Yesterday was a lovely day to spend outside, it was that just right warm, the just right breeze, the sky was bright overcast, the color of platinum...the flowers and weeds are out of control, but I'm enjoying them rather than fretting, it's been the summer of my herniated disc, I'm trying to just go with the flow while it heals, so, I briefly sat amongst the pretty things below their tops...
After I set up all of my studio stuff on the porch, put the cushions on my chair, made my coffee, and brought the laptop outside, I let Crouching Tigger-Hidden Pooh and the Fatty Woo outside to enjoy the day...and of course, Max too...(this is Tiggy-Pooh showing me how the door worked, just in case I forgot what to do...if only he had thumbs!)
It was a good day...I met a grasshopper...he paused his munching to give me a look...
And I met a Giant Swallowtail who I've never met in my garden before, I feel good about that...he didn't sit still for his close up, but he wasn't shy around me, just being a flutter-bye...
I almost forgot...every garden has to have one of these little guys slithering around...
(I saw him again this morning while I pulled my daily allotment of a few weeds, and touched his back as he shyly snaked away...)
Later in the day, Fatty Woo became tired and tipped over onto the driveway...too much catnip...too much fun...it' s nap time...
I alternated between laptop and artwork...juggling my passions...I'm creatively doubled damned...I'm a writer and a painter...not that it's a bad thing...I think it's wonderful that I have found a balance between the two (finally.)
However, it's funny how people react to my creativity in different ways...
"Wow, when do you find the time?" (I don't watch a lot of television.)
"What don't you do?" (This is usually said with a roll of the eyes or hands on hips, sometimes both.) (Why do you say it like that, are you jealous?)
Occasionally the attitude is a smiling one without the sarcasm, "You paint and you write books? Wow..." (so we're back to the "when do you find the time" thing.)
"There's no money in doing that!" (Why is everything we "do" have to be about money?)
There are some positive reinforcement...
"Well, that's great!"
"How awesome is that!"
"Cool."
"Good for you."
"You go, girl."
(Not to sound too harsh, I don't mean to be critical, but it's rare to see some of these people at gallery openings and I sincerely doubt they'd show up to readings or book signings...I've gotten used to this kind of surface enthusiasm.)
Sometimes I'm just startled by how some people just don't have a clue about creativity...they're totally lost at sea when they talk to me...I've always felt like an alien, that odd puzzle piece that never fits in, the square peg being jammed into the round hole...thankfully, I'm comfortable in my own skin, I love what I do. I feel like they're missing out on something special when they don't attempt to explore their creativity because they fear not being good at it. (That's why you have to make the time to practice.)
Today is another day, more editing, more painting...the sky is gray and the air is heavy with humidity...I'm hoping for at least a platinum later, but blue would be nice too...Max is waiting at the door...
A wee pink stripe in the sky...
More looking north, northwest...I'm glad I wasn't over there, it looks a bit scary...
I have a head cold, and have been at home in bed doctoring myself for the last two days...I sort of feel like how this pitiful flower looks...
Ah, but this one wore it's snow so prettily!
As did this snow-capped bunch!
Yes, it's cold...but not too terrible...the snow was gone before noon, like it was never there...
