I’m not in California. Yet I’ve been having some lovely beach days. It turns out, the north east has some powerful rays too. We are on an inlet of the ocean so the sun sets over the water. In others words, our beach faces west so we can still enjoy a sunset on the sand,
Our new little retaining wall is doing its job. High tide comes up to it but doesn’t flow over, so we stay dry as the evening goes on and the tide slaps higher and higher. It’s our own tiny patch of beach and we plan to make good use of it. There will be swimming and bonfires. I’ll likely drag some paint and canvas down here as well. Fishing, clamming, even crabbing has been mentioned. I have my boat to patch and restore, so baoting perhaps. G has ideas about a cook out…
In the meantime we are both a bit tired and sore from hauling rocks and sand, so tonight we are just enjoying the sound of mini waves, creaking docks and sea birds. The glittery evening light is reflecting aggressively off the water. Summer is here.
My little finger got slammed in a car door when I was seven. It was winter in Canada and I was wearing a ski mitt. (Luckily). Still it was badly bent and swelled three times its usual size. Like a cartoon accident. It looked so bad I thought they were going to cut it off.
I got kicked by a horse, while riding another horse. It broke several bones in my foot. That hurt! It happened before school at riding club and no one believed me, including the teacher. I had to walk around all day and then take three buses home plus walk from the stop. It happened on the day of my first high school dance which I refused to miss. I remember the hospital taking forever. I kept asking everyone how much longer was going to take? The relief of getting my foot casted was huge! I remember everyone’s shocked faces when I arrived late, on crutches, to the dance. The teacher hurried to fill out an accident report.
I was cut off and tripped roller skating and broke my wrist. This happened only weeks after my leg cast came off. (I had a walking cast up to my knee for my foot break). That thing saw more weather! They still used plaster back then so I wrapped it in plastic not wanting to miss a football game or dance or whatever was going on. High school was a new kind of freedom which I was surely not missing out on.
I earned a reputation for being accident prone but didn’t care. I didn’t let broken bones get in the way of having fun. I was back rollerskating still wearing my cast almost the following week. I didn’t care what people were saying, I later heard lots of kids made fun of me . Oh well! I’m glad I was too busy to notice.
Today our yoga teacher explained a concept I’ve heard explained a number of times. I was having one of those mornings and hoped yoga would give me a little lift, which it did, and this one little thought has stayed with me.
We often think that opposites are two different things, They aren’t. They are two different ways to see the same thing. Further, to really know something like cold for example, you need to experience its opposite, but it’s really one thing.. The idea that we are all different expressions of the same source makes a little more sense when I think of it this way.
She gave the example that if we were a person who only liked sunny days then we would have a percentage of days we wouldn’t like, but if we think of one being the same but opposite expression of the same thing, knowing we get to decide how we react. Knowing we get to experience all kinds of days, might even help us feel appreciation more thoroughly. Just a little something for me to think about while the weather keeps predicting warm sunny days, but instead we’ve had rain, clouds and cold.
After yoga the sun came out. I spent the rest of my day outside in the garden and on the beach helping build a rock wall for a space next to where the dock will be rebuilt. I’m sunburned and exhausted. It’s a good feeling.
I don’t know. That’s my short answer. Life is odd at the moment. Will it balance out? Will I have anything to do with it? I don’t know that either.
Just doing my best to enjoy what’s enjoyable…
I like the concept of harmony better. I’ve never been able to balance life, usually for reasons I don’t have much I can do about. I see no sense in getting down about abstract concepts, what does balance even look like? Probably different for everyone.
My color pencils are a good brand from a company out of Carlsbad, that’s a little funny. A well spent dollar.
That was yesterday. Today we are building a rock wall and a little beach area to sit on.
It’s hard to tell much has happened. Maybe after another fifty buckets of sand…
Also some plants are coming up. Miraculous rain
Just two artists on the east coast trying to stay out of trouble! Look at my pea plants!
What sacrifices have you made in life?
Ummm. I don’t know, my twenties? (Dramatic kidding) Heavy topic for a Monday.
I’ve made a lot of choices. Mom stuff I guess. Nothing truly noble like going to war or saving someone from a burning building or giving up a kidney. Sorry folks, I’ve got no dramatic sacrifice stories to tell. Just life.
Sunday is a good day for a flea market. We went back to the Brimfield Antique fair. I nearly bought oars for my boat. The things we didn’t buy: the garden cart had sold, a Ball jar with a glass lid, a ladder, a bamboo pillow, oars
We left with a stash of frugal purchases that make me smile. One because they were well negotiated and two because they were all unexpected. A vintage rolling pin for a dollar? I love old rolling pins. (It was a little broken). A potato ricer, (I will be cleaning off the rust and absolutely using it), a baseball style tshirt that says BRIM on it (new). A bowl, a vase, two ball caps and a Stevie Nicks hat. Three hats for $10, G only found two he liked, so I got talked into the Stevie Nicks number. (all new) a vintage kitchen scale, 18 color pencils for 1$ and one bunch of asparagus.
