A Happiness Jar

A friend's Share on Facebook reminded me of the fun of keeping a Happiness Jar. The one from 2016 is packed - but for some reason (?) I forgot/didn't get around to making one in 2017...
Did both 2015 and '16. Was worth it.

Many people simply use a simple quart jar. Some decorate a lid. Others do not. One friend folds her happy memories into origami stars. I use papers of all sorts and shapes and sizes. Movie stubs are fun to add into the mix.

That's all I've got for now. 

Planning to head back northeast from Colorado Springs this morning. Into "interesting" weather. Once again, thoughts go to pioneers and Native Americans dealing with the rough days and nights and weeks of surviving on the Great Plains or Upper Midwest. Most of us have got it "better" - in whatever way you wish to define the word.

So - on to packing Warm Clothes, and trying to keep the gas tank on the old Buick mostly filled. We have food. We have driven in many below zero days and nights. Whiteouts are a problem I hope not to deal with. They are never fun.

We will not be the only hardy souls trekking our way back to obligations and duties. We are some of the many who got to spend time with friends and family over the holidays. Wonderful surpises and much laughter filled our days. And some sorrows and some hugs. (We are not a hugging family - hahaha.) Too much great food was chomped, and not enough time spent in the Garden of the Gods.

I have to go home and budget time for journaling.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

A Post for Good Measure

This year has been one of fallowness - 
and amazing surprises.

Perhaps this is as it should be.

2017 - 200

TA DAH!!

Yes, a bit of an anti-climax, but there is no arguing

 with the Post numbers.

200

Many people do more in a year.

And have more to say.

And teach more.

Or show more photographs.

Or write more about life experiences.

I am tired. 

The Christmas party went long.

The Vikings football fans were joyful.

I was a lone Packers fan watching not-good history being made.

LOL

I am slightly happy.

A sister-in-law gave me a small portable greenhouse.

Greenhouses somehow equal "hope."

On to 2018 being a Year of Hope.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Typing Just to Type.

This is post Number 199 for the year.

I don't know if any of this typing has been helpful to others, but it has been helpful to me.

If for no other reason than seeing a thing through for a whole twelve months.

Two months and one month are more my speed. Or a day. Or twenty minutes.

So a Year of Doing Something is pretty big for me.

On to figuring out a Something or Two for 2018.

Books and Life

A simple Wanting to Do for 2018:

READ MORE BOOKS

Not in the surfing the waves of the waves of books here, but to actually take time to slow down and READ BOOKS. For, say, an hour at a time. I used to spend whole days inside books. Now they are more casual pals than serious teachers. Time to get back to school.

Here is a quote from "Steal This Book," by Austin Kleon:

"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life." - Jessica Hische

I am almost excited!

And, tonight, though it will be in going after an already lost cause, "GO, PACK!!!!"

It's time to feed the flooffy squirrels now. It's a small purpose, but better than none.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

This fuzzy one was enjoying a much warmer day 

than the days that are upon us. 

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for

wonderful blue cheese
a free hard boiled egg from Our Community Kitchen
tasty "almost like 'real' bread" gluten-free toast
BUTTER

and the possibilities of another day  - though having gotten out of bed at 8:30 AM, I feel late to the game!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Adventures at the Co-op

Tuesdays are Senior Discount  days at our local food co-op. No, I don't appreciate the fact that I qualify for that ten percent "off" price of things, but that's the way it goes.

I love fractals. And had seen broccolini used as an example in print and video. But.... never in person.

So, as an easily amused person I was HAPPY to see many bunches of this natural hybrid (broccoli and gai lan) displayed beautifully in the produce section. I don't know if these plants could be displayed any way but beautifully.

No, I didn't buy one. But I shot several - 

Art AND Science! And maybe next week I will buy one to actually eat! Go visit your produce aisles and see what lovelies are waiting for your admiration!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Doing

Today was a doing day.

Lots of little things.
All the boxes crossed off of The List

And yet.
And yet.

It never feels "enough."

I don't know if this will ever get
figured out.

And now it's time for bed.

A bit of Zen "Ha ha."

Sigh.

My brain has been missing.
I will find it soon.
I hope.

