catchesthelight's Journal

Heading into Summer News
We've just returned from travels to New York to see Barry & family before they head back to Indonesia. They flew Mom up so I saw her and Dave for a few days in May and then Rob & I headed back to see B,P & Jennifer on our way to a spring vacation with Julie & Robert in the City. Our winter hibernation is over :>)! It is nearly a year since Dad died and we have all been thinking about that. I have been working a part time sales job in a well established womens' & childrens' shop: Lemon Twist in New London. I am possibly on jury duty anytime in July & August. Lisa at KAZA wants my art back, paintings this time July 10 - August 13 with a reception Thurs. Aug. 6 from 4 - 7 p.m. I will try to upload my postcard image here but the starting date is wrong.

New year but not much new
It had just been quite awhile since I added an entry that I thought I better check in and fill up some space but really not much has been going on. For those of you who know us really well, you know we mostly just save up vacation days so that Rob doesn't have to travel on snowy days when he worries the most and then we stay home and he works shovelling and snow blowing and waiting for the plow guy to come. The weather forecaster is his dearest friend for 6 months and then we are free again to visit others and use up all that accumulated vacation time he didn't hardly use for fear of not having enough or missing real work, or .... I am learning during our study of the Book of Job at church, that we are each supposed to be "shock absorbers" for those we care about when they go through suffering, so I am trying harder than ever to be that for my husband and church family, etc. I see the beginning of Feb. as some hope of longer, sun-filled days with the end of winter in sight (no matter what the groundhog "predicts"), so I am looking forward to a few days going to see friends or family in New England and praying continually for those the Lord has laid on my heart. Happy Valentine's Day in less than 2 weeks !!!!!

Early Thanksgivings
Rob & I had a great time in Quebec City over Labor Day weekend with 5 of our best friends celebrating the city's 400th anniversary. I've done a few paintings already from the many photos I took and shared even more at flickr. We hope to go back ourselves at least annually now. My trip to Florida was very successful - I saw Mom in the north after photographing profusely in the Art Deco National Historic District of Miami Beach. I like Mom's retirement Advent Christian Village and the ACV has 4 miles on the Suwannee River with Mom's apt. window looking right onto a section of it. Now Mom is coming to Nyack and New England (but not NH) for Thanksgiving.
We made it to Portland, ME in Oct. to see M & M and had L & K up to play disc and mini-golf in our area. Fall was glorious this year and I took lots of photos, some are already up at flickr and others will come in Feb. I met Lisa, artist/business owner of KAZA at her S. Main St. Concord shop and we admired each others' talents. Now she is hosting my first real solo art showing until 12/11 and reception 11/20. I've had 4 paintings at the Antiquarian Society for 7 weeks and will do my annual craft fair at YBP this Fri. All the kids will be here for Thanksgiving and on Sat., 11/29, we will travel to a family reunion with my Mom's extended family that I am helping to plan. So many details are left out - you should call me to fill them in!

Journies
I feel a lot of closure from spending time with family at Dad's Memorial, my own preparations to speak and actually doing it on July 5. My Mom is adjusting real well to life on her own but not without longtime friends who are keeping her company in her new Christian Village in the N. of Florida. I am planning to take a trip through the length of FL soon to see her and check out the state I've only been to once before. In the meantime, Rob & I with some good longtime friends of our own are planning a weekend to the old part of Quebec City. One of our friends is fluent in French and another has just come back from a visit to Quebec City, so we feel we will get a good tour with some "guides" we can eat good food with knowledgeably and be part of the city's 400 year birthday :>)

Dad's Memorial
It hardly seems like 3 weeks have gone by since I learned of my Dad's peaceful passing. I have shared photos and a short video excerpt of him at my main flickr account and in some sets there. We will be heading to NC soon for a memorial service instead of just a family reunion. I have planned many occasions for my parents but haven't wanted to "talk" at them but I am planning about 7 min. worth of fond memories from a personal transition time in our lives that noone else was privy to. I'll write more when I return. We all agree Dad is happily running, jumping and telling his old corny jokes to a new audience in Heaven now!!!

Memorable May 2008
We have been busy this month but wonderfully so with so many family visits :>))) First Maire graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian of her class at St. Joseph's College of Maine giving an inspiring speech on "Gratitude". We spent the day with she, Michael, and 5 members of Michael's immediate family on campus and toward Portland, eating well along the way! Next, our daughter-in-law Kate graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a master's in library science and we attended her graduation and the family barbeque in Newport. Her family makes a scrumptious ice cream cake with 4 gourmet flavors and lady slippers which her grandfather now "whips up" since her grandmother hasn't been well for the winter. On the same day, we travelled on toward NYC to spend 5 days and nights in Astoria (Queens) with Julie & Robert. We hadn't seen the home they bought in Nov. yet or their places of employment so we found it hard to explain any of it to all of you when you asked. We saw so much and had great foods and together time with both of them of which my 500+ photos will prove!! Our lives are so enriched by our great "kids" and their great spouses!!!!!!

