The weather of late has been reminding me of the canopy roads in Tallahassee, Florida. However, instead of Spanish moss draped from the tree limbs, it's snow that decorates them here.
The weight of the snowfall is responsible for pulling the branches over to create the arch effect above the road. It feels more ominous though with branches crashing with the sound of gunfire and heavy hunks of snow thudding to the ground.
It's warmer today, enough to let the trees slough off the snow holding them down. The canopy is gone but it was beautiful while it lasted.
Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #147 Thinking bigger
30 November 2014
29 November 2014
Keep Your Head In The Game
Was out shopping at Michael's looking for one thing to use a 50% off coupon on. They didn't have the type of paper I had in mind, so I was perusing other items. After a few minutes, I started bopping along to an old version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and it registered in my brain that they were playing Christmas music.
What am I doing?! I thought to myself in a panic. I'm lingering. Just pick something and go before the song changes!
I really hadn't been thinking. The Little Drummer Boy Challenge starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve. As soon as you hear any of the myriad versions of "The Little Drummer Boy," you're out.
In a stroke of luck, there was only one person ahead of me at the register. The song did change, I don't remember to what, but it wasn't The Song and that's all that mattered.
Thankfully, I got out in time. I'm still in!
ETA 2/15/15: I made it all the way through! For reference, I first played this game in December of 2011, and I'm currently 4 for 4 with wins as of this date.
A year ago on TTaT: That kind of day?
What am I doing?! I thought to myself in a panic. I'm lingering. Just pick something and go before the song changes!
I really hadn't been thinking. The Little Drummer Boy Challenge starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve. As soon as you hear any of the myriad versions of "The Little Drummer Boy," you're out.
In a stroke of luck, there was only one person ahead of me at the register. The song did change, I don't remember to what, but it wasn't The Song and that's all that mattered.
Thankfully, I got out in time. I'm still in!
ETA 2/15/15: I made it all the way through! For reference, I first played this game in December of 2011, and I'm currently 4 for 4 with wins as of this date.
A year ago on TTaT: That kind of day?
28 November 2014
Life of Art SitRep #251 Post turkey
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you have a lovely day with some tasty treats. My part of the world got buried in snow on Wednesday with a bit of flickering power. Just enough to shut my computer off. Lots of people are entirely without power so it may be a while before the power company comes to reattach the power line to the house. Pulled a bit loose when a snow laden branch hit the line. Hoping wind doesn't jiggle it while I type this.
The upshot of this sudden winter wonderland with sketchy power for computer usage is that I shot 230 photographs of snow.
Earlier this week, I finished adding my photographs and designs to the new iPhone 6 Wallet Cases, Wood USB Flash Drives, and Swivel USB Flash Drives.
Red and Green Polka Dots Flash Drive Swivel USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Check out more External memory USB Flash Drives at Zazzle 
Construction Crane USB Flash Drive Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Browse more External memory USB Flash Drives at Zazzle 
Rainbow Polka Dots on White Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Shop for Rainbow USB Flash Drives online at Zazzle.com 
Rainbow Polka Dots On Grey Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Check out other Rainbow iPhone 6 Wallet Cases at zazzle.com 
Bokeh in Spring iPhone 6 Wallet Case Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See other Green iPhone 6 Wallet Cases
Rocklawn Arts blogged New USB Flash Drives at Rocklawn Arts!
How was your turkey/tofurkey day?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
Two years ago on TTaT: Super Moon
The upshot of this sudden winter wonderland with sketchy power for computer usage is that I shot 230 photographs of snow.
Earlier this week, I finished adding my photographs and designs to the new iPhone 6 Wallet Cases, Wood USB Flash Drives, and Swivel USB Flash Drives.
Red and Green Polka Dots Flash Drive Swivel USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Check out more External memory USB Flash Drives at Zazzle
Construction Crane USB Flash Drive Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Browse more External memory USB Flash Drives at Zazzle
Rainbow Polka Dots on White Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Shop for Rainbow USB Flash Drives online at Zazzle.com
Rainbow Polka Dots On Grey Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Check out other Rainbow iPhone 6 Wallet Cases at zazzle.com
Bokeh in Spring iPhone 6 Wallet Case Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See other Green iPhone 6 Wallet Cases
Rocklawn Arts blogged New USB Flash Drives at Rocklawn Arts!
How was your turkey/tofurkey day?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
Two years ago on TTaT: Super Moon
25 November 2014
75. Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally
75. Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally by Kelly StarrettMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you are a runner, you should definitely read this book. Chances are you're leaving a lot of your potential performance on the table whether from injuries, poor mechanics, or lack of mobility. Dr. Starrett (physiotherapist and coach) gives you a road map for addressing all of that. T.J. Murphy offers a runner's perspective in the "Runner to Runner" sections.
