Don't Panic Before It's Necessary

I heard one of the professors tell this to a student a while back. Seems like good advice.

I was playing around in my newly cleaned art room (while listening to my Native American flute music which art teacher in Houston said was conducive to painting and creating!) and wanted something to do. I started with a sheet of watercolor paper and added the magazine picture face (which may still be too recognizable?) The red vase is a dictionary page I had cut out freehand last year and painted. The edges are scrapbook paper I tore and glued on to the page. Then I scanned it and added the words in Photoshop Elements. Not great or complicated work, but fun and relaxing to do, while waiting for other ideas to come. Still, I think this saying would be great on a card.

Changes!

I've changed things around! I don't know that I am totally satisfied with what I have done but I will sit with the way it is for now.

I'm still walking around with my drain pouch and my ear helmet and my gauze "scarf" wrapped around my neck. The pain is easing off a bit but I'm still not up to full speed. There are times when I think I could make a run to Michael's or to the bookstore but then I remember, I look sort of like Frankenstein's bride! I go back to the doctor on the 5th of March. Hopefully he will remove the drain tube and maybe take out the stitches and staples and let me get back to work! Back to my new theoretical normal!

Most of you may have already seen this but I thought I'd put it up here anyway. I keep thinking I heard someone say exactly this, and wondering if I should try to figure out who it was or where it was I heard it so I can give proper credit. But on the other hand, it is something that has been said for years in many different ways so it is a common sentiment.

I cleaned and reorganized my art room over the Mardi Gras holiday and I'm anxious to get in there and do some stuff but I don't know what I want to do!

Joy and Sorrow

Coffee and gingerbread cookies added a bright spot to my wet and dreary afternoon filled with somber thoughts. Later on, we met with old friends for dinner. Now we are home again.

It's Mardi Gras time here in Southwest Louisiana. I am off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the holiday. The rain wreaked havoc on parade plans today. I don't know whether or not I will venture out to get pictures.

I was writing in my journal last week, for the first time since my son's death, and I looked down at my desk and noticed this note. He had written it on the tape that was holding down the paper I use to keep paint from getting on the desk. I'd seen it before but had forgotten it was there. He's never really that far away in my thoughts.

All is not as gray as it seems. 

Life can be so bittersweet. So it was today, so it will continue to be, I would imagine. 

Joy and sorrow, they are never far apart.