I Have an Art Studio!

In these past few months of lockdown (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), I've been thankful for my new art studio. It's now a part of my heart and everyday life: a place of my own; where I can make art, or acquire skills to hone, or sit and stare, or make snacks and share, or think hard and stay all day and enjoy the garden. (Sometimes, I do all those things in a single day.) Wow! I can't believe I haven't already written about this. I am really thrilled with my "new" art studio! 

During 2020, a year of finishing old projects and starting new ones, our family's storage space (which is an old shipping container) has been refurbished and has come to life as my adorable little art studio. I want to say thank you to my husband, Adrian Kosky, and to my step-son-tradie, Jake Kosky, and to friends and all the other tradies who helped complete the container project!

While I was trying to select photographs and gather my thoughts to write this blog entry, I became filled with self-doubt about whether my art is "good enough" for me to refer to this refurbished shipping container as an "art studio." Ever since I moved my art supplies into it in May, I have been hesitant to call the old container an art studio. There has been a thought in my head about professional artists being the only ones who can or should have an "art studio." I've been calling my studio the same thing I have been calling it for years: the shipping container. Yes, it's a shipping container, but it is much more than that now, with its new fit-out....it's definitely an art studio (complete with kitchen, washing machine, toilet, and shower!)....whether my art is studio-worthy or not.  

The two photos above are pictures I took the day the container arrived in the garden. Here are a few photos of the popping out of the container when it arrived and of the inside of the container when it was first set-up as a place to camp-out in the garden and before it became the filled-up/no-place-to-sit-down guest/craft room that nobody wanted to visit.

Since I've been taking photos of my backyard garden and the wildlife in it for over a decade, my "studio" has been featured in my pictures many times. It was, however, sitting as a filled-up storage space (like so many guest/craft rooms inevitably become), waiting to come alive in the background of my snapshots.

Now that I'm happy to say I have an "art studio," I'm also happy to share photos of the comforts inside it. 

I'm so pleased with my art studio, and I'm thankful for it. I'm even thankful for the extra art time provided by a COVID-19 pandemic lock down! I'm reminded that ("....all things work together for good...." Romans 8:28) 

Here's something that I have been reminded of, just today: no matter how spectacular (hahahaha) I think my art might be inside the container, it is NOTHING compared to the spectacular things that are happening in the garden outside.

Play Music on the Porch Day - August 29, 2020

Adrian and I played music on the porch last Saturday, as we were participating in Play Music on the Porch Day from Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. Some days, lock-down due to COVID-19 is not so bad. 

Here's a snippet (a video selfie) of our music performed for the cockatoos and ducks at Tasma House and Gardens on August 29, 2020.

Self-Isolation - March 2020

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Adrian and I are self-isolating in our Australian home. Although, we're not sick, we're both in the high-risk category for the illness and chose to cancel our March-June trip to the U.S.A. and stay here.

While Adrian and I are in isolation, I'll be watching our lettuce and other veggies grow, knitting, painting, playing music & singing, enjoying a few extra months with Miss Jelly Bean, blogging, facebooking, feeding the birds, keeping up with the news, planning another dulcimer event, and praying the health crisis ends as quickly as it came.

The first annual Delta Blues Dulcimer Revival at The Holy Moly has been rescheduled to November 5-7, 2020, with all instructor/performers rescheduling with us. I'm so thankful that they were willing to postpone the event with us. I know it's hard on professional musicians to lose gigs and the income from playing at venues. Details and online registration information can be found at www.deltabluesdulcimerrevival.com.

Register now for the Delta Blues Dulcimer Revival, April 16-18, 2020!

Bing Futch, Adrian Kosky, and I invite you to join us during an exciting revival in the heart of blues country! Whether you're an adventurous beginning musician, a seasoned player looking to expand, a cultural history buff or a regional foodie, there's no other place in the country where you can get barefoot in the dirt, so to speak, and get down to the roots of the blues. Come share this unique and joyous celebration April 16th, 17th, 18th, 2020, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, for the FIRST EVER Delta Blues Dulcimer Revival at The Holy Moly - an official nighttime venue of the SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL Juke Joint Festival!

Instructors are: Sam Edelston, Gary Gallier, Robert Force, Bing Futch, and Sofie Reed.

Visit www.deltabluesdulcimerrevival.com to register.

