A Night At Tuckers On Vine

Tonight was an unusual Sunday night for Howard and me.  As a matter of fact, it would have been unusual for any night of the week!  We ate at Tuckers On Vine which is around the corner from Liberty Street; not an area you want to be in after dark, but we were there long after the sun went down and weren't worried.

When one of the employees invited me to be the guest artist this month, I accepted the invitation. Tonight was the art opening which included a buffet, live jazz and a poet reading her work.  You can see her in the black hat in the photo on the right.  Each poem was written on a one- dollar bill.  Don't ask me why.  I'm still trying to figure that one out!

Live Jazz @ Tuckers

Ralf & Gillian

We took our neighbors Ralf and Gillian with us.  They had a great time, and so did we!

Welcome to the Traders Point Christian Academy

Traders Point Christian Academy held their annual fund-raising banquet Friday night. It was exciting to hear what has been accomplished through the school. Howard continues to serve on the board.

The Academy's Logo Made Into a Sculpture

"Back Home Again In Indiana....la la la la..la..la..la.."

Howard & I are not only singing this song, we are living it as well!  We have decided to make one more move and that's it!!!  Where else would we go but back to the Circle City.

We spent Friday touring downtown lofts and condos in and around Massachusetts' Avenue.  The building called Mill No.9 had two lofts that got our attention.  The factory had been a nylon hosery mill back in the 20's. Contemporary-style lofts were built a few years ago. High ceilings, open pipes, weathered hardwood floors and walls filled with huge windows remain to remind one of days gone by.

Most of you are aware that our son Craig recently moved to Washington D.C. He is working in the area of healthcare.  He is not involved in the controversial issues you read about or see on TV.  His focus is in the area of IT. At this point, his family is staying behind.  Taylor graduates in a few weeks. Crosley will do the same this time next year. It was not a good time to move them.

Craig wanted us to move here so Howard could get the best healthcare from a noted doctor who specialized in treating Parkinson's Disease. Now that Craig has moved, the dynamics of living here have changed.  The doctor has taken good care of Howard, and he will continue to do so after he moves to Indy.

We were concerned about the grandkids, but once they got over the surprise, they were fine. They decided it would be "cool" to bring their friends to Indy and stay downtown. They will like it even more when they realize that Bazbo's Pizza is around the corner!

I know they will enjoy the new Cultural Walk whick takes you through downtown, the canal, museums, art galleries and restaurants.  This path goes right past Mill No.9.  Indy's downtown is very exciting.  It is listed in a recent retirement magazine as one of the top places to retire.  Howard and I will give it a shot and see if they are right! When we know our new address, we will put the WELCOME mat out with the hopes you'll come!

Perserverance!

Last year about this time we hired a landscaper to come in and push the dirt around in our backyard. The surface needed to be smoothed down, top soil added and then a layer of sod put down.  We built a long flower bed on the back side of the yard with bushes and trees planted alone the new fence. 

We could not believe it when we looked out the other day and saw this tulip in the center of the yard.  The elderly lady who lived here most of her life planted a row of them along the section of chain-link fence that protected her dog.  We had the fence removed since it sliced the yard in half, and we had no poodle. 

I dug up all the bulbs and replanted them in the new flower beds.  Somehow this one got overlooked.  It was not going to remain behind.  It pooked its head out when the ground got warm enought, and here it is in all of its splender saying, "Yeah....I made it!" (The grass got mowed as soon as the camera clicked!)

The Junior Prom

Last night was our granddaughter Crosley's Junior Prom.  She and her date stopped by to let us see her all dressed up. She loves to go camping and plays on the school's soccer team.  She will lifeguard at the community pool this summer. It isn't often we see her in a white chiffon dress!

Crosley was born on my 50th birthday, so whatever she does today, more than likely I did it fifty years ago!

My Personal Tour Guide

Jason was my own personal guide as we toured his shows in Chicago last week.  (I'll post some of his work.)  I went up thinking summer had arrived. Much to my surprise, it hadn't!!!  Erin loaned me a jacket, gloves and a wool scarf before the tour began.

 

Is This Your Shopping Bag?

The Chicago Brammer cat crept into my shopping bag uninvited.  I had a hunch she was posing for her picture to be taken since she made no effort to get out until after I clicked the camera.  Cats are a lot smarter than we think!

Art Piece #1

Private Collection

I doubt that Jason & Erin will ever let this painting be moved from over their couch.  It measures around 6 ft.by 4 ft. It is acrylic over a faux finish of burnt unber.  The lighter sections are metalic gold.

