July

Reading over my blog post from July three years ago, it seems I could just copy. It has been very hot and dry, I tried to keep a few plants alive by watering, and I did very little sewing. I enjoyed making an art quilt depicting this precious little boy Andy.

My niece Marilyn sent a photo of her daughter Rita holding the quilt I had sent to her as a baby about 30 years ago. Rita now has a baby girl who can continue to enjoy the quilt.

Hector Boldo brought the picture he painted from our collaboration. He had shown it at the Creator's Plaza earlier, and I am happy to have his art in my home. 

There's never a good time to be without air conditioning, and my system went out and had to be replaced in July. Oak Grove Heating and Air Conditioning did the work, even installing a window unit in my bedroom during the week it was out. A friend had a portable room unit and put that into my sewing room, so I was able to stay at home. I don't think the cats care what the temperature is.

I have fallen in love with iced coffee and have found two options available in the refrigerators at Corner Market. The International Delight has a definite chocolate/mocha flavor, and the N.O. Brew is stronger and is to be mixed with milk or water. 

My outdoor cat, Lacey, has a nightly visitor who cleans up any food she has not eaten. He seems a little afraid of her and retreats to the window sill. 

My gardening has been limited to scattering zinnia seeds and planting one pot of okra plants (in the ground, separated into four plants). I was delighted to find some tiny okra pods at the top of one of the foot-high plants, making me believe they will survive if I keep them watered. 

Festival South in June and an Art Collaboration

June is one of my favorite months of the year for several reasons, and in Hattiesburg it's because of FestivalSouth--a three-week long music/art/cultural extravaganza. A big favorite this year was the USM Southern Chorale celebrating America's 250th birthday. The chorus performed American fine art music to gospels, spirituals, and popular music and is invited to perform in Estonia again this summer. 

Southern Chorale, Dr. Greg Fuller, conductor

There are concerts and exhibits at venues all over town, like this one by Lisa Wolynec, Daniel Petrocelli, and Brian Lorettt at the new bookstore, Storied Bookery, and emerging artists performing at OLLI. 

Juan Carlos Piedra Carvajal, oboe, Teresa Sanchez, piano

Daniel Petrocelli, Lisa Wolynec, (Brian Lorett not pictured)

We have had an unusually wet June, with flash flood warnings and high water damage. Elizabeth has stayed very close during the thunderstorms.

I've finished two interesting books this month from the Hattiesburg library--Culpability and All Quiet on the Western Front. Both were absorbing and thought-provoking, involving AI innovations, and family dynamics. The 1929 WWI classic was a new translation with more personal details about the young German soldier author. 

Several months ago Hector Boldo and I agreed to exchange artwork. I created a fiber art piece of Hector's dog Marta, and he came to my home to photograph me working at my sewing machine on Marta and later created a painting of the scene. Here we are with Hector's painting at the Creator's Plaza last weekend, followed by Hector with my fiber art piece of Marta. This was a fun collaboration!

Art and Bloomings in May

The OLLI Artisans Showcase and Sale in May was a big success. This was the first time we have held this event, and thanks go to Steve Hurst for the suggestion and guidance in planning. Volunteers were valuable in much of the workload. There were artworks by 26 artists, and the room was full and overflowing into the hallway. See Steve's clocks in the picture below.

My display in foreground
 Steve Hurst's clock display on left

My display

Of the many artworks that found new homes, the ones with personal connections are the most satisfying. In the photo above, the third piece from left is titled Flying Geese Over Lake Michigan. The background is an actual paper map overlaid with organza. (In quilt language, triangles in a row are called flying geese.) A woman kept looking at this piece and then bought it, saying she had grown up in Michigan and located her hometown on the map and was giving herself a retiring present. Connections--I love incidents like this!

We will be wishing for this rain in a few weeks when it's dry and unbearable hot, but for now I just hope the hydrangeas are enjoying it. Last year I had my yard guy plant white/green and red/green caladiums and enjoyed the row of white ones and groups of reds. I was happy to see these had not rotted over winter and are making another show.

Giant Hosta

Four O'clocks 

Do you Wordle? I enjoy solving this little puzzle every day and was bragging to friends about my 198-day winning streak. Then Wordle sabotaged me by deleting my record and starting me back over with zero. Oh, well, pressure is off.

Speaking of failures, I am stalled on the current puzzle. 

More Music in April

 One of the highlights of the spring for me is getting to attend the USM School of Music Honors String Chamber Recital. This year there were nine groups in the competition, held at University Baptist Church. The winning group performed String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92 by Sergei Prokofiev. Sorry I did not get a picture of this group. Here are two of the other groups:

Allyson Gomez, Paulo Alves (violins),
Adelle Paltin (viola)
Kassandra Heniquez (cello)

Ethne Kilgore, Dexter Rodkey (violins)
Christian Avila (viola)
Cristian Sanchez (cello)

Many of the students will play recitals in fulfillment of their degrees next month. These are held at Marsh Hall in the School of Music and are free to the public. I'm looking forward to hearing more outstanding music.

It isn't often we get to hear a pipe organ, so when I saw the announcement for the Paul Andersen Memorial AGO Organ Recital, I added it to my calendar. My good friends Kay Guiles and Kathy Vail were among the performers. 

Pine Belt Quilters held their showcase on April 18 in the Rebekah Stark Johnson Community Arts Center. We had approximately 87 quilted items on display, along with the fund-raiser, a storm at sea quilt we named Storm Front. We held educational displays and demonstrations and a make-and-take project, along with a room full of boutique items for sale. There was a treasure hunt for kids that helped create special interest. My favorite picture was taken by Steve Coleman of Johnny Ginn (son of Matthew and Katie Ginn) imitating the flamingo's one-legged pose.

Flyer advertising the Showcase

Make-and-Take Project was popular

Visiting with friends Marilyn and Martha Diehl
from Mount Olive

Johnny Ginn doing the flamingo pose 
(Quilt by Annette Temple)

The latest jigsaw puzzle on my table is a quilted piece called The Joy of Flowers. I thought the Patchwork Cat puzzle was hard, but this one is more challenging. It will definitely take more than a month. I appreciate help from my friends.

Spring and Music Memory Maker

Springtime in Mississippi is always beautiful, with color everywhere. A special treat for me is a visit from Noa to see my flowers. The azaleas are full, and the bumblebees love them. This iris has been here about ten years with no flowers--I hope it repeats this performance.

Bumblebees love the azaleas

Iris had three blooms

A visit from Noa

The USM Symphony Orchestra made history this week with its performance of "Her Story," composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Wolfe, which pays homage and celebrates the anniversary of the 1920 passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, earning women's right to vote. Wolfe calls on voices like Abigail Adams, reminding her future husband as he helped draft the Declaration of Independence," Dear John, ...the ladies, if overlooked, are determined to foment a rebellion." She also quotes the extraordinary former enslaved suffragist and abolitionist, Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I A Woman"? and "I Am Strong."

This work has only been performed six times, and only by major professional orchestras and the professional women's chorus, Lorelei. Our music maestro knew our USM music program could handle it. Julia Wolfe and her staff were involved during rehearsals and present for the performance.

From the printed program

Abigail Adams' letters 

Ten women's voices, ending with Sojourner Truth's words

On a personal note, I had the great honor of creating artwork to present to the ten singers. Dr Wolynec and I worked together on a design, using a traditional Log Cabin block, framed. Each singer was asked her favorite color, and this was emphasized in her block. 

Coming up with a plan

Dr Wolynec and me after the concert

Commemorative photo with singers and Julia Wolfe