Gentleness

Today's word for Jen Morris' Deliberate December is Gentleness.

Sometimes I think many of us have forgotten what "gentleness" means. No, I do not have the ambition to look up some definitions tonight. 
My head hurts and there is too much to do and it's dark outside at quarter after eight. I have forgotten Summer. 

Bitch  bitch. Moan moan. Not from innermost core. But from shallow surface, and just below.

Time for a bit of Gentleness...
If only we had cats?
 Hahaha.

We DO have wool bankets. And soft pillows.
I could pour a bit of bourbon into a cup of hot cocoa. And add a dollop of whip cream. (Tinnitus is yowling that this might not be a good idea in my case - but it might be a Wonderful Idea for you.)

Gentle music is pouring lightly from laptop through headphones into ears. Breathing is regular and calm. Too bad I blew out the candle that had been burning all day. I sure would like to sleep. Not yet. There are sentences to type.

A little about daring to be gentle:
I learned many years ago that roughing oneself up never helps, and just adds to the inner bruises one might already have from outside sources.

So - a good solid practice is to be gentle with oneself. To appreciate the parts of us that still work. To try actually liking the person we have grown up to be. Much flawed or nearing perfection. Whoever the person is we are. Now. 

And to move gently toward the person we may still want to become. Stretching... stretching... With effort, but not strain.

Like those sometimes-gentle-but-not-always-gentle magical creatures some call cats? Stretch. Relax. Stretch. Relax.
"R-e-l-a-x" - Aaron Rodgers. (Oh, yes, Aaron Rodgers is cleared to play for the Green Bay Packers against the Charlotte Panthers this Sunday, but I digress.)

Now - back to the bruins for a little while; then gently on to whatever the rest of the evening brings.

Tomorrow's word: Expand (I have NO idea... Though I am glad that there are a variety of meanings for "expand" - other than the one this word brings to mind during this season of often-mindless eating.

Good Luck and Fare-thee-well,
from under the gentle, warm, comforting Hudson's Bay blanket - 
Sue

Today

Today:

I received a lovely gift from a friend. It is a tote bag illustrated by a large bunch of scribbles - with the quote: CREATIVE MINDS ARE RARELY TIDY.

Hmm... I wonder why she thought of me...

It is not that I do not WANT to be tidy.
I DO.
And a few parts of Life are.
Many are not.

I know that life would most likely be easier if life was tidier.
Time spent hunting for a particular thing would be spent on something more productive. But then I might not find a thing I'd forgotten about for years. Like that yarn I didn't know existed till yesterday. A hunt for something else flushed it from its hiding place. No, I do not know what will happen to it. Right now it's being used to tie up a drooping plant. And to attach Christmas "greenery" to our surveyor's tripod floor lamp "tree."

If life was tidy I would know where That Book was. Now I just know it exists. The same goes for lots of model horse related things. And journals. And certain art supplies.

Some things are at least semi-tidy:
* business records
* personal records
* art supply ordering information
* real hard-copy photographs
* most books
* most art supplies
* the house plants

And, as with maybe the majority of people in the U.S., I will re-re-re-re-commit to tidying up more "next year."

At present, I will remain one of those "I know it's around here somewhere" about a number of things. At least now, if I find them, there is another tote in which to haul them somewhere else!

Fare-thee-well,
sue

A Day

I wasted most of the day.
The Packers won over a 0-12 team - in over time.
The decorations for the coming days have been hauled up from the basement.
That is all.

Touching

This morning I was in bed too awake too early this morning. Brain got to thinking of bed connected to building connected to Earth connected to Soral System connected to Universe connected to...

Well, you get the idea. And the more people one communicates with - the more connections in common.

Some less-than-six-degrees-of-separation are a wee tad amazing. 
I might go into more detail when more brain cells are capable of thinking.

And all of this is nothing you don't already know.

I just had to type a something.

This is it.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Waiting

Waiting for something like Spring again...

And more Special Months - 

Here is a page from this April's International Fake Journal Month.
Yes, this IS a Thing for hundreds of odd, interesting folks - 

Some people stay the same Fake Person through the years. I am a different Fake Person every April. And a different Real Person, as well.

