#122 - Clarity and Manifestations for the new year

Let's get clear here.

It's almost that time again.  It's actually one day moving into another but because we have this fascination with a "calendar" which follows the ancient changing of the seasons, it's the time of emergence back into the lightness.  The slow sluffing off of the past and the dreams of renewal for the future spring, when we can emerge anew.

It's time to manifest.  I've always been a great believer in that Manifestation 101 as my dear pal the sculptress calls it.  In order to properly manifest what you want, you need to be clear in your intention.  You have to know what it is that you want, and put it forth into the universe.  That sounds remarkably easy, but it's actually pretty hard to have that kind of clarity.

The original Vault Goddess has been making noise. She's in the background wanting me to be very clear.  And I agree:  it's time to release that which no longer holds purpose for me.  That includes the Vault Goddess' inventory, as well as the ImperialMan's stuff.

That's my clarity of focus for the new year.  Release.

Things coming to my etsy/ebay store soon!

#121 - It's not consumable

The holiday week is upon us.  It's so odd being on the outside of the noise and decorating and shopping and gifting.  I'm actually quite fond of it.  But it doesn't dispell the desire to bake, bake, bake. I have gingerbread dough ready to be cut and then decorated.  I made some gluten free pecan puffs for the holiday gathering we're off to over the weekend.  And tamale fillings are current being prepared.

BUT:  I'm just going to go paint.

It's strange to be on the other end of the consumption chain.  I mean, I have paintings I'm doing that I will want to sell and send off into the world, and in order to do so, I need someone to decide they want to consume them for themselves.  I think we're being very thoughtful about what we bring in to consume, whether its food, drink or other tangible items.

LATER THAT WEEK...

The intention was to get this posted earlier in the week.  It's Christmas day and I feel a sense of relief that all the consumption comes to a close today, and then it's on to "the year in review" bombardment for a week, followed by the "resolutions for the new year" week.

I just look forward to getting back on the regular hampster wheel, which for ME is no longer a grind of work, but a pathway of art.

That's ultimately what I want to consume.

#120 - Football fever

Ok, I admit it.  I officially have become obsessed with football.  Wait, not the NFL type (which I've been obsessed with since the original 49ers Super Bowl win after the 1981 season;  but that's another story).

I've become obsessed with the rest of the world calls Football: the FIFA World Cup.  I've never been a big fan of football/soccer, at least not since my son stopped playing it in elementary school.  I don't understand all the rules.  I don't get when it's officially "offsides" or what officially constitutes a foul.  BUT, I'm not sure why, but since both my sons have been avid fans, I guess we started to watch over the Thanksgiving break when my eldest was here.  And, unbelievable to my own self, I'm hooked.

Today's quarter final matches were the best ever, according to the pundits.  And oh boy, what matches they were, ending with penalty kick shootouts.  Two more quarter final games tomorrow and then there will be only 3 games left, but I will relish watching each one even though getting up at 7 am to watch is a bit much.  But I'll be doing it.  And I understand that the next World Cup in 2026 will be in North America.  My son tells me he thinks there will be matches at Gilette Stadium in Massachusetts, as well as likely here in the Bay Area and LA.  Good excuse to play a trip somewhere.  I would love to be there.

Until then:  Go Argentina.  Go Messi!

#119 - What does it mean to be prolific?

I've started to get back to painting again, but my dreams seem to be all about theatre these days.  Last night, I had an amazing dream not just about being in Italy, but going to see a play (in English).  And I saw the complete thing in my dream.  

I was just reading an article yesterday in the Sunday NYTimes Style Magazine about Adrienne Kennedy, a prolific black playwright who is finally getting a Broadway debut. And even though I rarely watch any awards shows, I did tune in last night and was so proud of Lizzo accepting the People's Champion honor by calling up 17 female activists and naming each one and what they support.  It was brilliant.

What does it mean to be prolific?  Is that really a subjective definition?  Am I prolific because I've finished 41 painting in just over 40 days?  Or would I be prolific if I did that while simultaneously completing some other body of work?

I've spent time this week doing more organizing of art materials.  I swatched all the colored pencils I have, first separating them into brand and then making small boxes of color.  Did the same for the oil pastels, and then the water soluble pastels as well.  I have a prolific amount of art materials.  I'm going to begin the process of creating scrap journaling packets to sell.  I think I'll find some archival plastic envelopes, and get appropriate sized ones so I can put together packets.  We will see what we can do to lessen all that prolific material.

#118 - The attitude of gratitude

Though Thanksgiving is now finally over (after a brief but wondrous visit with my MIL and FIL), I have been feeling this attitude of gratitude a lot.  The realization that, even with things now being right all the time, or flawed in many ways, I am so very, VERY lucky.

Now that my little man has returned home, and we have returned home as well, it's time to get down to brass tacks.  Or, more aptly, take off the brass tacks and let things go.

I did manage to get some watercoloring done during our northern visit (actually, not much more to do except chat, eat, and imbibe).  I feel I am becoming freer in my art, and don't think as much as just do. And I'm grateful for that. Now I want to figure out how to move forward in releasing these creations into the world.  And get back to writing.  It's been weeks since I looked over the play (no word from either bro on that one), and so I feel the world is a fertile ground for me now creatively.  

I'm oh so grateful for The Creativity Suite I have.  

Back to keep on keeping on.

#117 - The fall of Fall

It's that time of year again.  The lawn (grassless as it's been for years) is now one gigantic pile of yellowed leaves.  We've been raking and raking and raking leaves. They're almost high enough to jump into the pile like we used to do when we were little.

We've been putting them in giant piles, loading them into large moveable 33 gallon trash container and schlepping them to the back. Also moved the old leaf mold pile so we could begin a new one.  The gutters were emptied again (2nd time, but now most of the leaves are actually fallen now - the tree is almost totally bare).  

