DARKEST DAYS

...everything is in black and white...

...my body shuts down...

...except for the pain...

...my mind is chaotic...

...lingering in the past...

---i search for textures and patterns...

the silence at night is so loud

sleep is short

filled with voices all talking at once

in a language i don't know

yet so familiar

i think i can capture the words

until i pick up pen and paper. 

the noise in the day is so quiet

the voices speaking in whisperers so soft

the only clue to their meaning

is the restless tingle

that crawls just under my skin

...and a touch of winter color...

...foreshadowing spring...

January is half over...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...it's time to wake up...and stop looking backwards...

SEARCHING FOR RED

I have enjoyed following a number of blogs for more than the three and a half years I have been blogging.  They give me inspiration and several have weekly or monthly challenges that I have always enjoyed reading and seeing what people come up with.  This year I am going to test the waters and participate.  

Touchdown

 One I have always wanted to try is Searching for Roy G Biv (the colors of the rainbow). You can read about it on the blogs of Jenniferconequdeen.blogspot.com or with Julie B Booth at Threadbornblog.com.  I don't know how to do links yet so please search for them by name.

Poppies

Since I decided a little late to do this I had to search my archives for RED pictures that were not Christmas...

Focus

 but who knows...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...the challenge might get me motivated for something new by next month.

OLD BRAIN TIRED BRAIN

The holidays are gone...the surgeries are finished...we didn't float away with the rain.

My studio sign for the end of my driveway is almost ready to hang, I have applications for a couple of art/craft shows ready to fill out, and I am anxious to start working on some new things I want to have ready by spring.

I spent a lot of time in December cleaning and purging, thinking and planning, and just trying to get through the holidays without crashing and burning and got very little done in the creative department. 

I guess it's time to quit procrastinating and get to work.   

RIGHT BRAIN LEFT BRAIN

one side says

neatness counts

everything in its place

(wherever that is)

work always comes before play

the

  work

     is

        never

             done

the other side says

jump in the middle

create in all directions

tidying up can come later

when inspiration has run it’s course

the creative side will not wait

shut up mother

from now on i’m listening to my heart

.............

I have plenty of purging left to do and if I don't get some sleep soon...well, it won't be pretty...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...I think I'll work in the studio today...there is a big comfy chair in there so things could go either way...

A NEW YEAR...A NEW ADVENTURE...

"Don't think about what can happen in a month.  Don't think about what can happen in a year, just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be."         ~Eric Thomas~

A few weeks ago I almost went into a meltdown over my birthday this year, wondering, what now?  At first blush the thought of turning 70 made me feel really old and I couldn't figure out why...I don't feel any different than last year. 

After thinking about it for awhile I realized it was just the number I had been conditioned to believe is the beginning of the end and now that I have turned 70 I should spend my days in a rocking chair and 'act my age'.   

News flash... "Don't just do something, sit there"...has never suited me.

I know although I have slowed down and the years have taken their toll I have a lot of years left, if my family history is any indication.  I also know I still have many things left I want to do with my life. 

But age has also taught me that there are no guarantees...so this year I intend to begin the practice of MINDFULNESS...to stop worrying about the future and just enjoy each day...to be here...to be now...to be enough.  

AT THE END OF THE DAY... I know it probably won't be that easy but I'll learn...that's why they call it 'practice' isn't it? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

I remember when getting ready for Christmas was a month long stressful exercise in decorating, shopping, cooking and baking.   Wrapping gifts was an all night affair on Christmas eve along with putting together countless 'Santa' gifts...hoping all the parts were there...to put under the tree unwrapped...and of course the hangover Christmas morning from not enough sleep and too much 'eggnog' while trying to meet Santa's deadline.

These days someone else does most of the baking, there are fewer gifts to wrap and the Santa gifts are someone else's responsibility...and we gave up hangovers years ago...so I'm finished much sooner now and I can spend the days before and during Christmas with less stress.  

This year the last Christmas tradition is being passed on.  We change and grow...and now that I have grown older I know it's time to pass the rest of the responsibilities on to someone else.  This year I can spend Christmas eve with the family having a nice dinner I don't have to cook and watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" the cartoon version (another tradition) at my granddaughter's house.  I am happy to pass this last tradition on because...   

AT THE END OF THE DAY...I can just sit back and enjoy...and of course take lots of pictures...because some things never change...

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

My Christmas shopping is finished, except for those last minute impulse buys, of course.

When my children were small I loved to Christmas shop.  Now not so much.  The shopping season didn't start till the day after thanksgiving so it really was something to look forward to every year.

People didn't push and shove and clerks were polite and helpful...all gone.

Now I do as much of my shopping as possible local, the rest i do on line.  Easier on the mind and body.

If you're not finished yet and don't want to fight the crowds let me invite you to shop for that special gift someplace friendly and fun...my studio...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...it's the perfect solution...

THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HOMES

A few more 'People In My Head'.  Again 5x7 matted to 8x10 ready for framing, $12.50 ea.

City Slicker

Celebrate

Pretty Miss Kitty

Cloud Walker

Hey Diddle Diddle

AT THE END OF THE DAY...you know one of these is perfect for someone on your Christmas list.