Kat came down for a visit last Friday. Not only did she help me spontaneously rearrange the furniture in my living room so that presto-change-o! the sweetest little art space you ever did see was suddenly at the front and the most cozy sitting area was created where before there was nothing but my chair and, you know, you can sit wherever.
She also brought Riley cat to help christen* the guest room.
For the record, Henry adores cats. Adores. All Riley had to do was sit in the doorway and Henry was entranced.
But mostly? Things are falling into place.
I know it is a total illusion to think we can ever dial our daily life into a rhythm and pattern that makes our heart sing, but damn if I am not gonna keep walking that yellow brick road til my shoes fall off.
And by shoes, I mean boots as I have two pair sitting in a brown paper grocery bag in the backseat of my car — the idea is that one of these days I will actually remember to stop at the cobblers to see if he can repair the back seam (one pair has already been resoled) as I love them and can’t get them replaced (trust me I’ve tried).
I think it’s time I simply let them go and move on.
Hard for a yankee girl. Hell, I bought a new pair of Sorel scuffs the other day and when they arrived it actually took 24 hours for me to throw the old pair away because they still had good wear left in them . . . I kid you not. Three year old slippers that should be tossed posthaste and I’m hesitating as I think of ways I could continue to use them “they’d be good for when I want to go out and take the trash to the curb . . .”
I know. It even yeeks me out. But on the flip side, I get totally ill at the over consumption I witness as such a normal part of our culture. So, finding the balance. Always the balance. You know what? just writing this all out– those damn boots are getting tossed into the bin as soon as I finish this post. Done and dusted.
Hey! Thanks for hanging around while I worked that out.
Working stuff out seems to be my focus right now. I’ve slowed my pace down to such a point that each time I hit a snag, a problem, an upset — the process of untangling, resolving, or creating a solution comes about in the strangest way. Strange for me, anyway. Instead of spiraling out at a million miles an hour I just sit with it. Half the time I don’t even try to fix it, I simply give it some air, some time and then — whaddya know. At some random moment when I am totally not even thinking about it like snapping open the refrigerator door or winding a cap back onto the tube of toothpaste and ping! — the solution drops into view.
Is this what being old is all about? Cause I am seriously loving on the emotional freedom it’s rolling out for me here.
Some kind of magic carpet ride for octogenarians.
A couple of weeks ago there was a song I could not get out of my head. I’m sure I had heard it many times before, but for some reason it stuck and stuck hard — I could not shake it.
Over the years I have been so lucky that people send me mix cds because I am so utterly lame about music and if I didn’t have these infusions god knows what I would listen to — Benedictine lutes, probably. Anyway, the song was on one of these random cds and so I had no idea who it was but I tracked it down:
Natalie Walker, Quicksand
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYgguoeDK1w]
It got into my blood stream and made me dig out the paints. More reason why I was so grateful to Kat for shifting the energies so I could actually paint instead of walking holes into my boots with that song running through my head on endless repeat.
*um, perhaps not the best word choice as Riley had a proper litter box and was a most perfect guest
Wow, so beautiful! love it even more than Saturday – the addition of the blue/turquoise and the words make it perfect. Yay you!
Hey, I feel the same way about boots- just cannot let the old ones go. When the cobbler said it would cost as much as the boots cost for me to buy to fix, I was like really? So, my Dad got me a new pair- he's awesome like that, still. Beautiful artwork, Elizabeth- I adore it!! Now I have this song stuck in my head…:) xoxo Eileen
Lovely painting, two of my favorite colors together, yellow and turquoise. I like the balance and feel of it. I, too, have learned that the best way to tackle any “problem” is to just kind of walk around it and not get in there and start mucking things up right away. (when you have that luxury and it's not an emergency.) Thank you for sharing these parts of your lovely Self. xoxo
Girl! that work is gorgeous! XXOO
That painting. It is so beautiful. I love it when you share here. I love seeing your paintings and reading your wonderful, wonderful words. And, I love this place that you are in, peaceful and just so RIGHT. You deserve it! xoxoxo
If ever you want to sale this painting…Ahhh….
Seriously, you peeked under my bed and saw my slippers, right? And here's the thing: my dad would say he needed some new article of clothing and then keep it in the box or bag as the original it was to replace still had some life left to it. I got him new slippers and he worn the ratty old ones – yes – for shuffling down the driveway and around the yard! One day I hid the old ones, placing the new ones by his bed. He laughed and then with a strangled smile said “But tell me … where are my slippers?” It killed me to find those new slippers, pristine and unused, in his closet after his death. Sigh. And so the cycle continues!
For the record: I just love the image of you skipping down that yellow brick road … Henry's the new Toto, right?
As always, thanks for the dose of sunshine and yankee wisdom 🙂 xo
yeah for painting (it's wonderful!) and friends visiting and kitty christening and sitting with the 'stuff'. and this IS what i *needed* today. thankful i stopped in. breathing.
ohhh THANKS you guys!!! xooxox, e
oh Lis I SO understand your dad– oh my word– it is a disease with us yankees, I swear-== you have heard of the book “string too short to be saved” yes?
thanks for sharing this xoxo, e
hey wow! I am just learning I can reply to comments here— woot woot woot– it's a whole new day– so glad you stopped by and thank you for sharing !!!! xoox, e
oh you are so SWEEET– it actually is way better in person– photos don't quite capture it– but I have had a few queries so maybe I'll do some prints? but LOVE that it spoke to you– that tells me (again) we are kindred
xoxox, e
oh lookie LOOK!!! I finally learned how to reply to comments— so exciting.
I think you must be the best cheerleader I have ever had in my whole life, seriously. Can't you move the family to Providence so we could hang out and be neighbors?? xooxox, e
ohhh you gotta come over and see it– it's way better in person but THANK you so so so much for the kind props– means a lot to me. xoox, e
you inspire me. thanks so much for keeping in touch– I really do love it.
yay for the internet!!! xoxooxoe
hi Eileen!!! thank you so so much for your kind words and sorry for the song stuck– I know what that's like– but who knows, perhaps it will bring you inspiration, too? sending big love– xoxo, e
it's the magic mojo center— looking forward to more creating here with you and Riley cat !!! xoxo, e
reading through this post…just moving from one insight to the next…gently illuminating in so many ways.
i finally bought myself slippers this winter after wearing a pair for who-knows-how-many years. there were full-on holes where the slipper part met the sole. kid you not, my feet were catching drafts and were cold inside the slippers. i suffered through last winter, because i figured they were still good enough. but enough with the stoic and cold feet, i bought myself a pair of new ones this year and every.single day they have made me smile.
and this idea of just sitting with things instead of trying to tackle and manipulate them. yes, i am learning/discovering/enjoying this too. kind of amazing, is it not?
and, oh, your painting. thank you for sharing it with us. it is gorgeous and filled with soulful energy.
you are shining…
Elizabeth! I have had that beloved book on my shelf for years! read it many moons ago when my beloved mil gave it to me!
yes yes yes– totally kind of amazing! xoxoxox e
Love the time and space, love that you got to paint, love what you painted
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ohhhhh THANK you so much!!! xoxo,e