Creating a fake journal is an experience open to one and all. You can join in sharing on Facebook. Or not. If interested - Google it.

Now - back to another hour and a day at our last art fair of the year. Today has been a good one at Baraboo, Wisconsin's Very Merry Holiday Fair.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Choices

This is one of the first pieces made in June's "100 Happy Bears" Personal Challenge. It seems oddly in sync with the times right now.

So many woes.
So many reason for dancing.

Not all is horror.
Not all is ecstasy.

Some.
Not all.

So we make choices many times a day. Act. Don't act. Act the same. Act differently.

I am not a dancer. At least not in public.
The bears are brave enough to not care.
They will dance just about anywhere.

Another day is here.
It's time again to choose the doings.

I will draw. Bears will dance.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Argh and Sigh and I Don't Want to Cry

Just a seriously silent"loud" bitch about dealing with tinnitus these past couple of days.

I am trying to eat and drink so carefully.
Yes, I took the morning pill.
AND YET THE HEAD IS "SCREAMING." Constantly.

It might be air pressure. 
It might be stress.
It could be almost anything.

I am trying almost my best to deal with it.
But today it's wearing me down.

Yes, I KNOW that so many others have far more SERIOUS maladies.
No, this isn't particularly Painful.
But there are so many kinds of Pain...

This seriously sucks right now - and I
will quit typing and get back to the day's tasks.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

The day's pleasures? It's hard to tell.
Back to the 1930's version of "Scrooge" on You Tube.

Carry on.
And I will do the same.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue the Inside the Petcock of a Steaming Pressure Cooker

WHEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Certain Days - Not Every Day

One seldom knows when or why The Good Day will happen.

Today, though head is knocking, I still feel oddly Good. 
Some Energy. 
Some Joy.
Some "I Can DO This!!"
(Less sugar. More veggies!)

These days are to be treasured.  And remembered. And used to do the deeds - both practical and impractical.

This is not a recent drawing - but one waiting in a small sketchbook, ready to give Hope, Inspiration, and Energy when needed. I do not know why it appeared. I am thankful that it did.

On to the cats, bears, and rabbits of the day.
And that emailing and phone calling stuff. 
I might have to make a shirt like the above to give me power to make calls and answer emails.  Sewing? Uh, that's an adventure I may not be ready for yet!

Heading for Baraboo, WI's Very Merry Holiday Fair - starting at noon this Friday and going through Saturday. Our last art event of 2017.

It is too cold, after super balmy yesterday, for the squirrels and birds to venture out. Food is available, and as the day warms up slightly I am sure a brave few will show up to feed. Backyard looks strange without creatures bopping and flying about.


Roads are seriously icy. I am glad to be able to work from home most of today. Though a venture out to draw at a local assisted care  facility is in the plans. Our road crews have ben busy all night, so this morning's drive downtown to breakfast was uneventful. There have been over 440 accidents reported in the metro area. I called our Public Radio station about something earlier today. The gentleman who answered said his vehicle has been "kissed" by another this icy street morning. No damage to either involved. I am sure many others were not so fortunate.

On that note - 
Fare-thee-well, and stay upright!

Sue

December

Today in central Minnesota it was warm enough for people to sip their coffee shop beverages comfortably while seated coatless outdoors on various patios.

With windchills factored in, tomorrow is forecast to be fifty degrees colder.

Plants are confused, and so are we.

I have mixed emotions.
Life is easier with warm-ish temperatures.
But some plants are already beginning to grow and bud again.
This is not good for these plants.

I somehow have to find motivation to start and finish things.
Perhaps life is too "easy"? Maybe the cold snap will trigger the self-employment survival mechanism that is is stuck in Neutral right now.

December is here! Deadlines loom! Be aware!
lalalalalalalalalalala

So off to an evening of pretending I'm a Night Person.

Is it odd to wish oneself Good Luck?

As to Personal Challenge this month - I am following prompts to live a "Deliberate December." A post on the Jen Morris Creative blog was helpful in choosing. Today's prompt is "Savour." So far, so good. December 5th's prompt is "Create." I think that one will be O.K. December 19th's is "Silence." That one should be interesting.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Tiny Goals and Larger Doings

One goal or challenge for 2017 is to blog at least two hundred times. I don't know why that particular number came to mind as this has headed into - perhaps it was not too much to make the brain anxious in January, but yet enough to be an actual challenge - as the most entries I'd ever made previously was eighty-four, back in 2011. Oddly, this was the year the health "adventure" began.

