The Penn State Alumni AssociationWhat’s been happening: Being a landscape architect, an artist, a naturalist, an eco-theologian, an activist, a wife and mother, these make up much of the story of my life. I've had fibromyalgia for 30 years and lyme disease or chronic systemic lyme for 25 years. So I have battled with pain and fatigue and a damaged brain from the lyme. I used my landscape architecture training to work in the neighborhood, overseeing a sewer project for a number of years, among other things, getting the county to narrow the right-of-way to save trees. On another project I convinced the county to change the alignment of a road. In 1978 I started painting watercolors, mostly of the natural world and exhibited them at times in galleries or with art societies I'm a member of. My husband Doug and I continue to try to keep our grounds, which I designed years ago. Dealing with pain makes it difficult for me, but I continue to try. I started an eco-theological program in a local church in 1990 and used my landscape architecture training to lay out the creation awareness center with trail, my art to illustrate the trail guide and my paintings when I taught classes on earth care. Observing and learning in nature has been my interest since a young girl. So Doug and I identify plants, ferns and birds on our hikes. In the past, our daughter Andrea joined us on these ventures. Just this morning on my walk I had the joy of hearing the Wood Thrush here for the summer. Hurrah! |