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For more than six months I have had my hands full with other things and not had the time to blog. I miss it. Primarily I miss visiting sites of fellow bloggers and the friendly exchanges I have enjoyed so much.

My involvements will not permit a full scale return to the blogosphere but I hope to pop in from time to time.

Last September I concluded all the classes I decided to take at the art school. October 5th I took up a part time job to supplement graphic freelancing. It consists of helping women leave lives of drug and alcohol addiction and find the peace and purpose they were made for.  Though this part of my life has been very challenging I can honestly say it has been worthwhile. In November of last year I also took on a rather large start up company graphic/planning job. Nothing like feeling over your head to make you grow.

What am I looking forward to this summer? My recent visit with Dawn, Sis, and Nikkipolani were the highlight for me. I told Nikki that I wanted to go back to Texas for a week and help Dawn refurbish her atelier/studio. I love projects like that.

The atelier is the building in the top left of this photo.

Last week I completed my coursework at The Art Institute of California-Orange County.  The nice thing about finishing classes is all the scrumptious dinners one has in celebration. My family took me to a fine place for prime rib which I love and Nikki took me to Buca’s for some marvelous calamari. Monday night we had some friends over for dinner in the garden which only prolonged the enjoyment of the season.

The cooler weather arrived just in time.  It is so pleasant to enjoy a good meal with friends and in the loveliness of the evening in the garden it is all the better. The cats wanted to join us and took turns being cute at the window, trying to pull the curtains back and slide the glass door open. They were somewhat consoled when our guests oohed and awed over them after dinner.

This morning I heard the voices of two men talking and laughing in my back yard. Somewhat curious I peered through the studio window and caught sight of two cable men trying to find a way through the rose beds to the telephone pole in the back corner. After I called out hello they explained they needed to get to the pole. I suggested they take the path behind the trees along the fence as I didn’t want them to get scratched up going through the roses. “Too late!” they laughed. I must say they were good humored about it.  This winter Nikki and I will be moving roses. Cable men aren’t the only ones who can’t find a way through the maze.

Now that I am out of school and arranging business affairs, I know that I shall be busy in a different way but am hoping I might be able to blog again. I miss you all. Perhaps I will be able to be a regular again if only once a week.

Lately I have been volunteering at a video company just to get some hands on experience. One of the guys there recommended some classes at the college in my town.

So….. I went to the “Smart Start” Saturday event to check out the courses.

The lines were long, the day was hot, but everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Believe it or not they have more video courses than the specialized school I have been attending and the professors my friend highly recommended. Among the new courses offered this fall is a digital photography course that would have been interesting and a documentary film class and an editing class.

Everything is already chock full this time around however so I will have to wait a term if I decide to go to school there.

There are many things I enjoy about summer. The longer days tend to give me more energy. I like to sit out at night and look at the stars and not feel cold. Also in summer, the menu changes somewhat. More salads and things like corn on the cob.

For the 4th, since Nikki was cooking ribs, I decided to take the corn off the cob (easier to fit on the plate). Just to make sure there would be enough for the  seven of us who gathered for dinner I prepared 24 cobs. I was surprised at how much it made but happy to have left overs. Yum.

Do you have  a favorite summertime food?

Looking forward to writing an entry very soon and visiting you all. I have been blue about not being able to blog this quarter especially because I miss my blogging friends. The cats have put in a request to be featured in an upcoming entry so I will take that into account at some point. See you soon!