I can’t wait to find flowers for my vase. If only hydrangeas were blooming. I need lemons for my bowl. Have I mentioned that I love vintage? I do. I get a little joy just thinking of my best finds and a little more when I imagine decorating with them. Things come and go, but I rarely regret any of my vintage buys. I like my choices. I have a good eye for old stuff.
I think a lot of artists like this sort of thing. Little bits of beautiful other era items pack a zing of inspiration, plus history to guess about. Who riced potatoes? How many pie crusts were rolled out? Who else cut flowers and used this vase? It’s a really cool vase…
I’ll add better pics later
This was a fun way to spend the day, driving through trees and towns on our way to and from, listening to music, fun banter and so much to see…
I have this necklace charm that I’ve been wearing forever. I got it as a place holder for a charm I was trying to replace several years ago. At the time I was living in a town that wasn’t a fit for me, and chose it as a reminder of where I was hoping to end up (near the ocean).
The charm that I have never been able to replace was given to me at a workshop thing I found myself in on the recommendation of a therapist. It was something I would never ordinarily sign up for.
He said it would be the equivalent of four years of therapy in four days. A bargain and a promise of accelerated healing? Yes please, sign me up!
I was trying to be fixed in those days. It was all about the what’s wrong with me puzzle. That’s how I ended up in a room full of twenty strangers, sixteen of us there to become better. The psychologists, after introducing themselves and having us introduce ourselves, told us to pair up. Everyone besides me and one other older man, enthusiastically found partners We ended up with each other because neither of us moved. He was there reluctantly at the request of his family. I was there reluctantly, but hoping for a new fixed me.
We endured the four days, all of us getting to know each other, extremely well, probably too well. Group therapy it seemed, really bonds you.
At the end of the weekend, we did all feel transformed. The man I was paired with was a jeweler. He made everyone a silver necklace with a charm of a sun on it. He said the sun was because of me. Something about me made him think of sunshine. He wanted everyone to remember sunshine as we returned to our lives.
This was a moment out of time that I will never forget. Me? Sunshine? I just spent four and a half days crying more than I ever had in my life. The weekend was brutal. I didnt recommend it to anyone. The pain people have in their lives is huge. We literally wept for everyone. Yet, everyone agreed, I was sunshine.
I had never heard this before. Ever. At that point all those years ago, I was fed up with being told I needed more confidence, I had bad self esteem, I was too sensitive, I was a problem. I was in therapy because my then husband said I was getting in the way of his therapy. It was annoying and (like Instagram), puzzling. If I could have changed who I was in the confidence department, I would have, hence the terrible weekend workshop.
What I got, was not expected. The people, not the therapists, told me I was something different than I knew myself to be. That was a gift bigger than any I’ve ever been given, the necklace, also an awesome gift, reminded me of that. I lost it running my first marathon. It broke and fell off the chain.
I never found a sun charm as cool as the one we had all been given, I settled for a silver sand dollar to remind me that I belonged near the ocean. That’s what I still wear.
I think sometimes people need helpful compliments that tell them who they are.
Maybe everyone does. I try even to this day to do this. If I see something positive about someone, I try to articulate it as best I can and TELL them. It’s hard to see yourself.
I grew up in a family that didn’t see positives and certainly didn’t tell people if they did. Instead, my family was more like the social internet that points out failures or offers criticism. Uh yeah, no wonder I had limited self esteem.
It’s so much more helpful to say something kind and positive, or hear it, but I guess no one understood that back then. Even teachers mostly didn’t. Pointing out what’s incorrect, was more the method.
If only helpful encouraging mirrors could be held up. If only that could become a trend…
I think everyone needs a good social mirror. Again, kindness changed my life. It can do that.
Today I’m back at reel making again. Hows it going?
Well, hmmm. Has anyone said this to you? : “You need to find your niche and connect with them.” Uh yeah. I always agree whole heartedly. Yes, of course my niche…
It sounds so easy. You find your niche and create content for the people in it. Brand yourself and then everyone knows what you are. Sounds simple enough.
Who am I? What is my brand? What’s my niche? Who am I creating all these reels for? Oh man.
I do love how easy this is for some people. It’s how I know it’s possible. I just haven’t figured it out. It continues to puzzle me pretty much every day.
Here’s my story. I make a lot of art. In between everything else in life, I paint or draw or or or…
I do get that that is not, in itself very interesting. It certainly isn’t unique. I created some books, also done by millions of people before me. My feelings aren’t hurt over the non interest, but I am sooo curious. It’s like a puzzle that others have solved, which completely alludes me. And it’s driving me crazy! I wonder what I’m missing. I wonder this often.
My motivation? I want to be a good bet for a publisher. I want my Instagram account to be a decent reference and record of what art I’ve done and am doing. Likes and followers add weight and legitimacy. I think they do anyway. Meanwhile, I’m getting a little better at making these reels. I’m keeping that part light and fun. A learning by doing sort of thing.
Are you a leader or a follower?
It depends. Mostly I’m a great follower. When we traveled in two cars across the country I paid attention and never lost sight of the other car. G was a good leader. He always made sure there was enough space and time for two cars to pass or turn left. It was a good metaphor probably.
I’m not as good at keeping track of the other guy when I lead. Or, I get too caught up looking back.
Peace Kit 