Just Trying To Help

Don't know why Mom seemed so suspicious. We were just trying to help her out with all of Dad's wires that she's always complaining about.

Guess I'll never understand Beans....

But look! Mom made a picture of me!

Of course, since it's in black and white, it doesn't show my best feature. That would be my laser eyes, of course. Need to find Mom a red pencil. My task for the weekend. Hope yours is a good one.

Nose bonks,
Buttercup

Sometimes The Paint Takes You By Surprise

You know how sometimes you start out to create something, and end up with something else entirely? That happened to me this week when I was journaling. I sat down thinking I would paint a funky girl with polka dot tights. The paintbrush had other plans. I got dots alright, but on a cheetah!

Now, I love cats, big and small. If family members weren't highly allergic, I would have a cat. Don't tell Jensen and Buttercup that. But of the cat family, male lions, and cheetahs have never really drawn me in. And yet, here was this big cat showing up in my journal.

On doing some research, I found that cheetahs are about focus, and goal achievement. Since this is exactly where I want my attention to be this year, this spotted beauty is perfect. Turns out the paintbrush knows me better than I know myself!

The subconscious is amazing, isn't it? Did anything surprising turn up in your creative work this week?  If it did, I hope you were as happy with it  as I was with my cat.

There is lots more to see at Paint Party Friday. Have fun!

I Did A Bad Thing

Yup. That's right. I was bad. I forgot Jensen's Gotcha Day! I knew it was soon, but couldn't remember the date. When I checked yesterday, it was too late. Last Sunday (the 5th) was when we should have been celebrating. All I have to offer in my defense, is that I can't believe how fast the year has gone by.  Here is the Jensen himself, expressing his disapproval.

 

Later, he showed off his thong. I'm pretty sure he's the kind of guy who wears a Speedo when he goes swimming.

 

Jensen finished up the day on guard duty, with his friend. Buttercup is in the tunnel, her favorite place. They both love that stuffed rabbit.

 

In between, there was a lot of bunny dancing. Buttercup and Jensen were both as excited by the removal of the Christmas tree as they had been by it's appearance. I didn't catch any binkies on camera, but here's some of the fun. 

 

 

 

I'm so glad that the South Shore Humane Society brought this crazy dude into my life, even if he is high maintenance. With any luck, we'll have many more Gotcha' Days to celebrate together.

Left Over Paint

I hate to waste paint, but I often find that I have put too much on my palette for what I'm working on. Frequently, I will smear the leftovers on a journal page, usually a page much farther along in the book than I am currently working. That is how my hat lady got started. She's very orange, not because of too much "tan in a bottle", but because that's the color paint that was on the page.

 

I'm the kind of person who buys hats, but never wears them except in front of the bathroom mirror. Since I'm working on not letting fear run my life, maybe this will be the year that I actually leave the house with one on. What about you? Do you wear your hat out in public? If you do, what does your hat say about you?  Does it give you confidence, make you feel beautiful, or show off your creativity or sense of humor?   

 

To see more paintings, check out the goings on over at Paint Party Friday. And, have a great weekend!

Happy New Year!



Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you are all having a good start to your 2014. It's so nice to see the end of 2013, which has been a tough year for many of us. In the last post, Jensen let you know what he thought of my blogging last year. I've promised him that I will do better!

 

So many things kept me occupied last year. On the negative side, some family issues triggered a major depression for me. I've struggled with depression on and off through the years, but at least now I'm familiar enough with it to know it will eventually pass, and to hang in there. Lately, life has started to seem lighter and brighter, so I think I may be on the way out of the fog. I'm sure many of you know these feelings. Just part of being human, I guess.

 

 

 

On a positive note, the Lifebook class that I was taking also kept me very busy last year. It was intense. I only finished about half the lessons, but I learned a lot. Not only did I learn art techniques, but I learned how to use supplies I was unfamiliar with, new ways of thinking, made friends, and settled some issues in my mind. I thought about hurrying to download the unfinished lessons, but decided not to. It's time to move on. 



 

I also spent a lot of time exploring issues of spirituality. I've started doing yoga and meditating. I've researched many different religions and belief systems. I was raised Christian, with a very strong science background. I'm coming to terms with the idea that I may never be certain as to what God is, the way some people are. The best I can come up with at the moment is that there is something underlying everything. Whether it's a universal energy, or something more specific, seems less important than understanding that we are all connected.  

 

So yes, 2013 was a strange year. Now 2014 is here, and it's time to move forward.

 

I'm hoping for a year with less hiding, less worry, less fear, less guilt, less shame.

 

 

I'm hoping it will also have more positivity, more trying new things, more forward motion, more new friends, more being at ease with myself , and everything that I am, both good and bad. I'm absolutely sure that 2014 will contain more learning, growing, and creativity.

Whatever the year contains, I'm looking forward to sharing it here with you. Because, life is so much easier when you know you are not alone, isn't it? Have a wonderful year! I'll see you back here again soon. Jensen will make sure of that!