That sounded kind of deep. I guess it is true though, that everything in life is a work in progress, most of the time. Things are always changing and being created anew. That's an especially appropriate thought right now, as Spring officially starts tomorrow. We've unofficially been having it here for weeks now though, with the jasmine in bloom, as well as roses, azaleas, and some other green things. The cats are out sunning themselves all day long in the balmy weather, and I'm even sleeping with the window open.
And I've been sketching a lot. New things for new projects. Lots of children's book art, mostly, but also some kitties, and some new food.
So there's a lot of new work starting to 'bud', if you will, on my drawing table. Some still feels like its in 'winter mode', gathering itself up under the surface, ready to poke up and see the light. Other things are already sprouting.
I also rearranged my studio a little bit, and it has a better 'feng shui' thing going on I think. All I really did was shift my drawing table 90 degrees, but it really changed the energy in the room, and I love it. (I know I'm sounding very 'woo woo' today, but hey, whatever works, right?)
So here's to Spring! And Spring cleaning, and new growth of all kinds!
Yes, I’m still here. Why haven’t I posted anything new this week? Because I’ve been embracing the suck for the past six days, finally cleaning my office for the first time in 7 years.
How do I know it’s been 7 years? Because the stuff I’m throwing away is at least that old. Some of it is from 2001. Don’t judge me. I’ve been busy. I’m sure you have been, too.
What finally pushed me to get going and stop just letting it hang over my head was showing my messy office to someone who was visiting me this past weekend. I never show my office to anyone. It would be like showing someone a scab you’ve been picking at for 7 years but refuse to go to the doctor to treat. It’s embarrassing and you know you have no excuse for not doing anything about it, but … you know. Reasons.
Anyway, bless her heart, this friend, instead of saying, “Oh my gosh, it’s worse than I ever could have imagined,” just looked at the situation and said, “Huh. Maybe if you moved those boxes…” That was all. Not, “Maybe if you rented a backhoe” or anything else that might sound reasonable under the circumstances.
So on Sunday, after posting that post I linked to above, I moved some boxes.
And ever since then I’ve been moving boxes and tossing and purging for hours every day and night.
It’s as big of a job as I knew it would be. That’s why I’ve been putting it off.
But I know if I just keep going until I’m finished, even if it takes me another week (which it very well might), I will be happy and satisfied and DONE. Done for at least the next 7 years.
Maybe you need a nudge from someone, just like I did. (Thanks, Bethany!) So allow me to be that nudge: Psst. Just move some boxes. Just throw into recycling that stack of magazines you’re never going to reread. How about boxing up all those lovely books you’ve been storing forever and will never reread, and taking them to your local library branch to donate? Someone else will be so happy to have them. I’ve been doing all this and more. And every day I feel better and better.
Good luck. It’s a big job, whatever your own massive cleaning and purging job is. I empathize. But we can do this. In fact, it’s a kindness to ourselves to do this.
Even though it will, it all honesty, suck.
Embrace it and let’s go!
Anyone else been pulling weeds? They're exponential!
As you may have been able to tell from my recent photos and posts, I was skiing up until a few days ago. Just arrived home to the desert where it’s already 92 degrees. It’s a little . . . jarring. Dogs are looking at me like, “What the–?” and while they’re busy shedding as much of their fur as possible–I’ll be able to knit a new Labrador in about a week–I’m taking my own measures to adjust to the almost summer.
It’s a two-phase action plan: Clean my house, clean my body.
Believe it or not, the body part of it is much simpler. All I have to do is switch out of winter eating mode (soups, sandwiches, pastas, sweets, sweets, more sweets) and turn to my old friend the green smoothie.
Also known as Baby Poop.
Why Baby Poop? Because if you saw the way one of my green smoothies has traditionally looked–dark brown, sometimes brownish-red, with hints of green flakes–you’d say, “Yeah, good luck with that, think I’ll have a salad.” But for some reason, I’ve been out of the salad mood for about a year now. Can’t explain it. So I’m just going with it.
The thing that’s going to banish the baby-poopedness look of my smoothies from now on is that tomorrow I’ll be getting this nifty machine that actually has a proper motor. I discovered while skiing that that’s been the whole problem with my green smoothie life. I just haven’t had enough power.
