Thursday, December 3, 2020

This Morning

Greetings - 

This morning I got up  about five AM, turned the plant lights on, heated water for herbal tea, decided NOT to turn on the TV, and did play the Lionel Hampton band jazz record that with already on the record player turn-table. Huzzah for Lionel Hampton...

Next...., flipped light switch to brighten studio, switched on the large light box that now sits atop main studio work table, got tea, got around to scribbling three pages in the journal, and glued some paper to other paper. For particular people.

This thought came:

Maybe I would like to meet almost everybody in the world & ask them why they are who they are.

So, there is that, among so many other thoughts. 

I feel that I am going backwards in so many ways. But forward in others. Hanging by many threads. Riffing life. Caring/not caring. Being/not being. Some of you - many?- know the drill.

Trying to figure out who the next bunch of Sue Rowe is/are.

Paper, words, and people will be involved. And bears and bunnies and squirrels.... But the bell jar of Now has to be tipped over somehow. I do love "safety." But also so much other stuff. The battle is real....



On to whatever challenges the hours, day, week, year brings. I have no idea about how the holiday season will go - I'm thinkin' Low and Slow.

AAARROOUUUUU! (a good howl is better than no howl at all)

- Sue



Sunday, November 1, 2020

Personal Challenge Postcard Project

 Greetings - 

It's November 1. Congratulations. We have made it this far in the "Adventure" called 2020.

This month's Personal Challenge is to send or give away 150 cards or postcards.

Ever onward.

- Sue


Friday, October 2, 2020

Sheesh

 Just because I don't blog doesn't mean that I do not THINK about blogging. 

I think about it every day. 

Put it in the Bullet Journal prompts every day.

Have a yellow legal pad with topics and potential stories.

Know that some folks appreciate the typing.


And yet - I do not type.


Yup. Summer is over. And some days it was literally a day (an hour) at the beach.

On to the month some call October.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue


Saturday, August 15, 2020

Rerererestart -

 Greetings - 

It has been such a long while. And Blogger is a bit different. But the same. I keep forgetting that I liked to blither here. Not with posts that educate and inform. Blither. On to it.

Last night a quick major storm front went there a big chunk of the midwest. Power was out here for some hours. Not too many Just enough.... I appreciate all people and things that go into making our electronic grid system work. I appreciate all people and things that go in to making our Postal System work. I appreciate people wearing masks at Trader Joe's.

Often when I am stressed or otherwise needing for brain to take a little break from the current stuff I go into Thirty Thankfuls Mode. This is just what it sounds like. I start - and cannot quit till mentally noting AT LEAST thirty things for which I am thankful. 

To illustrate:

Right now I am thankful - 

1) that there is classical music in the headphones because Todd just started vacuuming the living room. 

2) that Todd is vacuuming the living room. 

3) that Todd has stopped vacuuming because an old cowboy show is on.

4) for "Have Gun - Will Travel." Not paying attention to it now, but I loved it as when I was a kid.

5) that the garden has survived the storm better than it might have. Cornstalks and sunflowers and pole beans will be propped back up today as best one can prop a little crop.

6) for friends' creative suggested prompting new images.

7) for art supplies in general, and many lovely art supplies right here, specifically.

8) when electricity can sort of be taken for granted.

9) for "too many" excellent books - right here, right now.

10) for broadband internet and friends and family around the world who are a mere click away. I am old enough to remember long distance collect phone calls that cost lots.

11) for iPhones.

12) for You Tube videos that make me laugh, learn, think. Though I really heartily dislike "Live, Laugh, Love," "Love, Fart, Live" - whatever those three words are.

13)when people buy the stuff I make. Really. Thanks.

14) that summer is not quite over. Even with the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes, I LOVE summer. Because of Light. And Green.

15) that there are garden beets simmering in a pot, and that they will be frozen for use in winter - no light/no green.

16) that there are fun options for us to do today - instead of moping about the things we'd usually be doing on this weekend.

17) for the Stillwater Farmers Market. In most years I can only visit about three times. Art fairs rule the weekends. Not this year.

18) for a new to me bottle of unopened bourbon.

19) that goldfinches are part of garden these days.

20) for antique alphabet print sets. I like letters and words and Pointing Finger.