Art Piece #2

This piece is made of wood with horse reins looped on the top and bottom. The light inside the hole is painted.  He removed the circular design from a dresser drawer found in the alley.  A steel weight from a plumb line hangs at the bottom. The little thing on the top front is a small wooden pully.  The entire surface is crackled.

The Return Trip

The return trip on the Megabus was a little more complicated that the one going up.  We gathered at a downtown bus stop in Chicago waiting to board the big blue bus for home.  When the driver introduced herself, read all the rules and we got settled, she turned the key but nothing happened.  The engine died on the spot!  She called for a backup.  It arrived an hour later. It could have been worse.  Had the engine died down the interstate, we would have had to wait much longer.  I was glad we were safe and sound while waiting.

"Back Home Again In Indiana......"

It will probably surprise you as much as it did me when Howard and I looked at each other recently and said, "Let's go home!"  We have lived here in Cincinnati three years now: three good years I might add.  Being around the corner from our family provided an opportunity to know our grandkids better and become acquainted with the neighborhood kids they call friends.  All of them are wonderful people who are in the process of making the world a better place.

We have enjoyed meeting new people, but it is not the same as the ones that come with some history between you.

Craig recently moved to Washington D.C. to work on the nation's healthcare. We are not moving because he no longer lives here, but it did change the dynamics of our lives some what.  His family will remain behind.  His wife will continue with the neighborhood theatre she and a friend started. The coffee shop has a big question mark on the door (not literally.) I stayed with it long enough to know it was not my calling in life. 

We don't know where we will live in Indy, but I'm pretty sure  it won't have a yard to mow.  Our next step is to cull through everything we own and take ONLY what we need....what a job!

I've heard it said, "You can never go home again."  We'll put it to the test and let you know if it's true or not!

Amazing Art in the Cincinnati Schools

Whether you live in Cincinnati or not, I thought you would find this interesting:

By 1859, Cincinnati was the second largest industrial city in the United States (Philadelphia was the largest), and its citizens clearly heard the call for reform.  The primary voice they listened to was that of British philosopher and art critic John Ruskin, who argued that beauty uplifts the spirit, inspires the soul, and transforms character.  Following Ruskin's dictum, Cincinnatians argued that because childhood is an impressionable time, it is also the logical stage in life to begin addressing the transformation of character.  And where better to showcase inspiring works of beauty than in public schools?  So Cincinnati began to beautify its schools by incorporating architecture, painting, sculpture, fountains, friezes, murals and even stained glass into its school buildings.

Visiting The Windy City

I did something I have never done before....rode the Megabus!  The double decker took me to Chicago via Indianapolis in the same amount of time it takes to drive it.  Much to my surprise the trip was delightful: comfortable seats, clean upholstery, quiet passengers and a driver who did not narrate along the way.  On the other hand, what is there to tell about as you drive through the flat farms of northern Indiana. 

Everyone was reading but me.  I can't read and ride even if the road is flat and straight.  It's something I regret when I'm the passenger on a lengthy trip. I stare out the window while sucking on a salty pretzel.  The dry pretzel keeps my stomach from churning. It's a trick I learned years ago.  When Dad put straw in the back of his '49 Ford with an army blanket covering it, he would give us kids a handfull of pretzels about the time he figured we were getting motion sick.  When I got older, I realized he got his clue when we began pecking on the back window of the truck motioning that we were going to throw up.  He would pull over, rip open the bag and fill our hands with pretzels. A pretzel never tasted so good. 

I had a delightful visit with Jason and Erin.  He took me to the four spots where his shows are hanging.  There were a lot more pieces than I expected.  We celebrated Erin's birthday by having dinner at a new pizza shop within walking distance of their condo.  It had only been open two days which accounted for the fact that the big stone Italian oven was more than the chef could handle.  The crust was burnt to a crisp!  We ate it anyway :-)  Who wants to complain when the poor guy was, no doubt, doing his best.

Welcome To Eden Park on Easter Sunday

Inside the Flower Conservatory

The Old Water Tower in Eden Park

There is a type of fishing in Japan where the fisherman wraps the throat of a duck with a string so it can't swallow the fish it catches in it's mouth.  The fisherman grabs the fish from the duck's mouth and tosses it in a large woven basket. 

This bronze sculpture was given to Cincinnati many years ago.  I can't remember what the type of fishing is called or the date when the gift was given.

Our neighbor boy is convinced this is a woman rather than a man because of the skirt he is wearing.  I saw a doctumentary on Discovery that showed the history of this style of fishing, and the fisherman was wearing a skirt like this one.  The neighbor boy doesn't care about that....it's still a woman to him!