I made that discovery by watching someone else make one for me. The things she put in there! (To be discussed below.) And by the time she poured it into a cup, the liquid was this beautiful, light green, and instead of tasting gritty and *good for me,* it tasted smooth and delicious, more like a dessert. Which, see above re: winter diet, sold me.
But even better, the smoothie fixed me. Day after day I’d stumble into that place, start croaking out ingredients–”Dates! Cashews! Oh my gosh I’m about to pass out–coconut! More fat! Bring it!”–and the lovely proprietoress, Gretchen, would keep adding and adding (see below) and then give me basically a cup full of green medicine.
I have never recovered from a big physical effort more quickly and more deliciously. That’s what I’m saying. That’s why I’m trekking down the Green Smoothie Way.
I’ll be experimenting with new recipes as I go, and I’ll post some of the best ones here, but let’s start with the Skiing Kicked My Butt recipe that got me through:
- Big handful of unsalted cashews
- Normal handful of unsalted sunflower seeds
- One heaping teaspoon peanut butter
- Big handful of dates (about 5)
- One banana, preferably frozen to give the drink some thickness
- Big handful of strawberries, also preferably frozen
- Normal handful of blueberries (optional–makes the color a little weirder, but tastes good)
- Two heaping teaspoons cacao (unsweetened cocoa powder will do) (also optional, but wow)
- One teaspoon coconut (optional, but yum)
- Three huge leaves of kale or Swiss chard, stems and all, ripped into pieces and layered on top
- About 1/2 to 1 cup of peach, pear, or apple juice
- About 1 1/2 cups pure water–start with 1 cup, then add more as you assess the thickness. Some people like their smoothies thicker, some more liquidy. You’re the boss.
I tried this in my regular blender, but no. Baby poop. I’ll take a photo of the proper green smoothie once I try it with my new machine tomorrow. You’ll see. Fresh and spring-looking.
Onward, green smoothiers!
Really. I’m not dead. I just ate a piece of cake. I’ve just been AWOL from blogging for a while. I’ve been held prisoner by the Dust Bunny regime in my home. They declared war because I’ve started back with my FlyLady routine. The bunnies claim I am “messing with the natural order” of things […]
I'm still here. Working on some things I either can't, or don't want to show - you know how that is sometimes. But I do have the start of this little drawing of some new rose leaves to share.
I really really really love when new buds and leaves appear on plants in the Spring - and especially these red rose leaves. I don't mean that the roses need to be red. Its just the leaves. I don't know why some of them come in this color, but I think its the coolest thing. The reds and purples are just so beautiful. They will all turn green eventually.
I was sitting on my back porch one day looking at my yard, daydreaming about what to draw, and it was just so obvious. So I got out the camera and took a few shots of these, and some other new growth. I hope to have a small series of these done to sell as prints in the future.
I don't usually draw plants, so this is a new thing for me. I also like this idea of 'new growth'. It's looking like a theme in my life right now on different levels. Some areas have been kind of stagnant for a while, and need some freshening up. Spring cleaning is about clearing out closets and drawers, sweeping out the corners and cobwebs, and doing a bit of deep cleaning. I'm kind of doing that literally, and also in my life. And trying to get some new little buds sprouting.
I've decided to call it a Recroissance (which I thought I just invented, but of course found out quickly is not new.) Its like a Renaissance, but a little different (Renaissance is 're-birth'). I also like that is sounds like 'croissant'. :~) So right now its a personal Recroissance, but feel free to start your own if you like. Maybe we can all together start a new Age.
Spring Cleaning: Long-delayed and never ending!
by Audrey Cupo, Professional OrganizerAfter a long, cold winter, we finally get to look forward to Spring. This is the time of year for new beginnings: fresh flowers, green grass, the sounds of birds singing. Ahh!
This is a great time to prepare your home for the new season. I suggest that starting today and for the next seven days, making a plan to do a Spring organizing and/or Spring cleaning project each day. Here's a sample agenda to follow:
DAY 1 ~ Begin outside clean up, including getting rid of any leftover winter brush, snipping dead branches from plants to get them ready for the warmer weather ahead and sweeping the walkway and driveway.