This morning there are no particularly great inspiring words to be typed. Just - Show Up. Keep Going. You can do it. That sort of thing. To self and whever might be reading. And that "You can do it" is even a tiny lie. Two weeks ago Todd dislocated his right shoulder. There are things he cannot do. He WANTS to do them, but, physically, he simply can not. Or he would reinjure himself if he did certain stuff he would really like doing. So - Show Up, Keep Going?

Or don't? Maybe sometimes it's time to STOP. Or not show up. Our days are made up of all those decisions and choices. 

Yesterday I STOPPED eating sugar - yes, again. Today my noggin feels slightly better, and the tinnitus is less "loud." Why I do not remember  this Sugar = "Louder" Tinnitus (at least in my case) all the time is still fascinating. I will make future self suffer for two days for the temporary JOY thirty-mintues eating  a most excellent white chocolate-cranberry scone at the Buffalo (MN) Books and Coffee shop. 

Today holds an art sale at Roberts, Wisconsin's Color Crossing. There WILL be excellent snacks. Pulling will from the "SuperBetter" book, my epic quest today is "Eat No Sugary Snacks." I am already envisioning NOT putting paw into M&Ms bowl. NOT reaching for a small cookie. Practicing now for real later.

Guessing that's about it. Time to gather stuff together and get the show on the road. It will be another not-Winter day here in the Upper Midwest. Mixed emotions. A friend photographed a confused blooming dandion in her town in southern Wisconsin. IN DECEMBER. Ponder this. Or not. The choice is yours.

On to the day!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Pins

I am signed up for Pinterest. But I might visit the site three times a year? I am not a Pinterest Type.

But others' own physical collections...? Whole 'nother thing. Here are some Real Pins!

These are some from a antique dealer's recent purchase. As far as we now, they are all from the 1920's. I covet some more than others. But I won't be buying them, because I do not covet them in that way.

Enjoy? Ponder? Learn? Start/add to your own collection?

My favorites!
(They are actually a bit smaller than shown.)

So many questions.

But "Let's Jazz"! And "Go, to It Kid"!

One more - 

And, another.... Yes, there are many more - 

Enough of this fun.

On to prepping for the art fair at Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin, Saturday, December, 2nd. 

If you are in the Minnesota metro area it will be a great day for a short drive in rual Western Wisconsin! And if you are a weaver, knitter, or such, you might come home with something to bring joy and more color to your own creative efforts!

I will have a few new bunnies mixed in with the bears. Don't tell the bunnies!

Fare-thee-well!

Sue

A Quote

Quotes from wise or funny or for-what-ever-reason people have been important to me for  - since I learned  what a quote is?

Here is one lifted from "Steal Like An Artist," by Austin Kleon - 

"It isn't necessary that you leave home.

Sit at your desk and listen.

Don't even listen. Just wait.

Don't wait. Be still and alone.

The whole world will offer itself to you."

-Franz Kafka

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Prepping for the art sale this coming Saturday (first one in December) - at Color Crossings in Roberts, Wisconsin. Starts at 9 A.M. Goes till I don't know. Lovely fine art and craft. And yummy goodies, too.

www.suerowe.com

Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

To Read, or Not to Read

Darned Books...

Just four of the books sitting mostly unread - just to my left - on endtable here in the living room:

1) "Inner Simplicity -  100 Ways to Regain Peace and Nourish Your Soul" - Elaine St. James

2) "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" - C. G. Jung

3) "How Can I Help? Stories and Reflections on Service" - Ram Dass and Paul Gorman

4) "Dime Store Alchemy - The Art of Joseph Cornell" - Charles Simic

Three of these were free for the taking, from a fellow artist. A group I am part of was visiting her studio two months ago. She had placed a goodly number of books culled from her library onto a side table. I tried not to be greedy. I did take more than three.

