tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28735787673870014202023-11-16T06:45:50.286-07:00Creative DawdlingKarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-39191142662986846292012-07-16T17:01:00.000-06:002012-07-16T17:01:21.792-06:00PracticeHere I am. I am showing up. That is the first step for anything. To create anything you have to show up. Not think about showing up. Not think about attending to <i>it</i> whatever that<i> it</i> is. Not just read about it or look at others taking action.<br />
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Lately, I have been most successful at showing up to my meditation cushion, or chair, in my case, because longer than 12 minutes on a cushion and my feet fall painfully asleep. What I mean by successful is fairly consistent - almost daily. And I've adapted to the chair in order to keep up the practice.<br />
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Note to self -I did not say perfect at showing up to meditate. Oh dear, did I just use the word perfect?<br />
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Dang.<br />
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Or ding dong - my bell is rung.<br />
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I just uncovered with the typed print of that word <i> p-e-r-f-e-c-t </i>what holds me back from expressing myself. Yup, perfectionism. Somehow I think I am going to come up with some perfect solution that gets me to either turn off the lights here and move on to some other utopian creative project OR gets me to stop hiding and express myself someway somehow here now.<br />
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I have a lot of other reasons for not showing up. Perfectionism just tops the list. What I have discovered from my meditation practice is not to expect anything. To follow the practice. My mind drifts or runs and I come back to the breath. I'm learning to be gentle with myself and not try to be perfect. To make friends with all of myself. Most days I show up. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NrVRhaKX8yfJsvTV_CS_Wt_2_ZmZROtACTTUB6wTF2fQc9q2FGTDmRCYuhpmEnVhZ7NEX2SLnf8D4AxUFU8c0EuBuMUxQdk7oxt9JP_hiiBYLz0Vt0ZauKoz-hGHSYq1p-AHpkkBM28x/s1600/P1020895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NrVRhaKX8yfJsvTV_CS_Wt_2_ZmZROtACTTUB6wTF2fQc9q2FGTDmRCYuhpmEnVhZ7NEX2SLnf8D4AxUFU8c0EuBuMUxQdk7oxt9JP_hiiBYLz0Vt0ZauKoz-hGHSYq1p-AHpkkBM28x/s640/P1020895.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Kara McGee 2012 </td></tr>
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I wonder what would happen if I started a creative dawdling expression practice? If I showed up and followed the basic instruction to express something. Gentle with myself. Making friends with my creative self and perhaps my creative gremlins too. Inspired by meditation practice. <br />
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So, here I am. Showing up to practice.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-12169436308142247892011-10-16T12:15:00.003-06:002011-10-16T12:18:22.940-06:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI8InHDAPHxMDr9lXsqhBq4YewGNO7YYUKiH0kQqJcFmLwz5J-Vsw4MKW8mRhmf7tHRw6JUnigZaLsZbsGJ4GeN5TPxk4Vbf1YyiChZUtXlRCmVKYFDbQGmItnMz3UuM8ShwRYfYPGUWX/s1600/oscar.sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI8InHDAPHxMDr9lXsqhBq4YewGNO7YYUKiH0kQqJcFmLwz5J-Vsw4MKW8mRhmf7tHRw6JUnigZaLsZbsGJ4GeN5TPxk4Vbf1YyiChZUtXlRCmVKYFDbQGmItnMz3UuM8ShwRYfYPGUWX/s400/oscar.sky.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar 2006 © Kara McGee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Three weeks ago we put one of our cats to sleep. Our sweet Oscar Bear. He had a mass in the middle of him near his heart and lungs. Once we discovered this unfortunate fact we did all we could to keep him comfortable because there really wasn't much that could be done. It was simply time to enjoy him and help him enjoy his life for as long as we were given. Eventually, the tumor got the better of his body. <br />
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This loss still hurts, and I know it is going to hurt for awhile. One of my personal goals is to make a photo book for my husband and I to celebrate and remember Oscar's life. It helps raise our spirits to look at pictures and remember him. I thought I might start this project just out here on my blog and put up a few posts about my cat. It will help me sort my photos and help me write some memories. <br />
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I met Oscar when he was living at a foster kitty mom's home. He was there because he had been abandoned and found in the back of a pickup truck all alone. He was too young to be put up for adoption at the Animal Humane, so he was living at foster mom's house getting extra kitten care until he weighed enough to go out for adoption. <br />
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I'd made my choice to adopt one kitty that was living there at foster mom's house. He reminded me of my childhood cats. The foster mom knew I wanted to adopt two kitties. She suggested Oscar. Actually, she pushed and nudged me. As a tiny kitty Oscar had long fluffy fur. I was worried he would be a long haired cat. Foster mom assured me that would not be the case once he grew out of his safety kitten-y fur. She was right. She also said Oscar would grow up to be a lap cat. She was right.<br />
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As an extra push/nudge/sales pitch she said that all black cats stay playful for a much longer time. She was right about that too. Oscar played until the day before he died. Sadly, one way we knew it was his time and we needed to ease his pain was when he just didn't have the oomph to play.<br />
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The foster kitty mom was pushing me because, at least 11 and 1/2 years ago and maybe still today, it is very hard to get the <i>all</i> black cats adopted. If they have some white on them no problem they are even in demand but an all black cat causes everyone to be superstitious. Ridiculous! Although I did play along by saying around Halloween that I had special immunity from goblins and spooks and bad luck because I had an all black cat. <br />
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We still have our Fox cat. He seems to be enjoying the extra attention. If Oscar played abundantly, then Fox was kind of inhibited around Oscar. Now we are getting to play with Fox in new ways. I know he misses Oscar sometimes because he's done a few things that seems to be different for Fox but very connected to what Oscar would do if he was here.<br />
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We are not looking to adopt another cat again soon.......though the temptation is strong when I hear there is an overflow of cats needing adoption at the local animal humane. I would say, if and when the time comes to adopt another kitty cat, if I'm ever chosen by another all black kitty I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. <br />
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p.s. if you click on the photo above you can see it bigger.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-57990925922718822292011-08-12T10:22:00.001-06:002011-08-12T10:22:46.060-06:00Ah, the sweet relief of summer rains.....Thankfully, we have been getting some summer monsoon rains. I'm slow to update this fact. So slow in fact that we just went through a week of hot and dry with no rain showers. When we do get the storms they tend to pass by quickly. Round these parts we call them gully washers. Here is a photo of the canales on my home with the rain water pouring out of them. Notice the blue sky and the sun is already out shining again. This storm probably dropped about a 10th of an inch of rain in 10 minutes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kara McGee ©2011 rain in canales</td></tr>
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Rain later in the day means rainbows. We have seen some wonderful bright rainbows this year. One evening there was a rainbow that formed just at or after sunset. The rainclouds were a dark steel blue. The sunset gave everything this purple glow. The rainbow appearing in the clouds looked like it was shrouded in a veil of purple midnight sheer silk. I called it a night rainbow. I didn't even try to get a picture because I knew there was no way I'd be able to record it. I hope to never forget it because it was the most mysterious rainbow I've ever seen. <br />
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The photo below isn't the brightest rainbow I've caught on digital this year. Yet, I couldn't resist sharing the view of our hummingbird feeder with the rainbow in the background. I cropped this photo and the hummingbird isn't sharply in focus but nevertheless I hope it offers you some summer delight. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU2VlNc5T1aOrsNQpa6TXX9x3kzg1bDQGksYHHyHAwuTF9P7-Ap31OXHwtUV26-hC3O57FnSYZdhhL7CjgtrnxDAngx6iLm1OagCqg_Wue1tY_aSz9aNT5CzM-I5So3BsCCnxljoELCIO/s1600/hummer.rainbow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU2VlNc5T1aOrsNQpa6TXX9x3kzg1bDQGksYHHyHAwuTF9P7-Ap31OXHwtUV26-hC3O57FnSYZdhhL7CjgtrnxDAngx6iLm1OagCqg_Wue1tY_aSz9aNT5CzM-I5So3BsCCnxljoELCIO/s640/hummer.rainbow.JPG" width="534" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hummingbird with rainbow summer 2011 ©KaraMcGee</td></tr>
