What I do for fun?

Well first off I pick blueberries! Secondly I spent a long, hot day setting up this display! Believe it or not it was kind of fun. I got some sun, sweated out every toxin in my body, got a work out dragging all this stuff up and down stairs and learned how to get my walls on....all while enjoying the view of my garden in which I saw a humming bird and 3 different types of butterflies.

I feel like I have so much stuff until I see it up and then I'm say Geez I need more! I feel I really need to work on canvas more...my negative brain says "there is not enough time in the day" and my positive side says "there is plenty of time to do everything you need to do"...hmmm the constant inner battle.
I worked on my still life yesterday and think that it is coming along nicely.

And took the evening off to enjoy "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". I loved this movie...I keep thinking of Queenie telling Benjamin that "you never know what's going to come your way". Did I cry...yes I cried like a baby!

Friday night I met the nicest woman...Cathie, she had found my blog through..Creative Everyday and ends up we live in the same city. She was involved in a First Friday Art Walk so I drove over to meet her and I am glad I did...not only is she very talented but a refreshing pleasure to be around.

Feeling pretty good about the weekends productivity...I fit a little of everything I had to do in and feel like I accomplished a lot...especially in cleaning the dreaded linen closet!! I keep opening it up to admire it. hahahaha

Happy Monday ya'll.

Juicy

I started a new piece this week...I had a fruity photo shoot over the weekend and chose this image of cherries and lemons to start with... The colors are so juicy...I can't wait to start on the fruit!

The Racoon is hangin' I had to step away for fear that I would over work him...I think he looks pretty darn cute...if I do say so myself.

I figured I'd wait to have my buddy frame it until hey were both done.

This is pretty much all I have been up to other than reading Will the Circle Be Unbroken by Studs Terkle.

I have also ordered The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. I am sick of saying "I can't draw"...I got a my rewards gift certificate in the mail the other day so I got this with it...maybe it will inspire me. I know I should just be practicing all the time but I embarrass myself...I think YUCK what if anyone sees this poop and I stop. So maybe this book will help.

More than one way to skin a peach

I can truly say that I am in heaven this morning!!
Susan delivered fresh peaches the other day...grown a block away in her front yard. I was starving this morning so I decided to make my all time favorite breakfast....German Pancake
You know when you peel a peach, especially one that could be riper, you end up cutting away 1/2 the peach....not anymore....I blanch them, throw 'em in a colander and the skins slip right off!
Oh my gosh...not only is there homegrown peaches....but I see MY OWN blueberries!! Yes siree...I had some leftover from the berries I have set aside for the Blueberry Cake that I'll bake tomorrow.
Look at that beautiful pancake...I subbed buttermilk for the milk.....
And it was DELICIOUS!!!!

It's Green Smoothie time!

Last year Amanda turned me on to the green smoothie...I think she read about it over at Happy Foody. I had forgotten about this delicious, nutritious and sure to gross your friends out treat until today! The worms have come in for the kill on my kale so I decided that it was time to pull it all (pick the worms out..hehehe) and prep it for future green smoothies...
Garbage bag full of greens (I pulled all the chard too..it was looking like lace)...Rinse, rinse, rinse and don't worry about the excess water...
Puree....add a bit of water as needed..
Pour into ice cube trays and freeze!
I'll be adding a few cubes to smoothies in no time! I know fresh is always best and I did use it fresh this morning but I kind of like it frozen better.
Notice my avocado green counters...do you think I am the only one in America left with the avocado green counters and mustard yellow sink???? In my defense I have covered up the mustard linoleum with tile and the old yellow fridge that I spray painted white is gone for a real white one...but I have to admit the hood to the stove is painted white on top and is still yellow up inside....it is definitely time for that baby to go!

Wandering mind...

Judgement..being judgemental...

When visiting Leona the other day she stressed that I was not judgemental...I am assuming she means in comparison to my parents because I was accused of judging someone the day after the statement was made..

So yeah, maybe calling someone a crazy pathological liar was a little harsh....and it was considered judgemental...(I am not going to go into the circumstances that led up to this comment)...the thing is if I had sugar coated it would have been perceived differently...and truth be known I have sugar coated it and gotten no where and sometimes I just get fed up stroking peoples egos..especially those who twist the truth in order to get you sympathy...people don't want your advice or opinions they just want you to hear them out and if you say anything it has to be nice..

OK I'm on a rant...Judgement....isn't it human nature to form an opinion...is not being judgmental just keeping your mouth shut?

