Spring Comes, Spring Goes

Wow, our icy blanket that we've been living under for 2 months has finally melted away!   We've had a weird inversion for weeks which means a thick layer of clouds between us and the sun.... which is a pretty good description of what it does to your spirit as well.... coated by a heavy layer of blaw and ice.  I haven't even made anything in the studio for 3 weeks, but that's post partum Christmas burnout.  Fellow crafters are all crazy busy getting ready for the winter trade shows, which I can't afford to do.

Instead I'm going to concentrate on listing some vintage items on etsy at www.vintagecowgirls.etsy.com and listing my show stuff (mostly jewelry) on www.goglassgirl.etsy.com.  Also hope to finally achieve my real goal when I joined etsy and get jewelry and stained glass supplies listed for sale and clean out the studio.  You can only move stuff you are no longer using so many times right?

A sign of spring tho, we had a few sunny days and 3 new baby calves.  They're a bit early, but sometimes the bull gets out or the girls get in and stuff happens.  Can't wait for the calf rodeos to begin... get a couple of babies together and it's a guaranteed chuckle.

Eat, eat, eat

I am enjoying an audio books disc of Eat, Pray, Love by Elisabeth Gilbert.  It was a big hit a few years ago and my daughter has been imploring me to read it.  I think she said "you'll really like it mom" but she probably also said "it'll really help you mom" and she was 100% right on both accounts!  

Eat, Pray, Love

I was overcome by frustration however, as I have an mp3 player that I thought I could download the itunes book purchase to.  However, itunes insisted there is not an mp3 version available, that it must be played on the computer??? WHAT! I already sit in front of the computer way too much as it is.  I finally figured out that I could burn the book to a cd, which then wouldn't play on my stereo... so luckily, my strong procrastination traits have paid off..  I have been meaning to list my laptop for sale since this summer when I purchased a 20" imac.  (older eyes mean bigger screens are NICE).  Since I haven't done that yet, I am able to play the cd on my laptop in my studio as I work.

The Eat part of the book was very enjoyable.  Elizabeth narrates the book herself and her soothing voice and charming wit came through in spades.  It was like watching "Under the Tuscan Sun".... you were right there, enjoying the food and the charm of italian men and scenery and the beautiful language.

I've just finished the Pray part, which I have to admit, I was sometimes bored with.  It came along as tedious in parts as she explains the things that she was bored with, but then... she would have a break through and I also was further drawn into the idea of meditation to quiet my mind.

For the last few months as my stress level with work and the health of my beloved pets has increased, I can barely sleep and just wish I could turn off that damn conversation and music that goes on in my head!   I got on Amazon last night and ordered a disc on guided meditation that sounds wonderful, and a couple of little handbooks that I can carry with me for a little bit of insite during the day.  I have practiced a 5 minute guided meditation off and on for a year, and when I can get myself to spend that 5 minutes being calm it does help me for the whole day.

I would recommend Eat Pray Love  to anyone who is seeking their inner self.  I know I am a totally driven person, and realize that I miss some small pleasures because of this... altho I take that back, as I also relish many small pleasures each day.... like when I'm feeding hay and see a flock of Canadian geese fly overhead.. or when I'm walking the dogs and my 13 year old Chinese Sharpei is trotting along with her tail like a flag in a parade.... those are things that make my heart melt.

Off to the shop to make up more orders... I am listening to the Love part today.  Will let you know how that goes :)

Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday.  It's great how the kiddies really live the fantasy of the costuming.  It just doesn't seem as commercial as the other holidays have become, it's really about the spirit of the thing..... spirit, get it?  Sorry but I couldn't help myself :)

If halloween can predict the economy, I would say it's coming back.  Last year, most of the kids were dressed up like hobo's or casper, wearing  bedsheets or old castoffs from dad and mom... but this year it seemed like 90% had crazy over the top costumes that were quite elaborate.  I always tried to stitch my daughter's costumes, but you got to hand it to the store bought ones... there were some scary creatures running down my street!

My favorite Halloweener is actually a mom who brings her darling kids by, she works at the local market in our small town and bless her heart, was standing out in front of the local pub in this get up during the afternoon, waving at people and doing a funny dance... so she cracked me up twice yesterday, gotta love her.

My husband carved pumpkins from our garden and they looked great out front in the new grasses and rust garden that I just finished planting a few weeks ago.  Already the grasses have turned beautiful coppery pinks and ambers, I feel good every time I walk down the walk.

I'm going to do less

I had an epiphany while walking my dogs this beautiful fall morning.  While thoughts were spinning thru my brain as fast as the last glorious rush of speed of a kamma kazi  pilot... it occurred to me, I don't need to to more, I need to do less!

I've feverishly been working on website promotion, following the guide I talked about the other day, following sign ups of sites recommended by friends... still behind on my orders, house isn't clean enough etc.  I'm exhausted!  And while I was thinking, if I did this then that would happen and then the next thing and so on... and I thought WAIT!  The leaves are brilliant colors and sound like rain when they fall, and the sky is the purest blue and my dogs are healthy today (another blog there) and life is good.  I will work on my orders at a steady responsible pace and they'll go out when they're done.  I'll do that 10 minute workout dvd in the morning, and let it cut into my computer time.  I'll take a tea break in the afternoon specially when I have delicious faux oatmeal cookies (made of potato chips, yum; thanks mickey) to go with that tea.  And I will take my mom into town just to get a Pumpkin cappachino at the Maverik.  And all will be well in my small corner of the world.