Time to Focus

It was a weekend where I actually was able to accomplish a lot. Both stories I needed to finish have been completed and submitted. DH and I watched "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug" on Saturday night before the hockey game, and I roasted a nice turkey for our Easter dinner with all of the fixings - rather like an off-season Thanksgiving dinner. It's what DH wanted for dinner, and I never mind cooking a turkey - they really cook themselves so it's easy.

I love turkey and making them is so easy. Yes, I have to baste it regularly,
but after putting it into the oven, that's all I have to do. It's one of
the easier things I cook for special events and days. 

But it's time to focus. I want to write a small story for blsLarner's birthday. Her birthday was a week ago, but I usually write a fic or a drabble for her. I promised one to her and the concept came to me over the weekend. Now to make it come from my head to my fingers and then to the keyboard.

I love this writing, both in appearance and in message. 

I was going to go out to the car dealer again tonight, but I've decided to go back out there on Wednesday instead. I want to take another serious look at the car, and DH said he really doesn't care to be involved. So that leaves me on my own. I'd rather take my time and my Wednesdays are less time constrained than trying to hit the dealership after work tonight. I'm just not 100% sure about whether this will do everything I need, so I need to take another very careful look.

I can hardly wait for Spring to finally arrive along with flowers, happy
birds, warm temperatures and, unfortunately, our severe weather -
thunderstorms and tornadoes. 

Spring seems to have finally moved in, at least our temperatures will be in the 50's and 60's for the week (although our overnight temps will still drop to below freezing each night). But I'm willing to say that our snow is probably behind us and that even if we get a last try by the storm gods, it will be quick and messy, but gone soon and melted within a day. It's about time!

Let's not forget the horror and terror of the Boston Marathon last year, in 2013.
I hope that this year it will be a triumphant return to a premier athletic event
instead of forever more linked with terrorism. 

Today the Boston Marathon will be run and more than 36,000 runners will run through the course. As each one crosses the finish line, I'm sure that most of them will think about last year's bombing while they catch their breath and massage their jellied legs. The police presence has been magnified dramatically, cameras are located throughout the course, and larger handbags and backpacks are subject to search. All I hope is that everyone will be safe and that events like this won't be chosen to make 'political' statements any more.

Be good, be safe, and have a wonderful Monday.

Success and Photos - Religious Beliefs From Around the World

Yesterday I was moaning about a lack of motivation and excitement for two writing assignments I had with upcoming deadlines. Yesterday afternoon I had a spare 30 minutes and inspiration hit. The second story fell into place and the first one expanded. Both need editing, but they have broken out into the digital world and that's an important step. Now to write a ficlet for a friend's birthday gift...

It had to percolate, but my stories finally got down and now can
be edited. Yippee! 

This is a weekend where many of you turn your thoughts to Spirit. Whether Christian, Jew or one who walks a different belief's road, we all hope there is something beyond this single life, that we exist forever in spirit and that we leave something behind that will influence others in a positive manner. I wanted to find pictures for all of us to share - pictures that would be uplifting and joyful from multiple faiths. Have a fabulous weekend and I'll return on Monday with more thoughts and pictures.

I am always amazed by the beauty of the world
around me, however it was created,. It still
lightens my heart to watch the sun rise each morning.

There is something soothing about Buddhist prayer wheels. We all
walk the wheel of life together. Why can't we get along? 

Shinto Shrines and Temples are relaxation for my mind. I love
the traditional styling, the honor to nature, and the
pregnant silence that can be gathered here. 

I have been privileged to be a pipe carrier for many years. The Lakota
Sioux people (and other tribes as well) use the sacred pipes to pray
for all people.

The sacred scrolls of the Torah are the basis of the teachings
in Judaism. Their roots go back to the original ten commandments
brought down Mount Sinai by Moses. 

I don't understand Hinduism as well as other world religions
I have studied over the years, but more than one billion
people believe in this religion. As with all other beliefs, there
is beauty, exceptional good and the deepest of evil represented
in the stories and artwork. 

On this weekend of such great importance to the Christian religion, please honor all beliefs and all peoples. Have a wonderful weekend.

