a little bit more

I often vacillate about what to do with this space. There are days when I want to delete my blog + live entirely off-line (although not having a Facebook page or Tweeting is pretty much living off-line) + there are days when I want to go in another direction + write a whole lot more.

In these 5 1/2 years I've really revealed very little about myself. You know that I love Bruuuuuuce (who is touring in 2012- crossing my fingers for a Nashville date), that I take the trash bin to the curb every 4 months (I'm working on a 6 month goal this go-around) + that I've been slowly purging all the superfluous things from my life for the past 2 years. Oh, yeah, there's also that whole letterpress thing. You also know that this year I've experienced heartbreak of an unprecedented level, but I've also experienced moments of overwhelming love + gratitude. A psychologist co-worker said that I'm really getting to experience the amazing mystery of life.

The things I would like to share with you are that I did achieve my 2011 goal (a word I use instead of resolution) of doing something worthwhile in my community. I barely made it in under the wire, but a couple weeks ago I forced myself to get over my big fear of needles + became a registered blood donor at the local Red Cross center. It turns out that my blood type is one in which I am encouraged to also donate platelets, which I will start doing once my donor card arrives in the mail.

This was also the year I started going to church, Quaker Meetings for Worship to be more specific. Religion was not part of my upbringing, but I figured that one day I would find what worked for me. A couple years ago I had read about Quakers (which was the instigator for my moving towards simpler living + all this purging) + happened upon Cherie's blog Renaissance Garden + started reading more. In March I found out that there was a meeting house in Nashville + in November I finally got up the courage to go. During that first meeting, as tears streamed down my face, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be at that very moment. I have attended fairly regularly for the past 2 months.

I have no idea where my life is headed + as I have clearly learned, life does not always work out as planned, but as the days progress, I am more + more joyful about experiencing the amazing mystery of life.

From the absolute bottom of my heart, I thank all of you who have been with me for these past months + years + wish I could give you all a big hug (another revealing thing about me: I'm a hugger).

go on girl...

I don't mention my brother around here very much, but he's 10-years younger, was at one point commonly mistaken as my son + is a witty lad. Here is the message he sent along with an on-line gift certificate he gave me for Christmas:

As an official representative of the Pawnee, IN division of "Treat Yo' Self!" (a subsidiary of Entertainment 720), I humbly bequeath this certificate upon you, an exemplary individual who has expressed themselves as a true lover of our great town.
Now go on girl, Treat Yo' Self!

Among the handful of shows I watch, I love-love-love Parks & Rec + totally love the antics of Tom + Donna's Treat Yo' Self day.

repeat the sounding joy (again)

The second color has been printed + will be sent off shortly.
The blue is mixed with silver + the red is mixed with bronze giving both a fireworks-like shimmer.

The 4th plan for Christmas was the one we went with: Thai food + Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It was a wonderful day that started with a pretty strenuous 3+ mile hike, resulting in a very worn-out pup, which was the plan all along.

Merry day after Christmas

repeat the sounding joy

(we have had some beautiful sunny days + I'm taking advantage of the light)

A new card I'm working on for my friend Sue. I don't normally take commissions, but this one has turned out to be very therapeutic in getting me back into my studio after barely opening the door in 2 months.

The deal was I host Thanksgiving + some friends host Christmas, but now I'm hosting Christmas. I don't know how that happened, but before I knew it I was agreeing to it over a bowl of vegetables, tofu + noodles. It will be another pot luck gathering with a smaller group.

windfall

At last weekend's Book Babes gathering

I yoinked this stockpile of graph paper.
A woman from the group saved it
from the trash can at her work.

13 packages of vellum graph paper.

17 small boxes of some sort of accordion folded graph paper that
was fed into a 6" wide machine. I just see pre-folded text blocks.

.

I am well past the Goodwill runs, I'm now into items that I never would have dreamed of letting go. These are objects that I once loved, but no longer feel the need to have in my home. I'm moving them to their new homes through le Etsy shoppe. In addition to the random surprise packages I've been sending out to friends if I think something would be better suited in their homes (+ trying to thoughtful in not turning my unwanted crap into someone else's crap).

Standard office stamp holder (sold. thank you.)

Teak candlestick holders (sold. thank you.)

Yellow head bottle (sold. thank you.)

What remains on my shelves + mantles are items given
+ made by family + friends that are my true treasures.

have i ever mentioned...

...that Monk used to be homeless?

Lazy Sunday afternoon nap on the couch after a long walk
+ covered in a down throw that just came out of the drier.