Inviting You In

Favorite Photo Friday

Quote of the day:  I type in one place, but I write all over the house. - Toni Morrison

This is an inviting space that I created.

Well, the former owners of my home built the deck, but I added the ingredients that invite me in, help me relax to create and dream.

I'm out here often in the summer and early fall.

I have about a month left before it gets too cold in this northern state.

I'm like Toni Morrison in that I write all over the house. I have tiny scraps of paper lying around to prove it. Also, with the ease of laptops, I'm in several locations, including the kitchen table, my room, and coffee shops.

Go. Create. Inspire! and create an inviting space for your creative soul.

Journaling Prompt:  What does an inviting space look like to you?

Accordian Fold

Favorite Photos Friday #3 (clearly, I can't stick to just one)

Quote of the Day:  This river, named after a crow's wing, makes me feel light. - Georgia A. Greeley

On the banks of the Crow Wing River

Sits an old army barracks cabin

Where I met with these two lovely, creative people

To make this

What do you think it will be?

Journaling Prompt:  What is it about water that is so alluring?  Which body of water are you most attracted to? Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, creeks, water falls, other?

Gloomy Days

Quote of the Day:  Rainy days and Mondays always get me down. by The Carpenters

We have had lots and lots of rain. I woke up Saturday morning to a big thunderstorm. 

It was a dark and gloomy morning....

That could be a story starter, but it doesn't have the same ring as dark and stormy night.  Gloomy mornings just make me want to lie around in my jammies, drink coffee, read blogs, and put in another dvd of Castle. I'm late discovering that great show about a mystery writer and a female detective.  What a great character he is - a bit egotistical, yet a caring and concerned father, and a guy who loves a good story. His crime solving skill is to ask the question: What would make a better story? It's fun. I have to rewatch episodes sometimes because I miss the subtle clues.   

After about three episodes on Saturday morning, I felt like a big slug, so I played piano to my creative juices flowing, then packed up my laptop and headed to a nearby restaurant/coffee shop.  They have a great summer chicken salad wrap, wifi, and a fairly quiet room.  The lunch was great and I worked on an article for Her Voice on Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Sometimes, you need a change of scenery to get creative and concentrate.

Journaling Prompt:  Where do you like to go to get creative or take a break from the same old, same old, and beat the gloomy days?

Life is Good

Quote of the Day:  "...a talent is something given, that opens like a flower, but without exceptional energy, discipline, and persistence will never bear fruit."  - Mary Sarton, Belgian-born American writer

From my Mom's flower garden.

Her spring flowers were gorgeous this year.

When I discovered Orioles in my yard, I set out oranges and readied my camera, but it was the grape jelly that brought them to my porch railing.  Birds have amazing brightness of color.  I'm a bird watcher, but not a true "Birder."  I don't know all my varieties, I just like looking at them.  I heard an ad on the radio about a yard service that makes your yard bird friendly with the right plants, feeders, etc.  I'm tempted to have them come here.

The Oriole likes grape jelly!

School's out for summer, and I'm prepping myself to share my space.  With my own four sons and various friends and neighborhood boys running in and out, I find myself craving quiet time and creative space.  I need to claim it.  Make some dates with myself at coffee shops.  Shut the door and tell them to find their own food.  I can do it, but it takes more discipline.  It's good for them to see me taking time to do what I love, creating, writing, making music, nurturing my own friendships.

And, they're not little kids anymore (sigh).  They're getting more independent. My oldest son is a senior, now, and starting his first job - lifeguard at the Y.  Yay for him!  The three younger ones will go to scout camp for a whole week without me this August.  What adventures await them?

What adventures are waiting for me?

Don't lose yourself in caring for others.  Find what you love and nurture it, too.  Then, you won't feel so empty when the chicks start to leave the nest.

This was the fastest school year, yet.  How fast will next year fly with a senior in the house? Too fast. I can already hear the clock gears speeding up.

Tess Hilmo, a blog friend, is challenging us to write how "Life is Good."  She's also giving away prizes and promoting her first book, With a Name Like Love.  I was a winner last week, among my treats are See's candies and her book as soon as it's released, Sept. 27.  Thanks, Tess.  Go check out her book and great prizes, and tell her how "Life is Good" in your world.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  When you claim time and space for yourself, where do you go and what do you do?



Room for Play

Quote of the Day:  If work is fun, is it really work?  from yours truly - more of a question to ponder, really, than a quote, or a need for an answer.

If you read my post on Friday, you will remember that taking time to play was on the schedule for the weekend.  Many of you had play dates that you mentioned.  We installed a bit of playground fun in my twins' bedroom

This project sparked all sorts of creativity.  The boys and I designed their loft bed with a slide.  I mean, who wouldn't want to slide into mornings?  Plus, we live in central Minnesota.  Winter winds and piles of snow will soon cover outdoor playgrounds.  I got this idea from a friend who put something similar in her basement playroom.  I roughly sketched the design and talked with craftsman Sid.  He drew up the plans and built it for us.  The big boys and our friend Jon carried it in.  Jon used his problem solving skills to get that long piece into the bedroom which, of course, was the most difficult room to turn into upstairs!

