We have had a bit of snow and although I did not get a snow day out of it, when I could close the shop and stay all day at home, I enjoyed it anyhow. I love the soft quiet that snow on the ground makes. The freshness in the air, the sting of cold on my cheek, the softness of the ground with all the layers of white. People who wish for snow and don't get it and feel sad - you could lump me in that group!

I have been spending as much time as possible working on a new collection of paintings done with saturated colors on watercolor papers. I am trying to reconnect to some of the organic, doodle like shapes and marks I make when emptying my mind of drawing and doing something else.  I do not know if I will be successful but I am enjoying the journey. 

All the while I am continuing to make jewelry and gather inventory for the Sew Expo in Puyallup at the fairgrounds March 2 - 5. I think this show, at which we work so hard and is equally hard on our bodies shall be our last. I will miss it but it is time to move ---- onto the internet! Plus more time in my shop which is actually one of my favorite places to be. 

Finally, a sad goodbye to my friend Ellen who unexpectedly and suddenly passed away. I did not get to say so long but not a day has gone by that I have not thought of her. I will be missing her a long, long time. 

Live in love and light. Hug the ones you love tightly. Life is so sweet, so short, so wonderful. 

I am a woman who has always loved winter. The cold, gray days, a possibility of snow, hot cups of perk all conspire to make me feel cozy, creative and inspired in the warm nests of my shops, home and studio. However, I am a bit over the season. Yet another cold, Lucas can not play outside due to his four paws and a lot of mud and I am tired of wearing socks. Northwest geek that I am, I have socks on with sandals. I would insert a picture here but I can not figure out how to do it. Blogger only wants to add old photos already used on this blog. Sigh. See what I mean about winter? Every single day has been filled with minor, irritating little blips. Anyhow, as soon as my laptop is returned to me from the shop debugging it; I will be able to continue on with this post and add photos. Until then onwards.

Today was my fifth day in Tucson and finally, the sun has agreed to share some warmth with the temperatures rising to the 70's. After a morning spent gem shopping, hugging friends and an adventurous  lunch, we made our way to an old friend's home in a part of Tucson that most people do not visit. Once upon a time, this area was considered outside the city limits, rural even but you would not know it today. I love it. It feels old, mid century modern. Lots of gnarly trees, low brick houses, adobe fences. There was the beautiful cooing of doves as we sat on the patio and the sun making dappling shadows across our arms and foreheads. Restful and peaceful, conversations light and easy and the day became evening and evening drifted into dinnertime, more conversation, a look at the moon and Venus and little bowls filled twice with chocolate ice cream.

Back at it again today, trying to get a few things done and listening to the strong winds and driving rain outside the dining room window. Tomorrow, I plan on returning to work. I have missed my shop while I was home with this plague of a cold and I am thinking it has also missed me.

So anyhow, when I should have been making jewelry or getting together grab bags of sale items for the shop; I decided to drag out a tabletop full of paints, markers and colored pencils and unleash my inner need to draw and hop to it. I started two bigger drawings and did this small one for the top of my FB page. A new cover! I love my bird cover but someone asked me to do a love cover and here it is.

Now, to brave the outside storm in order to conquer the inner storm and get something creative done in the studio. Neither rain nor winds shall keep me from my appointed studio duties. Snicker...

Today, I am sick. I have that awful cold that is going around PT. Today is day four. Today I am sick of being sick, sick of chicken noodle soup, sick of television, just sick. I want it to end. I need to play and get back to the shop and make pretty things and chat with customers and eat french fries at Tom's place across the street and then come home and create new things in the studio and try out my new alcohol pens and paint ravens jet black and cast some concrete into jewelry components and take pictures around the neighborhood and draw up a love and heart image for FB because Geoff wants me to and here I sit sick.

Tomorrow is another day and we shall see if the rabbit hole of cough and cold goes away, once again planted in spring like flowers and a rainbow of color.

You all know that I live a creative life. I make my living by combining several things that I love to do. I  make things, I have a shop ( actually several ) and I think outside the box. I am liberal in my leanings and wild in my imagination and color palette. I think a lot and also take mind vacations by loitering on the internet, watching television, reading people magazine and just sitting in a rocker outside on warm summer evenings. I knit and crochet to relieve stress. I am addicted to playing one hand of solitaire on the computer just before I close my eyes to sleep. I am one who believes there are not enough hours in the day to do all I want to do and I often get a second burst of energy just before I go to bed. I like people. I like speaking with people all day in my shops but when I am done and quiet calls me; I am just that - done. I am mostly solitary in my life outside my shops. Sometimes I think I should reach out more and meet new people and be out there, involved, socializing, whatever people do when gathering. However, it feels like my hand is reaching towards a lit burner on the stove; as soon as I feel the heat; I snap back. I have tried a few new things and activities this year and I will probably do more of the same  next year. As much as I love Port Townsend, it is really a place that respects your solitude and you much reach for more if you want it because it is not going to come in search of you.

Anyhow, all this has me thinking about a different place to live. Maybe I want to sell everything and live smaller. Lord knows, with the new president elect we may ALL be thinking along those lines out of necessity. Maybe I want to try another country where medical and dental care is done at a reasonable cost. Just reading of a friend who had to go to Germany for affordable medical treatment and her costs, including airfare, lodging and meals, still equaled one fifth the cost of treatment here in the US. That makes me angry and afraid and brings on sleepless, dark nights. How can this even be?

Maybe I want to live with my kids. Be closer to my son on the east coast. Mostly, I'd like all of us on the same family compound. A closeness not only in bloodlines but in proximity. I have more room to build on my acre of land.

Maybe I just need to feed my soul with more of the things I love. Maybe I should feel content with what I have. I already feel so much gratitude for everything. Contentment is likely missing though and no matter where I look, I just can not find enough.

Maybe all I really need is a bathroom in my studio.

Worry

I certainly intend to write more in the coming days and months but for now I am trying to find my center as I reel in the results of our recent election. I, along with the rest of the world ( except maybe Russia ) will need to worry over the coming days and plan for the worst while hoping for the best. I am reaching down, deep in my very soul to find hope and courage, conviction and love and it is a little dark in there now. Stay tuned and when I can again feel; I will write again. Peace out my friends, peace within.