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-19480041022300127022011-08-05T14:06:00.007-06:002011-08-05T14:10:07.428-06:00summer project<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT2pfj_InHP0PUi9T3kZHZ3N2qL5p66oy1kJxCAgojvXgdKasNI8CqOIpl032C5MV2aOBbnG7b4FH0n-SFII9IYmtC-PnYNV-ouGprl2uoOaJ1f04kM_OXxaUau3q-gBcmSZsaoyV-RUv/s1600/ripandshred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT2pfj_InHP0PUi9T3kZHZ3N2qL5p66oy1kJxCAgojvXgdKasNI8CqOIpl032C5MV2aOBbnG7b4FH0n-SFII9IYmtC-PnYNV-ouGprl2uoOaJ1f04kM_OXxaUau3q-gBcmSZsaoyV-RUv/s400/ripandshred.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">letting go ©kara mcgee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sometimes it feels so exquisitely good to let go of old words, old whines, old weight. This is my summer project. <br />
I search for the patterns and make note of the history and then rip and shred. Giddiness ensues!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-84777937063374006102011-08-03T15:17:00.002-06:002011-08-03T15:19:45.425-06:00Lazy Summer Days<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkKbI_EQBg1BW0zbhWUlmhTHNODkNzTI_dnKLCzbebTRToxrY0AmdKHrKGWFsT0vQWVnV_t8g_4ohOvVpi7FR2IsBLKUjw24N6G-RG3zy8VGBFayK3Jj-k24HpuAsIjHC_LRd-wx41mbY/s1600/lazysquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkKbI_EQBg1BW0zbhWUlmhTHNODkNzTI_dnKLCzbebTRToxrY0AmdKHrKGWFsT0vQWVnV_t8g_4ohOvVpi7FR2IsBLKUjw24N6G-RG3zy8VGBFayK3Jj-k24HpuAsIjHC_LRd-wx41mbY/s400/lazysquirrel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rock squirrel © Kara McGee</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Summer time, summer time, sum sum summertime.........are you finding a cool spot to relax?<br />
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Read any good books?<br />
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Summer projects...........Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-7256502825830677702011-07-14T09:14:00.004-06:002011-07-14T09:41:56.177-06:00She has a nameNow that she has arrived at her new <a href="http://journeytoauthenticity.typepad.com/keeping_what_i_will/2011/07/plumcake.html#comments">home</a> I can share a few pictures I shot of this cutie before I sent her on her way. She was given the name Plumcake. Isn't that just adorable. She looks blue in my photos but really she's purple and just sooo cute you want to eat her. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's at the top of the mountain? I wanna see......</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdoVx2RT68MLS9UZnxbhHM2FPzMue0tFAqTKtPB0wRhxKwnsTVvrdc_ueKy_S-VTee_Ea8lSkrv0W1AjargTbvSUhMVOY8C1Ko95Pbfx9S1RXQQef1JJr-IGTQn-u53pj31BntBDFzccm/s400/karen.cat.ingrass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this grass is fun......why does the grass grow?</td></tr>
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</div>The cat is made using a pattern in <u>Super Cute 25 Amigurumi Animals</u> by Annie Obaachan. The flower is from a pattern in Suzann Thompson's book <u>Crochet Bouquet</u>.<br />
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Have fun in your new home Plumcake. Inspire the writing and don't chase after Karen's pen while she's trying to write. Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-76175412186201582632011-07-10T16:22:00.036-06:002011-07-10T16:59:50.984-06:00Worries from my porch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfZ2-FOnST75sIeMHrnKeR8AxnbxqDt2vw9JbG29YBoz7PsrRlQbjHsqfT09sKvqZ4VcOYr_V-gwihBQNIBQ_nF6LbNoQL4BthRT0YLJjff-ziL349UgoRRj4JhsbsizQl89pO2EVF-cm/s1600/LasConchas.07.06.2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfZ2-FOnST75sIeMHrnKeR8AxnbxqDt2vw9JbG29YBoz7PsrRlQbjHsqfT09sKvqZ4VcOYr_V-gwihBQNIBQ_nF6LbNoQL4BthRT0YLJjff-ziL349UgoRRj4JhsbsizQl89pO2EVF-cm/s640/LasConchas.07.06.2011.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Las Conchas fire as seen from my porch on July 6th. photo by Kara McGee</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Since my last two posts were about drought, wild land fire worries, <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2011/06/tonglen-for-desert.html">smoke</a>, prayers for <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2011/06/rain-needed-in-heart-of-desert.html">rain</a>, I feel like I need to give an update. <br />
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New Mexico has had it's own large fire. The largest forest fire in the state's history. This morning, on July 10, it is 146,353 acres with 45% containment. It started June 26. You may have heard about it because it came close to Los Alamos and the Los Alamos National Lab. It's called the Las Conchas fire. <br />
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We saw it from our back porch about an hour after it started. I knew it was going to be a terrible monster fire. There was too much wind that day and it looked like it started in a dense forest area with lots of fuel (trees) to burn. That first day it grew to 43,000 acres. Seeing the fire that night was one of the worst sights I've ever seen. Heartbreaking is the only word that I can use to describe it.<br />
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I won't report all the details about this fire or the other fires because those are reported about elsewhere. I feel very sad for all the communities who have suffered in this loss. I worry for all the animals too. I am not in the middle of it but it has deeply touched my daily life these past few weeks. My heart feels heavy. <br />
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This has been a tough year so far. The snow and rain just stopped in January. We normally get wind in March and April but this year it did not stop. I think the heavy wind red flag warning days finally stopped about a week ago. New Mexico has suffered the worst drought in recorded history between January to June 2011. Here at my home we would normally have recorded 5-6 inches of rain from Jan to June. We recorded only <b>.</b>71 inches. <br />
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I've become tense. My creative dawdling has suffered. I've begun to feel dried up, brittle. I daydream about Portland. I daydream about vacations away, but since I have a cat who needs a lot of special care it's hard to get away. I've spent weeks under a fear of fire erupting closer to my home. That is a post for another day about what would I take if I had the chance to evacuate. <br />
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Today, the good news is the monsoon rain we usually get is on the way. The Las Conchas fire did not receive rain yesterday, but we got <b>.</b>19 inches. That is almost a third of what we got in the first 6 months of the year so it was great reason to do a happy dance! I did it in front of all my neighbors at an annual neighborhood party. Everyone was happy but I was the only one who danced. A creative dawdler will dance when we finally get significant measurable rain! It truly feels like we will get some good rain soon in this state. Enough to put out these fires. I just pray the potential flooding won't be as devastating as the fires.<br />
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Every year I hang Tibetan prayer flags out in an enclosed outdoor area that we call the cat run. Our cats get to go outside without the danger of becoming coyote or bobcat food. This year I had some delay in finding flags. The ones I found are three times as long as I usually buy. I hope the abundance will make for abundant prayers into the wind. The Hubster helped me hang them on July 8. I prayed for rain. Since we get them every year I know that the first few summer rains usually wash a lot of the dye out of them. This year I want to see them fade quickly. I was happy for yesterdays rain and looking forward to more. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prayer flags awaiting fading. May the prayers for rain and renewal travel far and wide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-32262364767106560322011-06-21T10:14:00.001-06:002011-06-21T10:14:20.358-06:00Rain needed in the heart of the desert.I was looking through some photos from last September 2010. I snapped all these photos after a late summer rain shower. The misty clouds are still hovering.<br />
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I notice how much wild growth we had in our yard. That same kind of growth, grasses and brush, would have happened all over the state. Now that growth is dry and acts like a fire tinder. The smallest spark can set it off. I heard that 603,000 acres have burned in New Mexico wildfires just since the beginning of 2011. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ese9T3TPDXrQDrwwiFOaPfcPK-SmRQCUrDwd4BkzBy_BX-vyklht_qHsG-Mhmyy8Y84eXzT2IJh3vKX2-sQQUo_mFBcBDrXJAFsuQixeCMGy1AzKC5AISPfAVM51NelIcUYL73jsj9xe/s1600/latesummergrowthafter.a.rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ese9T3TPDXrQDrwwiFOaPfcPK-SmRQCUrDwd4BkzBy_BX-vyklht_qHsG-Mhmyy8Y84eXzT2IJh3vKX2-sQQUo_mFBcBDrXJAFsuQixeCMGy1AzKC5AISPfAVM51NelIcUYL73jsj9xe/s400/latesummergrowthafter.a.rain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This land needs some rain. Yesterday my coworkers and I were discussing the things everyone is doing to call the rain. One gal mentioned washing her car. I chimed in with how I washed my windows. Someone else said the catholics took the saints out and paraded them around the village. And there is a pow-wow planned soon over at the one of the nearby pueblos.<br />
