sunday, and sunshine

What better thing to do on a lovely (nearly) spring day than a little spring cleaning?

Today I am grateful for neighbours who enjoy laughter.

twice today

Twice today discussions with different friends were about love. What is love? Does it exist? And so on... I wonder, is it just around the corner? Or is it just that they are feeling sorry for me in my solitude? The solitude was self-imposed, and I'm quite OK.

I did like the definition from one though, if I can translate it well enough. "Love is the embers that remain after the flames of passion die down". That's a pretty good description... and embers can be fanned to life again too!

Today I am grateful for a lesson in Italian.

some days

Some days start off well and go downhill. And, luckily, some go the other way. This morning started off with some sorting of my anxieties, and then just got better and better.

I bumped into people I wanted to see, without planning ahead. I achieved a few more things on the seriously urgent list.

I squeezed in some shopping (new brooms, mops, am I nesting?) and bought fruit and vegetables.

It's cold, but today was a bright cold. There was snow on the hills behind again last night, and today I could pick out smaller snow clouds in the distance across the valley. Bright, crisp cold is OK.

And then, to cap it all off, as I was driving home the sun going down in our strange spring weather cast the most magical pink light over absolutely everything. It wasn't a fleeting thing, it lasted quite some time. No photos, though, I was too busy enjoying it, drinking it in, identifying the rose madder washes it would require...

Today I am grateful for the beauty of the place where I live.

yesterday

Yesterday was one of those days when I worried myself silly about something that was completely outside my control, and as a result spent a miserable day. This morning I gave myself a good talking to, set a self-care plan in action, and hey presto, a visitor arrived in good health and spirits and confirmed that all my worrying was a complete waste of energy and time.

I write this because I preach "no worrying" to friends who worry, but this time fell into the trap myself. There is no point in wasting energy on things you cannot influence.

Always look up. It is your choice, what your "up" is, but whether literally or metaphorically, it is a good thing to do.

***

My website is being redesigned. It is excitingly different from my old one, but you'll have to wait a little longer to see it. I have pangs about it, I was very fond of my old one. Change isn't always easy. (That probably sounds odd, coming from one who changed her life completely only a few years ago). The new website is much more alive and energetic, and that's a good thing. Maybe there is a metaphor in there for me too!

Yesterday I was grateful for the watchful, sympathetic eyes of two little dogs.

Today I am grateful for a friend returned.

hot soup

It's cold again. Spring was flirting with us.

The cantina flooring is looking great, but taking twice as long as expected (why did I expect it to be completed in the predicted time?)

I found some second hand kitchen cupboards for my studio (Woohooo!!)

The Legato blog has had over 700 hits in 7 days.

When it's been a cold old day you can't beat a large serving of home made vegetable soup to make you feel brighter.

The most urgent job on the list has been completed, and must be posted tomorrow.

Today I am grateful for reflective, deep thinkers.

pleased to report

I am happy to be crossing a few more things off the urgent list. Along the way a few of the important but not so urgent things were attended to as well.

A press release for Legato went out today, and I have already had emails from Honolulu, Japan and New Zealand about it. For a control freak like me it's an anxious time, wondering what will be published. I would love to write the articles and releases myself. Perhaps that's why I blog. The publicity has been great though; Word of Mouth Media NZ is doing a great job for the exhibition.

I bought a desk for the studio today; it's not quite what I wanted but it will do.

It has just gone past midnight, and the heater is obligingly beeping to tell me it is almost out of fuel. The message is loud and clear...

Today I am grateful for charity shops supporting good causes.

procrastinating again?

I have reviewed my list of urgent things to do. It has lots of satisfying red lines on it now, but I seem to add more than I cross off. It currently has 18 items on it, but buying gas heaters and similar articles might drop off the list as the weather warms. A warm blanket and big woollen jackets will have to do in the evenings.

Today buying food (not on list) became a priority.

But the grocer had THE MOST GORGEOUS pears for sale. How could I even think about it? Not on any list, pears to paint. I bought a bag full, each carefully selected for shape and colour...

They will make a wonderful exercise to get my watercolour hand back in again after painting on concrete and stucco with all sorts of combined media.

Today I am grateful for the daffodils heralding spring.