Eegads!

For now I will continue to work on my blog. It is still a place for me to collect my creative thoughts. To show the world what I'm working on. April slipped by me. I think time is slipping by many of us. Practically all of us were not here that last epidemic, let alone pandemic. Yet, here we are. A lot of stuff is confusing. Most want to do the right thing and we're being chastised because of it. This is from an old saying and I'm fluffy too but the fat lady hasn't even made it to the stage yet. My sinking feeling of what is going on is still sinking and about to pick up speed. I can only do my part to stay safe and I hope you will too.

Now... I'm giving myself all of May to get creatively crazy. Just get back to making something, even if it's just for me. Something to get the juices flowing again. There are many things I want to do and places I want to see, when we are truly able. Maybe next year. Maybe. For right now, it's one-day-at-a-time. I've gotten back to my 100 Critter Challenge. The first of three drawings. Still more to do on the drawing before I paint it, and seeing that the sketch was the size of a postage stamp, I think it's on its way.

Yesterday I made a pot of chili and sauteed some fresh veggies. I didn't want the veggies to go bad so that's what I did with them. I think I will make some veggie soup later in the week.

I've had this X-acto knife since I was in undergrad art school a million years ago. Okay, maybe about 30. I've replaced the blades (packs of 4 or 5) twice in all that time. I bought a new knife a few years ago because this one needed blades and I was too lazy to go out and get new ones. The new knife, made of plastic, had a broken handle within a few months. So I worked this last blade until it wouldn't cut anymore without making a mess of what I was trying to cut. One edge the tip was broken off. So I went out and got new blades. What I'm saying is that we (US) used to make a lot of stuff that lasted. There are companies still here that do. We should support them. This knife has lasted 30 years of art projects, home projects, breaking down boxes, cutting of things I probably shouldn't have used this knife for but did anyway. I'm going to have to find someone worthy to hand it down to.

I have a short list for this week. I'm ready to take the creative bull by the horns and see how that ride will be. Take care of yourselves. Let's hope for a positive summer.

June

Yep, it's June. My birthday month and I got nothing. Last month was a good month for working on creative things but nothing was finished. I guess that's good. It started out slow, then I got more hours at the job, took a live online workshop, got ready for a yard sale, was MC for a relative's funeral, had the yard sale and I was exhausted. So my big bang for the end of May fizzled out.

Plan for this month is to finish pieces for the Black Theater Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Get back to some sort of schedule, which I was really doing well at at the beginning of May. I'm getting back to being consistent in what I want to do. First, the exercising and then my hand stitching. I've been doing little sketches on the Dry Erase calendar on the refrigerator just about everyday and I'm claiming that as being creative. But I do need to get back to regular sketching and drawing. Still downsizing and tossing out things.

This morning I sauteed some veggies, made up some brown rice, and will bake some chicken when I get back from work. This should last a couple of days. I'm looking at cooking as creative too.

I also made up a front page for June in my Bullet Journal. I haven't done one in months. I made myself just stop and sit in one place and draw. There is no theme, just things I like and like to do. Sewing, art, Halloween, travel, lighthouses... It is making me want to draw more because if you don't use it, you lose it.

I don't know what I'll do for my birthday. Not really feeling anything right now about it. Just another I guess. Gotta go to the job. See ya.

I Take That Back

Today is Day One of my next trip around the sun. The last two days were spent having fun. Now I'm back to creative work. I have quite a few projects for my new year, deadlines, goals, and a few things on my new bucket list. I don't know how much I'll reveal along the way or just tell you when things are done or I'm ready to jump on a plane. Some things you have to keep close to the vest.

Last month was okay. Yes, I'm still a wee bit hard on myself but I'm human. I did get a large project done. The doll and sent a load of other dolls to North Carolina for a theater production. Yes, I have to look at the small things the I did and not the five page list of things I didn't do. I was able to get my front page to July's Bullet Journal done. I got the idea from christina77star. She's on Facebook, You Tube, and Instagram. She did not have the skellie guy in her tub. Or the rat. Those are my additions. Still working on my handwriting too.

