I never managed meditation, only infrequently remind myself to breathe (that's what my friends are for) but these days, hard work around my house is what cuts the mustard (whatever that means, anybody?).
The poor old craftsman building has been beaten up during its one hundred plus years, not by me but by my family and previous residents.
I find that careful cleaning and even minute repairs give me such gratification as to provide easy breathing, and peace of mind.
Additionally the once small garden (to a younger me) is well beyond the lush design I had envisioned when I first moved here. 20+ years later, when I have my frequent yard sales during the season, people come in through the front gate, gazing around my messy efforts, and exclaim how secret, private, magical, even, (no faeries, no trolls) they find it. It is this experience that makes me smile after all the hard work, and the never-ending work to be done. I try to be gracious about their comments, letting go of my wretched self-deprecation. They are kind, and make me see the beautiful chaos through their eyes, for which I am most grateful.
What panda could ask for more? No politics in these efforts, but a panda in hand is worth many pandas everywhere, consoling us in need. No?
I love your sketchbook page!! Yea!! I do drawings in my sketchbook almost every morning with my coffee! I live in the PNW too and you aren't kidding about the fast growth of plants!! Glad you're sketch booking too!!
Two mugs of strong coffee with a little cream gets my day started every morning. Maybe I should have had three mugs this morning because it took me a while to figure out what you meant by 'upper left hand corner', but I got it!!
The full description is "the upper lefthand corner, clinging to the edge of the crumbling empire," but I thought that might be a little too apocalyptic.
Thistle requires time after breakfast to lay over my shoulder in a certain easy chair in my home office...so she can look out the window behind me & see what’s going on in her back yard. What’s happening in the world today? If I’m tardy in getting to that chair, boy does she let me know I’m violating the morning routine!
It does not pay to be tardy to work, lest your supervisor become annoyed. Mehitabel had her supervisory pillow on my drawing table upstairs, and another one by my easel in the painting studio.
Scotties are wonderful, but I haven't met one in years. I guess what threw me was the "lie over the shoulder to see out the window" trick. I don't know a lot of dogs that do that! I bet it's cute, though.
Sadly, it’s one of the breeds with severely diminishing numbers since greatest popularity in 1930s. This is my 3rd scottie so I knew what I was getting myself into, ha! They rule their house & have very strong opinions. Thistle is the sweetest ever, not a mean bone in her body, but definitely runs the show. She just turned 5, and has me well trained by now, LOL!
Having been indoctrinated to the cult of the Scottish terrier on two fronts (now a third) they are definitely unique dogs. They are also hard to find now. Celts was a lover of all, which apparently is not a Scotty trait normally. Most Scotties are one person dogs and can be somewhat snappish with strangers.
I am so glad that pandas came into my life! I have chai latte, check out the pandas at the zoo, take a nap panda-style, think about the day. Panda videos are relaxing! I almost have this panda style down! 🐼❤️
I never managed meditation, only infrequently remind myself to breathe (that's what my friends are for) but these days, hard work around my house is what cuts the mustard (whatever that means, anybody?).
The poor old craftsman building has been beaten up during its one hundred plus years, not by me but by my family and previous residents.
I find that careful cleaning and even minute repairs give me such gratification as to provide easy breathing, and peace of mind.
Additionally the once small garden (to a younger me) is well beyond the lush design I had envisioned when I first moved here. 20+ years later, when I have my frequent yard sales during the season, people come in through the front gate, gazing around my messy efforts, and exclaim how secret, private, magical, even, (no faeries, no trolls) they find it. It is this experience that makes me smile after all the hard work, and the never-ending work to be done. I try to be gracious about their comments, letting go of my wretched self-deprecation. They are kind, and make me see the beautiful chaos through their eyes, for which I am most grateful.
What panda could ask for more? No politics in these efforts, but a panda in hand is worth many pandas everywhere, consoling us in need. No?
I need a panda...I know where there is a big bamboo grove. There is nothing like getting your hands in the dirt to calm my anxiety.
I love your sketchbook page!! Yea!! I do drawings in my sketchbook almost every morning with my coffee! I live in the PNW too and you aren't kidding about the fast growth of plants!! Glad you're sketch booking too!!
I'm trying to do it every day, but...well... road to hell and good intentions and all that. I really do love drawing...
I hear you and am the same way!
I have my coffee with a dose of panda cam and a little email. Finding pandas in my inbox is a special treat any time of day.
Nobody expects the panda kindergarten! Don't let them out of the inbox!
I SO want those lines of pandas to be emojis for use in texts and e-mails! I'd use 'em.
And the line(s) of pizza slices makes me think you should incorporate them into a type font ...
Whidby Pepperoni Bold, perhaps?
Ha ha ha! Maybe it is already a font.
Two mugs of strong coffee with a little cream gets my day started every morning. Maybe I should have had three mugs this morning because it took me a while to figure out what you meant by 'upper left hand corner', but I got it!!
The full description is "the upper lefthand corner, clinging to the edge of the crumbling empire," but I thought that might be a little too apocalyptic.
Thistle requires time after breakfast to lay over my shoulder in a certain easy chair in my home office...so she can look out the window behind me & see what’s going on in her back yard. What’s happening in the world today? If I’m tardy in getting to that chair, boy does she let me know I’m violating the morning routine!
It does not pay to be tardy to work, lest your supervisor become annoyed. Mehitabel had her supervisory pillow on my drawing table upstairs, and another one by my easel in the painting studio.
Hey! My cat is Thistle, too! So named ffor being soft and prickly at the same time.
Aww. My Thistle is actually a black Scottish Terrier, named after the Scottish flower. Hello to your Thistle!
Scotties are wonderful, but I haven't met one in years. I guess what threw me was the "lie over the shoulder to see out the window" trick. I don't know a lot of dogs that do that! I bet it's cute, though.
Sadly, it’s one of the breeds with severely diminishing numbers since greatest popularity in 1930s. This is my 3rd scottie so I knew what I was getting myself into, ha! They rule their house & have very strong opinions. Thistle is the sweetest ever, not a mean bone in her body, but definitely runs the show. She just turned 5, and has me well trained by now, LOL!
Having been indoctrinated to the cult of the Scottish terrier on two fronts (now a third) they are definitely unique dogs. They are also hard to find now. Celts was a lover of all, which apparently is not a Scotty trait normally. Most Scotties are one person dogs and can be somewhat snappish with strangers.
I am so glad that pandas came into my life! I have chai latte, check out the pandas at the zoo, take a nap panda-style, think about the day. Panda videos are relaxing! I almost have this panda style down! 🐼❤️