The Persimmon Tree, Sakai Hôitsu - 1816

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” ~George Eliot

In southwest Florida, autumn is actually *our* version of spring. The sun comes out after months of rain, the grass and the leaves turn green again, flowers bloom, the weather becomes tolerable and breezy, and there are signs of life all over.

The best part is the day when the temperature cools enough so that we can open our doors and windows and air out the house. That day is much anticipated. I also like when we turn our clocks back- there’s something very satisfying about having the sun set before 9pm

——-

It’s Wishcasting Wednesday!

What do you wish for less of?

- I wish for less anxiety over my own decisions/feelings. I wish for less wishy-washiness. I wish for TRUST, especially when it comes to trusting my gut, my needs, what I *know* makes me whole. I make a decision and then fret over it for hours, days, even if it was the stupidest and most trivial issue in the world.

- I wish to do less people-pleasing. Enough is enough with constantly thinking “what can I do to fix this for ____? How can I make this person happy?” because I wind up jumping up and volunteering or offering something I truly don’t have time or energy for, and then I get resentful and anxious. It’s not doing ANYBODY any favors.

- I wish for less angst about my body and my soul.

- I wish for less frenzied multi-tasking and less wasted time.

- I wish to spend less time agonizing over if I’m making the most out of my life. I must start realizing I have to start WHERE I AM, and the choices I’ve made (not to pursue a career in a museum when I left school) brought me to a very good place in life. So what if I’m 36 and don’t have my Ph.D. yet and am not yet working in a museum? It just means I went a different route, learned some lessons, made a family, and created love instead of a career. Now I can focus on working towards more goals and I have a supportive little group of people who have my back.

- I wish for less angst in the world, less miscommunication (which I believe is the root of most problems), less FEAR, so much less heartache, less suffering. I wish instead for more kindness, compassion, love, understanding, answers (even if they hurt), beginnings, awareness.

- I wish for *you* less of ANYTHING that currently hurts you physically or emotionally, holds you back, scares you, makes you keep quiet and not speak up. I wish for you less difficult, agonizing decisions. I wish for you less inconsistent people who let you down. I wish you strength and courage and love as you figure out what you wish LESS of.

- (and a tiny wish: I wish for less heat and humidity and rain. I don’t want the whole ecosystem to go crazy, though, so I’m trying to be patient until Hurricane season is over! but a breeze would be nice…)

This week’s 8Things is:
All the little clues (warning signs) that show us when we’re not standing in our own power.

I have to admit, I was a little confused by the term “Standing in Your Own Power” when I first read it. I don’t really think of “power” when I use words to describe myself or qualities inside me. “Power” reminds me of “supernatural powers”, which is not for me.

But I investigated a bit. I’ve realized that for me, “standing in my own power” means a process of HONORING myself and my gut feelings about things. I have big issues with trusting myself. I always question decisions I make, and agonize over the smallest things (“should I have bought _____”? “maybe I shouldn’t have said….” “maybe we should have went to the 2pm movie instead of the 4pm movie….”) It’s exhausting and I don’t feel like doing it anymore.

So here’s eight little behaviors that pop up when I start waffling, wavering, and not trusting myself.

- agreeing to things I don’t have time for or simply *really* do not want to do
This is tough for me because I am a people pleaser and I find myself agreeing to stuff before my brain and heart even PROCESS what I am agreeing to. And I get worried that when I’m honest (such as when I volunteer for something and make it clear what I *can* and *can’t* do for the organization) I’m pushing people away. By creating boundaries, I worry I am locking people out. The truth is that boundaries actually make it much easier for people to relate to one another. It’s sort of like when you are a parent- rules make it MUCH easier for kids to function in their environment because they know what’s right and what’s not right.

- being angry or defensive as a response to hurtful things
This I do a lot. I’m extremely sensitive and if someone says something or does something that hurts, I tend to snap in response. Lots of raised voices, trying to puff myself up to anger instead of admitting that I am really wanting to cry. I’m working on this daily, trying to really admit what the true feeling is and follow it through.

- agonizing over things *after* they happen
for example- making the choice NOT to attend something and then wondering “should have gone?” for weeks after. Ugh- I do this constantly. I’m doing it now. It’s my form of anxiety. I really want to be more decisive and CONFIDENT about those decisions.

- not speaking up in an effort to people please
This goes hand in hand with number one- I see some behavior or experience some exchange that I disagree with, and I just nod my head or stay quiet rather than ruffling feathers. I HATE when I do this.