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It is nice to look at these photos of cactus dripping with moisture. Such a nicer thing to put into my mind then what I've been worrying about lately. I'm also a heart shaped collector of images, rocks, and etc....what can I say but this photo just does it for me.<br />
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I thought it won't hurt to put up some images of rain reflections. To remind myself rain does and will come here again. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlmoE961loKflQAXy8eb0vHq8j4Q0wNxLFALVbdTpBBkIzRqJo_k-EUESTmLrZgVeNFWp-LZUUKxtgFHtEosQ6NRcr8ZvUiE-KjvsfvwhfUcPn69s5gQ0aU8ZDQzEwizvNpbbZgPBOr5l/s1600/reflectioninbirdbath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlmoE961loKflQAXy8eb0vHq8j4Q0wNxLFALVbdTpBBkIzRqJo_k-EUESTmLrZgVeNFWp-LZUUKxtgFHtEosQ6NRcr8ZvUiE-KjvsfvwhfUcPn69s5gQ0aU8ZDQzEwizvNpbbZgPBOr5l/s400/reflectioninbirdbath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hello rainwater!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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My happy laughing frog will once again hold rain drops. Until then, I'm keeping the faith.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLxZ6wo5n1JrNf4CtYMv8j7KEwCMUPoqw9CAiQUXlZP0g11USq2Bv0nGTtDFdNIz_821MlAAd5gEE7VIFrgCHB-719bDTQdv5Ni_LuYOZgCwZlkh4wdk9njYh2fjhj-BkULr_cKStNXzH/s1600/froghotei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLxZ6wo5n1JrNf4CtYMv8j7KEwCMUPoqw9CAiQUXlZP0g11USq2Bv0nGTtDFdNIz_821MlAAd5gEE7VIFrgCHB-719bDTQdv5Ni_LuYOZgCwZlkh4wdk9njYh2fjhj-BkULr_cKStNXzH/s400/froghotei.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-29036427920790466222011-06-17T11:00:00.034-06:002011-06-17T11:24:18.437-06:00Tonglen for the desertWhen the smoke from the AZ wildfires came, this is what it looked like outside my door. It smelled like the forest was on fire, and it was hard to even step outside to snap this photo. That ridge is less than a mile away even though the perspective of this photo makes it look much farther away. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrhIo2Rz_pFwPRDQRKhHUdPx1xnW03g7SLHAcpuyyMHEw5wPGcL6t5Yd1LnYr7OgTLE1ZU9TdJWHhx1g7bdKe-eF-5KC_8R2X1nFW9cLBJdc349Jcv4WCoQe8rgf2SJnAZOs6TOh-nWzn/s1600/smoke.ridge6.6.2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrhIo2Rz_pFwPRDQRKhHUdPx1xnW03g7SLHAcpuyyMHEw5wPGcL6t5Yd1LnYr7OgTLE1ZU9TdJWHhx1g7bdKe-eF-5KC_8R2X1nFW9cLBJdc349Jcv4WCoQe8rgf2SJnAZOs6TOh-nWzn/s400/smoke.ridge6.6.2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montezuma's Ridge June 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We've had several days of clear skies again. The wind pattern has taken the smoke to other areas. I feel very sad and worried about the fires in Arizona. It isn't just Arizona though. I worry for all of the southwest. My own state of New Mexico has had numerous fires this season. I try not to be too anxious about where I live..........but I am anxious. I feel dry and brittle. I can feel the stress from all the plants. I make sure to get water outside each morning into a low birdbath. I saw a rabbit drinking from it yesterday evening. That was joy for my heart to witness. <br />
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I did not see the wildflowers much this year. A few struggled to bloom. The cactus is fairing better, but their blooms do not last long. This little gem appeared one day. I happened to catch it when I was outside giving other drought tolerant plants some supplemental water. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu9-aqlV5EJZ__jiMkRNu7jnLzhWa4N5nlgm3Hhbaj5I-euUlfpyahppaWGM6WOdAwPiA6wUB_Zdnh-6nlrnFWO6grY3dtxILQUBSSxAUgv4dEBVi_jToRmlEIffMFe0BMBpDjTzTxKKt/s1600/gem.in.the.desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu9-aqlV5EJZ__jiMkRNu7jnLzhWa4N5nlgm3Hhbaj5I-euUlfpyahppaWGM6WOdAwPiA6wUB_Zdnh-6nlrnFWO6grY3dtxILQUBSSxAUgv4dEBVi_jToRmlEIffMFe0BMBpDjTzTxKKt/s400/gem.in.the.desert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cactus bloom under pinon tree June 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My meditation has begun to include some <a href="http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/tonglen1.php">tonglen</a>. I breathe in dry brittle and breathe out moist soft.<br />
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I breathe in gratitude for exactly the way it is and I breathe out gratitude for exactly the way it will eventually change. Each moment always changing. What remains beyond that?<br />
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It is counter intuitive. I don't like breathing in the dry brittle and I want to resist and bolt from my cushion. Yet, I stay. I return again to the practice of breathing in the dry brittle smokey fear and breathing out the moist soft clear gentleness. This practice opens me to catch a glimpse of greater wisdom. It calms my anxiety. <br />
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It opens my ability to receive what is here now and beyond what it always changing. It is like the sweetness of catching a glimpse of cactus in bloom or the happy relief of a rabbit quenching it's thirst. It is like sending down my taproot to drink from THAT which is ever present and beyond. <br />
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That glimpse doesn't last. Nothing lasts. Living is inherantly uncertain and groundless, and my anxiety comes again. My mind rattles on to other worries. So, I return again to my meditation cushion each day- practicing tonglen for the desert. <br />
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Creative blessings to all who stop by.....Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-13423221516282162712011-06-10T18:05:00.000-06:002011-06-10T18:05:47.887-06:00Friday Link from the rabbit hole.Not sure now who pointed me to this video.........it was likely in someone's friday links???? The memory gets fuzzy when I fall down the rabbit hole........ <br />
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I think I want to make this beet cake. I'm not a cake baker because I haven't figured out how to adjust for high altitude. Oh, and the little detail that my hubster and I would weigh 500 lbs <i>EACH</i>. Something tells me this might be a cake worth trying to make the adjustment for high altitude. Or maybe that is just my craving for it at this moment.<br />
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I can say it is worth it to spend two minutes watching this painterly video of making this <b><a href="http://tigerinajar.blogspot.com/2011/05/beauty-of-creation.html">cake</a></b>. <br />
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Creative blessings and happy watching.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-58446692356397939202011-06-07T14:14:00.006-06:002011-06-07T14:23:49.024-06:00Stand in solidarity for playWhat is creative dawdling? It's PLAY. <br />
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It has the ability to shape shift into a multitude of activities that don't have a darn thing to do with any "artistic" or classically creative activites such as drawing or theatre. <br />
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It is a worthy thing to do regardless of outcome. Creative dawdling is the permission to do something you want to do because it makes you feel at home with yourSELF. Like fingerprints each person has a unique to them combo of creative dawdles. No one can say there is one and only one way to dawdle.<br />
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Creative dawdling is spiritual. You know it by how your spirit comes alive. Sometimes it is mundane and sometimes it is inspired, but your inner spirit resonates with it. <br />
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You have permission to play. Permission to do something you enjoy for no reason other than you enjoy it. I say this more for myself, than for anyone reading this, but feel free to take it into your own heart.<br />
You have permission to dawdle. <br />
<i>Remember</i> that it is up to <i>your own heart</i> to give you <i>permission</i>. It doesn't come from anywhere else no matter how much you've been fooled into believing otherwise. <br />
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You have permission to _______________________________________ Fill in the blank and try it on. See what comes up to the edge of your awareness. Now give yourself more permission to relax into those edges. <br />
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Each day is a new day to give yourself fresh permission. It doesn't just happen once and then you are done. Giving yourself permission is like brushing your teeth. Wash, rinse, repeat. <br />
