I love that patch of blue
“Clear skies ahead”
as the sun sets
and a brisk wind blows
with January’s chill
standing on my front porch
the sky is changing still
more glowing color
shades of orange and gold
the patch of blue moved o’er
a l’il to the left
as the sun sets
tiny snowflakes fall
and then…
the sky changes yet again
diagonal clouds
pink creeps in
a colorful cloud dance
in the sky
what began
as a tiny patch of blue
expands across the sky
lavender at the horizon
rosy clouds drift by
it’s quite a sight
the wind blows stronger
my hands grow colder
as evening
gets a l’il darker
the sky show is over
time to go inside

January 16, 2014
4:57pm

in listing sidewalk smiles
those thus far today
I nearly forgot one quick exchange
a piece of mail reminded me
moments are so fleeting
this one is worth saving
that dog and I
walked through the park
on the paved path yet again
then we round the corner
back in the neighborhood
and spy a big red shield
Salvation Army kind
a truck emblazoned
with the words,
“Doing the most good”
Blue lunges
wanting to chase the truck
he’a a hound dog
through and through
I see the driver smile
as he completes the turn
he may have seen mine first
(there was a laugh too)
before I reeled my dog back in
there is no such thing as “heel”
we’ll keep trying…
the driver honked in greeting
smiles follow in our wake
through windows, doors,
passersby and drivers
we circle back inside
we’re in and out a lot

January 16, 2014

smiles from the sidewalk
the line up at the bus stop
a glorious male cardinal
chirping from the treetops
that crazy fallen nest
is still resting on the sidewalk
I took another picture
I had to
it’s still there
Blue and Luna touching noses
then my big sweet boy
whispering in her pointed ear
chimes chime
I know not from where
not quite a gong
beautiful
melodic
wind chimes
that’s the sound of my drum
the one I march to
chimes chiming
a sound in the stillness
Blue tugs to cross the street
he sees a lucky dog
threefold lucky
a fenced yard
a frisbee
someone to throw it
and no restrictive leash
fourfold, I guess
back inside now
still smiling from the sidewalk
as I walk through my front door
the new one
with the bare tree
moulded in glass
a friend texts me
artwork from her classroom
snowmen and bare trees
I spy the crinkled snowman rug
Blue drags it around
I put it by the door
to catch snow slush
I reply with words
a smile
and end with
*happy sigh*
sharing my sidewalk smiles
with you

January 16, 2014

The Reality

I wrote that, “I’m logging off Facebook and going to my art table” caption an hour ago. I know because Facebook helpfully keeps track of that stuff. I went back to the Facebook post to get the caption quote right. WTH?! I can’t help it. It’s how I’m made. Accuracy matters, even if the task is whimsical like a red dragon post at Tumblr. While there, I admitted it, posting in comments, “I suck at this. I wrote emails and just blogged at Tumblr about this kickass red dragon post instead of losing my damn phone and walking to my art table. Now I need lunch first, then the dog will need to go out again. Just admitting it.” Honest. There it is. I can own that too.

January 16, 2014
12:42pm lunch time

“Logging off Facebook and walking to my art table now. It’s that badass kickass red dragon that did it. I’ve made red dragon art and black dragon art. Dragons are part of my imagery. Thank you. It was the picture, more than the words that got my attention and said, ‘THIS MEANS YOU!’”

Above is the comment I wrote in the thread underneath this dragon photo on Facebook. Of course, I didn’t do it IMMEDIATELY. Now lunch is next. Good thing is that Blue is snoozing. Tired dog today. Smiling at him conked out, dreaming peacefully. I swear, my dog sleeps like a cat!

The caption under the dragon photo, written by Sarah Prineas, read, “Jump-In January Dragon Week Day Four (16th)
Today’s Dragon: Getting serious…” There was more to her encouraging post. She made her Facebook page a place Creatives could gather, name their goals aloud and keep themselves accountable to follow through. Cool.

Today I delivered six pieces of my artwork for a three month show (and hope for a possible sale). While it is the first time these six pieces are being shown together, or in this venue, they are a few years “old.” All six were made in 2012. Three in July and three in September. It is now 2014 and time to make new, but first I have some begun and abandoned pieces of art to return to and complete. It is time. Today. Right after lunch.

Facing dragons one by one. You have to face them before you can slay them. I am a Dragon Slayer. It says so on my handmade business cards in invisible ink. I know it’s there. I can own it. I do.

January 16, 2014

Dragon image from: http://blackmarches.wikidot.com/red-dragon-king

crazy nest
I took another picture
on walk four of the day
though I usually don’t count them
I wan’t going to take another picture
of this fallen nest
still on the sidewalk
as I circled the short block
with my dog, Blue
but after taking two photos prior,
What’s one more?!
I felt compelled to document it
tugged the dog’s leash
we doubled back
the sun is brighter now
I couldn’t see the preview
took the picture anyway
managed to keep my shadow away
honestly, this sort of sums it up
it has been a crazy nest kind of day
rose light in the sunrise
snow flurries flying wildly
sunshine
blue sky and white fluffy clouds now
just right, perfect, meant to be
on this day, still unfolding
a crazy nest day
I wonder where the bird is perching?

January 14, 2014

crazy nest
I took another picture
on walk four of the day
though I usually don’t count them
I wan’t going to take another picture
of this fallen nest
still on the sidewalk
as I circled the short block
with my dog, Blue
but after taking two photos prior,
What’s one more?!
I felt compelled to document it
tugged the dog’s leash
we doubled back
the sun is brighter now
I couldn’t see the preview
took the picture anyway
managed to keep my shadow away
honestly, this sort of sums it up
it has been a crazy nest kind of day
rose light in the sunrise
snow flurries flying wildly
sunshine
blue sky and white fluffy clouds now
just right, perfect, meant to be
on this day, still unfolding
a crazy nest day
I wonder where the bird is perching?

January 14, 2014

Blue and I saw the sunrise begin along the horizon. It was orange and gold then, as we circled ‘round the block and headed toward the park for the first time in weeks, due to cold and snow packed sidewalks. We both were missing our longer route. A few days ago he tugged that way, but I said, “No” and we took the shorter route to home. Today we ventured further once again. I was feeling ready and the dog was more than eager. “Let me at ‘em,” he said, with his nose down tracking. As we rounded the corner to the wide park path the glaze of ice was evident. Drat. Plan B was better. We walked in the grass. Diagonal even. A shortcut, “As the crow flies,” to quote an old expression. Blue looked at me with eyes that said, “Really?! You sure about this?! Fine by me, just checking.” That dog. I love him. Amber eyes that say so much. He didn’t woof, just trotted and stopped until I tugged. We made it home. Told boys, “Time to get up.” No one did immediately. Eventually they did. Before then though, a rose colored light caught my attention through the kitchen window. Oh. I opened the sliding glass door to the back deck. This. Pink clouds galore. Rose colored light. The essence of living life focusing on the Bright Side. Rose colored glasses. Except it was the whole sky casting rose light everywhere it touched. What a glorious way to begin a day. Today. I stood on the deck alone for just mere moments. Blue watched from the other side of the door, but greeted me as I walked back in to home. Good morning. I woke up hungry before 4am, but stayed in bed awhile longer. Morning whirl of dog walked, boys to school, now I can stop and breathe a second. Much better. Breakfast for me is next. Today is here. Embrace it.

January 14, 2014