I’m gearing up for homeschooling this year and for my oldest son’s birthday. We may have a month or more long visit from my in-laws. And I’m still trying to get a few more seeds and plants in the ground for Autumn harvest. It’s a busy season, but I can’t seem to get to sleep. I’m getting more than enough physical exercise, but my brain keeps going long into the night.

I should probably be writing my morning pages instead of trying to blog, but sometimes typing is less painful than writing first thing in the morning for whatever reason. It’s also less likely to result in my hands going a bit tingly and numb - carpal tunnel syndrome is so much fun, let me tell you. I’m forcing myself to go ahead and do a blog post because a dear friend reminded me that I haven’t posted anything new in a while (thanks, Kayla!). I miss feeling connected and sharing our story out with you all.

So, update on the house project down in Jaguey, Perú. We’re still waiting to see if we will get approval from SEAL Camaná (Sociedad Eléctrica del Sur Oeste S.A.) for our electric to be hooked up to the main grid. Bureaucracy in Perú makes U.S. bureaucracy look like child’s play. We also need to figure out a plan for water: delivery of potable water and/or a filtration system for our somewhat salty/minerally water from the well. Yes, “minerally” is a word…I just made it up. We don’t have heavy metals in the water, but we do need to filter it sufficiently if we hope to use that water eventually for drinking and cooking.

As promised, here are a few update photos:

*This is Jirón Miguel, as we like to call it - the lane down the length of our homestead to get to the sea.*

*Master bedroom front windows facing the ocean..*

Master bedroom door to hallway/top of stairs and door into master bath.

*Master bath facing door into master bedroom.*

In the studio, I’ve been using painting as a mental health activity mainly. I haven’t had the time and clarity of mind to work on my realistic work in progress, so I have been slinging paint as a form of catharsis. It works as a way of allowing myself to feel and just go ahead and deal with those feelings. The world often disappoints me. I can, at times, feel extreme sadness and frustration with how truly awful human beings can be to one another. I should probably take a mental health break from reading the news for a few days. Please remember it’s okay to take a break for your own well-being. I highly suggest making something to help re-focus yourself.

Here are a few photos from the studio:

*Little 6”x6” acrylic on canvas board - I taped the mini-canvases to a thick bit of cardboard to facilitate working on my easel.*

*Close up on the first one - definitely used a palette knife a bit on this one.*

*Here’s the second one - almost the same palette but sans cad yellow medium.*

*Another abstract acrylic on canvas board. I think this one may be finished, but I need to go back in and take another look.*

Here’s the realistic painting I’m working on…a little mixed media collage thrown in for good measure. Technically the collage bit was there first on that canvas, then I took a photo holding a strawberry, and a painting was born.

If you enjoy any of these works and would like to be the first to know when I will be posting new works to the online store - likely some time in August - please sign-up for my email newsletter list. I won’t spam you with emails - let’s be honest, I can barely find time to write the blog!

Lastly…

Happy National Avocado Day! — In Peruvian Spanish, the word for avocado is “palta.” So, enjoy some guacamole or even just a few slices of palta on toast with sea salt! I hope you have a great week!

When the world disappoints

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Big dreams, slow progress