We will have our Salon on Sunday -- sorry have not sent the reminder Thursday, but it was overshadowed by turkey.

Pickup (chop)Sticks Laurie Fox Pessemier acrylic/canvas 11 x 14" 27 x 35cm 425.00

I woke up Friday morning full of plans, ideas… we spent a lovely Thanksgiving dinner the night before with my sister’s immediate family (on zoom), and a local friend (in person, socially distanced). I didn’t sleep well, and the punch line from an ancient Alka-Seltzer ad rang in my ears: “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” In any case, I didn’t MIND not sleeping, as I had so much fun the night before.

Ivory Bead Blair Pessemier acrylic/canvas 12 x 16" 30 x 40cm 425.00

Sleep has eluded me more often than usual over the past few months. It started out as haunting insomnia in March, when Italy led the world in Covid deaths, but as time went on I started using the time, lying in the dark, not sleeping, to think things over. Now, I get in bed early, to have an hour of reflection before rest.

Camel from la Marsa 11 x 14" 425

One of the ideas that I came up with during my nocturnal alert is the Advent calendar you are seeing here: a picture of a door, which one swipes open (on Instagram), and a Christmas present behind it. The door is mostly real (a photo) and the gift is painted. Of course you can buy the painted gift, sometimes better than getting that real camel that you have to feed and walk. I have thought up other art ideas, like painting the twelve days of Christmas – you saw some of them last week. We’re percolating some bronze projects as well: door handles, for one. And I am going to get one of those heat-light gas lamps like on bar terraces, so I can paint outside at night (and we can eat beneath it, too).

Pasha Hat - Fur and Feather Laurie Fox Pessemier acrylic/paper 17 x 25" 41 x 63cm 325.00

Despite the positive aspects of spending time at home, I still long for a month to live in the Souk in Tangier; a trip on the Silk Road; six weeks in Senegal, Mali, Nigeria. It is very hard to live as internally as we are now. It may turn out that two days in Viterbo, or a week in Naples will be enough (I doubt it). But there are months to go before we can really travel again.

Napoleon Stampbox Blair Pessemier acrylic/paper 9.5 x 12" 24 x 30cm 425.00

Meanwhile, Blair and I are walking in the Apennine woods near our house, every other day. It started because I want to be able to travel in a “rough” style where we walk a lot, and don’t become too fixed on comfort. Meanwhile, I feel greatly invigorated, and it occurs to me, if we keep strong we could potentially live a very long time. I am even thinking of getting a bicycle.

Lamp Laurie Fox Pessemier acrylic/canvas 17 x 25" 41 x 63cm 325.00

It’s hard to be vigilant about the virus right now. Anne Frank made it to nearly the end of the war when tragedy struck. I must keep wearing my mask on my nose, with my eye on the future.