We've taken a few breaks because, damn, there's a LOT of leaves.  And it's very breezy out today.  And cool (temps not getting above 60, which for here is pretty chilly). The weather report shows 3-4 upcoming hard frost days.  Seems a bit early for those, but it's inevitable that they'll come.  And so the lime tree is covered and seems to be thriving in its mini greenhouse.  

After fall comes winter and dark and cold. Shorter days and Seasonal Affective Disorder for those that suffer. I can hardly believe it's almost the end of 2022.  At least there's only 30ish more days of darkness, and then things will begin to lighted up, very slowly but they will.

My little man (what I used to call him when he was born) has been here and it's been so wonderful to have his light and humor and his fine self in the house, but he leaves tomorrow.  After a quick visit to the parental units up north, I'll be anxious to get back to painting and writing and maybe theatre again (not sure how or when that might happen). 

All I know is that I'm oh so grateful for my family, my home, my livelihood in wondrous retirement, and most of all, the beauty of the Fall leaves.

#116 - Paradise lost - well, just the pumpkin pie

Lovely day of Thanksgiving with friends and family.  Missed my MIL and FIL but we will probably venture up their way soon.  Still enjoying having my first born home for the holidays (for a few more days at least).  I had even been able to go pick up pie and galette dough from the amazing Downtown Bakery in Healdsburg to use for my pie making (ok, the fruit galette is prepared and was flash frozen so we'll have that another time).

But - we had a minor disaster happen late Thanksgiving eve.  My hubs was shifting leftovers around in the fridge and came and told me that while he was arranging, the glass pie pan holding my precious three-quarters of leftover pumpkin pie slipped and fell out of the fridge, shattering the pan and destroying all of the leftover pie with the glorious crust.  It was one of the best pies I think I'd ever made.  And I only had one small slice that night.

Now, I'm a devotee of the leftover pie for breakfast the next day.  I would have had it with some of the bourbon whipped cream that was also left over from Thanksgiving evening.

At least I can give thanks for having a roof over my head, family and friends and a lovely meal with awesome wine and some glorious desserts to have shared on the day.

As it's still the "holiday" weekend, we're off to the movies now.  

#115 - Revising art again

Happy that today I'll be heading into the City by the bay (yeah, that one) to see for a 2nd time an amazing exhibit by the phenomenal couture designer Guo Pei. She is truly amazing and the first time I saw these amazing works I was blown away.  Really.  Unbelievable art and the amount of time each dress or shoe or look took to make is listed (some were 10,000 hours of work).  Remarkable.

I also did a dive off the short board into Acrylic Abstract Collage art on youtube.  As that's kind of what I've been doing, I wanted to see others techniques.

Yesterday was a non-art clean the house and take out the trash day, and I couldn't get motivated to paint at all.  I think when I get back from the City, I'll be energized and ready to dive back into the paint pool.

27 canvas' completed.  Let's see how many more I might finish by tomorrow evening when my men come back home.

#114 - How can we ever be really prepared?

The key to life is all about properly preparing, isn't it?  Yet some things you can never be prepared for.

My husband's youngest step-brother (but only 2 years older than my husband) passed away this week.  We had no idea he was even sick. He didn't want anyone outside his wife and sons to know.  Not even his brother he'd spoken to almost daily.  He'd had an aggressive form of cancer and went downhill very, very quickly.  My husband is flying down today for tomorrow's funeral.  I chose to stay behind.

I'm slowing down on the painting, as I'm getting wound up for the big Thanksgiving feast.  

It's not Thanksgiving without the turkey candle.  I don't know when I bought it, but it's graced our table every year for at least 25 of them.  When we were cleaning out the boys stash, we found the delightful little sign created by my youngest (probably 3rd grade or so?).  

Now, the sign and candle will inextricably be united in holiday decor for years to come.

A few road blocks have come along this week (or is it that they've opened up?).  Dental cleaning? Canceled due to the hygienist being ill.  Meeting a former co-worker? Put off due to the death in the family. Possible trip to Marin? Postponed by the one I would have been visiting.  

Well, now I can get prepared for the week to come. At least as much as we can be prepared, for none of us knows what tomorrow brings.  But we move along as if we have many things coming up on the horizon, and we continue to act, and make lists, and plan.

Better go get prepping!

#113 - Welcome to the Creativity Suite

Apparently, I have been creatively energized, at least as far as using acrylics and following part of the art workshop I attended.  Well, I am truly utilizing only bits and dits of the process, but I'm sure enjoying what I'm doing.

All this at the expense of writing in the month of Nanowrimo no less.

In just over 10 days, I've created 24 paintings.  All but 2 on 9 x 12 paper.  I haven't sealed or waxed them at all, and that's a new part of the process for me. I had a great weekend with my MOH doing painting and decoupage/collaging small tins - loved the one she did, but mine?  Not so much.

Today is an open book, after the dental cleaning.  Let's see how many more paintings I manage to squeeze in this week.

#112 - It's getting cold in here...

Well, Fall is falling into Winter pretty quickly.  Lots of falling leaves, and we had gotten 1.75" of rain by yesterday morning.  Then, it rained again.  Haven't checked the rain gauge yet - it's still pretty early and though Daylight Savings Time started on Sunday, it's still only 5:30 am so the lightness is only about to begin shortly.  Plus, now there's frost warnings.  It's getting cold in here!

It fills me with happiness that I have a real art space that I'm working out of these days.  Have tried for years to have a dedicated spot for creating art, and though it's part of the multipurpose garage/pool room/License2spell art space, etc., etc., etc...it's invigorating to have it and use it most of all.

And while my other half heads off to the mountains (let's go, good weather!) I'm looking forward to an art date with the MOH coming up in 2 days.