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Like brushing your teeth, permission to play doesn't have to be done only when you find the time to retreat for a week. It can be done in little moments. <br />
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This blog for me is NOT about how I make my living. I'm not selling anything here. I'm not earning extra pennies from affiliate links. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that either. At this moment, this blog is place for me to express myself without the pressure of making it into a business. A way to share my dawdles, the things that light up my spirit. To share my creative heart. To scratch my writing itch. <br />
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Also this blog isn't about gaining some kind fame or attention. I do crave attention sometimes (what blog writer doesn't? comments - yes please I'll have some of those). It's more accurate to say this blog is about connecting, and about leaving a record of what resonates with meaning in my life. <br />
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I sometimes think about opening an etsy shop and going toward a blog that connects my creativity to earning money. I fantasize about teaching. I look at what other people are doing and think I should do that. Should is a big red flag. I forget sometimes and begin to think commerce is the only reason to blog. That gets me into trouble every single time I go there in my thinking. Then the motivation to write lapses.<br />
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This blog for me is a hobby. And why is it when I say hobby it somehow demeans it's purpose? Because we live in this culture that says if it does not earn money, then it has no meaning, no worthiness. This makes me sad. It is not true. Unfortunately, it is a message that must be constantly managed and filtered into the do not believe file.<br />
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I feel the need to return to writing on my blog. It means something for the quality of my life to share my play, my creative dawdles, my spiritual meanders. <br />
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I must stand in solidarity with my blog and it's purpose as a hobby. To stand with it and say it is OK to PLAY. It is alright to write on a blog for no other reason than it feels enjoyable. To stand and say creative dawdling is important. It is as valuable to do as brushing your teeth regularly and often. <br />
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To stand and say - I am a creative dawdler. I do not need to explain or wait for someone else to give me permission A minute, two, or five daily might be enough to get going. <br />
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Remember permission comes from inside yourSELF. <br />
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Creative blessings to all who come here from commentators to beloved lurkers.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-11867075257280590312011-02-01T15:15:00.001-07:002011-02-01T15:17:38.496-07:00Give them a clubhouseHello. It's been a long time since I've been here, huh. But the committee is busy in the clubhouse so they haven't noticed that I'm slacking on my blog.......hee, hee. <br />
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My friend Karen reminded me that I never showed pictures of the clubhouse that I made for my committee. The committee is what I call my <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2010/10/committee.html">inner critics</a>. They are the internal voices of doubt and fear. No, I am not referring to a DSM-IV class of mental disorder. I'm just referring to those parts of me that can get in the way when one is attempting creative dawdling. I decided I really didn't have just one critic....I really had a committee of them. Some are loud. Some are quiet. All of them can get disruptive. Last October when I was really negotiating with the committee I made them a clubhouse. I got the idea from <a href="http://www.magpie-girl.com/20081228/quiten-down-how-to-shut-up-your-gremlins/">Magpie Girl</a>.<br />
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It is a bit hard to photograph the clubhouse......"you won't get a good picture of it so why are you trying"......ahem....(yes, that was the committee talking as I photographed their turf)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsnajCnZz9tF9_DRYB0AT9IrpMRCSvUfN2yvIAApLUdS4QmU7LSu_TKbJG3rC90T8aFaHwZEPVLVy4p-1thwbV_s3PTYPj-IzAXA8ytoXGBVRn18hZ48WudESiRnFDYkpYx5FmQk7JIW2/s1600/clubhouseforcritic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsnajCnZz9tF9_DRYB0AT9IrpMRCSvUfN2yvIAApLUdS4QmU7LSu_TKbJG3rC90T8aFaHwZEPVLVy4p-1thwbV_s3PTYPj-IzAXA8ytoXGBVRn18hZ48WudESiRnFDYkpYx5FmQk7JIW2/s640/clubhouseforcritic.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The clubhouse is a little 6 inch by 6 inch by 4 inch place I gave the committee. That way if they start to bother me I can tell them to go to the clubhouse. Magpie girl gives her gremlins caramels which keeps them busy chewing instead of talking to her. This inspired me to give my committee a whole variety of things to keep them busy. They have a labyrinth to walk and maybe get lost following. Actually I hope the labyrinth will calm them down and give their brains some balancing. They have a swing which is very soothing to them.<br />
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I gave them a bit of measuring tape because you know how they love to measure me up.....this way they can do that in their clubhouse and practice for when I do ask for their advice. This is the thing about the critic, it is actually quite helpful but it needs to be given limits.<br />
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There are some random buttons and bells and baubles that the committee can play with. The five minute hourglass timer is a new thing I've given them. This pleased them.<br />
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One of my favorite parts of the clubhouse is jungle print wallpaper. I'd received some lovely birthday gifts in September and the wrapping paper, too pretty to throw away, floated around in my studio.......until the day I suddenly decided to make the clubhouse. It is just so perfect for those wild beasts, monsters, and gremlins.......draws them right into it. They love having an audience.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62aZ-oRdafY27XwmmfNooCO2sxXffM4KtckwO6-nB0KV5-QtWAxFlwiR8VCK3vrsWu_kuhp3ZICcBt6ptyqSUQDamJy9HXJTixbolxQPY6CPhUMaGBVjSVI0wVT0rKm31xpuNOZRLU3Lk/s1600/clubhousecorner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62aZ-oRdafY27XwmmfNooCO2sxXffM4KtckwO6-nB0KV5-QtWAxFlwiR8VCK3vrsWu_kuhp3ZICcBt6ptyqSUQDamJy9HXJTixbolxQPY6CPhUMaGBVjSVI0wVT0rKm31xpuNOZRLU3Lk/s400/clubhousecorner.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The clubhouse lives in a little corner shelf of my studio. I try to tell the committee to go for a walk while I work and remind them if they come back early to go hang out in their clubhouse.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-68857800676311418812010-11-27T16:46:00.000-07:002010-11-27T16:51:54.196-07:00An end of AEDM and a break.AEDM was a bust for me this year. I started out with lots of momentum. Then I began to realize the project of using my rusty bits wasn't really holding my interest. My heart and desire wasn't in it. So actually, I cannot completely say AEDM was a bust because I learned something about what my desire is <i>not</i>. I actually feel a bit lighter around it all now and can let it go. <br />
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I might have switched to something else as a daily art project, except mid month my 10 year old cat Oscar got sick. He seems to be getting better now, but there is still a bit of a question mark about his health. I've been caring for him instead of focusing on doing any kind of art or creative things. Though I've managed a moment here or there, nothing much to document. <br />
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December is just around the corner. I won't turn this post into a rant but it is a little bit of one...... I'm already feeling worn out. I come online either to get email, or look at Facebook or read some blogs and everywhere I turn is a pitch for someone's product, ebook, vote, movement, etc. Right now it's a lot about the Holidays but soon it will be the "turn over a new page and live the life you've always wished for stuff" that comes with the New Year. <br />
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I am questioning why I blog. I thought it might be useful to have an outlet to express myself. I certainly thought it might be useful to keep track of my creative dawdling. I know it would be useful to be more consistent on this blog. I sometimes see an online class or ebook that might help me improve this blog, but I am weary of online connecting. As I said above I'm tired of all the connecting that is just a big cluttered room of sales pitches of one kind or another. Or if it isn't a sales pitch it is some other kind of believe as I do sort of broadcast and be sure to share it with your network. Yes, you do hear some cynicism in my voice. <br />
