October 31, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee
Catwoman (movie version): Meagan Brandt

Happy Halloween

When I was a mother of a young theatrical daughter Halloween was probably one of the most important holidays of the year. Preparations were usually made well in advance and our Halloween festivities, mapped out (school costume, State College Halloween parade, haunted houses and trick-or-treating). Some years two costumes were needed as the school would decide a theme for the kids to wear or my daughter's costume was a bit too edgy for school.

These were days of great creativity for me and my daughter and every year as I worked the sewing machine I remembered my grandmother and mother making costumes for me. My grandmother was a great costume maker who designed an award winning Halloween costume every year. This year my daughter lives in her own apartment and has created her own costume with her roommates.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 30, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee
Model Meagan Brandt
Clothes by Angela Keslar

Artists are thought of as being the voice of the society they live in. Most of the art I create has a political bend yet stays away from specifics. One exception would be the painting I did in reaction to the government's failure in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (sorry photo not available)

Last week I was listening to television coverage of the $150,000 wardrobe of Sarah Palin. There were a few things I took issue with as far as the way this was handled by Ms. Palin. The first was her statement that once this campaign was over she would go back to shopping at her favorite consignment shop in Anchorage.

I had a few questions about that but I needed to check on a few facts before I continued. As I suspected the vice president lives in Washington D.C. (the southeast corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue). Would that mean that Sarah would take Air Force One and fly to Alaska to shop there. Does she not think she will win and move to D.C.? She also stated that these were not her clothes. Are we to believe that these supposedly custom made clothes will not be hers?My own daughter is a fashionista of the serious sort. She does not have a fraction of a $150, 000 including designer shoes, purses, sweaters, dresses, etc. How exactly does one spend that much money on clothes that are needed for approximately the length of time of a long vacation?

Peace Always

Sharon

October 29, 2008

Still not feeling up to speed. Hopefully will be more able to post tomorrow

Peace Always

Sharon

October 28, 2008

Have a head cold. Will blog again when my mind is working. Until then it's knitting, television, phone, blowing nose and reading.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 27, 2008

"Pardon Me, Are you Bi-Polar?" (working title) by Sharon Lee

Most of this week has been spent between house chores (laundry, dishes, cleaning, stacking firewood) and painting. Yesterday after painting most of the day I got into the correct groove about 1/2 hour before I stopped for the day. Today was mostly a struggle. Nothing more to report.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 26, 2008

Way's Fruit Farm, Stormstown, Pennsylvania
photo by Sharon Lee

Sarah comes a Callin'

I've avoided getting political on this blog as everywhere you turn someone is praising or cursing one of the two presidential and vice presidential candidates but lo and behold Sarah Palin came to Way's Fruit Farm (a mere five minute walk from my home) to get a pumpkin with her daughter. It's unusual that she would visit such a remote area when most of the candidates and their supporters regularly stop in either State College or University Park only twenty minutes away.

I'm not sure how much a trip to Way's Fruit Farm cost Ms. Palin's supporters. I know that she was in Johnstown earlier in the day (1-1/2 hours southwest so perhaps she and daughter were passing through on their way to bigger and more populated places. Perhaps her campaign strategist thought a stop at "real America" would boost their support and perhaps it did. The day following the visit the Way's had a larger than life McCain-Palin sign.

Watching the election campaign has been interesting if nothing else. Barack Obama bowled in Altoona. Sarah Palin bought a pumpkin in Stormstown. Not sure what any of this has to do with running a troubled country.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 25, 2008

My Riff with Jack

I have never understood the Jack-o-Latern. Before I go on I must interject that I have for the past 19 years secured a pumpkin for my daughter, carved out the guts, an indication of eyes, nose and mouth and lit it from within with a stubby candle. The glamour of the pumpkin lasts at most an hour when the fruit is fresh and unblemished with rot.

Only in a culture of excess would it be acceptible to nuture a rotten piece of food on the counter for a week up to several. Although perfectly edible Jack-O-lanterns are traditional not used for food-their purpose is that strickly of decor. A few months ago my only child moved into her own place prompting an reassessment of my surroundings. This year the only pumpkins that will be brought into the house will be meant for pumpkin muffins, pie or pudding.

Peace Always

Sharon