DAY 2 ~ Put away any winter clothing for the season that is still in your closets, and bring out your spring and summer wardrobes. Iron anything that requires it.
DAY 3 ~ Begin sorting through the outdoor toys (including sports equipment, skate boards, bicycle, etc.) from last year and determine what your children have outgrown and will no longer be using. Then, create a list of a few items to supplement to provide them with items that are more age appropriate for this year.
DAY 4 ~ Clean areas in your house that get neglected most of the year, such as the tops of your high cabinets, under the fridge and the bookcase shelves (empty, dust, and return all books again).
DAY 5 ~ Begin to plan your family’s summer vacation. By reviewing your budget and discussing ideas with the family, you will be able to formulate a vacation plan so you will be ready when the end of summer comes around. (It arrives before you know it!)
DAY 6 ~ Empty the fridge and freezer and clean them out before returning your perishables back inside. If you have a spare in your garage or elsewhere, don’t forget to clean it out also.
DAY 7 ~ Make arrangements for your summer help, including the lawn mowing service, grass, tree and plant service. Check the outdoor furniture that was left out over the winter to see if it needs any repair (mine is made of wrought iron and might need to be repainted). It’s also a good time of year to make an appointment to have the car detailed.
By the end of these 7 days, I guarantee you will feel great knowing a lot was completed you can now enjoy the Spring!
About Audrey Cupo:
Audrey Cupo is a full-time Pr
This one is a pencil drawing of my daughter when she was about 18 months old. She is now rolling her eyes and asking if she can go to the mall with her friends :) This was another piece that I've always really liked but I really wasn't planning on it turning into anything and I drew it dangerously close to the edge of the illustration board. The top of her head is almost at the edge of the page. Thank goodness for Photoshop.
I've been doing some spring cleaning the past few days. Well, spring cleaning might be a misnomer in my case. Can you really call it spring cleaning when you only do it every two or three years? But regardless, I have been shoveling out my studio. And I've found some old watercolors stashed away in a portfolio in the back of the closet. I thought I'd share a few over the next couple of day before they go back into hiding. Or who knows, maybe I'll even frame a couple.
I thought this one of magnolia blooms was appropriate since here in New England the Magnolias just finished flowering. This painting is approx 15" x 22"
My readers know how I feel about clutter and possessions; they are burdens. We have clutter in our homes, offices and cars.
“But I can only find things when they are on the floor or counter, so I don’t want to put them away.”
“Okay. I haven’t used that in 25 years, but I cannot part with that. I may need it some day.”
“I’ll get around to fixing that soon, and it’ll be as good as new.”
“I love this skirt, but it doesn’t match any of my shirts. I’ll keep it and some day I’ll find a top to match.”
Have you ever found yourself saying anything similar to the above?
That is why spring cleaning is such a wonderful thing.
A lot of effort is required for a truly successful cleaning and reorganization project, but you will find it to be so rewarding. In order to successfully clean and reorganize, you’ve got to have a plan. Here’s how to start:
House
- Write down what you’d like to accomplish - Whether that is cleaning out every single room in your home, plus the garage or just a select few places in your home, know what your goals are.
- Get help from your kids and spouse.
- Determine how you will remove your unwanted possessions from your home. (Donate to a charity, have a yard sale, sell items on Ebay)
- Make sure you know what each charity will take. Most will not take everything you have. Have a pick up date set in advance. That will get you motivated to get it done. If you are cleaning out many rooms, you may need to do this in segments. But whatever you do, do not keep the discards lying around. GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE!
- Plan your project using a calendar. Be realistic about how long each room will take. You may want to set aside one weekend day every 1-2 weeks until you are done or take a few whirlwind days or a week to get the entire project done during the summer.
- Before getting started gather non-toxic cleaning products and collect cardboard boxes, protective wrap for breakables and large trash bags for storing removable items. Boxes from liquor stores are the strongest for holding glass items.
- Tackle one room at a time, and clean thoroughly as you go.
- What to get rid of:
- Any item in the house you have not used or thought about for years.