- hesitance/fear to start a project or continue with something
This is a BIG problem right now. I STILL haven’t started my art journal. I’m doing creative stuff, but I fall back into old routines and comfortable habits rather than try something new and experiment. Or I’ll find *anything* else to do but create, like wash the floors, do laundry, cook dinner, answer email, surg the web… I convince myself that these things are crucial when they are just ways to avoid sitting down and getting work done.
As a result, lots of avoidance and time wasted.

- rushing to catch up on things
I hate this. I get so scared of projects that I let them g for a bit and then rush to get caught up. And then the enjoyment sort of disappears because all I can focus on is the deadline.

- feeling overwhelmed and multi-tasking at a crazy pace
Ugh. I’m always doing this in the mornings.

- letting small things eat away at me
And they are always small things that are SO not important- like an unmade bed or a comment someone said three weeks ago or whatever. Instead of focusing on the bigger things, I just fixate and dissect something else until it’s all that I can think about.

I signed up for the Power Stories class at Magpie Girl and am excited to start it. It came at exactly the right time.

…so i pondered the point of my art in this life
if i make it will someone take it and think it’s genuine?
will they be glad that i did ’cause they got something good out of it?
will they leave me and be any more inspired?

i question the outcome of the outpouring of myself
if i tell everyone my stories will this keep me healthy and well?
will it give me purpose, to this world some sort of service?
is it worth it, how can i tell?

—–
A few things:

art journal love letters

I finally went ahead and signed up for the “Art Journal Love Letters” workshop. I desperately WANTED a class and was tempted, and when Connie announced she was going to discontinue it at the end of the year and offered it for a special price, I couldn’t resist. There’s also the “Soul Journaling” workshop here. It looks fabulous and I am definitely going to follow along. (Both are online.)

Anyone want to be my art journal buddy and take one or both workshops with me?

I’d actually love to do an “project exchange” online, like Points of Two – each of us posting our project one day a week (or maybe once or twice a month) on a shared theme. It can be two people, ten people, whatever. Anyone up for that?

Power Stories

Also, Rachelle the Magpie Girl is offering her Power Stories class for “Pay What You Will” but the offer ends *today*. I want to do it very and have a bit left in my PayPal account but I don’t want my offer to come across as an insult. Because I feel it’s worth the asking price.

The class covers:
- a strong sense of direction about personal relationships.
- confident, “right fit” work decisions.
- the strength to live into your own spiritual or religious beliefs.
- a life that feels stable and energized – not timid and depleted.

All of this is stuff I have been pondering lately so the offer could not have come at a better time… Ah, heck, I think I will make my offer…

However, by around 7pm, the sky begins to clear and we get some GLORIOUS sunsets.

And almost every evening this summer, I went out back onto our lanai and sprawled on the porch swing and watched the sunset. I would bury my nose in whatever book I happen to be reading at the time, and tune my iPhone to classical music on Pandora radio. The cats would follow me out and take watchful posts all around the lanai, watching the birds tuck in for the night and hope for a glimpse of something nocturnal, or a fish jumping in the bay at the settling sun. Gracie might come out, too, either taking a dip in the pool or just wandering around, splashing her feet in the pool or reading her own books.

Here’s some of what I got to see:

sunset over marco island

sunset over marco island

sunset over marco island

Now the sun is setting a little earlier and the clouds haven’t quite passed, so sunset season appears to be over. Don’t get me wrong- I will welcome the cooler, dryer weather. I will welcome life as we settle into our autumn routines. I will welcome the anticipation of the holiday season.

However, I will *dearly* miss my little ritual of reading outside every evening, watching the sunset.
——
It’s Wishcasting Wednesday!

This week: What do you wish to Begin?

- I wish to begin my art journal, to find the courage to fill the empty white pages with truth, lots of mistakes, creative experiments, my thoughts, and whatever else flows through my hands.

- I wish to begin finding my “tribe” of friends, true friends to celebrate life and creativity and spirituality with. I wish for the courage to not only “get out there” more (I’m very shy and very much an introvert) but to have what it takes to be a good friend and cultivate special and deep friendships.

- I wish to begin the process of figuring out an “official” life path, especially in the area of career. Whether it be returning to school or doing something in the visual arts (or maybe both!), I want to focus on figuring out exactly what it is I should be doing and find a perfect way to make it happen.

