Walking in the rain...

Today I wanted to go to the bead store. I had an idea for my most recent quilting project. At noon I stepped outside to see that it was raining. Okay, take the car. I walked to my car and decided instead to just take the umbrella out of my car. I have no idea how long it has been since I purposely went for a walk in the rain, but I did today. It was fun. I loved it. With my little black umbrella above protecting me as I listened to the pitter pat of the rain drops not falling on my head and the squish, squish of my shoes on the wet sidewalk, I walked the few blocks to the bead store where I found beads from Kenya. Perfect. African beads made by African women for their livelihood the shop keeper explained. I picked out three flat ones in brown with gold painted swirls, three round ones in red with painted gold dots and a button that is very special for a special focal point on the quilt to be explained another time. But it was just what I was looking for. Just what my quilt needed. The rains came down harder on my way back so I picked up my pace and took my now cold but not too wet body back to the office where I welcomed the warm interior of the room. There my umbrella and I dried out for my work of the rest of the afternoon. I had time to check out everyone elses blogs, something I love doing...catching up on artists' drawings, mixed textile art, paintings, collages, poems, photography, and words. What a wonderful circle we've made in blogland. What great talents gather together and share their art and their wares. I know I've said this before but I so appreciate having been introduced to this world, this amazing group of talented souls. Leaving comments I hope will be half as appreciated as I do the ones that come to me on a daily basis. Who knew? Who knew? I feel so blessed. ********************************************************************************* Tonight I went to the second and final sketching class. Once again I felt too tired to be there. But Brenda, our teacher, explained that my right brain could take in her lessons while my left brain relaxed so perhaps I was in the best frame of mind. Negative spaces, dark shapes were drawn out of pictures, lighter spaces filled in later. She even had me copy one picture upside down so I'd see those spaces and not just the lines. I'm writing this still tired just having come home from there so not positive I have this all right. Just know I probably should stick to day time classes when it comes to drawing and sketching. She's a great teacher. She deserves a more alert student! ;-) I will try these techniques on my own and others we learned...no giving up here. No giving up. **********************************************************************************

Wednesdays Walk

On Monday I took a walk and described all the spring flowers already in bloom here. Today I took my camera so I could show you what my eyes saw then and today again.
These are the elephant legs I walked though down this main street in town with the old Victorians restored and flowers along the way. It was bright and sunny again today after yesterdays walk which was drizzly and cold. Today I only needed to wear a sweater.
And I swear my tennis shoes are walking faster and faster than ever before.

Quilting is my passion

This art quilting is so very different from traditional quilting and I am feeling freer and freer with it. I really do feel I go into another zone and the colors come together and the shapes and sizes...pictures if you will, forms, lines, it's a kind of magic happening, almost through me. I am very excited about this latest project. I was up until midnight working on it last night, just could not stop. Spinning gold in the tower like some princess from fairy tale times. It's FUN! So excuse me now as I need to get back to my tower.

Signs of Spring

I do regret that I did not take my camera with me today on my noontime walk. There was a new bounce to my step. (Must be all the exercise I am getting these past two weeks) The sky was bright blue, not a cloud in the sky. The sun shown brightly. Everything dry after our recent deluge of rains. Well perhaps a puddle here or there but nothing to blog home about. And then I started seeing true signs of spring. There is an area between my office and the post office where I was headed, a small patch of dirt that in springtime becomes a real meadow of wild flowers. Today I spied a bright orange and a bright yellow flower in full boom! They lit up the place surrounded by last years dark dank dead flora. And then a few yards down that street a house with two long rows of white Iceland Poppies floating lightly as they do on long stems. I walked further down the road and suddenly realized I was surrounded by 20-30 feet tall elephant legs, but no, looking up I saw they were indeed palm trees. I must have passed them hundreds of time by car, but never having walked between them before was struck by their newness to me and their awesomeness. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this long brisk walk in the sunshine! Twenty five minutes later I was back at my office feeling invigorated ready to face the afternoon indoors again.

A hint of what I've been doing...

This is just a tease regarding my newest quilting project.
Been working on it for several days now, much time spent on the floor on my knees putting a puzzle together.
Pricked my fingers, but thus far not bled on the piece!
What's a project without blood, sweat and tears?
Will just say it's a work in progress that may take quite a bit of time.
After she goes to her new home you shall see her.

Yesterday I had to take a break, as Henry thought it great fun to dive into the piles of fabric I had on the floor. He was not going to let me get anything done. So I scooped him up and rocked him to sleep, and then was able to leave him on this "old" quilt of mine while I returned to my project.

