Sniff Sniff!!!

I can't believe I'm sick!!! Or is it just allergies??? How does one know the difference?? Either way, I'll be staying home today, missing my Artist's Way group this morning. I really enjoyed this weeks chapter too---all about having compassion for all the other people in the world. Focusing on how we are the same and not on the differences--not judging people--realizing that we are all human beings with human issues. Regardless of where we live, the color of our skin, our economic status, the clothes we wear--none of it matters. What matters is our "human-ness". It's what we all have in common!!!
On another note---hauled a short bookcase that was my mom's, upstairs and hoisted it onto the old oak dresser yesterday. Now I have a storage "unit"!! Big drawers topped by shelves---I'm so excited!! The room is starting to look like a place where you might want to create something!!
Who knows what will happen next!!!

Determined??? Or Just Stupid???

I had a sudden inspiration yesterday. I decided the old oak dresser that had been in my mom's kitchen my whole life (stored pots, pans, tablecloths etc.) would be WONDERFUL for storage in my art room. Problem? The dresser was sitting in my basement and my art room is 2 floors up from there!! Of course I was home alone and I wanted it done NOW!!! So I just did it!! Took out all the drawers, flipped the dresser upside down and basically slid it up the 2 flights of stairs!!! I told my husband I had performed a super human feat!! He knows how I am---when I decide I want something done I am NOT going to wait until there is someone around to help me!! Not always a smart decision but the job does get done!! So now it's up there looking beautiful and antiquey(?) and nostalgic. The drawers have new shelf paper lining and I am ready to fill it up!! I just needed a better place to store my stash of large paper and things!! So my back is sore but my heart is happy!!!

Collage Workshop!

I spent all day yesterday at Laura Lein-Svencner's collage workshop at the McCord Gallery. It was WONDERFUL!!! Such a fun day of creating and "playing"!! We made soooo many papers to work with---almost ran out of time to collage!! But I got one done and I really like it!! If I could, I would post a photo!! ****Frustration!!!!**** One of these days......

Our Journey

"I haven't a clue how my story will end, but that's all right.
When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that's
when you discover the stars."

--Nancy Willard--

I need to keep this in mind everyday!! I keep trying to take action (baby steps) but sometimes I worry too much that I will wander off the path!! What path? is what I need to ask myself. There is no path----just follow your heart. I have faith it will take me where I am meant to go.

A Sense of Wonder

Did you see that moon coming up tonight??? WOW!!! I am truly in awe of the miracles of everyday life. That big orange ball popping up from the horizon reminds me that we are also floating thru space on a ball---a ball that is capable of supporting life, lucky for us!! We need to take care of our "ball".

"If I had influence with the good fairy, I would ask that her gift to each child be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life."
--Rachel Carson--

Time

Why does time seem to be the bane of my existence? I was looking forward to today---a day with no commitments. And I woke up this morning with a knot of anxiety in my gut. I laid in bed and tried to just sit with that feeling and figure it out but I can't. All I could think of was that there were so many choices---so many things that I want to do---how do I choose?? I constantly feel that there aren't enough hours in the day, days in the week, weeks in the month and months in the year. And I guess that takes me to years in my life.....will I have enough??? I guess I need to work on being "in the moment". Sounds easy enough BUT.....it's not!!! I think I've been this way my entire life. Even as a kid I remember being very aware of time passing, of childhood racing by. I NEVER WANTED TO GROW UP!!!! I still don't!! I don't want to get to "the end" and feel like I've wasted it all. I better go get busy doing something!!!!

Yesterday....

Tuesday was an all-around good day!!!! I went to my Artist's Way group in the morning. And though there was bad news shared by one of the members and we all shed a tear or two, the love and support pouring from everyone was beautiful!!
After that I went to the luncheon and program on mandalas. AND I got to meet Elena who is such a lovely person!!! Up till now I only knew her in "blog-land". I hope you enjoyed it Elena---some of their programs are better than others but I enjoyed learning a little more about mandalas and how they're intended to be used. I had kind of a strange feeling sitting and talking with you----kind of like I was talking to myself in a different package!!! Does that sound totally weird?!?!? And please don't feel bad if you didn't feel the same way. It's just something I felt the need to express!! It's such a beautiful day----I hope you're out enjoying your bike!!!