The Farm

Just after Christmas we left for East Tennessee for a visit with the family. It was pure farm country with a lot of beautiful, peaceful scenery.

Cheery Bathers

Katherine and Jordan just after a bath in Aunt Betty's Kohler Birthday Bath Tub.

Washi paper

My Mom's book, I was busy this Fall making most of this years Christmas presents.

A book for my Dad

I made this box and book for my Dad in a bookmaking class by taught by teacher extraordinaire Anne Elser.

Smoker's Journal 4/2008

I had this idea for a book about smoking. The Cincinnati Women's Art Club is having a juried exhibition, and I decided to make the book a reality.

[Disclosure: I do not mind people smoking, however I do have strong feelings about the consequences of smoking. This book is a piece I made while in Cincinnati, moved by seeing someone I love decline from C.O.P.D. He's on oxygen full time now and cannot walk from room to room without needing to sit and catch his breath. He is suffering from smoking for most of his adult life. I truly hope I have not offended anyone. if you think you may be offended, then please enjoy the photos but refrain from reading the copy.]


Here is the copy written within, in a single line through the entire book:


Smoker’s Journal

Today I littered. It wasn’t on purpose or overtly intentional though.

I’m a smoker and I enjoy it. I find it relaxing to smoke.

Occasionally I notice that non-smokers near me do not like the smoke. I don’t care, although sometimes I do feel indignant about it.

Second-hand smoke is inconsequential.

But, it has created huge inconveniences for me. I don’t like being isolated to a special room or to the outside to smoke.

A close friend gently confided to me that after a smoke break, I bring with me a lingering odor of cigarette smoke. I never noticed that before.

I did notice that I don’t enjoy eating so much. The flavors and smells of food do not seem as inviting as they once did.

It may have something to do with how nicotine constricts blood vessels, which leads to circulation issues.

Like foot problems and gum disease.

But smoking is so agreeable to me that I am willing to live with these issues. And I haven’t noticed any breathing issues either.

Toxins from smoke will smother lung tissue, leading to breathing problems.

Breathing is important.

Brown teeth and yellowed fingers and fingernails aren’t as important.

The expense of smoking is becoming more important to me though. Cigarettes are getting more and more expensive.

--$4.80 per pack, pack a day --$1752 per year, 15 years of smoking

If $4.80 was saved daily for 15 years, there would be $26,280 in savings, plus interest.

Truthfully, there are plenty of reasons to not smoke, but nicotine is a bigger reason to keep smoking.

It would be hard for me to quit.

But then again, it’s not all about me… is it?