Words

Today I've been asking people what some of their favorite words are. One of mine is "imbroglio."

Because of this little project I have learned "gubernaculum" and "sesquipedalian." 

The mystery of what resides in each of our little few pounds of brain stuff is always fascinating.

A few of the words I could type here. I simply choose not to - though they led to a great chat about the different ways of cursing around the world.

Asking folks about words can lead to much wonder. Try it!

An hour or two in a coffee shop combined with the Facebook - most often my "drug" of choice.

Now it is time to cut out a sheet of Hearts and got on with the true duties of the day.

I've found I need the structure of a week plotted out in a journal. I am am excellent go-with-flow type, but often the end of the flow is not really where I want to end up. Now the words/task taunt and remind. I need that not-real cattle prod - electric or other. "Git along, Little Susan, git along." (zap!!)

Prepping for the Spring Green, Wisconsin art festival this weekend. I will not be ready, but will be as ready as I will be. It is weird to have that mindset now - but it keeps me slightly saner than many of those other mindsets. And as a person often on the edge of "ARCGK!!!" often, putting the bossa nova music in  the ears and simply going with some of the many things that make up hours helps me realize that days can be filled well with a variety of odd strivings. 

The starting of the large painting of the Minnesota Zoo Russian grizzlies has actually been fun. I'd fought even looking at that 30" x 30" square of Masonsite for a couple months. Now that there is paint over grid marks - well, doing the deed seems possible!

I hope I can do these two bruins justice. And it might be time for a return zoo visit soon. Actions vs words!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Heart Project Again

This morning found me driving away from morning news shows on TV and down to The Daily Grind for real people talking about real things and working on crossword puzzles and eating freshly-prepared breakfasts.

I celebrated finishing a "21 Day No Junk Food Challenge" by scarfing down half a delicious chocolate-pistashio biscotti - but not until I'd worked for about an hour on some new Heart things. The large cardstock-weight tags have been sitting here for a couple years. They said they would not mind being part of the 2018 Heart Project - and here are a few. More will happen. 

The laptop played Miles Davis and Stan Getz jazz, I had headphones on so others who might not appreciate jazz were spared, and a sort of meditation set in. Cut out a heart, "crazy-quilt" some scrap papers together (Yay for "Yes!" glue!), cut out another heart. And on and on.

No, I don't know what will happen to these. Yes, I very much enjoyed making them. No, I don't know if these are "finished" yet.

I'd drawn the drawn portions while riding in the van recently. Always carry SOME art supplies. Always. LOL.

Now - back to "real" work. Two small paintings with dancing bears are due for gallery delivery way too soon.

So it ever goes.

Yes, I appreciate this odd life I get to live.
Back to it!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Coffee Shop Time

If you ask, bears will come.

I have a little ritual from time to time - simply writing "Who is here?" in a sketch book, and then putting the writing tool back down on the paper to see who might show up.

Today I met Alvin. 

What is written here is all I know of him.

Now he has lots more dotty fur, but his outlook on life is still the same.

Good luck, Alvin. Thanks for showing up, even if you really didn't want to.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

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

The Challenge of a Challenge

Yes, I enjoy giving myself 30 Day personal Challenges. But just now I had to go back into the posts to check on what exactly this month's challenge WAS/is! That's not a good sign.

It WAS/is to Play the Banjo Badly. I am failing - not only in the picking, but in the forgetting to remember to lift up the machine!
There are reasons - and other daily things somehow wedged their way past the banjo in its case.

Drawing rabbits and bunnies  - mainly.
This was not on purpose.
But it happened.
And it is O.K.
And it's an Unstated 30 Day Personal Challenge.
These things happen.


The banjo has been waiting patiently (?) for years. It's on the radar. Perhaps November will be it's month. We will be home more often. Paper and other art supplies are easier to haul around than a weighty banjo. (I am still practicing that basic fingering method in a first lesson from the YouTube.)

Sometimes we have to be flexible enough to be brave enough to be more flexible. My mind is on people dealing with hurricanes and fires. Their Challenges are greater than anything I can imagine, and NOT of their choosing. They have to bend in ways they'd never thought of bending. Some will break. I might have been a break-y sort. We never know until we know.