21) for stuff that makes a person laugh hysterically. Ze Frank did that this morning.

22) for Trader Joe's.

23) the Post Office.

24) for good soil. I grew up with sandy loam. I miss sandy loam.

25) for friends with amazing creative skills. Keeps one on one's toes.

26) for keeping the making of Personal Challenges - 30 days, longer.

27) that this list is coming to an end for now.

28) for learning that I can stand in a Cold Shower (the coldest our water can go) for up to seven minutes because of Wim Hof. 

29) for rediscovering some stubbornness (for good) in self. We shall not speak of stubbornness for bad - I am NOT thankful that that stuff I still have.

30) that some days I have to do three or four clumps of Thirty Thankfuls and somehow manage to do them.

OK, enough of this. The rest of day still has to happen. Thank you for reading. Carry on carrying on.


Fare-thee-well,

Sue








Monday, May 18, 2020

Forever

Greetings -

It has been "forever" since I've typed here.
Fears, sloths (watch out for those sneaky sloths), lazinesses, re-lack of confidence (it happens), and not keeping up the habits. Blogging is only one of them.

"BLOG" gets printed in the weekly planning journal often. It just doesn't get done. I draw, paint, read - not enough, even do laundry and/or dust!, but do not type. I do make. daily mandala. Every day - since late last December. Here is one- pre- novel coronavirus days. A bit hard to remember those carefree and merry days.



This is a bit odd, because I actually like the clickity clickity of the laptop keyboard sound. Then there is the "What if nobody reads this?" That should not matter. What should matter is the challenge of the doing. Or - The Challenge of the Doing!

Sis and I have been doing some challenges new to us - for fun. For fun? For fun!

One.... is taking Seriously Cold Showers at least three or four times a week. We are under the influence of Wim Hoff. The Iceman. Google him, if you want to. No pressure. Sis uses her particular words to ward off the cold. I crank up the soundtrack from "Chicago." Seriously.

OK. I have blogged. One down. On to creating a string of something.

And creating a new website. But that's another challenge.

May you keep sane and breathing.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios


Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Travel Companions

Though I know that they are not "real" and have no connections to us as living beings do...., well. I do like the company of an odd assortment of, shall we call them -  "mascots"? 

These bits of plastic, or rubber, or fluff, or resin have a way of feelering their way into our wacky little hearts - and so we add them to our families - as company near our computers or as travel companions in our vehicles.

I am now of a mature age - whatever that means, and yet, and yet, I do love to have a tiny travel buddy riding along on a dashboard. Of course, our long-time companions are Yoda and Bear. Their recent non-adventures are the possibility for another post (all I will type of them for now is Whew). However, the two here have become a treasured twosome.



Catching the rays - maybe two summers ago? - are Zen Frog and Bun. I am guessing that ZF is a hubby find at some garage sale along the way. it doesn't really matter. He found his way onto our now-sold old Buick - and there he sat - sending beams of peace and calm in to the universe as best he could. I know I got the articulated little stuffie/plushie/whatever you wish to call these Bunny  at a yard sale for probably a quarter or for free. Bun needed rescuing and ZF needed a friend. And travel companions they have become - through many states and adventures. They face darkness and light with equal gaze and spirit of "Forward!" I wish I would follow their example more often.

Well, there it is. If you have your own personal pals, you know the odd joys of their manners of companionship. If you do not understand people who do understand there is probably no explaining that will make you understand. That is O.K. But if  a small rubber duck or similar creature someday signals to you that it wants to help you with your journey, it may be best to heed its quack.

- Fare-thee-well,
  Sue

Instagram: surobear1
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios


Friday, September 27, 2019

Been Away



Sigh.

I have "been away."
Reasons.
Not good reasons.

But - "dumb" me....

I am back.
And, finding out that I never really left.

So - forward to Autumn Adventures.

Sheesh.
No, you do not want to hear internal dialogue right now.

Silent lol/sigh/silent lol.



We will be taking up residence in Booth 5 again at Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival (Hudson, WI) this weekend. Saturday looks good, weather-wise. Sunday.... well, the universe doesn't seem set on allowing us outdoor booth types to have TWO WHOLE DAYS of Nice Weather.  Zen practice is handy on that other day.

Carry on - 
- Sue