creative energy

Winter Newsletter 2025

12.31.2025 by Barbara Grant //

Dear family and friends,

Christmas Eve morning I awoke from one of those easy-to-analyze dreams about frantically running around unprepared for a big deadline.

What I recall is entering a University auditorium where I am one of the students cueing up to give our presentations at a podium with our instructor presiding. I am naked except for a chintzy towel wrapped around my torso. I hold my notes in one hand and the ends of the towel in the other. The notes are inscribed on a Tibetan prayer flag in a language I don’t know.

The first time I step up toward our instructor I am gently sent to the back of the line. There I notice students mulling around in disorder. One in particular, a smartly dressed young lady, is focused on her notes, practicing her delivery. “I’m doomed”, I gasp and run to the lady’s room.

Turns out to be a laundry room. I grab someone’s oversized t-shirt, trading it for the skimpy towel and venture back out to conquer my challenge! But I still can’t read my notes. Grasping my skull I plead, “Can’t you even remember the GIST of what you wanted to say?!!” As I approached the stage for a 2nd time, vague thoughts begin to form as I think maybe I can wing it…and then I woke up.

If you guessed that this message to me is that I am not meeting deadlines lately, this is so true.

But our family is getting by, our twin dogs are hanging in there (Roxy & Ringo will be 11 years old next month!), and somehow we do manage to accomplish a few important things.

christmas greetings from Barb, Bob, Roxy & Ringo

First and foremost, Grant’s View by Paul Turelli is now out in hardback. I’m really proud of this. It’s our first hardback cover attempted, and I learned a lot. Plus, we were able to get KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) to allow Martin Balow’s handwriting to be included in his drawing of Sgt. Robert Grant (something they resisted on the paperback version).

Bob ordered Hardback copies for each of the natural descendants as a family keepsake. The book is written by Paul featuring Sergeant Robert Grant (KIA 1944) as the narrator. Bob feels his presence. So he penned a personal inscription on the front page of each of their copies as if it was from their Grantfather & Great-Grantfather ‘from beyond’.

Because our good friend, Jim Vondrak, did some genealogy research we have been able to connect with Martin Balow’s granddaughter! What a thrill to actually connect with Michelle Crosby and to realize the excitement was mutual. She sent more of his awesome drawings of the men in his unit including this one of Bob’s father. We hope to arrange a time to get together.

This amazing story, which is portrayed in my two previous newsletters, just keeps on giving…

book by Paul Turelli entitled Apple Blossom Lane

I’ve enjoyed creating other book covers for Paul Turelli. One of my favorites to work on and to read is entitled Apple Blossom Lane. I was able to relate to this story about a neighborhood gang of children growing up together… it helped me remember friends and fun but also to recount some sad memories.

After the holidays I will finish up the cover for Paul’s waiting manuscript entitled Stephanie, Sky and the Moon, which is the conclusion of his “Dreams” series. This latest project along with preparing for the holidays is probably what fed into my dream about deadlines, but Paul is patient and always says, “No rush…”

All of Paul’s publications can be found on his website: https://paulturelli.com/

On three separate occasions during this last year, I happened to be with a group of family or friends when the subject of ZINES came up. In each case there was curiosity about my passion for making zines and what they are. My response: “Give me a piece of paper, and I’ll show you in 30 seconds!

People love this hands-on craft to communicate an idea, describe an event or tell a story. And kids love to tell their own stories! I hope to find time to make many more zines to add to my collection, to carry in my purse and share. I do sell them in my on-line shop for a few dollars, but if you tell me you want one I will send it to you free – I can’t stop myself from sharing the fun!

And wait, here’s a link to “How to Make a Zine: A Kid-Friendly DIY Guide” by Celia C. Pérez: https://www.readbrightly.com/how-to-make-zine/

Saturday mornings are reserved for our local Urban Sketchers group, drawing with other artists at various locations around the Milwaukee area. Here we are at the historic downtown Pfister Hotel recently.

group of artist holding up sketches of Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel

And… on Sunday afternoons I’m able to connect via zoom with my Chicago collegeiate friends who gather religiously to make art together and helped to form the Oddball Art Labs: a non-profit artist based organization created to advance the presence of the arts in the Fox Valley and greater Chicagoland area (https://www.oddballartlabs.org/)

Sending love and peace ~ ~ ~ Barbara & Bob Grant

P.S. My phone updated with a free version of Gemini AI. For fun, I asked it to inspire me with a thoughtful wish for the New Year. It focused on “Quiet Growth” 😉 I sign off on this positive note from technology as we head into 2026:

“May you have the courage to be a beginner in something that makes your heart beat faster, and the grace to be kind to yourself on the days when progress feels invisible.”

🙏

The shape of a tree

11.14.2022 by Barbara Grant //

It has been a beautiful autumn in the Midwest. I didn’t want to miss out on any of it as we drove to spend a few days with family in North Carolina, but our timing was right; we travelled through hills and mountains of delightful color along the way.

photo of back of truck driving on highway in ‎⁨Pisgah National Forest⁩, ⁨Clyde⁩, ⁨Tennessee Valley⁩, ⁨United States⁩ — ‎⁨Pisgah National Forest⁩, ⁨Clyde⁩, ⁨Tennessee Valley⁩, ⁨United States⁩

Many of my friends say this is their favorite time of year. My mother loved the fall colors but what followed – the gray and brown shades of November – began her descent into an annual bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder. *

I feel fortunate that I don’t mind winter in Wisconsin. To me it is a productive time to hunker down in my studio without the distractions of pleasant weather and lots of fun things to do outside. You just have to put on more clothing! Since I’m outside to walk my dogs daily, I have an ample collection of coats, hats, gloves, scarves and boots. While Roxy & Ringo sniff and explore, I am able to observe the changes in our neighborhood.

