Journal Page

I'm exploring a new journal size: 6 inches by 6 inches. Am liking the unusual page size and also liking the portability of a smaller sized journal.

Here is a page from a tea and scone visit to my local bookstore. I've found that to be a magical combination for inspiration.

Dear 16-Year Old Me: Skin Cancer Awareness

Saw this video on Ali's blog and wanted to pass along this powerful reminder to take care of your skin this summer.

Welcome summer

After what feels like weeks of cold, wet and sun-less days, it finally feels like summer in these parts. Love it.

It is sailing season, so down on the boat getting her ready. Lots to do since we did not get a jump start - what with a couple of trips and the weather. This early in the season do not have my sea legs at all. So, am enjoying the warm breezes, the sway of the ocean and being rocked to sleep at night. Bliss.

Art Journaling

In case you were not aware of the free online workshops that Strathmore has hosted this year, check out this link.

The three workshops are informative. You do not have to use their journals to play in. Such a clever way for the company to launch new products.

Recent Reads

1. Deep Fathom
I figured this would be a good read for a trip - but it turned out not to be so. Too bad as it has some good ideas. Really poor execution, and the ending - puhlease. Don't bother.

2. Summertime
This is my book club selection for the month. My second book by the author, and while I did not find it a gripping read, there is something about it that stays with me.

3. What to Do When You Worry Too Much
A kid's guide to dealing with anxiety. I have a nephew who worries, so am looking into books to help him. This one is excellent.

4. The Lost Hero
I love talking about books with my nieces, and this one is a current fave. Book One of a new series with some of the characters from the really popular Percy Jackson series. Just finished it this morning - a fun romp through Greek and Roman mythology with lots of danger mixed in.

Rainy days

Sometimes there is so much going on that I need a break from the blog-o-sphere. I've had lots of fun family catch up time. I've been flying and driving and hiking. I've been reading and watching movies. I've been napping. I've been essentially recharging my batteries. During this rainy week, I am reminded that I need to create my own sunshine, independent of the weather outside. Be well.

Loving

Loving adventures on the road.
Loving time with family.
Loving a trip that involves planes, trains and automobiles.
Loving Yosemite National Park.
Loving setting up base camp for a week.
Loving long hikes and waterfalls everywhere I look.
Loving hot showers after a steep hike.
Loving watching climbers go up El Capitan.
Loving my new fave drink - the El Capitani.
Loving having breakfast while watching the play of light in Yosemite Valley.
Loving being surrounded by all this greenery after a week in the desert.
Loving betting on the Kentucky Derby, even though I did not win a thing.
Loving competitive games of Monopoly and chess with my nieces.
Loving being home again.

On the road

I'm delighted to be off on another adventure.

Will post updates as often as I can.
Until then my pretties, be well.

Recent Reads

1. Hungers of the Heart
I had heard the author on a podcast and was interested to read his book. Lots of good material to chew on. Love people who can articulate their position without arm waving. This is a little gem of a book.

2. Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness
Read this for an upcoming trip. Essays on conservation success and failures in the park and a look at photos of Yosemite through the seasons.

3. Outstanding Mini Albums
I am a fan of mini albums and make them every now and then, but this book is a little too cutesy for my taste.

4. The Decorated Journal
How many times have I read this one? A dozen times? Probably. And it does not disappoint. Am always inspired.

5. 365: A Daily Creative Journal
Fun book with fun ideas. More like a calendar with creative daily prompts. The idea of an everyday project for an entire year is intriguing. What will it be? Hmm....

6. The Glass Castle
This book has been on my list for ages, and I finally sat down to read it and could barely put it down. The story got a hold of me at the first sentence and I simply could not break free until I was done, and could come back up for air. I would highly recommend it.

7. Street Art
I am a fan of graffiti art and this was a fun book to peruse.

Journal Page

On of the fun things about long walks outdoors is that there is always the chance of finding treasures.

On a recent walk found this cuddly, much-loved guy, and wish that he had a return address on him so I could take him back home.

NMAI

Happy Easter.

I loved every museum that I explored while in DC, but I'd have to say that one of my faves was the NMAI.

Loved the building, the exhibits, the fab Mitsitam Cafe, well everything really. Loved how there were no sharp angles. Even exhibits that would normally be displayed in grid format were not. For example, a collection of arrowheads were arranged to look like swimming schools of fish. Love that.

I'm playing in a new journal. 6x6 inches. A new size for me to explore. So far am loving it. This journal page is a sketch of beaded art on a bag I saw on display at NMAI.