And I finally made it to a farmer's market. The Oakland County Farmer's Market and it was very nice. Here's my haul for $18. Beets, bok choi, green beans, zucchini, and Whitefish pate`. Gonna eat healthy this week.

So, it's a new month and a new day. Gonna prep my veggies for cooking so I won't have to worry about meals for the rest of the week. Have a nice day y'all.

Day One

Of my next trip around the sun. Yep, it's my birthday. And so far so good. A couple of off-key renditions of that happy birthday song, which were hilarious. A long talk with a friend from another state. Lots of happy wishes on Facebook; a friend took me out to lunch. I had Salmon Ratatouille and a Blueberry Mule for a drink. Blueberry infused vodka with ginger beer. I wasn't driving.

Bella made it to North Carolina just fine. She picked up some reading once she got there and is ready for her stage debut.

A new year for me. Last year was, well, it was better than the year before so that's saying something. I now have a mission and a bucket list of sorts that I will be working towards. I'm going to do a personal challenge of a piece of artwork everyday for 365 days. The next trip around the sun. Could be anything but probably drawings or paintings. While cleaning up my mother's place (an ongoing process), I found a small sketchbook from when I was in undergrad at university. A... long...time...ago... I'll work on filling that up. It is 4 inches by 6 inches in size. About 30 pages..

Today is celebrating and relaxing and I'm about to binge watch some movies that have been on my list for awhile. Because tomorrow, it starts. The creative movement and that's because I have about eight days off from the other job. Nice huge blocks of time to make stuff.

Late But Still Here

Yes, life does some really unusual things to you. And you've got to roll with it. Still working on getting things together. I have a huge two year plan started and will be working like crazy to stay on track. So here are some more drawings I've done. I have a lot of these wood coffins hanging around. I told myself to either do something with them or get them out of the place. I'm getting back into a declutter phase. Downsizing once again. Rather, going through things I just threw in boxes when I moved four months ago. So I did some sketches. Plus, this will help me get ready for Halloween. Which isn't that far away.

A friend posted this bread pic and I just fell in love. I think I will have to start collecting bread recipes. I really want to learn how to make bread. Good bread. Healthy bread. As I get older, my tolerance for store bought is going down. The healthier the bread, the better the body feels. Doesn't it look yummy?

What's Up

I'm proud of myself for finishing up a project and able to cross it off my long list. Now I'm on to other projects and keeping up with my sketchbook. I'm trying to figure out what to do with toilet paper rolls. I saw someone else do a thing, so I'm going to try my thing. If this works, great. And I just threw away a bunch of these.

Here's my start to my latest face in my watercolor sketchbook. I also used the salt technique on wet paint.

I get fresh eggs from a friend. She got new hens and they finally started laying. Can you tell the difference between the new hen and the more mature hen's egg? I think it's just too cute. Both were yummy and I can't wait until the get bigger. The green is spinach and there are some shallots in there too.

I am behind on my NaNo but will continue to catch up. Right now the word count is 9325.

#sketchbook #watercolor #fresheggs

Challenge- Day 15

Here's my challenge sketch for today.

I also made a killer salad for lunch. Working hard to eat better too. Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, a little Tapenade, olive oil, Himalayan Pink salt, a dash of cayenne pepper, thyme, and Gorgonzola.

Things Are Happening

My garden is growing nicely. Still working on some pesky cabbage caterpillars and found a natural bug spray to make in the kitchen and those plants will get sprayed this evening. The beet plants are doing well and I will allow them to get a bit bigger before putting them in the ground. I've got little tomatoes that seemed to pop out overnight. I've had to water the garden every morning for the past couple of days because it's been in the 90s.

Cucumber flowers. Lots of them. Yay!

My first cucumber is here!

