On Sketches, Busy Schedules, and Upcoming Holidays

Here's some graphite sketches I'm doing for Effy Wild's Moonshine Mother class.

I've been so busy with the online class that it's been hard to blog.  With teaching starting back, it's a challenge to get it all in.  I'll have to get it all in a balance.  Fortunately, my night class I teach only lasts for eight weeks, so there are only 12 classes left.  Amazing.  Then I'll feel freer and have my time opened up before the holidays arrive!  Cheers all around.

Hope you have a blessed day in your world!

Karen

On Worrying, Criticizing, and Intending

I'm having trouble intending.

So much seems to be cramming itself in my head--a daughter flying to Germany right now for three months, a painting I need to mail Tuesday and not being sure how to do it, student papers to read, classroom plans to make, and on and on.

I intend not to worry so much while I take this class.  I intend to be fully present while participating.  I've already had some blips in the being present intention.  When I printed out my calendar and journal, I clicked on the link without prompts when I really wanted the one with prompts.  I "promptly" had to print out the journal with the prompts.  Not the best being present or paying attention I've done, but I'll keep on trying.

I intend to listen to the call of the Divine Feminine in my life, to accept her nudgings, to accept her love.

I intend to love myself through this process.  Sometime, maybe a lot of times, I'm too self critical.  I can mess up my process because I beat up on myself.  This has been a long time problem.  I intend to place my critical self on some hot air balloon far away from commenting on what I'm doing or berating me.

I intend to find more of my new self.  We are always evolving into the new.  I want my new self to be brave, strong, fearless, loving and kind.

I intend to open my heart to this class, to its participants, to Effy and to myself.

I intend to be changed.

On Subscribe to Links, Computer Knowledge, and Giving In

I'm a little bit "not" savvy with computers.

Yesterday I tried to put a "subscribe to" link on my blog.  I don't have a clue to how to do that.   Does it have something to do with an RSS feed app you get online?

I wish computer-world talk meant something to me more than gobbledygook.  When I look at computers, my face, mind, spirit, intelligence do a combo shut down.  

Seems I could pay someone to complete these little tasks for me, and maybe I will.  So much better for them not to suffer while doing something they love, than for me to suffer while doing something I despise.  

I think this is a quality I inherited genetically, or maybe it happens to all Capricorns born on Jan. 12.  If so, then I wonder what Kirstie Alley, Howard Stern, or Rush Limbaugh do about it since their birthdays are on Jan. 12 too.  Also, it could be about some technical computer class I didn't take in college.  The one I did take used punch cards for the programs.  Can we say dinosaur?  

It will be alright, I keep telling myself.  Some way I'll make it in this highly evolved, computer entrenched culture we have.  I'll find that computer smart person to help me.  I'll pay them well deserved monies.

And I'll finally get my "subscribe to" link on my computer.

Have a great Sunday!

On Blogathons, Endings, and What I Learned

Over.

The blogathon ends today.

What do I know after thirty days of a dedicated practice to blogging?

1.  Practice is the key word.  To vest in the practice is to make it worthwhile.  Knowing one has shown up each day and written from our hearts and spirits, is a marvelous thing.

2.  I don't have to be read by others to keep going.  Some days no visitors dropped in or commented on my blog.  Of course, having an amazing readership would be great, but it's not mandatory.  Coming to the page to write is honoring who we are as persons, it tells us we count, that our voices are important.

3.  It's a joy to read others' words and view their art and thoughts.  I was part of this dedicated community.  I got used to seeing and connecting with blog participants.

4.  Effy deserves a huge thanks.  Thanks for calling us to write, for seeing this through, and for creating community while we wrote.

5. My favorite blog I wrote was "On Pedicures, Good Food, and Love."  This writing was about a recent visit with my daughters.

6.  I had many favorite bloggers to peak in on each day, including Zoe and Cynthia Lee, and many others.

7.  I'm glad I did it.  In a whirly world where its hard to start something without getting stopped along the way, this is a big deal for me.  A really big deal.

For all the fun and for sharing your words, THANKS!!

xo Karen

On New Things, Intuitions, and Comforters

Sometimes you just need an update.

About a year ago we purchased a new bed for our master bedroom.  The headboard we were using was a beautiful bluish screen of metal and rattan.  It was totally shabby chic.  However, it didn't make for a very comfortable backrest while drinking coffee or reading emails in the morning.  That's the reason for the new bed.

The comforter we had worked well.  I bought it for $25 at an antique stores.  It was white and light lime green and matched perfectly the chartreuse antique chair.  I liked the white one but thought we were ready for some color.

I received an advertisement for a home sale at Belk stores.  I decided to go and check out a few of the floral ones for sale.

Once in the store, I zoned in on one particular comforter that matched all the colors in our room.  I decided to buy it and try it on our bed.

What happened was a glorious pop of color.  Upon putting it on the bed, I took a little snooze just to get the energy of it.

It's funny how if you follow your intuition for finding this or that new item or doing this or that new thing, the right item oftentimes comes to find you.  That's what happened with this pretty floral comforter.

Maybe something new is calling you right now!

On Blogging, Late Classes, and Teaching

Well, I did not blog yesterday.

I forgot.  The day got old and my body went into dreamland without even thinking of it.  Of course, I want to finish out the final days, so hopefully I'll post tonight too.

This evening my fall term starts for school.  I'm teaching college freshman their 101 course.  One of my classes is a night one that goes from 8:05 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.  On most days, I'm already in bed by that time.

I remember one night when I was supposed to be teaching class, I already had my pajamas on.  I was sitting on the couch all comfy when the alarm went off in my head--you have class tonight.  Fortunately, I had time to get ready and head off to class without being late.

I've been so lucky to have had the summer off.  I'm spoiled now about working--as in I don't want to.  I've been able this summer to play and do art and relax.

But I need to get in gear--get my little backpack filled with books, pencils, and notebooks, and head into the semester thankful that I am able to teach these students.  Actually, they teach me a lot too.

Just heard the school bell.  I'm off to class!!

On the Tried and True, New Computers, and Loving What We've Got/27

Today the computer we bought for my husband is returned.

It didn't work as he had planned.  Windows 8 was a disappointment among other things.

I suggested him getting a Mac like I have or another computer, but he wants a computer that works like the one he has now.  We thought getting an updated model of the same computer would work, but, alas, it didn't.

I guess there is something about going with the tried and true.  The tried and true computer.  The tried and true journal.  The tried and true paints.   And I figure a lot of times in our lives we attempt to replace items or others that we feel have lived out their better days with us when sometimes the tried and true would still do.

We set aside relationships that still have that little glimmer of hope for that glossy, funner relationship looking over our shoulder.  We set aside the old bedspread just when we're tired of it for the fancy floral patterned one in the catalog.  We set aside our favorite pair of heels while looking for a replacement pair.

And don't get me wrong.  It's okay to want things--new things.

But I guess I didn't realize until today that sometimes we discard what could still be useful so we can have more of something else.  Sometimes simpler may be better.  Sometimes the old computer edges out the new one just by a nose.

Sometimes what we already have might just be all we need.