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So, I think at least for December I am going to take a break. Oh, I'll still come online.....just not quite so mindlessly and habitually. I think this will be the last post I make this year on my blog........I reserve the right to change my mind. I'm not quitting my blog. For now, I'm just saying you don't need to look for a post from me in December. <br />
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Have a happy end of the year 2010 however you choose to reflect upon it and celebrate it. Creative blessings to y'all. <br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-37596332636352558722010-11-14T13:49:00.001-07:002010-11-14T13:49:00.789-07:00Sometimes I feel like giving up. It's been one of those weeks for me. I have managed to do a little creative something everyday but none to very little of it involved clay or rusty bits. Well, I did look through some library books about mosaic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarbdkEENCVg5WZCmEU01vxnsfFxpqBOKdBzVu4gIj1MzHruDTJZLCzrrjeXxt_vtLrmFPS3IZAKJKg0ONAS5HchbQk66s7yXaULosWfX6RE5t_rEmw8nl1Qx4aV7jTZGtXFjmNxtQ4pjR/s1600/rusty.dozer.part.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarbdkEENCVg5WZCmEU01vxnsfFxpqBOKdBzVu4gIj1MzHruDTJZLCzrrjeXxt_vtLrmFPS3IZAKJKg0ONAS5HchbQk66s7yXaULosWfX6RE5t_rEmw8nl1Qx4aV7jTZGtXFjmNxtQ4pjR/s400/rusty.dozer.part.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I have had several visions for some of my rusty bits. First it involved learning to weld so I could weld these bits together and make some really strange and cool yard sculpture. This makes me remember I once had a flirtation with rock climbing. I bought shoes and started climbing walls and realized I love the idea of this more than actually doing it. The nearly new shoes went to a sports consignment shop. That was twenty years ago - ugh! <br />
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Several years ago I gave up the idea of learning to weld. It occurred to me that I did not need to try it to discover it was like rock climbing for me. I love the idea but I strongly suspect I would not actually like doing it. Then slowly over time my vision morphed toward making clay creations and using my rusty bits with those. This is what I've run up against - my vision doesn't actually match what I tend to do creatively. I see these rusty bits and clay put together in my mind and I just know it isn't my art. It isn't what I create. The vision is based on what I've seen others create. Suddenly this week the committee came in and convinced me to give up. My committee is what I call the gremlins/inner critics. I sort of stopped doing any of the creative things I was doing with clay. <br />
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So I'm stuck. And in a bit of funk because of it. Ok, a lot of funk. I am hoping to break through the funk just a little bit. To say hey, committee, I won't give up. I may give up the vision I have for these rusty bits, but that doesn't mean I have to give up creating. Today, I am going to get back with my hands in the clay. I may do some other creative things too, but first priority is to get my hands into the clay.<br />
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When I started this <a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/">Art Every Day Month</a> I thought I will push through and make something with all these rusty bits using clay. I will focus my attention <i>just on that</i>. I learned this week that I really don't want this at all. What I mean is - I am much happier doing a creative dawdle than creating some big dang do. I was trying to take my vision and make some big dang do. <br />
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Really what I want is to be enough. To create what pulls me each day. To work in small lumps, small steps. To say one day I will create by writing my blog. To say another day I will create in my journal. To get out clay and form something out of it one day.....but another day paint glaze on the clay. To photograph another day. To not force myself into some kind of mold or vision that is outside of me. Not that there is anything wrong with creating a big dang do it is just that I've come to realize that for me just the act of doing some tangible hands on creating everyday is enough. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHz-wEQM6nZSQLlMR9iJ2MxT_loj5IWhzM3JdSzLxtO9QOryodFn9zWBKCmwwoUekoHUJCl6BypHDhSm6pnZRKUEQJI0EsD6fYMKDTMU7909Pq4kySZAxaE7P66BAqLJBZGic2UohyphenhyphenKu4/s1600/fence.detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHz-wEQM6nZSQLlMR9iJ2MxT_loj5IWhzM3JdSzLxtO9QOryodFn9zWBKCmwwoUekoHUJCl6BypHDhSm6pnZRKUEQJI0EsD6fYMKDTMU7909Pq4kySZAxaE7P66BAqLJBZGic2UohyphenhyphenKu4/s400/fence.detail.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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So I'm changing my mind mid-month about the rusty bits. I am letting a lot of it go. I still may use a bit or two in something I'm making but I've decided to be creative every day without a forced agenda. Actually, now I can feel my energy rising. I don't feel so much in a funk. <br />
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I give myself permission to be enough. And with that I am off to the studio.......<br />
Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-87221448017962663522010-11-07T12:06:00.000-07:002010-11-07T12:06:00.634-07:00Clay Play Every Day - The Rusty Bits UpdateMy rusty bits project so far has been fun and challenging at times. So far I've worked on something in clay everyday. I've drifted a little away from some of my rusty bits. I saw some mosaic work this week and it gave me an idea that I may want to use mosaic to incorporate my rusty bits into art.......that of course opens up a whole lot of mess. I really do not like the process of mosaic that much. I love the effect of mosaics but grouting and the heaviness of the finished product has always deterred me from doing much of it. There would be a large technical learning curve if I was to do mosaics.......so I'm pondering it for now. <br />
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Meanwhile I keep working in clay. I think today, Sunday Day 7, I will give myself a break from the wet clay. I may create some sketches and mindmaps about the project. I will finish glazing a piece that I started long before this month began. I have a lot of lingering unfinished pieces that await glaze. I also would like to finish two SoulCollage® cards that are awaiting to be glued. <br />
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We've had very nice weather this past week....I know the wind and cold will be coming and snow maybe. On Day 2 of this project I did not save the clay piece I worked on. I took notes about what I liked and what worked but I didn't think the piece was worth the trouble to dry and fire and glaze......so I smooshed it back into the bag. I went outside to walk my labyrinth and took my camera. I had the best time playing in the late day sun......The long shadows gave me some interesting shots....<br />
Here is one of my favorites..... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKJDxBpmEaQBeCjljLiu0OaA9dYyF2tqCwbIxdCfT1y1XJyJD3Ud6pUb5oLJO6q7VM8lrYJeWiSGGWqWqUQRDtGgt7j0b64g0PKmreLSvtSZBAKbDesoz5qasyvn4PkgWgnV7GRNh2E4s/s1600/shadowholdingblueball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKJDxBpmEaQBeCjljLiu0OaA9dYyF2tqCwbIxdCfT1y1XJyJD3Ud6pUb5oLJO6q7VM8lrYJeWiSGGWqWqUQRDtGgt7j0b64g0PKmreLSvtSZBAKbDesoz5qasyvn4PkgWgnV7GRNh2E4s/s400/shadowholdingblueball.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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Day 3 I was inspired by a Brene Brown video. And the day before I'd had a discussion with someone who reminded me that some of the rusty bits I have are in the form of barbed wire. It was left here on our property and I wouldn't let my husband throw it away. So I went out and got a piece of it and created this heart with a saying inspired from Brown. Her blog is found at <a href="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/">Ordinary Courage</a>. And the video found at youtube - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0">TedxHouston</a>. I shared the video on my Facebook and it is worth the 20 minutes of time. Many people are now sharing it and commenting they've watched it several times. I have watched it multiple times too. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm59vFWohEydrme3-yN5Q7esiTgJsSNpiSQe7b5j4V-r2Gk4PMVvyNQhIRz0ludy0mKJmBftFcuZwazYTNCcyuB1pqxxZgEZ6zwMtQZCJhFPPevAA9MmVr8PIOXyGEV0XatgoRrnmClgMr/s1600/barbed+wire+heart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm59vFWohEydrme3-yN5Q7esiTgJsSNpiSQe7b5j4V-r2Gk4PMVvyNQhIRz0ludy0mKJmBftFcuZwazYTNCcyuB1pqxxZgEZ6zwMtQZCJhFPPevAA9MmVr8PIOXyGEV0XatgoRrnmClgMr/s320/barbed+wire+heart.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Day 4 I found myself making angels.....and using my clay and other items to make impressions in them......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62hqU4T58vNs1YTz4S607E0bUzvXWvxcVncOmRRZCpfaAx2UIz6kJolxFVf9l5eoBHPEJWVWMEWqjRsylijfAqIKOOVB3H-M0N8Ls6ebV93o0YFFvGtzElz7GKVeMkkaHG0JacvNeT4Sx/s1600/7angels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62hqU4T58vNs1YTz4S607E0bUzvXWvxcVncOmRRZCpfaAx2UIz6kJolxFVf9l5eoBHPEJWVWMEWqjRsylijfAqIKOOVB3H-M0N8Ls6ebV93o0YFFvGtzElz7GKVeMkkaHG0JacvNeT4Sx/s400/7angels.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWl-LXjg7CkVUoGpvlf0H1Dc-DOQDSIywIKgJru33d12eDqYMsqaLjr-Qr7zxAkE_tNcld3XzDNv9FpZ9ZWSdGgonjXLcqkkXrqbG0L5DurY_q08qrmmRA_p7BghOnYSIMo2sbnVhXiTGr/s1600/angels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Day 5 I loved what I made. I was completely stumped when I started and then I went on to make something that just delights me......but I didn't take a picture of it. So you'll have to wait to see it. I think I may wait until I get it fired and glazed and fired again. All of these clay pieces once they are fired will turn a nice terra cotta color and have some mica twinkles to them. <br />
