Hjem Away from Home

This here's my latest canvas piece--a custom request for a yellow, Danish version of the hot-pink, Swedish number I did a while back. ("Hjem" means "home.")

I'm popping in from the North Woods (Aroostook County, Maine!) to say hey--Mark and Jen are playing Rock Band in the living room, and Jen's shall-we-say passionate drumming is making it hard to think, so if this post makes no sense, blame her--and the cold medicine. Yup. I'm sick again, this time with a full-on, swollen-faced sinus misery. Sheesh.

The weekend has been fun if a bit complicated. Remember the "sad extended family stuff" I mentioned a couple of weeks back? Well, it amounted to visiting my parents in different houses for the first time yesterday. I wish I could explain what it was like--I bet many of you already know. I can say that it was sad, of course, but also, somehow, I'm talking more--and more intimately--with everyone in my family. It's like there was something between us, something unsaid that created a persistent silence for years, and now that barrier has evaporated. Lots of the things getting said are painful, but there's a new sense of connection and honestly that might, frankly, make us more of a family than we've ever been. That's my hope anyway.
On a lighter note, Jen (my best friend since 9th grade) is a brand new sewer, and I love her enthusiasm over all the bits and pieces. I love being the one who can point things out and answer her questions--a big surprise since 18 months ago a sewing machine seemed to me as complicated as a jet engine. We went to our favorite dingy, mess of a bargain basement store, where the saleswomen have amazing mile-high, Aqua Net bangs. They also have a mind-blowing selection of close-out fabrics at super-cheap prices. I got something very mod/Scandinavian that I'll take pictures of when I get home.

Until then, my dears, thanks again for all your wonderful recent comments. I feel very lucky.