Better put on some warm stuff to paint in.

#111 - Details to follow

Well, it's that day again - Mid-Term Election day.  Probably won't know the full final results but there's a few things to be happy about, that's for sure.  Hoping to see that blue wave...

In the meantime, I continue to paint as we continue to organize, which is the first step towards purging.  Believe it or not, we managed to find a really good looking black file cabinet (5 drawers no less) to put all the photos/cameras/picture frames into for now.  Also picked up a small two drawer wood one that matches our other cabinet well.  Now it's less likely to look like we're packing to move out.

On to the rest of the house, and particularly the room I'm now calling our in-house POD.  Yup, the Imperial Man's vault of goodies needs to work it way out of our home, so we can repurpose that into a home office/2nd guest room.

And I continue to paint.  I've done 10 paintings a la style of Jesse Reno.  It's a great exercise.  I have to make a new sign, as I'm thinking about calling the art space "THE CREATIVITY SUITE" going forward.

The only thing I haven't done is continue to write.  I guess the 'one creative outlet at a time' rules apply.

Except I did remember to write this one.  Now, back to the studio...

#110 - Wandering in search of ourselves

Yesterday I finally got back to painting and it felt really good.  I used the leftover paper from the workshop I attended and applied paint, color, smudged paint to the outside edges and then broke it up with paint again.  Next, I'll go back and enhance what was revealed.  I also decided to do the same with a smaller 9 x 12 canvas (happy I purchased the bristol paper and the collapsable water container last week).  And that one, I think I have finished.  Easier for me to work on smaller canvases.

This whole new use of acrylics is like stepping into the Emerald City.  So much to learn and different uses for paint, mediums, brushes, and overall creation.  I even painted a quick postcard using my new watercolor palette. I look forward to a time soon when I will have released on all these things that make me feel encumbered;  things that belonged to the Imperial Man and the original Vault Goddess.

I've also been re-reading my script (thank you my dear friend Daphne for all the awesome feedback).  Today might be the day I send it off to my brothers, and then I'll begin some actual editing and writing.  Surely getting closer to digging back into the screenplay as well.

All this in the hopes that I'll find myself and stop wandering aimlessly so much.

A postscript - After we mounted some chairs on the wall of the garage (since there's no room for them anywhere else), this appeared on the floor.  It had been knocked off the mannequin body where it was hanging:

There she was, in all her glory.  She actually KNEW who she was.  An oh so timely reminder from the original Vault Goddess.  Thanks, Mom.  LYM.

#109 - Labels & tags

I realize in my haste to get blogs written and posted, I've totally neglected to label them (or tag them). Absolutely no idea how long this has gone on, but it persists.  Just another resolution to be made and hopefully not broken.

In the quest to organize and purge, I did recently discover a few things from the Vault, but I have no idea if these were from my own Vault, or ones I purchased, or those lurking leftovers from the Vault Goddess.  Labels.  Tags.  Leftovers from another era when people actually canned items, wrote letters, and sent things in this system called the US Mail.

I DO know that they are just what the artist ordered for future collages or scrap art packs to be thoughtfully sold.

And now, don't forget to label the blog post!

#108 - Putting the pieces back together in a completely different way

Well.  No one said it would be easy.  It's a challenge (but a good one) to be reorganizing the "new" kitchen.  I've spent a good part of the afternoon doing a deep cleaning on my vintage kitchen items.  Who knew I had 3 of the same 1930's wooden handled vintage pasta cutter (yes, 2 of them will go up on the new ETSY shop).  I vaguely do recall the ImperialMan giving me one he'd bought at a thrift store.  At the time, I didn't have the heart to tell him I already had one.  Maybe I had 2 at the time, who knows?

I have to admit, it's really wonderful to rearrange and also PURGE the excess.  

And all the time, I'm trying to get through it so I can have room to paint and create.

Ok, another day, another vision.

#107 - Coming back down to earth

It's been a trip, that's for sure.  I had an amazing experience in Portland at an artists' 3 day workshop.  I wanted to learn strategies to feel I could create without any preconceived notions and get out of my head for the process, and I believe I succeeded.  I brought home 3 paintings, two of which seem fairly finished.  One I'm proud of the process I created, and I have no desire to own it, so I think I'll see if I can actually sell it.  One is something I may put up in our bedroom and the 3rd is as yet unfinished.  I so enjoyed the process I learned - THAT I will try again, but on smaller canvases.  And I was so enamored of this artist's work that I bought an original.  Yes, spoke to me (or rather, it MEOWL'd to me, as it was aptly named).

Now that I'm back to reality, it's a mad slow slog to getting the kitchen back in order.  Which we are taking our sweet time doing. Only one more sand and paint session and we will begin the process of moving things back in slowly.  And taking a longer look at what we'll be putting up on the walls. And what will become part of the BabyBoomVintage inventory for sale, or what will become part of the inventory for mixed media art.

Trying to keep my feet on the ground and moving forward.  

Onward Ho (again)!                             

#106 - Doing the limbo

The house kind of feels like living in limbo for the moment.  Odd entrances and exits because of the floor refinishing, and I'll be glad to be off shortly for a creative release for the next 4 days.

After finally prepping the new Etsy shop for the vintage selloff, I'm fully prepped for a creative journey.  I don't know what's in store for the next 4 days, but I do expect to venture out of a state of limbo and literally out of state into a deep dive internally.  With another artistic pal at my side, I can't wait!

We'll see what emerges on the page from the creative limbo I've been in.  And I'll look forward to the return without visqueen blocking the entrances.

And now, a 5 day word from our sponsors.  Back on Sunday!

#105 - Move along, frustration. Nothing to see here.

