Tomie Does the Parallel Bars

After Tomie left the hospital in late December, he went to physical therapy sessions for several weeks. One day I was sitting in the waiting area when Tomie came out of the physical therapy room and I asked him what he had done during the session. He replied, "Parallel bars."

I imagined Tomie on the parallel bars swinging and flying and hanging, and dismounting. Yet, this didn't seem to fit with his weakened physical condition.

He noticed my puzzled look and explained that he was walking with the support of parallel bars. That made more sense.

American Mink

Tomie's blog blogger saw a "new" animal in Tomie's yard peaking out of an opening in a stone wall. After looking on the internet, we think it was a young American mink. According to Wikipedia, "it is the most frequently farmed animal for its fur..."

I do need a new winter coat...

Freed From the Collar

Tomie just removed Bronte's Elizabethan collar. Bronte is very happy, and acting quite normally after eye surgery ten days ago.

He doesn't have a glass left eye, but he does have a prosthetic that gives the impression of a closed eyelid. When the hair around the left eye grows back, the missing eye should be even less noticeable.

Howling in New Hampshire

Several days ago, I was in the barn at 9:00 p.m. All of the windows and doors were shut. Yet, I could hear howling from outside. I went outside to try and determine what was happening. It was very dark and instead of getting too close to the extraordinary wailing and howling, I got onto Tomie's deck and called him on my cell phone. He came outside to listen to the noise. I assumed that loose dogs were fighting in Tomie's meadow.

The next day I walked in the meadow and came to a tree that had many small branches on the ground around the trunk of the tree. I looked up into the tree and saw several small branches that were bent downward.

After sharing my findings with Tomie, he came up with the most credible idea of what happened. He suggested that a dog chased a bear up the tree. There are two small corn fields in the meadow and at least one bear is a frequent visitor to the corn fields.

Mystery probably solved.

The Lost Art of Drawing

Tomie is sharing Michael Graves's Opinion piece, "Architecture and the Lost Art of Drawing," in THE NEW YORK TIMES with everyone.

www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/opinion/sunday/architecture-and-the-lost-art-of-drawing.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Remarkably Brave Bronte

One week ago, Bronte had his left eye removed at a hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts. It had a melanoma that caused glaucoma and blindness.

The eye was examined at the University of Wisconsin this week and the tumors were not malignant.

After the surgery, the ophthalmologist wrote in a report, "Bronte has been remarkably brave!!!"

Bronte is still wearing an Elizabethan collar, or plastic cone. It can be removed on Monday.

His right eye is being watched for signs of glaucoma. He is currently getting three different kinds of drops inserted into his right eye each day to prevent the same fate as the left eye. Bronte does not like having drops put into his eye.

Bookstore Autographing

Tomie will be autographing his books on Sunday, August 5, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at:
Morgan Hill Bookstore
253 Main Street
New London, NH 03257
603-526-5850
www.morganhillbookstore.com

Soup

Christine Marklin is not only known for her talents as a fruitcake judge. She is also known for her superior vegetable garden, and her excellent vegetable soup. But, Christine's soup cannot be bought online. It must be given to you. (By the way, thank you, Christine and Martin, for two large containers of delicious soup!)

However, you can order online GRANDMA'S fantastic chicken soup. This soup was first sent to Tomie as a get-well gift several years ago by Cecilia Yung, Art Director, and Marikka Tamura, Assistant Art Director, G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Since Tomie had a new year's craving for chicken soup, he told Grandma to send him some more. He finished her soup last night. Yum.

www.grandmaschickensoup.com

2011 Canadian Fruitcake Challenge: A Winner Is Crowned! (Drum Roll)

Anna is holding the winner of the 2011 Canadian Fruitcake Challenge: Jennette's almond-topped fruitcake (or Christmas cake as the Canadians call it). Jennette is from Vancouver as are all of the other competitors. The esteemed Marklin Family of Judges, left to right: Christine, Matthias, Anna, Simeon, Martin. Tomie monitored the judging in his kitchen.

Second place went to Ted and third place went to Roberta.

If you look at the photos on January 3, Ted's cake is the cake at the top of the top photo. Jennette's cake is in the bottom photo in the middle. Roberta's cake is in the bottom photo at the bottom.

The Canadians have decided that this was the last Fruitcake Challenge. So sad. Too much competition amongst friends?

The Marklin Family of Judges has moved on to the next competition. Are they judging haggis in Scotland? (Daughter Judith didn't understand the importance of this fruitcake competition and chose to stay in Germany to continue her studies.)

2011 Canadian Fruitcake Challenge: Five Judges Judging

2011 Canadian Fruitcake Challenge: Fruitcakes Are Ready to Be Judged

Happy New Year!

Nine fruitcakes were received this year for the 2011 Canadian Fruitcake Challenge. They weigh a "ton," and will be judged this afternoon by an esteemed family of judges.

Tomie continues to get stronger each day, and will monitor today's judging.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah

It's lightly snowing in New London, New Hampshire. All of the electric candles in the windows are lit as are the trees, in the house and the yard. The menu for dinner is planned, and preparations will begin soon. It's beautiful inside and outside, and there are many reasons to be joyous and give thanks.

First and foremost is Tomie's health. After a busy fall of bookstore autographings and personal appearances, he became quite sick in early December. He's recovering very well, and I expect he'll be much stronger and healthier in 2012.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!