THE KIDDOS ARE COMING!

The only hard part is deciding on one kinda pie that will please everyone. I didn't even try.

And I made sure there were two of the little peach pies with a hint of almond, since that is my own personal favorite.

LANDING PAD

It's not unusual to hear helicopters overhead as I sit here at my computer. Not long ago, however, it sounded as if one was trying to land on our roof! I stepped out onto the balcony to see what was going on, and discovered that I hadn't been too far off the mark. It was a Life Flight helicopter, and it was swooping down from behind our hill, to land in the open field just in front of us.

I guess I had heard the sirens earlier, but that's not uncommon either, as they often pass by us on their way to the hospitals in Austin. I must have been so absorbed in whatever I was writing that I didn't even notice them stopping right in front of us, to await the chopper's arrival!

This has happened a time or two before, and it is both disturbing and comforting. Disturbing because you never know what has happened or who is involved -- whether, in such a small community, it might be someone we actually know. Comforting though because, well, you just never know when you might need Life Flight yourself, and it's good to know they shouldn't have any trouble at all finding us, and that they can land practically in our front yard!

COLOR LOVE

Less than ten minutes into its first project, I already knew I was gonna looooooove this class!

THE SECRET: MINDFULNESS AND CREATIVITY

Article by Eadaoin Conneally in May/June/July 2012 issue of Artful Blogging

"Often, when it comes to our own selves, we can belittle any sense of our inner artist, claiming we know nothing about creativity, and couldn't even if we tried. Those wonderful gifts belong to other, more talented people. This simply isn't true! We all have a deep, creative well within us, and I'll happily share with you the secret I've discovered about uncovering its depths -- creativity takes effort, and lots of plain and simple hard work. Once you start working on it, you'll find that it comes to you through opening your eyes and mind to inspiration, and developing what you discover."~ Eadaoin Conneally

Ever since I created this page in my art journal, I've spent a lot of time mulling over "being here" -- thinking about mindfulness, inspiration, and creativity. So, I'm sure you can imagine how Eadaoin's quote above resonated with me when I stumbled upon it the other day. She's the same person who said that blogging can be a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, for it pushes you to look for, and share, the hidden delights of your average day. Anywho, it all got me to thinkin' about my own path. About how I spent more than half my life thinking I didn't have a creative bone in my body, and how very, very unhappy that made me.

So, what changed me from being that person, to being one who gasps at the beauty of a sliced-open watermelon radish, and immediately runs for her camera or paints? Well, mostly it was learning to be still and do nothing. It was realizing that the more I tried to multitask, the more miserable I became. I was a person who needed to give her attention to one thing at a time, but I realized of course, when I had a part-time job, had two young children and a hubby who traveled all the time, had failing parents, and had started back to school myself, that there was just no way to get it all done each day. That's when I fell back on a skill I'd learned when managing a clothing store in my early twenties. They taught us to make lists and prioritize, then work down that list one thing at a time. That way, even if you don't get it all done, you will have got the critical things done, and they will have been done well, rather than half-assed. Then I learned to add something else to those lists, and to make it a priority. I started adding a little bit of me-time. Time to do something that makes me happy, or time to do nothing at all. I may have had to schedule it at 5:30 AM, before anyone else was awake, but at least I was fitting it in!

Even more important though, was learning to unplug. I remember this one lady I knew back in Midland, who exercised every dang day, plus played tennis and golf, and volunteered up at the school. I didn't see how she had time for it all. I remember saying something like, "Yeah, but I bet she doesn't cook and sew like I do!", only to be told, "Well, actually, she does. Quite a bit, in fact." I couldn't believe it, so I asked her myself, "What's your secret?" Her answer? No TV. What a bizarre concept. I'd never heard of such a thing! So yes, I do spend time on the computer each day, writing my blog posts and visiting others who inspire me, and yes, I do watch a TV show or two with my hubby at supper time most days. But, if I hadn't learned to pull the plug completely for several hours each morning and evening, I never would have discovered what an imaginative person I actually was. What's the most vital ingredient to a creative life? Time. Time to noodle. Time to be inspired. How do you get more time? Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer. Turn off the phone. Turn off the noise.

PROJECTS GALORE!

Lot's going on at Seasonality these days.

Lexie has once again volunteered to remake an old chair into something magnificent -- something worthy of being auctioned off at the next Arts From The Heart fundraiser. Last time she taught herself to embroider and made a fantastic Dia de los Muertos chair. Can't wait to see what she does with this one!

Mimas has steadily been adding nice little renovations to their property -- custom built booths, cushions, cafe curtains, and now, patio umbrellas -- in all my favorite colors! Just one more reason for me to love the place (as if I needed any!).

I started working on these little blocks that will go in my "inspiration corner". They are one of the final projects for my Art of Wild Abandonment class.

But then I got distracted by my Color Love 101 class, which started yesterday. There are lots of new supplies which need to be catalogued and have swatch books made for them.

This drawer in the kitchen buffet is gradually being usurped.  I had to start asking myself, which will I use more often, the fancy Greek kebab skewers and French cheese labels, or the new Tombow markers, Pan Pastels, Peerless Watercolors and Ink sprays that are winging their way to me right now?

On top of these two classes, I still have a week to go on my 30-Day cooking class. I admit, three overlapping classes was probably a bit much, but what can I say? I just love learnin' new stuff!

My hubby had a surprise project up his sleeve as well. Up till now, I've had a few herbs growing along the upstairs driveway, behind the house, but most were downstairs in the Cantina Garden, around front. I admit, it was kind of a pain having to stop what you were doing and run out, around, and down, to snip a few herbs for whatever you were cooking. Not so anymore!

Thanks to my hubby, I now have two lovely self-watering windowboxes filled to overflowing with herbs, just two steps out my kitchen door!

Most exciting of all? It's the one spot on this whole four acres that the deer cant get to, so I even added a bit of purslane and sweet potato vine to trail over the sides. Woohoo!

What about you? What projects are underway at your house this summer?

FUN, FUN, FUN!

Well, the hubby and I found out recently that we get to add two new crowns each to our already ample dental collection. Since we are both serious gaggers with smallish mouths, that is no easy feat, so our new dentist uses conscious sedation. Which is why I had to be there with John all yesterday morning, and now he gets to be there with me for several hours today. Fun, fun, fun. Catcha later!

COLOR MAD MONDAY: DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Well, lookie dere!

Do you see what I see?

My croton has a bloom on it!

Don't know that I've ever seen one bloom before, but then, I'm not much into houseplants.

With most of the outdoor plants that we grow primarily for their decorative foliage, it's best to keep their blooms picked off. If you allow them to go into full bloom, the foliage tends to go downhill fast. But I don't know nuttin' bout houseplants. Pinch it or leave it? What say ye?

BEING HERE: A PROPER CUP OF TEA

I was wasting time on the computer the other evening when a sound from the kitchen caught my attention. It was the sound of my electric tea kettle -- a sound I don't normally hear unless I have turned it on myself. What a sweet surprise to walk into the kitchen and find the kettle, my teapot and our two favorite mugs, all lined up in a row. There's just nothing like a proper cup of tea, to snap one right back into the here and now.

He must have noticed that I was out of my favorite loose leaf blood orange tea -- something I can't can't get here in Wimberley. A few days later I found two little baggies full lying on the counter. Be still my heart!