Art Festival

Yesterday's Red Wing Art Festival held a couple more morning hours of not raining than were forecast.

Then the rain and wind came. 
The busy morning went away.
We talk with our fellow artist pals.
We take turns going to the building were there are treats, hot beverages, a real restroom, and warmth for freezing hundry artists.

Then we return to the booth.

Some do not.

I made eight dollars in the last hour. Huzzah!
After a warm  and delicious turkey dinner sponsored by the Red Wing Art Association, and much good talk with pals, Todd drove to the locall casino. I packed the Kleenix into ears, sat at a nickel poker machine and slowly said goodbye to those dollars. I pretend this money is being spent at a Zen retreat. Really. I meditate and gamble slowly. Even a Zen retreat can be a gamble, right? Todd came away about seventy five dollars to the good last night. And the night was still early when we got home. Another Huzzah!

Today's forecast is for cold, but NO RAIN.

We will put more layers on, hope our booth is still standing, take lots of things out of the van and put them back up. Get hot tea and treats from the artists' center.And then hope that the noon start of the Packers vs Vikings NFL game won't muck up the size crowds too much, though, judging from the Packer jackets worn yesterday, um, this could be an issue.

I will bring two radios and my journal. 'Cause the writing of the game must go on. Or at least attempting to do so. (Drives Todd nuts.) This, too, is a discipline and a practice. It is about cheering on a team (GO PACK!!!!), but even more so a practice in Focus and Following Through. Time goes by in an odd fast flow. Stuff happens. Thoughts happen. I write as much as I can. And then seldom re-read what is written. The deed and lessons learned are most important. Yes, you can learn life things from sports - particating and witnessing. You do not need to be a fan.


So - on to waking up and going forward into the eventual lighting of the morning.

We will take whatever the day chooses to bring.
Right now I wish it was bringing hot tea and good toast.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Places and Peace

Today is past mid-December in Stillwater, Minnesota. After a few balmy melty unusually "warm" days (for us) this morning's temperature is a more normal Twelve Above Zero. Snow is on the ground. Not much, but enough to make stuff white.

I've spend an hour walking circles in the house - to the sounds of Tibetan bowls ringing. On YouTube. Not listening to Bach or Mozart or the local or national sports-talk radio chats. Quiet dings and lings and pings. No, I did not walk the slow Zen meditation walk. I sped around at a good mid-speed. Accomplishing things as each footstep landed. So Not Zen. So Darned Sue. But the Sunday paper is in the recycling bin, a plastic art fair bin has been unloaded, backs of greeting cards cleaned up, candles played with (yes, I mess with those lighted wax melters, I do), towels folded and put away, and thoughts thunk.

Some day I will simply walk.

But what is on little mind is a wee bit of rest. Hahaha. And where one imagines this could happen.

These places exist. These chairs are real. This lake is iced over now, but will be softer water come next summer. Question to self is: Will you take the time to Simply Sit?  I do not know. Relaxing is a sort of hazy dream.

Yes, I can hear Aaron Rodgers' "R-E-L-A-X. Relax" in brain, but always through the ding ring ching kring of ye olde tinnitus. I get a tad guilty repeatedly bitching about this - knowing good friends and family members are dealing with much more seriously stuff - but it's still a major factor in not much remembering the sounds of "peace and quiet."

Quiet is not happening. I do still attempt a sort of Peace. Seriously. This is where Zen practice does help. And Yoda helps. And friends and family help. And places help.

Here is Plastic Yoda thinking Yoda thoughts while surveying the beach at Grand Marais, Minnesota, in July of 2014. Lake Superior is a place of both peaceful or violent beauty. It is one of My Places. I "go" to Lake Superior when I want to relax. No, not usually to Grand Marais. Usually the brain goes automatically to a small rocky beach at Little Girl's Point - in Northern Michigan. A beach right behind the home of an aunt and uncle. i don't know why, it just does.

Or it goes to The Upper Falls at Potato River Falls in my home town of Gurney, Wisconsin.

These are my Peace Places.

I hope you have a few of your own....

And I hope that the Green Bay Packers win out the season.

And I hope that you find a hour or two of True Peace during this sometimes frantic and  painful Holiday season.

Peace. Relax. Enjoy. Smile. Pass it on!

Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, and All Best Wishes to all in Celebrating what you find worth celebrating!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue the Strider

www.suerowe.com
Facebook page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
ArtFairArtists.com

Clean Hard Fast: 9

CLEAN: the interior of my main black back-pack style purse! This is a Big Thing. I can see the things I'm looking for! Coinage isn't weighing down the leather. Pens are one pocket; small notebooks in another! Though wallet and checkbook are both dark they are easily found! For the moment. For moment. But for Now.
Once upon a time I carried no purse. For years only a wallet. Will this time ever come again? It might be something to aspire to. Hmmm. Might have to start shopping for cargo pants - ha!

HARD: to know that our beloved Green Bay Packers' quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is injured. Sports folks get hurt all the time, as regular people do. But we wish magical protections around certain individuals, whether they be family, friends, or favorite public figures. In sports Physics rules. Sigh. Heal well and quickly. We have friends who enjoyed last night's Bears victory at Lambeau Field. Daughter and I toughed out the game at Stillwater's Buffalo Wild Wings till, literally, the last minute. So I have the game - minus one minute - journaled, of course. Woo hoo. And Boo hoo.

