Hope

Daylight is starting to peek over horizon earlier and earlier! Sure, I feel a little sad for friends in New Zealand and Australia, but not much. This is another "miracle" of Facebook for me - the sharing of our opposite seasons through the year. If it is one way here it is the other way there - and so we keep twirling 'round giving eachother Hope in the days that are our darkest.

This morning I remembered that a sis-in-law gave me an indoor greenhouse for Christmas! I am hoping that this is going to be a wonderful addition to the kitchen "green space" soon. It measures 27.5 inches wide by 19 inches deep by 63 inches high. With four steel shelves, and a clear vinyl cover and roll-up zippered door panels. It might just save our marriage come seed-starting time! Hubby doesn't appreciate my messy "system" that works O.K., but isn't lovely to look at.

I've also started to grid out the calendar of potential art fairs for 2018. Because of early Spring travels last year I forgot to to do - thus, missing at least two favorite art fair application dates by ONE day! Stay AWARE. Stay Aware! I Hope to do much better at this.

Already done today - it's 7:50 A.M. - thirty minutes of ugly jogging laps in house, and work on twelve hearts on paper. Baby steps on 2018 Heart Project. And, watching YouTube videos on how a few others create particular kinds of journals. Todd lucked into a bunch of off-sized (for me) lovely lined journals from Canada. All the same style. Another cool gift to get! Some may find their way into Little Free Libraries, because I believe in donating sketchbooks and journals to places like these.

O.K., time to sip another cuppa, and get on with another bitterly cold day - half spent working at no-water-yet American Gothic Antiques. A few more shops are warming up/opening up in downtown Stillwater. The brave-hearted shoppers have been coming through the doors through the wickedest cold. That's one reason to try keeping a store-front open during "Open" hours whenever possible. We, too, have traveled to far-away destinations to be met with locked dark stores. Yes, there are always reasons for this being done. But an open door is a good thing to offer during minus twelve degree days. 

So, on to the only January 3rd, 2018 we will probably ever witness!
I might even make some Art...

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

A Hug for the Bears

It's that time of year when some of us artists can use a hug. We have survived the winter and are now looking to the Spring and Summer with wonder, hope, and a nagging fear of impending doom. Will our new stuff meet with approval and sales? Does it really matter if we exist in the universe? You know - the usual stuff.

So it was a tiny miracle that, when simply bringing some new greeting cards into Duluth, Minnesota's Blue Lake Gallery I was granted a joyful hug by gallery clerk, Susan C. THANKS, I NEEDED THAT! We'd never met, but through the bears she now knows a bit of my warped personality - and she can relate! So Sir Todd, my long-suffering husband, looked on once again as two chatterers take off at warp-speed. We soon went our separate ways - but my out-look for the upcoming season has been lifted. Whew.

Now, back at work, I have to keep remembering that we all never know when a gesture, word, note, or call will do wonders to make another folk's life even a wee tad better. It's time to do some small thing to pass on those unexpected hugs and pats.

On to the day!
Sue