Spending Time With My Family

For the past few months I have been blessed by many fun visits with my family. In June-July, my daughter and son-in-law came to visit Adrian and me in Australia. The four of us enjoyed the luxury of three weeks together, traveling, sight-seeing eating out, thrift-store shopping, staying home, and cooking together. The last time I spent more than a few days with my daughter was about 10 years ago; and, Adrian and I had never before spent more than a few hours with our son-in-law. We are very thankful that we had time to enjoy each other's company.

Just off the plane in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, June 25, 2018

Kevin and Alex at Tasma House and Gardens (2018)

The four of us took a little road-trip up the Great Ocean Road, taste-testing coffee and pastries and shopping in opp-shops, as you do on any good Australian holiday. It was fun to show this side of the world to our Memphis kids. 

Of course, we made it a point to pose with the kangaroos and koalas at the Ballarat Wildlife Centre. Some might think these are silly things to do, but I see blessings in all of these activities. The safe travel, the good family activities and food, the beauty of nature (even that which is found in a wildlife shelter), quality time together building stronger relationships.....all these things I appreciate and do not take for granted.  I am thankful for the time we have had together as a family.

Kangaroos, Alex, and Me at Ballarat Wildlife Park
2018

I've enjoyed spending time with my step-sons and their girlfriends, as well. Lucky me, to have steppies! They are brilliant and creative, and they stay busy, just like their father! We celebrated their birthdays, recently. Family gatherings....I do love them, on both sides of the world! 

Lee, Jake, and Adrian
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2018

It's nearly time to return to Clarksdale, Mississippi. I know it is a privilege to live life in two countries. I look forward to continuing the commuting between America and Australia and the combined city-country-lifestyle for as long as Adrian and I can do this together. Our lifestyle is filled with blessings!

Alex Hudspeth and Adrian Kosky
Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
June 27, 2018

Carla Maxwell and Adrian Kosky
Ryanston, Victoria, Australia
July 1, 2018

The BMW

Adrian and I have purchased a nearly-vintage BMW convertible, as a second car in Australia. I now have an Australian driver license, and I have driven the beamer three times! I can do it! I never thought I would drive in any other country than America, but I did. The roundabouts make my head spin a bit, so I'm taking to driving slowly in Australia.

We purchased this car in wintertime, so we have hardly had a chance to experience the open road with the roof down. As you can see from my photos, we bundled up to take a few road trips, anyway. 

From the passenger side, I took pictures as we drove by the canola fields in Victoria. The canola fields in Australia are as beautiful to me as the American cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta. Each crop has its beauty and perfect season. The yellow of the flowering canola field is spectacular in the sunlight and lifts my spirits, anytime I see it. 

With Adrian driving, it was luxurious fun for both of us…...until I was taking pictures of the constable on the other side of the car. (Adrian has committed to taking the road more slowly, as you can imagine.)

Anyway, I'm feeling blessed, and my backyard bird pictures look a lot better with my BMW in the background!

The Birds in My Backyard

I've just spent the last few months in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia, feeding and photographing the beautiful birds in my backyard. I should just let the pictures speak for themselves. Here are only a few of the thousands and thousands of photos I have taken with my iPhone 5.

My Dear Dad, Roger Linkous

R.I.P. Roger Linkous

In June 2017 I made an emergency trip back to Memphis, Tennessee, to be with my family, as my Dad was in the hospital and not expected to live.

Not long after I arrived in Memphis, my father died at Baptist Hospital, surrounded by dear friends and beloved family members. While I was heartbroken by our loss, I was amazed at the beauty of that moment, as well as his beautiful funeral and burial service.

I spent two weeks in Memphis, surrounded by family and the many, many, visitors who came to his house, remembering Dad for his wonderful impact on friends, family, church, and country. He will never be forgotten!

Roger and Louise Linkous
Married 62 years

My American Father's Military Funeral Service Was Beautiful!
photo by Shalee Shields

He was beautiful, inside and out.

Roger Linkous

Adrian Got His Ten-Year Green Card!

We did not have any trouble at the border, entering the U.S.A. in March 2017. Although Adrian and I worried about the fact that he only had a letter from immigration rather than a new green card, he had no trouble crossing the border. We are both very grateful for that!

While we were in Mississippi, we enjoyed our American life -- attending music events, eating delicious food, visiting with our American family and friends, and sharing our American life with my Australian step-son, Lee.

