A *Feet-Up* Moment.......

Yep, those are some big hams....and another big ham on the table....

Ah, I live for those few quiet moments, when I have on hand knit socks, my Doc's and the feet are up.
Resting.
Doing nothing.
Those days are few and far between.
But I'm popping out until the 17th and try and get some work finished up around here; some is class work and some is sort through, pick up and put away or throw away. It seems I have managed to get the studio in a state that is, well, beyond being able to work in.
I managed to find a small corner yesterday to put an ATC together, and that was all the free table space available.
Something's gotta give.

Yeah, I'm gonna need these....bouncing soles!

I was e-mailing a friend and we both were saying how we felt as if neither of us had accomplished much this winter (don't suppose my AGE has anything to do with it? Nope, thought not....) and soon Spring would be here with it's own work demands.
I find late Winter odd....I want everything ready for Spring yet I would rather hole up in the studio and not leave. No cooking, no cleaning; grab it and run---you're on your own. 
It is that last chance to have more dark hours for work and the quiet of the outdoors sans mowers, tractors, loud cretin-mobiles and the other things that come with warmer weather.
Now matter how I have despised the hard physical labor of this past Winter, I am not yet ready for it to go. I want to squeeze a few more dark mornings at the computer out, have a few extra pieces of art made, knit another pair of socks....just enjoy the remaining chill before the balmy breezes start again. (a.k.a. tornadic storms!)
So I'm hiding out. Just for a day or so.
You should too!  ;-)

Pax....

Wrapped In The Quiet Of Fog.......

......both literally, mentally and physically.

I took a day off.
The emotional upheavals of the past week have been more than enough; DH is better thankfully (and thank you's to all who wrote on his behalf sending spiritual help!) but still on the mend, I am okay as things go, and finally gave in and decided a day of total rest was in order. And possibly another today. As of this moment, it does not appear I have contracted whatever he has been coddling and incubating.......*it* has stayed at bay.
It's amazing what a few good nights sleep and some down time during the day can do for the body. I might want to try this more often....though I know it won't happen. ;-) I was sitting thinking of all the things I could be doing, but the body refused to move.....for once, it really did know best.

Sometimes wrapping yourself in solitude is a good thing; you think things out, you get creative problems solved, you have the opportunity to catch up on small busywork while the mind wanders freely, not that mine doesn't wander enough.

My musings have traveled to the possibility of an Etsy shop for small things I make, how I want to simplify the Holidays, being truly thankful for what we have and that includes everyone I have met through this blog this year, and getting back to a pace where I know where the year went instead of almost being in tears that it's November.

I have been thinking also about what projects to take on next year, when my current committments are complete and whether to continue in that same path, or choose something more managable. I certainly am not getting any younger and trying to fight the weight of 12 yards of fabric going 20 different directions is beginning to lose it's appeal. (and my ability to manage it)

And then, as I said, there is that niggling idea for the Etsy shop, to put a few small things *out there* and see what happens.

And mostly get back to a point where I am making art and not killing myself.

I would like to revisit some of my mixed media fiber art and the time has not allowed that. There is more I want to do with my current series of canvas pieces. I made the mistake of assessing the amount of yarn I have in the knitting basket last evening and decided I could knit tights for Giant Octopi for the next twenty years and not get that stash lessened much.....

So when does one start change? At what point do you say, no matter how much I enjoy parts of the work I do, the whole of it is too much for my body, eventhough it does pay? When do you become more stingy with time and talent and focus smaller and for what your own artistic soul is telling you to do? And where do you start?

It should be obvious, after this post, why I don't take much time off.

I tend to THINK.

I am not always sure that is a good idea, though this time, there have been some good questions that have bubbled to the surface.

As an aside for humor:

My blue budgie has figured out how to open his cage door. I went to cover him last evening and there he sat, giving me *the eye* with the door wide open and him inside. That bird soooooo belongs in this household--ornery in every little ounce! From here on in, I will have to watch him cautiously.

I am thinking, mostly, it is because I have paid more attention to DH than the *Boys*. (Joey, the green one, has been quite GOOD......)

Men.

