Book By Its Cover, Brothers, laughing with teens, Providence, a duo, John Lewis, a week.

1. A week off. Time to work, play, get quiet in my studio.

2. Last week, Congressman John Lewis (Georgia, D) was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. It is the highest civilian honor and so well deserved.

3. So love this duo- GUSH! Garance (Dore) and Scott (Schumann, the Sartorialist) featured in NY Magazine.

4. Time with friends in Providence, RI. Great fun at the 2nd Story Theatre, some bar, and Craftland. Really the time with wonderful, talented, smart, kind, funny friends was the sweetest, most lovely element of the weekend trip.

5. How often I laugh with my teenage students. Love them.

6. I have been listening to Brothers by the Black Keys. A lot. Real good. The smokin' hot kind of goodness.

7. My good friend, Tony, brought me over to the sketchbooks featured on this great blog, Book By Its Cover. I will be making that a habit!

Bayard Rustin, a euphoric Egypt, Vik, Islamic tile, carrot soup, Tinkers, the pacifying tree.

1. I was reminded of this inspiring man, Bayard Rustin, featured on the State of the Reunion program on National Public Radio. A gay man who was a pacifist, an essential ingredient in the Civil Rights movement. Extraordinary. Why did we not learn about him in high school?

2. A euphoric Egypt! Bless them!

3. I love Vik Muniz: witty, inspiring, genius.

4. I have been looking at Islamic tile design.

5. For dinner in the coming week… carrot soup.

6. A book that I am reading now…. Tinkers by Paul Harding.

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7. The pacifying tree. Beautiful, poetic, funny, nostalgic for childhood via the lovely Camilla Engman .

Paperwork, magenta, laying in bed, Wednesday, prospective soup and cupcakes, Neko Case

1. I am very much looking forward to this show coming up in May, Paperwork in 3d at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburen, VT. Thanks for letting me know about it, Sheila! I love paper and I love Vermont!

2. Magenta ink

3. Laying in bed, listening to the sounds of snow falling on the roof, water gently gurgling through the pipes.


4. I spent Wednesday listening to the radio about the uprising in Egypt while I painted in my studio. A snow day, a groundhog, and the broadcast of a rebellion. I am hoping the that some kind of animal can foresee democracy for this country.

5. To make soon: adzuki bean and butternut squash soup.

6. And also: carrot cake cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

7. Neko Case. To celebrate day 1 of year 37. There was no better way to do it.

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