Seeing that the beets sprouted quite nicely, I'm trying bok choy. We shall see!

Next Up

First, my beet plants are doing well. I will put them in a small container with some dirt so they can get a little bigger before I put them in the ground. Then by fall I can harvest them.

I'm making progress on my Raggedy Ann. I'll start painting her today.

Here is a pattern I've had for a long time. It's the Verity doll by Deanna Hogan of Blue Heron Dolls. I love her work, so I'm going to try the smaller doll.

I have a small break between my next longarm project so this week will be doll week.

Moving Right Along

I've been working on my Raggedy Ann doll. Her parts have been stuffed and will be ready to paint today. I may even work on some other dolls too. The day is still young. I was invited to a fiber arts guild meeting earlier this week. The meeting changes locations each month and this month was at one of the member's home. Nice place. It was in a part of NC I hadn't been, Sparta. It's very pretty there.

I also finished longarming another quilt top.

 
Last Saturday I went to the local farmer's market. I found beets. I love beets and they were worth every penny spent because I knew they hadn't been treated with a bunch of chemicals. Plus, I'm helping my local economy. I had seen articles on growing new plants from other plants you get and cook with. Like onions, bok choy, celery. So I thought that I would try the beets. I asked the farmer if he had any plants and said it was late and they would have plants closer to fall. That beets can be planted in the fall, covered with hay and they will be ready for harvest in the spring. Nice. But I didn't want to wait so I did this. Cut off the tops, and I do eat the beet tops too, and place this remaining part in a little water. The worse would be for the thing to get slimy, moldy and just die. Or, it could sprout, like what it's doing here in this pic. Amazing. So maybe by fall, I'll have some beets.

Garden

My garden is growing. The past few rains have helped. They love it. I have little blooms on one of my tomato plants. And buds on the cucumber plants. I'm so thrilled. I even got out there and weeded some. It feels good to play in the dirt.

Little tomato flowers.

Tomatoes and purple cabbage.

Cucumbers on the ends and peppers in the middle. I truly am excited to be able to finally grow something that I can eat.

Garden

Oh yeah! It's spring. And I finally got some plants in the ground. A friend let me use his empty beds and we planted two types of tomatoes, purple cabbage, peppers, cucumbers, and in the small pot on the deck, some herbs.

Tomatoes and cabbage with some marigolds. I love marigolds.

Cucumbers at each end and peppers in the middle. The cukes will be trained to grow away from the peppers.

On the deck we have two types of basil and some oregano. We forgot the thyme. There's room. I had so much fun digging in the dirt. There's something therapeutic about it. And it's Earth Day! Lots of salsa coming.

That Darn Engine

Still working on getting that creative engine fired up and running consistently. Eegads! March has not been the best month for anything. It isn't over yet. I did get some more down on my short story but I haven't finished the rough draft just yet. Maybe tonight. I have been reading though. Finished another book. I got it from the dollar store believe it or not. So far, it's my second pick from said store and I've enjoyed both books. I got a dollar! Death of a Prankster by MC Beaton and Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meijer. I like murder mysteries and have started several myself.

I helped a friend clear out his backyard, in prep for spring and he's going to let me take over his raised garden beds so I can plant some things this year. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bush beans, and herbs. It was good to be outside and smell the dirt but I was way stiff that night and the next day. I do feel the creative juices starting to flow again. Maybe that's what I needed to help me out of this funk, was to get outside and be in some sort of nature. Even though it was only a backyard.

I still haven't finished my two Halloween dolls and maybe I can add a bit to their wardrobe. Also working on being nicer to myself again. I am way to hard on myself. Rarely cut myself any slack. After all, I am human. Not even close to being perfect, I make mistakes, fall down (which hurts) and I always seem to pick myself up and keep going. It seems to take longer to get back to get going but I eventually do. I do have a couple of fun things in the works and I will give myself a little nudge to work on them.

I am okay.