I spent a frustrating Thursday and this morning on the phone and via email with a large art supply company (real Dicks if you ask me).  Worst customer service experience E V E R.  Hopefully there will be nothing to see here and I will not have to deal with them again. I heartily suggest avoiding them and shopping locally (which is what I ended up doing).

Today we take a commercial break from the action here to traipse to SF for live theatre.  Can't wait.

Tomorrow begins the great shut-down (or shut-out as the case is more properly titled).  Frustration on the part of two small furry beings in the house will commence.

#104 - Onward Ho

I love that phrase.  Penned (or in actuality, often spoken) by my dear friend who always said she was just a hippie masquerading as a Pacific Heights matron. Hope she's having fun on her current overseas adventure, big birthday celebratory trip that was postponed two years due to Covid.

So yes, it's time to "Onward Ho" as we have completed the painting phase of our remodel, and yet, we begin the purging phase of the operation, which commences now and continues through the floor redo.  That part starts next Monday.  Thankfully I'm happy to report I'll be away for most of the outgassing (and not having to deal with the poor kitties who are already confused by all the changes afoot, pun intended).

Apparently, the pesky rodent has been disposed of, at least according to the hubby who found a tiny baby mouse slaughtered in the front entryway.  I've been concerned that one of their little tribe would emerge during the floor remodel and get caught.

Ok, off to meet a friend for coffee.  Onward Ho!

#103 - an Autumnal pause

Thankful that we have completed the first round of painting.  Level 2.0 will began yesterday and today will be Level 3.0 and the completion.

Spet a glorious partner's birthday on Monday in the jungle (at least what comes close to being one here).  A lovely nature preserve with lots of wild animals and a 3 hour tour, most by safari bus.  He loved it and it was well worth it.

Here's hoping we can complete the painting today, and then tomorrow I can do more painting - watercolor, that is. Soon the house will come back together again.  Ok, not for 10 more days but it will be oh so worth it.

Next stop in the artistic continuation?  Permission slips on the play I've written.

#102 - I'm tired!

It takes so long to prep for painting and then - you paint.  We are pretty exhausted after extensive blue taping and visqueen plastic sheeting covering things, followed by TSP scrubbing, water wipe down, vinyl spackle, sanding and now we're changing out the original outlets (which NEVER properly hold plus in) because, well, we're finally finishing the kitchen remodel that started just before covid, when we put in new countertops and a tile backsplash.  Oh, and we ordered the auto body chrome detailing that will be adhered just under the countertop (to cover the raw wood that was there from the original formica install).

Like I said, I'm tired!  Painting will commence shortly and by Tuesday, it will be done (except for the floors).  

Can't wait!  In the meantime, boy are we glad we got a hot tub!

#101 - Hands

I have my mom's pinky.  Not literally, mind you.  I just realized that the original Vault Goddess had the most beautiful hands.  And I don't.  Mine are stubby little short fingers.  She had the hands of a concert pianist.  Long, slender, the kind that could have hand modeled. But yesterday, I looked at my fingers and realize that my pinky looks a lot like hers.  It's not long and but it is slender. And when I look at it, and since I have polish on my nails (that's another post), the shape and length of that pinky nail looks like hers.

I've been doing my own manicures, crude though they may be, as it's helping keep my nails from breaking so frequently. I've only ventured into frosty light polishes, as the errors don't quite show up as much.  I'll probably actually take this polish off so I can. use my hands for painting other things.

For now, my hands need to get back to handwriting GOTV postcards (44 down, 16 to go).

#100 - Who knew?

100.  A century.  A centennial.  A hundo.

Well, at least I know I can write 100 times.  

        I will not forget to write.  I will not forget to write.  I will not forget to write...

Life is very busy and I'm currently culling through my cookbooks.  Taking them the off the shelves one by one.  Wiping them down and getting the dust and grime (what I can get off) removed.  Lots to sell. A few to keep and boy, I'd like to replace the old ikea/cost plus nice but plain wooden book shelving unit with something else. Then again, the entire space will be having a makeover, since we're moving a stable item to another area, and that housed lots of vintage kitchen stock.  What will replace it?  Your guess is as good as mine.

Change is the only constant, and it's time for change, that's for sure. 

Some of these cookbooks bring back lots of memories. Some have well worn, food stained pages.  Those are the ones I cherish the most.  I know the original Vault Goddess had a million recipes (yes, there's a box in the Vault that is just marked "RECIPES"and I'm not sure what I'll discover once I open that).  Probably loads of old magazine and newpaper clipped ones. Maybe old recipe cards.  Hopefully a few wonderful handwritten jewels.  But it will be a while before I can tackle that. There's way too many other things lined up on the tarmac to take off before that project can take flight.  

Anyway, I think I'd find enough recipes to post one every day.  For a century.

Almost time to repent.  Back in 2 days.

#99 - Painting

 Ok, lots going on but it mostly revolves around painting.  Currently clearing the decks for the kitchen redo, and prepping half pans for my new palette.  Many colors, lost of swatches and making some pans of my own and ordered some prefilled.

It's an artistic month, that's for sure.

Gotta get back to it...

#98 - The changing tide

So much shifting is occurring.  It's not just the astrological changes happening (yea, Mercury leaves retrograde - always a good thing).  But it's said that once things are moved around, energy shifts, and I can tell you it's true.

 I've been thinking about the phenomena of all that water being pulled out from the bays in Florida by the movement of that hurricane, before it would all rush back in once the trajectory of the hurricane moved on. It's not but similar to the tidal shifts, except it's not the water on the planet, but the storm above and the fierce power of the winds moving it all.

It's pretty overwhelming to see not just the destruction but how massive the destruction was, and over so much of the state.

There's no storm brewing here, but we have begun shifting things around to prepare to empty our kitchen so we can paint and then redo the floors.  Once it's done, it will shift back into the space, just like the great movement of all that water.

