THE MUSE, MARY AND ME

 The feet and eyes are for me the most difficult to get right. So it may take me just a bit longer to get this final piece ready for Sawdust Art Festival's Winter Fantasy showing.

Meanwhile, I will continue to look for inspiration and solace in my muse and poet Mary Oliver.

Crisp mornings of sunshine or fog filled with birdsong...aren't we fortunate? I ponder the question of what it might be like not to be able to have these things. What must that mean to someone's life/

And this brings me to poet Mary Oliver and the questions she poses in her poem Gratitude:

What did you notice?

What did you hear?

What did you admire?

What astonished you?

What would you like to see again?

What was most tender?

What was most wonderful?

What did you think was happening?

i wonder how answering these questions, no matter our circumstances, might be likely to bring us to a state of gratitude. So take a deep breath. Listen to the birds, Feel the sun on your shoulders. Enjoy the soft caress of a breeze. Smile at a stranger in passing. Ask yourself these questions from the poem and see if there is even a slight shift in your thinking. Hopefully, you will be brought to gratitude.

Let me know.

THEN... AND NOW

then

now

Way back in the dark ages--2008 to be exact--Suzette Rosenthal and I were co-teaching for the Sawdust Art Festival spring and autumn workshops. These were long days--two of them--that required a day of setting up and tearing down at each end. 

At some point we looked at each other and asked if there was perhaps an easier way. Thus was born the Mixed Media Playtime Sunday Studio Workshop plan. We moved the whole operation (and that includes a multitude of fodder and tools) to my home studio. It  worked well for us and was sooo much easier physically. And when Suzette moved to Broomfield, Colorado I just went on with the program.

Over the years so many wonderful folks have attended these workshops. Always the camaraderie is delightful and the "play" yields a multitude of artwork, friendships, and so much more.

I have to thank Sherry Mitchell for the picture from the past and for reminding me of all the joys that have followed me through these years.

Blessings galore!!

WHY NOT TRY?

It occurred to me the other day out of nowhere (but perhaps the meandering mind just does that sometimes) that 2020 is pretty much a year of limbo for most of us who are being careful and trying to avoid exposure to the coronavirus that seems to be running amok. So the year just doesn't really count then, right? 

With a birthday coming up it seemed a good time to just forego it and have it happen in 2021 then. What a great plan! Save the year for use another time. Hmmmm. Just a thought from that fertile and meandering mind inside my head, but we could certainly try it. 

So no birthday for me this year folks. Check back in 2021 for an update.

Only problem is I wasn't quite quick enough on the draw with this thought and friend Catharine had already gotten this thoughtful and fun gift. Maybe we can just call it a pandemic gift instead of a birthday gift. What do you think?

 

LEST WE FORGET

Low tide

Feet mooshing in sand

Sun kissing skin

Breeze ruffling hair

Sanderlings skittering

Gulls squatting together

Waves lapping onshore

Glorious

Blessings

Gratitude

Joys of being alive in the moment

SOFT SOUNDS IN THE SILENCE

Solace

As I drift off to sleep each night the sound of a lone owl softly hooting in a nearby tree brings a gentle smile to my face. It is a lovely sound that somehow brings the solace of normalcy (or is it the normalcy of solace?)

The sounds of nature are often what brings comfort to counter the aggravations of a given day. Whether the soft lap of waves on the shore, the hoot of the owl, the cooing of doves, the trickle of water in a lovely brook, or a soft breeze blowing through the trees, these sounds in their very softness temper the noises of our everyday world. Hearing these things, I for one find myself eased by them.

What are some of the sounds that lift your spirits?

A creek in a canyon

COME WALK WITH ME

Just come along with me...

in peaceful meditation

ENJOY

JUST IMAGINE...

Imagination. Seems like we need a lot of it right now in these troubling times. And it is working...in some pretty amazing ways.