I know that every time I check the weather forecast for this weekend's Red Wing Art Festival the weather for Saturday gets worse. Not hurricane or fire worse. But rain-all-during-art-fair-hours worse. We will bring plastic. And weights. And warm clothes and beverages. We probably won't display the more pricey pieces. We will be flexible. And the customers will be, too. Hot chocolate instead of iced coffees. Goose down vests instead of sleeveless tee shirts. Red Wind boots instead of sandals.

A friend challenged me to the Seven black and white photos - no people - no explanation Challenge. It's been fun. I decided not to challenge others. the Ponzi Scheme pattern sort of happens as more and more people become involved. But it has been fun to see others' images, and it's been fun to get into an Instagram semi-habit. I tend to "live" on Facebook, have not become a Twitterer, nor am a Linked one. Should I tweet? Should I link? Even less time to not practice banjo! Even less time to draw and paint. And the "hearts personal challenge" has been ignored, as well. Though starting a "bullet journal" has been sort of helpful in herding the life's cats. WHEN I REMEMBER TO DESIGN THE WEEK AND FOLLOW THROUGH. 

Really, Everything is a sort of Challenge. From minute of waking to moment of nodding off. Not for everybody, but for someone. One challenge is simply to wash out every crumb in a particular plastic bag. Another is, for particular friends, to make sure mom is fed and warm and safe.

One new aquaintance's Challenge is to get her family farm's Costa Rican coffee into more farmers markets. She can vend at some, but not at others. Reasons and rules. Several chats with her have been interesting and eye-opening. It is often a good Challenge to oneself to talk to a person one does not know. After a few visits one can start in on conversation where it stopped the time before. I now know a tiny bit about being a coffee grower in Costa Rica. And now our daughter in California is sipping through a pound of their really good coffee.

Uh..., and though I should not be sipping it - that free sample of cold pressed coffee is seriously delicious!

Enough about coffee - sigh. Another blog has been typed - thanks for reading!, and now it's time to do the List-y things. 

Hmm. Perhaps not yet. It's almost time for ten o'clock break. And as I am already at a local coffee shop, it might be time for a second cup. De-caf, sadly, but in my favorite Daily Grind cup: the one with the elephant (trunk turned upward) and the quote from Buddha: Live in the present moment, wisely and earnestly." 
No Challenge to that!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

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

Thankfuls from The Daily Grind

Today a little unofficial personal challenge - 30 Thanksfuls about the place from which I am typing.

The Daily Grind - in Stillwater, Minnesota -

Here goes:

Today I am thankful

1) that co-owner tim asked if I needed shade to be able to better see laptop screen
2) he made shade happen!
3) this place often rings with laughter
4) one of the ladies who works crossword puzzles almost every day said "Good Morning" when I sat down
5) that I decided to use a in-house cup this morning. One less thing to be tossed.
6) that I accidentally spilled a bit of coffee
7) that a napkin and some markers  could be used as a vehicle for "art" - guessing this will get used in a future mixed-media book.

8) that this doesn't have to be THIRTY thankfuls - but thanksfuls till it is time to go work at American Gothic Antiques at ten A.M.
9) that there is about 15 minutes before I have to leave.
10) that I am using good headphones so people who might not enjoy jazz don't have to listen to what is getting me through some particular hours.
11) for the theme from "the Pink Panther" - written by Henry Mancini, and is being in my head courtesy of Pandora "radio."
12) that they offer wi-fi, and many electrical outlets, and don't chase one out after a time - even if they are BUSY. (I try to be thoughtful in time spent - most of the time.)
13) for the wide variety of humans that take refuge here.
14) for the times I treat myself to a home-made biscotti.
15) knowing that this team has made a move from one end of town to the other (reasons), and perhaps are even more success now.
16) this place is using the back space of The Valley Booksellers - a lovely small independent book store that (knock wood) keeps selling BOOKS!
17) bikers and hikers having a staging area from which to hit the near-by excellent hiking/biking trail.
18) that the St. Croix River is just a few (metaphorically speaking) steps away.
19) this is my view of my "office" this morning:

20) one can learn many things - if one takes off the headphones and listens.
21) that I now a semi-regular
22) their de-caf is highly drinkable
23) the vibe of the shop is most often Positive. (more laughter just now!)
24) that there are MORE things to write about this place, but I have to scoot!

