grousing around

a ruffed grouse near home eating,

known as "budding"

feasting on highly nutritious hardwood (not sure which tree)

buds. grouse was serious about this, ignoring me in my car far below.

i've been struggling with traveling this year,

in spite of a huge desire to travel and teach,

meet new people and hug old friends.

i love the being there:

Australia, (hand papermaking and shifu and books)

Maine, (Book Arts Bazaar in Portland)

Washington, DC, (GBW contact printing)
Michigan, OxBow and PBI (the Paper and Book Intensive)

Victoria, BC (Shifu and stuff)

Seattle/Olympia (Shifu and stuff and handmadepaper)

Portland (ian)

New Hampshire, Long Ridge Farm (handpapermaking).

i know so many of my friends struggle with juggling travel and work.

traveling means you make rich connections 

which, for me, is HUGE.

So, Australia, where I will be teaching in several venues,

including the Grampians, Cape Otway, Geelong, and Melbourne.

Washington DC, hosted by the venerable Guild of Bookworkers

Victoria, British Comumbia, teaching at ANWG weaver's conference 

called Treadle Lightly,

where I will meet the amazing Jean and Bryan.

 Seattle and another venerable group the BAG (Book Arts Guild) 

and Olympia to do a round-table with the PSBA (Puget Sound Book Arts)

and maybe visit my beautiful son ian in Portland,

 wrapping up the wild first half of the year

at Long Ridge Farm in New Hampshire, making paper.

~~~

 i've been looking for some images that relieve me from the winter

and politics

and i came upon my friend Drew Matott

pressing a post of paper with high school students in Europe.

yes, a people press!

~~~

at HOME the beaver continue their work

which has to be interrupted or the lake drainage

will change.

(which makes me wonder what it was like before)

 lake water plays with vision

 and trees appear.

so much of my work involves fresh water

and plants

 aimee sent me this beautiful envelope made from paper made by her students
learning pulp painting

 st lawrence county is a land of rivers and lakes, here is

the road i drive to home from my house 

secret north country

such a very familiar landscape, 

my home. 

i'm not traveling to CODEX

where an amazing assortment of book arts folks will be this week

showing and selling their work

(though my November, A Map will be there along with Caliban Press).

represent!!

and a favorite maker

Shanna Leino, will sell her tools

and these 

amazing pieces that I found today on her Facebook 
CODEX announcement.
can you believe how cool these are?!

 i'm at home consuming clear liquids

prepping for the ostomy day tomorrow,

there's nothing to worry about

(except it's worrisome).

~~~

 planning and prepping and making delicious things

books and shifu and stuff

to take with me to Australia 

and everywhere else.

oh, and more news:

I completed my income taxes and filed, and

brought in paper for teaching and abaca for oz!

not one mention of politics this time!

too tired to make hot links now--will try to do it later...