Not only are parents and teachers tapping into their imaginations in order to teach and keep young people engaged. Not only are hospitals and staff tapping in to find new and creative ways to handle shortages of supplies and the glut of Covid patients with all that entails.Not only are restaurants and other "essential" businesses quickly imagining new ways to keep employees busy and business going. 

So much more can be attributed to imagination.

As I read through what scientists are achieving right now and the work done to re-fit plants to produce what is needed (but where the heck is the toilet paper?),I am truly amazed. Plants like GM and Ford are re-tooled and manufacturing ventilators. JPL scientists have designed one ventilator now that uses even fewer parts than previously thought required. Samsung has made a wristband that, among other things, buzzes when the wearer comes within six feet of another person. This last is being tested and used in some of the aforementioned plants to help maintain a safe work environment.

And, of course, there is so much more. I am sure many of you are aware of the innovative things that are taking place now. Please share.

We will get through this together...and apart because of these things and more.

Imagination. Ingenuity. Resourcefulness. Resilience. Spirit.

WHO IS IN CONTROL?

Camillia rose to the challenge

I'm sure that at one time or another you have heard people describe someone as "needing to be in control." Well, we all feel that need, I think, at some time or another. Especially in times like these when things seem so very beyond our control, there is a desire to find ways.

If we can focus on the things that we do have some sway over--our healthy eating habits, for instance, or getting enough sleep, or even finding ways to relax.

Trust what you know and can see rather than getting caught up in so much of the panic that tends to accompany something like this pandemic.

We can control our own social distancing. We can control taking precautions dealing with cleanliness in our environment. We can control our attitude. We can be our own angels in our own corners of this resilient world.

And, lest we forget, we can CARE about those who are striving to keep this virus under control. They are also our angels!!

ANGEL FLIGHT

First angel in

After posting the blog about angels the other day and then sending out a request to some students...
nothing happened.

It is so hard to have patience in these troubled times, so I figure this was a challenge and a test for me. All good things come to those....

So here is the first one. It flew in from Phoenix, Arizona from Gloria Gardner. I like the whimsy of it and hope you do too.

Anybody else participating?

THE INTROVERTED LIFE

Self explanatory

As a card carrying introvert one would think this whole thing of social distancing would be an easy thing. 

Not so much. 

Perhaps it is just a natural resistance to being told what to do (yeah, I have that) or some kind of stubborn refusal (like about being referred to as old and/or elderly maybe?) but the distancing is challenging.

One recent night in a need for some "social" I hosted a Scrabble gathering of four over-60 women at my home. Risky? Not so much. Needed? You bet. We all gained, I think, from this convivial time together. Hand sanitizer at the ready, we noshed and noodled and played two games, with laughter and good conversation and a few challenges to odd words along the way.

Much as I love my morning walks and view them as completely safe in this time of worry, even for this introvert it just isn't quite enough. I am not lacking in concern about the virus, and in fact, think I am doing a pretty good job of staying abreast of it all. BUT, this introvert also needs contact, I guess.

I am grateful for the healthy friends (and friendships) that I have and wish the same for all of you.

"NEW EYES"

Landscape on a distant planet?

 Marcel Proust said it well: "The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

I was drawn to the drops of morning dew on the aloe leaf, but on closer inspection realized how much it looked like some interplanetary landscape. This got me thinking about seeing...how we see, what we see, how we interpret what we see, etc.

I love the mysterious and the small things that can be re-seen in other ways. Friends like Suzette and Nadine are of the same ilk I believe and I love the photos that they take as they travel around towns. 

New eyes can marvel at the simplest of things and see the magic in them.

WOW! WHAT A DAY!

Blues and greys

After a restless, mind-boggling night of mostly no sleep, rising early and heading out into the cool morning air seemed to be the thing to do.

Because of time constraints it was speed walking time, but I just could not resist a few pictures and even a video. The early morning was beyond glorious in blue tones shading to grey.