- I wish to begin being more forgiving, more kind, more thoughtful, and more compassionate to everyone.

- I wish to begin sharing myself with others in whatever way they need me most.

- I truly wish for a new beginning for *anyone* who needs it. I wish love and support and courage for those beginning their new journeys today, and I wish continued success and inspiration for those who have already started down their path, whatever that path may be.

- Start working on my ART JOURNAL!

- Read more of my art/craft non-fiction books and try some of the projects and techniques that have always appealed to me. EXPERIMENT.

- complete one fall/autumn themed project with Gracie (a die-cut paper leaf wreath, maybe? Or maybe go with something like this, cutting shapes out of autumn-themed paper or painting them in autumn hues?)

- begin planning and sketching for several paintings for fall and the holidays

- register a domain for a specific project

- continue researching and exploring resist techniques and playing with spray mists

- find a great online art course (hopefully something to do with art journaling and enroll!)

- start REALLY looking at going back to school, and researching some programs that I want to apply to (I don’t know if I want to do Museum Studies, straight Art History, Art Education, an MFA… or some combo of the four, which is what I REALLY want to do, but I’m not having luck finding a program for that…)

- begin making some fall/winter beads, or at least planning for the fall/winter season

What about you? What are your creative plans for the month ahead?

I made some “paint misters” (kind of like Maya Mist or Glimmer Mist)- liquid paint in spray bottles to “mist” onto surfaces. I figured they would be good for my art journal, and I wanted to try some resist techniques in my painting, too. I’ve always wanted to try them, but resisted because of the cost. I finally decided to try and make my own.

paint misters on watercolor paper

They were easy to make – I just took some small, empty spray bottles (I purchased a lot-of-20 of them on ebay, but they also sell them at all drugstores in the travel aisle), and filled them with distilled water and a few drops of my liquid watercolors. Instant make your own spray paint. I’m guessing you can also use regular watercolor paint, either the tubes or even pans, as well. Add the paint to a little bit of water in a cup, stir with a popsicle stick, and then once it is in a liquid form, add to the spray bottle. Keep adding water until you get the color concentrate you want.

Anyway, Gracie and I tested them out on both paper and paper towels. We made all sorts of resist prints and some tie-dye looking paper towels. It was fun.

paint misters on paper towels- tie dye!!

I *was* going to test them out on my art journal but Ginger had other ideas. I had gesso’ed a page and left it open to dry, and she promptly loafed right on it. Luckily, it WAS dry. I guess she liked the texture.

ginger on journal

So instead I gesso’ed some chipboard birds I had in my stash. Gesso is insanely fun. Messy, but fun.

gesso'ing chipboard birds

Finally, a photo of my beautiful beautiful kitty Delilah Bean curled up on our couch. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my cats? I really do.

my delilah bean on the couch

And recently Amy Krause Rosenthal thought of a new list to make, one that has just as much benefit to us as the others. Instead of listing great positive things, this is a list of toxic and irritating things that we will NO LONGER tolerate, no longer accept, and no longer be coerced to do.

I love this idea, because a huge part of evolution as a human being and defining your own life is deciding what NOT to do, and what NOT to accept. Sometimes saying “no” to something is just as powerful and liberating and POSITIVE as saying “Yes”.

My only qualm is this: the “STUFF WE HUMANS SHOULD NO LONGER ALLOW” aspect of the list. Besides abuse of children/animals, everything else is subjective. For instance (and I don’t mean to pick on Amy personally), I love the crisp, dry coolness of a grocery store after the BLAZING HOT HEAT AND HUMIDITY of a Southwest Florida summer. And the cold is really for the benefit of the people who work at the grocery store, not us. (And to keep the food fresh.) Also, I’d rather watch CNN than Fox News (which is what they blare in all the public spaces here). And there are some 16-17-18 year olds who drive quite well and use their ability to drive to get to work so they can pay for their college education or whatever else it is they are working on, which they use to change the world. So that bit gets messy. I like the idea of keeping the list personal, I think.

So, what are your personal NOs?

My list is definitely a work in progress. I’m so used to trying to focus on what I want to say YES to, what I want to embrace, that I have lost sight of what the opposite of that is.

rainbow in August

rainbow in August

It also means a very happy little girl who *adores* rainbows and makes up beautiful little songs and dances to welcome them.

rainbow song and dance

rainbow song and dance

rainbow song and dance

“Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.