Branching Out

The Sketchbook Challenge theme for this month is Branching Out - Out On A Limb.

I decided to explore creating graffiti - a street art that I love, and have no idea how to do. To get some ideas I flipped through this book. Fascinating.

This page is so not my style. There are no words, and there is something unsettling about the image. Fits the theme perfectly.

Palo in DC

We've cleaned and put away all the stuff from the DC trip. I've been going through my photos and thought I'd share some pics of Palo's first trip to DC. In spite of some mishaps, she loved it and cannot wait to return.

Recent Reads

1. The Unthinkable
Read this book a year or so ago based on a reco from a friend and found it fascinating. It was my book club selection this month, so decided to listen to the audio version on our drive to DC. Thought provoking. And lots for my book club to talk about.

2. Rogue Wave
I was in the mood for a thriller so picked this one based on reviews, and honestly do not understand the rave reviews. This book is poorly written and the characters are rather one dimensional and not flushed out. The only positive thing I have to say about the book is that I learned a bit more about the tsunami warning system in the Pacific. My recommendation: don't bother.

3. Subterranean
I was still in the mood for a thriller, so picked up this book. Have read several books by the author and this is not one of his better ones. An okay, fast read, but not a book I would recommend.

Am still in the mood for a thriller, so if you are a thriller reader, what would you recommend?

Art Journal Page

Here was the prompt for my local art journal group this month: for this meeting, you will need to find a photo of yourself as a kid - baby, toddler, grade school. Find a photo that you like, hate, whatever. Is it in color or black and white? How will you use this image in your art journal? Come with your finished page to show and tell.

Here is what I ended up with. The idea that came to me involved colored photos and the concept of time. I scanned a photo I have always loved and played with colors. I used Tim Holtz masks to create the clock images. I love seeing how other members interpreted the prompt. Such creative ideas.

The wonders of DC

Am back home from a quick trip to Washington DC. It has been several years - maybe even a decade, since I was last in DC and I forgot how I walked around in awe the last time I visited. This trip was no different.

I need time to digest all the wonders I experienced. I could spent my entire life exploring just the museums. So much inspiration.

These pages are a couple of quick sketches done in the National Gallery of Art - East Wing, where I spent some time. Special exhibits included Gauguin: Maker of Myth and Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals. Both are incredible - if you get a chance, you gotta go experience it for yourself.

Screen free days

Well my pretties, every now and then it is fun and restorative to unplug from all electronic devices - especially those with screens. I'll be doing that this week, and will be back next weekend to share my adventures. May you have a story worthy week.

Journal Page

I took my journal along while accompanying Babes to a medical procedure.

Am not comfortable drawing a person in situ - am convinced that they will catch me staring, come over and look at my drawing of them, and get insulted by my lack of skill. Did draw this guy across from me - he was busy watching TV.

Went out for a quick walk and captured the view. Buildings are safer to draw - you cannot hurt their feelings.

Recent Reads

1. Making Handmade Books
I've read dozens of books on how to bind my own journals. This book covers the usual assortment of bindings - but with lovely photos. Just makes you want to do some binding - and I did.

2. Creative is a Verb
Like other books that Patti has written, this must be read at a slow enough pace to savor the writing and give the inspiration time to marinate. Beautiful, Thought provoking. Inspirational. Loved it.

3. How to Draw Animals
Not a how-to book as much as a little reference book.

4. An Illustrated Life
I have read this book (devoured would be more apt a description) at least a dozen times. Love everything about it.

Stories

I believe in the power of stories. Stories captured. Stories shared.

Take 18 minutes out of your day and listen to Sarah Kay in this talk. I dare you not to be inspired.

Brown skin

In keeping with my last post, here are some lovely ladies with brown skin.

I had such fun drawing the hair - it was rather meditative. I considered creating a textured background, but ended up with what seems to be my style - lines of text.

Skin color

On this rainy day, I'm thinking about the fuss over skin color. I mean, we do all know by now (I hope!) that the color of our skin is due to melanin. More pigment, darker skin. Less pigment, lighter skin. An evolutionary adaptation to the climes we evolved in.

So why all the fuss over skin color? On trip to Thailand several years ago, was hard pressed to find any lotion or potion that did not lighten my skin while I slept, ate, or otherwise went about my day. What are these lightening ingredients? Who knows? Surely that is not as important as having the highly prized lighter skin no? So what if the mercury destroys your skin over time? We are all dying anyway, so we might as well look fair and lovely while we are alive no?

