Undercurrent

 

We are experiencing a second wave. Different than the previous one. This time there is an undercurrent of collective fatigue, confusion, fear and stubbornness pulling each and everyone. How to swim strong?   

Flowers and fishnet

Long ago, in the late 60s, I had a dress with a similar pattern to the drawing above. There were flowers and dots and either the background or the flowers were in a garish pink. I wore blue fishnet stockings with it. I thought I looked really chic. Blue and pink a perfect match.

Then one of my sisters told me the fishnet pattern didn't match with the dress pattern. That was the day I gave up on being a fashion queen. If fashion was more than matching colours... I was off that train. 

 

Lemonade

 

We had an amazingly hot summer. Plenty of opportunity to find the best recipe for homemade lemonade. This one from Chef John was my favourite.  

Wallpaper

 

Walking early morning

Finding a rhythm to my steps

Less random more async-sync 

Their echoes wallpaper in

The space of this new day

Storms are coming

Summer days have gone away on their journey. Cold grey autumn is knocking on the door. 

I wonder what we should do to prepare ourselves for another winter of semi-isolation. It is interesting working remotely, when everyone else is also at home, or just very few are in offices.

 

Odd times

Talking to my daughter this morning and we were discussing all of the small and infinite changes in our daily lives. There are really a lot of them. Here is just a few:

• not touching any surface at stores or in the subway stations
• singing happy birthday numerous times every day (2 x every time we wash our hands)
• always washing hands before leaving and when returning home
• not leaving the house without a face mask
• learning to bow instead of hug friends you meet in the streets
• always having a full pantry
• every trip or outing requires reflection as to whether it is a safe and sound thing to do

We are living in odd times. 
 

Span of his life

 

Nomad Son is turning 30 tomorrow. What a long stretch of time this birthday signifies. How far he has come and hopefully, he has much more to experience and explore. While drawing this quilt above, I have been contemplating the span of his life and all that he means to our family and me. 

Home comforts

 

I have discovered the joy of drawing quilts. It is fun. It is meditative. And I can easily get myself lost in the process. This is really important because generally life around me is changing so substantially that I need the reprise. 

The difference between demanding and over-demanding

 

Oh these times are not only precarious, they are also often demanding or over-demanding. The last two days have been strenuous with colleagues in far off places having troubles with lock down restrictions. I keep telling myself I am there to listen, but sometimes that listening shots down to my heart.

Delight

Spending more time each day working on patterns... it is a thoroughly delightful pastime. At the same time listening to music. This morning was Bach.

  

 

Anna's Legacy

Giuseppe's mom turned 80 this year. She has 9 children ages 48-61 (a span of 13 years). She has 18 grandchildren spanning ages of 4-42 (span of 38 years). She also has two great-grandchildren both 8 years old. Amazing. 

 

The patience of thousand years old women

I am trying to support a dear dear friend through her chemotherapy by drawing her a picture every day with a beautiful poem or inspirational quote. This morning, I decided to draw inspiration from native American bead work. Thought it would be fun, which it was, but boy oh boy, did it take a long time.

Never underestimate the patience of traditional art work. To think that generation and generation of women would do this as a pastime.  

 

Cool coy koi

Spent the afternoon, this hot sunny summer afternoon, taking a tutorial and completely enjoyed drawing this cool coy Koi. So much fun.

 

Going somewhere

 

Long summer day. Long work day. Where to escape from the heat? 

Still spending my days trying to help colleagues in Mumbai and Melbourne. For them, there is no possibility of going anywhere or even an end in sight. So I reach out to them with my heart. 

A start to a day

 

Three concepts. Three words. A start to the day. 

In difficult times

 

when panic or fear

electric scorch-marks

along the membrane

of my brain and heart...

stop, slow down, breathe

use all those inherited traits

from over the Irish Sea

denial, distraction, 

deliberate avoidance...

mix with science, age old

mindful practices, kindness

love...

oh love, blessed is this day

* This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.

Being an ally

Walking, meditating, contemplating on time.

How reality has changed. No. Not reality. Me.

Listening to a podcast about Nero, The Matrix, and being trans

Finally, I discovered an open door.

No longer just a sympathizer. Now I am an ally.

wasserspiegel

In German the surface of a sea, lake, or ocean is called Wasserspiegel... water mirror... love the notion

from afar

Picture book beautiful. Cathedral steeples piercing the sky. Lone man does his Tai Chi by the pond. Empty bottles float by, telling a story of last night's drunkenness. 

Sunday morning

(drawing: yesterday's art class)

Spending the day in quiet occupation. Going for a walk with a friend. Drawing. 

I want to try and make up a mindmap called "how to get through difficult times". Will publish it later if I amounts to anything.