The Day After and a New Year

Okay then. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July, whether you had to work or not, I hope you had a chance to spend time with friends and loved ones.  I did absolutely nothing except cook for the rest of the week.  My schedule is getting full and I've decided to make some changes.  I'm still working on being nicer to me and have decided that my time will be directed more to all that I want to do.  I'm stepping my game up several notches and moving full steam ahead on all things creative.  I don't know if I had an epiphany or what but my eyes have been open to the way I've done business.  No more.

What I am also doing is giving up one thing each month for the rest of the year.  It's a personal challenge I got from Zen Habits by Leo Babauta and I thought I'd give it a try.  It's A Year of Living Without, going a whole month giving up one thing I do regularly.  At the end of the month I will evaluate whether I enjoyed giving the thing up, whether it was worth leaving it out of my life, or do I need to put it back in.  The next month I'll give up something else.  It's an experiment to simplify one's life, finding out what's necessary and possibly making room for other cool things in my life. It's really nice because I can change my list as the year progresses if I find other things I want to give up.  At the end of the month, I will post what I've learned.  Leo is also doing the challenge which is cool.  I was debating on showing my whole list but I guess I'll do it in case you want to try to give up something in your world.  I'll start off with the first three months.

1. July - Give up TV.  Since I only have local channels that shouldn't be that difficult  But it also includes Netflix, You Tube and other video entertainment.  I've cut myself a little slack by being able to watch DVDs that I like because I work better with background noise.  I'll also be listening to a lot more music.  That's just how I roll.  I will replace it with reading more books.  We'll see how many I can finish by the end of the month.

2. August - No longer sitting longer than 30 minutes at a time.  Get up for 15 minutes and do something else. Replacement habit is to stretch more.

3. September - No dairy, that includes eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt.  Replace with more fruits and veggies.

Other things I will be doing as I move forward on this journey will be:

• Again, be nicer to me.
• Get Map Hunter II rough draft done
• Re-do my wardrobe (which is in seriously bad shape after losing lots of weight)
• Take more pictures of me
• Get going on my new Halloween pieces.
• Finish my second pair of socks
• Get that quilt top done 

That's it for right now.  Always a gazillion things to do and so little time.  Maybe I can change that around this month. Stay tuned.

Pictureless Post

For the past three months I've been having problems with my right thumb. I figured it was either tendinitis or arthritis. Well it got so bad I finally had to go to the clinic to have it checked out. It's arthritis. Figures. I cried. I finally figure out what I want to do with myself and I'm off to a great start and this. Several prescriptions sucking up money I don't have, the purchase of a thumb splint and I'm still here. I've also added some natural things to my diet. Ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, tart cherry juice, Glucosamine complex, Vit E-alpha, and topping it off with some exercise by knitting and working with clay.

Getting old sucks but I will not let this get me down. I will continue on making as many heads as I can before I can't use my hands at all. Who knows, they may find a cure by the time I reach 80. It's starting to feel better. The meds are kicking in and I have a lot of catching up to do. So stay tuned.

Game Night

A pictureless post peeps. Yesterday after my sock class with Maya (pics of that will follow because now I has a heel!) she invited me over for dinner and Canasta. Not one to pass up a free home cooked meal, I accepted. And I would like to get better at Canasta. Two others were going to join us so we would have three teams of two.

Maya's husband Joel made fresh chicken enchiladas that were amazing. Then we all sat at the kitchen table and played several hands. Two newbies caught on fast. It was different having that many people play. We didn't finish until after 1 on the AM this morning. We were so tired by the last round that we were begging the leading team to just take us out of our misery. But it was fun. Maya and Joel are planning a game night once a month. Not after a knitting class though. For me and Maya, our brains were fried after learning how to knit a heel along with some very special people in class.

Do you have a game night? I think it's a good way to actually talk and be around others. We seem to be missing that in our society today.

