Mitchell always celebrates our happenings and events —
As do I, never forgetting, finding ways even if money is tight!
Cards from the cats (how do they get out to shop?),
silly things that make each feel known to the other.
Homemade breakfasts, edible goodies, surprises on my computer board.

This year he celebrated mine by gifting me with a pen I’ve wanted for a couple of years,
and just won’t spend the dollars on… It is a thing of beauty!
Fire engine red like a shiny Christmas ball,
and engineered in a way that makes my architect’s heart sing.
I have some lovely red ink samples coming from Vanness to find the best red for it —
Diamine and Robert Oster and KWZ and Akkerman!

This birthday was a turning point for me.
You know how they talk about the big 5-0 or the big 6-0?
This is the birthday where I actually felt the shift in my time on the planet.
My mom can’t remember anything and so of course,
I didn’t hear from her on my birthday.
But also, the family members who might remember my actual birth are
either dead or incommunicado… Not quite the last one standing but close.

So this birthday I let go into a different period of my life,
and let go of expectations of connectedness with family.

It was nice to hear from my niece and friends.

I am now journaling around my images, but as I have extended family
still living I am not sharing the journal entries.

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
Lamy Joy with De Atramentis Document Black ink,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges.
Super5 Frankfurt ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com