Hathaway excursion come to a close. Headed back to Texas

It was wonderful being able to spend some time in Western New York after delivering the sculpture to Vermont. Traveling with someone who never has seen this part of the country offered me the opportunity to show her things like Niagara Falls and Historical North Tonawanda — home of the carousel. We went to the carousel museum while here. In fact, I grew up in the Hershel home on Christiana street. I wish I could have spent a bit more time doing touristy things, but I did get to spend time with family and living so far from them that is always good.

now it is back to Texas and the studio. I have listened to some reports on the Internet about the recovery from Hurricane Ike. Many are still trying to recover and many in my immediate neighborhood still do not have electricity after 19 days. My Southern home will never look the same with the devastation in our Beloved Galveston. I have been so removed from it both physically and emotionally.

On to the commissions in the studio and writing a book with my husband on digital techniques used in the traditional sculpting studio. A subject that I have been writing on quite a bit lately. The publisher is excited as are we. This is a subject that has not been written about.

Trip back to Buffalo- all my responsibilities are over, I can rest!

We are finished with all of the having to be someplace at sometime! It is great to relax.  Yesterday was the trip back to Buffalo.  We left Vermont early but spent some time stopping, eating a leisurely breakfast at a place called Bees Knees in Morrisville, Vermont.  This little girl was there.  I thought she might be an artist and hope that she finds my email and keeps in touch.  Wonderful personality!  I love her pose.  It inspires me to paint or sketch or do something of her. 

Stopped at a stand to get mac apples. I love them!  It was on the honor system and I just had to show how this worked.  Impressive!

We Took a different ferry out of Vermont to NY.  I made sure I got some good shots of the trees before leaving Vermont.  My favorite is the PUMPKINS AHEAD photograph. 

Rain in the Adirondack mountains is not fun to drive through, could not enjoy the ride out as much as I did going up.   I did stop and get a picture of the Gloria, bridgette, bear proof garbage cans. This one had instructions.  It was a long rainy ride back to Buffalo and we did not arrive until about 8:30.  But as soon as I came back into Buffalo I stopped to eat one of my favorite foods from home roast beef on kimmelweck rolls.  YUMMMM. 

A spirit filled day- honoring loved ones

Today was an incredible day. Spirit filled- with the honoring of Jenna, and Dick and Charlotte.
It started with a long walk in the mountains of Vermont.

Jenna's parents met me in Vermont to pick up Jenna. Jenna was an incredible part of the unveiling of the Dick Hathaway memorial as she was "the angel that came from Texas with Dick."
I loved spending time with Jenna's mom. I am glad that we have our book project going as I can keep in touch with her and still have a connection.

The sculpture of Dick Hathaway was unveiled tonight. David, Dick's son did the unveiling and posed with his dad on the bench. My client was actually the people of Vermont. Those who knew and loved Dick and who helped to raise money to cast the sculpture and bring Dick home. One of the local stations covered the event and I hope to be able to provide the video of this event on the blog at a later date. Several of Dick's friends shared memories of the man, and then the unveiling. I waited to see the faces of those in the audience. The emotion would reveal if I had captured the essence of this incredible man. Tears where shed and the comments were all favorable. Not many people posed with Dick or even sat with him. One person mentioned, "I'll come back when no one is around to spend some time with Dick." I think it will be that way for many and I look forward to sharing the thoughts and experiences of many on the Dick Hathaway blog.
Ben Scotch put a magazine next to Dick stating that this would now be a new tradition. Leave a book for the next person to find. Dick would have liked that.

When the crowed had cleared three young students came up to the sculpture and commented on how incredible it was. "Who did this?" they asked, then next question was one that promoted me to create the sculpture, "who was the man, why did you make it." This gave me the opportunity to tell of the works of Dick Hathaway and what a wonderful man he was, and how we could all be a little more like Dick Hathaway. I know those students will think about that each time that they go by, they may even tell their friends. That is exactly the goal that I wanted to achieve. the memory lives on.

Installation of a sculpture

After eating a hardy breakfast at Betsy's B & B I headed off to meet the maintenance crew of Vermont College to install Dick Hathaway. It went so easily. The guys had reinforced the bench, and did a great job. They had plenty of muscle to unload him and when placed on the bench his foot touched the ground. there can sometimes be shrinkage with bronze and I feared his foot would not touch. The satchel was placed next to him, holes drilled to secure him and he was actually welded onto the bench. when the gallery curator came she wept. That is the emotional reaction that I long for. It is a younger Dick Hathaway, after placing him the maintenance crew just stood on a looked.

