I finished making the second piece of art last night at 6:00pm. Loaded up the frames I’d bought last week (when they were half price) and my reluctant youngest son. Art framed. Check. Art delivered by 7:00pm. YES!!! Supper was a late dinner date for two, a boy and his mom. Breakfast eaten on couch with cartoons on. Guess it’s time now to clear the remnants of art making from the kitchen table…before lunchtime rolls around. Kitchen table art is my favorite kind. A solid oak circle placed in the heart of the home. Feels right.
~ Janean

March 29, 2013

Good Friday

The morning sky was melancholy today.
Quiet and contemplative.
Lots of layers to the clouds.
White and gray interspersed.
Then, the clouds parted and a l’il blue sky peeked through.
Good Friday is a moody melancholy day.
The Crucifixion.
But the promise of Good Friday is, “Sunday’s a comin’!”
On Sunday we celebrate and shout, HE IS RISEN!
So it’s only fitting, for Heaven to be a bit subdued with extra clouds in shades of gray, for even though we call it Good Friday, it is a melancholy day.

March 29, 2013
Good Friday

my day thus far

A l’il excitement walkin’ the dog this morning. Started off the same as usual, on the literal bright side, with sunshine, blue sky, glints o’glittering light upon the melting snow. Next thing I know, Blue’s hand-me-down pinch collar fell off as I walked him through the park. Second day in a row. Yesterday I heard the, “clunk” as that silver metal collar hit the ground with the leash attached and I grabbed ahold of his regular collar ninja FAST. Today we both heard the clunk and that too smart for his own good pup took off at an all out run! He headed for the fence line, darted to a grove of pine trees, while I ran the other way, snow boots makin’ tracks, and shouted to that racin’ dog, “BLUE! Come and get me. Good boy.” I wanted him to stay in my line o’sight. I kept on running, and called out, to keep him in the park, and away from the road. The road scares me. He has no sense. Crazy dog wants to chase cars. Blue got close enough I could catch him, it’s a game he sorta loves. Me? Not so much! Grabbed that collar, clipped the leash and caught my breath as we walked on toward home. I’m a long distance walker. Walking I can do. Running has never been my thing. (Insert a visible shudder as I flashback to high school P.E. and that mandatory run ‘round the track.) Home now. Thankful. Breakfast, coffee and art making is next for me. Gotta have the art made, framed and delivered between 5-7pm tonight ‘cause the “What’s So Good About Good Friday?” Art Show is tomorrow. Ah. Art. That always makes me smile. Quiet content kind. Even when I’m runnin’, literally and figuratively, on not much sleep ‘cause the wee hours of the night are calmest for art making in this house with busy on Spring Break boys, a wild woofing pup, and cat that sleeps atop me at night. That’s my day thus far, and a snapshot of what’s ahead. Saw the sun comin’ up from my bedroom window and said, “Good morning.” Needed that calm and peaceful moment to face what was comin’ next.

March 28, 2013

a l’il quiet time

I’m sittin’ in a sunbeam
listenin’ to the clock tick tock
my children are Spring Break snoozin’
that big sweet pup went back to bed
bits o’birdsong drift in through the outside walls
breakfast, coffee, things To Do
yet I’m curled into a corner of the love seat
my favorite cozy couch spot
I’m sitting in a sunbeam
so thankful a new day has begun

March 27, 2013

I am the crazy lady who shoveled her backyard to find the dog’s long leash, so he could romp and dance and play with his favorite 9 1/2 year old boy. It’s snowball throwing, snowman building, snowdog playing time. All is well.

March 25, 2013
a.k.a. The Snowiest Spring Break Ever

a l’il bird song

The birds still serenaded the dog and I, even in the snow covered, early morn. I wish I spoke a l’il bird. I can only imagine the lyrics to their song. If I were a bird I’d croon…

What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?
Spring was nearly springing
The earth was thawing
I woke up early to get my worm

Today the sky is cloudy
Things are murky overhead
This snow is unexpected
What the hell is coming next?

Here I perch upon the branches
Of the dormant, naked trees
Looking down toward the ground
What’s with this dumb ol’ white stuff?
It’s officially Spring
The robins are back in town!

It’s hard to not look back
I want to cry aloud
What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?

Yet I know better than to ask
What the hell is coming next?
‘Cause it might be worse
Than just a l’il snow
There are much worse things
In Mother Nature’s bag o’tricks
People can wreak havoc too
Man made destruction
Is often the very worst
Yet even then
Nature can heal

Today I sit up in the treetops
Gray sky above
Snow covered ground below
I choose to lift my voice up
Toward Heaven
And ask not
What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?
Instead I sing out clearly
Today is a new day
Celebrate
Rejoice
Savor the Gift O’Life
Hooray
I am still alive

Best of all
I’m not singing alone
Us birds
We flock together
In good times and bad
We share our bounty
We share our warmth
We share our l’il bird song
With you

May you enjoy today
savor life in this moment
Whatever it may bring
Tomorrow isn’t here yet
Blue skies will return
So will the sun
Though it may not bring warmth
There is still that gusting wind
The seasons are a changin’
Saying aloud
Time marches on

March 24, 2013

turn it upside down

One of my closest friends and I have been texting, literally since we both woke up today. This is nothing new between she and I…we both have A LOT to say! Best of all, we just say it. No holds barred. No walls.

So, at 8:40am, when she texted me a sad face 😦
I replied…
No sad faces
I have a f’ing rule!!!!
I cannot bear them
My heart is already breaking a zillion different ways
I’m making an egg and toast and coffee for me
Dog needs to stop woofing!
Or I could just go back to bed. Like all day.

That oh, so smart woman, a beyond marvelous friend, responded, “Do what works for u… :)”

A smile! Much better! That just helps me cope.

I wrote again to say:
Food
Art
I’ll be ok
Have a happy Florida day!

She believed me, for she knows me well enough to read my barometric pressure, even while on a l’il bit early Spring Break getaway, from more than a few states away.

It’s nearly 10:00am now. My breakfast has been consumed. First mug o’coffee is in my weary system too. I planned ahead and made an extra mug today. Knew I needed whatever amount o’kick in the arse it’d give me.
~ Janean

March 22, 2013

right now

I’m not this strong
I’m just a human woman
all kinds o’weak
longing and wanting
for things that cannot be
magic
pixie dust
fairy tales
escape from my reality
but this is my life
it’s happening right now
where I stand
in my cowgirl boots
I wear ‘em for courage
needing every scrap
more than anyone knows
I might still wish upon a star
as artist, poet, daydreamers
are apt to do
my heart still whispers,
“Dreams do come true.”
my head replies,
“The time is now. Get busy!”
my gut jangles and tangles
tossed between head and heart
trying to find alignment
head-heart-gut
I know I have it
when my insides
are all smoothed out
I’m not this strong
just breaking time down
into manageable chunks
living life
one day at a time
that’s all I can do
right now

March 22, 2013