A few weeks ago, my boys and their buddy painted their room.  I let them choose from all the remnant colors in the basement.  We had at least five cans of paint open.

Once the room was cleared and the bed installed, the space opened up creative play from all my boys!

We were blessed with gorgeous fall weather, so the boys also played outside - all the usual sports:  football, soccer, shooting baskets, and something involving lightsabers, a baracade, and lots of running!

I played piano for my church.  Charlie and I shared the water I brought.  During Communion, he came over and got a drink.  I was singing and playing, but whispered between verses that he should take a drink and sit down.  He said he needed to do something first.  He came in closer and kissed me on the cheek - in front of God, the congregation and everybody!

Sweet memories linger: 

Creative Expression on bedroom walls,

An indoor playground that makes you happy to get up in the morning,

Happy, healthy boys who run and play and enjoy being together,

and, a sweet Communion kiss.

Journaling Prompt:  What sweet memories do you have of playing and being with someone you love?

Creative Space

Quote of the Day:  If I don't create something soon, I'm going to explode! - Mary Aalgaard, after computer catastrophes, time away, and a house full of distractions, I mean boys!

So, I invited myself over to my friends' house and made fruit pizza.  Yes, it really IS as good as it looks.  Cookie bottom, cream cheese "sauce" and your favorite fruit.  I'm licking my fingers - and the pan when every morsel has been scraped away.

I'm still working my way through The Artist's Way, and one of our tasks was to make a list of 20 things you like to do.  Making fruit pizza was #12.

1. write

2. play piano

3. eat pizza (only because I was at a pizza place at the time and dreaming of #12)

4. take pictures

5. attend live concerts (listen to music)

6. travel

7. nap

8. go out for coffee

9. walk

10. Group Power (weight lifting class at the Y)

11. bike

12. make fruit pizza (And eat it and share it)

13. ride horse

14. make things, like journals (see pic below)

15. knit

16. teach

17. do Kids' theatre

18. act

19. sing

20. laugh

I'm presenting at a women's retreat day at a local church on Saturday on keeping a prayer journal.  Here's a photo of what I'm making.

 Isn't that paper just yummy?  I also love going to the downtown Art & Frame store to shop for paper.

If my computers had been in operation, I would have written a tribute to my journaling mentor earlier this week.  Here she is at Mount Carmel gazing out at the lake, soaking in all the goodness of our week together.  I'll tell you more about her later.

I've also been to scout camp, back home for a visit with family and extended family, and to the grocery store about 47 times since the beginning of June.

Oh, and while I was away, I tweaked my blog.  See the flag counter?  I was excited to see that someone from South Africa stopped by.  Hello!  I love being part of the global community.

Journaling Prompt:  List your top 20 things you like to do.  Then, pick one and go do it!!

Coffee Shop Office

Quote of the Day:  The price of a cup of coffee, even gourmet coffee, is cheap rent for inspirational office space.  Mary Aalgaard, playwright

My artist friend JeMA and I met at our local coffee shop to work.  You know, if you want other people to take you seriously as a writer or artist, or whatever, YOU need to take yourself seriously.  I got up, dressed for work (notice the Scriptfrenzy t-shirt), packed my bag, and set up my work space.  We actually sat across from each other, but came together for the pic.  And, yes, I did write.  I'm up to 13 pages.  A little behind schedule, but plugging away.

This morning, we met another woman who is starting up an events planning business.  We exchanged cards.  People were having business meetings, working, meeting friends.  I've observed job interviews and overheard a social worker (I assumed) speaking in the cellphone:  The important thing is that you stay sober and get to class.  The events planner we met today told us of a time when she overheard a woman sobbing into her phone, lost and feeling alone.  She had just left an abusive husband.  Our friend bought her a cup of coffee and gave her a list of social services in the area.

So much life happens in a coffee shop.  That's why it is such a rich setting for my drama.  Coffee Shop Confessions happen everyday here.  I think of a coffee shop as a daytime bar, minus the alcohol, but filled with the same angst, life's struggles, mingling, longings, and confessions.

JeMA couldn't bring her paints and canvasses to the shop, but she did bring her laptop and took care of the putzy work of her business.  We'd like to share a book title with you folks.  The Artist's Guide How to make a living doing what you love, by Jackie Battenfield.  JeMA said this book practically jumped off the shelf at her.  Her kids were the first to point it out and say, "Hey, Mama, there's a book for you."  She said the focus is on building a business as an artist, in her case a visual artist, but anyone who craves success in their creative field could use this book.

Journaling Prompt:  What or who helps fuel your creative energy?  Have you ever tried a new space for inspiration?