- Clothing that does not fit.
- Clothing and accessories that are out of style.
- Clothing items that have been hanging for a while but do not match anything to make a complete outfit.
- Anything in closets, drawers, shelves or in the kitchen that is broken, tattered, torn, scuffed or otherwise ugly.
- Anything you find yourself moving around the house because you never really know where to put it.
- Your goal is to make drawers, closets, shelves uncluttered and easy to organize and maintain. Tackle even that junk drawer in the kitchen. Toss pens that do not work, old business cards and little junk that collects.
- Shred unwanted personal papers and old files.
- If you cannot decide whether to keep something or not, talk to the family about it and take a vote. Ask yourself, “If I were moving tomorrow, would I take this with me?”
- Make a list of all the stuff you are donating, and take photos of boxes and bags for tax purposes.
- Throw out unusable items. Check with the City Waste Management to find out how to properly dispose of unused household paints, chemicals and pesticides.
Celebrate your hard work after each room is done!
Run through the sprinkler with the kids,
go out for a huge ice cream sundae, go on a picnic!
Follow Up
- Do not start shopping and collecting more stuff!
- When you do need something, have a policy that the new item is going to replace an old one. That way you will not start to accumulate again. Remember what a pain it is to get rid of your stuff.
- When the holidays and birthdays come, agree that less is more. Celebrations do not have to always include stuff. Refuse to buy items that will end up in the discard pile within a year!
- Enjoy the time you have freed up having less clutter! Less to dust, clean, move, store.
This is all about stuff we have in our homes. But have you ever thought about the clutter we have in our minds and with our associations with others? We’ll tackle that subject tomorrow.
Ah, it's that time of year again. Time to roll up my sleeves, pull out every cleaner known to man, and delve into the muck and grub that's accumulated over the last six months of wintry weather, as well as de-clutter.
Yes, it's time for Spring Cleaning. I never know when the mood will hit, or where. Neither does my family, which makes them a little jumpy this time of year, especially my daughters. They just don't ever know when I'm is going to come into their rooms with that gleam in my eye. The cleaning gleam. I've glanced myself at these moments, and gleam is, well, it's a little too kind. It looks more like an obssessed, bright green Hulkish glow. I'd be seeking out cover if I were a kid too.
The mood came on full force this weekend. There was a catalyst. It wasn't the frigid temps or the rain. It's the guests we have coming for the week. I get cleaning crazy when I have guests. As if somehow having a clean house will convince my guests I'm a decent person. Weird. Insane. Totally inherited, and yet I'm powerless to change it. So I clean. At times, I even contemplate painting entire rooms because of marks on the wall. Yeah, I know. Very OCD. I don't need an intervention yet. So far, my writing sort of keeps me in balance. Those WIPs sitting on my laptop whine and moan if they don't get enough attention, which keeps me away from the paintbrush. So far.
I started this weekend in the guest room doing the usual guests are coming routine - stripping the bed, cleaning out the closet - which is my only "throw it in here and hopefully forget about closet" - and the bathroom. My kids were relieved. No Spring Cleaning for them! Until I went into my eldest daughter's room to get the denim chair/sleepover bed for the littlest guest who is coming.
I pulled the chair back and...oiy! Pandemonium. Hide-it-quick Central.
A green haze came over me. My fingers began to itch. The next thing I remember, I was running downstairs to get a BIG black plastic bag. My daughter was running to take cover.
What is it with hiding stuff behind other stuff in a kid's room? I mean, why not throw it away? Why hide it? Because in the end, I end up throwing it away and they've completely forgotten they hid it in the first place. I found a whole panoply of oddities - bits of string woven together in a macrame that's supposed to be something but has been abandoned, the missing bottoms to her two-piece bathing suit, Valentine's Day candy, various started but unfinished drawings, love notes (acckk! I didn't throw these away of course, but my gosh, she's only 10, love notes???), clothes - worn, dirty and clean, and toys half-played with, half-cleaned up, and books. Okay, the books I don't mind. I just rearrange and organize. But the rest? Which got me to thinking as I sorted and cleaned: What is it with kids hoarding stuff?