I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.”

- Kermit the Frog (pretty sure he didn’t write the song, but no one sings it better!)

—–
Wishcasting Wednesday:

How do you wish to spend some time?

I wish to spend some time making new friends as well cultivating old friendships. I wish for the power for good communication, the courage to be the person I need to be in order to make these things happen.

I wish to spend some time cultivating joy for my friends and family, and even myself, too. I wish for the tools and the knowledge to do this.

I wish to spend some time reading more poetry and really amazing books. I wish that I wouldn’t feel so guilty about spending an afternoon with my nose in a book.

I wish to spend some time researching graduate school programs for Art History and Museum Education. I wish for the courage to take the first step on this path.

I wish to spend some time writing. I wish for the focus to sit down and write the next chapter.

I wish to learn how to BALANCE my time- a little of what’s necessary for productivity purposes, a little of what’s necessary for emotional well-being. I wish for the willpower to find a good schedule and the belief that it’s absolutely worth sticking to, no matter what anybody asks me to do.

I wish to spend some time in spiritual practice and meditation. I wish for the insight and environment to do more of this.

I wish for *you* the time to do whatever it is that will bring you joy- time that is completely guilt-free and fully supported by those around you.

naples botanical gardens

“You’re the only person who knows what’s right for you.
The only one.
And if you already know what this is, commit to it.
If you don’t, commit to nothing.” – anonymous

—-
some cool links:

getting started with art journaling – a step by step breakdown on how to approach an art journal page. I know many are able to open their journals and magically create but for those of us (ME) who can’t bring themselves to mark up any of the pages, this is a blessing. It’s all part of Art Journal Week at Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s blog.

Don’t miss Linda’s *awesome* tutorial Scrappy Journaling (this is right up my alley!)

Then there’s this- which I needed and is sort of related to the quote above:
Seven Simple Ways to Say “No”
As life gets a little more chaotic, I am starting to realize that in order to preserve not only my sanity, but also my precious creative time, I will need to start saying “no” to things that are important to other people. I HATE that. I hate letting people down. I hate not meetings people’s expectations and hopes of me.

I have a required event that I don’t think I will be able to attend, and I’m dreading having to let the organizers know that I will not be going. So I’ve been having little panic attacks about it. This article really helped me figure it all out.

—-
and then it’s Wishcasting Wednesday.

Where do you wish to make a fresh start?

I wish to recommit to myself.
I wish to accept myself and all my perceived flaws with a whole heart.

I wish to realize truly an deeply that there are no EXPECTATIONS of me. That I don’t have to live up to anyone’s rules or standards.

I wish to make a “fresh start” by writing my OWN rules and standards.
I wish to make a “fresh start” by redefining my dreams and committing to them.
I wish to make a “fresh start” by designing a life around what is important and good by *my* standards and what’s right for my little family and *not* others.
I wish to make a “fresh start” by committing to myself, to my happiness, to my well-being, to my serenity.

I also wish to constantly make a “fresh start” with my friends and family, to be a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend.

I wish to make a “fresh start” with the world at large, to find a way to give back to the world and contribute.

I wish to make a “fresh start” with my friends, to find and nurture new friendships and the amazing ones I have with old friends, as well.

I truly wish anyone or anything that needs any sort of “fresh start” finds exactly what they need to make it happen. I hope they find their new path without much struggle and find whatever tools they need to follow that path to happiness.

Then last week we were at the Naples Botanical Garden and this GORGEOUS handmade journal was on sale at the gift shop.

handmade journal

I kept circling it. I tried to convince my cousin to buy it because *someone* needed to take it home and make use of it. I finally picked it up and I just couldn’t put it back down, and when I bought it the lovely lady in the shop wrapped the journal in the most *beautiful* paper for me to take it home in.

blue bird painted on the cover

little seal on the cover

So here is my own art journal. I have no idea how I’ll approach it- if it will be painted or collaged or photos or ephemera or some crazy mix of all four (probably), but I hope I can find the courage to make a mark inside these pristine, perfect pages. Right now I just pull it out, flip through the blank pages, imagine good things for it, and then put it back on my bookshelf and go back to something I’m “used to” doing.

too scared to make my mark inside... so it sits empty and waits patiently

from the film:
“Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. But lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless. And lonely is healing if you make it.

You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one’s in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.

Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school’s groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you’re happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.

It’s okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can’t think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach.

