2018....Year of Zen.

Or maybe not.  Still waiting for that zen to kick in :)




Happy New Year! I'm sitting here typing with glass of gin & juice by my side, watching the snow fall outside.  The plan was to run today, but I seem to need all the stars to align to get me out there.  When I saw that cold powdery stuff, Plan B happened(cocktails).

I haven't sat down to this Blog in quite some time, last Spring I believe is when I last posted. I had been going through a bit, & realized this blog of mine was beginning to sound like a sad teenager's diary.  Anyway, slightly more optimistic me is back.

I have been making some art(pictures below).  This year I am wanting to check into getting some creations in a store...I kind of put that off last year.  I also want to be a better friend to the people who matter to me, & more congruent. You know, do what I say, say what I mean. Goals.  If you are out there reading this, I hope this new year you step out of your comfort zone...the scary, challenging stuff is when we are most alive. I hope you know that you matter! I hope you are more real, more you, & less hard on yourself.  Cheers!

Recently I've been getting the hang of weaving.

P.S.  I totally love this talk, have a listen if you like...Awesome Ted Talk with Lidia Yuknavitch

Filters

Ending Spring Break here & it's been a hard week.  Great to be off in a way, but the more time I have, the more my mind spins.  Work somewhat preoccupies me.  It would be great if my brain could just stop for once.  Stop replaying, stop analyzing.  Over & over again, it drags me back to places I don't want to be.

We went to a museum & a teahouse earlier, the kids & I.  I was driving & listening to them chatter all the way there.  Lost in my own thoughts. Wondering how things are ever going to change in my life.  Right now the sadness is, that I don't see a way.  

Having these kids helps me though.  They give me a reason for everything in life.  For them I got up and went out today, talked about teas & art installations.  Smiling, even though my heart wasn't in it.

I got some pictures of today's stuff, like I often do.  If you look over my Instagram feed, like most people's, my life looks pretty awesome. What can you really tell about someones life by the pictures they elect to put out into the universe? For that matter, how much do we really know about each other's hearts from what we selectively share?  I think most lives look pretty colorful when you put enough filters on them. 

Addendum:  What a dramatic whack-job?!?

Half

Half a year we've been in our new home.  No regrets.

Life is different though.  Not to sound like I am retirement home age yet or anything, but I kind of feel like this move out here, & this home may be our final stop.  Of course I don't know that, but I really don't picture myself moving all over the country.

I was talking to my friend Maya the other day, & we were kind of chatting about how when we were younger (& by that I mean youngsters in our thirties) life was about getting together with different people.  Meeting to exercise, parties, camping together, etc.....now not so much.

Kids are getting older, we are older & life has changed a bit.  In our case, we don't even know many people to hang out with out here.  So now it's kind of back to just me & Richard.  Good thing I like him :)

Anyway, I am hoping to continue to feel more settled & looking forward to new things in the next 6 months to come.  Grateful it has all gone so well, despite a few not so fun hiccups along the way.

Backyard skies

Hiking for my 43rd birthday

Skiing last weekend

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So lately I've felt a little like my art was having a Renaissance period.  I've sold a few more pieces.  Two clay pieces were bought for a television show set.  Mind you, I have no clue what they are doing with them, I had to sign a release.  For all I know they could be making fun of them on the show( I always go worst case scenario), but nevertheless it was kind of cool.  Also, I was contacted about putting my artwork in a new shop that is opening & was flattered to be asked.  I turned it down right now because the store/gallery is around 5 1/2 hours away, but it is nice to have the interest!  I've been back working with paper clay & below are a couple new things.