FAST: how this past Saturday went at Stockholm, Wisconsin's Stone Fern Gallery. A gorgeous drive there and back along the Mississippi bluff country of central Wisconsin.

This was on ride home, and yes, I know it's not safe photographing while driving at any time, much less along a curvy swervy road. But I clicked till the camera's battery said "No more." Trees are keeping their leaves much later into the season than usual, giving us opportunities for Fall Beauty into even November. The leaves on our apple tree are still green, though most from the maples have dropped.
Saturday's event was fun, if not profitable. Made new friends, ate great pie (the Double Lemon from the Stockholm Pie Company), and drew a few new bears. May have jinxed the Packers last night by getting my first henna design on Saturday. Right now on my left wrist is a beautifully drawn "frame" in which is written: Trust the Bears. Eeek. What was I thinking! It should disappear in about two weeks. Sigh and whew? And always Ha!

FAST: how I'll have to work to create new pastels for Blue Lake Gallery. Heading to Duluth early on Saturday, Nov. 9th, to hang around the gallery (11AM - 3 PM), deliver our goodies, demo some techniques, and basically goof off in a nifty city for a day. Come visit this lovely gallery and clothing shop if you are in the area or feel the need to head out on a road trip. New goodies are being added for you Fall and Winter shopping consideration. And the staff is friendly and helpful. Yes, they are!

Continuing a Thankful November - What are you Thankful for Today?

Today I'm thankful that for about  from 5 - 6 AM the ol' tinnitus was so faint that it was almost not an issue. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, and I APPRECIATE know that if it happened while I was flat in bed maybe someday it will happen when I'm standing up. Gotta love those Simple Almost Quiet Pleasures.

Today smiles will be on face more. Yup. Giving me/us a Smiling Challenge and Smiling as this is typed. Try it? Even for just part of the day? Even if you are alone? Even if you're cynical? Can't hurt, unless you do it too hard or too long. Perhaps a bout a Smiling will even bring on a Short Laugh. Even if this makes somebody mad. It's sort of fun to smile at angry people. Dangerous, yes, but fun. On to it!

Happy Nov. 5, 2013!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30 - 21: Shallow

Yup, I'm shallow.

The Packers beat the Vikings.

(The Husband/Dad team)

It's was almost scary close.

Mr. Ponder will be good.

But the game is over.

Packers are 7 and 0.

Tara & I could drink our beer

& listen to the thre-hour post-game chat

worn out but happy.

And we fans can rest up

in the bye week.

Go Pack!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Packermania

Life will return to "normal" some time next week. This week the Green Bay Packers are in The Super Bowl. THE PACKERS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am shallow. I am a fan. I am an observer of human nature - of talented human sports types (players/coaches/etc/etc), of those who get paid to talk about them, and of those of us who follow the annual professional football adventure.

For several years now I often spend the game sort of watching TV, definitely listening to radio coverage (Walkman headphones clamped over at least one ear & additional free-standing radio tuned to the wisdom of Wayne and Larry), and journaling almost every play on almost every down. Noting thoughts, emotions high and low, in tiny printing, occasional obscenities (not nice - but true), and giant scribbles. It's now an automatic doing. A writing discipline in observation, quickness of noting, using abbreviations, clock times and heart beats to add to the scene.

These high days come infrequently for many fans. Enjoying the whole deal because it goes by so quickly is part of the fun. Enjoying the thrill. Enjoying the panic. Enjoying knowing one has cheered for that other team when one's own team ain't in The Big Game. Enjoying the bonding with folks one doesn't know because of a Green and Gold sweatshirt or jacket or cap.

Soon life will go on. Bart Era. Brett Era. And now on to Aaron. And smiling with Coach Mike, Donald, Clay, A. J., B. J., and the rest of the NFC Best. Focus, follow through, hang onto that ball. Make the tackles and the field-goals. Inches and seconds count. Extra effort in every action.
I watch the games to get inspired. I watch the games and worry about pain. I watch the games and ponder metaphor verses reality. I am a fan of the universe........

Lombardi and Lambeau - "Go Pack Go!!!!"

- Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Bayfield

Heading up tomorrow for the Bayfield Apple Festival in Northern Wisconsin. Having been raised about 45 miles from this large fall festival, and never going as a kid, it's fun to now be a part of the whole deal.

Weather will be iffy again this year, so I hope to be able to tie the booth down to the old park bench embedded in concrete. A little security is a wonderful thing, and Lake Superior often keeps one looking for just one more way to keep a canopy from going airborne. It's fun, too, to wear Green Bay Packer stuff amidst fellow fans. Being married to a Minnesota Vikings fan is "interesting" this season. I do say "Go Brett!" AND "GO PACK!!," and will tune into the The Monday Night Game with mixed emotions.

Business has taken over Art these past months; few original pastels get finished. I ain't complaining. Being busy doing something one loves to do is frosting on the economy cake. But creativity gives way to production.

We are hanging in with tennis. Monday's adventure in the seriously high winds was hilarious. then we'd have to interrupt play to watch sea gulls fight to advance position in sky only to give up, circle, and try again, fail, circle, try again. Life lesson? Wind wins.

It's sunny today and almost pleasant.
On to the grand adventure -
Sue