And it doesn’t mean you’re not connected, that community is not present. Just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. Take silence and respect it. If you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn’t get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don’t obsess about it.

You could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it.
If your heart is bleeding make the best of it.
There is heat in freezing, be a testament.”

- Tanya Davis

flowers at the naples botanical gardens

I’m having a challenging time with certain unknowns in life. And I’m also doubting my own work, creative and otherwise. Trying to remember there’s more to it than what goes on in my tiny little head…

“And a heart will always stay one day too long
Always hoping for the heart flashes to come
For the glue to dry on our new creation
Come with me, go places

Yes a heart should always go one step too far
Come the morning and the day winding like dreams
Come the morning every blue shade of green
Come with me, go places

Come head on, full circle
Our arms fill with miracles
Play hearts, kid, they work well…”

- New P*rnographers – “Go Places”(click to listen)

I drew the circles that comprise the shell with Pigma Microns and then colored them in with liquid watercolors.

drawing/painting of a nautilus

—

I’m also going to join “Wishcasting Wednesday”- hopefully I can participate often. The prompt:

Where Do You Wish to Send Some Love?

I wish to send love to anybody who is in a tough spot right now, or waiting to hear important news.
I wish to send love and a little “push” to anyone who *needs* to make an important decision.
I wish to send love and encouragement to anybody who has a hope that they are desperately orbiting around. I hope you can make it a reality, or at least work towards your dreams.
I wish to send love to my family and friends, and their family and friends.
I wish to send some comfort and serenity to anyone or anything that needs it, especially any animals or children in need.
I wish to send love and support and inspiration to all of us creative souls, who need a shot of inspiration or a push in the right direction.
I wish to send love and support to my own body and soul, often neglected and definitely not appreciated enough.
I wish to send love and happiness, hope and encouragement, courage and support to *you*, whoever might happen upon this.

sunflower @ Naples Botanical Garden

“The flower doesn’t dream about a bee… It blossoms and the bee shows up.” – R.R.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “coming alive” and what that even means. Is it a sudden spark or a gradual process you realize has happened after it has set in?

What makes you come alive? How do you feed your soul?

rainbow

“A day once dawned, and it was beautiful
A day once dawned from the ground
Then the night she fell
And the air was beautiful
The night she fell all around.

So look see the days
The endless coloured ways
And go play the game that you learned
From the morning.”

- Nick Drake (listen here: Nick Drake – From the Morning)

This week:

What makes your family get-away iconic? Whether it’s a favorite camp spot, Camp Wanatakee, or something in between; give us your *8Things: Family Cabin list and take a walk down memory lane.

We never went tent-camping as a kid, but every spring/summer/fall, we would head east every weekend and camp out on our little boat, which was docked in Montauk point.

When I was young, it was incredibly fun. The dock our boat was on was also home to several other family-owned boats, so as soon as all the families unloaded the cars on Friday nights, all the kids congregated on the dock and ran in and out of each other’s boats, up and down the docks, and around the marina. We fished off the back of our boats, went for rides in dinghies, swam in the pool. Our parents took turns taking us to town where we’d get a slice of pizza, shop at the old-fashioned general store, or get a custom t-shirt made. We all took tripos to IGA for groceries, Tipperary’s for snacks. At night we’d break out the glow sticks from the stock of emergency supplies on our boats and run around like little fireflies. There was a tiny beach across the street and I wasn’t supposed to go, but I did anyway.

It was amazing, until I grew old enough to be self-conscious and shy about things. We all hit puberty and one by one, we all stoped coming with our families. We wanted to stay home and hang out with our “real” friends, chase our crushes. The sad part is I think the truest friends I ever had were Joanna, Daniel, and Matthew Bills – and they were from Brooklyn, and had their little houseboat tucked in the corner of the dock. They were my best friends in Montauk and I adored them with all my heart. I hope they are well.

My eight things:

1. a kid-sized tackle box, just the right size for the tiny, colorful lures we used to fish for Snapper off the docks.

2. my Sony walkman, so I could listen to music in my little tiny bunk at night without bothering my parents. It was a tiny space and there was no other entertainment, besides…

3. a GIANT stack of books, which I would bring and bury my nose in every afternoon when we were all resting from the morning’s adventures. Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume were big favorites.

4. groceries from the IGA- usually lots of “happy” food, like sandwich fixings, snacks, hot dogs and hamburgers. Not the “serious” square meals we had at home, but easier meals that were more fun to eat.