Ok, onward ho!

#97 - Re-finishing things

This discipline stuff is hard work.  I really need to figure out how to build it into my "daily routine" which has pretty much gone by the wayside since I no longer jump on the hampster wheel during the work week.

The spouse has been wanting to refinish our kitchen floors for a few years now.  We put them in over 20 years ago, and at the time, I really wanted to put in reclaimed wood, which could have allowed the scratches and nicks to blend in. But, instead we put in brand new hickory, which has been lovely.

This floor really does get the most wear and tear out of anything in the house.  The exceptionally nice floor guy came back again to reconfirm the (slightly higher due to the cost of materials going up) quote, and learned that even though he's about 5 months out on work, he might have an opening in a few weeks.  Lo and behold, we're getting the floors redone in just over 3 weeks. 

I realize that since we'll be doing that, the kitchen itself could use a freshening up on the paint, and we will work that in BEFORE he comes to do the floors.  Lucky for me, I'll be off at an art workshop for most of the time the actual work is being done, so I can avoid the smell and disruption (yes, there will be no kitchen available during this time, and kitties have to be reworked and kept out of the space).

SO, there's lots of planning, rearranging and actual painting to be done.  I see this as another good opportunity to pare down things.

Life will be busy over the next month, as we'll be RE-finishing things.

#96 - Mother Nature at her finest

It's like rubbernecking an accident on the other side of the road.  I can't stop watching the Weather Channel coverage of Hurricane Ian making landfall and decimating a lot of the state of Florida today.  And it just goes on and on and on.  Frightening, but Mother Nature is in charge.

Which of the many choices of devastation would you prefer? Lots of folks here in Earthquake country would prefer that to these hurricanes/tornadoes/floods that go together with a storm like this.  

Now, here, we could indeed have earthquakes (we just did recently and are way too close to the Rodgers Creek fault in our area).  And fires (can you say Tubbs, Nuns, Kincade to name a few?).  And though we haven't had any flooding in our specific neighborhood, our county does experience those.  AND there have also been tornadoes within about 30 miles from us.  But hurricanes?  Nope.  

Stay safe everyone.

#95 - It's a new Autumn year

It's that time again - post autumnal equinox, new moon and new year.  All rolled into a few days (Yup, covering the ones where I've neglected to create any new posts - so much for discipline, right?).

Well, we did sell the first item on Ebay successfully.  Now, there's only about 10,000 more to go.

It seems that there's been a lot going on and not much going on.  I will do my darndest to catalog the impending arrival of Autumn and all things that go along with it.  But not today.  There's too much waiting to be done.

#94 - Art Therapy

It's the morning after returning from a lovely visit with my MOH, who is currently in recovery from shoulder surgery.  Had a wonderful visit keeping her company, and we did lots of shopping therapy (can you say IKEA?) and art therapy.  She pulled out lots of little treasure she had stored around the house, and I'd brought my watercolors.

She's a Pharmacist and a Horse Gal (License2Spell made this one special for her):

Among her many treasures she had two 12" x 12" canvas "paint by coloring inside the lines kit" with a horse head on it, and it included some paints, a small palette and 3 brushes, so I made her grab one and bring it upstairs!  We set up an art space on her dining room table, covered it in plastic, and painted.  She was only able to use her left hand most of the time as her right is being held in place by a massive sling (for another 3 weeks or so?), but it was so wonderful to see her release and not think about her shoulder and just be.  We experimented with many media (how many frosted nail polish bottles did she find dumped in the canyon across the street from her house?  probably about 50 or so - wow!) and had a wonderful time.

She even indulged me with reading my play, screenplay(s) and remembering who was in that house 45 years ago...

Art therapy is good for the soul.  Try it sometime!

#93 - "And now, back to our show" (or the one where we return from a message from our sponsors).

Ok, that was one long commercial message (or as the universe was saying to me "Wherefore Art thou ART?").

Having returned from a visit with my dear in-laws (and my MIL who is now 93 and still her spunky self in between nebulizer treatments for her asthma), I'm back to it.  Well, at least for a day (I may be off the rails for the next two as I help my MOH convalesce...).  Happy to report when I'm off and away from home, all I want to do it paint watercolors. Trying new techniques, looking at the post-fire scenery around their home (spared just barely last fall), and enjoying that watery stuff that sometimes falls from the sky.  That's right, it wasn't just rain coming down from up there, but THUNDER and LIGHTNING!  Very, very frightening (or exciting, depending on how close you are to it!).

I also had all of them read my screenplay to date.  Nice to hear some feedback albeit very minimal (as the script is very minimal at this juncture).

I am pumped about the upcoming art workshop I'm going to (getting closer by the day), and being back home with my little kittles (not George, though I sure hope he's up for it next weekend).  Had fun with a grand-niece who is too cute for words and let me play dolls and candyland and connect4 and another game that was not too helpful for the gender fluid ("is your card a boy or a girl???).  And seemed sad we were leaving.  Ah to be 5 again, with the world fresh and exciting.

In any event, tomorrow brings our first ebaying item to a close.  Good practice for the rest to come along.  Now, back to the semi-annual refilling of the hot tub.  Tune in again tomorrow.  If you're lucky, there'll be another episode!

#92 - Shake, rattle and roll

It's been an interesting day, capped off by a good earthshaking.  4.4, centered about 3 miles from my house.  We certainly haven't had a sizeable one here in a while.  Hopefully that's the last of this.  It has been quite a while since the ground in the Bay Area has shaken.  I don't want to see this become a trend or anything.

Cats were awol for a bit, but now my earthquake monitor sits next to me.  My friend relayed that she was at Spring Lake and right before the shaking all the birds started making a tremendous howling noise and were all swooping around.  I'm sure it was something to behold.