Wishing you all a Happy Sunday. The rains have been falling on us for days now, off and on, on and off, but really pouring when they come down. It sounds good on the roof, rather soothing. Just hope the roof holds! ;-)

New Blog on Health

Today I started a new blog for my Positive Health Eating and Exercising information. The address in is at the bottom of this paragraph. I decided to separate this information from my other life/art/information because I wanted a personal journal that would be easier for me to chart and monitor my progress in this new program now in it's third week. I will post what I am doing to create a healthy life there, and my side of the interactions with my support buddy (or buddies if more decide to join us) in this endeavor. So if you are interested pop in to see what we are doing, or come over and join us in a healthy 2008 and life, as that is the plan. The new blog is at: http://lynnshealthplan.blogspot.com

Sketching Class 1

Last night was the first of two sketching classes I have signed up to take this and next week.

The first drawing is us testing different pencils for shades and feel. Some pencils feel "creamy", who knew? Then we were instructed to sketch some objects our instructor set out on the table.

And then we were told to go around the room and find things to sketch on our own.
And that was that!

I've been doing some fabric work too but won't be sharing that for a while yet. Just know I AM being creative!

Saving Money, Noon Time Walk, and New Quilt Plans

This new way of eating, smaller portions, bringing my lunch to work is saving me money. I figured that as I was spending an average of $6 a day for lunch four days a week, sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less depending on where I went to eat, I am now saving approximately $48 in these first two weeks. Multiply that out for the year and it will be $1248 take away my vacation time...still a good sum of money saved! Think of the fabric I can buy, the paints, the sketch pads! This is so good. I continue to feel good. Find eating this new way satisfying, am not craving anything. I even am comfortable in the evenings when I used to snack. Now not eating after dinner is easy and comfortable. I do chew sugar free bubble gum if an urge, old habit bubbling to the surface, occurs. And am fine. I just took a noontime walk...20 minutes...my nose and toes feel froze (n). I don't do that well in cold, and I don't think it is THAT cold here today, but cold for me. I feel invigorated. I did stop at the local museum for a brief 5 minute break...saw lots of pretty jewelry, pottery, paintings on display. And in the gift shop a little deck of cards that were about Tapping your Creativity! I think mine has been tapped. But I enjoyed reading the back where it said: there are no mistakes, do your own thing, think outside the box, etc. Loved it. I walked down a main street that is residential and full of old, old restored Victorian homes. Just beautiful wonderful places to see. Wondered what it would be like to live in one of them. Saw pretty trees, huge orange trees dropping their fruit on peoples lawns...oh such waste. I do hope they are going to pick them up and eat them. They have more than one family could possibly eat. I'd put boxes out and say take for free. Now back in my warm office, ready for the rest of this wonderful day. A new quilt piece is bubbling in my mind as well. I have been offered my first commissioned piece. It's just in the initial planning stages, but I will start posting as my ideas as plans come more into fruition. It's exciting to think of designing something new. This will not be following a pattern, it will be my own creation. So, something to look forward to.

Thanks to Cris in Oregon We have a Logo

Two weeks ago Cris in Oregon and I joined up as a buddy team to support each other in our desire to change some not so great life style habits for some better ones. We hoped to drop a few pounds in the process, but maintaining a healthy life style for the rest of our lives is our main goal.

We are each using our own modes for doing this, each in her own way, but sharing thoughts, feelings, ideas, and support is helping each of us stay committed to our own journey.

So far it is a very exciting journey. We both have started seeing some changes in our bodies and habits because of the new things we are doing (eating smaller, lighter, healthier, exercising, talking, sharing feelings, etc.) and it's working!

We invite anyone interested to add our logo to their side bar and join in the fun.

Promote positive healthy eating and exercising for a healthy life!

Lynn Paints for Fun at Home

Suki's barn in NH.

Whimsical rainy day in CA.

And project Positive Eating and Exercising for a Healthy Life is going well.

This is week two for me. I continue to do treadmill walking for 30 minutes each day (except Sunday when we walked outdoors in the wind up hill and down hill for an hour and another kind of workout!) 100 crunches on the floor, and today I added some pull down weights (not too heavy at this point) for arm firmness and bone strengthening.
The eating regime is amazing me. No major cravings for foods I have decided not to eat (unrefined sugar for one)...
Feeling full after a very small balanced dinner tonight...having cut my portions to very small. I imagine my stomach is shrinking.
Chewing sugar-free bubble gum gets me past the evening time habit of lurking in the kitchen for something to eat, that had nothing to do with being hungry in the past. Fridge is rid of all past sweet snacks replaced with just healthy foods.
I've also been taking my own packed lunches to work and saving money by not going out and thus having more control over what's in what I am eating. When it's dry out I have been taking short walks at noontime too. The fresh air feels good and change of scene is a nice refreshing break in my day.
Cris is working on a logo for our group.
All comers welcome who want a supportive group to help keep each other on the life path to best health possible.
We don't tell each other what to do or not to do,
we just support each others experiences, and share information which we can take or leave as we so desire.

Lest You think...