A distinct memory from many years ago floats up through my neurons. My sister, my cousins and I are sun bathing on a very crowded piece of sand in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Why, since we are already dark skinned are we sun bathing, you might wonder. Because the heat of the sun warms you from the inside out. Because the sun rays seem to lightly stroke your skin. Because in short, it feels good. So there we are, all spread out on our beach blankets soaking up the rays, when we hear loud shouting. In Malayalam. It is my Ammachi, on a balcony at least fifteen floors up, who happened to look down and could not believe what her eyes were telling her. Surely those could not be her grand daughters lying in the sun making themselves darker. Could it? Her yelling got no reaction. Figuring that for some reason we did not understand Malayalam, Ammachi switches to English, and yells, “Girls! Get out of the sun! You will become black!”. People on the beach start looking up to see what all the hullabaloo is about. Our response is the only sensible one given the circumstances – ignore the strange, crazy woman who seems to be yelling at someone else.

Skin color is just that. The color of our skin. Nothing more. Nothing less. All the baggage we assign to it is just that. Our baggage. I have spent much of my life hearing some well intentioned person say that I am too dark. That I should spend less time outdoors, and try to keep my skin fair. That no one wants to marry a darkie. Proved them wrong, and on this rainy day, I think about the sun and miss how it feels on my skin.

How to steal like an artist

Read this fun reminder to get outside our comfort zones and play.
Check it out here.

Words to live by

While reading this book I came across this: "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity" - Hanlon's razor, and it stopped me in my tracks. It is like someone just told me that the earth was really flat. That is how much my mental maps just quaked. The world is a different place today.

Am playing with faces again in my journal. I was playing with dreads - something I had considered doing to my locks while in Thailand a couple of years ago. What stopped me? The heat. That simple. I added color using Portfolio water soluble oil pastels - love the creamy colors and texture of these pastels.

The future of education

If you are interested in a cool and free way to get the kids in your life hooked on learning; or even interested in a refresher course or two yourself, you gotta check out this talk.

Recent Reads

1. The Roads Taken
If you love to travel and love to read, this is a fun book of essays to while away the hours while sitting in your comfy spot planning your next trip.

2. Oryx and Crake
Decided to read this book before diving into this sequel. I am not a big sci-fi or post-apocalyptic world fan, but quite enjoyed this book. Lots to think about.

Journal Page

And just like that we are at the end of March.

Winter seems to refuse to let go. We've got an April Fools winter storm on tap for tomorrow. Remember the year we woke up to 2 feet one April Fools Day. Am hoping for a little less this time around.

Recent Reads

1. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle
Got a reco from my sister about this book. Had never heard of it before and found it an enjoyable read. The setting is Trinidad around the time the British left, and how things never quite turn out how you expect.

2. Face Off
I'm learning how to draw faces and this book is really good at breaking the process down into little steps.

3. Water Paper Paint
A good book if you are an absolute beginner to watercolors. A little too low-level for me, though the pics are lovely.

4. The Pact
Just finished this book last night and liked it. Classic Picoult style. Which would be harder to deal with: the murder of a loved one, or a suicide?

Elizabeth Taylor

I was saddened to hear the news yesterday that Elizabeth Taylor died. They just don't make great dames like that anymore. Here are some of my fave quotes:

• I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them.
• I've only slept with men I've been married to. How many women can make that claim?
• People who know me well, call me Elizabeth. I dislike Liz.
• The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

Journal Page

You might know that I am working on getting better at drawing faces this year. Hence, all the face pages I've been posting.

While making a fire last night saw a photo in the NYT that caught my attention, so did a quick sketch. Really like how it turned out, and am now realizing how much I do not know about color mixing. Well, I guess when you know everything there is to know you die, so gotta long way to go there.

Journal Page

After our play date last week, my nephews gave me a couple of their Pokemon toys to play with - not to keep mind you, to borrow.

Here is a quick sketch of the creatures currently visiting. The page already had the background paint on it - leftover from other projects. Used ink and markers for the toys. Fun way to capture the little moments in life.

Journal Page

I love the line that I get with the Koh-I-Noor Rapido Sketch pen. My only complaint is that the packaging has no instructions on how to refill the ink, so that took a bit to figure out.

This page was a test of the pen after the refill, and captures a memory of Mexico. I am so looking forward to some upcoming trips.

Welcome Spring

While it does not feel like Spring outdoors, it certainly feels that way inside me.

Did you celebrate the equinox yesterday? Such a lovely day in these parts. The night before we loaded up big mugs of tea and went to the local park to watch the huge, yellow moon rise. An auspicious start to the new season.

