Jan - Feb 21/2021 Update

My 2021 goals are off to a slow start. It might be because my goals are more vague this year than they were last year. It might be because I have to push myself every day to keep from sliding into a deeper depression. It might be because I'm so tired of staying away from other people due to Covid, so inspiration isn't coming as easily for me this year as in the past. 

It's likely a bit of all three.

As a recap, my 2021 goals are:

1. To attempt 21 new-to-me artforms
2. To flesh out my word-of-the-year: Explore
3. To recreate images that other photographers have made using the hashtag #tryittoosday
4. To pair a daily walk with listening to an audiobook that I only listen to while walking. This way I can ingest more books each year while at the same time be motivated to walk. 

Here's what I've managed so far:

Artforms

1. Writing My New Story for 2021. I did this with an online workshop.
2. Made a spiritual-based vision board. I did this with an online workshop.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Learned to utilize layers in my photo editing program
4. Learned to use safety eyes for stuffed animals
   
   

Explore

1. Hiked with Jodie at a new-to-us location, Kirk Park
   
   
   
   
   
2. Tried out two online workshops
3. Drove up a street I'd been curious about for over a year. It was sad. I found an entire homeless encampment on this out-of-the-way street in a light-industrial part of town.

Try It Too-sday

1. Googly-eye Popsicle Stick
2. Made a Puffball Hamster Kittie
3. Macro image of a fork and spoon
   
   
   
   
   
4. Photo of rubber gloves

Audiobooks

1. Challenge Accepted by Celeste Barber (Recommended! Funny!)
   
   
   
   
   
2. I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifrendka and Martin Ganda (Recommended)

Now, if I had kept my goals really simple -- say, build 21 jigsaw puzzles -- I'd be more than half way to my 21 goals. I've already put 12 together. 

All by itself, having constructed that number of jigsaw puzzles sums up how raw my emotions have been so far this year.

Daily Rx

My prescription for dealing with The Big Sad today is popcorn, a Diet Coke, and a Hallmark movie.

After watching the movie, I was able to get up, do an activity or two, and cross a couple items off my Task List. 

It was encouraging news to hear that the American Rescue Plan passed in the House of Representatives and is on the way to the Senate. This government assistance will help millions of people in this dreadful time.

It was also great news to hear that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been approved. It puts me that much closer to getting my shot(s). I think having the ability to get out and about, even masked and distanced, will do wonders for my spirit.

Every little bit helps. 

Minnie

I'm still in soothe my soul mode, so ended up putting two puzzles together yesterday. The first is this cool take on Minnie Mouse. 

Due to the limited color pallet and repetition of polka dots, this 500 piece puzzle (from Dollar Tree) ended up being quite a little challenge.

Her face, gloves, bloomers, and the daisy are all the same white as the background. The yellow polka dots are in four sizes. I needed to pay a lot of attention to the details.

One thing to note is that the image on the box top shows polka dots in the ears. On the actual puzzle pieces, Minnie's ears are a flat black. I suppose one mustn't judge a puzzle box by the cover.

A Nub of Gratitude

A low-grade depression has nestled into my brain. My daughter calls it "The Sads." One practice I have to combat it is finding at least one small thing to be grateful for each day.

I'm grateful for magnolia buds thriving in the sunshine. Spring and new life (and vaccines!) are on the way.

4th of July on February 24

 Coping with the Covid isolation had me back on the puzzle board this week. I chose this Charles Wysocki illustration called Bang, Boom, Bam & Pow. Time for an Independence Day celebration!

This 300 piece puzzle was just right for a quiet evening. This puzzle was lots of fun because of the mix of elements. There was plenty of text, good background color separation, and many many humorous vignettes to discover.

Here are some of my favorites. The fireworks stand with it's dapper saleman.

A dog learning how to "sit up" to get a treat.

The traveling carriage of Milton Spinny Pickett, who put on fabulous fireworks displays for the entire community.

The kid with sparklers in each hand, and a beanie with a helicopter top.

And this young man blowing a horn to impress his girl, and she putting up with it with her hands over her ears. She likes it, but is embarrassed by hanging out with this kid. You can tell, because of the bright blush on her cheeks. 

I seem to have enough time on my hands to make up the backstories of these charming characters.

Try It Too-sday: Rubber Gloves

I ran across a photo of rubber gloves on June 11, 2013. I liked the texture and muted color and composition, so tucked it away. I believe the original photograph that I admire so much was taken by a fellow photography student.

This week I pulled out the old photo and decided to "Try It Too!" 

My Version

The only rubber gloves I had were bright pink, so I needed to manipulate the color while editing. The lighting and positioning aren't quite on point, but I think my photo has the same flavor as the original. 

Inspiration Photo

These challenges are turning out to be more difficult than I imagined when I thought up the idea. Trying to re-create the images causes a lot of brain drain!

Magnetic

I found this string of bead on the athletic track behind my house. I assume some kid dropped it and left it behind. I picked it up and put it in my pocket without examining it. I thought they were just pretty beads. Heavy for their size, but pretty.

When I got home, I washed them off and took a closer look. That's when I realized the beads were actually magnets that are remarkably strong for their size. They certainly have a mind of their own. It was quite a task to get them to lie as a single strand on the table.

It also took some doing to get them to line up side-by-side. What are these things? I did a little research online. I think they might be MagneDotz. 