More Of Eden Park

FAREWELL CRAIG.....

Craig leaves for Washington D.C. tomorrow.  Howard & I had lunch with him today.  The official explanation of his job is: a position with the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology in Washington to serve as Deputy Director for the Beacon Community program. As a member of the ONC leadership team, he will be working to accelerate the adoption of health information technology, performance measurement and payment reform strategies in forward-looking communities across the US.

His family will remain in Cincinnati where the kids will continue with their schooling, and his wife will stay with the theatre she and a friend started last summer. He will fly home on weekends.


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What's A Skateboard Park?

If you're wondering where these steps and ramps take you, the answer is "nowhere."  This is a skateboard park. You are to get on a skateboard and go under the poles, leap over the ramps and slither down the steps without breaking your neck.
It's amazing to watch these kids do the impossible.

Jason was a skateboarder....and still is for that matter.  (Once a skateboarder always a skateboarder.)  He restrains himself from doing the daredevil stunts he once did.  He is cautious now: no longer on our insurance policy.

These kids were enjoying the spring weather this afternoon at the Skateboard Park behind the Bethany church in Kettering.  I enjoyed watching them since none of them belonged to me.

SURPRISE!!!!

 When Howard read that the Beavercreek Christian Church was wanting to sell their baby grand piano, he immediately thought of granddaughter Madeline.

Madeline takes lessons from "Mr. Carl" the next-door neighbor who retired after spending many years playing with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

She not only loves to play, and is doing well at it, but she writes much of her own music as well.  She recently wrote "Indian Rainfall" for her recital which gave us a goosebump or two when we heard it for the first time.

The price tag on the piano made it possible for Papaw to fulfill a dream Madeline has been carrying, but she never had a clue it would happen now.  Thanks Papaw....you're the greatest!

Brutopia's Latest Art Show

Yily is an artist from Loveland, OH.: a quaint village north of us.  Her paintings have been hanging during the month of March.  She paints on wood with the purpose of letting the grain show throw at various points. Her style is most unusual. Butterflies, cats and human faces are the main subjects in this body of work.

Is This a Joke?

Last week I glanced in the window of a pricey clothing store in an  upscale shopping mall.  This is what I saw! I was so amazed at the condition of these jeans that I dug to the bottom of my purse for my camera. I figured I would get home and question what I had seen or at least have a hard time convincing Howard.

My brothers wore jeans on the farm, but they were not allowed to go into town wearing any clothing that looked like this.  As a matter of fact, I think they wore better when milking the cows.

I wonder who started this fad.  I also wonder how parents can afford them.  This store had a hefty price tag tied to the zipper. 

A couple of clerks watched me from the inside and smiled as I took the photos.  They probably knew what I was thinking....is this a joke?

If you can't count them, paint them!

Last night when I discovered I could not sleep, I decided to paint the sheep rather than counting them.  This is an 8X10 watercolor of England's Countryside.

Happy Birthday Denny!

Howard and I were invited to Denny Nystrom's 70th birthday party Saturday at Bloomfield Hills, MI.  When Denny entered the room, his face turned bright red.  I knew he was surprised!  He had no clue a daughter had flown in from Spain, another one from California, a friend from London and others who had come long distances to make the day special.

Two Beauties

Howard was invited back to the Beavercreek Christian Church to preach yesterday.  He served as their interm pastor last year.

These sweet ladies were chatting when I approached them with my camera. The one on the left recently lost her husband of 62 years: a WWII Vet.

The combined age of these widows is 181 years.  They have walked with the Lord all their lives, and they are quick to tell you they would do it all over again!

Crosley's Big Trip!

http://www.morganscanoe.com/2010/03/An-Adventurous-Trip-to-the-Waterfall-in-Matapalo.cfm

Crosley (on the left) is on a big adventure in Costa Rica. Click the link to learn all about it!

Sawyer (11 years olds)

Monday Sawyer came home from school sick.  Well, he was either sick or he wanted one of Mimi's fruit slushes.  Either way, he felt better lounging on our couch than he did at school tethered to a desk.

Kids know what they want and need. Grandparents understand that and come to their rescue.

Sunday Guests

Each Sunday afternoon around three o'clock the doorbell rings. I see two little faces pressed against the front window.  I don't have to guess who they are!  I know it's Rachel and Ellie.  One lives next door, and the other one lives down the street.  They come each week to play with Mimi. 