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Day 6, well I was tired. So I switched to my favorite soft low fire clay called story teller. I started by just relaxing and making in a meditative way one of my <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2010/08/grateful-heart.html">hearts</a>. Then I played with making a face. I nearly threw this back in the bag - but decided it is so small, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, I will find some use for it. It's over worked but in the end reminds me of the man in the moon. I think the photo is the best thing about it at this point. It's leaning up against a rusty bit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9oUDSdzhmzVRsLY0_MC8YV_lDGZLeQEguTPI7oMEpsQlotHur59HLFdAgR_0oQV6DBgcKi1OBWhvCYB_R4IsZ6LmRRwE2qK7KDbSK3xjWDBMsaFM32n9svrJ6w3z9wuoPPMUAYD25cRM/s1600/moonface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9oUDSdzhmzVRsLY0_MC8YV_lDGZLeQEguTPI7oMEpsQlotHur59HLFdAgR_0oQV6DBgcKi1OBWhvCYB_R4IsZ6LmRRwE2qK7KDbSK3xjWDBMsaFM32n9svrJ6w3z9wuoPPMUAYD25cRM/s320/moonface.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
At this point I feel like I need to leave you with something colorful because this clay is all so grey right now. So here is some color. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">May your creative life bloom......just like this......in beauty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3kWak86LEUgtp_ARWLwy7F4HsVN0-T7D46gipsRo0PxtEOD9RZfA5EjePsZYaW3pGEuytc0zMIFhKS3NtN2yWZ2_BLon7aziXD9SFl36I6D0qcmhw2QdxE1DNn6wQHX_oKGQtnsU-zBj/s1600/hibiscus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3kWak86LEUgtp_ARWLwy7F4HsVN0-T7D46gipsRo0PxtEOD9RZfA5EjePsZYaW3pGEuytc0zMIFhKS3NtN2yWZ2_BLon7aziXD9SFl36I6D0qcmhw2QdxE1DNn6wQHX_oKGQtnsU-zBj/s400/hibiscus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-20982290767502992672010-11-02T14:04:00.000-06:002010-11-02T14:05:01.879-06:00Art Every Day Month Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcx3vKLd9ccx1OflppPOgibGm7vLw-5mkaWrlicyECkpRgHJJs9fsnzwp3QUiq-VJOj9JVyWmBc2VSqskcok0YsylxzKyQ7M8VLnNFO6V6lBBebMJFg_VDHoKMZXn2u_n4c92Y6CrQrPmm/s400/P1010159.JPG" width="400" /></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rusty bits project day 1: November 1</span><br />
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I was a bit short on time yesterday to start off my rusty bits project. So, I had to just dooo eeet! This clay piece may end up getting fired and hanging from the rusty bit above it. Or I may change my mind and do something else. It is all about experimentation - Yay!<br />
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I'm proud of myself for several things. <b><i>I began.</i></b> I used my slab roller. I used one of my sister's doilies to press into the clay for experimentation. Thanks sis for the crochet donations!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcx3vKLd9ccx1OflppPOgibGm7vLw-5mkaWrlicyECkpRgHJJs9fsnzwp3QUiq-VJOj9JVyWmBc2VSqskcok0YsylxzKyQ7M8VLnNFO6V6lBBebMJFg_VDHoKMZXn2u_n4c92Y6CrQrPmm/s1600/P1010159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSEbxz3L_LsN5ML7TMTPNFbae9zp-BXHMg3jFUcAwFUylxjhhFzTpZCSeVavk_Gjkc2E-ayMDl00RhjIazqgFOB9htZxqBZs2dmvv9a4cOOSKUgCkpJJM8uvuOoD1t5FFR_JJrOKsBnMK/s1600/P1010160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Before I go to play in the clay today here is one other photo from yesterday<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSEbxz3L_LsN5ML7TMTPNFbae9zp-BXHMg3jFUcAwFUylxjhhFzTpZCSeVavk_Gjkc2E-ayMDl00RhjIazqgFOB9htZxqBZs2dmvv9a4cOOSKUgCkpJJM8uvuOoD1t5FFR_JJrOKsBnMK/s400/P1010160.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My studio helper and a random studio view on 11/01/2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSEbxz3L_LsN5ML7TMTPNFbae9zp-BXHMg3jFUcAwFUylxjhhFzTpZCSeVavk_Gjkc2E-ayMDl00RhjIazqgFOB9htZxqBZs2dmvv9a4cOOSKUgCkpJJM8uvuOoD1t5FFR_JJrOKsBnMK/s1600/P1010160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>For other AEDM goodness - click on the icon on the right sidebar. => => =>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-18875526822461001242010-10-30T17:00:00.001-06:002010-10-30T17:00:02.260-06:00Rusty bits..........is such a metaphor for the creative process when it gets into stuck. If one doesn't use it then things get rusty and stagnant and stuck. Then when one turns on the tap it's messy and yucky and sputtering with red rusty <i>bleck</i>. It is really easy to quit at that point. To say to yourself I cannot draw. What was I thinking - I am no sculptor. I will never write this novel. Look at all these art supplies that I've stockpiled and now they are stagnating. Oh well.....my creative life is over......<br />
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<b>But wait!.........</b><br />
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That is just the rust coming out of the creative tap. It is possible to get rusty even overnight or between studio sessions or writing sessions. Yesterday I was in the flow but what is this<i> bleck</i> today -I'm anxious. I don't like it. I want to listen to my gremlins aka <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2010/10/committee.html">the committee</a> and just avoid it all. <br />
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But if I was to look at this <i>bleck </i>as a rusty faucet sputtering.....and I just told the committee to go play in the clubhouse while I work on this.......and I began again knowing that some rust may appear and nothing has gone wrong. Just keep pumping that creative well.<br />
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Set some conditions of enoughness*. Soon, the creative water will flow crystal clear or at least it won't be so darn blecky! And when it does get <i>blecky</i> between creative dawdling time then I know what to do..... just keep on taking steps.<br />
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<b>Announcement...... </b><br />
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I have an acquaintance that is participating in <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a>. In fact, she's organizing some events for it in my local community. I've never known anyone local who has participated in this novel writing month. I've witnessed it online. This year I thought - oooooh....I could do that. In my mind I imagined going to the write-ins and making friends and doing all this writing.......I do love to write. My husband said to me, "oh you'd have no problem writing that much."<br />
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Then I realized, durnit, - I have no big burning desire to write fiction at this point in time. So if the NaNoWriMo is a push to just "dooo eeet." <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(thanks <a href="http://www.fluentself.com/">Havi</a> for the do it phrase)</span> NaNoWriMo's have said, "I've always wanted to write a novel............" <br />
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then what in my life am I always saying "I've always wanted to.........???????"<br />
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<b>Answer.......there are many answers to that question, but what came to mind for an equivalent NaNoWriMo type project was......</b><br />
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I've always wanted to take these strange rusty bits I collected more than a decade ago and use them with clay to make art. Weird I know......but hey we all have mysterious things that we love... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcl6bALsUzFMBDfpKj_OwIG3Xx5DLmzPZL2zzzS9xkYpR08va31eRtqRcab3lUe1Y13bPXj0c2PB9Z8emvR6tHFly0VnDUTVHigRtQq0uF7xX7gy0Ar8Dda7QSVfAR8LejE8M9ya4Upos-/s400/rustybit.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If not 2010, then when?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcl6bALsUzFMBDfpKj_OwIG3Xx5DLmzPZL2zzzS9xkYpR08va31eRtqRcab3lUe1Y13bPXj0c2PB9Z8emvR6tHFly0VnDUTVHigRtQq0uF7xX7gy0Ar8Dda7QSVfAR8LejE8M9ya4Upos-/s1600/rustybit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Then I thought <a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/">Leah Piken Kolidas</a> offers this <a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month">Art Every Day Month</a> each November. I could join that?......I hesitated to join because I thought - maybe I don't really want to have the pressure to blog about this......but you know I like the idea of joining in community. It may not be local but it is still a community. I need to track this and why not on the blog with friends and creative companions. <br />