Lest you think my creativity was set aside yesterday for the great outdoors...let me show you what I made in the car on our way to and from the ocean!

I made the roses for the slippers on the left for my grand daughter (age 3). Her slippers were made on our trip to MN over the holidays. However, yesterday I made both slippers on the right for her brother, also aged 3! :-) I am thinking of adding wheels and a steering wheel or front window to his and turning them into little cars. They are crocheted from a pattern I found on the internet.

Hers are navy, white and a lighter blue, which isn't showing in the photo, and his are yellow, navy and dark green. Also hard to see the blue in his.

That's me, always busy doing something!

We (DH and I) got up this morning and headed out to the beach. First we said good morning to the burrowing owls that live near us.

We drove past farm land...

Stopped in a few bookstores along the way...

And arrived at the ocean!

It was incredibly windy. Not too cold, but wind that felt that if we spread our arms out we'd be airborne. So we kept hands in our pockets (most of the time)...

Beautiful succulents...clouds...sea

We walked for about an hour total, the walk back most difficult as we were walking into the wind. I'd say it rated as a good cardio workout for sure!

Lunch was clam chowder (very small cup for me) and fresh crab meat!

The seagulls came in to eat out of your hand. They were so up front and personal!

The drive home was beautiful too.

It was a VERY GOOD DAY! I hope yours was too.

I'm Painting At HOME, Thanks to Patty

My childhood friend Patty gave me a very generous Chanukah gift card for Michael's and today I went and spent it ALL. Thank you Patty! I got a set of acrylics with 12 tubes of paint, 3 brushes, painting boards, sketching pencils, eraser, sharpener, mixing palette, painting knife, and thank goodness an instruction leaflet!
I also bought a forth paint brush separate from this set that fans, and a portable travel easel that sits on the table top so I can sit and paint.

As the weather was in the high 50's I was able to go into my back yard and paint. My first all by myself (no teacher to show and ask) attempt were these purple thistles from a photograph I had taken a while back. Nothing to brag about here, but just showing my endeavors and to let you know I am having fun.

And then there was healthy lunch of a little tuna (canned in water), and fresh veggies. Later in the day I had a kiwi and a small piece of cheese. I feel completely satisfied. The big Trial was getting in and out of Michaels for the paints without buying a piece of chocolate. It has been my so called treat to myself each time I've gone into that store. They very nicely have them placed at the check out stand.
But you know what? I didn't even notice them. I was so excited about my purchase! Oh and I got three small and three large canvases too! Grandma Moses watch out!

The ME Project Continues

[To see update on computer fix, wonderful neighbor story and flowers go two posts down]

Before and After

This is our refrigerator at Thanksgiving in November 2007, filled to the limit with holiday foods, about the time I began to OVER EAT...

Yesterday I cleaned out the fridge. Not that all that was left but I will admit I threw some pumpkin pie pieces I found in the freezer out, threw out the nearly finished box of chocolate truffles Christmas gift from next door neighbors, dumped food that was moldy, out of date, expired, things that had been in there since the beginning of time!

This is how it looked after I cleaned it. The cleaning alone counted as a cardio-workout! I kid you not. Bending and reaching and scrubbing. Taking loads to the garbage cans outside, several trips to do that alone. Washing all the shelves one by one and replacing them. Big job! Big job!

And then last night we went grocery shopping.

We bought fruits, and veggies, canned tuna in water, non fat milk, DH drinks the diet soda (I do not)...the lemonade is left over from before (my drink of choice)...haven't had any all week. Not sure of its sugar content. I have stopped eating sugar.

This cleaning out and replacing is a symbol big time for how I changed my life this past week.

I started eating much smaller portions. MUCH SMALLER. I chose to eat only healthy foods. Very few carbs. Lots of raw veggies, lots of fruit, fiber in cereal, protein in fish, cheese (sparingly), NON fat milk, chicken/turkey.

I started exercising EVERY DAY. I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill. I'd walk at noontime most days for at least more ten minutes. A brisk walk outdoors for fresh air. I did 100 crunches each morning. I have started small weights for biceps. (I plan to increase weights on Monday).

I have a NEW LIFE HEALTH PLAN buddy. She will remain nameless unless she decides to out herself! ;-) But the support she and I give each other is definitely keeping us going. A real plus.

The scale has told me I have lost all the weight I gained over the holidays and then a tiny bit more than that so I feel positive that I am on a downward spiral of weight loss.

Mind you, this is NOT a diet plan for me. This is a rest of my life health maintenance plan.

I feel more energized than I was even than before if you can believe that. I get a mental high from exercising and eating right, and a faster bounce to my step!

Now that I have announced this to the whole world...I am confident that I will not lose face by changing these habits, I will only lose the weight I need to lose and continue to maintain a healthy life style for the rest of my life. This is my committment to myself!

Now excuse me please but I need to go do my crunches and get on the treadmill! It's a new day!