We go downstairs to the studio and make things.  They are eager to try out any medium they see.  However, colored pencils are not one of their favorites.  They like to use brushes with bright liquid colors that splash and slide all over the surface. Markers are also fun when used with stickers from my scrapbook supply. These girls are into action.  Colored pencils are boring!

When their art is finished, they go to the china cabinets and pick out a tea cup & saucer from my collection. This process takes a while. They never want to drink out of the same cup twice!  We have tea and cookies. Sunday Ellie (on the left) surprised me by bringing her own teabag.  She informed me that she liked mint better than the flavors I had. 

These girls are going to change the world, and they have already started.  At least they are changing mine...no more Sunday afternoon naps!

Raqlette Dinner

Howard and I bought a raqlette grill a few years ago while on vacation.  We thought it would be a fun meal for the grandkids. I discovered, however,  it was something you pack away and forget about! I ran across it this week and brought it out of storage. 

Howard is shown here getting it heated up while Sawyer watched.  Each serving dish is filled with items to be grilled...mushrooms, broccoli, summer squash, onions, peppers and chicken, etc. The individual pans on the lower level of the grill are filled with cheese waiting to melt under the heat. 

Once the food is grilled, you dip it in the cheese and eat it.  When it's time for the second course, the grill and pans are wiped clean and dessert items are added.  Chocolate bark replaces the cheese, and fresh fruit goes on the grill.

Sawyer doesn't look too interested here, but he got into it as the food was coming off the grill!

Hello Everyone.....I'm Back!!!

I want to thank those of you who have inquired about the blog. The fact that you have missed it is encouraging.   We have had a dreadful time with these computers, but I think Howard has fixed them!  He has devoted a lot of time to it anyway, and so far, they are working.  (I'm still having problems getting my photos imported, but it worked tonight. We'll see what happens next time.)

I'll give you a little update on what's happened in the Brammer family since my last entry.  The number one question is always, "How's Howard doing?"  Well, he is doing quite well.  Parkinson's is known for interrupting one's sleep pattern, and Howard can atest to that.  I would say that is his main complaint.  Lack of sleep for a few nights in a row will make anyone tired.  It is especially difficult for him.  Once he gets in a few all nighters, he is back to his old self.

He is still preaching at Kettering on weekends.  It is near Dayton; not far from Beavercreek where he spent a year doing the same.  The church is in the process of interviewing for a new pastor. I'm not going to be surprised if he applies.  Once he gets to know the people, he has a hard time saying good-bye.

Craig has accepted a position in Washington DC in the area of healthcare.  You can Google him and read more about it.  He will be leaving soon.  His family will remain behind which means they will continue living around the corner from us. We are extremely proud of Craig, and we anticipate him making a great contribution to the nation's healthcare.

Jason and Erin show no signs of leaving Chicago.  I thought the ice and snow would drive them this way, but not so.  Their hearts are definitely anchored in the Windy City!  Erin continues to manage the art business while he stays grounded in his studio. His latest claim to fame is in selling two original pieces to the owners of the penthouse in Chicago's Trump Towers.

I am no longer working at the coffee shop.  I found myself getting deeper and deeper into the business which was requiring more stamina than I wanted to give.  I compared it to nursing a baby.  You can't get very far away for any length of time without hearing a cry for help.  This isn't the way I had my retirement planned. I looked forward to no schedule and limited committments. I decided to leave Brutopia before I got so deeply involved I couldn't get out.

Okay....you're up to date on us, now let us hear from you.  If you have plans to come this way anytime, please add us to the schedule.  Remember we're within walking distance of Graeter's Ice Cream shop!!!

Much love to all of you,
Martha

New Painting

(My computer won't let me turn this photo.  It's still acting up!!!)  It was a hard decision for me to sell all my ceramic equipment two weeks ago ; however, it was a good move, and I am glad I did. The sale included a large kiln, commercial slab roller, wet saw, etc.  It took two trucks and a van to haul everything away.  Two artists went together and bought everything.  It was nice to sell it all at once.

Working with clay has been hard work. I decided it was time for a change. Watercolor has become my favorite medium.  I am making watercolored greeting cards, but I don't know what I'm going to do with them at this point.  Any ideas? 

Tonight I finished a new oil painting. I photographed it for you. It has been fun getting back into that medium as well. I started out by covering the canvas with a raw-umber acrylic glaze which I brushed on and then ragged off.  Then I painted the irises with oils, decoupaged handmade rice paper on the top and bottom before glazing it all over again with the raw-umber mixture. It measures 42"X26". 

Jason gave me the stretched canvas for my birthday several years ago.  He will be glad to know I finally got back to oils and used it.  The piece is being entered into a show this weekend.