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So, in just a few days I will start taking those rusty bits and doing a creative dawdle with them. My goal is not to create one finished piece each day but to work each day on them.......To work everyday at sketches, and clay lumps, and to do something everyday in November to move these rusty bits along. To pump my creative well. <br />
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Now I likely won't post about this every day.....but I will try to keep frequent updates coming so that I can declare myself satisfied via conditions of enoughness*. And it helps to be part of the community if I actually share what I'm doing. If you are here visiting from <a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month-2010-participants">AEDM</a> - welcome! Feel free to dawdle and dabble around here.......or feed the bunnies.<br />
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*want to know what conditions of enoughness are?-<a href="http://www.comfortqueen.com/rachels-challenge">see Jen Louden's work </a> Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-30935006260803004722010-10-23T18:00:00.003-06:002010-10-30T15:05:24.330-06:00The Committee<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q-1_7kIfCWakr9y0LMpNqT3ry9p6HYifWZMmN_XoKcgtzQ_i_b42_ZJPRyTWkFRMCb957-V3d3BJyBW_NSHPfAOdWJpBuXRzQTO77XY4FBdF5qCdw2yxB755RvQq6l_E8HupanaeUrWx/s320/P1010139.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spiritdoll made by Kara 1995</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q-1_7kIfCWakr9y0LMpNqT3ry9p6HYifWZMmN_XoKcgtzQ_i_b42_ZJPRyTWkFRMCb957-V3d3BJyBW_NSHPfAOdWJpBuXRzQTO77XY4FBdF5qCdw2yxB755RvQq6l_E8HupanaeUrWx/s1600/P1010139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, every creative dawdler in action will come face to face with he/she/it/them-</span></div>Recently, I have been having conversations with my critic. It may be more accurate to say my critic(s). Actually, I think there is a committee of gremlins, critics, dragons, monsters and a lizard (that reptilian part of my own brain). So I've started calling them the <i>Committee</i>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Committee appears- </span></span><br />
They show up and prevent me from doing my full out creative dawdling.<br />
The say stop and caution.....avoid....<span style="font-size: large;"><i>avoid! </i></span> Sometimes they sweetly lull me away from my studio. I think my procrastination and overwhelm is really the habit of unconsciously listening and believing everything this Committee has to say.<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Appearing soon at Creative Dawdling- </span><br />
I've built them a clubhouse. I've been coloring them and listening to what they are saying. I've begun.....gulp....to even comfort them a little bit. I have lots to share, so this will just be my first post in a series.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-73938862928739913902010-10-10T11:03:00.002-06:002010-10-10T11:03:48.793-06:00I am grateful for: 5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSuKeawKUvvt80toi84xuw-3IqCvE5sjs2pVrpVMHQ2YRtNJum8SpwsSxl-dfrzFvLReVnk6zc9z1D9QUjVxRMD5uzJT7zZS25BN3rX-NKdFjvP9-4_yl3XqsLQfszo2p0phTwbv-iUyn/s400/fox.box1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #b45f06;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">FOX</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSuKeawKUvvt80toi84xuw-3IqCvE5sjs2pVrpVMHQ2YRtNJum8SpwsSxl-dfrzFvLReVnk6zc9z1D9QUjVxRMD5uzJT7zZS25BN3rX-NKdFjvP9-4_yl3XqsLQfszo2p0phTwbv-iUyn/s1600/fox.box1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr style="color: #b45f06;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">IN A</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvs8XWuyqcSW2Yx-c_6g4BAhqn1sSaNroVvep54Jt-k3u5XhcPTamJwglfS-jb9PdJu67BzId_88YWZuJ3GYr1002KoLJnUy0hCzyRnhbBh2fQ6kOGT45Je0HPBHL1nxSXSkhGzWpiAI2/s1600/fox.box2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnrGt-Q5q_Q82n-Mv_J48UtLyK4EHzXRfURIb4j4gzN3nwf4ruhf50sLNgP9pGBgEOOLUznAIdVo8z5aM37IKwoMHkQW_yVV1flkzXHTEBwVV06u20CxT6UWM8klqw2aB-1ccm2cO7mHS/s400/fox.box3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #b45f06;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">BOX</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnrGt-Q5q_Q82n-Mv_J48UtLyK4EHzXRfURIb4j4gzN3nwf4ruhf50sLNgP9pGBgEOOLUznAIdVo8z5aM37IKwoMHkQW_yVV1flkzXHTEBwVV06u20CxT6UWM8klqw2aB-1ccm2cO7mHS/s1600/fox.box3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-15624865331344951282010-09-29T16:15:00.000-06:002010-09-29T16:15:06.770-06:00Pattern OverwhelmI often say I'm overwhelmed. I wrote about <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html">overwhelm before</a>. Then I kind of forgot about it until a friend was saying I'm overwhelmed.......I once had an insight about that so I went to find my writing about it.....this has lead me into writing this new post about overwhelm.<br />
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In the last 2 months I've been doing this <a href="http://shivanata.com/">brain dance</a>. And by gosh it has helped me begin to see a pattern. More dancing is required to fully unmake it and remake a new habit. As a consequence of doing this wacky flailing of arms dance I see a little more clearly my overwhelm pattern. It is so weird that this dance works. (more about that in future posts)<br />
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I say I'm overwhelmed, and it's usually on a day when I feel I need to answer emails, plan dinner, drive 50 miles to do the main grocery shopping, pay bills, and there are a million little care of the home tasks like scooping out the litter box and watering the basil.........<br />
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What I'm discovering is that it isn't all that, pardon my wording, *crap* that has me overwhelmed. It is that on some level I've reached a point where I've been <i>avoiding my one big thing</i>. Back when I wrote about <a href="http://creativedawdling.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html">overwhelm before</a> - I did not put in any links in my post. Nor did I put in the links to the blogs that originally gave me a clue to this insight. So here is the link love to those bloggers....... <a href="http://thirdhandworks.com/2010/06/out-of-sync/">Third Hands Works</a> mentioned it and she was referring to <a href="http://www.monagrayson.com/overwhelm-serious-condition/">Mona Grayson's post</a> about it. <br />
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<b>But more about my Big Thing</b>......<br />
I'm a creative dawdler. Living a creative existence is what I feel is my Big Thing. Creative dawdling isn't just the name of my blog - it's what I call all my juicy soul nourishing creative activities......In my years of being a creative dawdler I have developed some habits that maybe are not so useful such as procrastination, drifting, exploring all things creative instead of focusing on just one or two. These habits lead me to a pattern of overwhelm.<br />
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Sometimes when I am avoiding/drifiting from my creative life or when there is a lot of external responsibilities happening that I feel the time monsters shouting -No Time! No Time for creative! - I start to go into a frenzy of chores and to dos and say I'm overwhelmed. But really it's a clue that my overwhelm pattern loop is happening. The way out is to go back to my creative dawdling. Even a small step is enough to lessen overwhelm. <br />
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Sometimes my creative dawdling has me overwhelmed because I love to do soooooooo many things........just a quick list includes, clay, SoulCollage®, journaling, photography, crochet, astrology, rituals, space arrangement, writing for personal pleasure, writing my blog, assemblage art, beading, reading about any of these topics........there's more....but my point is that when I say I'm overwhelmed in regards to my creative dawdling then it is usually because I'm thinking about all of these and more in a monkey mind jumping around in the studio tree's way. I haven't actually taken a concrete tangible <i>action</i> on a one of them. <br />
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The way to disrupt the pattern loop is to just pick something within my Big Thing Domain of Creative Dawdling and act on it. Or finish something that is part way done. In this instance, when I'm overwhelmed in my creative dawdling I have to make myself sit down and take an action. Ignore the mind, tell the critic to go take a break(more about that in a future post) and do one creative thing. I do not even have to worry about what that thing is as long as it is a tangible action and not more thinking about it. I also don't have to worry about the quality of the creative act.....only doing - doing badly, ugly,or beautifully but DOING.<br />