They also took the plywood out of my car. This helped to secure Dick in the back of the SUV, it was also used to secure my windows during the hurricane. It is a reminder of what a long two weeks this has been.

Once the sculpture was placed I could not help but have a few shots of the two of us on the bench. I can't wait to see others interact with the sculpture, and when you do, PLEASE SEND PICTURES. When the sculpture was installed, I covered him with the sheet that I sewed by generator in Houston after the storm. There he sits, a black ghosts awaiting the unveiling tomorrow evening. I can't wait.

This evening I sit in yet another bed in another home, the home of the curator. I guess until now I was working on adrenaline. I feel quite tired now, but relieved! I hear I am hiking in the woods in the morning. I hope I can get up.

When it was all done I jumped for joy!

Don't sleep in the clothes that you cook in!

I failed to mention the auction items from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Pennsylvania auction item is a small coffee cup. Ohio is a corkscrew from another winery, no we are not winos we just could not find anything at the last minute. I'll have to post pictures of the coffee cup later.

New York's auction is... I believe Jam, but I'll have to look and post that photograph later.

UPDATE
It took much longer to get to Vermont than we thought. we had estimated 7 hours but the ferry from NY to Vermont runs on the hour and we missed it. Then it took an hour on the ferry before arriving in Burlington and another 30 minutes to Montpelier. Dick at this moment is home in his green mountain state.

Prior to getting to Vermont we drove through the Adirondack mountains. I learned so much like, "never sleep in the clothes that you cook in." It is a black bear thing. Gloria and I tried to dump the trash from our cars but could not open the trash cans. It dawned on me that they are bear proof, apparently they are also Gloria and Bridgette Proof. If there was a hidden camera taking pictures I am sure the rangers would have a good laugh at the humans. Cell phones don't work in those mountains either. God forbid something should happen to the car, we have food for those black bears and it also occur ed to me that we could not get to the spare tire for the weight of Dick Hathaway. No more worries about that, we are here now!

The "send help" poster was on the back of a map of the Adirondack mountains.

Tomorrow we install the sculpture. This is what I have worked so hard for the last two years. Can't wait.

Leaves were beautiful in the Adirondack mountains. I think they will even be better by Friday when we leave. We got in so late that we had to stay at Betsy's B. and B.' s in Montpelier for the night.

More later

In NY, on to Vermont!

Nothing special about traveling through Ohio. I'm glad to be in Buffalo, NY. It is my home town and the resting spot is my sisters house before we go on to Vermont. I'm looking forward to the last leg of drive to Vermont. It will be during the day and hopefully a little more leisurely. I'll post the Dick Hathaway state auction pieces in the next day or so. Just 7 or 8 hours of driving, but still so tired.

An update about taking a life-size bronze sculpture through the USA

We are just outside of Columbus Ohio, on our way to bring Dick Hathaway to Vermont and Jenna to her mom. Stopped in Memphis the night before last night and was so glad that I had a friend that lived there so we could get some much needed rest—thanks Sunny. Went through Tennessee and before leaving the state picked up another auction item for the Dick Hathaway auction. We found it at a winery. Great place to stop and the blackberry wine was yum. I'll post the name of this winery later, as it is buried in the SUV, along with the wine glasses I bought for myself. Here we picked up a bottle of Tennessee whiskey jelly. The two ladies at the winery posed with Dick. Driving through Tennessee was uneventful but pretty. The Tennessee auction item is a pack of playing cards, with of course the name of the state. One of the criteria for these auction items. Dick and I took a time out from the trip to play a hand or two. A wonderful person at this Holiday Inn express introduced us to the security guard who watched the SUV last night. Thanks Holiday Inn. We are off for a hot meal. I am surprised at how excited I am about toast. Remember we were out of electricity for a while. Through Ohio and next stop is Western New York. More updates later.


If you want to read about the entire process of sculpting Richard Hathaway and watch some of the videos please see http://www.dickhathaway.blogspot.com

Headead toward memphis with sculptures- funny stories and pictures.