I recall once hearing stories about how these small magnets are a danger to little kids and pets. They're marketed as some kind of executive desk toy.

I admit that they are fun to play with. 

I'm not sure what I'll do with them. I'd hate for them to end up hurting little kids or animals.

100 Days

I'm grateful to have my meditation practice again. I'd lost it for most of 2020. Then I heard a suggestion to change it up a little bit.

So now, instead of making meditation part of my morning routine, I moved the time of day. First I tried it before bedtime, which worked fairly well except that it knocked my sleeping schedule off with Dale's sleeping schedule.

For now, I meditate in the afternoon. My intention is to go for a walk while listening to an audiobook after lunch each day, then meditate after that as a way to rest after my walk.

I've also changed up the amount of time I meditate from 15 - 20 min per day to 5 - 15 min per day. In other words, I'm cutting myself some slack. This Covid isolation stuff is getting to me, so I'm lowering the expectations I place on myself.

So far, here's the result!

This practice of presence does help. I'm reminded to note when my mind starts running in circles. When I see it, I can switch gears and do something that brings me into the present moment (needs close attention). I find my contentment is just around the bend.

Pigeon Pals

Over the long  Valentine's Day / President's Day weekend, Dale and I spent lots of hours side by side, including putting this 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle together. It's another illustration by Charles Wysocki ... and, I believe, the first one that I've seen without an American flag. Quite unusual.

It's called Pigeon Pals and features a couple men who raise and race pigeons. That's a trade I rarely see in the 21st century.

This is another image with fun details, like the birds nesting in the hayloft.

Then there's this cat sunning itself on a birch wood chair.

Parts of this puzzle were not fun to put together at all, like the greens in the upper two corners. But the wisteria fell into place rather nicely, along with this pigeon flying in the golden light.

Can you spot the heart in the image?

Jackpot!

Dale and I stopped into Walmart for the first time in five months. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Oooo! Pretty things! OoooOOOOOoooo! People!

We were there to pick up some pea gravel for the yard. We left with an armful of Wysocki puzzles (on sale!)

Oh. And the gravel.

Elfie Whoo

I've been keeping my hands busy with another cross-stitch project. It's an owl ornament for you-know-whoooo. (Annie, the owl lover).

This Elfie is a little wonky, but that's OK. I'm looking forward to adding the Wisper fuzzy thread around his eyes. It'll give him even more personality.

Melodrama in the Mist

Ah! I just unearthed these photos on my camera. They're from a 300 piece jigsaw puzzle I put together about a month ago. I had itchy fingers and needed to keep them busy one evening.

This is another puzzle based on an image by Charles Wysocki called Melodrama in the Mist. 

As with most Wysocki illustratons, this has some wonderful details. Check out the theater with it's big town clock, the ornate woodcarvings over the porch, and the old red armchair on the roof!

The marquee lures in the guests. Looks like a barn-burner!

These theater-goers are dressed up in their Sunday best for their date. I like how he's holding his umbrella on his arm while holding her steady with an arm around her back. Her beaded handbag is a wonderful detail.

And this umbrella on a cranked holder attached to a bicycle is to die for. She's so sporty with her short cape. The red ribbon bow tie at her neck matches her hatband.

For now, I can't get enough of these puzzles. I have a feeling that over the years, every time I put a Wysocki puzzle together, I'll recall these long months of Covid isolation and how the comfort of putting a puzzle together kept me sane.

Spring!

When I lived in Idaho, I loved watching the purple crocus break through the soil, bark, and ice. It usually happened in late March or early April. It was my first sign of spring.

Here in Eugene, the yellow crocus bloomed this weekend at the neighborhood park! While my old hometown is covered in ice and snow, here we had a mostly sunny day. These early flowers are a most welcome sign that spring is right around the corner.

I really need this cheery bit of color to break the blah spell that has me in its grip.

Stormy Weekend

It appears to be stormy all over the country. Thankfully, we don't have snow and ice to contend with. Our stormy Monday looked like this.

Puzzles and Podcasts

Dale and I spent Valentine's Day side by side. First with a walk. Then with a country drive. Then with a lovely steak dinner. Finally with a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

Simple pleasures.

Together

This is what I've been stitching while watching the impeachment trial. Since there were lots and lots of hours of trial, I had plenty of time to work on it.

I haven't yet decided on how I'll do the finishing work, but I have a couple ideas knocking around in my head. I'd like to have it completely done for our 30th wedding anniversary in April.

My Littles

 These two are growing so much! I look forward to our video calls every week.

Melody

Annie (who put her toothbrush in a jar in between chewing on it because she's getting new teeth).

Can I Get to Know You?

32 years ago, Dale and I got to know each other. He came by to chat with me about the Lenten class he was leading on the topic of prayer forms. It was the beginning of an hours-long late-into-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning conversation.

We've been enjoying long conversations with each other ever since.

Happy Dating Anniversary to Us!

Ariel

 This is the second of three 300-piece Disney puzzles I picked up at Dollar Tree. This image is spectacular.

The front of the box has this close-up image.

The back of the box has a small picture  of what the puzzle will look like when finished.

I worked on it a few weeks ago. Because it's primarily three colors, it was surprisingly challenging to put together. 

I adore these unusual depictions of the Disney characters. 

I've not put the third puzzle together yet, but I'm looking forward to it.