This is what it looked like at our house this morning where Rob is still slowly shovelling away deep snow to the driveway which is all cleared. Today was the last day of my spring semester art classes for middle - high schooled homeschoolers here at my home. Thanks all for your great 1 point perspective projects and the overall fun shared. If you want to see some color here in Boscawen go to my online store at etsy: www.bevnorton.etsy.com and see the bright African paper beads I am using from beadforlife.org to make my own necklaces out of and then turn the proceeds into buying more of their beads to "eradicate poverty one bead at a time" Our taxes are done, are yours?

Happy Valentine's Day
This is the longest time since I've written an entry but out of love for my "fans" (not) I thought I'd update this on 2/14! The word that mainly sums up the past nearly 3 months is - STORMS (mostly the snowy type but some rain and variations on the themes) No snow on the wedding day however when everything was lovely and fine :>) We will be heading to Portland, ME this weekend to see the newlyweds and their "nest". Mostly they are just learning to cope with 1 car since Maire was in an accident 8 days prior to the wedding and totalled hers. I have a car but don't use it much these days while I wait out the multitude of storms and poor Rob just tries to keep the house safe and the property "neat" :>( I suppose WHITE could be another key word since Dec. 2 so if you want to see color, visit my photos at my website, abstract art there or at blogspot and of course my flickr accounts. I doubt we will see green in March but I will try to keep you more updated here about that! Write me too!!

Counting Down to the Wedding
We had what I would consider a very successful wedding shower on Sat., November 24 for Maire & Michael with 38 family members and close friends in attendance. I had decorated the fellowship hall at our old church in Concord with seasonal decorations and homey touches and the mini Christmas tree with kitchen utensil ornaments was everyone's favorite :>) I had made 300 hand-dipped rosettes for the occasion: some stuffed with savory stuffings and some dessert with powdered sugar and flavorings: maple, almond, anise. I added quiches, guacamole, chips and cake to the menu as time went on and our attendance grew. My friend Jo Ann helped me decorate and loaned us antique teacups / teapots for ambiance and use that day. Several gifts were old or nostalgic and all were needed and appreciated. Family travelled from CT & VT to celebrate. I have many photos of the shower at my 2 flickr accounts and a new group with photos toward the wedding preparations. Less than 5 weeks now!

Better late than never
Today is a big day - our oldest daughter and her husband are buying their first house and mortgage!! They have been real troopers through it all in what we see as a big & scary ordeal. I've had a couple of good weeks with my art especially. I now have a very knowledgeable & dependable source for my abstract digital photography printing so have lowered my prices accordingly. I sold a painting to a friend and may be featured in The Concord Monitor on Tues. with other photographers in the area who share at flickr. Life is good, God is great!! Still waiting for fall to really arrive - Bev

family vigil
The last month or more I have been trying to monitor my parents' health from afar. Today my Mom turns 84 and is scheduled for double hernia surgery!! We can all say our prayers for her healthy recovery and common sense for all!!!

My Big 5-0 Birthday yesterday
I had an enjoyable day celebrating my 50th birthday yesterday with my whole immediate family. Maire is living at home this summer so she & Michael were here. Julie & Bob came up from the city over the weekend and thus they were here. Luke & Kate came up from Salem for the day. We ate, drank and played games for most of the day. Rob had bought me a CD of some music he likes and thought I would too and he bought some tank shaped firecrackers to set off in the evening. Several other friends and extended family sent cards or emails or phoned to wish me a Happy day. I even had some special photo greetings from my friends at flickr :>) Of course our trip to the UK was our big present to ourselves and I am still enjoying the photos from that time. What pleasant memories all in all!!

We're Back !!
Rob & I recently took a 16 day journey to England. This year the travel time was shorter (see an earlier entry for comparison with last year's trip) ONLY 20 hours straight !?! We took a bus from Concord to Boston, flew from Boston to Philadelphia and then on over to Gatwick (London) and a train to Rye but at each station or airport we had hours of waiting time (including unfortunately some delays). The nice hostess of the self-catering cottage we rented in Rye hadn't rented out "our nest" the night before so we could tuck in to bed after spending a pretty much sleepless night on the airplane. We walked around Rye and right away found some of the local homes used in a BBC TV series on the "Mapp and Lucia" books by E.F. Benson which Rob & I had both bought on DVD and borrowed the books through our library system. We would highly recommend the fictional stories set in 1930 Rye (called Tilling). They are very socially entertaining; fun, well written stories.