I think it is best to describe the fun with photos. Here's a recap of our springtime in America.

We had good visits with our friends.

We enjoyed tasty tamales and supporting local business. 

We got an education about fishing in the Mississippi River.

We played music during the Juke Joint Festival!

We revisited our wedding site!

We took a vacation to New Orleans.

We made a little noise on the corner of Third & Issaquena.

We took selfies along the way.

We took selfies along the way.

We kept brainstorming about what to do with
the second floor of The Holy Moly.

We shared Clarksdale's yumminess with Lee.

Of course, we visited Waffle House!

We had a little fun in Memphis, Tennessee!

We enjoyed spending time with Alex & Kevin!

I thank God and the U.S.A. that we were able to do these things!

International Travel -- Keeping My Fingers Crossed!

My husband, Adrian Kosky, and I have been commuting between the U.S.A. and Australia since 2012, and we are preparing to travel from Australia to America again this week.

I know it is a privilege and a blessing to have the ability (legally and physically) to travel like we do. We have worked hard at following all the rules and regulations of our home countries, in wanting to maintain relationships and businesses that span two continents. We pay taxes in both countries -- with two different fiscal year calendars to deal with -- and we manage most of our business, tax, and residency requirements on our own, seeking help from professionals (i.e. accountants, attorneys, and realtors) when necessary. (Managing things ourselves, without hiring others to do certain detail work, saves money and helps us afford the lifestyle we have.)

A couple of years ago, Adrian filled-out and submitted the forms to the American government to achieve his "green card," or permanent resident, status. We did not then and do not now have specialised help regarding immigration laws. 

The American immigration procedures have been difficult for my husband and stressful for both of us, but we have followed all the instructions given to us by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS"). In September 2014, Adrian received his two-year green card approving his permanent residency. As I understand it, he is awaiting the next level of immigration status to be approved, that being a ten-year green card. I also understand that there is some delay in his actually receiving that new card, because the USCIS is about a year behind in their process/approval. 

There is a website for green card applicants to check the status of their applications online. Unfortunately, the information provided on the website regarding Adrian's status, doesn't give me too much comfort, as Adrian and I prepare to enter the United States together on our upcoming trip back to Clarksdale, Mississippi. It just states that he has a green card. Although it has been more than two years, he hasn't received his renewed green card. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that all goes well at the United States border, as we go through customs. 

In the past couple of weeks, we have heard stories about Australians being denied entry into the U.S.A., even though they have had a good history traveling to and from America for over ten years. One of those stories relates to a friend of ours who has helped Clarksdale tremendously for over a decade. The VISA waiver program that allowed our friend to travel to America, has not been approved for an upcoming trip to Clarksdale. I don't understand all the legal details about immigration, but I think goodwill should be encouraged, supported, embraced, and promoted on a worldwide level. Stories of people with good intentions (combined with histories of good works) being denied entry to America are disheartening for me as an American citizen.  

I wish all people could easily travel all over the world, if that's what they wish.

I wish any country would want my husband and myself to travel to visit it; I wish that we could do that and that we would be welcomed with friendship, wherever we go. Likewise, whether we are in Australia or America, I wish we could host people from all over the world, sharing friendship, music, art, food, fun, and laughter. (Okay, maybe we could share work with people from all over the world, wherever we are, too….if we have to.)

To keep myself from being too worried about what might go wrong during our international travel this week, I'm sharing some photos and videos below. These memories make me smile and help me want to keep moving forward, living life with my hubby, the way we do, in two countries and on two continents.

When Adrian received his green card in the mail, I got excited and accidentally filmed sideways!

In 2014, Adrian sang a little song in celebration of his permanent residency in the U.S.A.

I have hope and faith that everything will go well on our trip to the United States this week. (I don't think there is any reason that Adrian should be denied entry at the border.) The decision is up to the actual border patrol personnel to judge whether Adrian is approved to enter the U.S.A., even though he has been issued a green card and is a permanent resident. So, I'm hoping the immigration agents will see him as I do: all cute, cuddly, and full of gentle goodness, working hard to peacefully enjoy life with his American wife.

Our "Plan B" if the worst happens and Adrian is not allowed to enter the U.S.: We will go right back to Daylesford, Victoria, Australia, and do our best to continue enjoying life together.