There were more than enough for all of us who "needed" new old books. By and by, I WILL pay attention to the ones I chose. And with so many Little Free Libraries here in Stillwater, Minnesota - many within walking distance, I will most likely cull some of own collection to make room for the newcomers.

Books.....

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Sugar

Eating not much sugar.
But have to get back to eating MUCH less.

I have done this before.
And can do it again.

Sometimes Life Choices suck.
But the trade-offs are worth it.

It's the remembering the above
that is sometimes/often hard.

On to the doing less harm.
To brain.
And body.

The tastebuds will have to
fend for themselves.

Art Supplies

This is one reason I try to carry art supplies in purse or computer bag at all times:

Antsy lad became concentrating artist. 
He created a focused-lad drawing, featuring a lovely blue sun.

Now I have to go home and work at creating art.  Focusing on a pastel cat. It will be fun and a challenge.

But right now I'd much rather continue sitting at cozy busy coffee shop, sipping a Thistle Milk tea and stitching stuff on to paper. And helping spread the love of art as far as it can go.

On to the day. May it be of your choosing. 

I heart the power of art.

Fare-thee-well.
Sue

Thanksgiving

The Brussels sprouts with wild and brown rice and mushrooms dishes are done. I've tossed out a burnt batch of "toasted" pecans - because of multi-tasking while trying NOT to multi-task.

There are three cups of various herbal teas spread around the kitchen, one cold now, one with hint of former warmness, and one almost hot. 

I've been gnawing on a stalk of celery. Plain.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Past memories of feasts at Potato River Farm in tiny very northern, Gurney, Wisconsin, cold, snowy hunters coming in for mid-day feast - their huge boots filling a whole section of the kitchen floor, mitten and gloves thawing on the Jungers oil heater in Grandma and Grandpa Rowe's living room. The small house FILLED with family. I mean FILLED. All ages. All doing something. Lots of talking. Topic? Pick one!

Another bite of celery. It is really kind of tasty.

Off today to make more memories - not in northern Wisconsin, but in metro Minnesota. Then - off to Wisconsin for Todd and my first ever doubling down on Thanksgiving Day.

Time to gussy up as best I gussy.

May your day be as close to your choosing as possible. 
Thankfulness is a powerful being.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Thirty Plus Thankfuls

It is a not-good head day, an unfinished pastel cat is staring at me, and many things are yet undone.
However, it is a well and good time to give thanks again. Being thankful for many things helps focus brain on the many reasons one has to be grateful for things and experiences, and thankful for the things one has to be thankful for. Yes, even for learning enough Grammar to know that that last sentence could have better written. But, onward.

So - on Thanksgiving Eve - with classical music on the radio and good jazz on the laptop - yes, at the same time - sanity comes at an odd cost -  here goes -

Today I am Thankful:

1) for waking up after unexpected four-hour late afternoon nap.
2) that the main food prep here has already been done. Wild and brown rice with Brussels sprouts and other goodies. One big batch - divided for two festivities.
3) for a working laptop computer that keeps modern miracles happening.
4) that an order (yes, only one, but one) got mailed.
5) for the very warm green University of Minnesota - Duluth sweatshirt I am wearing.
6) many friends and much family have plans to share feasts with fellow friends and family.
7) for John Prine. (Thanks, Annalisa!)
8) for soft jazz.
9) for seeing all the quarters left for others in the Aldi's shopping carts today.
10) for cardboard.

11) for Netflix. I was watching a "Winnie the Pooh" movie just a bit ago.
12) that we have more oil paint than I will probably use up in my life time. GET PAINTING!!
13) that the gladiola bulbs are out of the ground and drying in prep for next Spring's re-planting.
14) LAUGHTER happens.
15) Todd pointed out the plumpest grey squirrel's new way of eating sunflower seeds - SCOOPING a bunch up in its paws all at one time. We watched. We laughed. If we ate squirrel, this one might be great eating. Now to see that Not Our Cat is not lucky enough a hunter to find out!
16) that the dishes are clean, and the kitchen counters are as clean as they are getting tonight. Clear working surfaces can be magical places.
17) I have pre-thunk possible eating and drinking strategies for the two Thanksgiving feasts. Head is forcing this "sad" doing. So, very little or no alcohol, keep to mostly veggie dishes, a little turkey, little gravy (gravy.... sigh), and a wee bit of pie? No real coffee. I feel depressed just typing this. Really. But the head has not been happy this week, and I want to be able to join in conversation and laughter. There was a time when I could not. The thought of relapse puts me into minor panic from time to time. But also creates empathy for the many others who have food issues much harder to deal with than mine.
18) for Vince Guaraldi and all his fine jazz. Think "Charlie Brown" soundtracks and expand the playlist from there. He wrote so much more than "Linus and Lucy."
19) for "Linus and Lucy."
20) that I don't have to watch the Green Bay Packers play football on Thursday, and can cheer for the Detroit Lions against the Minnesota Vikings. Go, Lions! Yes, I live in Minnesota and am married to a Vikings fan.
21) for other peoples' art fair dogs -