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This is where Jen Louden's <a href="http://www.comfortqueen.com/satisfactionfinder/">Conditions of Enoughness</a> comes in handy. This process helps you pick a simple action, do it in a measurable way, making sure it is dependent only on you to do, and when you are done you declare yourself satisfied - even if you do not feel satisfied. <br />
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<b>Here is a part of my overwhelm pattern I've noticed.....</b><br />
When I'm in overwhelm I'm very bad a choosing a simple action. As soon as I try to set a simple condition of enoughness (COE for short) I get more overwhelmed. That is because choosing a COE while in that mind boogling moment of overwhelm doesn't work for me. It is too much thinking and not yet an action. So for me, I have to do a preview action before setting a COE. I have to do something creative and not worry about what it is so I might draw -or scribble -or doodle -or list words. I might crochet. I like to use my hands. That action calms me down. Dance of Shiva (brain dance) also gets me out of thinking and breaks the pattern loop. <br />
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Once I've calmed down then I can come up with some COE's that help me further along on my creative dawdling path. They help me lessen overwhelm. The COE's help me move forward with quantity. The brain dance helps me notice the pattern. <br />
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It isn't that overwhelm is never going to happen.....but it's nice to have a little clue as to what will shift the pattern and what will help move me out of drifting and procrastination....... <br />
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Are you overwhelmed? Ever thought it's not the to do list pressing on you but your one big thing saying attend to me? Whatever, your thing is, I wish you creative blessings.....<br />
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The bunnies around here love comments......please feed them.Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-55642255171782528242010-09-23T11:00:00.003-06:002010-09-23T11:00:01.939-06:00I am grateful for: 4<div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">noticing the turning of the seasons......</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Happy Equinox!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">late summer blooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2W9bmXHTgMoYOfSA1xZA1CDmpcrbVvhv4KSA0IGTCqQHQ8EPX110hLdX911y2XgTlyFmR-jBxQz_yVPkxNrL-iv-D-CJceo2FDiWhZyN2kgASJx70sGocWU1Fz9-QZPGrsTboBXQhAe_/s1600/full+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_Oug0C6InoXEaLFjiVjL07F5jxjATXzETo6duByQLzc92PIeyVU9ql_utP-NGDHK38mlFWm7JHVD8enD0qJZ1YdklRSyZRBX9aY-TMXgeH184Nec4Uyn8MvkNq_Izojqda3hfBMeFTb/s1600/blossomfade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_Oug0C6InoXEaLFjiVjL07F5jxjATXzETo6duByQLzc92PIeyVU9ql_utP-NGDHK38mlFWm7JHVD8enD0qJZ1YdklRSyZRBX9aY-TMXgeH184Nec4Uyn8MvkNq_Izojqda3hfBMeFTb/s640/blossomfade.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seeds for the birds<br />
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</tbody></table>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-24381375830958283352010-09-23T10:20:00.003-06:002010-09-23T10:30:18.524-06:00I am grateful for: 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMJwOT9JijYjXAtHnmssD946OOLONTN-y0198MsbO4FOA4I38vITGV_txvI6ykAP00Nw3uKX4D9n1YffLbcOxpwq93PGN-ObVgQZBD4G3rkA9Tn-oHCCVA42fp8swWT-cfkoxrHOBeEj4/s1600/husbandpickedwildflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMJwOT9JijYjXAtHnmssD946OOLONTN-y0198MsbO4FOA4I38vITGV_txvI6ykAP00Nw3uKX4D9n1YffLbcOxpwq93PGN-ObVgQZBD4G3rkA9Tn-oHCCVA42fp8swWT-cfkoxrHOBeEj4/s400/husbandpickedwildflowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;">A hubby who picked wildflowers for his late summer lady. Oh, Beauty!</div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-47620029165711856142010-09-21T10:43:00.001-06:002010-09-21T10:46:19.811-06:00I am grateful for: 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjSx_sc0Xo5a1fTyAJRsSqjhOOSS2B2UA6BMfMVIftKPujWmSm6vUXktqH2kjZirdYNUKSqDZXiZkf0hduJXZpZvRHRLX4cBWKFMule3b5n22lozY0MGc0gt8ugV8WIerMML-7SG_lHP6/s400/cheesecakeyum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A sister who made, with her loving hands, an apple pecan cheesecake for me.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> YUM! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #783f04; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjSx_sc0Xo5a1fTyAJRsSqjhOOSS2B2UA6BMfMVIftKPujWmSm6vUXktqH2kjZirdYNUKSqDZXiZkf0hduJXZpZvRHRLX4cBWKFMule3b5n22lozY0MGc0gt8ugV8WIerMML-7SG_lHP6/s1600/cheesecakeyum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-10447311599787056222010-09-20T10:18:00.001-06:002010-09-20T10:18:36.600-06:00I am grateful for: 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOWc97x3stfNSx-iZZ8lPez1tqBRyKvj-PegqDztFX7Ad83wRDma2MvLVZUHf9aSXsPniKe25yCMbiwrB_7bx6EkePpdAJq2g7eqixsThPps6f8Wyc6sa1oRnprukCq0kHRgCk5koIUXA/s640/livelovelaugh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: purple;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A good friend who helps me remember what <i>it</i> is all about.</span><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOWc97x3stfNSx-iZZ8lPez1tqBRyKvj-PegqDztFX7Ad83wRDma2MvLVZUHf9aSXsPniKe25yCMbiwrB_7bx6EkePpdAJq2g7eqixsThPps6f8Wyc6sa1oRnprukCq0kHRgCk5koIUXA/s1600/livelovelaugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873578767387001420.post-38909610492448459892010-09-12T11:07:00.000-06:002010-09-12T11:07:26.231-06:00Pizza Night<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS91fgJjB3ONmosdwIAnS_-vrIJjHmXxF3EmCOoh9n11b7b2onUknDGTY9X8oawngLNemKDtHfyGiVhjI4x1pRSK_AE0ebwslx2RiqSBLbcRWkuksEbMXC7VSLZzvkt-3gsQB1VU6kzp2e/s1600/measuringingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS91fgJjB3ONmosdwIAnS_-vrIJjHmXxF3EmCOoh9n11b7b2onUknDGTY9X8oawngLNemKDtHfyGiVhjI4x1pRSK_AE0ebwslx2RiqSBLbcRWkuksEbMXC7VSLZzvkt-3gsQB1VU6kzp2e/s400/measuringingredients.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">measure for the dough</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0j6Dszrm4XQOdUVoLzJ6Te78IULTScSJoaHzC_9ivVJX0XIFfzNVmGNMHSNJiA4GtzHyhKA_Z6QUNut_BszJmTZIo3pBX-y83f5immmCjiYhh6ALicympZEjjqiTBAwUKD0zNnjc7Zux/s1600/heapofhappiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0j6Dszrm4XQOdUVoLzJ6Te78IULTScSJoaHzC_9ivVJX0XIFfzNVmGNMHSNJiA4GtzHyhKA_Z6QUNut_BszJmTZIo3pBX-y83f5immmCjiYhh6ALicympZEjjqiTBAwUKD0zNnjc7Zux/s400/heapofhappiness.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">don't forget</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1Z3vVMcQyPkDy1gdRs8XscVWzhodPwTjnCZhGaBYyjsP0_o7feDp6XsGD1a9AXDbs-wMhhwD4ziSq_V9ZzLr1FsXMLeVLKX36HE7zvaKlTCNM0uO1hzgt9gxl5H1iBv48AhJtBJJYjXb/s1600/viewfromwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1Z3vVMcQyPkDy1gdRs8XscVWzhodPwTjnCZhGaBYyjsP0_o7feDp6XsGD1a9AXDbs-wMhhwD4ziSq_V9ZzLr1FsXMLeVLKX36HE7zvaKlTCNM0uO1hzgt9gxl5H1iBv48AhJtBJJYjXb/s400/viewfromwindow.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from my window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzjpv6ER38TsH9maJnC8nTE_R40yrpSnr2SfZ17ZlZ_wUXv4FSG98i5DRm4n1EBElJkJZoyVs4DtEB-2hGxMD5OPxWy9o3mclNR4T7xrvKqibyklMw-sHLG-oB5eP3gWToFh6kQHFUto3/s1600/toppings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzjpv6ER38TsH9maJnC8nTE_R40yrpSnr2SfZ17ZlZ_wUXv4FSG98i5DRm4n1EBElJkJZoyVs4DtEB-2hGxMD5OPxWy9o3mclNR4T7xrvKqibyklMw-sHLG-oB5eP3gWToFh6kQHFUto3/s400/toppings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the hubby who packs the cheese in freezer for me leaves me little messages on the bag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn2aE6btfXoUR5c0881teGBiunb-WkaVyZ_js46ugSMTTb-I4NQGrNHOizCVeuvbQYnN7GI49ktj3jX-WS_ww5fNnMi6jwPLz0whmDOsM_cI1PEO4ZXqVj_Dpil4P2kvdDBcbQOTtoe3C/s1600/readytobake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn2aE6btfXoUR5c0881teGBiunb-WkaVyZ_js46ugSMTTb-I4NQGrNHOizCVeuvbQYnN7GI49ktj3jX-WS_ww5fNnMi6jwPLz0whmDOsM_cI1PEO4ZXqVj_Dpil4P2kvdDBcbQOTtoe3C/s400/readytobake.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to bake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2FWaURkVya87EDlBjrokD4uzPD65KGaznPgrtOKLTzy-UUJijUpHAO6VKpZUUYd3y8HDDNsrrzbTSf8sW7BShOSYVssnL70SGLDoFrFAD43Yb8wuC_3dZTrq4dbxbzwrrlLAtOTa-TbI/s1600/pizzastone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2FWaURkVya87EDlBjrokD4uzPD65KGaznPgrtOKLTzy-UUJijUpHAO6VKpZUUYd3y8HDDNsrrzbTSf8sW7BShOSYVssnL70SGLDoFrFAD43Yb8wuC_3dZTrq4dbxbzwrrlLAtOTa-TbI/s400/pizzastone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place on stone in oven with blessings and thanks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ8XMZBMaweHj5XwlYY2GEDcbVXOVBf6hhe38OquRMjvwxG0jGr_QvdTPLZJlx26gVFTeU0U1Mg7oRJ1G5QRc2DwtU7wXtFf1NA3FilDy2Bknvy3cNy41wOgX4wUbHXgyKKGs6gkofAqV/s1600/readytoeatyummmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ8XMZBMaweHj5XwlYY2GEDcbVXOVBf6hhe38OquRMjvwxG0jGr_QvdTPLZJlx26gVFTeU0U1Mg7oRJ1G5QRc2DwtU7wXtFf1NA3FilDy2Bknvy3cNy41wOgX4wUbHXgyKKGs6gkofAqV/s400/readytoeatyummmm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummmmm! Pizza night my favorite night of the week!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470827359352519443noreply@blogger.com5