Motivation? What is That?

I have two stories pending and I just can't get excited about either one. Of course, there's no requirement to be excited about a story to write it. Often the excitement won't come in the initial words, but afterward during the editing process or even later still, after re-reading an older piece and realizing that it was much better than I had remembered. But it doesn't change the fact that I have two pieces to work on and I'm forcing myself to pull up the files.

I need to get my excitement back or these two stories
won't end up getting written on time. 

Maybe part of that lack of desire to deal with writing is because I'm generally tired and worn down. I have no real reason to feel that way, I'm just generally lackluster and borderline depressed. I know myself - I'll push through this miasma and get back into the sunlight again - but it doesn't change my current reality. I'll have to check a calendar and see when these writings are due. I can often push myself into more productive work when deadlines are breathing down my neck.

Melting snow at this time of the year often will allow fog and mist
to rise from the roadways. It's almost magical. 

At least the snow has come and gone. Yesterday's roads were a real mess in the morning - slippery and snow-filled. The parking lots weren't much better, forcing me to be very careful as I walked from my car into the shop. But by the time I left work last night, most of the snow and ice had melted, the streets were clear and DH had shoveled my driveway. With a northern exposure, we're stuck. It's either shovel or live with ice and ruts. We shovel.

I love the logo of the Minnesota Wild. Is it a bear? Or a cougar? Or is
it even a real animal? The Wild have never said, but it's colorful and
really nicely designed. 

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have started and DH was glued to the TV yesterday. It's a long playoff season, but the first games have now been played and my Minnesota Wild fell in the first game to my Colorado Avalanche. Wait just a minute ... MY Wild and MY Avalanche? Yes - my two beloved states are meeting in this round. But in this match-up, I'm actually weighing in a bit heavier for the Minnesota team instead of the Colorado team (unlike my allegiances during football season). The Wild lost in an overtime game. Game 2 is scheduled for tonight.

Good Friday is actually rather somber because Christians world-wide
are actually celebrating a tortuous death.

Today is Good Friday and many people will celebrate at a variety of churches and cathedrals throughout the world. Earlier this week, Passover was honored. Often the two celebrations don't coincide, but this year the stars aligned and the celebration of the Last Supper actually happened close to Pesach. A bit amazing in a way. For those of my friends who celebrate either of these religious festivities, I hope your Passover was joy-filled and that your Easter will be shared with loved ones and some great food.

Passover is one celebration that I remember with great enjoyment. 

My pagan friends sometimes wonder about how I can be comfortable with the celebrations of Christianity and Judaism, but that's pretty easy. I know those two belief systems intimately.  I was raised as a 'comfortable' Jew. My parents celebrated the aspects of Judaism that were comfortable for them - Passover mostly. We didn't attend services, nor did we celebrate the High Holy Days or other celebrations, but Passover was actually celebrated fairly often with friends and extended family.

Easter is not just bunnies and egg hunts. It has its roots in a religious
celebration of life over death. Given that death is usually feared by each one
of us at some point in our lives, having someone/something saying "Don't
worry, there is life continuing after death," is reassuring. 

As for Easter - I explored a variety of religions while growing up and throughout my adult life. In US society, one cannot explore religion without examining the large variety of Christian beliefs. I attended Christian services in Baptist, Lutheran, and Catholic denominations and I have celebrated and toured some of the most marvelous buildings and cathedrals erected to celebrate Jesus Christ. Yet, after all of that, I found that I couldn't walk this path and I returned to what sings for me.

I'll continue to listen to the voice of Spirit in those who share the world
with us - the trees and animals, the breeze and running waters, and
the Song that underlies all life. 

For me, the Breath of Life is in the larger world. I admire the driven talent that soars in the spires of cathedrals throughout the world, but I'll continue to celebrate the trees and the breeze that allow them to sing in the voice of Creation. Have a Blessed holiday season, whatever and wherever you choose to be.

A Sense of Semi-Accomplishment and Snow Again - WTF????

I actually did get a lot done yesterday and very little of it was recreational (unfortunately), but at the end of the day, as the snow was piling up in the front yard and on the streets, I at least felt as if I had done something.