We made it to Memphis. 10 + drive. Couldn't leave Houston until Dick and Jenna were completely secrue. Which meant not getting on the road until 3:00. It was a long day, but my traveling companion is great and helps keep me awake and alert. Dick fit into the SUV, which I was thankful for. jenna is kind of tucked into his lap area feet up in the air. That is the way Jenna would travel anyway. I think I can hear here giggling in the back, under the covers.

We counted 63 electric trucks coming in on 59 as we were headed out. I am thankful for them as I was the electric company from Tampa that was at our home/studio the day before I left. Thank you to all of the states that have helped Houston/Galveston area. 59 is one of those roads that you have to go through a lot of little towns. We could not go highway because, well frankly we were not sure what the towns or roads would be like east of Houston, so north it was. Just outside of a small town a police car stopped me to "remind me to do the speed limit" my traveling companion, Gloria said, "they are going to think we have a dead body back there." The officer heard her and glanced back and then jumped. She was so intrigued with the sculpture and taking pictures of it that "remind" us was all that she did. I took a picture of the office, but unfortunately it did not come out. I think I was nervouse about the possibliby of getting a ticket. I did not, Thank you Dick!

Our route was apparently an evacuation route and it felt appropriate to get a picture of the SUV under one of the signs. The other pictures shows Dick and the suveniers that we bought for him. In Texas he purchased a thimble, and in ARkansas, Arkansas to be exact, birthplace of Clinton. I wonder what Dick would think about that? In hope we bought a key chaing toothpick holder. Can you see these suveniers in the pictures? We are going to give them to the Dick Hathaway auction that is held regularly at Vermont College in hopes of raising money. I think DIck would like that.

More posts next time we get to
WI FI along the way.

Travel mercies!

Bridgette

We leave in two days!

It will take some time to get to Vermont with two stops on the way. My original traveling companion, besides Dick and Jenna was going to be my daughter, but she could not make it. Luckily I have found a friend to help keep me awake along the way. Went to the foundry today to check on last details and make sure they would have everything ready. I thought I should get a picture of the three of us together.

I know I look like I have the hurricane fog. Yes it is true. I can't tell you how stressful this last week has been. Went to the bank to get money for the trip. The entire roof was blown off of the bank. In the mall next door the entire side of the mall was gone. Had to stop to get more gas containers for the generator. I feel bad leaving my family in this situation but I am very glad to be leaving Houston and the stress of the post hurricane and survival mode.

Soon we will be in Vermont. Can't wait to see the changing of the leaves! Dick Hathaway is coming home, along with an angel!

More IKE

As normal as it feels sitting here in Scholotzsky's on the WI FI We must go back to survival.  Waiting in long lines at grocery stores for food for the house, and more long lines for the gas for the generator.  I'm also hoping to get something to chain up that generator with.  It is a hot commodity in this city right now.  Found ice on the way out and bought a 8 bags. Brought it back to the house and distributed it to neighbors.  Everyone has to help everyone else out.  Soon as I can escape again I'll post

Oh yes, FYI

Still working, picked up wax just before hurricane and have been working on it with a torch on the studio porch.  It must go to the foundry in the morning.  

And.... the Dick Hathaway sculpture made it along with JEnna.  No problems.  We will still try to leave on Saturday, if my SUV that I have rented with Budget, is still available. 

More of IKE

The next night , after the hurricane we had a rain storm.  The water had no place to go because there was a storm surge in galveston and though they are 60 miles away the water pushed up into our bayous, we are after all the bayou city.  Then when it rained, well the water had no place to go.  I sweated it as the water got closer and closer to our home.  Here is my husband and dog, Sam, and my street. Many neighbors already had some debris on their front lawns awaiting pick up.  That compounded the problem as it blocked the drainage ditches. 

We made it through the hurricane!- Pictures of IKE

Houston,Texas here. Don't know what the national news has shown. 

Report- minor damage on our home. Many, Many homes in our Houston area have trees tobbled on top of them. about 1/4 of the homes on our street have water damage as well.  Huge rainstorm after the hurricane brought on the flooding.  Here are some pictures.

We still don't have electricity, and are not expecting it any time soon.  City says 2-6 weeks. We do have a generator but can't use computers on it. Found a Schlotzsky's with electricity and WI FI.  Enjoying a hot meal, though I have to say that I have been cooking, using up what is in the freezer.  

