Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

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On Saturdays, I take you on an Artist Date with me. The Artist Date comes from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I haven’t taken a “proper” Artist Date in quite awhile, but today I received a book from a friend and looking at it was very inspiring.

It’s called 642 Fashion Things To Draw. All kinds of inspiration for future girl paintings. Here’s a sampling of some of the ideas:

a masquerade mask

a Chanel tweed suit, circa 1920

a big-face watch

a bolero jacket

Wayfarers

a tiered top

a rhinestone hair clip

plus 635 more. How fun!

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Every Friday, I share a poem. Friday is also the day I post a prompt of something you can do to make the world a kinder place. I call this the Kind is Kool challenge.

I offer both the poem and the kindness challenge without any obligation, so “Comments” are turned off every Friday. Enjoy.

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The Maiden On The Shore

She wandered so young on the shore around,
Her thoughts were by naught on earth now bound.
Soon came there a painter, his art he plied
Above the tide,
In shadow wide, –
He painted the shore and herself beside.

More slowly she wandered near him around,
Her thoughts by a single thing were bound.
And this was his picture wherein he drew
Herself so true,
Herself so true,
Reflected in ocean with heaven’s blue.

All driven and drawn far and wide around
Her thoughts now by everything were bound.
Far over the ocean, – and yet most dear
The shore right here,
The man so near,
Did ever the sunshine so bright appear!

 Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson

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Kind is Kool Challenge

Week 40 Challenge – Play a board game or card game with someone.

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I’m participating in the “Meet the Bloggers” Blog Hop. It’s a chance for bloggers to come out from behind their cameras and their blogs and let everyone get to know them better.

1. What one word would people who know you use to describe you?

I’m guessing here (I probably should have asked a few people this question), but I’d say “kind.” I like to be nice to people.

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

One of my favorite things to do is putter around my house, catching up on things, reading, watching television and movies. I also love spending time with family and friends. I love to go places too…little trips and adventures.

At the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, Georgia

3. What do you wish you were more skilled at?

I wish I were better at home repair and maintenance tasks. I really have no interest in this area, but it would be nice to be good at this.

4. Other than blogging, what are three things you do that bring you joy?

Painting, being with my houndies and having “alone” time.

Me with my niece’s dog, Zoe

5. What’s one thing you have to do every day?

Sometimes I only do a little, but I read every day. I’ve always be a reader. It’s a mind-expanding, relaxing escape for me.

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Today (and tomorrow), I’m participating in the “Meet the Bloggers” Blog Hop. It’s a chance for bloggers to come out from behind their cameras and their blogs and let everyone get to know them better.

I didn’t leave myself enough time today to write my post, so I’ll finish up tomorrow. Here are the five questions I’ll answer:

1. What one word would people who know you use to describe you?

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

3. What do you wish you were more skilled at?

4. Other than blogging, what are three things you do that bring you joy?

5. What’s one thing you have to do every day?

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Casper here to say the Christmas cards are coming in and we want to tell you something really cool.

Our mommy’s friend, Sue (Polly’s mommy), of Graceful Greyhounds, collects used stamps for the Retired Greyhounds Trust in the United Kingdom. They are able to get money for them. If you find yourself with used stamps from your Christmas card piles (or anytime during the year), we would love to have them to send to Sue. Contact our mommy at whatremainsnow@gmail.com and she’ll give you our address so you can send us stamps to help the UK houndies.

Thank you!

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Here’s what’s been happening in my studio…

Every month, I receive a box called Paper Pumpkin from Stampin’ Up!. It contains all the things necessary to make a paper craft. I hadn’t made the projects from the last three boxes. Last week, I finished a memo pad and a set of Christmas cards. This week, I caught myself up and finished the third box…

…a cute set of Wahoo! cards.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about my blog in 2014. 2013 was a roller coaster year. It started off with my husband employed full-time, and me happily employed part-time with the ability to easily pursue my new passion for painting. In May, my husband lost his job and although we knew we could weather the storm, we both started looking for full-time jobs. I landed my full-time job first, training to be the Store Manager of the Mishawaka Ten Thousand Villages. It is a dream job for me, but it is a big change from my previous part-time commitment. Happily, my husband also has a new job, so we enter 2014 at a good place, but very different from how we started 2013.

As many of my regular readers know, I post on a “schedule.” I have a topic for every day of the week, and I use that as the jumping off point for my day’s post. As my new full-time position has changed my schedule, I’ve struggled to come up with posts, so I’ve been thinking about what “schedule” I want to set for myself in 2014.

Here’s what I’m thinking about doing…

A post about “what I’m wearing.” The idea is that I will come up with some great ideas for “the woman over 50” to wear, but it may end up being my version of “What Not To Wear.” Either way, it could be fun (or funny).

A post about my pets. This is essential. I’ve been doing this since 2011 when I started my blog.

A post about creativity. I’ve been doing this since 2011 too. It will be interesting to see how I keep creativity alive in my new career-focused life.

A post about “what’s cooking.” I want to improve my relationship with food. That’s how I came up with this idea.

A post about anything I want to talk about. This is another post topic that’s been part of my blog since 2011.

A post about simplifying. This has been a desire of mine for many years. Seems like 2014 would be a good year to put some effort into this.

A post about photography. Although photography isn’t a passion of mine, I’ve come to enjoy it. I’d like to get better, so that’s what this post would help me do (hopefully…maybe).

What do you think? Any other good ideas?

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On Saturdays, I take you on an Artist Date with me. The Artist Date comes from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

Just starting to snow

No special outing today. Just a scary ride into work and scary ride home and then…rest. And snow, lots of snow.

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Every Friday, I share a poem. Friday is also the day I post a prompt of something you can do to make the world a kinder place. I call this the Kind is Kool challenge.

I offer both the poem and the kindness challenge without any obligation, so “Comments” are turned off every Friday. Enjoy.

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Counting Sheep

Half-awake I walked
A dimly-seen sweet hawthorn lane
Until sleep came;
I lingered at a gate and talked
A little with a lonely lamb.
He told me of the great still night,
Of calm starlight,
And of the lady moon, who’d stoop
For a kiss sometimes;
Of grass as soft as sleep, of rhymes
The tired flowers sang:
The ageless April tales
Of how, when sheep grew old,
As their faith told,
They went without a pang
To far green fields, where fall
Perpetual streams that call
To deathless nightingales.
And then I saw, hard by,
A shepherd lad with shining eyes,
And round him gathered one by one
Countless sheep, snow-white;
More and more they crowded
With tender cries,
Till all the field was full
Of voices and of coming sheep.
Countless they came, and I
Watched, until deep
As dream-fields lie
I was asleep.

 William Kerr

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Kind is Kool Challenge

Week 39 Challenge – Do something to support your local community.

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Someone (me) was trying to modify a Jetpack plugin and ended up taking down my entire blog. Sometimes, being bold, even when you don’t know what you’re doing, yields stunning results. Other times, things get wrecked.  Thanks to a wonderful man who helps me with my blog, I’ll be posting again soon.