Holidays have a way of disrupting art making. As does the garden. When the produce is ready, it’s ready. Whether I am or not.
Last week I only saw the inside of my studio when letting the studio cats in and out.
Instead we celebrated my favorite holiday, July 4th. In my family this means a gathering of the grandmas, grandpas, aunties, uncles, cousins, and kids in Hanford.
There’s none of the pressure that goes with making the perfect Thanksgiving meal (or making sure the turkey is actually cooked – ask Greg about that one) or finding the perfect present, or trying to be with our two loving families at the same time on the same day and making both of our mothers happy. (Greg’s family gets Easter.)
We swim in the Hanford heat. Go to the movies.
Eat too much good food. Play with the dog. And do fireworks like we did when I was a kid.
We hang out, we chat, we visit with our beloved family. And this year, we celebrated our youngest niece, Bennett’s, first birthday.
At the same time, the fruit for jam making from our local orchard, Andy’s, was ready. “Come and get it!” they called. So I spent 3 days turning 30 pounds of Blenheim apricots and Santa Rosa plums into jewel colored jams.
And the green beans and the cucumbers in our garden have burst into enthusiastic overdrive so yesterday I spent the day canning pickles and Dilly beans.
Oh, I’ve been thinking of art and talking about art. But not actually making any. (Well, I designed custom canning labels, does that count?) Monday I had a nice visit with my friends and fellow artists in the Book Arts Quire. And Friday, after I harvest the garden, I’m going to work on art. Really. Next week I’ll have an art story or two for you.
I hope you’re enjoying the summer!
~Ginger
Midnight Musings 
Sounds like a lovely week and you deserve a break. Family time is so precious.