Before long it was time to head out to the desert for some time with my sister. We went through the items she had pulled out of cupboards and drawers after my mother passed. Identifying old portraits, passing on items so familiar and yet not needed, laughter, sharing stories...it was a pretty full day.

Then, back home to heavy cloud cover and the promise of a storm. Still, I look forward to getting up early again and heading out for yet another wondrous day.

JOYFUL SOUNDS RING OUT

If only we listen

Anyone who reads this blog even sporadically knows that I do love my morning walks. They are for keeping me, not only somewhat fit, but sane.

On a recent morning the symphony of sound coming from a soloist mockingbird in a nearby tree prompted me to stop and listen. What joy! The variety and scope of this little guy's tunes was amazing. I thought to myself, "If only..." I wanted to hold onto this joyful rendering, but how?

As I stood transfixed I could not help but think if only the sound could be captured in my mind, all worries, stress, concerns, problems, foibles even would simply disappear. Silly thought perhaps, but...well, what if...?

I think that it is worth pondering the question a bit longer.

MILESTONES

Star-bellied Sneetch

It is said that babies are such a nice way to start people. While this little Star-Bellied Sneetch was not a baby at picture time, he was young enough to have that still apply. And today? Hmmmm. He has reached, as of today, the ripe old age of fifteen. Still on the way to being a "people," yet definitely all a teenager and a boy.

Love this young man and the man I am sure he will grow into as the years move on...and, of course, still love the youngster and the Star-Bellied creature that he was then.

Happy Birthday to my eldest grandson! A momentous day it is!!

SWEET TIME

Sweet time

She was taking her own sweet time about it....

Doesn't that sound kinda negative? But when I stop to think about it sweet time sounds pretty great. This really got me thinking...what would I count as sweet time? Where would it take me?

Outside, of course. Beautiful, sun-drenched days always beckon. I can seldom think of a good reason to ignore the call, put on my walking shoes, grab a bottle of water and just head out. Even these brisk mornings seem not to deter me from hitting the road, so to speak.

Birdsong greets me each day as I head out of the door. What a great start! There are no rules. I can walk as far as I want and take my "sweet time."

As it turns out, sweet time for me is all about the beauty of simply being. Taking my own sweet time is slow and easy and could last forever. No negatives there.

The ease of this is welcome and exhilarating. It even occurs to me that not only is time of the essence as we have so often heard, but time IS the essence. At least this seems true with "sweet time."

What does sweet time look like to you? (and, please don't say it's a negative thing.) What discoveries can you find in this special time? Where does it take you?

For me, I will continue my wandering and watching and sitting and taking my own sweet time as it stretches out like a long, soft ribbon on the ocean breeze at the edge of the shore. 

WHY NOT...?

Why not holiday butterflies?

In the midst of working the early shift and dealing with what life brings into play, the holidays just seem to have taken a bit of a "back seat."

When I blithely said to a friend yesterday that maybe I would just have the ingredients on hand for a nice spaghetti dinner for Christmas day, she was aghast. "Wasn't tradition important to me?"

Don't get me wrong, I love traditions and place value on them.  But...when it comes right down to it, what really matters to me is not the tree, not the presents, not the wrapping, the songs, or the holiday baking. What really matters is having those I love near me, not only at this holiday season, but all the time.

So butterflies, spaghetti,...why not?

NOT THE ONLY ONES...

Love it!

This week Merriam-Webster announced the word of the year. "They."
I'm all for it and find the emphasis a definite sign of the times that will prove useful to so many.

But my favorite word? A new one to me (seen to the right.) I love the sound of it and I love what it means. I find myself wanting to use it all the time. It represents something I love, something I long to have more time for.

I suppose I could supply the definition, but that takes part of the fun out of this wonderful word. I hope you will look it up and be as enthralled with the mere thought of it as I am.

(Thanks to Kelsey Paprocki for the mug and the word.)

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!

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?