Christmas is Over!

Time sure does fly! Christmas is just passed, and New Years is fast approaching. How did that happen?

Preparation for the holidays seems like a blur... getting ready for relatives to arrive, present shopping, and of course many fun hours in the studio creating new things, some how I turned around and it was Dec. 25th. I always get a little sad after everyone has left after Christmas dinner, and the kids are in bed... “Christmas is over,” I think to myself, “and it’s another whole year until it happens again.” Then, when I wake up in the morning, and there’s that little sense of relief... “Phew, I think I’m glad Christmas is a whole year away!”

I hope your holiday season was as jammed packed with fun as ours, and your ready for relax a little in the new year!

The Blogging Doldrums

I can’t believe it’s been a month since my last entry. September has been a busy month. It seems like it has almost taken the whole month to get into our new routines now that school has started. Lots of art production this past month too... filling orders and thinking about holiday projects to come!

With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t found time to write an entry! Possibly that’s a good thing. Being busy is a great thing!

First Week of School

I’m sure we all have similar types of memories... getting new school supplies, getting a couple new outfits, and we were off to school for the year! Well, here I am, and it’s my chance to carry on some of the great traditions my mom did for me when summer was winding down and school was starting up.

My daughter started her first day of Kindergarten this week. Some parents cried as they waved good bye to their little ones, some had a smirk on their face (my guess, all there kids were finally in school!) I was neither crying or smirking... just plain happy. Happy to see my daughter off on a new adventure that will hopefully challenge her and be fun for the next 17+ years of her life!

I, of course, took the pre-requisite “first day of school-outside-the-house” pic of her, in her new outfit. We just happened to be experiencing a heat wave this week, so it feels a lot like summer still, not school. Sweating in line with her backback and new outfit, off she went. I’m so proud.

Lazy Days at the Lake

We just got back from 10 days at Lake Tahoe.... I already miss it!

I packed an assortment of art projects with all the best intentions, but all said and done, I didn’t do any art for myself... I just had a great summer week with my kids at the lake. Going to the beach, looking for rocks, catching crawdads, a walk in the woods, swimming, mini-golf, face painting and even putting on a play for dad and the grandparents. It doesn’t get much better than that!

What I did this Summer

There we were at my daughter’s first soccer team get together... I was chatting happily with one of her friends. I asked her, “Did you have a good summer?” She said curtly, “Yes.” Trying to get some more excitement, I asked, “What was your favorite part of your summer?” She looked at me, and said, “I had a playdate.”

So, there it is moms. All that running around in the summer keeping the kiddies engaged in camp, swim team, family vacations, etc., maybe isn’t needed... it looks like just one playdate can suffice for a great summer! (Note, the sarcasm.)

OK., I’m not an ogre, really! I won’t deprive my kids of summertime fun. I love it too much myself! I love eating outdoors, late nights, late mornings, and lots and lots of swimming. Not swimming laps, the kind of swimming where you just bob up and down... floating, with no where to go.

With the comment that my daughter’s friend made, though, it just makes me realize that sometimes just a playdate is all we need to have a really good day/week/month/season!

Enjoy those last summer days before school starts up!

To Blog or Not to Blog

When I left the high tech world several years ago, blogs were just beginning. Babies, diapers, bottles, etc. kept me quite busy for the next several years. I could barely keep up with email, let alone couldn’t fathom having the time to write in a blog. And, besides, who on earth ever reads a blog, and why on earth would anyone read mine?

I’ve thought often about keeping a journal. In fact, I’ve started many. I could go around the bookcases in my house and probably pull down at least 10 just started journals. Perhaps this blog will be the same. Perhaps not?

I’ve indulged myself with a little babysitter time this summer. It’s given me a chance to peek into the outside world... outside of my house, my kids lives, etc. There is so many talented, energetic and creative artists out there, sharing their work, and their stories. It’s a bit voyeristic, but also really fun to read their blogs. What are they up to? Are they doing similar work to what I’ve been doing? Do they have just as little time as I do to do anything for themselves, let alone be creative? It’s refreshing and many times inspiring to read their tales.

I hope my stories can be as uplifting or spark some creativity. Perhaps they’ll just give you a little laugh. Perhaps they’ll be read by no one? Either way, this will be another one of my attempts to try to capture time and memories since time surely does fly by!

Note: Picture is of the clock tower at the Peter Pan park in Kennsington London, taken by me earlier this summer in London, England.