THANKFUL AND THEN SOME

Nuff said

As the end of this Thanksgiving holiday nears this image brought to mind how thankful I am for the opportunities.

I may never use the good china because I rid myself of it long ago. I don't really like cake, but love sweets and try as often as not to eat them first. The trips--many of them documented here--are treasured. Love late movies and books and opt for some of those chances. Time with friends and family are special options I try to take as often as possible.

Time...treasured and spent, rather than measured and banked...go for it!

A LITTLE LAUGHTER

Just thinking, as we come upon Thanksgiving, that I am grateful for so very many things, not least of which is laughter in my life. So, as the time is very busy and I find myself cold and tired tonight as I write this, I thought to share a small part of the laughter with all of you...for whom I am also eternally grateful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

GOBBLE GOBBLE...IT'S COMING

It's all coming sooooo fast. Can't believe it's Saturday already.

Spent a fun afternoon with daughter Jenna making fused glass ornaments with artist Maggie Spencer. J had mentioned several times wanting a "special" ornament. We had even stopped at Christmas specialty stores on several of our past road trips...with no luck. So I thought...maybe making her own.

Don't know if the result will be what she was after, but it was a lot of fun and a bit zany. So, we shall see.
Meanwhile, hope you all will be surrounded by your family, unlike the turkey shown :)

NOW POINTS

Cleaning find

As we enter what is for many the busiest, most hectic time of year, I find myself pondering this old art piece found while cleaning.

Time is not a line, but a series of now points.__Taimen Deshimaru

"Now points" brings me into the moment more with clarity. Can we try for this, rather than stringing ourselves out ahead with all there might be to do? Can we just be?

Now points...the warm sunrise in cool morning air on my face.

Now points...the lap of the sea on the shore--gentle, steady, calm.

Now points...two ducks scouting on the low water as they drift along near shore in clam beds.

Now points...focused watching as a blue booby goes through his grooming ritual

Now points...the cracked caw of a crow sounding nearby.

Now points...shadows and diamonds that glisten on a wave, shaped by the slant of the sun.

Now points...the rising sun chases the waning moon across the morning sky.

Now points...what are some of yours?

THE LAUGHTER KALEIDOSCOPE

RR Journal page section

Early morning. Fog shrouding the canyon, its moisture dripping from the eave. The first waking sounds of small birds....I love this time of day. Lying wrapped in sleep's leftover warmth, considering the day ahead.

The day would be a full one, even as I fight off a wanting-to-be head cold. After a good walk along the shore and a hot shower, I head off to a couple of scheduled meetings. Then, that taken care of, I can apply myself to finishing this month's Round Robin journal entry.

I had lingered too long over this one as my injured finger healed. Once the bandages came off after eight weeks, would I even then be able to draw and paint and freely create what I wanted to do?

Well, after the first shock of not being able to bend the finger, without manually helping it.... And, now, a week later, finger things are mostly back to normal, thank goodness. So I begin the play. Crazy little bird creatures, that I think of as wizards popped up. Then, a lovely quote from Jean Houston: "At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities."

Seems just about right to me. What do you think?

SIMPLE

Simple

I thought maybe I would impart just a bit more of my ideas about teaching and what it means to me:

In my mind the doing of art should be simple. A piece may end up with layers of complexity to it and loads of meaning, but the doing can be just, well, simple.

Teaching is the same. I seek to simply commit to the students, to provide a supportive environment for imagining, dreaming, exploring and being venturesome outside their normal bounds. 

Above all else, I commit to a place where play is essential, for the soulful creativity is found there in that place, I believe. When creating, it is important to feel like the child stringing beads in kindergarten--happy, totally absorbed, and quietly putting on one bead after another.

Pablo Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." I would go farther, the problem is how to remain at heart a child and that is what I hope to bring to each workshop I teach.

Simple, right?

FOG BLOG

Morning fog

Ah...a walk in morning fog along the coast...what's not to love about it? Fog creates contrasts unseen in normal light. Colors are both muted and more vibrant. Sounds are muffled at times and yet, at other times, seem to carry farther. And, overall, the fog creates a lovely meditative state, at least for me.

And, so, on this morning walk, I could hear the sharp sound of black oystercatchers somewhere in the grey, but could not see them. The sounds of a Laughter Yoga group carried much farther than usual, it seemed. The stalk of a century plant seemed to stand out in sharp contrast rather than the usual blending in. Yellow hibiscus seemed radiant in the shroud of grey.

A wonderful start to a beautiful day!

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.__E.L. Doctorow

Sometimes, seeing only as far as your headlights is just perfect.

DAYLIGHT

Sunrise

While admittedly not much of a fan of the early darkness since the time change, I have to say the early morning walks are spectacular here along our coast.

The other day I was up and out early before light and walked along the shore's edge in the sand. The sound of the water's movement and waking bird life filled me with joy. What a way to begin a day!

All of life is not easy. Things don't always go the way we might like. Political upheaval and rancor eats at us.
We lose friends to horrific disease and age. And yet...yes, there is the chance to choose joy. Starting the day with these wonderful walks is my way to do just that. Hope you can try it.

LEFTOVERS

Workshop fun

Shave and a haircut two bits

 Leftovers can be for more than just dinner remains. Here are some borrowed funnies from other Halloween blogs.

Hope you enjoy these...and they won't make you fat (or satisfy that sweet tooth either...darn!)

Witch humor

Art teacher treats

Black humor