Luckily, only 2 things fell down in the kitchen, and I'm gearing up for completing another art workshop.  I think I'll be a bit preoccupied and maybe I'll put it off until tomorrow.  Yes, that sounds good.

I'm glad we're not doing a shake and bake as well.  Back to writing for now.

#91 - Dive right in to your oeuvre

Today is the beginning of one art challenge and the end of another.  Both have "worksheets" to help you discover your own journey, what is at the root of your own passion and drive, and what makes you want to keep on creating. 

It's a valuable lesson.  I consider this the start of a journey that will take me on a path for the next month and half of creating without overthinking. I just need to keep diving into the deep end and discovering the beauty of the depths of it all.  Maybe I'll even learn to breathe under water.

So, eyes wide open.  Let's see what happens next.

#90 - You gotta have ART....miles and miles and miles of ART (sung to the tune of "you gotta have heart")

Lots of art is coming my way.  Actually, lots of art is happening right now in my life.  I've been actually writing (see what I'm doing here, but also elsewhere?), and working on creating "my own palette" for watercoloring, and concurrently following no less than 2 different art "workshops"" online.  All while gearing up mentally for the challenge of the 3 day workshop I'll be going to next month.

While visiting with our friends down the Bay way today, I spent loads of time looking at my pal's artistic endeavors, those completed and in process. And my pal has a ton of things in process. Watercolor, acrylics, oils, many partials projects out on the table and in process. Made me feel a bit like a slacker, actually! But in recounting all the things I've been working at lately, I realize the shifts are surely underway.  I AM doing more things, even though it still often feels like I have so many irons in the fire, how can any of them get hot enough to make an impression? Hope I can transcend the "Jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome I feel I'm often living.

What I hope to get out of this next week is a clearer focus on why I am creating and get in touch with the part of my artistic psyche to help move things forward. 

Art, I got.  Focus, I need.

#89 - Just chill out

Cool, overcast and 62 degrees at 8:30 am.  Two spins around and we have cooled down significantly.  Thank you Mother Nature!

With a day of cooler weather and the overcast threatening to stick around, it's likely a gardening day today.  I thought once I got off the hampster wheel, I'd be spending oh so much more time out there.  But this year, with our long trip and several short ones this summer, it's truly been a lot of fallowness out there.  And somehow I'm not trying very hard to hang out and scrape the dirt under my fingernails.

I think I'll get back to it.  A fall garden is just about to come into focus.

But for now, I think it's ok to chill out a bit longer.

#88 - Zippity do dah - still tethered to technology

Well, what a treasure trove the computer box that was stored has yielded.  Spelunking into that vault has brought back memories, some of which I don't even remember.  In addition to old ports and lots of cables (at least five Cat-5 internet cables of varying sizes), I've got 3 vintage mac mice, several connectors of one kind or another, our old Airport Extreme base station, an old iSight webcam (unfortunately missing the firewire connector cables), tons of software on disks and CD's, and a Zip drive.  

I plugged it in and connected it to my new computer, but it was unreadable.  I went and connected it up to the old computer and boom - it loaded!  I thought I had an old Zip disk somewhere and once I found that and loaded it up, it was like spelunking even deeper into a memory cave.  Lots of files (probably saved from about 6 computers ago at least), including PTA and elemenetary school grants, etc.  Hoping to find some old emails or writing from the original Vault goddess, but no dice.

After venturing down that path, I then went down an internet rabbit hole wondering if any of this old technology was worth the price of admission. What do you know?  People not only list this but sell it as well. I stumbled on an ebay auction for the same Zip drive that I have, and it just sold yesterday for almost $60.  

Guess I know what my next steps are.  Will see if any of it makes it out the door collecting greenbacks.

#87 - Does a day really make a difference?

I'm getting lazy now - I've missed another posting day in the midst of this "heatwave."  Yesterday felt outright balmy at 102 degrees.  It's almost noon and it's a slow rise to the heat, currently 93 degrees.  It says it'll be 104 today.  Time will tell.

I'm feeling hopeful about all this cleaning, clearing, purging, etc.  Something so long in the making.  Guess that "retirement grind" is helping provide the actual time to do so. I'm enjoying the quiet atmosphere, just wish there were more "cooling stations" inside the house.

It was funny to relive all those years of boxes of schoolwork of my child.  This is the back to school time of year.  After so many years of it, both pre-school, regular school and college with my children, it's but a distant memory.  Personally for myself, I have no distinct recollection of any of that except for perhaps college.  Funny, for someone who, as I was reminded yesterday by a dear friend, has a great memory, I really don't have those "retain those memories" skills that some people do, remembering loads of people, places, things in their childhood.  Perhaps it's suppression on my part, or my brain isn't the type that retains those memories over the long term. 

Let me get to work on "unboxing" this tech vault of a storage container I pulled out a few days ago.  We'll see if there's anything of interest worth posting about.

#86 - How hot can it get?

I've never been so happy to have it be 84 degrees outside.  Well, it IS 8 pm and yes, it actually WAS 117 degrees earlier.  At least it was in Novato when we drove home from the air conditioning of SF.  

Well, it wasn't actually the usual air conditioning that SF offers us. Yes, we decided today was the day to finally walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.  We knew it HAD to be cooler than here, and we were correct.  

Got our steps in, even though it was 90 degrees near the visitor center when we parked and headed out.  

We got lucky though, as the natural air conditioning kicked in just after the 2nd tower.  I'm not sure why but it was breezy and felt like it was 70 degrees.  So wonderful!!!  Such a relief.

It was during the drive home that we saw it read 115, and then 2 minutes later, in the Novato Narrows, it was 117.  When we got home (after a delicious lunch at Burma Superstar - yum!), it had cooled down to 102.  Tomorrow we get a break before another big 100+ degree day sets in.

