Life Goes On...

thought it might be time for a “what’s shakin’” type post....

where to start?

well, we are back in major home improvement mode over here, but this time it’s outside.  it’s still noisy, dirty and kinda crazy all the way around, but nothing like the inconvenience of our last project, which was the kitchen!  hopefully i will have some “after” pics soon!

i’m gearing up for bailey’s barn sale up on palomar mountain this coming weekend.  not only am I selling mixed media pieces and cards (many with a palomar theme) but my contemplative photography group is coming up for a photoshoot.  Should be fun!

"Wonder Washer" photo taken at Bailey's Resort

Oregon Barn

 i’m so enjoying working with my “inside out” group.  these women have been through so much – yet they are open, ready to share from the heart and appreciative of the time that i spend with them.  it’s challenging finding just the right activities each week, but they seem to be thriving, so it’s all worthwhile. loving the work they are creating!!

Creating Art Journal pages

 i’m (supposedly) taking 2 online classes…. one is all about teaching – teach now with jen louden and michele christensen (really good stuff!) and the other is sketchbook delight  with alisa burke (very fun!) – a gift for retreat participants.  i say “supposedly” because i can’t seem to find the time to get into them in a big way.  still trying….

i’m involved in organizing a very special art exhibit at artbeat which will be coming in the fall….details to follow.

My Little Wall at ArtBeat

 trying to get into my studio when i can to create new art.  kind of a challenge sometimes… 

 still doing my photowalks every morning.  a chance to breathe and reflect before the day begins…

we likely won’t be doing any major travel until august – that’s when we’ll want to escape the heat.  then there will be 3 trips in a row (again) just because of family stuff, timing, etc.  oh well – it’s all good.  look forward to catching up with each of you!

The Morning Speaks to Me

i have always been a morning person.  i’m awake (way too!) early, up, out the door walking, taking pics, doing my instagram, making our power drink, starting chores, cleaning, checking lists, etc. etc. …

but lately, i have a new practice that i love.  it stops all of that for a few moments.  i make a cup of tea and sit where i can look out the window.  it’s usually open, so a cool ocean breeze comes in and the birds are always singing away.  

 it’s hard to stop my mind from the chatter that’s already going on, but i wait until that happens.  i let the morning speak to me.  it may sound odd, but that’s my goal.  i have my notebook ready and once i have let everything inside quiet down…. words come to me.  words of possibility. words of insight.  words of inspiration. 

 i have pages and pages now, mostly they are random phrases, sometimes they turn into something that i will follow up on, but they are fun to go back and read.  because they represent space. space in my day. space in my head. 

 and funny thing, at the end of the day, when i look back on it…. those are some of the most precious moments.  the morning does speak to me. 

"Intention" revisited

it’s my word of the year.  i had high hopes for this word, but i have to say, it’s been a little bit of a struggle figuring out how best to let it guide me. 

 i wrote out a bunch of intentions for the year in january…. thinking or hoping that they would somehow move me forward in new directions and prompt the universe to do its part in making good things happen.

but the list kind of sat there.  i would look at it from time to time and feel a bit stumped as to how to proceed…

 

so i started doing what i’m seeing is a pattern for me.  a pattern that works.  i turned the intention-setting into a practice.  i have done the same with other words of the year, but somehow it has taken me a while to get this one going.

most mornings i will think about my day and try to set a few intentions for that day.  then i also try to look at my long range intentions just to refresh my memory.  i think it builds up after a while and starts to make an impact on my day to day decsions.

the whole thing still feels a little vague.  but it’s only may, after all… i can feel some shifts occurring and will let you know if i have any bursts of insight to share!

in other news, i’m moving forward and launching another contemplative photography workshop for the summer. hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Get that Dream off the Shelf!

 

 

"there is very little you can do with a dream that is sitting on a shelf collecting dust.”

andrea shroeder

 

remember that long-awaited contemplative photography class at the lavender farm that i almost ended up cancelling?  well, something cool and totally unexpected has happened.  the participants started a group.  it now has its own facebook page and is growing! 

 

we have already had one official field trip to alta vista gardens and several more are planned.  honestly, i’m totally blown away by the whole thing!!

 

so close…. so close to sitting on that shelf collecting dust.  so happy i did not allow that to happen.  that in that moment of decision i decided to step up and show up and trust the process….  because you just never know, you know?

thanks, Julia!

(currently working on plans for the next class!)