This time of year what I really enjoy are the shapes of trees. The leaves have dropped to reveal the contours of their branches and crowns. It makes me want to photograph them! Draw them! Draw them with crows and vultures…or abandoned nests of twigs. They light up my imagination with ideas. Mostly I just admire them for their beauty.

photo of tall tree with no leaves — Elm tree at ‎⁨Lynden Sculpture Garden⁩, ⁨River Hills⁩, ⁨Wisconsin⁩

I remember standing in the middle of my childhood living room practicing the memorization of the poem I was to recite in front of my class the next day! Recently I reminded my sister of this and she was able to proudly spout the whole thing from memory:

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

(Poetry Foundation.org)

photo of dogs looking out the back of the Subaru — Ringo & Roxy looking out the back of the Subaru

*(Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Newsletter: Wrapping Up a Fun Summer

08.19.2022 by Barbara Grant //

I advertise that these newsletters are sent with the change of the seasons, but oops, we missed Spring! Along with a beautiful bouquet of 🌷🌷tulips🌷🌷 Bob gave me Covid for Mothers Day. He was back on his feet quicker than I thanks to a VA infusion, but all is well. I share this here in case anyone reading this wonders, like I did, about lingering symptoms. When I recently had my routine physical, my doctor assured me I was on track to getting back to normal; she told me that some bounce back in a couple weeks, but for others it can take up to six months. So if you’re one of those, hang in there ~ ~ ~

Though I’ve been slowed down, I have continued to be productive in between naps on the couch:

I participated with The Oddball Artists in the Prairie Art Center exhibit in February. Since the pieces were quite small I was able to contribute 5 paintings and meet the deadline with a little help from my friends. One of the guys in our group is a framer; he gives us tiny frames he constructs from scraps that the frame shop can’t use. Bruce creates perfectly square miters. I love that he wants to save this splendid framing from the dumpster. I’m able to pass this recycled savings on to my collectors!

back of painting — Rusty Lasso at His Peak

Above is one of my favorites included in the exhibit, entitled Rusty Lasso at His Peak. The inspiration came from a twisted piece of rusty wire found while on a walk with Roxy & Ringo. I’m showing the back side also, because it makes me smile. Thankfully a friend with a similar sense of humor noticed it for sale on my Etsy shop and scooped it up. It makes Karen laugh, and this brings me joy!

painting of sunrise at end of middle of road

In contrast, I finished a larger oil painting (30″ x 40″) for a friend referencing a photo she took alongside a country road. The weird thing is she didn’t realize till later that she’d caught some geese flying through the sky! Her boyfriend gave it the title, Last Resort Sunrise. Long story . . .

back spine and front cover of book Visions of Recurrence by Paul Turelli

I created my fourth book cover for Colorado author & artist Paul Turelli. Visions of Recurrence became available this spring. Fourth in the Series of Dreams: Danny and Jennifer are now in mid-life and the story shifts to their teenage twins, Julian and Stephanie. James, their dear friend, mentor, shaman and spiritual guide, brings the family to a new realization about destiny and choice. The following link provides more information if you are interested in exploring this series: Visions of Recurrence on Amazon.com

I’ve started some sketches for my next commission of “Kids Climbing a Tree.” Here’s one scribbled while waiting in the doctor’s office. It’s on my mind… Looking forward to this project! 🙃🍃🍎🍂😉🍁

What is left of my “Money Bags” collection is currently on display in my daughter’s awesome shop in Geneva, Illinois. Bell Jar Vintage is the perfect venue for these quilted artworks. Thank you, Dori! 🥰

Display of Money Bags in antique shop — **Bell Jar Vintage**

My previous blog is entitled: The Reverence of Poise. It’s about slowing down, not rushing, having composure. I’ve illustrated it with a watercolor painting entitled “Pondering Tea”. This little painting is part of a project I’ve been doing recently. I’ve been painting on watercolor card stock as warm-up exercises; a way to test various color combinations, designs and motifs. They have matching envelopes, so if they turn out nice, I send them to family and friends or add them to my Etsy shop. I’ve been having lots of fun with these simple, functional creations.

Maybe that is the key – they are functional; they can be a vehicle of communication, a way to connect with people. Using a pen or pencil, loosening up stiff knuckles to write a little note, looking up a street address, purchasing a stamp, and hey! a chance to use those free address labels that come in the mail 🙂 And on the other end…somebody gets a surprise in their mailbox!!! Calming down now to ponder another cup of tea:

watercolor painting of teacup — “Pondering Tea”

Bob continues to enjoy his contract photography work for a rural Insurance Company. He’s often surprised at what he’ll stumble upon, such as a traveling Farrier using her rasp file to trim this mare’s hooves, or a deer head in a basketball hoop. Think Milwaukee bucks slogan FEAR THE DEER!

But equally interesting are these visitors that have graced our backyard this year. A neighborhood coyote. A deer apparently struck by a car. Right rear leg is broken. A friendly deer allowing Bob to approach within 4 feet of her.

A Blue Heron we’ve nicknamed Alex has visited our yard on multiple days recently. He has taken a fancy to our lawn ornament, a blue heron that moves with breezes. Daring to come inside the fence, he may be getting frisky. Alex came back another day stalking for dinner. This is his “Catch-of-the-day.

These creatures may appear to be lounging under the kitchen table, but let me assure you their senses are perked up and on the look-out for any wildlife lurking in the back yard!

Dang, they were both looking right at me but – you know… squirrel! 🙄

p.s. Can’t end a newsletter without adding the most meaningful book I’ve read recently. That would be a gift from my friend Toodie. We are both big fans of The OverStory by Richard Powers. His latest novel is Bewilderment. So good.

The shape of a tree

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