Poppy

It's been way too long since I've posted a proper photo. The high volume shooting I've done in the past few months has proved a bit overwhelming. I just resized one that caught my eye and then noticed I'd already posted some poppies, but thankfully not this particular one. (Turns out the other shots are from 2 years ago in any case.)

Enjoy!


A year ago on TTaT: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion, The 2002 Claire

Sketchbook, page 35

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

p.11 Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands "The Hand – Back View"

A year ago on TTaT: Before dinner...

Easy Does It Yoga

26. The American Yoga Association's Easy Does It Yoga: The safe and gentle way to health and well-being by Alice Christensen (4/5)

The book is aimed at older adults, but this seems like a good yoga starting point for anyone.

The very mellow yoga exercises are described in detail and supplemented with photos. 2 or 3 instructions didn't seem to quite line up with the photos, but the rest were clear. Christensen also describes the physiological (and sometimes mental/emotional) benefits for each exercise which I found informative.

Chapters on nutrition, meditation, and yoga philosophy are also included.

A 6 week program is presented but you have to flip back and forth to the exercise descriptions listed on various pages. I've tried weeks 1 and 2 and the flipping around is not a big deal. The routines do take longer than 10-20 minutes though.

I spent 70 minutes doing the week 2 routine today, but it was my first time doing it and that includes ~13 minutes of meditation which isn't included in the 10-20 minute estimates. Granted I was rereading the details of each exercise and taking it slowly as the book suggests. Once you're familiar with the exercises, it should take less time.

What's nifty is that a lot of the exercises presented are suitable for doing while watching tv or doing other things. That's not quite the focused approach of yoga, but many are prime for incorporating into stray moments throughout the day.

Well worth a look. Don't be dissuaded from trying it because the models in the photos are mostly over 60. It makes me think of Havi's Old Turkish Lady Yoga, and that's a good thing.

Life of Art SitRep #20

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Drew some logo ideas.
• Uploaded North Window to Cafepress RA site. Made into postcard group for sale. Took off old product. Tried making some posters, cards but wouldn't let me "fill" to edges so I deleted them.
• Added line to point out that you can change the postage denominations to all of the stamps offered. Mixed and matched rates to different sized stamps, so they display a variety of rates.
• (Re)made print, mug, t-shirt, apron, tote, sticker, magnet, button, keychain for Sunset on Onota lake: horizontal.
• Took a stab at creating horizontal digital image card template. Then made digital vertical templates for: print, card, mousepad, 3 stamp sizes, magnet, button, keychain, sticker, bumper sticker, mug, apron, tote, and t-shirt. Also film horizontal templates for all 3 stamp sizes, card, binder, t-shirt.
• Made 14 cards using templates.
• Made product line of Sunset over Onota: vertical using templates.
• Made card, apron, and shoes for Bokeh in Spring.
• Read post on photography back up/work flow on Chase Jarvis's site. Good info.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week?


A year ago on TTaT: It's all in my head, so to speak; Brain train wreck

Awareness is the new black

My body is screwing with me.
My body is failing me.
My body betrayed me.
My body hates me.

So often these thoughts and others have run through my mind... my head, my brain, what seems to be my core of self. There's my intellect and this sack of meat and bones that carries me around. Can the disconnect be more discrete?

Only perhaps if there were no pain. Pain, whether piercing, dull, chronic, or fleeting, provides a fast, hard to ignore reminder that my mind and body are connected. But it's often prompted me to curse my body as well.

Havi talks a lot about "noticing" on her blog. She uses the term in a variety of contexts: emotional, physical, literal, metaphorical.

As I ease into bits of seriously low-key yoga and tai chi, my attention has been drawn to my body for a few minutes each practice. The past few days, I've made a deliberate effort to notice more. I ask questions and make observations, all experiment-like. How do my legs feel as I walk up the stairs two-at-a-time? Hey, flexing this, tightens that too. What's going on with my knee? How does it feel if I change my breathing? What is it about this Tai Chi move that's grounding?

It's only been a couple of days and my noticing is sporadic, but I find that I want to move more to see what my body does.

I'm ready for a truce with my body.

When sinus issues, allergies, and weather changes conspire to nauseate me or flatline my energy, I'm sure my body is as bummed as I am. In fact, I know it. There is no "we," there's only me. I'm the one waging war, betraying my body.

My days go better when I take a few minutes to feel integrated. Who'd've thought, right?

Instead of waiting for pain reminders, I'm paying attention to my body in motion, at rest, noticing its quirks and its miraculousness. My body may not look or behave as I'd hope, but there's a great deal I take for granted which is amazing. I think about dancing, and my body moves to the music. The phone across the room lights up, and I read the caller ID from ~8 feet away. Skin reforms to heal cuts and scrapes without me having to think about it. The feel of warm rain on my skin. All amazing.

The noticing experiment continues. May the peace last.


A year ago on TTaT: Gettin' My Groove On... (vol. i)

Goddamn motherfrakking ants

The bug guy came finally, variously delayed with no good explanations. After treating stuff inside and spraying outside, he said, "If you see any more ants, don't kill them. If they're still around in a couple of weeks, give me a call."

It's been a few days, but now that I'm seeing them in my room – where I hadn't before – I'm calling bullshit on this whole let-'em-live thing. Talking with my dad, he pointed out that since the exterior was sprayed, none of the ants that were already inside are going to go out now. If anything, they'll come further inside.

It's just frustrating seeing these stray motherfuckers wandering about.

Reminds me of when my parents were really frustrated by a bunch of ants living in our front steps. I was in 2nd grade at the time. To express my solidarity with their frustration one day as the three of us stood outside looking at the stairs, I yelled, "Goddamn motherfucking bitch bastard asshole shithead ants!"

My parents looked at me for a moment. I started to worry I'd done something wrong. And then they burst out laughing.

It's about three decades later and my mom still relishes telling that story. I get why it's frustrating now. My expression of it hasn't changed much though, except to be a bit more concise with a side of geek.


3 years ago on TTaT: Noticing oddities

Sketchbook, page 34

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

I reckon I can only hope you know what this is.

A year ago on TTaT: It's short for Rococo. Obviously.