Solo in the Desert

March 17, 2011 by 14 Comments
Spiny Saguaro

Spiny Saguaro © 2011 Bo Mackison

It seems I wasn’t paying close enough attention, and I’ve plunged into a sticky situation. Figuratively. It’s not that I’ve literally run into the sharp spines on this giant cactus. No, but today has been more of a challenge than I had hoped to deal with. I had family visitors for a few days, and I enjoyed showing them the local sights. Now they are back to the Midwest and I’m on my own again. So today I struggled with the “living solo” part of my Arizona plan.

I also learned a valuable lesson. When I was first on my own, in early February, I kept to a routine. I visited new places, went on lots of hikes, took photographs and processed them, and spent time reading, journaling, and exercising. It worked well for me, but I’m having difficulty getting back to my routine.

I know all the proper things to do when unexpected “blues” show up. Deep breathing, relaxation exercises, lots of distractions – reading, writing, listening to music. But I’m still struggling.

What I would really like is a big dose of chocolate, but unfortunately there isn’t any in the casita. Maybe tonight is a good night to get some extra sleep. The sun will be up bright and early tomorrow – and I’ll be up early, too. Ready to say hello to a new day.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is living in Tucson for two months, exhibiting her photography in art shows, taking photographs, and blogging about photography, art fairs, and living life “solo.”

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The Beginning: Solo in Tucson

February 3, 2011 by 24 Comments
Frozen in Frozen Custard Land

Frozen © 2011 Bo Mackison

I am a woman of a certain age, raised in a certain time and of a certain generation.

And like so many woman my age, I have seldom been on my own. On those few occasions when I did travel alone, I was only away from my home and husband for a few days at a time. I have never lived on my own, except for the six months between my college graduation and my marriage. And even then, I had a roommate.

For the last couple of years, Sherpa and I have traveled to the Southwest for two weeks in the winter.  And truly, the sun sent a feeling of newness through my body and soul. I felt alive and awake in the Arizona sunshine. And I felt disheartened as I realized how I struggled through the many weeks of late winter in Wisconsin, year after year, unable to appreciate or fully take advantage of each new day.

After our return to the Midwest from our Southwest travels last February, I began having dreams starring little snowy birds as the main characters. These birds flew to Arizona each night, waving goodbye to me, while trilling, “Don’t worry. We’ll be back when the tulips start to bloom.” Gradually my dream changed – I became the snow bird in the dream. And I flew away to Arizona, sweetly singing, “See you in April!”

Week after week passed and I dreamed of living in Tucson, and I kept muttering to myself, “It’s JUST a dream! Get over it!”

This month, that all changes. Tomorrow Sherpa and I will drive to Tucson, where I have rented a very small condo for the next two months.  Sherpa has obligations in Wisconsin, and to boot, he rather likes winter. He will be returning to Wisconsin. And I have a couple of obligations in Arizona. First, Seeded Earth Studio and I will be exhibiting my photography in at least two, possibly three, art fairs in the Tucson area from early February to early April. And second, I want to prove to myself that I can live alone for those two months.

It’s a pretty big challenge for me. I am excited; I’m also a little worried.

I will be blogging about my experience, and I hope you will join me as I share the adventures of Bo as she establishes herself as an artist in Arizona, and as she learns the skills necessary to survive, contentedly, in a very small condo in a place that doesn’t see much winter!

Bo Goes Solo!  In Tucson!

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Bo Mackison is the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is living in Tucson for the next eight weeks, taking daily opportunities to visit deserts and desert gardens while practicing her photography, and blogging about learning to live on her own. Share Bo’s Excellent Adventure as she writes about living in Tucson, solo!

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A Good Companion

March 26, 2009 by 19 Comments
Jazz

A Cat Named Jazz

Jazz is my constant companion when I am home. She follows me from room to room, races with me as I go up or down the stairs, and sleeps at the foot of my bed. Several times each day, especially in the evening when I sit down to use the computer, she climbs into my lap and pats my cheek with her paw until I give her a little attention.

I like this portrait of her, with the natural light from a north window providing a gentle sidelight, and the black background letting her emerge from the darkness.  She looks a bit mysterious. And she is!

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Sarah’s Comfort

February 21, 2009 by 10 Comments
a wabi-sabi treasure

Wabi-Sabi Treasure © 2009

My great-grandmother, Sarah Margaret Smulling, was 18 years old when she made what she referred to in her diary as her  “comfort” and entered it in the county fair. She brought  home a blue ribbon. (still attached)

Antique Embroidered Comforter 1884 © 2009

Sarah was born in 1866; she sewed and painted this coverlet c. 1884. She lived on a farm in Clark County, Missouri, near the town of Kahoka, where her older sister and brother-in-law had a millinery shop. Her sister brought home the scraps from her shop, and shared them with her younger sisters. Most evenings, after the farm chores were done, Sarah and her sisters would all gather and each would sew or decorate their “comforts” or other pieced items.

Embroidered Fan © 2009

Since the girls were using scraps from a well-established and profitable shop, they had access to the finest of materials. Silks, damasks, moires, chintze, brocades, velvets, and fine cottons were all available for their use. Sarah did several appliques on this piece. The most elaborate was this orange fan.

Hand Painted Swan on 1884 Comforter © 2009

Sarah evidently had some talent in the arts. She was the only girl in the family who actually painted on her fabric. Most of the small paintings are of the more common varieties of flowers–daisies, violets, wild roses–but she also painted several butterflies and this swan.

The quilt is done in mostly browns, neutrals, and oranges. The one thing I find amazing is the border Sarah added to her handiwork–a five inch wide swath of bright pink chintz. The fabric has suffered from lots of use and improper storage. There are quite a few worn pieces of fabric in the delicate materials. Nonetheless, I consider this one of my family’s heirlooms. Definitely wabi-sabi.

The entire set of photographs, including more close-ups of different sections of the coverlet are in this flickr set.

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A Valentine Birthday

February 14, 2009 by 8 Comments
Mac on my Mac

Mac the Monkey ©2009 Bo Mackison

A quarter century ago my Valentine’s Day might not have been the most romantic, but it was the most memorable. My second child, and only son, arrived mid-afternoon, a nine and a half pound Valentine. One of the sweetest Valentines I know, he’s studying elementary education. Wants to show little kids, especially, little boys, that learning can be fun.

I am so proud.

Happy birthday, guy. Enjoy the game. (Hope Wisconsin beats Ohio State!)

Filed Under: Art of Healing, Photography Tagged With: ,
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