With or without wings...........  ;-)

Pax.

A quick update

Hi all,

Everything went good with my *Adventures In Various Radiologies* yesterday; I got into the spirit of things and wore my black t-shirt with the glow in the dark skeleton chest on it! I just found some great irony/humor at having to visit two areas that see inside the body in a shirt showing what was there! I know, I am one sick puppy, and quite happy!
It was a cool, rainy, windy day here, and that went straight through to my bones. (mine....not the ones on the shirt) By the time I was done from my second run into Peru I was dead for the day and after soup and ciabatta bread for dinner, I was on the couch and in bed reading by a little after nine. Mad because I wanted to knit and completely wiped out---too tired to do so.
I apologize for your blogs I have not kept up on to comment; I will as I can. Don't take offense. I am hoping to have some extra rest this weekend along with work in the studio......and hoping maybe DH will buy take out so I don't have to cook! I can always dream, can't I? ;-)
Anyway, I'll keep you posted as to what is happening.
Oh, a self-deprecating bit of humor.
You know you are overly tired when you are putting on the scrubs for the CT and discover you've been wearing your underwear inside out all day, and are too lazy to do anything about it.......Probably way more info than you need, but I just thought "Geesh! Do I now need someone to DRESS me in the morning before I leave???" (don't answer that....)
Have a productive day and hopefully you will be having beautiful Fall weather. I have my black leather jacket on the ready.....it will be Leather Weather soon! YEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!
I bid you,

Pax.

The Rewards of Idle Time: Or How I Finished Socks When I was Supposed To Be Resting....

WARNING!!!! Pasty, untanned leg alert! Continue at your own risk!!!

Well, the advantages of a day off are that you can sort of lounge and finish things that have not had proper time and attention, case in point, the Fern Clog Socks. I knit two at a time, toe up, so the pattern you see is upside down to what the *real* pattern looks like. And I knit the front with it, and it's not on the heel, so they are not clog socks at all. And then I ended up with ladders due to the pattern rather than the two circulars......you know, whine-whine-whine.
But as I sit here with them on, they are quite comfortable and it is a warm day, so they should be good on cooler days. And photographing socks by yourself is not easy to do without ending up in traction.
Now what to knit next....

A different view----they aren't bad. I wanted ferny-like color, but the selections were few so I have stripey ferns.
Oh well.

Other guilty pleasures of the weekend, and another disclaimer.
I am not, nor ever have been at ANY time in my life, a KISS fan. I thought they were a bunch of over-rated, over dressed, just plain OVER goofs. Plus Gene Simmons said nasty things about women who played bass (AHEM!!!!) and that torqued me off but good.
HOW EVER.
I watched a marathon of episodes of Gene Simmons Family Jewels and I hate admitting this.....I reeeealy, as an old Punk hate admitting, I feel like I am being a traitor to our code......it was one of the funniest things I have seen! His children are articulate (and he is too) and, (sigh and ick) he really seems to love the woman he lives with and has fathered his kids with. Of course, his kids think he's a dork who thinks he's cool, so that goes a long way in making the show funnier.
There.
Now I can go wash my mouth out with turpentine.
Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Gene and family in situations that were most entertaining, especially when he (extremely Jewish!) was asked to be the Godfather in a Catholic Baptism. (that one's priceless) Trust me---for a belly laugh, and a few touching moments, watch this show if your have spare time.
And there's no way that hair is real, but so what? If you buy it, it's yours....right?

Movie surprise of the weekend:

UNDERDOG!
Yes, I was a fan of the cartoon and remember seeing promos for the movie thinking "no way.....".
Okay, I was wrong on that too. It's a cute, good little family film with some funny moments and the special effects are quite acceptable---not overblown but keep the feeling of the original 'toon. Watch it when you need your brain to chill.
Now it's the start of another week and I'm off to the Doc, so blogging may again get dicey and sparse but hey, I'll find something artsy or asinine to fill my page. ;-)
Now have a good one, and seriously, I have not lost my mind......really. Don't send for the padded wagon quite yet.
Maybe tomorrow.......

Pax.