Does it go hand in hand with compassion....I should be more compassionate and then I won't form such harsh judgements?

I guess I better add these to the list of things to work on.....I really envy those who have all this worked out already...I have been in situations where folks watched me totally screw up and never said an unkind word....just listened....maybe one day I can be like them....I guess the first step is what my friend Sue reminded me of that Judith Allison taught us..."God gave you two ears and one mouth....so you can listen more and talk less"
Talking to much....that is a whole 'nother blog post...

Thank God for art!!! The only thing that shuts my wandering mind up is being creative....here's a little guy I am in the process of making....he'll get a hat soon...he is modeled after my first gnome, Norman, but I am tinkering with his construction.


I worked on the Raccoon for a while last night...

I spy....

A raccoon! I am getting back on track....I got up yesterday at 5 and hit the studio before work. I am working from the bottom up and couldn't really tell if it was looking like fur or not yesterday because it was all wet and shiny from the gel medium. But from looking at it this morning I think it's working and I can safely continue on....laying each piece of hair with tweezers....hehehe..it's very meditative for me.

These little flowers I am making for bobby pins are really cute...seems like they will be a hot item for the little girls (and BIG little girls) at craft shows...I sold a few last weekend. But I do need to figure out the best way to package them...last week I just clipped them on a business card. Which is OK but maybe they need to be displayed some how...I just had them set about but they kept blowing around. Any suggestions?
Sanity report....I made it out to dinner and two bars last night with no alcohol or cigs! Fortunately the my hubby the rock star played first so I was outa there by 10! I am feelin' good today!

I am headed down to the Boardwalk Art Show for some inspiration today. I am excited about this...then an intuitive reading with my favorite psychic, Leona. I figure it's like cheap therapy! Plus she cracks me up. I am taking off on my bike for this adventure so I'll wear my new ONE PIECE bathing suit in case I want to swim.....oh Lordy....I have never bought a one piece but it's was time...it even has a tummy flattener in it! Bonus....it's actually really cute....purple with light blue contrast stitching and kind of resembles suede....and a halter top. Some friends told me that one pieces were fashionable this year. So hey, I'm fashionable.

Garden report....harvesting cucs, peas (fading fast), sugar snaps, Gold Rush bush beans (the best bean ever!)...still have plenty of kale and chard. The tomatoes are every where...just small and green..hehehe my mouth is watering waiting for them.

See ya...have a super weekend.

Saturday evening.....I posted a bit about the fabulous art show over at.....7 Cities Crafters....check it out.

Witness

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.”
Anthony Robbins
I have witnessed a very powerful pattern trying to weasel it's way back into my life. Bear with me because I need to vent...

I have spent years working on alcohol moderation...I have tried not drinking at all (which, truthfully, is the way I should go) but have chosen the moderation route...one of the main things I am conscious of is NOT drinking when under emotional stress...I have been consistent over the years in focusing that energy in a walk, weeding the garden, painting tissue (not working on final products..I hate putting that negativity out there).

Family issues are the toughest of them all for me...parental disapproval is a big one...when people you love say mean things it is so hard to let go. And so the destructive gremlin sees it's way in....it says "hey, man you are so tired tonight...you don't need to do anything except maybe sit on the porch and have a drink" and then I sit and after every drink I begin to dwell and dwell and the issue starts growing "in my MIND"...which is ridiculous because the only thing happening at that moment is me self destructing...no one is there saying any thing mean...it's that stupid broken record in my head which the more I drink the more that comes out...stuff that family members have said YEARS ago.

The pattern begins.....I wake up the next day feeling even more like poop...now not only is my mind crawling with negativity but now I am hungover on top of it...AND craving junk food...so art, gardening, and walking are out of the question......as the day goes on I am very cranky and ready to snap....looking for a fight....by the end of the day I have created so much stress "in my MIND" that I feel like....I need a drink.

So after a week and a half of this behaviour..(some nights I have been OK)...on my way home....grumpy as could be...thinking "oh one more night of cocktails on the porch won't hurt" I said..."Shut the hell up!" Granted I did indulge in some junk food... but when my gremlin said "your feet are tired....you aren't going to accomplish anything worth while tonight so what's the point" This gremlin is crafty...I said "oh well" grabbed my journal and the book I am reading and sat my tired butt down! And there I sat...for 2 hours...writing and reading....my husband came in and asked me "shouldn't you be doing something" I stated..."I am"