Here I am trying to pull the tree limbs off of the pond and searching for Tilly my turtle.  When I found her I was elated. Sam, my black lab was looking over my shoulder giving the camera the evil eye. 

1:20 Update on Ike from Houston

Looks like a beautiful day in Houston. Kids are playing in the yard next door. If it were not for the hectic pace at the stores, and the news on the TV I would not think there was a storm.

My family boarded up the doors and windows the best they could. Don't have enough wood for all of the windows. Sure wish I had some on the french doors in the back. Decided not to board up the studio this time. Husband is still out looking for things. I guess you get this feeling like you can't be over prepared and so you just keep doing it.

I found more gas for the generator and I am glad to see that the stations around the house still have gas. This is another great argument for not making inbound lanes out going lanes. I do know that this gas will be useless if the power goes out, and that will be just when everyone needs it.

Those who decided to wait it out are all ready calling for rescue, and the hurricane has not hit. Go figure. I also heard their is a freighter in the gulf that is stranded.

In all I still made a trip to the foundry to get the wax for the surprise Christmas gift that my client is having me make. It will be necessary for me to have those waxes worked on before I leave next Saturday in order to make our deadline.

Hurricane Ike is on his way- my update

For my clients checking in from around the United States and Beyond.
Looking at the news this morning at 8:00 am I am surprised to see some of Galveston already receiving storm surge and streets are underwater. For those who know Galveston the Strand has a foot of water. The Hurricane is pretty far away and land fall will not be until 1-3 a.m. that is more than 12 hours away. So it is surprising everyone that surge is coming in already. Everyone says this will be a storm that most have not seen in their life time.

Our studio is about at the tip of the north end of the star, the foundry is not too far from there. But as you can see the bay comes quite a bit inland. All areas south of that outer loop have been evacuated, and they have been evacuated to Austin or dallas and not to Houston. Red cross said they sent them to a safe place. That makes me a little uncomfortable.

My question is... if the bay is backing up where does Houston's rainwater go? No one has said anything about that. I feel Houston will see flooding like it has not in a while. WE are a city of Bayous. I'm so glad I bought flood insurance.

The Hurricane track as of this morning is to go right up the orange line or the I45 freeway. That is the one that goes through the star and just past our home/studio about 6 miles east of us. I think we are in for a heck of a night, and maybe a week.

They told us we should expect to be out of electricity for 2 weeks. Hmmmm I'm expected to pull out of here next saturday to bring Dick and Jenna to Vermont. I know upon my return I will be exhausted. Not just from the trip but from this week.

Saws are buzzing in the neighborhood and windows are being boarded up across the street. I best go and get more gas for the generator, though our van hold quite a bit and we did buy a cyphon. I'll post if and when I can, I think we are moving the computers.

My prayers go out to those south of us who are not sure if they will have a home in the morning.

Update on Hurricane and our preperations.

It is 10:47 at night. Just received an update from the meteorologists and the mayor of Houston. One gets a little nervous when the mayor asks everyone to pray.

Our plans are to wake up early and get more gas for the generator. Only a few highways are bogged down, and I am so glad that I am not in that traffic jam. I remember what happened a few years ago. I guess officials have as well as they are taking that into consideration. They are not taking inbound roads and making them outbound roads. This I am glad for as we will need supplies to come to Houston and the surrounding area.

Pictures show almost all of Galveston predicted to be underwater. The biggest concern for this storm is the storm surge. I heard today that if these low areas did not evacuate 1.5 million would die. I can't believe some are staying.

We wander around with that strange numbness wondering what we should do, is there something else to prepare? Our saving grace is that it is not a cat 5, and it is moving fast. 100 mile an hour winds make us think about moving all of the equipment off of the top floor and storing it downstairs. A lot of work, but it may be our morning job. Have not boarded up windows, and may do that in the morning as well. Our large containers are on the back porch and will be filled with water. The worse part will be the heat and no AC. I was in this house during Alicia in 1983. IT came right over our house. I was out of electricity for a week, but I had a house.

The best thing that could happen to us is if the hurricane moved to the east. Right now we are on what they call "the dirty side." The best for us is always the worst for someone else.

I'll update what I can. Pray for Houston.