I am not a runner or an athlete, but I'm a fan of Kelly Starrett's mobility work. I borrowed this book to see if he talked about proper footwear (there's a whole chapter on flat shoes), but found myself into the book as a whole.
It's not just about running. It's about your body's position and how you treat it in life, not just the fraction of time you're exercising. If you spend a lot of time sitting during the day, you should read this book to learn how to unglue those tissues.
The book is full of helpful photos which illustrate neutral and poor positions as well as a variety of mobilizations to try.
Starrett's book Becoming a Supple Leopard has more mobilizations and a more in depth explanation of the mechanics involved, but Ready to Run feels more approachable and applicable for a non-athlete.
Ready to Run provides recipes to improve your mobility and address various pains runners often encounter. It has sample weeks of mobility work in the back as well as an index.
He also includes lists of resources and links to videos on his mobilitywod.com site. For example, Unglue Your Sticks offers approaches for dealing with tight calf tissues. There are a lot more free mobility workout-of-the-day videos on his site. That's where I got to know him first.
It's worth watching a couple of his videos to feel his enthusiasm for the work he's doing. Also rest assured that Ready to Run is not a dry read. Starrett's enthusiasm, humor, and pop culture references come across in his writing.
A great resource to have at hand. This one's on my xmas list.
Two years ago on TTaT: Justice, Vol. 1
24 November 2014
74. Shake Puppies
74. Shake Puppies by Carli DavidsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A book of silly photographs of puppies shaking their heads. Good times.
It's a very quick read as it's a picture book with only a few pages of text (worth reading). I read the whole thing standing up while waiting for some people who were shopping.
Two years ago on TTaT: 57. The Non-Designer's Design Book
23 November 2014
Out for a Walk
After lunch, I checked the thermometer. It was 50 degrees outside. Warmer than forecast and much warmer than the 20s and 30s (not including wind chill) of the past week.
I went back upstairs to my computer to work.
At quarter to four, I thought to myself, What am I doing?! It's fifty degrees outside. Or it was.
A thin grey veil of clouds covered most of the sky and it looked like the sun was already behind the hill I live on.
These days I aim to take walks before 3 now that we're back to standard time. I didn't go out for a walk at all last week though because it was too cold.
I put my sneakers on, swapped hoodies for a heavier one, and hoped the temperature hadn't dropped too much.
It was still 49.
I grabbed my jacket and headed out.
The air was moist and the pavement wet. Clearly it'd rained but I hadn't noticed. It smelled like wet leaves.
I strode to the top of the hill where it levels off. The turnaround had been buried in leaves for weeks but was now mostly clear. The left fourth or so had arcs of soggy flattened leaves.
I walked down the other side of the street noting the Christmas decorations a neighbor had put up recently.
A silver SUV pulled onto the road. I waved as it passed, not quite sure if or which neighbor it belonged to. I thought it was one of the people at the top of the street but it pulled into the house with the wreaths, lights, and angel.
At the T intersection, I turned back. The main road has little visibility with a hill and a curve, and it doesn't have a shoulder to walk on. I was just out for a quick break anyway.
I stopped on the bridge on the way back. The pavement angles up on the road edges toward the guard rails. I planted my feet on the upslope for a calf stretch while I surveyed the creek.
There were little shelves of ice clinging to the rocks on the sides.
The water spray was on. Good, I thought to myself. The town's been by. I hadn't been sure if they'd turned it on yet. The spray prevents the water main that goes over the bridge from freezing.
This time, the water is hitting the top of a rock a couple feet away, flinging the spray upwards. That should make for a more interesting ice sculpture this year.
I took a few deep meditative breaths and headed home.
On the lower deck next to the garage door, an oak leaf had landed between two slats of wood so that it remained upright. I left it because it looked like it was waving to me.
4 years ago on TTaT: Hay-scented fiddleheads
I went back upstairs to my computer to work.
At quarter to four, I thought to myself, What am I doing?! It's fifty degrees outside. Or it was.
A thin grey veil of clouds covered most of the sky and it looked like the sun was already behind the hill I live on.
These days I aim to take walks before 3 now that we're back to standard time. I didn't go out for a walk at all last week though because it was too cold.
I put my sneakers on, swapped hoodies for a heavier one, and hoped the temperature hadn't dropped too much.
It was still 49.