Spring ?!?
The snow was at least all melted off our roof and then yesterday we received 10" of the wet, white stuff! We had a very meaningful Tennabrae service last eve. at church to prepare us for Good Friday and Easter. On Easter Sunday we will have lamb stew with Luke & Kate and Maire & Michael at home in NH. (See some old Easter family photos at What's New? at www.catches-the-light.com or at my flickr accts. with links at What's New?) We leave in just over 2 weeks for 2 weeks in the south of England and I guess we will have to wait until then to really see spring. Luke & Kate are in NC right now and visited Mom & Dad 4/5. Poor Julie and Bob are busy with work and dr. visits and getting ready for an England trip themselves a week before ours. They will head south while in England to spend time with us in Rye the last full day before Julie flies back and Bob stays on a little longer in Wales. More updates around Mother's Day. Bev

What's Newest
http://www.catchesthelight.blogspot.com/ Check out my newest link and spot for some great photos you won't see anywhere else right now. Bev

My Art & Business in 2007
Hi - Happy 2007! In some ways I am re-centering and in other ways I am focusing on others. I have very few of my items in other people's galleries for the new year (only a few antique/collectibles with my friend Jo Ann in Concord and vice versa her with me on eBay). So I can pass along those savings to you if you deal with me directly and I'm having a site wide sale of 30% off for January 2007 to celebrate 3 years on the web. This will be the most and biggest sale I probably ever will do so the time is now to buy from me :>) I've also joined the WCA-NH which is the New Hampshire Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and in the future I can show some of my stuff at their shows and try to expand my base of customers and hopefully admirers. For now I meet twice a month with other female artists to inspire, show & tell, support in ways that I have not yet done previously. I am very hopeful about all this for 2007 and beyond! Easter Seals is off my plate, I'm still praying with my parents about if and when I will be more involved in their care and as of right now I'm not teaching art at home or at the EC. I'm still photographing prolifically and I've done some abstract paintings of an English Rye (where we have tickets to go back to visit this spring :>) art deco house as the first of the year. So check things out often and soon to get in on some of the new excitement and please write to tell me you read this blogging!! Bev

Pray for my Mom & Dad
I'm pretty sure my mom is the only one who reads this journal and for a while she will be away from the computer and rather laid up so ... if you are reading this ... please pray for my parents. They are finding as octagenarians, that it is getting harder to stay upright and not lose your balance occasionally :>( Both have fallen recently and thankfully without broken bones but that may just be a matter of time... So they are in their last attempts to stay independent in NC and we are all trying to help them do that from a distance. GOD IS ABLE to use our prayers to bring help & comfort through others like drs. or friends, medicines, or miracles and that is good to be reminded of this Advent Season! "Thanks", Bev

Many Thanksgivings
"Indeed, it is for your sake that all things are ordered, so that, as the abounding grace of God is shared by more and more, the greater may be the chorus of thanksgiving that ascends to the glory of God." 2 Cor. 4:15. I still don't know what I am supposed to be when I grow up but I thank God for the things I am and that He's given me: health, strength, some talents to give back, a wonderful family, time, beauty around me and eyes to see it, a sheltering home, Christian fellowship ... I could go on and on. I am still enjoying photographing nearly daily and have the hopes of getting out during the winter months to chronicle some or all of our NH Main Streets :>) The Thurs. art classes will take a holidays break and then we'll see in winter what we do regularly and I haven't heard anything from Easter Seals but life is good and God is great and I look forward to all my kids home for Thanksgiving :>)) So Happy Season to you as well !!

New Possibilities
I've signed up with Easter Seals to be a respite provider for a small, consistent group of ladies that may really need a place to spend a night while their full time providers get some respite. I went for 2 days of training last week and am now awaiting my first call to get started. I see this as a "ministry" from both sides as I need to use my home and caregiving to generate income as well. I've been going down to our new Boscawen Public Library to use one of their 3 new computers with almost instant internet connections and I've updated etsy with lots of jewelry accessories and background fabrics, have updated flickr with 18 new photos and am thinking about buying a pro account to keep adding more photos whenever I want and I'll be adding some new clothes to ebay today. I may not keep the ebay Store past March if sales don't pick up between now and then. Art lessons on Thurs. are going along fine and so is the volunteering on Tues. and the ladies' Bible study on Wed.

Yesterday was a wonderful day for a hike!
We made our annual trek with our former Concord church up Mt. Kearsarge yesterday and it was the warmest Columbus Day weekend we can remember doing so. Maire & Michael, our newly engaged couple, were home from ME so we invited Luke & Kate, our newlyweds, up from Salem, NH for the family outing. We all enjoyed the fresh air, exercise and greeting old friends together. We missed a phone call from oldest daughter Julie in NYC where she was wishing she could be at home in New England for the event. We will all be together this year for Thanksgiving and we're looking forward to that but don't want to rush the beautiful season we are currently enjoying! Next weekend Rob & I hope to visit our wonderful friends: Irene & Bob J. in W.MA and take in one of Rob's model shows to let him compete and try to sell more of Monroe Purdue diorama kits, etc.

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