Girl's Day

Some of my gal pals (Maya, Amanda, Chrissy) and I decided to do a Girl's Day. A day of cooking, communing, and doing crafts. After all, that's what was done in the past when there were neighborhoods or way back when the women in the village got together to cook for everyone. We also want to see if it's more cost effective for everyone to chip in on ingredients, make something collectively to share than to buy stuff on our own and make the food. So far, it's the former. I wouldn't be able to make what we made by myself in one shot.

So this is what we made.

Vegetable soup or stew. Very hearty with leeks, onions, garlic, carrots, potato, tomato, celery, fresh parsley and bay leaf, organic gluten free veggie stock (we may start to make our own).

It was great being in a kitchen, cutting up ingredients, talking about life and laughing a lot.

 We also made gluten free rosemary bread. This one is mine. We made up our batters together and it was like a mini cooking class. The next time we do this recipe, we will allow it to sit a little longer and use buttermilk instead of skim milk. I tell you, that house smelled wonderful.

Here's my final loaf right out of the oven. With real butter, it's oh so lovely. After we ate, and we did eat, we pulled out knitting for about an hour. We plan on doing this once a month. Sometimes we will go berry picking when things are in season.

Happy Autumn!

It is the first day of Fall! Whoopee! I've been waiting for this day all summer. Ha, ha! I went to my local farmer's market and brought back some cool things.

Strings beans, spaghetti squash, okra, some hot peppers, mild peppers, radishes, handmade crackers with rosemary and dill, bitter melon, summer squash, tomatoes, and lamb sausage. For 31 bucks. Oh, I also got a lemon buttermilk doughnut. Would've cost more at the super market and I want to support my local farmers. I love the Old Salem Cobblestone Market.

Now that I have grub for awhile, it's time to get going on some projects and finish others. If you can, go out and enjoy your day.

Pictureless Post

Ack! Sorry that I don't have any pictures. I was enjoying the brief break in the heat this past weekend. Now it's getting cranked up again. Yuck! I am so looking forward to fall. But right now, it is what it is. Hot. Summer. I went to my local farmer's market here in town and picked up veggies to make Ratatouille. I've always wanted to try it ever since watching the animated movie with the same name. I found an easy recipe from a pal on Facebook and decided it was now or never. I do have to say that all the prep work and cooking time was so darn worth it! My apartment smelled oh so yummy. Now I just have to find an easy bread recipe and make my own bread. This will most definitely be added to the fall soup and stew line.

I will have things ready for the fair tonight and take pics for a post tomorrow. Once again, a teaching job fell through. I asked myself what the heck is going on? Yes, I cried. That was suppose to help out with bills in the fall. But I got over it. So for right now, I will put teaching on the back burner and concentrate on making figures. Just dive right in and do it. After Saturday. I am getting stronger and more determined to succeed at my art.

Oh, by the way, I got my second commission since quitting. Yay me!

My Birthday Pic 2012

Happy Birthday To Me, Happy Birthday To Me!
Two days into my New Year and I'm feeling pretty good. I've been busy, even though I'm still celebrating my birthday. I've gotten back to editing my kid's manuscript and I've been writing new material. I've sketched some new dollies, and I am content.

My good friend Maya took me out for a birthday dinner and it was so yummy. I even had a martini. Haven't had one of those in many months of Sundays. We went to Bonefish Grill because they have a gluten free menu for Maya. We had a wonderful shrimp and sun dried tomato appetizer. I had a cup of corn chowder, which was oh so yummy along with fresh bread and fresh basil with the best olive oil I've ever tasted. Maya had a chicken dish with fontina cheese, and I had a huge pork chop with mushrooms, cheese, proscuitto, and marsala sauce. We shared a huge macadamia nut brownie with homemade ice cream, and a raspberry sauce. Even the coffee was tasty. With every bite there was a different flavor. I felt like Ratatouille when he was eating the strawberry and cheese. I got a small box of chocolates and was serenaded by our waiter who sang opera on the side. It was great!