today

Day one of the painting extravaganza down! I'm feeling excited about it. I wrote the last post in a bustle of inspiration. A mad dash before nap time ended. Today's painting was done during the same time and in the same spirit. A "hurry and just get it in or you never will" sort of fashion. I'm grateful for the imposed deadlines of nap time. It forces me to leap - or not. There is no in between. And I'm feeling like that's what it's all about. Either I jump or I don't. I work at asking myself lovingly, "Am I moving in the directions of my dreams? Am I moving towards the me I want?" I'm starting to think they don't have to be big moves either. It doesn't have to be dramatic. But it does need to be earnest and heartfelt. An inch is perfect as long as your whole being is in that inch. I guess that's where I'm at...learning how to really inhabit my life. All of my life. Inch by inch. So that my heart is in every inch. The little, the yucky, the tired, the small, the insignificant, the ordinary, the joyful.

the next 30

During nap time, which has been hustle, do chores and cultivate inspiration I was battling my fears. I have a beautiful (well potentially beautiful) studio space now. My fears are of failure. Of doing nothing. My fear of failure is that I will not create anything and if I do it won't be finished. In doing battle I realized 2 things: I need goals and deadlines and I need accountability. So here I am. Nap time is almost over and I'm leaping. Starting tomorrow I will do one painting a day for 30 days. They don't have to be good. They just have to be done. You are my accountability. Also I'll be calling some best friends. Hold me to it. 30 days, 30 paintings!

this month

In the last 30 days I have:

• relocated our home
• unpacked (mostly)
• cleaned, scrubbed, rearranged, repeat
• knocked down 3 walls
• helped move a safe - yes a safe! it came with the house
• pulled more weeds than I have in my entire life
• moved some rocks
• purchased a king sized bed - woo hoo!
• been to the farmer's market
• had company for a weekend
• had more company for a week
• grocery shopping, grocery shopping, grocery shopping
• started setting up my studio!
• painted
• spent lots of time at the library
• and park

Wow, put in a list it seems less impressive. All of the company has come and gone. Me and the mister will continue settling into our new home, the way only we do; by rearranging, remodeling and ripping things out. Next up carpeting!

company

I've not disappeared. We have company, in from out of town. Our pets, it turns out also have company. The uninvited type...ticks. Yuck! Our company, on the other hand, is fabulous. Warm and kind. Funny and vibrant. And forgiving...the little boy won't stop pushing and hitting their little girl. sigh. More later.

a random list of sorts

Still no cord for the camera...

We have company coming this week. Looking forward to visiting with good friends - but feeling a little overwhelmed.

I have a forever long and growing to do list.

Dealing with an assertive and ornery little boy. He's figuring things out, testing limits. Driving me nuts! It's that devilish little grin when he knows it's a no and does it anyway. My bad karma come back to haunt me.

Enjoying local honey from the farmer's market.

Wondering how am I going to get through the summer with this heat!?

Just got my library card for Mesa County Libraries! They're not gonna know what hit them. I already have a list of books I'm gonna check out. Oh, I do love my library!

Harvesting my old journals. Looking back through at past wishes and worries, finding ideas to expand on. Seeing that I've always just needed to give myself lots kindness.

Thankful for a napping boy.

Now back to my to do list...

a long hot spring

Searching for just the right spot. Not too much sun - or too much shade. Looking to dig my roots in deep. Let the soil feed me as I reach towards the heavens. And grow.

Here's what settling in and a long hot spring looks like...

Okay, pictures to come soon...

I can't find my cord that connects the camera to the computer...

Moving and settling in, no kidding...sheesh.

home again, home again

Unpacking. Boxes everywhere. Feeling a bit overwhelmed. Where does everything go? Where is everything? How did we acquire so much stuff? And yet it seems I still don't have everything I need. I cringe at the thought of purchasing more stuff with so much to unpack...but we do need curtains, and this to replace the sink and then of course this over here. So I do need that. And that is how I end up with more stuff. I'm having fantasies of wiggling my nose and it all falling into place. Either that or pitching it all and living like a nomad.