Climate change - it's not for sissies.  I hope those without access to cooling made it through today.

Brutal.  That's all you can say about it.

#85 - Talking the talk then walking the walk

 Ok, I missed a day.  Damn.  I really didn't intend to do that. I did have a good excuse, though.

After so many years of feeling burdened by all the "stuff", I've been focused on one thing.  Getting through it, with the cycle of review/purge/organize. We've been unearthing vaults stored in one of the closets, and it's been a really good exercise.  We have been able to see things from the early existence of our youngest, and decided mostly to have a laugh, or feel a heartstring being pulled, and then recycling all that paper.  Oh, well, not all of it.  We've held on to some things, and plan to send (either physically or virtually) to our youngest, or put in the scrapbook I created years ago. We've managed to find ourselves with 3 very large storage containers that are now completely empty, and two other boxes that were cardboard and recycled.  I feel lighter already.

The next vault to explore is one of computer oriented stuff that was placed inside another large plastic storage container. I believe we'll find some choice objects from the '90's harbored inside this one.  Can't wait to spelunk in it.

One other very important thing taking up time yesterday was the download and set-up of the free trial of scriptwriting software and my own crude beginning transfer of ideas and writing utilizing this auto-formatting application.  This is truly the beginning of walking the walk for me.  I have 60 days to explore before I have to purchase (which I'm sure I'll do).

Ok, off to beat today's 103 degree forecasted temperature.  Best go for a walk before it's stifling hot out.

#84 - You say tomato, I say tomahto

Tomatoes.  The penultimate taste of summer.  I was going to say "the penultimate summer fruit" but let's not get into that discussion right now.  One of the best things about moving to out of the city and to the Northern Bay Area is the warmth in the summer, and the ability to grow tomotoes.  The heat is really awesome for all summer produce, but particularly tomatoes.

I normally purchase starts from a wonderful community garden sale every spring.  This year, I picked a Black Krim and a Paul Robeson.  I've grown Black Krim's before, but they have never been as huge as they are this year.  I had no idea they would look so similar to the Paul Robeson's.

Which is which?

Only our tastes will tell.

Next year, I'll have to choose a bit more wisely.

#83 - Theatre, theater. Wherefore art thou, theatre?

Every time I think I've moved away from the Theatre, it keeps creeping back in.

I agreed to be part of a committee to assist in submitting my feedback for play selection for a theatre's next season.  Ok, so I'm not sure why this particular pull has come along, but I've decided to follow that yellow brick road and see where it takes me.

Of course, I'm also attempting to get back to my own scripting/storytelling.  Let's see how that goes.  I've been talking up a good talk about "getting an updated computer and set up so I can start to birth these projects I've longed for."  Well, no more excuses, right?

 I've actually gone back through several of the short stories I've written to see if any of them would make for a good short play.  Or short screenplay. Or perhaps I just need to keep W R I T I N G.  Maybe even for the T H E A T R E.

#82 - The great migration

Having spent a good part of yesterday transferring files over the network (yeah, not the most efficient way to do things, I know), I have uncovered a true Vault.  It's actually REALLY sealed, and I'm thinking about unsealing it.  This isn't the kind of thing I can just take a crowbar, or a pick axe or even a lockpic to open.  It's the original Vault Goddess' electronic vault.

I can see that the outside plastic has acquired a green patina (I didn't know that artificial materials would age so nicely, did you?).

I've gotten a quote for the unsealing and copying to another drive so I can determine what is useful.  See, I don't even have a power cord anymore, or I could attempt to unearth it myself. 

It's kind of like approaching a mystery box or bag you'd buy from the store for $5. Who knows what treasures it hold.

Really, all I'm hoping for are photos and writings.  All the rest is electronic flotsam and jetsom and probably not even readable in this technological day and age.

Will update when opened.

#81 - Connect the dots (or the drives...)

It's "upgrade your technology" day.  This is the first entry (almost up to a full week in a row, right?) using the new computer set-up.  Transferring files over the network is slow moving (even with our fast network settings), but I decided it was the right way to approach it.

This all started way back with Guttenberg, didn't it?  I mean, the beginning of knowledge being passed around, on display, connecting us all.  If it weren't for the printing press, where would we be?  Everything just seemed to have snowballed up from there. Machines slowly snuck into our lives (cotton gin, telegraph, electric lights, manufacturing, motor vehicles, computers) and now?  I believe that everything that's happening in our current state of civilization isn't really much different from the way it's always been.  It's just we hear about it instantaneously. Everything.  Everywhere.  And yes, all at once (such a brillliant film).

There's no denying that the advent of those chips that allow immediate communication (in all its forms) has changed us.  It's changing us.  It will continue to change us.  But the core of what's there - tribal infighting, procreation, agriculture,  communication and even love - isn't very different from what it was thousands of years ago.  Except for the massive amount of debris, garbage, refuse, detritus (chose your favorite word) that we've created.

And I've just added to that by purchasing a new small communication device.  Yes, the dots are all connected.  And I'm just one infinitesimal spec.  So are you.

#80 - It's gettin' hot in here

Things are heating up.  We know the planet is, and it's going to be a doozy over this coming Labor Day weekend.  In our little county, even the ants will be hot, though you'd never know it by this morning's foggy start.  Tomorrow the oven begins a pre-heat session, and over the holiday weekend (of course!), it's forecasted to be up to 106!  Now that's hot.

The house stays relatively cool, though when it gets that hot, even in this non-airconditioned home, it'll feel warm.  I think the time will be ripe for keeping all the fans on, and perhaps digging into the Imperial Man's boxes.  There may be a photo upcoming yet...