I grabbed my jacket and headed out.
The air was moist and the pavement wet. Clearly it'd rained but I hadn't noticed. It smelled like wet leaves.
I strode to the top of the hill where it levels off. The turnaround had been buried in leaves for weeks but was now mostly clear. The left fourth or so had arcs of soggy flattened leaves.
I walked down the other side of the street noting the Christmas decorations a neighbor had put up recently.
A silver SUV pulled onto the road. I waved as it passed, not quite sure if or which neighbor it belonged to. I thought it was one of the people at the top of the street but it pulled into the house with the wreaths, lights, and angel.
At the T intersection, I turned back. The main road has little visibility with a hill and a curve, and it doesn't have a shoulder to walk on. I was just out for a quick break anyway.
I stopped on the bridge on the way back. The pavement angles up on the road edges toward the guard rails. I planted my feet on the upslope for a calf stretch while I surveyed the creek.
There were little shelves of ice clinging to the rocks on the sides.
The water spray was on. Good, I thought to myself. The town's been by. I hadn't been sure if they'd turned it on yet. The spray prevents the water main that goes over the bridge from freezing.
This time, the water is hitting the top of a rock a couple feet away, flinging the spray upwards. That should make for a more interesting ice sculpture this year.
I took a few deep meditative breaths and headed home.
On the lower deck next to the garage door, an oak leaf had landed between two slats of wood so that it remained upright. I left it because it looked like it was waving to me.
4 years ago on TTaT: Hay-scented fiddleheads
21 November 2014
Life of Art SitRep #250 Hunkered Down With Coolness
This week, I finished adding my designs to the new Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, and Fleece Blankets.
But wait, there's more!
I started adding my designs to new iPhone 6 Wallet Cases, Wood USB Flash Drives, and Swivel USB Flash Drives.
Have to say I think the flash drives are really cool because they are available with USB 3.0 or 2.0 and have a selection of capacities from 8 GB to 64 GB. The wallet cases are also cool because you can pop out the iPhone case from the wallet if you don't want to carry the whole thing.
Black and White Checkered Pattern Swivel USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Find more Checkers USB Flash Drives at Zazzle 
Rainbow Squares Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
See more Rainbow USB Flash Drives at zazzle.com 
Red and White Chevrons Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Browse more Chevrons USB Flash Drives 
Black, White, Red Diamond Pattern Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See other Black iPhone 6 Wallet Cases 
Blue and White Chevrons Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Check out other Chevrons iPhone 6 Wallet Cases at zazzle.com 
Red and White Zigzag Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Shop for Red white iPhone 6 Wallet Cases online at Zazzle.com 
Rainbow Colors Checkered Pattern Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See more Rainbow iPhone 6 Wallet Cases
Rocklawn Arts blogged New Ribbons at Rocklawn Arts! and New Tablecloths and Paper Plates now available at Rocklawn Arts!
How was your week?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
A year ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 56
But wait, there's more!
I started adding my designs to new iPhone 6 Wallet Cases, Wood USB Flash Drives, and Swivel USB Flash Drives.
Have to say I think the flash drives are really cool because they are available with USB 3.0 or 2.0 and have a selection of capacities from 8 GB to 64 GB. The wallet cases are also cool because you can pop out the iPhone case from the wallet if you don't want to carry the whole thing.
Black and White Checkered Pattern Swivel USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Find more Checkers USB Flash Drives at Zazzle
Rainbow Squares Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
See more Rainbow USB Flash Drives at zazzle.com
Red and White Chevrons Wood USB 3.0 Flash Drive by RocklawnArts
Browse more Chevrons USB Flash Drives
Black, White, Red Diamond Pattern Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See other Black iPhone 6 Wallet Cases
Blue and White Chevrons Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Check out other Chevrons iPhone 6 Wallet Cases at zazzle.com
Red and White Zigzag Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
Shop for Red white iPhone 6 Wallet Cases online at Zazzle.com
Rainbow Colors Checkered Pattern Incipio Watson™ iPhone 6 Wallet Case by RocklawnArts
See more Rainbow iPhone 6 Wallet Cases
Rocklawn Arts blogged New Ribbons at Rocklawn Arts! and New Tablecloths and Paper Plates now available at Rocklawn Arts!
How was your week?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
A year ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 56
14 November 2014
Life of Art SitRep #249 More Ribbons, Blankets, Tablecloths, and Paper Plates
You know that 70s song by Andrea True? "More, More, More" that's what's going through my head these days. Excuse me while I take a dance break.
OK, this week, I...