Recent Movies

1. Iron Man 2
Why does Hollywood even bother making movies like these? Such a good cast of actors but such a crappy movie. Guess the more pertinent question is why I watch bad movies till the bitter end.

2. Temple Grandin
If you have not seen this movie, you simply must do so. Loved everything about it.

3. The Inheritance
Based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott. I the movie a little formulaic, but entertaining nonetheless.

4. Babies
Thought provoking documentary film that follows 4 babies for the first year or so of their lives. No dialogue, yet it draws you in. Lovely.

A world apart

Have been thinking about juxtapositions lately.

Was at the mall to change my watch battery and saw a long long of people outside the Apple store. Some were in chairs and spread out on sleeping bags. What for? The iPad2 release. Came home and looked through some of the heart breaking photos from Japan. One photo was a long line of people waiting in line. What for? Water. Puts things in perspective no?

The news from Japan is that the radiation levels are under control. BBC reports that it is another 3-mile island scenario. Somebody is lying.

News from Japan

The news from a friend in Tokyo is that the nights are chilly with no way to get warm. The pantry is getting close to empty and there is no food to buy. They are down to 2 pounds of rice. There continues to be aftershocks. There is concern about the nuclear reactors. She is sleeping with her shoes by her pillow in case they have to evacuate the house suddenly. And this is in the city. What must be the plight of others with even less access? So very scary.

Spilling Over

The sketchbook theme this month is Spilling Over, and I gotta tell you that these were the first two images that came to my mind! So here they are - Muffin Top and Beer Belly.

Journal Page

Love silhouettes. The background was created using wet acrylics and plastic wrap.

It feels like spring - in spite of the quick snow squall this afternoon. Daylight savings always messes up my internal clock. Love watching the animals scamper around. The delicate buds are a promise of a new beginning.

The day the earth shook

Woke up this morning to hear about the 8.9 earthquake in Japan.

Could not drag my eyes away from the footage. There is something that shakes us to our reptilian core when the ground beneath our feet moves. Yes, we intellectually understand that we are on a little piece of land floating on this huge hot ocean of magma, hurtling our way through space, but at our core, we simply do not believe it. The intellect that understands this crazy notion developed so much later, and is not as built into our DNA as what we know at our core: moving earth = bad. And if that is not bad enough, the tsunami - such a lovely name for something so scary - comes roaring through swatting all man-made objects out of its way like we swat at gnats. And then there was that whirlpool in the ocean - simply could not believe my eyes.

I've held the people of Japan and all affected in my thoughts today. May you and your loved ones be safe.

Recent Reads

1. Writing Down the Bones
If you write, this book has some fab ideas and things to think about. Loved it.

2. Olive Kitteridge
This is my book club selection for the month, and while I enjoyed the stories, was left with what I am usually left with after reading short stories - fun but not satisfying.

3. Globejotting
As I was putting together my latest travel journal decided to read this fun book. Some excellent ideas and tangible exercises that I'll incorporate. Loved it.

4. Washington, DC Free & Dirt Cheap
Am reading up for an upcoming trip - so much to do so little time!

Journal Page

An example of how a page is made around a quote. Was listening to Madeleine Albright who said, " there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other". Love that and quickly jotted it down. The woman was inspired by Modigliani - love his work. Quick and easy page - total time about 20 minutes.

Happy Mardi Gras

Loving playing with masks and beads from Mardi Gras season. Loving crazy March. Loving sun kissed skin. Loving the return of the Robin. Loving the chipmunk who does his sun salutations each morning on the front stairs. Loving reading by the fire. Loving mugs of hot tea. Loving playing with paints. Loving planning trips. Loving being over-excited.

Journaling with kids

Love time spent art journaling with my ns. These 2 spreads are from my 2010 travel journal that I created with my nieces. I love hands, and the girls were delighted when I traced their hands and they got to select their fave colors for me to add to the outlines.


The kids are always bringing me little stuffed animals to draw. This is Germany. The other pages were created by alternating playing with stencils and lines. Faces by Sophia (7).

Journal Page

A quick sketch during a fun art journal discussion on Saturday. The page already had the music scraps pasted down. Added color at home. Quick and easy and captures a moment in time.

Art Journal Tutorial

My local art journal group had the prompt HOME for this month.

I do not normally sketch out an idea when I play with my journal. In this particular case, I happened to be writing in my everyday journal and an idea popped into my head, so jotted it down. Went back several days later and used it as my inspiration. I love understanding how something is created, so thought I'd make a short video to show my process on this page. Love how it turned out.