A Day Off

Yes, I'm doing it. And I did most of yesterday afternoon too. Rest time. Sock knitting time. Soaking in a big warm bubble bath until I nodded off. A good movie and chocolate ice cream.
You know, it's not that hard to do..........of course I'll pay for all this on Monday, but it's not Monday yet, is it??? ;-)
May you have a wonderful restful day, blue skies and something to make you happy!

Pax.

I haven't keeled over yet......

....though I have to admit last evening it was pretty close. I came out to the studio around 7 p.m.--a ridiculous effort--to attempt to think up a blog post for today. Let's see.....running a high fever, couldn't see, coughing, couldn't breathe, hurt so much could barely stand the touch of clothing on my skin and really really thought I could write.
Sometimes the extent of my own stupidity amazes me.
Today I am sufficiently better to sit upright for short periods, breathe somewhat, and at least enjoy my coffee. Slept in late, have done nothing, and don't plan on it. (though at some point there is a pile of dishes in the kitchen that will require attention and I am sure we're out of silverware.....and I need meds and DH is washing the porch.......OY.)
Just to make yesterday (which I have decided to call the third worst day of my life) even better, I received the background fabric for the banners. Much to my surprise, it was nowhere CLOSE to IVORY as it was described and the photo showed, but rather taupe. Yes, taupe, and the fringe trim I so desperately needed is "on backorder and no idea when it will be in". Now, that equates to, "you're screwed and we're laughing". I am too fed up and tired this morning to deal with it; I thought about trying to bleach the fabric --- all 12 yards of it --- and then decided I must be running a good fever to even consider THAT! LOL!
So, once again, it's back to square one.
So I'm putting out a call; if any of you have links to online stores that carry different weights of drapery/upholstery fabrics at discount prices, please send them to me. The two companies I have bought from consistently seem to have gone straight down the tubes for reliability.
Other than that, I'm still alive, obviously, since this got me annoyed and I could whine about it but DANG! If I was well, I could have written a most entertaining rant that would have had you rolling laughing!
So until I have real blog fodder.......
I bid you all

Pax.

Letting Go

This was from the last meeting I lead for the Co-Op. One of my friends from Logan snapped the shot; there is a serenity to it that I did not feel at the time but now I see as a foreshadowing of things coming.
While I enjoyed my time (and there was a tremendous amount of it) spent planning and working for the group, it has been through a lot of life-related issues and counsel with friends that I realized I need some downtime for myself, for other work, and to grow in an artistic manner.
Letting go of anything you love is the dearest and hardest gift you can give; it is a portion of your life and heart that are lost forever but it is necessary to make the separation. I have no doubt that I did the best I could, I've made mistakes, I've had good times and hopefully others have too.
Other opportunities have presented themselves of late, and it was with a great deal of introspection that I made the decision I did.
And I was ready.
Often our guidance in life, in our jobs, in our spirituality comes in quirky ways, in little things sent at the right time, in painful separations and in the realization that we are on a finite path and must make the best use of it.
After church service today, I will be in my much neglected studio again and be working on something special......and I have missed that freedom. In fact, it is rather hard to feel at home here again, with the very small amounts of time I've spent within these walls of late.
Art, in whatever form you make, requires sacrifices---and it mimics life in that respect. That is why I always sign my correspondence with the tag line "Life creates Art. Art creates Life." Both need nurturing. Regularly. Continually.
Treat yourselves to a day of artistic nurturing, with no sad looking back but only joyful looking forward and the realization of how wonderful each and every persons life-path has been and how blessed you were of the other paths that have crossed yours!
Pax.

Saturday........thank heavens

This week has been such a busy blur that I am delighted it is Saturday.
There is no photo today, little content and not much enthusiasm. I am exhausted and have decided today is a day OFF. (from here too!)
When I get filled with java and am mobile enough, I am heading to the studio and will paint. And that is IT.
I need a "me day" and am pretty sure that when I looked at the calender this morning, today had my name on it.
So go out and have yourself some weekend fun; shop, dream, rest, waste time---recharge and then head for your creative work. That is my gift to me today!
I wish the same for you too!