Rocklawn Arts blogged New Vintage Metal Lawn Chair Full Of Snow photograph. I didn't get a chance to share that image with you last week, you can see the rest of the products it's on here.
Updated Happy Buddha With Snow Facial Greeting Card for 2015.
Happy Buddha With Snow Facial Greeting Cards by RocklawnArts
Create custom photo note cards at zazzle.com.
Finished adding my photographs to the new Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, Fleece Blankets and continued adding my designs as appropriate.
Red and Green Diamonds on White Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
Check out other Red Ribbon at zazzle.com 
Downtown Kansas City Fleece Blanket by RocklawnArts
Look at Kansas city Fleece Blankets online at Zazzle.com
Rearranged folders in my store.
Updated Links, LOA files.
Watched Pattern Design: From Hand to Screen to Surface with Molly Hatch, day 2 of
Create Digital Products That Sell While You Sleep with April Bowles-Olin, and Make Your Creative Business Uniquely Irresistible with April Bowles-Olin on Creative Live.
How was your week?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 55
OK, this week, I...
Rocklawn Arts blogged New Vintage Metal Lawn Chair Full Of Snow photograph. I didn't get a chance to share that image with you last week, you can see the rest of the products it's on here.
Updated Happy Buddha With Snow Facial Greeting Card for 2015.
Happy Buddha With Snow Facial Greeting Cards by RocklawnArts
Create custom photo note cards at zazzle.com.
Finished adding my photographs to the new Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, Fleece Blankets and continued adding my designs as appropriate.
Red and Green Diamonds on White Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
Check out other Red Ribbon at zazzle.com
Downtown Kansas City Fleece Blanket by RocklawnArts
Look at Kansas city Fleece Blankets online at Zazzle.com
Rearranged folders in my store.
Updated Links, LOA files.
Watched Pattern Design: From Hand to Screen to Surface with Molly Hatch, day 2 of
Create Digital Products That Sell While You Sleep with April Bowles-Olin, and Make Your Creative Business Uniquely Irresistible with April Bowles-Olin on Creative Live.
How was your week?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
4 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 55
11 November 2014
72. Letters to a Young Artist
72. Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere SmithMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just finished reading this but could already reread it. There's something to words presented as letters that has great appeal to me.
The book is full of advice both practical and personal for anyone pursuing a creative endeavor. There's also a substantial list of resources for artists, both state and federal. (You could track them all down online, I'm sure, but it's nice to see them in print.)
Smith's writing is warm, thoughtful, direct, with sprinkles of tough love. It's also a glimpse into her life, travels, and thoughts on events occurring as she wrote the book.
This is one I'd like to have on my shelf for reference.
5 years ago on TTaT: Dance Dance Revolution: The Beginning
07 November 2014
Life of Art SitRep #248 Early Winter
Heavy winds took out my internet for a day and half this week which forced me into offline tasks like editing photographs, which turned out to be a productive use of my time. Ultimately, I require the net to post my work online, so I was relieved when the truck came and fixed the line.
I edited and added two photographs to my shop: Maple Tree Outlined In Snow and a more abstract piece, Vintage Metal Lawn Chair Full Of Snow. The latter will take a day or so to show up.
Maple Tree Outlined In Snow Greeting Card by RocklawnArts
Look at other Maple tree Cards at zazzle.com
Continued adding my designs to the new Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, Fleece Blankets as appropriate.
Made my first collection, a link to a curated selection of products. Here is my Black and White Patterns home decor collection.
Rearranged categories in store, changed some folder images.
Finished reading Popular Photography October 2014 issue.
Made monthly backups.
Have you backed up lately?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
A year ago on TTaT: Now I'm ready to celebrate <-How quickly times change.
I edited and added two photographs to my shop: Maple Tree Outlined In Snow and a more abstract piece, Vintage Metal Lawn Chair Full Of Snow. The latter will take a day or so to show up.
Maple Tree Outlined In Snow Greeting Card by RocklawnArts
Look at other Maple tree Cards at zazzle.com
Continued adding my designs to the new Ribbons, Tablecloths, Paper Plates, Fleece Blankets as appropriate.
Made my first collection, a link to a curated selection of products. Here is my Black and White Patterns home decor collection.
Rearranged categories in store, changed some folder images.
Finished reading Popular Photography October 2014 issue.
Made monthly backups.
Have you backed up lately?
(When I provide links to my store or products on Zazzle, I use affiliate links to earn more so that I can continue creating photographs and designs. The links do not change the items' cost to you in any way.)
A year ago on TTaT: Now I'm ready to celebrate <-How quickly times change.
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