BRACE O'PUGS!!

22) for blooming geraniums in the almost-Winter kitchen.

23) for the people who created Honeycrisp apples.

24) for Honeycrisp apples.

25) for bees.

26) for other pollenators.

27) that there is sunshine in tomorrow's forecast.

28) for crisp friendships and gooey friendships.

29) that there are far more than thirty things for which I am thankful for EVERY DAY.

30) for hot herbal tea on a semi-nippy night.

31) that Kurt Vonnegut existed, and that his words live on. (I do not know who to credit for image.)

As he said, "So it goes." 

And, yes, so it goes.

Sometines Thankfuls come easy. Sometimes Thankfuls come hard. Sometimes it helps to make a list.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Sliding By

Doing the bear  (mispelled pun intended) 
Mininum to get by.
Sweeping the kitchen floor.
Making the bed. 
Feeding squirrels and birds.

Missing Energy.
Missing Perk.
Vim. Vigor.
The will to strive and thrive.

Cannot blame lack of Sunlight today.
There is Sunshine on hands and arms.
I am seriously Thankful for this.

Cannot blame others.
Cannot blame.

But cannot find an answer
To the not-doing
The slow doing
The un-doing

What's smothering the Inner Perk?
What's braking  Inner Drive?
Life's gears are disengaged
And slacking fills the day

Is this reheasal
For forever
If so -
bring on anxiety as well

Sloth and panic
Make such
Lovely pals

Breathe in
Breathe out

Remember
Do

The Dogging Days

No ambition.
But a post must be posted.
Or else the number of posts
will not increase.

That's all for today.
We'll see about tomorrow.

Adventure Time

new art adventure
dark
hoping I can find
my way

UP AND AT 'EM!!!!!!

Those bears
and
bunnies
can't
exhibit
themselves1

YAWN.
Serious yawn.

But when the pineapple 
is cut into chunks
to share with others
tomorrow
it can be time, oops,
No - remember to take the laundry
out of the dryer

And put the backpack 
into the van
and THEN the recliner
can be enjoyed

maybe?

These days that fold into weeks
into more days that are forgotten
as soon as they
are lived
is not how I would
choose to live

And I am not a sort who 
becomes ALIVE with the 
night

nope

Light sparks
whatever spark
might sparkle
in me

But dark will greet the
morning's van drive
to a destination
where friends
WILL provide

some Sparkle
and other edibles
for artists
and art show viewers
alike

Well worth yawning
while working with
sharp knife
in bright-for-now 
kitchen

on to the cutting
and yawning
and life

TWO HUNDRED BLOGS is the GOAL.

This is an actual possibility.

I hope to not type too boringly.
I hope to give Hope.
I hope to offer company, compassion, and empathy.

And, to Be Kind.

Now - down to a brightly lighted Stillwater, Minnesota coffee shop - to be with some folks who DO offer hope, compassion, empathy, kindness, and good coffee!

A hot cup of kindness is not to be dismissed as a simple minor thing.

Onward!

On With the Day

Of late, I will admit to have little or no ambition.

This isn't my usual me. But since early Spring it seems to be part of make-up. It is a mystery - the Why.

As a self-employed person, having little drive for striving is a very not-good thing. Yes, there are times when the gears are meshing and the wheels are rolling. But there's been way too much time spent off the main track, or any track at all.