A few more photographs of the sculptures

It is evening. We have done what we could do to prepare for the storm. I thought I would try to get more work done before we lose electricity. Here are a few more pictures from the foundry today. Some are at different stages of patination.


If you notice Miguel is tickling the bottom of Jenna's foot with a paintbrush.

Happy birthday Jenna!

Turns out that September 12 is Jenna's birthday. I am so glad the bronze is finished on her birthday. here is a picture of the final piece. Also , as they are putting the patina on the piece they will squirt the bronze down. The wet metal gives you the idea of what the piece will look like with its final polish on it. I thought it was so funny to see Miguel squirt Jenna's head. I thought I could hear her laugh and at one point I am sure those legs were kicking!

The Hathaway sculpture also was worked on. After sandblasting the sculpture, we worked on the patina. I asked the foundry man to darken Dick's glasses. I am so glad that these two are done. Now we must pray that they will be o.k. during the high winds of Hurricane Ike.

YIKES IKE!

Preparations underway for this storm. I'm still headed to the foundry at noon to patina both Dick and Jenna. Then it is back home to get gas for the generator and extra water, plus pick up the yard for the 60-100 mile an hour winds. I don't like not having electricity but hopefully it won't be for long. I see the newscasters being cautious in what they say. I wonder if it is because of the disaster of evacuation that happened a few years back. We are staying put, and staying off of the freeways for those who have mandatory evacuation.

GO DEEP TILLY!
I worry that a tree will fall in the pond or worse yet electric lines that are over the pond. Breath and trust God!

Tilly Tales- A pond milestone " I bring food"

Today a milestone event happened at the studio pond. Tilly's baby who has been around for about a year now, surviving long after the many other baby turtles did not, has hit a growth mark! Yes it is true a developmental wonder. He/she has learned that I bring food! Poking his/her little head amongst the floating plants he/she watched as the fish started eating their flake food and momma Tilly swam to eat her floating pellets. He/she gobbled one up and I swore you could hear him/her say, "yum." As he/she paddled frantically to the next one only to have the big old fan tail gold fish eat it up. I tried to come to the edge of the pond and point out more, but that was a bit much for him/her. Away he/she swam diving under the water lettuce. I ran to the studio to get more "turtle" food skipping a step in glee and searching quickly for my camera to take a picture and put it in the baby turtle book that I am now just considering. I tried to throw the food in between the floating plants where the little head stood watching me. and instead I plopped one right on his/her head. I could never ever do that intentionally, but I did laugh as it bounced. This antic only made him/her disappear. When trying again my husband stated, "reinforce the behaviour." Which made me think my husband is reading too many psychology books of late. It is a joyous day at the pond. I bring food!

OUCH! oh the pain.

I have over time had difficulty with my hands as I sculpt. Long days of sculpting or mold making can cause considerable pain. That is why I love my apprentices! My husband and I went to listen to some jazz and we met a physical therapist who sat with our group. She kindly worked on my hand and arm. Maybe it was the wine, or the Advil, but most likely it was her massage. IT could have even been that I danced my feet off. Whatever, it felt better when I got home, I iced it and the next day I vowed I would wear the brace all day while I work, but first created a sleeve of a large latex glove over the hand/arm.

I had to cut the fingers our of it. It is amazing how much the tactile sensation I long for of the materials that I use that help me to complete my job. Now I am thinking about learning to tape up my hand like a sports player.

Rest... that is what everyone says. But my other job is a writer. So fingers are still going. It hurts to hit the space bar. And my favorite thing to do for relaxation is gardening- more fingers.

I have my approval on the surprise Christmas Gift!

Portrait sculpture is a great gift to give someone that has everything. That is what this lovely wife said as she approved the sculpture of her husband on Saturday. I'm pleased to have my approval. A few corrections to details and now it is on to the mold and metal for this sculpture. We must be done for the Christmas party.

Back and forth to the foundry, Here are some latest pictures. Dick is almost done, and Jenna is on her way.

Received Approval

I have been working hard on the surprise sculpture, night and day to get it done in time to get to the foundry and be out by Christmas. I received my approval today. What a weight off of my shoulders. On to the mold making process.

Busy weekend ahead with final approval of metal on Dick and Jenna, and mold making plus getting things ready for the trip to bring Jenna and Dick home. I could use an apprentice here this weekend, but alas Caroline only come in on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.