Looking at the satellite map of snowfall, it looks like I have somewhere
from 1/2 inch to 3.5 inches awaiting me. It's crazy how the snowfall
changes from place to place in this storm though. 

I took time to seriously look at the specs of the car I'm thinking about buying and compare it, spec to spec, to the car I've had since 2000. It isn't that much different - slightly wider and a bit longer. But a more powerful engine and much better gas mileage. I'll continue thinking this week, and if I decide to go ahead with this, I'll take another physical look next week. I hesitate just buying it because it is such an expense. I just can't jump into this without putting some serious thought behind it.

Our robins aren't quite this far, but I'm sure they are just as grumpy. It's hard
for them to find their meals when the snow is covering everything. 

I was home from doing my errands by 11:30 am and the clouds were increasing. By dinnertime the snow was falling and we were in the middle of a really weird snowstorm. I'll be pulling out the snow boots from the closet again. The snowfall across the Cities varied from 1/2 inch to 11 inches - yes...that's across the metro area only. I have no idea how much I got until I get out there in an hour or so, but I suspect I'm not going to be happy. If it's less than three inches, however, I'm going to just blast through it because within a week, we'll be in 70+ degree temps and this storm will just be a bad memory.

Archiver's was always a good alternative for me when I needed
stamps or supplies. I get most of my supplies from Sarasota Stamp
at the State Fair every year, but I picked up some miscellaneous things
when Archiver's was doing their final 'business closing' sales. 

I had mentioned that I might do some cleaning, and indeed, that's where I was actually somewhat effective. I spent time organizing and reorganizing my craft supplies so that I'm ready to go for this year's Solstice cards. Yes - I think about my cards all year and have determined the theme already. I had some new supplies that I bought when Archiver's store was going out of business and I needed to get these items put away.

I use an app on my smartphone called Book
Catalogue to scan the ISBNs of my books
and get them into the database. It works pretty well. 

I cataloged a box full of books and moved them to gain access to my "important papers" mini-file. I went through the papers in those drawers, pulled quite a few for shredding (no real need for long-ago closed bank account statements or repair listings for autos we no longer own) and found the title for my current car - the reason I decided to begin the process at all. I also found my marriage license, my birth certificate, old passports, and other important papers that I looked at carefully and then returned to the file. Now I have my car title at the top of one drawer so when I need it, I can grab it easily.

I was quite pleased to find my car title for "Grape". It's not that
hard to get a duplicate, but why bother if I don't have to? 

I'll continue working on the household budget today. I spent some time with it yesterday and know where I need to go today. I also spent a wonderful hour talking with Aearwen. Both of our writing muses have been quiet over the past week, so they'd better wake up soon - LOL.

It's never easy to work on a budget. 

I'm hoping I have minimal snow outside my door as I get ready to leave. A few miles north of me they got nine inches, a few miles south, they got 1/2 inch. It could be anything from 1-2 inches to 7 inches waiting for me to open my garage door this morning. I know that no matter how much snow, the roads are very icy. It's a bad driving day *sigh*.

I just couldn't resist sharing this pic with all of you...

Happy Thursday to all!

Maybe I Can Actually Write ... Or Draw ... Or Just Clean House :-b

It's my day off and of course I have errands to do. I'm tempted to go to the car dealer and take another look at the car that I want, but I think it's better if I postpone that for a week or so. I think it would be better if I could schedule a late appointment to check out the headlights, panel lights and interior cabin lights that aren't very visible at 9:00 am. So I'll probably push this off and try for a Monday night instead.

Headlights and Taillights at night can make a beautiful picture through
a slow lens. I can't get a really good feel for the headlights and interior
panel lights if I keep looking at the car during the daytime hours. 

Which leaves me open to writing...right? I do need to get some beta work done and I have two short pieces in the works, but my muse is being lazy today and even though I want to work on one of my longer pieces, she's turning her back on me, crossing her arms and shaking her head.  "No," *sigh*.  This is so NOT the way to write a novel.

The IBM Selectric electric typewriter was the best typewriter in the market. I loved
working on these and would still be writing on one if I didn't want to
edit, edit and edit again...

So, maybe I can get some artwork underway instead? I have projects pending, others underway, and others knocking at my mental door. Maybe I can pull out my pencils, uncap my markers, re-organize my pastels or even fire up the kiln. But my day will more likely be spent with...

I would love to play with my enamels and my kiln, but I doubt I'll really have
the time to do that today. Cleaning up that part of my studio wouldn't be a bad
idea, though. Except other parts of the house need cleaning first. 

House Cleaning! Yes, the dreaded house cleaning. I need to get my car title into my hands and that will entail some serious cleaning. Also, we want to get new carpeting after the house finally sells and the estate is settled. To do that, we'll have to have things cleaned up. So even though we are under a Winter Storm Watch, I think it's actually spring, (even though winter doesn't seem to want to let go). Spring means spring cleaning to me, so I'll spend at least some time today with the vacuum and a scrub pad.

Some housecleaning will have to be done, but I also have to get
my household budget into a spread sheet. One way or another, I won't
be doing a lot of house cleaning, although I'll be doing my usual multiple
loads of laundry. 

Hurrah for Wednesdays!

Don't You Hate It When...

Don't you hate it when you come up with the perfect sentence/words/theme while you're nowhere near any location to jot it down? That almost happened to me this morning. I have an assignment for humorous poetry - not usually too much of a problem - but I've been mulling it over in my head for days now. I was just about to step into the shower when the first verse hit me. Leaving the water on, I went to my computer and jotted down the verse to the best of my memory - the words already flying away with every second's delay. I quickly typed the first verse, returning to my awaiting shower afterward.

My showers are usually closer to 20 minutes, but how often do deep thoughts
hit you while the water pounds on your body? 

So I now had the first verse and before jumping into my emails and my blog, after my shower was complete and I was dressed for work, I continued writing the poem. I now have verses two and three complete and am trying to discover where the composition wants me to go. I'll take more looks at it throughout the day and perhaps will have this complete by the end of the day.

Poetry holds additional challenges for me. Although free verse
exists, I prefer my poetry to rhyme and to have meter and rhythm. 

The initial verse, however, was not written down in the identical words that first had hit while waiting for my shower water to heat up. No - those initial words ... that catchy rhythm and meter and those cogs that fit together so well, shook and twisted as I walked the 20 steps from the shower to the computer, putting my Word program onto my screen and pulling out my keyboard. Does this happen to you too? It's frustrating. I have no good memory for words, only concepts, forms and colors. I know each person has their strengths and weaknesses, but for me it is word memory.

"The Scribe" by Arthur Szyk is painted in a medieval style, although
he was an artist of the 20th century. My handwriting isn't good
enough to make a living as a scribe. 

I would make a terrible herald or messenger in olden days. I also wouldn't make it as a thespian and, given my poor handwriting, I doubt I'd make it as a scribe. Even my hieroglyphics need work to become readable. My cursive writing is impossible and printing takes too long.

I began typing when I was ten years old and have felt more
comfortable with a keyboard than a pen since then. By using
a keyboard I can keep up with my thoughts. 

I am a keyboarder - and a very good one. For years I worked my way through college as a secretary or keyboarder. I worked in the Journalism and the Anthropology departments in the back rooms where it was just me, a typewriter, and various duplication machines. It might have been boring, but I was appreciated for the work I performed, I was undisturbed, and I got lots of experience that helped me land my first job for pay after I had graduated. My fingers could fly across the keyboard at up to 120 cpm with very high accuracy. My arthritis now gets in the way and slows me down (but I refuse to acknowledge it unless it gets painful or throws extra characters into my words). My speed and accuracy have certainly dropped, though.

I might have made a good chicken in a play, but keep the main role
away from me - I won't remember the script. 

I make a great background in plays and productions. Just give me a tree costume and let me stand as moving decoration and I'm in my perfect role. Word memory and accuracy is so difficult for me that I wonder why I had signed up for my Theatre 101 course when I was a college student. I'm grateful that I did, though, because I met Seth in that small auditorium and my life has been enriched as a result of his friendship, love, and continued support.

Talent and Genius - I liked this explanation a lot. 

When do your best ideas hit you? Are you anywhere near a computer or notepad? Are you able to grasp the tenuous thoughts and pull them into ordered rows of graphic patterns so that you can read them again afterward? Do you remember your words exactly so that you can write them down at a later time? Share your thoughts with me...

I'll Get You, My Pretty...

I love pretty things, and yesterday's trip to the American Craft Council show overwhelmed me with lots and lots of beautiful items. There were wonderful works of wood, stunning pieces of glass, the weavings were above the top and the clothing items looked cozy and unique, I loved the leatherwork and everywhere I looked there was jewelry and more jewelry. As a jeweler, I do tend to focus on those items, but I adore seeing it all.

Thomas Turner was one of the fine jewelers exhibiting at
the show. He had wonderful pieces incorporating interesting
stones with gold and diamonds in really innovative designs. 

One of my high points this year was seeing that "Magick" would be exhibiting again. Falcher Fusager was instrumental, many years ago, in giving me advice and tips as I was just beginning as an enamelist. He has always been kind and I've spent hours talking with him and looking at his truly fabulous art. But he hasn't exhibited at the St Paul show for years and those shows lacked lustre for me without his work. This year he finally had returned and I was literally jumping up and down when I saw his name and work in the show program.

Facher Fusager of Magick is one of the world's best enamelists, known for his
fine color gradations and detail work in amazing gold cloisonne. He has given
me tips over the years, and one of my dreams has been to own one
of his pieces. 

I was determined to be good and walk all of the aisles, looking at everything, but when I finally arrived at his booth, Chickie and Chickie Mama were behind me at a different vendor and DH had moved far ahead. So I was on my own when I got to the booth and had a chance to speak with Nadia Fusager. She said that Falcher would be at the booth in a little while, so I made a mental note to return once more before leaving for the day. I looked over the items in the cases and told her that having them exhibit at the show again just made my day brighter and happier. Then I left and rejoined my friends to walk through the rest of the show.

Greg Roche makes leather bags that are amazing and beautiful. I own
two of his bags - a small handbag and a bag that I use as my laptop
bag. I use that one every day and it's been holding up really well. 

DH was pulled into the pottery demonstration and then moved over to watch the very talented man demonstrating woodturning on a small lathe. He was a great teacher and DH was spellbound for almost an hour. I finished looking through the rest of the show, then joined him for another half-hour of watching the demonstration. It was really interesting and I was also spellbound, even though wood is not my media. Chickie and Chickie Mama left while we were watching, and after the demo was over and DH had finished asking his questions, we wandered down the last row.

DH loves working with wood, but Martha Collins is a true master.
This bracelet made of twelve different exotic woods is both
lightweight and sturdy. As I become more and more metal
sensitive, I look for alternatives in my jewelry. One of these
days I'll probably buy one of her pieces. 

Before we left I wanted to spend some time with Falcher, so we returned to Magick's booth. He was there, and he remembered me. We fell into easy conversation, catching up on the past few years and talked for quite some time while I was looking at his pieces again. He is such a master in enamel, his work is the bar I am always trying to reach in my own work. DH found a lovely small pendant that he really liked and asked me to try it on, but it wasn't good coloring for me. Falcher brought out a different colorway that was much better, and DH ended up ordering one for me with the brighter color scheme, but the oxidized exterior that the first pendant had. It was my birthday gift for this year. I was astounded and so very happy. I have wanted a piece of Falcher's work for years and now I will finally own one! We parted with my begging Falcher once again to teach a Master Class Session at Alan Revere's Jewelry Academy. I know that Alan asks him every year and I would move heaven and earth to get to San Francisco and take a class - any class - from Falcher.

My great love is glass and Fred Kaemmer makes these wonderful
large works with glass threads throughout. They are
spectacular, visual, and I'm quite sure, expensive. 

So my weekend ended up Magick and I will have a spot of fabulous color coming my way within a few weeks. It was a truly amazing day!