currently: i am...

Currently – I am…

Missing PLAYING THE PIANO. I confess. It has been a long time. I miss it though. I miss my piano. Try as I may, I can not think of one single good reason I ever let myself be talked into selling it. My son has a keyboard, but it just isn't the same thing. Ask a piano player, they'll tell you the same thing. This summer I plan on digging around the local auction houses. Maybe this Fall will find me tickling the ivories once again.

Purging  KITCHEN CUPBOARDS. All I really wanted to do was put a piece of tupperware away. One thing led to another, like it always does with me and cupboards and the next thing you know I am pulling ten years worth of stuff out of all the kitchen cupboards and drawers. My church thrift store is going to love me!

Wondering WHERE THE SCHOOL YEAR WENT. How in the world can it be the end of the year already? I swear it was just yesterday we were trying on uniforms and buying twenty five hundred reams of notebook paper. For what it is worth, I am happy to have Summer fast approaching. I love my kids and I miss them during the school year. Alot. I welcome our upcoming downtime together.

Creating WHEN I CAN. If I have said it once I have said it a million and a half times, LIFE HAPPENS AROUND HERE. The minute I get a good momentum going, something blindsides me and I have to go off the art grid for a few days. Do I like it? No. Would I change it? Not if it meant sacrificing family. Nine times out of ten I go off the grid for family. Instead, I pick myself up, dust off my stool and get back to work. Over and over and over again. This workshop,  GO GREEN – part of the new 21 Secrets Workshop Series for 2013, has made realize that art can be quick, easy and uplifting - even if I only have a few minutes a day to create.

Offering UP MY WORRIES. I could say this every month. I could say it every day. Without faith I would be lost. There is so much chaos that goes along with having a big family. To say I didn't worry would be a gross understatement, but I do try to remember that it is out of my hands.

Waiting FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. Don't get me wrong- I welcome the rain because lately we have just had too little of it...but...feeding the chickens is a whole lot sweeter chore when the sun is shining!

Listening to THE SOUND OF EVENING. In my house that means a living room turned music hall and the sweet sound of a violin.

Focusing ON MY VISION. I can't see. Really I can't. I have been struggling with a new type of lens that my body seems to want to reject. Today I learned that the only alternative might be to wear two lenses in each eye. Yuk. I came home with them in my eyes. Double Yuk. They hurt, they make my eyes feel dry and I still can't see perfectly well. Two weeks from now may find a new solution. I hope.

Sorting THROUGH MY PAINT STASH. Not my art paint. My house paint, and yes I do have a stash. Don't ask. I feel the need coming on to paint something. I broke the ice today with my better half and he seemed open to my newest hairbrained idea. I hope he still feels that way come Saturday. Fingers crossed.

Learning THAT SKETCHING DOESN'T GET EASIER. At least not for me. I have had not one, but two great teachers and I still am struggling. It is just plain hard for me. I am going to keep at it. I don't want to give up yet, but I so hope something happens in the way of maybe a fairy granting three wishes. I know what one of them will be.

Sewing NEW SCRAP BAGS. Not bags you keep scraps in, but bags made with scraps. I can't part with all of the those pretty little pieces at the end of a big project, so the scrap bags were born. I am having fun with a new look, but will continue to sew the ruffley bags too. Here are a few other ways I used old scraps! ---> look at how pretty this one is. And this one too! Old quilts have been finding new uses here too, as pretty, quilted bible covers.

Loving MY NEW PHONE. It has been a long time coming and I am so happy to just finally have a phone that works all the time. I am addicted to all of those awesome new photo editing apps and have to limit how much time I allow myself to play each day.