2-2-18


Last night and today I have been trying to weed out some photo files I have on the computer...
photos of ideas for jewelry
inspirational quotes
portraits of interesting people
great shots of animals and plants... and places
and even some older shots of things I have made.

The photo for today's post is one I found in a box at a yard sale.
I love it.


1-31-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Marge busied herself with the smallest of tasks...
normal little things that wouldn't take normal folks any time at all to do,
took her all day. Sometimes longer.
She would glory in trimming her nails. examining each one as if it was a precious gem, smoothing the rough edges,
looking for pits and dents to file. Adding lotion, buffing the nails... it was an event.
Dusting was an all-day affair. Lifting each object, wiping the nooks and crannies... polishing was even more elaborate.
Which solution to use... which cloth to choose.. you must have the right tools to do the best job.
Laundry was another exploration in the finite as well. Repairing tears, taking out stains...
ironing and folding. ... getting the creases just right. You had to take care if you wanted perfection.
Spring cleaning took on an entirely different bent.
Sorting clothes by color, by size... arranging them all in order in the closet.
Spices must be neatly tucked on shelves in alphabetical order,
soup cans turned so that each would have the label front and center as you open the cupboards...
shoes neatly stacked in order of task they were used for, sitting in a line by the front door.
There was just so much to be done!
She didn't have time for a job... or children... glory no.
How would she fit it all in?
There were recipes to type up and file on index cards, to be placed in her grandmother's favorite metal box
tucked on top of the refrigerator. There were socks to be mended with fine stitching by the fireplace on winter nights.

And so on it went.
She is probably out there still... cataloging books, organizing bureau drawers,
folding towels into precise thirds... checking fruit in grocery stores for exact freshness...
cutting the grass by the flag post with scissors....

1-29-18


Thank goodness for my family.
I have been having horrible back problems for awhile now, and today my daughter made a huge pot of chili, as well as cooking a bunch of chicken to put away in the freezer for future use. My hubby and her ran errands, and took care of some things around the house... and it was wonderful. 
We are a great team.... and I am so thankful for them.

Most of my focus recently, has been on taking care of my mom, who is having worsening memory issues... (as well as physical problems). Interestingly, she can remember every song from the 30s and 40s... but has no recollection of much of anything that has happened in the last 20years or so. Bits and pieces here and there are still intact... but there are definitely chunks missing. Some days she is pleasant about it all... some days she is much more frustrated -- which I can certainly understand. There are obvious changes in both her habits and personality. It is what it is. And so I try to make her as comfortable as I can... which includes keeping a fire in the fireplace (she is always cold)... having old movies or music on all the time (which she enjoys)... and finding things for her to do that she can do to give her more confidence and feelings of accomplishment/ contributing.

This weekend, I was able to make some sets of envelopes. I make them from recycled/ salvaged pages of old books, maps and papers. Using my own templates, I make them in a variety of sizes as the papers allow. I hate to throw out old books... and this is a neat way to keep them alive and useful. Soon.... I hope to be able to get back into the studio and work on some art and jewelry as well. But for now... I wish you peace. 
See you all tomorrow.



1-25-18


I've had this older, cotton batted/ foam filled futon down in the studio.... thinking about what I could do with it; and it finally occurred to me that a little fuzzy bundle of fur would probably love it for a bed in the living room. So last night I chopped it up into sizable hunks, and covered it in recycled sheets. At the moment it has a quilt thrown on top; but I hope to make removable covers for it.
Funny part is, that ZeeZe knew it was for him, and wouldn't get off of it. 
So here I am sewing it together, while sitting on the floor.... dog on top of the futon. 
He never left it until I kindly asked him to move so I could put a blanket on it and position it in the room
... whereupon he immediately went back on it. 
I'm thinking he's pretty happy...

1-24-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Johnathan Davis grew up in Cincinnati, and loved music.
From the time he woke up in the mornings, to when he fell asleep at night,
it was all about the music.

He loved Swing and Big Band for breakfast,
Motown for lunch...
and smooth Jazz for dinner.