#79 - This is getting to be a habit (or is it habitat?).

Interesting how I'm thinking now each morning about what I might write about.  They say it takes 30 days to turn something into a habit.

According to the OED, the word HABIT originates from the "Latin Habere:  to have, consist of,  from the Latin habitus ‘condition, appearance’; the term originally meant ‘dress, attire’, later coming to denote physical or mental constitution" whereas the word HABITAT comes from Latin habitare, then Latin habitat meaning 'it dwells.'

That's some food for thought. I guess we develop habits based on our habitat.  If we dwell in it, eventually our appearance will be based on where we dwell.  Makes some sense to me.  If we live in clutter, our life will feel cluttered (somehow the original Vault Goddess resembled that remark, for certain; it's what I'm trying valiantly to overcome).

So, can the reverse be true?  If we follow a habit, will it morph into becoming our habitat? In other words, if I write enough, will it turn into a book?

Guess I need to work on developing that habit to find out.

#78 - Shrubs (the drinkable kind)

I love shrubs.  I discovered these about 8 years ago, and have been fascinated and enamored of them since then.  Harkening back to the 1700's or earlier, depending on your source (for a great read, see Joyce White's "Shrubs in History" blog (thanks, Joyce), I believe originally they were a way to preserve the fruits of summer, often in an alcoholic way, but not always.

The types of shrubs I love are really drinking vinegars, and a way to combine ripe fruit and herbs to create a combination of simple syrup and cocktail mixer. The one I have ripening in the fridge at the moment is a Fig and Lemon Verbena shrub.  Mine will be ready in about 4 days, and I'll be asking my dear friend, who is really a phenomenal mixologist with a day job in day care, to help devise the perfect cocktail for this one.

Photo coming at a later date.

# 77 - Daily Reminders

First, pats on the back for 3 days in a row. Yeah, ME!  Might I actually become dicsplined enough to do this each and every day?  You'll be the judge of that (and this content will too).

I think I might finally be learning what this editing thing is all about. It's like weeding but in all things, not just the garden. This morning, I managed to remove several plants in the garden that just were not thriving, and instead of continuing to attempt to revive them, I realized they just needed to go.  More and more, I look around my "habitat" and am starting to "Kondo" the hell out of everything.  Which feel really productive. And good. And oh, so necessary.

Theatre keeps creeping around the edges of things these days.  We will have to see if that's just weeds growing, or if there's some great volunteers lurking under there that are worth tending to and nourishing into something more.

Off to package seeds as a gift for friends moving away to their first real home.  Thrilled for them (and for us to visit, since they're going to Ashland, OR.  We haven't been to see the Oregon Shakespeare Festival up there in years, so we can hope for a quick trip next season.

Tomorrow perhaps I'll find some interesting picture from the Vault - I need to get back to doing that.

#76 - "It's Habitat"

 Hey.  Two actual days in a row.  Who knew I could be so disciplined?  Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves, now.

Still in the clean/organize/purge/figure out what the flock is going on mode.  I am trying very hard to:  1) take baby steps; 2) practice gratitude; 3) remind myself that every journey begins with a single step, and mostly 4) remember, in the words of my dear friend Katy, "It's Habitat."

What did Katy mean by that exactly?  Well, one day I was bitterly complaining to Katy about the weeds in my yard.  She said, "Laura, remember:  it's habitat."  Is this akin to the saying "one person's trash is another person's treasure"?

I do have a creature comfort filled habitat when I am hunkered down.  I wonder why I have what I have and why it's, in way too many ways, so similar to the original Vault Goddess' abode.  Wait, that's not really true.  It's the carefully curated collection of T H I N G S that surround me.  Some, are not really MY things, and I have had them for almost 15 years.  Others belonged to the ImperialMan and I've only had those for 5 years (and even that's way too long).

Sounds like that's the next task.  Weeding my habitat of the things of others.  Ok, we'll add that to the To Do list.  I'll try and see what can be done, reminding myself to take those baby steps, practice gratitude, and if I do just one thing every day,  eventually the true habitat will reveal itself.

Hope springs eternal.

 

Now Serving #75

What a difference a YEAR makes, right?

Ok, it's been just about 525,600 minutes since the last one (you'll get that reference if you're a musical theatre buff).  Now that I'm officially no longer a member of the RAT RACE, I really should have time for doing this every damn day, shouldn't I?  

My MOH (that's maid of honor, she knows who she is), just was reminding me earlier today about The Artist's Way, and talking about the daily writing discipline.  You get up early every day, and write 3 pages, and then never read them again. Ever. I described this as an artist "exfoliating" the muse as it were.  It's building up muscle memory to just get the creative engine tuned up and warmed up.  All part of the ritual of creativity and art, right?

And how exactly is it that I am (still, at this ripe old age) trying to find my focus.

We are in the process of readying for a new upgraded computer. Me and technology - we have storied history, we do. Trying to coordinate files and folder to transfer to a new computer when the time is right.  I did manage to retrieve one of the many back up drives, and found some choice nuggets of writing;  mine, my siblings, the original Vault Goddess' pre-final India trip emails, and photos too.  But I was most struck by the old "movies" I had created.  My son's surprise HS graduation party. My mother-in-law's 90th birthday party movie "(Her Name) In Her Own Words."  OMG.  I just realized that was the first In Her Own Words movie I created.  The second was the one I accidentally directed last year in April 2021 for a women's play festival titled In Her Own Words, right? Is the universe trying to tell me something?

Since it's been a minute since I posted any photos, let's do that now. Something from the Treasure Vault that hasn't been floated in a while:

Yup - an oldie but a goodie.  Read from GIRL FROM CHICAGO... Sister of the original Vault Goddess.

Only tomorrow will determine if we're going to be calling #76 next.