A Holiday from "shoulds"

I am going to be taking a holiday from blogging in January.

I know I have that button, "blogging without obligation," but really, it doesn't work! I still feel like I ought to blog more regularly.

A therapist I know has a business card with all the usual stuff on the front and on the back is this line
Don't Should On Me!

I'm taking blogging out of the should category. Recently I've felt I wasn't always me when I've posted and I'd like this space to be both pretty and real.


Usually I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but this year, while soaking up the sun in the desert, I thought I would get more organized, get rid of the excess stuff I have collected over the years,** blog more, stop leaving my studio and shop in such a mess, make more art. You know the list!


What seems do-able sitting on a bench in the sun doesn't always seem so easy under grey skies and with all the stuff at home that yells at me: 1000's of inches of wallpaper to strip, boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff to sort thru, laundry, papers to file.**

Something had to go. As much as I love blogging, I realized I needed to revamp 3 really important areas of my life, and the blog was one of them. The other two are getting the shop ready to re-open in March, and designing a studio I can really create in!

So I'm taking my creative life on as a full-time job, 9-5. I have no idea if I can do this. I would much rather sit down and read a book than do anything else. Shopping & going out for lunch are easy! Getting into the shop/studio is tough. Staying there all day is almost impossible. But if I don't do it now, I'll never do it. I have so many beautiful ideas. I know I have taste. It's the Nike slogan
Just do it!

Feel free to leave comments or send emails. I will respond to all of them. I'll also let you know when I'm back.

~Marilee


**While on our trip both my kids asked if I had seen the TV show Hoarders. My daughter was glad to discover hoarding is a "thing;" that other people have trouble with holding on to things. The kids said they didn't think I was that far gone, but perhaps I ought to watch it as a cautionary tale. They're right. I'm not a hoarder, but I do have too much stuff and it's tough to get rid of it.

Pink Saturday

If I was at home, I would think of sharing photos of pink lustre tea cups or pretty pink linens or the pink pointsettia I purchased for the shop.

But I am in the desert and discovered there are some beautiful pinks amongst the succulents!

A Barrel Cactus

Different Barrel Cacti


Prickly Pear
genus Opuntia
(genus info supplied by my environmentalist son)


Prickly Pear
with insect residue.
(I tried to remove it to make a prettier picture, but well, that seemed a little to0 punctilious, even for me!)


Being together with our kids is such a joy. We all went to The Living Desert the day before Christmas. The guys went hiking, the women looked at the animals (cats were the favs). When my daughter got tired of it all and wanted to read Harry Potter, I wandered off into the gardens, happily taking pictures and enjoying the quiet of being by myself.

Happy Boxing Day!
Hope your Christmas was full of love, joy, family and good things.

and now, since we are at a desert resort, we're all going swimming!

Out and Back Again

My dear friend Lori wrote and asked if all was well. After sending her a long note I thought I ought to post something here.

I've just been working out some personal issues.
I'm fine and all is well with my family!

We are off to the desert for Christmas.

My son's internship is out near Death Valley and since he wasn't coming home, we decided to go out and hang with him.

I promise to share all my fun things of Silver Bella and the antiquing trip home, and our holiday in sun, sand and cactus after the new year.

ps these photos were taken by my son. I think they are amazing!
correction, the desert photos were taken by my son.

Antiquing in Iowa

Who Knew?
Iowa is a fantastic place to antique.
I am writing this from the Amana Visitors Center.
I will post pictures when I can.
I am having a blast and can't wait to share all the pretty images and cool stuff I have been able to find on this trip home.

Later Friends,
~Marilee

On My Way Back Home

Again, if I had music on this blog, it would be playing what I think might be a Paul McCartney tune from his first solo album. As I remember it, some where in it there are the lines I'm on my way home/ on/ my/ way/ back/ home. I can hear it in my head, but couldn't find it on goggle.

I'd hum it for you, but you'd never get it then!
If you can remember it, do let me know.


The same bags going home.


Plus all these fabulous swap treasures.

Silver Bella was amazing. I am still processing it all. The classes were incredible. I felt such a connection with all the teachers and learned so many new techniques. I did the vendor fair and that was another great learning experience. I will post more about this adventure when I return home.

Play Day

Saturday was all about play and it had lots of different components.

UP IN THE AIR JUNIOR BIRDMAN

I took the day off from glittering and Kath took the day off from policy making and we played!


We didn't go up in the plane, which is playing for Kathy & her friends.

The wind would just have bounced the aircraft around.

I am being offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly in a WWII training plane.
It wouldn't work out time-wise, but the truth is, I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to little planes.

FARM GIRL FOR A DAY

Down the road from the hangars, a family related farm festival was going on.

Broom Making

Sorghum is used to make the brooms.

Colored Sorghum.

Corn
Turned in to meal and made into pancakes.
We bought a bag of mix and it's today's breakfast!

I like the historical irony!

This wringer washing machine certainly would not be considered easy by today's standards. But I bet it was a whole lot easier than what the farm wife had before.

Vintage and antique farm equipment

Well used, rusty vehicles.

Equipment in show condition.

Notice the blades of grass out of focus at the bottom on this pic?

Kath was down on the grass taking beautiful close-up arty photographs.

I grabbed the camera out of her hands, told her to stay put and captured her "technique!"
Hard not to laugh!

On My Way

If I had music on this blog, it would be playing the catchy opening tune of Ice Age.

As I don't, you'll just have to hum it yourself!

My bags are packed.


Here's my packing list.
Notice how close-up I could get on this photo?


I have a new camera and it is fabulous!
10x zoom, smallish and oh so easy to use!
Can't wait to take pics of all the wonderful things along the way.