You can see a brief tutorial on how I created this page here.

Journal Page

Really delighted with how this page turned out.

I had the background painted already - using up paint from a different project.

Spent some time at my local B&N with a cup of tea and a scone (this seems to be the magic combination that inspires me), and flipped through several mags and books. Saw an image in this book that snagged my attention. Did a pen sketch and wrote the text at the store and added the color and stamps at home.

Art Journal Flip

I am exploring how to make a video and already know more than I did a couple of days ago. Such fun. My second attempt is a video flip of one of my finished art journals. You can see it here.

I love these 6x9 size journals. I use 9x12 watercolor paper folded in half. Each journal has 3 signatures, and each signature has 6 sheets. I bind the signatures using a simple long stitch. The spine is made of fabric samples. My journals are only precious to me once I fill them. They are like dear friends who have traveled with me for a while. They hold so many memories.

Journal Page

March already. A new month, a new start. Love that it is staying light longer. Feel the sap running. Been exploring many new things. So much fun.

I realized that I did not have black and white pages in my journal, so decided to create one. Then could not resist adding a burst of color.

Travel Journal

I made my first ever video yesterday - a journal flip of my latest travel journal - made for an upcoming trip. You can see it here.

Journal details:
After considering the various book binding options, I decided to go with a simple ring bound book. I've used this style before and they are wonderfully easy to use while traveling. The book opens flat. It is easy to add and re-arrange pages. And the book can expand as much as needed. For this book I'm using four 1.5 inch book rings.

I made the covers using recycled cardboard and wallpaper samples. The inside of the book contain watercolor paper (pre-painted and blank), cardstock, wallpaper, scrapbook paper, vellum, stickers, writing paper, grid paper, envelopes, stamps, paint samples, staples, watercolors, etc. I decided this would be a good book to use up some of the scraps left over from other projects.

Love fat and juicy journals just waiting to be filled.

Opposites - Seasonal Footwear

Got this idea after shoveling out yesterday. Am ready for the beach.

Opposites - Light Dark

The Feb sketchbook theme is Opposites. I got the inspiration for this theme on a late afternoon walk the other day. The cracks in the road around the sewer cover. So pretty.

Fridge Poems

I love these magnetic poetry kits. So much fun. Here are some of the poems on the fridge at the moment.

Recent Reads

1. Drawing from Life
There is so much inspiration packed in this book. I dip in every year or so to let new ideas soak in.

2. Painted Paper
Just the color of the the pages is enough to feed my creative cat. So many good ideas.

3. Northanger Abbey
My first foray into Austen and I loved it. Such keen insight into human nature in this little gem. I polled various Janeites as to what order I should read the books and wanted to share this little gem with you: "I'd suggest to start with "Northanger Abbey" because the novel really shows Jane Austen's personality and sense of humor. Then I would move on to "Pride and Prejudice" because "Northanger Abbey" would have really warmed you up to catch all the humor in the book. Then read "Mansfield Park" to give you an idea of the diversity of Jane Austen's characters. After that go for "Sense and Sensibility" for a good contrast to "Mansfield Park's" calm and quiet heroine. After that I think you should read "Persuasion" to see the the effects of love lost and love come back. Then you should read "Emma" because her story is something of a culmination of all Jane Austen's books put together in a very entertaining way, and then, last but most definitely not least, you should read "Lady Susan" because the book is just icing on the cake of all Austen's works . Enjoy!:-)"

Watching

Okay, you know me, you know that I have no cable and am not a fan of most TV shows.

I have been watching several BBC/PBS productions lately and would highly recommend them. If you have not seen them yet, I would highly recommend Downton Abbey and Bleak House. Both are simply fab.

What are you watching? Anything good?

Snow day

Loving the gentle snow fall. Loving feeling like I'm in a snow globe. Loving a snow day. Loving fun and thought provoking discussions with my book club. Loving time well spent. Loving my first foray into Jane Austen. Loving getting letters and postcards in the mail. Loving being home. Loving the thrill of planning a trip. Loving the feel of a good pen in my hand. Loving that I am writing. Loving the company of friends.

Recent Reads

1. Sabbath
I found this a meditative and reflective read. You know the kind of book that reminds you of things you know but have forgotten? Loved it.

2. The Geography of Bliss
My book club will be talking about this one tomorrow. I started reading the book and found the writing annoying, so decided to listen to the audio book - much better as I think each chapter was written as a podcast. While I did not find the content all that enlightening, I love that the book brought up some good questions to think about. Looking forward to a fun discussion.

3. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
First book I've read by the author and I loved being immersed in the world of comics and the years leading up to WW2. Wonderful read.

4. Real Life Journals
Fun book filled with so much inspiration. Loved it.

5. Rethinking Acrylics
So many ideas, so little time. A fun exploration of ways to play with paints.

6. Diario De Oaxaca
A feast for the eyes. Love books like this.

Muse calling

This is the first thing I did when I got out of bed this morning. And I mean the very first thing - before even brushing my teeth. When the muse calls I gotta follow.

Was flipping through this book yesterday before I went to bed. And somewhere in my dreams I realized that I had bottles of printer ink that I had not gotten rid off yet - and viola - jumped out of bed this morning to find my stash.

So after an hour or so of splashing inks about and making a nice mess, I've got painted paper that I plan to tear down and bind into a book.

Yes, I got things to do, but I remember what an elderly man said to me on a golf course many moons ago: the graveyard is full of good housekeepers.

Red

The photo theme of the month is Red - one of my fave colors. Here is some red packaging at my local HMart.

Travel Journal WIP

Am in the process of creating a new travel journal. After mulling over the pros and cons of different binding styles and sizes, have decided on a book that is 9x6 inches and uses binder rings for ease of use while traveling.

I pre-painted some paper with watercolors - such a relaxing and fun way to play with paints.

Journal Page

Here is a journal page from earlier this month inspired by Issek.

It has been a while since I played in my journal - been busy making a new travel journal for an upcoming trip. Will post pics when I get a chance.

Journal Time

Love playing with my journals and pens and paints and have gotten my nieces and nephews into it as well. During my visit to Vegas in Dec, we got to play in our new journals. You can see pics of the fun time here.

Loving

Loving warmer days. Loving how the sun feels on my skin. Loving being on snow shoes. Loving the crunch of snow underfoot. Loving that my body feels used. Loving time away from my computer. Loving playing with paints. Loving season four of The Tudors. Loving being lost in a book. Loving learning things I never knew. Loving remembering things I knew but forgot. Loving snugging under a warm electric blanket. Loving shorter hair. Loving long chats. Loving good food. Loving being immersed in a good book. Loving time with babes. Loving being in the here and now.

Recent Reads

1. Stitch Alchemy
Fun book with some really good ideas.

2. Burnt Shadows
First book I've read by the author and I loved it. The multi-generational story of two families that intertwine over the course of events that changed the course of history - the bomb at Nagasaki, the partition of India and Pakistan, the Afghan war and 911. Beautifully told personal stories in the face of national and global tragedies. I have added her other books to my list to read.

3. Creative Illustration Workshop
An interesting look into how an artist creates.

4. How to Meditate
My word for 2011 is explore and I am exploring meditation. I have practiced in an ad-hoc manner for years, but decided it was time to dive deeply. Started with this audio book and I love it. The CDs are recorded sessions from a retreat and the author covers philosophy, basic instructions, various techniques, etc. I can feel my mind rearranging itself. Love that.

Winter wonderland

Here are some pics from the dig-out yesterday. Don't recall ever having this much snow on the ground before.

Happy New Year

Depending on which Zodiac calendar you follow, this is either the year of the rabbit, or the year of the cat. Like life is not confusing enough....

Well after the 2 day winter storm that dumped almost 18 inches, the shoveling continues. The snow banks are now higher than my head, so have to fling the snow overheard as I shovel. My back is not happy about that. Maybe I'll get out there in heels today - every little bit of height would help!

This is a doodles page from my current journal.

Winter hump day

Happy winter hump day - we are halfway between the solstice and the equinox. Groundhog Phil saw no shadow, so an early spring on tap. If you believe a groundhog that is.

One of the things I am exploring this year is meditation. Have dabbled on and off for years, and decided to dive deeper this year. Have been listening to How to Meditate by Pema Chodron and can feel my brain re-arranging itself. This journal page contains my notes from Lesson 3.

Bracing

Here in the northeast we are bracing for another winter storm - could be as much as 2 feet and I'm not sure where we will put it all. The snow banks are already shoulder height. Find it amusing that the forecast is for snow today and ice pellets tomorrow.

One of my fave things to do is hang out at a bookstore, sipping tea, munching on a scone and flipping through magazines for inspiration. Found these adorable owls by Juliette Crane. The drawing and writing happened in the store and I added the watercolors at home. Love how it turned out.