5. glow sticks, which we wore around our necks on thin rope scraps we found on our boats. I realize now our parents used them to keep track of where we are, counting the little spots of light as we ran all over the marina to keep track of us.

6. buckets and pails, for the assorted shells and fish we picked up during our adventures.

7. my pillow from home, helpful during the long 2-hour car ride each way to and from Montauk every Friday and Sunday evening.

8. bathing suits, for splashing in the water.

sand dollar (drawing and painted by me)

(And here’s a photo of the same painting with my Hipstamatic App- if only I had a pair of Hipstamatic glasses!)

Hipstamatic Sand Dollar

——–

I kind of let this blog go while I was busy tending to life.

Definitely not intentional- I have been updating it in my mind on a daily basis, but I never got around to actually coming here and typing the words in.

A somewhat strange thing happened around here recently. I have a very strong feeling it’s a hugely positive thing, but it’s the waiting to see how it turns out that’s the hard part. I’m trying to be patient, to enjoy this time before we see which direction we might be headed into. But patience is not my strongest characteristic.

I’ve been creating like mad this summer- I made thousands of hand-painted and dyed beads which I then turned into hundreds of pieces of jewelry, and lots of drawings and paintings. I have lots to share, but I’ve come to realize that while I enjoy creating and enjoy talking about creating and reading about creating, I HATE documenting my creative process. There’s something I just really don’t like about stopping what I am doing (even after the thing is finished) and pulling out the camera, uploading the photos, editing them, posting them… It’s such a simple process, but there’s something about it I am resistant to. The camera on my iPhone has definitely made it easier, but I still can’t get motivated to share my work.

I want to share my work, be part of the circle of blogs belonging to all these amazing artists who generously put their work and ideas out there every day. But whenever I think about posting my work, I think the precious time (even just a handful of minutes) would be better served creating for me. I get selfish that way.

I am going to try and post more.  Be prepared for lots of grainy iPhone photos and blurbs about nothing, and lost of quotes, because I collect tons of quotes and always want to share them.

I also decided to join

Hopefully that will get me posting more, too.

July Hay - Thomas Hart Benton

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”

- Mary Oliver

Happy July! I’m relieved June is over- it always seems like such a challenging month.

It feels as if summer is finally here. I love Mary Oliver and I LOVE Thomas Hart Benton, one of my favorite artists. His work has always inspired me so much…

magnolia from the tree in our front yard

“I want to be strong, I want to laugh along
I want to belong to the living.
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive…”

All I really really want our love to do
is to bring out the best in me and in you, too.

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling-
looking for the key to set me free.
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
It’s the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be

I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free.”

- Joni Mitchell

This time, I sort of agonized about whether or not I was going to bring my camera. I’m usually the designated trip photographer, but this time Tom brought his DSLR and I wanted try to play with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone a little bit more. I must admit, it was lovely not to have to deal with my camera or worry about capturing everything.

We spent two days in each park (only one in Animal Kingdom). Highlights included:
- Going to Disney with a child (my nephew Logan, who has never been there before. He was *so* excited and so happy the entire time he was there.

- Wishes Fireworks over the beautiful castle.

- The beautiful plants and animals in Animal Kingdom.

I made very good friends with a duck who followed me around quite some time before going off into a bush and nestling down to sleep. I would have brought him home if it were a) legal and b) okay for the duck. I hesitantly bid him a goodbye.

There were also the beautiful tigers in Asia- while my family rode Kali River Rapids (I’m not a fan of getting drenched on rides), I went on the walking tour of the animal habitats and was awestruck by the environment and all the amazing animals in it. Definitely a personal highlight. While Disney is definitely a “group” kind of activity, it was really nice to get away from the crowds and into the shady trees and just have a chance to absorb and experience on my own.

- Epcot is far and away my favorite park. While it doesn’t have my favorite rides, there’s something about the park that makes me feel very much at home and happy. I especially love the World Showcase at night, and shopping in Japan.

Other random bits and pieces:

Gracie exploring the giant aquarium inside The Living Seas with Nemo ride at Epcot.

Spaceshsip Earth at night.

Main Street USA

Minnie’s House

Gracie trying out Minnie’s sewing machine

Pooh’s tree

Cinderella’s Castle

Lightning McQueen and Mater

A view down Hollywood and Vine

Laughing birdhouse at Splash Mountain.