When it came time to learn a musical instrument in school, he immediately gravitated towards the trumpet
... so he could play the likes of one of his favorites, Louise Armstrong.
In high school, he did odd jobs at the local radio station, and gradually got promoted to disc jockey.
He became well known for his anecdotes about famous singers and bands;
and it was not long before a famous station in Detroit picked him up.
He was on his way!
Going by the moniker 'JohnnieD'... he made a career out of his love of music.
Upon retirement, he opened up his own jazz themed bar in Honolulu,
and it became a swinging hot-spot for celebs and locals alike.
Rock on' JohhnieD.... rock on.



1-23-18

These past few days I've been trying to catch up on listing some things in the Etsy shop 
(like the envelope sets below). 
 I've also been trying to keep up with a daily photo that involves Lego minifigs
 ... which I am selling on Ebay (see the Leia scene at the bottom). 
 It's been difficult because I am up several times a night with my mom, as well as providing care for her during the day
... and my sleep gets interrupted... which, as you know... is not good for someone with Lupus
 and immune problems, as we need all the sleep we can get. But alas, it is what it is, and I am happy that I am able to provide for her. 
 More than ever, I am thankful that (because of the Lupus) I have learned to do things when I am able too, and rest when I can
... and not get 'hung up' on everything having to be perfect. 
Life is too short. 
 Hang in there everyone... and I'll see you tomorrow.



"I tell you, Leia, I just don't understand the bun thing. 
I think you would look so much better in a bob," said Lydia...

1-22-18


... only 2 hours of sleep... which is not good for anyone,
So I am doing what I can today.

On the plus side, it is gorgeous outside... tons of misty light and fog...
and our little girl deer came a couple times to visit 💙
And I've made chili for dinner.
See you all tomorrow.

1-18-18


The other night, we had a family meeting and reviewed our goals and plans for the coming few months. What with having my mom move in several months ago, life has been a bit chaotic... especially with all the holidays and such as well. Money has been extremely tight, and there is so much to be done (as is normal for most folks I would assume)... that it is quite easy to become overwhelmed and full of despair. Plus, I feel so very behind on things... that I am afraid that I will never "catch up"... or whatever that means... and my anxiety level has been high.
So we have made/updated our vows to keep each other feeling loved and encouraged.... and more on task of the things we want & need to accomplish. To that end, we have devised a tentative 'schedule' of sorts... with the intention of allowing each of us to have time to be creative and work on things important to us... as well as having allotted time to work on things that need to get done. Being self-employed is difficult... and more so with both of us being primarily self employed; but we both realize how very important it is to us... so we are doing what we can to make it work. We are a team. .. . and a good one at that. 

1-17-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Darcy and Diana were inseparable.
Friends since they were toddlers, they went to school together,
went to parties together... why, they even went to finishing school together.
As adults, they worked in the same department store,
and spent their summer vacations together traveling.

This photo shows them during a winter holiday (in their older years),
resting on the front porch of an inn they were staying at.
Friendships like theirs don't often span the length of a lifetime,
and Darcy and Diana knew they were some of the "lucky ones."

Do you have a good friend like that?
Send them a note.. or better yet, give them a call or a visit.
You'll be glad you did.
See you next week for another old time photo and story.

1-16-18


My sincere and profound THANKS to everyone who has helped us so far in this fabulous journey.
Today has been quite a day... with lots of twists and turns.
But, tomorrow is a NEW day... 
and another fresh start on this adventure of earning our own way; doing what we love.
Jim will be continuing to work on his book... and do some online work...
and I, of course, will continue to work as a full-time care provider for my mom 
and work on my jewelry and art as I am able.
We are very grateful for all your love and support.
Please continue to follow along. 

for the weekend


photos from this weekend...
deer in the yard and some things I am finally getting listed for sale online...
and trying to rest a bit.



1-12-18


...floating... 

Some days you just get a bit overwhelmed, and all you can do it sink.. or float.
I am happily floating.
See you all tomorrow.