I am "busy" - but not in the way the brain wants to be Busy.

The body is bitching because exercise is being ignored.

Self-sabotage can be a real thing.

And I have to figure out Why.

As it goes - the day is greyly dawning, and I am up, dressed, and semi-willing to meet the coming hours. But only semi-willing. I am not a Stay In Bed Person. I could easily become one right now. (Insert silent "primal scream.")

New Dreams are needed. New Get-Excited Challenges are needed. I am fine at surviving. But I really enjoy the feeling of Thriving. Right now I am the chunky geranium brought in from the patio. Still alive, a few red blooms still adding color to the kitchen, but a few leaves curling, and parts wanting to give up, while others want to stay green and growing. Hoping to make it to Year 2018.

This will get figured out. It has to be figured out. A new year is hiding beyond December. Last December I felt REVVED! This year was going to be Special! But the actual actions this year do not reflect this. Foot on clutch, with engine running. Disengaged. A few quick starts. A bunch of stalls.

Vvoom, vvoom!! Cough, cough. Roll to stop.

Another day. Another change at moving something forward.

May YOU be going forward in the direction of your choice! Maybe our paths will meet. If you see me stalled, please pull over and offer a push or pull - LOL. If I see you in similar situation, I promise to do the same.

Here's an Atlas Moth to remember some true joys of Summer.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

This Saturday - Art Show at the A-Frame in Excelsior, MN. 10 AM -6 PM. Come visit!

Glasses

Twice

in the past week

I have gone to sleep with

my glasses on

I wake up in bed

Take off my glasses

and go back to sleep

In the dark morning

Glasses - gone!

Panic

I AM my glasses

My glasses are ME

The first time

finding them was easy

Although they were on the carpet

Way too in the open

for safety

This dark early morning

They were simply

Gone

Nowhere

One lamp on - 

searching searching

why do I keep so many things

near my bed?

How will I drive to work

without my glasses?

Where the hell can they BE?

Move a this.

Check under a that.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Well, at least some spots in this room are cleaner now.

Check that purse.

And that one.

And to my right - 

on top of things already moved

There sits the beauty of sight

Safe. Unbroken. Found.

Life is less mysterious 

again.

Back to the used-to

real/not real perspective.

On to an again-normal day.

A New Cat

A Cat is Starting to Happen:

Re-use Recycle

I love cardboard - yes, I do.

I love cardboard - how 'bout you?

Many others in the world use this humble stuff to create wonderful things such as intricate sculptures or even cosplay costumes. 

I am content to chop up boxes to use for shipping bears and other art to customers, shops, and galleries.

It is hard for me to toss a good box. It has been ever thus. Boxes...

And cardboard has within itself to be humble or great.

Perhaps we are the same.

Fibers. Being. 

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Time in Coffee Shop

If you have art supplies, and a little little of time, and good soft jazz in the headphones, one never knows who will appear on a sketch book page. Thank you for the good vibes and de-caf, The Daily Grind!

I don't know who she is, but I do know she's lived some Life. And maybe some other stuff, too.

That's all I've got today.

Fare-thee-well,

It's time to get back to filling way-late orders.

- Sue

www.suerowe.com

Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Yes, we have upcoming/ongoing art events.

Yes, you may order goodies from our web site.

No, I don't know where the bears come from.

A Quick Little Poem

Tomorrow
I
Simply
Must
Do
More
And
Better

This
Is
Easy
Of
Course
To
Type
Tonight

Cheating

Right now I'm sitting at a table in our local art center. Six or seven of us are participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I've written for three hours - not counting a lovely yoga break at 7 P.M.

Novel bears have done some things. Not exciting things. Mostly eating at the bakery in their town. But somehow three bear state troopers also appeared at the bakery. This was as surprising to me as it was to the bears walking into the bakery. So - maybe something "exciting" has already happened or is about to happen or just might happen some time in the future. My brain has no idea.

Here is a print I made two years ago. Prints can also hold mysteries.

This was a plain print. Black ink on paper. So I decided to dress it up a bit with metallic colored pencil. 

In writing, I find it harder to dress up a scene or dialogue or plot. So my typing my novel novel is much more a practice than a thought that some day an actual real story will evolve. It might. There are numerous threads that have the possibility of being woven together. I ain't holding my little author's breath. And that's O.K.