Until I started to really sort through the stuff and saw some of what it was. Granted, there was a good deal of junk. But there were also some treasures in the trash - the Williamsburg day pass, the love note, and the Christmas picture from my youngest child made for her sister. Funny how it's the insignificant bits that warm the fondest memories. They are, to quote mastercard, priceless.
Despite the itch in my fingers to throw the whole lot away, I tread carefully amongst the memories. The leftover candy had to go, so did the dirty clothes, albeit into different piles. I think I can salvage the dirty clothes. The love note, well, it went back where I found it, behind the chair, safe. So did the day pass and the picture. One man's trash is another man's treasure. This was kid treasure.
My shout out today is to Spring Cleaning. Thanks to the cleaning craze, I got a walk down memory lane this weekend. A soft, gentle, warm one.
No one can nap like a cat (except maybe a dog). 
I know mine all do some silly poses while they sleep.
Well, they
have perfected the art, since they do so much of it.
All images © Paula Pertile, no stealing.
I'll be painting some of these up this weekend. I may take a break from my pencils for these, I'm not sure yet.
I'm starting to get Spring fever! The sun is out today and the weather is just perfect. Not hot, not cold, no wind or rain, just pretty blue sky and sun and happy buds on trees and plants and singing birdies. I think I'll have Jeeves set up my tea on the terrace today ~
By:
Garden Painter Art,
on 2/27/2008
Blog:
Garden Painter Art
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Good Morning:
It's that time of year once again....the dreaded beginning of "Spring Cleaning". Grout cleaning, appliance shining, doo-dad dusting and all sorts of other laborious tasks. I always enter into the season dreading the big cleaning, but once I get started, I find myself re-connecting to my home. I have so many pieces around my house that were passed down to me from my mom and aunts. Old tea sets from my grandmother, whom I never met, as she died before I was born. Nic-Nacs given to me by my kids when they were tots. So many memories surround me, yet so much of the time I find myself walking through my house but not really seeing what's in my home. Spring Cleaning allows me to literally touch memories, to carefully dust these precious gifts that sometime become overlooked.
Now, don't get me wrong....I am not a fan of the basic labor of cleaning away grime from general living. I don't like mopping the floors or cleaning the kitchen grout (which, by the way, I use diet coke to clean the grout as it works wonders). But... when it comes time to really dust the nic-nacs and re-arrange the china cabinet, I find myself getting lost in some of the sweetest memories of my life.
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I have 3 new ACEO prints listed in My Etsy Shop.
Johnny On The Bridge
Sunny Day In Germany
On With The Honeymoon
I wonder sometimes if I should be more specific about what an ACEO is. I'm sure some folks that read my blog must wonder what the acronym stands for:
"ACEO" is an acronym for "Art Cards Editions and Originals". ACEOs are collectible art cards always measuring 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches. That is the size of a standard sports trading card. The rule about size is the ONLY rule in the ACEO world. An ACEO can be created in any medium the artist desires: paint, collage, colored pencils, ink, etc. There are even ACEOs made from wood, clay, fabric, and metal. They can be originals or prints.
ACEOs are tiny art works that can be matted and framed to hang on the wall. Many people display their ACEO collections in the same kind of plastic sheets and albums that sports card collectors use. You might slip an ACEO into a greeting card as an extra surprise for a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas. ACEOs sell on Ebay and Etsy for anywhere from ninety-nine cents to over one hundred dollars or more!
I love making them because I enjoy working small. I love tiny detail, so making ACEOs are perfect for me.
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Well, I best be off. I have an appointment with a grout brush...
Until Next Time
Kim
Garden Painter Art
Every month children's book author & illustrator Akemi Gutierrez posts a quiz question. This month's question:
What children's book illustrator was Comstock's inspiration in designing the Tuck Box?
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Oh my -I love your slate/chalkboard look! It’s so readable too which isn’t always true with white font. Congrats on all the progress made on submissions, house, school visits and writing! I drop out of blogging too from time to time. Will probably do so again unless I turn into Wonder Woman also known as Proverbs 31 Woman.
Donna,
Glad to know you made it out alive. Love ya!
Linda