*********

Rivertown Art Festival is this weekend. In Lowell Park in Stillwater. I don't know booth space as recent wether has had show staff re-mapping booth areas. We will go with the flow.

**********
Fare-thee-well,
Be kind -
Sue

Last First - First Last

Apologies (sort of) to dear readers for inane thoughts and typings.

Today is not about High Quality. It is all about Quantity. I am shallow. I type on.

But this will be the last of seven posts. Two cups of de-caf coffee and a few bites of a Mexican Chocolate Biscotti. A typer's gotta consume what a typer's gotta consume.

And the thing about completing a Project/Challenge is that even if it isn't very good it it none the less DONE. One has finished a thing! This is good for the spirit. One can go back and refine, re-write, regret.

So - if you have down time and wish to go along for The Seven Blog Post ride - here is the start and here is the finish!

"Nice to meet you," says the multi-facetted investment banker who sat at next table most of the morning. We'd come in when all the tables with electrical outlets where in use. We sat in comfy chairs. Read the paper a little. Oddly, two spaces opened up at same time. He saw them first. We congratulated each other on gaining the spaces. Simple pleasures and all. His name is Todd. Although he is a banker he would also like to be an artist.  I will not doubt this. Parts of me might want to be in banking...

Though the hours that table fills with other company - talk of sports, sports cars. We like Ford pick-up trucks. We like muscle cars. The guys talked about piano lessons. Really. They would like to start taking them again.

On that note - there is still much to put the day to - but the blogging has been blogged. Seven of seven.

Time to free up this seat and get off my butt.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Book - 5

Most of these words, but not all,  are directly from Wikipedia. Here goes:

"All Quiet on the Western Front" by German World War I veteran, Erich Maria Remarque, was first published in book form in 1929, but was previously printed in the November and December issues of a German newspaper.  It depicted "the extreme physical and mental stress at the front, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many upon returning home." It also had a sequel, "The Road Back," published in 1930. Both books were banned and burn in Nazi Germany. (I did not know of sequel. More reading ahead.)

It was made into a film in 1930, and again in 1979 as a television film, in which "The Walton's" John Boy starred. My words - not Wiki's.

The book sold two and a half million copies in twenty two languages  in it's first eighteen months in print. I am not sure, but am guessing that it has never gone out of print.

The phrase "all quiet on the Western Front" has become an expression meaning stagnation, or lack of visible change, in any context. - Wikipedia.
Oddly, this - on a far lower level - seems where my art work is sitting. The art supplies are waiting, waiting for the next explosive bursts of energy. It is an unsettling feeling - the keeping busy, and putting in the hours, but not being satisfied that inner and outer "battles" with brush, pen, canvas, and paper.

Back to the Front:

Erich Maria Remarque: "The book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will simply try to tell of a generation of men who, even though they have escaped (its) shells, were destroyed by the war."

Because of Wikipedia I know how the book ends. Mixed emotions? No emotions? The war is only half over for me. For many of the dead troops it has been over for months. Though the  surviving soldiers of late have spent days of nervous calm, and perhaps even had a chance to frolic with a few local French girls, another battle is brewing. Soon more huge BOOMS! and thousands, millions? of "Pop. Pop. Pop. Popping will fill the air again. Trenches will be destroyed. Many more men will die.

These words by the narrator lie ahead, but where, I do not know, "Let the years and months come, they can take nothing from me, they can take nothing more. I am so alone, and so without hope that I can confront them without fear."

Yes, another battle is brewing... Sigh. For these soldiers I wish that the only brewing going on was that of good coffee, with a great tasty piece of bakery to go with another fresh cup...

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

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

Bears of the Day (I wonder what they'd look like with helmets on.):

Now it is time to take a short walk, sip a last sip of coffee, keeping listening to classical music from "vintage" Sony Walkman radio, and appreciate that I can do what I do as a living.

Thank you.

Drawing in Coffeeshops

Oh, dear.
I love drawing in coffee shops.
Or small cafes.
Or the bakery - if table space allows.

Needs are simple: chair, sketchbook or papers, pen, pencil, marker, beverage, and maybe something to nibble on.

