A Story About Our Snowflakes

     This evening, just a few minutes ago, it started to snow again.  How many times has it snowed this winter?  Too many, I say!  I noticed it starting about 10 minutes ago when I put my dog outside, my long-haired miniature dachshund named Jasmine, for her last pit-stop of the day.  I looked for my cell phone, since this I use this for one of my two alarms for the morning (this will be another blog someday, my story of trying to get up and get my act together for the morning) and I realized that I must have left it on my front seat of my car again.  Last night I decided to leave it in the car, but I decided this is too risky to do again, so off I went outside in the dark and discovered that the snow intensity increased.  My first thought was, just run and get the phone, but then I thought, no, just spend a moment watching the snow.  So, I bent my head back and looked straight up and was amazed at the zillions of snow flakes just soaring down, and each one had a different flight.  Some were making circles, some were zipping back and forth, some were flipping around, it was really incredible!  Then I looked into the spotlight and saw them darting sideways.  But then I discovered if I just stared straight ahead, focusing on nothing, then I could see the tracking pattern of the snowflake's path and it looked like a meteor shower!  I am grateful that I took this moment to notice something that I have been taking for granted and not enjoying at all.  I guess I did a bit of mindfulness.  So, I wanted to share this, and now it is time to set all alarms and end this day.  My latest endeavor that I was working on all evening is knitting a shrug,, I will talk about this soon, since this is a project that is a gift. Good night, my audience.

A Dry Spell

My Art Space

     As I write my blog today, I need to explain that I have been in a dry spell for art creativity.  I know this will pass, but it has affected my thought creativity as well, hence, there has been my lack of blogging.  I need only explain this much, that in years gone by, my life has been so jumbled up with events, changes, disappointments, elation, insomnia, restful sleep, working insanely, not working at all, then working again, taking art lessons, not taking art lessons (the list could go on), that my psyche gets exhausted processing everything.  So much I want an even keel, and this is a big part of my reinvention.  With this exhaustion comes getting behind in tasks, or putting things in a room to sort later, just close the door and no one will know.
     My drawing table happens to be in this room, which was painted and decorated a few years ago.  There is a daybed with a trundle for guests in this room, as well as a beautiful desk and chair.  I have read a bit about Feng Shui and I knew my chi was way off balance in this room, since this was the room to close the door and sort with stuff later.  All of this going through stuff is not any fun at all, but very necessary to get myself out of being stuck.   I believed my art table was in a place that did not foster creativity, it was in a dark corner.  So, the desk is in the place where the the table was and I am thoroughly enjoying having my laptop computer in this space and sitting here typing away now.  My table is where it is visible to anyone passing by, and is near the window and sunlight, should the sun decide to come out and be seen.  It just feels alot better, and I believe there is more energy by just moving the table out.  I had previously been using the dining room table, or a corner in the living room, and I won't say I will not use those places again, but this is a nice place to sit quietly with some nice music on.
     The corner has a nice bird hanger, which I have filled with a crocheted birds nest I found when I visited Illinois last fall, and I have filled this nest with nest filler and eggs I found at a craft strore.  Above, is a mink that ladies wore on their shoulders way back, I positioned him/her there as if it is watching those eggs.  (Now, some of you may be wrinkling your nose to a mink there, but to me it was a rescue mission, I found him at the same place I found the birds nest and he was in a basket for sale, and my thought was how close he was to being in a dumpster, and then his life would really have been in vain if that happened, so I bought him!)  In his mouth is a purple silk rose, since this is the prosperity part of my room and purple is the prosperity color.  I am not done with arranging my space, but I am on my way and feeling better.  Spring is coming and hopefully the dry spell will be over.

Loving Kindness

     I listened to a meditation CD by Jon Kabat-Zinn which was about Loving Kindness.  I had not heard of this term before, but found pleasure in hearing these two words together.  His voice is so soft when he speaks, and when he says "loving kindness", you can feel that this is something very special.  It starts out that you extend loving kindness to yourself, for all who you are.  Then, he asks that you go into your past and think of someone who made you happy and extend loving kindness to that person.  (I had no trouble thinking of my Nana, whom I loved very much, and who made dolls, apple pies and fudge)  Then, he asked to think of someone who was not kind to us, and extend loving kindness to that person.  Well, I have to admit, I was ready to open my eyes at that point, and part of me was tempted to say, "I am not giving any loving kindness to that person, they don't deserve it!".  But, I brought myself back to listening to his words and I succumbed to the task and thought of someone who wronged me and gave loving kindness, realizing that we are all human, capable of making mistakes, and it hurts my soul to hold onto anything that is not love.  We moved onto the present, finding someone who is important to us to give loving kindness, then, we also had to find someone in our present who has hurt is, and I signed and thought, "Not this person, I don't want to think about this person!", but, again, I succumbed to the task and it was over quickly.  After awhile, we were asked to send loving kindness out to our family, friends, our community, our country, then the whole world, then the whole universe.  These were all thoughts I had never had before, and it was amazing to think that my loving kindness was going anywhere, but I have to believe that the energy of my thoughts was making a difference, if only to myself.
     Very quickly, I looked on the web about loving kindness and I found that author Sharon Salzberg wrote a book entitled Loving Kindness, (imagine you can write a book about two words?) and I will add her quote:
"We can open to everything with the healing force of love. When we feel love, our mind is expansive and open enough to include the entirety of life in full awareness, both its pleasure and its pains. We feel neither betrayed by pain nor overcome by it, and thus we can contact that which is undamaged within us regardless of the situation."

      I studied calligraphy a few years ago, I thoroughly enjoy the art of letter making and am amazed at the beauty of the art created by just writing words.  I would like to create something someday using the words loving kindness, when I do, you will know!  I will conclude by saying, on Valentine's Day today, that I am going to close my eyes briefly as I write (or after I write) and extend loving kindness out into the world of my blog to my audience, and, when you are done reading, if you could do the same and sending it back to me. Thank you, my audience, have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

The Reception For The Art Show

     Yesterday was the reception at the Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster, Massachusetts for the "Hearts and Flowers" group art show.  The weather has been very challenging for a few weeks, with one snow storm after another, but yesterday the weather warmed up a bit, allowing for the snow to begin some melting, and for people to be out and about.
     This bookstore is very nice.  It is small, with corners filled with treasures.  The dining nook, overlooking the main street, allows for a place to enjoy coffee, tea, snacks and conversation.  The many pieces of art work were displayed throughout any vacant wall space, and it was wonderful to go around and see all of this talent.
     I  brought my husband with me, to introduce him to the world of art (his expertise is gardening and fishing), and it was fun to meet the other artists.  One artist Sonya was knitting a sock while sitting, and we had a great conversation about knitting, since this another passion of mine.  I totally love yarn and knitting and enjoy it when I find someone else who shares the same interest.  (I will blog about my knitting at another time)  I met the artist who was dropping off her work at the same time as me, I had mentioned her in my blog last week.  Her name is Anita, she has a wealth of experience and knowledge and she gave me good advice of what a next step could be for me to promote my art work.  This is all so thrilling!
     In conclusion, it was a good day.  It was nice to see my small paintings hanging up publicly.  It was nice to meet new people and network.  It was nice to be at a wonderful place as the Booklovers' Gourmet just to hang out for awhile.  Thankyou, Debra, for this opportunity.