Taking Charge

I've been trying really hard to make a lot of positive changes this year.  I have proclaimed this to be "MY YEAR".  This does not mean that I expect to have everything go my way, or that I think I'll be particularly lucky this year.  But it is my year to focus on myself.  Not so much in the pampering way, but I am one of those women who got so caught up in taking care of everyone else that I forgot how to take care of me. 

Now that the house is finished, I have more time to focus on the things in my life that I'm not happy about, and do something about them.  That's why it was the perfect time for me to begin the Artist's Way.  So far, I've stuck with it, and am just finishing week two.  It makes me focus on my thoughts and dreams and needs, and forces me to take a good hard look at myself.  In doing so, I know that I want, and need, to make a lot of changes.

So the priorities are changing.  I'm making a point of setting aside time for exercise and reading and writing, and doing something creative every day.  I'm telling myself that I need to do these things to maintain good health of body, mind and spirit.  It's true.

Larry's passing was like a last straw for me.  I keep realizing how fast it all goes, and that in many ways, I still feel like I'm 30.  But life has changed a lot since I was 30, and I must take better care.  I must live a more cognitive life.  I talk about being present in the present, but I really need to work harder at doing that, and let go of past and future for awhile. 

So if I'm not here much, it's because I'm busy living my life.  If I come up with something that I want to share, I'll put it down here.  If not, I'll be pretty scarce on Xanga.  It's out of my focus right now.

Exercises for Creativity

I am embarking on a new journey this year.  I find that it's time I get a little help to motivate my creative side back into action.  I have been so busy trying to get the house finished and get ready for the Open House--then guests, then Thanksgiving, preparation for Christmas.  Then when Larry got sick and passed away, it was like the brakes locked up on my creative side.  I just couldn't get in gear.  I finally had plenty of free time, and absolutely no desire to create anything.  So I pulled out this book that I bought one year ago.  My Mamacita encouraged me to get it, and I did.  Then it sat on a pile of other books gathering dust.  But it was waiting for this time in my life to be useful.

It's a twelve week course to bring oneself back in to the creative part of the spirit.  There are meditations and exercises, all geared toward putting one back in touch.  One of the most important and powerful tools is that one must write morning pages.  This means every morning, as quickly as humanly possible, one must write out three pages, longhand, into a notebook.  Whatever comes to mind.  There are no rules.  It's called a "brain drain," meaning, one has the opportunity to drain off all the negative energy or just whatever is plugging her up.  Boy, do I need a brain drainer!!  This sounds pretty simple, but it is not as easy as it sounds.  Maybe you'd like to try it!!

Currently Reading Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity By Julia Cameron see related

A Late Christmas is Better Than No Christmas

If anyone ever wants to really cheer me up, all they need to do is bring these two wonderful creatures into my view.  Zack and Annie are my best reasons to smile, and to feel blessed.  We finally got to have our family Christmas celebration this past weekend.  And. although Jason had the stomach flu, and Denise's car broke down, we still managed to celebrate.  When Zack and Annie are in the house, there are plenty of giggles and tickles and reasons to be happy!  Zack is 2 1/2 now, and so trucks, cars, blocks and books were everywhere.  Annie got an Easy Bake oven from Santa, so we did a lot of baking with her.  Ming tried valiantly to stay out from under feet.  All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas.  Even bathtime was an event to be celebrated!

After everyone left for home on Sunday afternoon, Jeff and I took down the tree and the ornaments.  He headed out for Indiana early on Monday morning.  By Monday afternoon, I realized that Jason left his flu bug behind for me--sick as could be for 48 hours!! YUCK.  But I'm on the mend now, and glad to get on to "normal living" once more.

A New Chapter

I began the new year coming back to Indiana with Jeff.  We spent far too much time apart in 2006, and this year I will work hard to make sure that doesn't happen again.  The house is virtually finished.  Any homeowner can tell you that it is never completely finished.  Such is life!  But I don't need to be there pressing to get the jobs done, and the open house is over, so we have officially "revealed". 

Jeff came home from work yesterday with the news that he has been asked to add Asia to his responsibilities in Europe.  Do you think this will mean less travel?  No, I don't think so, either.  Basically, he will be doing two jobs instead of one.  But in these days of downsizing, one doesn't dare complain about workload.  And with Jeff turning 59 soon, we really just want to hold on until he can retire.  I just pray he won't be worked to death before that can happen. 

WELL!  That doesn't sound very optimistic, does it?!  We have much to be grateful for.  We are blessed.  We are have been together for 35 years now, and he is still my best friend.  Our children and grandchildren are all doing well and are healthy.  And so are we.  Jeff's mother is 81, and she is doing so well that the doctor just cut back her medications again.  Even Ming, our dog, is doing very well.  And so I will focus on these things, and bite my tongue when tempted to complain.

I fogot to add the pic of Jeff's Christmas project.  He built me a pantry for the kitchen!  My cabinets are a bit tall, and like one of my friends living in France (remaining unnamed!), I have a few sets of dishes.  So this is where my canned and dry goods can go, leaving room for "other things" in the cabinets.

Pretty nifty, isn't it?  Oh, and it's already filled!

A Day at the IMA

Yesterday Jeff and I took off for Indianapolis to go visit the art museum.  I had taken Penny, my neighbor from Wales, when she visited us last month, and we received return tickets that needed to be used by December 31st.  We had such a nice time that I thought Jeff and I could use the positive stimulation and dose of culture.

The museum was totally redone just a couple of years ago, and it is really nice.  It resides on the grounds of Eli Lilly's estate, who made his money in pharmaceuticals.  Stationed by the Wabash River, and overlooking a large stand of trees, it's quite a pretty setting, and the grounds and Lilly house are open as well.  One can easily spend an entire day there, including a picnic lunch, when it's not December!

One of the traveling exhibitions that is there until the end of the year is the QUILTS OF GEE'S BEND.  If you have not experienced these, go here to learn more.  They are so amazing to see, and really encouraged me to get back to quilting.  They are not square, delicate quilts.  They are most definitely works of art.  One group in the exhibition are made totally of old work clothes.  The worn down denims and twills give a soft, sanded effect, and the shades of blues and browns are like shadows on moving water.  Another section was all in corduroys, which appeared so velvety and rich, although they were made from scraps of fabrics from contracted work for Sears and Roebuck in the early 70's.  All the work was done by women in this small, remote region of Alabama.  And all of them were descendants of slaves who had worked that land.  The strong patterns and bold stitching reveal so much strength and purpose, and yet express a beauty of unique depth.  If you ever get a chance to see this exhibition, you really should go.  It's awesome and inspiring!

In the American Art section, we enjoyed seeing some pieces from favorite artists like Georgia O'Keefe, Winslow Homer, and Norman Rockwell, as well as a huge stained glass window by Tiffany Studios, and cowboy bronze sculptures by Remington.  There were several by Indiana artists as well.

There is a European Art section that had some wonderful pieces as well, including several artists from the Impressionist period which is one of my favorites.  We saw paintings by Cezanne, Cassat, Morissot, Gauguin, Monet, Pissaro, and my personal favorite--Van Gogh.

This is just a sampling of what we enjoyed at the museum.  We also had lunch in the cafe, where the food menu and recipes are from Wolfang Puck.  Soooo good!

We also ran a few errands while we were out, and got everything done we had hoped for.  It was a really good day, even weather-wise.  I cherish days like this now.  I hope I never take them for granted again.