I accidentally hit the wrong bookmarked line on my computer and ended up here on my first blog. I rarely visit this spot. Yet, it felt like I came here today as if on the wings of serendipity. I've had "ballet" on my mind lately. This blog mixed too much ballet with too little art; but, neither can really be extracted from one another in my life.

So why have I been thinking about ballet? Probably because later today I fly to Manchester. Birmingham Royal Ballet will be performing at the Lowry all week. Mathias is cast in Peasant Pas for "Giselle"...just one of the four performances...but it's a big deal. He also appearing in various parts in the Stravinsky triple bill. So, naturally, ballet has been on my mind.

Yet, it's more than this....much more. Madame V died last week. I've been thinking about how she affected our lives. Although I hardly had more than a single conversation with this remarkable woman (and that one was on the day we signed the admission form when Mathias was 12), she was the woman with whom I shared "motherhood". I gave birth to a boy; she gave him the opportunity to grow into a dancer. We nodded greeting twice year....spring and winter performances...for six years. Our eyes spoke volumes. The only words we said were "Thank you very much". For Madame V, add a Russian accent and say it as if one long word.....thankyouverymuch!

For the past several years July is an important time for me to look back....back to Bastille Day! My personal day of independence! I fired my mat cutter and started the downsizing of Mouse House. I made a serious, life altering change in my quest to become an artist. From time to time, I look back on this journey by seeing what I did on a particular day in 2006. I've been aware that July was "competition" time...Jackson and Varna. Ballet is on my mind...but I was most pleasantly surprised to know that two years ago today I was writing more about my art. Blues Chapel had opened in Sumter. The entries from this time really show the stress of ballet and the desire for art. Two years later, ballet is on my mind....as a passing interest and a son's joy. Art is my life. Blues Chapel is even better...now display in Pickens. The past is in the past. The future is in my stitches with my art.

It feels strange to be writing here. I've been blogging with Blogspot for so much longer than I ever did here on Blogspot. Still, this was my first blog. It is where I learned the power of Internet communications, documented the International Ballet Competition in Varna, and wrote about my art and life. From time to time, I check back here...just to see the counter or to read what had happened on a particular day....like, what happened on April 28, 2006...I posted my first entry on my first blog! Happy Second Blog anniversary to me!

From time to time I still check into this blog. It is interesting for me to note how much I've changed, how far my embroidery and art has gone, and also to see a blog I kept without many photos...all about words. Too many of them were about ballet. Now, I write and think about myself and my stitches. Art and life are happier...but this blog was important...an important step to getting to where I am now, just as my current blog is an important step to the future I want.

Well, if you're finding me here...you're not at the best place. Try http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com. This blog was my introduction into the fabulous world of on-line, global communication. It is special...but the other one is even better!

Although this blog still comes up on the search engines before the one I maintain on a day-to-day basis, at least the new place now has more hits! Please visit me at: http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com