool air in- all the green freshness and salty mist. Traveling up to “The Straits” was a gift. I got to spend unbroken time with some of my most dear ones. And the joy of three internet-free days!! Each one stretching fully from sunrise to sunset on the longest days. I picked up stones and shells, I examined each treasure to see if there was any message hidden there for me. I definitely believe when we seek, in nature, we find. I didn’t have any major breakthroughs, but I feel like there’s a crack and light is coming in. I’m wedging in whatever I can come up with to keep the door open to sunshine and hope and possibility. We have to continue moving forward, we have to hold on to hope.
Everyone in my family is fine now, but Covid is back, all! You better believe it! We all got a mild case, I didn’t even test positive on our expired tests, but managed to pass it from Dad to Mum and then to Other Mum and Dear Friend, what a disaster. I’m so grateful for the science of vaccines, if this had happened four years ago I may have lost my whole family in one week. Let us not be too quick to forget.
But, here we are, past the summer solstice mark and full on into the heat of another Oklahoma summer. The low was 80 degrees last night and it’s currently 101. I hate it. But summer here has it’s routine and I know I will survive it. My garden is no longer lush, it’s rangy and scrappy -more sinewy granddad than fresh-faced teen. Seed heads are rattling and the green gives way to gold. Bugs are singing and the hot wind feels like someone opened the oven door. There is such beautiful light in the garden at this time of year here. It looks like a bright, grainy photo, like I’m looking back at summers gone by.
I’m homesick already, though it’s been about 24 hours. I hate leaving my family behind, my home, my little studio house… It hurts every time. I’m always just holding my breath until I’m home again.
Art Stuff
I’ve been painting stones and messing around with calendar images… nothing to report yet, but you’ll be the first to know!
and, inspired by summer at home, I’ve got new prints available in my shop!!
Thanks, as always, for being here- and thank you especially to those who have been pledging their support! That is such a kind and encouraging thing. I have made supporting my substack available, and if you want to support my work in that way know that I really appreciate it. This content will remain free for everyone, whether or not you choose to pledge financially. And if you just feel like sending this on to a friend, I appreciate that too!! Thank you, all!!
Go find yourself three internet-free days.
Yours Occasionally,
Roshni
The gardens you planted for us are wondrous still!