Good company can add or be a distraction.
It's great is sound system is playing good quiet jazz music and the surrounding chatter is not too loud.

The drawing to be discussed was played with while visiting Stillwater, MN's Tin Bin. This eatery is housed in the former Commander Mill grain elevator, and the folks who re-designed the place did not mess around. There are large windows for watching St. Croix River action - or non-action. Nooks and crannies in which to sit. Full bar. A counter-level fireplace for winter warming. A SCRABBLE game. Great selection of bakery. Other goodies for chomping through the day. Beverages from coffee and herbal teas  to beer and wine. Friendly staff. Live music on many weekends. Like I said - they didn't mess around. It has become the go-to place. Sorry, other local places.

As shown by date - this sketch was done March 8th of this year. A pleasant Winter Saturday morning. I went with Tara and one of her friends. We had to sit across from "our" table because people were sitting at "our" table. Tara and friend chatted about stuff. I pulled out sketchbook.

Simply started from upper left corner and worked away down the page. Pentel Pocket Brush Pen for black lines.  Worked on changing up kinds of lines.  Aimed for "loose" but relatively accurate. Didn't THINK too much. Tried to allow the brush tip "dance" across the paper. Just let the brush do what brushes do. Then added Prismacolor colored pencils (small short selection from Altoid box) for bit of color. Hmm.... room at bottom for drawing the drawing I'm drawing? That was Fun.

The black tote at right top has a "Coraline" theme. Quote drawn on table's edge is taken from bag's advice: "Be careful what you wish for." Thanks for the reminder, Neil Gaiman.  So very true - but that topic is for a different day!

No, it is not the perfect sketch. Yes, it has some perspective problems. (Don't we all?) But it holds memories of a lovely Winter morning in a warm establishment, with hot beverages and warm friendships. And a Life Lesson. Pretty good for a short time scribbling in a small sketchbook.

Daughter is now living in Southern California. California has coffee shops. But it doesn't have Tin Bin. Wish I could beam a large warm muffin your way, Tara. With two butters!

On to the day. An Art-Making Day. (Because I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY that the bears were accepted for a one-month show at the art center here in Stillwater. That's a topic for a Serious Serendipity post some day!)

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

FB Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
www.suerowe.com
www.artfairartists.com

Weekends

Some weekends are simply more memorable than others. This one was kind of normal for us, yet splendiforously wonderful in so many ways.

1) Weather was Perfect both Saturday and Sunday - all day both days.
2) Saturday daughter Tara and I headed for Minneapolis and The Textile Center's annual Garage Sale for the first time. Standing in line for we-didn't-know-what. Making friends with like-minded sorts. The sale started at 9 AM - we got admission tickets for 9:30 - and at that time entered into almost too much of lots of great things. Tara headed for the fabric; I stayed in the books/magazines room. got 10 "Crafts" magazines for a dollar.
As we were parked in a one-hour parking area I started looking for Tara after about 45 minutes - She was deep in the fabric piles, with a small wind-row of goodies already piled against a wall. Check-out was easy, and we got to the car with some minutes to spare. Hooray! Let's go have coffee!
We parked at the coffee shop near The Textile Center - had good coffee and a great pastry - you can seldom go wrong with the sweet roll, chocolate, pecan, and excellent vanilla icing combo - heated...
Thnking things over Tara decides return to the fray (pun intended?) and I sit and draw and write for a bit. Fun just goofing off with pen and paper.
With our plans to return again after 3 PM for the all-the-stuff-you-can-cram-in-a-bag-for-a-buck sale figured out we head for the State Fairgrounds in St Paul (Falcon Heights....) and The Prime Flea Market. Almost like the good old days. Lots of good junk, good-sized crowd, and a pleasant buzz all around. Said Hi to old buddies, bought one little bear figurine, found son Tyler and headed back to the Center. This time I went straight to the coffee-shop to read and draw, and the two T's started filling bags....
Afternoon booty was 16 - yes, 16 more bags to scrunch into the car - happy happy happy future fabric hoarders?

Sunday was Completely Different and even more delightful. But my brain is getting fuzzy and needs a cup of tea.

Ta ta-
Sue