This blog post is titled "Cheating" because I'm using "novel time" as blogging time. It's good to be oneself enough to be comfortable with this choice. Or maybe not.

And I am choosing to leave the art center before nine P.M. Our scheduled writing time tonight is from 5 P.M. till 9.

Other things - like reclining - are saying "My turn for your time." Tea is whispering to my from a mile and a half away.

So I am cheating the novel but attending to more, to me, important things.

A single day is made up of so many small decisions.
And tonight I've decided to be a cheating writer.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Stuff - Nov. 5th

The November Ridding Self of Stuff number stands at 35.

No, you cannot tell anything is gone. But I can. Because now I know how dusty parts of the CD collection are. And some music I can part with. And some music I cannot. Yet. 

Simply the considering of Stay Or Go exercises the brain in the out-of-rut way we need from time to time. The "oh, I  didn't know we owned this." The "well, I liked this at the time, but but enough  to keep it now." The "I remember not owning any CDs because I just liked records (I still have to sort through records....)."

We shall not speak of letting go of books yet this go round. Though we have removed boxes of books in the past. Music can be had in many forms. Radio, on-line, humming. But books.... Books are my semi-cigarettes. I should be reading instead of typing. If read, at least a book can be considered for a Little Free Library. But the potential learning still on the shelf... (my stuff is almost all non-fiction), well, there's "Endurance," and "Rodin on Art" ( yes. I know there are you Rodin dislikers out there, but I still want to see what he says), and "The Findhorn Garden." And many others. The library here is only of medium size, but I do not bring home books lightly. Still, we always know there are "too many."

Now it's time to set back the clocks, listen to "On Being" on a public station, and see what adventures the day brings. Oh, that it would bring Sunshine, but that is a thing removed from our world here in this part of Minnesota.

It was 6 A.M. (to me) an hour ago - and now it is "really" 6 A.M.
Too much stuff? Not enough? Just enough? Perception is a tricky thing. We have to consider even our thoughts and judge them after thinking. Good Luck!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Time to type a quote

When in need of something to type, one can often find  lovely words written or said by another.

Here is a little something picked at almost random from an old paperback version of "The International Thesaurus of Quotations":

"Great and good are seldom the same man." - Thomas Fuller, M.D.

Baby Steps Again

Thank you to all who typed kind and gentle and kindred words about previous post.  Those "lost" hours in Magic Uncaring Recliner seem to have helped a bit. 

Here's a Morning State Fair Bunny for us - (Currently working on a mixed media portrait of this lovely creature.)

This dark cold morning I've discovered that ridding house of Quaker Instand Oatmeal Packet by eating contents might have simply been best if tossed in trash, or maybe out to birdies. Birdies,you didn't miss much. I've gnawed on cardboard that had less of an odd taste. But cinnamon, frozen raspberries/blueberries, and half a banana saved bowl into being breakfast.

Also, this morning I have learned about Random Number Generators.
And Day of the Dead symbolism.
I do not know the correct salutations to you who celebrate this day - know that I am appreciating that you are Celebrating.

The house has been rid of over ten things already this morning - mostly paper - some Christmas cards still taped to kitchen wall - yes, they stay there from season to season (a few choice few have been there for years), an unused calendar from 2014..., stuff like that. And the oatmeal. And a paperback copy of "True Grit." This will find it's way to one of Stillwater's many Little Free Libararies. I am thankful for Little Free Libraries!

(Soft guitar jazz is good for this soul. Bareny Kessel is playing on Pandora now.) (And now - Mr. Miles Davis.)

And it is a season for giving Thanks.
What is the smallest bit of something for which you might be Thankful? 

On to whatever Adventures lie ahead today - 
Going to try and tough it out for The Whole of the Day.

(Jazz now - Vince Guaraldi and Band playing "Linus and Lucy." A great way to be up and doing. Come on now, back and legs and head and torso and arms - let's do this day!)

And Best of Luck with yours! Use whatever it takes.
AND - congratulations to the Houston Astros and their fans for winning their first World Series. It was quite the bunch of games.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios