I find that I actually miss it when the blogs I follow don't post anything for awhile or worse yet, a long while. So I am going to try and post more regularly especially when I have the afternoon off to be in the studio and I am still awake and not at all falling asleep at the keyboard, which I manage to do most evenings.

Nothing much exciting here in and about the studio today. I am doing a bunch of pricing of all the new things that  I bought or traded for at the Bead & Button show plus pricing new inventory that has arrived from overseas. Phil has been crazybusy, and yes, I meant to say that as one word, reorganizing the warehouse. I thought it looked pretty good but evidentially, I was wrong. I haven't even ventured a look out there today because I know, just absolutely know, that I will not be able to find a thing. Sigh.

Anyhow, I thought I'd post a few pictures of what I have been doing around here today besides writing tons of price tags. I keep telling myself as soon as the pricing is done, I will reward myself with something fun to do like bead embroidery or sewing on my latest banner or drawing or almost anything but pricing! I even tried to do some laundry, that's how desperate I am to get away from pricing.

This is the red tail hawk that was hunting in our yard this
afternoon. He caught and lost a rabbit. 

These are two of the three crows that pestered and pestered him.

Then after sitting on the fence post for ages he hopped down and casually
strolled to the wild blackberry cluster to look for the rabbit.

I think I must have taken a gazillion and twelve pictures of him ( or her ) as she tried to ignore the crows, keep an eye on me and look for the rabbit. I could walk within three feet of this hawk and he just watched me. I have not been that close to one before except at the raptor center. I was certainly able to waste time for about 45 minutes!

 Earlier this morning I walked around pulling a few weeds here and there, and decided that my yellow lavender looked particularly pretty standing alongside the purple, so I took pictures for awhile there, too. 

Spud came to visit and had me all to himself, which he usually does not,  having to share me with Daisy and Jesse but he did manage to scarf down four large milk bones and then told me he needed, truly needed, more! 

And now nearly an hour has elapsed and I have managed to update my blog but make no further progress on pricing. So off I go to the studio! 

Do you ever have days where so much stuff is going round and round in your head that nothing makes sense? There is a scattered energy about and as a friend said on Saturday, you have the the solar flares and sunspots to blame for weird energies. As soon as things settle in my busy little head and a few work surfaces are cleared, I will get back to some hopefully serious, yet oddly light hearted blog posts!

I am totally exhausted tonight. I have been up since 3:15 this morning, thinking and planning and designing in my near sleepy state.Anyhow, I wanted to post a few Bead 7 Button pictures so tonight I begin with a few pictures of our booth and setup. Watch for more pictures in the coming posts!

All day long I have had tachycardia. I hate it! I do not like the irregular, annoying thumping that goes on in my chest. It makes me tired and short of breath. Causing me anxiety. I have had it! Enough, I say. Time to move on to other things, other activities. Stress can cause tachycardia and I am loaded with it now as I struggle with the decision of whether I want to continue to be an exhibitor at the Bead & Button show. I have done the show since it began over a decade ago in Portland. I loved it. All the excitement and beads and people and beads and exhibits and beads but now, after so many years of packing and shipping, setting up and displaying; I am beginning to think I am tired and ready to move on. Other things are calling to me. I want to take classes in jewelry making, writing and more. I like being in my shops and now with the new gallery opening doors for me to feel inspired to paint, I want to stay home and have studio time. When I go on the road next, I want to visit family and friends. I want to sit on a beach and read, sit on a picnic table in the woods and paint, sit on a lawn swing and knit. It is time for this phoenix to create a new reality and rise from the ashes. Stay tuned as changes are a foot and my soul is leaping at opportunity and maybe even creating opportunity.

Long ago, when the world was much younger and I too, I did my student teaching with kindergarten and first grade students. I have always loved the artwork of children. Long before they are taught " rules " and conformity ( no, a tree looks like THIS ), freedom reigns on their paper and they create what they see and treasure with any means at their disposal. Paper. Glue. Crayon. Glitter.

This month in town, the elementary schools have artwork exhibited all through the shops and restaurants. The theme is " Spirit of Place " so the kids have created little collages of Port Townsend. They have picked what they see, what is important to them, what has made an impression. This work is by Mrs. Lois Polley's third grade class. It is a collage of buildings from around town. You can see the clock tower, the lighthouse, the courthouse and maybe even the building that houses my shops.

And one other fun footnote? They created this downtown scene during our annual Halloween costume parade and trick or treat event. Now, that is important to these artists, not to mention memorable.

I am going to keep this picture in my journal and my artists' mind to maybe recreate one day with full childlike abandon!

My oldest son and the fish he caught today. So far from me, so near to my heart.

Some days are just more sweet than others. I am sitting here this evening with the sweetest, kindest most complete love in my heart. The people in my life just make me happy. Knowing that I have children and friends and family who love me is so heartbreakingly wonderful. I am love. I feel love. I am overjoyed with love. There is nothing left to say but thank you to the powers that be, the universe, God, Goddess for all the richness of love in my life.

Lavender Daze

You can feel it in the air. For two brief days this holiday weekend, one created of memories, we are having summer. Skies are clear, the air is warm, birds are singing, things are growing. It is amazing how the mood of everyone is lifted when the day is so pretty.

Have a great weekend, my friends. One filled with outdoor activities, if possible, or one in pursuit of satisfying your muse. Whatever your choice, make it memorable for you. xo

The beginning of a weekend rainbow.