Final packet of the semester is in the mail

My final packet was mailed today. And I made reservations for my next trip to Vermont College. I am getting more anxious to speak to a counselor before I arrive. One thing I have noticed about Vermont College they don’t seem to return e mail or phone calls all that promptly, except maybe the financial aid office. So far they have been pretty good and returning my calls.

I can hardly believe my first semester is over. I have this very satisfying feeling and the thought that, “I can do this.”

Remnants of Rita

I went to the grocery store today. They had limited hours due to Rita. The isles were not full, not stocked like I am used to seeing them.

Everyone I talk to say they are having a hard time getting motivated, me included. I think all of this is remnants of Rita.

End of first semester

It is the end of the first semester and I am trying to regain some normalcy after Hurricane Rita. As part of my 5th and final packet I must also send an evaluation of my semester. I have received my packet back from my proofreader; I don’t know where I would be without this terrific and accommodating friend. I am preparing the last packet to go out. I just need my annotations looked at.

The forms for my evaluation are provided on the Vermont college web site. I downloaded that and have filled it out. I also must put together a process paper. This paper answers questions like what I liked, where I thought the term took me, what will the next semester bring. Etc.
I’ll present my semester to my small group when I arrive at residency. I can do this any way I like. Because my work is so visual I have chosen to put my presentation together as a PowerPoint presentation. I am beginning to work on that now.

I can hardly believe one semester is over.

The last of the Hurricane Rita boards come down- getting back to normal

The windows in the upstairs office are now open. The Hurricane Rita boards are gone. I have light! What a feeling of relief. The limb that is right outside the window is still here; the tree is still here, the upstairs is still here. I look forward to watching for the squirrels who have dubbed that part of the limb as their pine cone chewing spot. All such simple things, and I feel blessed.

Today I will actually work on schoolwork. I have a good friend who proof reads all of my packets and I have just picked up the last one from her this morning. I hope to write all of my annotations and get those to her this evening. Even through two hurricanes I think I will get my last packet in on time.

I must start thinking about my trip to Vermont and my next semester. Thinking and returning to normal feels strange.

Why can't New Orleans do what Galveston did 100 years ago?

I keep thinking, Why can't New Orleans do what Galveston did 100 years ago?
If anyone knows the answer to this please let me know.

Many people may have heard about the hurricane of 1900 that hit Galveston. Few know the entire story.
When visiting down there you can see films of the devastation. I have gone to their library archives and carefully thumbed through the photos. I have also read a journal of a little girl who survived it.

What is most fascinating is that Galveston raised the entire Island. Why can’t New Orleans do this?

Here are some facts
• 1900 storm killed 8,000-12,000 people
• They had no way of getting rid of the bodies so they brought them out to sea, but not far enough they washed back in with the tide
• 120 mph winds category 4 storm
• Galveston was raised 17’ above low tide, built a sea wall 3 miles long

Here are some links to the history of Galveston, the hurricane of 1900 and the raising of the island.

The Raising Of Galveston http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20050908-galveston-hurricane-gulf-mexico-1900-engineering.shtml

The devastation of the Hurricane
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/1900hurr.htm

The day after Hurricane Rita

I spent the morning raking leaves and picking up branches. Every time I do anything I feel thankful. Yesterday I was thankful for the glass on the French doors, and for the French doors and everything else I came in contact with.

It felt so good to sleep the night in my own bed. I still can’t believe the tree did not fall on the house. I love that tree so much and am sorry to see it is at the end of its life.

I wanted to go to church and be thankful with those that I am with each weekend, but I was exhausted.

I feel strange, out of sink. I know I should get back to work, but it is hard to focus. It feels good working around the house and yard. I keep saying I am so lucky so blessed.

Sitting in my office still feels kind of strange; we have not gotten to take the boards off of the second floor. I am ready to climb a ladder and do it myself. I want to bust out of this Hurricane Rita thing, get back to normal. I suppose this is what those here from New Orleans want as well. I can’t imagine not being aloud to go home. Even if my home was destroyed, I would feel better to see it, to know. Give some closure. Many from New Orleans still have not been able to see their devastated homes.

There was a point, as I was getting ready for the hurricane, that I started to put away all of my glass antiques in the hall and bathroom. Everything came down from the walls. As I put it away I noticed I had no attachment. Those things that I once thought were important were losing their meaning. I was taking them down and putting them away because I knew that the bathroom and hallway would be our last resort of safety. If the roof came off I would offer my bathtub to my family and nestle in the hall with mattresses over us. Anything left in these rooms were no longer precious possessions but dangerous missiles. The detachment feels so strange.

I keep thinking about the quote I heard from corie ten boom. She is a holocaust survivor that helped Jews.

“I’ve learned to hold everything loosely because it hurts when God pries my fingers from it.” CORRIE TEN BOOM

I don’t have much but I am grateful for what I have, I wish I could hold things more loosely.

Even though I just have a house and a beautiful studio, I am so thankful, but I know had they been destroyed I would still be thankful.

Tree in Garden Oaks

gotree
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

Our neighborhood to the west had some damage, but nothing like Allicia had dropped on Garden oaks 21 years ago.

Tree on car

tree_car
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

This damage was at a friends house.

The morning after

morningafter
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

The dogs wandered around outside as we took down all of the wood from the windows. There was so much to smell. I am so glad I didn’t need the chain saw that I passed on in line. The man behind me really wanted it, as it was the last gas chainsaw at Sears. I wonder if he is using it today?

stairs

stairs
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

I cleaned the steps that go up to the offices above the studio. I really wanted to have a studio when all of this was over. I have only had a couple of months to enjoy it. I wondered if there would be a second floor or stairs. I can’t help but be thankful that all I am doing is sweeping leaves.

Angel at the door

angelatdoor
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

As we take down the boards that my very loving husband put up to protect us I find that leaves are everywhere!

I noticed my angel sculpture is at my door. Reminding me that I am blessed.

Take down Rita

takedownrita
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

Finally we have light in our house! It is a birth, a new beginning.

Starting the generator

Mike and I figured out how the generator works and get the ac going and can finally watch TV. Though the generator is loud outside my bedroom I relish the idea of being in my own bed. The cool air and my own bed lull me to sleep. I can hardly believe that Mike wakes me at 2:00 to tell me there is electric. “That’s nice”, I said, as I nestled in for a very long nap!

Rita is knocking at the door, or is it the roof?

Everyone is asleep and the winds begin to blow real hard. I am not sure how many miles per hour those gusts are but I know that much more of a wind and the covering over my porch would surely be gone. I can hear glass clinking on the back porch, some things I forgot to bring in. I’m trying to get the nerve to reach out and get them.

I don’t want to leave the flashlight on, because our only other one has broken. So I spend my time listening to the wind in the dark. My job is to hear people coming through the house and click it on so they can see. The house is pitch black inside even in the daytime because of the boards. When walking to the living room today the only light I could see was the glow from the peephole.

Compelled to clean

Mike naps as I pick up the yard and barbecue the chicken that is in the fridge. I wonder how much food we will lose.

Morning has broken

Mike wakes up first and goes outside. I am anxious to look but a little afraid. What a great relief! Everything is intact. I know it is because that eye went east, instead of coming through Galveston like Alicia did 21 years ago. Alicia definitely caused more damage in Houston, at least in my yard. Rita was kind. The leaves are everywhere. Mikes says tilly is poking her head up looking for me. The pond is o.k. But full of leaves and I can’t believe that I still need to fill it up.

Several small branches are on the ground. We can’t wait to get the boards off the window and mike starts as soon as everyone is awake. He is so conscientious. I am so proud of all of the perpetrations that he did. Later he tells me that he feels funny how much we did and guilty that we spent so much money. We figure somewhere in the neighborhood of 900. I told him that it made me feel very protected and I am proud that he took the role and acted on it without a thought. As I said, had that hurricane came in as a cat 5 or even a 4 over us, there is no telling if we would be here. You must plan in advance for these things.

The house has a sense of rebirthing with each piece of wood that comes off of her. I am glad those pieces of wood were there, they made me feel secure. But under different circumstance those pieces of wood could be like the lids to coffins. I can still see the vision of the firemen from the news last night they were trying to get into areas that had been boarded up and were now on fire.

I am glad to see Mike’s brother pitch in and take care of taking down the wood. It was exhausting putting it up, but it came down very quickly.

I pull out the lawn chairs from the studio. It is still very windy outside, but it feels refreshing and not frightening.

I feel so grateful, so lucky so glad to be alive and so happy to still have my house and studio.

The electricity is still off and though the police advise against it we decide to take a quick trip around the neighborhood to see the damage. There is very little damage as compared to Alicia. Again I am so thankful. I do know, as I give this thanks, that somewhere someone else has not been so lucky.

Mike and I evaluate our feelings.
Mike
Feels jipped, but very thankful
Me
Thankful and I don’t want anyone to ditch anyone else’s efforts to prepare. Thank you god.

I worry that those who are in Houston, who might feel that it could have been worse, will not be conscientious next time a hurricane comes. There is nothing worse than complacency of people when it comes to a hurricane arriving or the possibility. I am convinced people were more prepared and conscientious because of Katrina.


When home I cook up eggs on the Coleman stove and Tony and Silvia pack their things.
They know they have electricity at their homes and have decided to leave.

Counting sheep, and blessings

Everyone heads back to their areas to catch a few winks. The worst must be over.

Rita in the middle of the night!

Mike, Tony and Silvia and I all are awake at the same time. The house is starting to get stuffy and mike suggests we open the back door to let some air in. After a while we get brave and open the front door as well. The wind blows hard through the entire house pushing out the stuffiness. I can hardly believe it is 3:00 it looks more like daybreak. It is a strange feeling. We can see the trees blowing behind the houses across the street. For some reason this is very comforting to me. Seeing how much they blow and that they do not break gives me hope for my tree.

We have not received much rain with this hurricane, but lots of wind. I am wondering how the people who are closer to the eye are doing?

It is good to have a dog durring a hurricane

The electricity is finally gone and I wonder how long it will be off?

I can feel the house shake a bit during those big gusts of wind. Several times the French doors feel like they will be blown right open. I wonder if I should put a chair in front of them. I can’t believe everyone else is sleeping. How can they sleep? Different people in the house come out at different times throughout the evening. Once my father in law said he was going outside for a walk, and I was furious. I’m thinking, “Sure go outside get hit on the head and I have to go and get you.” He huffed at my insistence and went back to his room.

I called my other dog, Chas a retriever, onto my air mattress. I can hear the wind howl, I keep wondering what is making that low howl sound? Chas keeps me company until I called Chris, my daughter in Tulsa, I can’t believe the phone is still working. I woke her up and asked her to keep me company. We talked until Tony woke up.

Going to sleep?

Mikes brother and girlfriend bunk into Chris’ room. I feel o.k. About them being there even if the bed does sit in front of two very large windows. They are boarded up.
The house is not too terribly hot even though the lights keep going off and on and the compressor on the AC window unit does not have any time to kick back on before they go out again.

Time to pack it up Rita is chasing me inside

Everything is boarded up. When I began to hear the winds getting stronger and things hitting the second floor roof of the studio my dog Emmy seems rather nervous. She begins to pace back and forth in my office, nudges my arm and paces again. I get the hint so I packed up my computer and took the 40’ commute home. Emmy stayed close by all of the way.

We stayed up and watched “Shall We Dance” hoping to take our minds off of things and the wind. We had to start it about 5 times because we kept losing power.

My husband has gone to sleep in the bedroom that sits directly below the tree that I am afraid will come down. I can’t even bring myself to stay two seconds in that room. I grab my pillows and have already blown up a mattress. I’m going to stay in the den, though I am a bit concerned about the French doors, even if they are boarded up. I barricade myself in front of a chair.

I HATE THIS WAITING!

* I can hear some gusting of wind outside. My husband says the winds are about 35 - 40 miles an hour right now, at 5:09 We are still upstairs working. I feel this building shaking and i wonder, "How will it ever withstand the power of big winds?"

* The news is reporting on people who are stranded so others can go and get them. Another report talks about people who are breaking in to the cars in apartment complexes.

Mike was working on figuring out what exactly could be plugged into the generator, something about converting watts and math. Hmmm. I should have this part of my blog in my math at Vermont College. It turns out we can run one ac and the tv and a light or a couple of small ac’s. If the one end of the house does not make it because of the tree, then we will have to get the ac out of there and cover the hole. Everyone will bunker down on the other side of the house, after and during the event.

After figuring out the generator Mikewent on to playing with his 3D models. I think we will both go through computer and internet withdrawls.

Besides figuring out how to post all of these photos I am printing out 41 different old songs. I found this great web site. http://www.theguitarguy.com/ Sure have to thank this guitar guy. Picture me with flash light in the hallway while the wind is blowing outside. I’ll be singing and learning how to play these oldies. As I watched them print out I kind of smiled at some of the verses.

So wrap your troubles in dreams, and dream your troubles away.
Until that sunshine peeps thru, there's only one thing to do,
Just wrap your troubles in dreams, and dream your troubles away...

Zip a dee doo-dah, zip a dee ay --
My, oh my, what a wonderful day!
Plenty of sun - shine headed my way…

You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative

cans

cans
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

I heard they did this in Louisiana. The two cans are filled with water. The rain barrel as well as the cooler. Hope they don't blow away.

No people

No people
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

This is rush hour, in Houston, at 5:00pm. I thought it was strange to see the school zone lights blinking. This is so eerie!

One man works on his store at the last minute. I feel so much better having everything done before hand.

cars.before

cars.before
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

This was a strange sight. I went out to look around and saw this at the apartment complex. But please note what they are parked under!

RITA GO AWAY- anyone have any wood?

RITA GO AWAY- anyone have any wood?
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

Everything is boarded up for Rita's arrival. My house is so dark in the middle of the day, you must use the lights, while we have them. The last part on the window we will do at the last minute.

Go away Rita

go away rita
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

The sign says everything

GO AWAY RITA!!!!!!!

The tree to the left is one of great concern. I don't think it will make the winds to come and will destroy 1/2 of my house if it falls.

studio

studio
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

This is my lovely new studio. We built it to city code just a few months ago. I grumbled when the city came back and kept adding wind straps. Now I am hoping I have enough.

Note:that my sculpture pedestals are being taken apart to use as wood for the windows.

tilly_a

tilly_a
Originally uploaded by isculpt.

I am trying to figure out how to post these pictures. This is the turtle in the pond. I hope she will be o.k.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

I have photos

I have my camera and have taken a few photos, but because my server is down I cannot post them. If anyone knows how I can post pictures having the photos reside some place else let me know.

If you remember my x was caught in that horrific traffic jam. I did hear from them. After spending 12 hours to drive what would have taken 1 ½ hours they turned around and found resources elsewhere. I was worried about them and the animals. They were overheating. It was terribly hot. They are safe, or for now anyway. They have no wood on the windows and it does flood where they have taken refuge.

My daughter is in Tulsa and she said she heard from him this morning. Her dad was actually headed back to the area where they had to leave the rest of the animals behind. He was going to feed them and said it was so strange to see the highway abandoned and cars abandoned along side of the road. I hope he gets back o.k.

( in his e mail to me on the 20th it said
“Kathy and I are going to load up the horse trailer with Brownie, the chickens, the baby goats, the turkeys, the rabbits,and the geese. The 3 horses, the 7 donkey's, the 4 sheep, the rest of the goats and the ducks will have to deal with the storm on there own. I'll let you know when were going to leave.”


We don’t know what to expect with the flooding. Remember that with a storm surge of 25’ it will come inland quite far. ( see the maps) But here in Houston, Texas if it rains there is not place for the water to go. It is like putting a plug in things, our bayous will not drain. We have never flooded, but it came close to our house with the tropical storm Allison in 2001. 20 something inches that fell on us destroyed the area like I have never seen before.

HURRICAN RITA- Friday at lunch

Posting here from Houston, Texas

I guess I can post to my blogs- this one and creativeendeavors. Might as well have something to do while I wait for all *&^% to break loose. As I post I’ll post backwards and forwards, as I have to catch up on both blogs. What a way to keep myself preoccupied. I don’t believe I can post to my creativeendeavors blog, as it resides on my server and that is apparently down. This blog is about my studies at Vermont College. The other blog creativeendeavorrs is about my artwork. However, at this time I’ll be posting about the Hurricane. And what is happening here. I don’t expect to have electricity very long, or be able to get out, but I’ll journal the process and post as soon as I can.

At 11:53a.m. Houston is calm; I am upstairs in my office working away. My priorities? I did what I was supposed to do, and everything is boarded up. I have a few more things to pick up outside and put away and need to cover up the computers with plastic, maybe move them from the upstairs.

You will see on my other web site that we just built this studio. I sure hate to lose it.

Our total number of people here riding out this storm is
My father in law
My husband
His brother
His girlfriend
Their cat
Our two cats
Our two dogs

I also have a pond full of fish and my wonderful turtle Tilly. I have told them “go deep.” I hope they make it.

I highly expect a tree will crush part of our house. It is my greatest fear. But we have made alternative arrangements. And will be on the other side of the building for the storm. I pray that if the tree comes down angels will lay it down. Where? I don’t know. It nestles between the house, the ponds and several wires, including electrical lines that run though its branches. Add to the fact that it is growing over the gas line.

RITA - GO AWAY!

Greetings friends and family. Sure appreciate your prayers for us down here.


11:42

street and highways are overcrowded and people are staying there for hours trying to get out- their cars are running out of gas and overheating. The temperatures are expected to be 100 degrees. We are gaining more people here at our home in Houston, a couple of senior citizens and some more animals. Those that are leaving are people in the mandatory evacuation areas. Even the side streets are loaded with people and their pets driving the roads, the people all have looks of great concern. Going any where is out of the question and I am sure there are plenty of people in their cars worried and wishing they were somewhere else, even back home in a house.

Last I saw it will pass over Galveston and when it enters Houston we will be on the west side of it. This is very, very good. As it won't be the dirty side. But still very terrifying.

The front windows are boarded up and I am taking apart sculpture pedestals to use as wood for the windows.Mike painted go away rita on the wood in the front. Phones are sporadic, no rain until the morning. I wish some of the people who were staying here were here now to help prepare.

We still need to Move mattresses to the center of the house, blowing up air mattresses etc. put water in everything

Sears was closed this morning, lowes had wood with a 2 hour wait, I thought my time would be better spent at the house.

Later when it gets dark I'll start taking the things down from the walls and the nick knacks that might fly around should the roof come off.

I keep doing things in circles. Tonight I also need to collect important papers from the office and move the computers to another area covered with plastic. It is strange to wonder if you will be alive next week. I don't think many people have been faced with that feeling.

As it stands right now I can not send this e mail. But I hope to bring the lap top downstairs and journal the process.

Hurrican RITA- thursday

Looks like the systems are down but if I can send this I will
We are all exhausted. We found enough wood to cover approximately 80% of the windows, not on the back side though and that is the north side. My upstairs window does not have wood on it now, it will take climbing a very tall ladder to get this last one up here, and mike is exhausted.


I am kicking myself that I did not get the chain sow from sears when I was there yesterday. But people were going to take my two gas tanks right off of the counter, and the confusion of all of the people really bothered me. The women at the register said," You better buy these and put the bag on your arm."

My x has been stuck in traffic for a very long time. I hear of many people who just ran out of gas while waiting for the traffic and they have a car full of animals who are frying in the heat. I am glad I am here. - that may change by Friday. It is strange to see the houses taped and have wood on them all through out the neighborhoods. Many who thought they might leave are changing their minds and staying, rather than taking the chance they will be caught out there on the freeways.

I want to be thinking about having a show, and preparing the yard and then going off for my next semester of college. Instead I am wondering if I will be a live and have a home next week. It is a strange turn.

*&^#) is beginning to hit the fan about the evacuee plan. I hear they are going to open the freeways up one way- out.

I feel calmer being away from all the freaked out people out there. It appears the neighbors on both sides are staying. The people on the east are not doing much to prepare but maybe cleaning the gutters. The people on the west are a bunch in their own right. The old man cooks concoctions in his backyard for his arthritis. Right now he is watering his plants.

Well I best go and try to get more things done. Being up here in the office with the ac feels so good. I will miss that the most.

I was up at 1:20 this morning and have not gone back to sleep.

The anxiousness in Houston is at such a height I feel like my insides are going to explode. I spent the evening breathing trying to get past it. " whatever is not mine- please leave."

At 5:00am my husband woke up and we went to the store to get water and can goods. The grocery store had just got an order in. By the time we left it was gone.

We swung by home depot at 5:45a.m. or so trying to get lumber. There was a waiting line and they said they would probably sell out in the first hour. A policeman stood in the front of the line.

We still have not found gas cans.

I heard that Houston is calling back all of their people. I guess I didn't realize that we sent so many things to Louisiana, ambulance security etc. I am glad they are coming home.

You can see the terror and frustration in peoples eyes. The confusion overtakes me so that when my husband asked if we should bUy a tarp I could not say a thing.

My good friend and adopted mom, Gloria, here in Houston called crying this morning. She has lived here all her life and said she can not do this one alone. She will be bunking with us. Her cat will probably be left at her house. But if she feels bad about leaving him maybe he can bunk in the studio.

As the hurricane comes inland it will go just past Katy, near my son's home. Either way katy and Houston will both be on the east side of the storm. Not a place to be.

We decided to turn the main gas line off just in case the tree goes, we will all be bunkering down in the middle of the house with the mattress nearby to pull over us should we need it.

Mike still wants to board up the windows and I keep thinking " we never did that before" but he said "this is not like before this is a cat 4 could be a cat 5. Not since 1900 has Galveston seen a cat 5

Even with two days to get ready there doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything.

My tasks for today

* Go to bank take out at least 400 cash, transfer as much as possible to personal account.

* coleman fuel for stove.

* gather gloves, hammer, nails, plastic tarps etc have them in one place

* clean garbage cans and fill them with water ( at least we can flush with this)

* Academy for coleman fuel

* foundry to pick up pattern of placement of newsboy ( the only real work I can do today)

* we found termites in the shed of the new studio and I tore out the wooden selves. I was going to replace them with these metal ones and bought the wrong piece. I want to get all of this stuff off of the floor so it looks like I'll be putting up shelves today.

Back up battery for computer
Charge cameras and anything else that needs charging.

* Clean out all drainage from backyard. Dig out trenches if necessary

* find important papers and put in plastic

* find clients photos of deceased loved ones and put in plastic.

Put computers in plastic bags.


I think that is it.

I'll keep in touch.
Still praying that if the tree falls, angels will bring it to the ground.

RITA is coming

Rita is expected to hit Houston and Galveston on Friday night. It has been over 20 years since this area had a hurricane. And Alicia that hit us in 2001 was just a tropical storm but the flooding was horrendous. We are not in the flood pain, though it has flooded on our street, it is usually at the other end.

IT is a little unnerving, but we are going to sit tight and hope for the best. We have a bad tree in our back yard that really needs to be cut down, it is over our gas line. I am praying about that and will be frantic through the storm. Please say a prayer.

I have no doubt we will lose electricity. 21 years ago we lost it for 2 weeks.

We are switching gears and expect to go get supplies, water, batteries, can goods etc. today and tomorrow, before they are all gone. We will hold off on taping windows until just before the strike.

If it comes I will probably lose communication with everyone. I suppose I should back up my computer on some discs before the storm.

I feel sorry for all of those who came from New Orleans and have to go through this again. News said they are evacuating the evacuees to Fort Chaffee ARK. Before the storm comes. Many are not happy about having to move again.


Hopefully it will all just blow over, or better yet, somewhere else, but everyone in Houston has said we are long due for a hurricane. I expect we will be seeing many more people from Galveston, clear lake etc. evacuating from the south, south east. Though the mayor has asked those evacuating for Rita, not to come to Houston but to go on to Dallas News says they have a voluntary evacuation.
I hope no one decides to stay in galveston there is no way out if they do. I received this in my e mail this morning http://www.houstontx.gov/oem/evac.jpg we are not in any evacuation zones.


We are not in an evacuation area. Our home is between the H in Houston and the number 45 just north of that loop around the city the line that goes from that loop to I 45 is Shepherd and is just three doors to our west.

Here is some other interesting information http://www.click2houston.com/news/4995385/detail.html

Hope we talk again soon. Appreciate your prayers.

Bridgette

Vermont study - Study of the wolf

Another part of my study was created to satisfy a science criteria. This was a study of a wolf.

Wolf Study- In this study of the wolf I Spent time with the director of the North American Wolf Association learning about their work and the nature of the wolf. They also provided a wolf for a sculpting class. I documented the teaching of a wolf sculpting class that included about 20 pages of notes, illustrations and photographs. Many of these illustrations included the biology of the wolf.

It was wonderful having my first class at my studio. It felt great taking a lunch break on the deck at the new studio

What I learned-Wolf study
I thoroughly enjoyed studying the anatomy of the wolf in great detail. Being able to meet a wolf and have access to live model of a wolf to work from was a treat that I don’t often get. Though I know many of the muscles and anatomy of both the human form and animals, I wish I knew the muscle names and bones by heart.

Kainer DVM, MS,, Robert A and McCracken MS, Thomas O. Dog Anatomy A Coloring Atlas Teton Newmedia, Wyoming. 2003

Lopez, Barry Holstun, Of Wolves and Men. Touchstone, NY 1978

Thompson, Ernest E. Anatomy of Animals London — MacMillan & Co. 1896
Lanteri, Eduard Modeling and Sculpting Animals New York-
Dover Publications 1985

Approval of the Patsy Sculpture

This is the approval of the patsy sculpture. My client was very pleased. A great 6 months worth of work and a very interesting Vermont College study and book.

My study- Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased- A Sculptors Journey

The major part of my study is about a sculpture that I am working on called Patsy.

Of the 5 packets I am sending 3 are about Patsy. I intend to make this part of my study into a book titled Bringing to life the spirit of the Deceased- A sculptor’s journey. I am very motivated and probably sending more than I have to. It was a very interesting study. Though I have been sculpting the deceased for over 20 years I never really documented my process. The study was very revealing. I also document my difficulties of coming to terms with the paranormal and any possible psychic things that may be happening as I work on this commission. I would tell you more here, but then you wouldn’t read the book.
My student evaluation form states.

Bringing to life the spirit of the deceased- a sculptor’s journey- Reading- see attached bibliography
Through 100 pages of writings I document both the journey of physically creating two life size sculptures, one of Patsy a 60 year old women and Lucas a 5 year old boy, both of these were paid commissions of deceased loved ones. Through this journey I also discuss my own struggle with the juxtaposition of faith and possible psychic abilities.

The journey and study of bringing to life the spirit of the deceased was by far the deepest and most intimate part of my study this semester, on many levels. So much so, that I appreciated having the distractions of the other two studies through the semester. This was the first time I have really documented what I have done for so many years. It was interesting to see what transpired both spiritually and perhaps psychically.

My bibliography for this part of my study works on a variety of different topics. The study of death, Spiritual side of life and death, Books about the paranormal, Books on cemeteries and tomb stones, and books on grief. For anyone interested in my bibliography of reading for this part of my study it is as follows.

Babcock, Michael. The Power of The Bear. CA: Pomegranate. 1998

Snow, Tiffany. Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life: Tools to Connect.
Spirit Journey Books, 2003

Rosetree, Rose , Empowered by Empathy, Women’s Intuition World Wide. 2001

Morse, M.D., Melvin. Where God Lives -the science of the paranormal and how our brains are linked to the universe. San Francisco – Harper 2001

Koch, Guntram Roman Funerary sculpture . The Paul Getty Museum Malibu
California 1988

Heaney, John J. The Sacred and the Psychic : Parapsychology and Christian Theology. Paulist Press, 1984.

Robinson,David and koontz, Dean Beautiful Death : The Art of the Cemetery, Penguin 1996

Keister, Douglas Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography Gibbs Smith Publishers , 2004

Kramer, Kenneth The Sacred Art of Dying: How the World Religions Understand Death
Paulist Press 1988

Today is the Day we Eat strawberries

Developing your psychic gifts