Saturday, December 23, 2017

Mindful, Day 353, Cold Tangerines


As I get close to the end of the year I came across this lovely little book, Cold Tangerines, Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life. What a great book to get me through to the end of the year! She captures the same kinds of moments I am interested in but she writes beautiful essays about them. A wonderful gift.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Mindful, Day 352, Simplicity

I saw this quote today in an article about one of my favorite actors, Daniel Day Lewis. It strikes a chord for me. I spend a fair amount of time on my artwork trying to eliminate excess. I remember a book I read at some point about a Zen artist that spent hours preparing to do a write a calligraphic character in one fluid motion.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Mindful, Day 351, Orange


Little clementine oranges - dinner. Love the smell, the color, the texture and how easy they are to peel and eat. Nice to have a simple treat in this time of lots of indulgences!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

MIndful, Day 349-350, Growling Rabbit?


I saw this sign in a coffee shop window. I am not sure I would ever want to meet a growling rabbit. But there has to be some great story behind the name!

Monday, December 18, 2017

Mindful, Day 348, Working Hands

I am thinking about a new series of work for next year based on the beauty of working hands. This photo came up in my search. I have always wanted to do hands and I have many saved photos. I think it is going to be a challenge but that is exciting, not scary!

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Mindful, Day 346-347, Garden Shadows


A beautiful walk through the Chicago Botanic Garden on a sunny, not too cold, not windy at all day was relaxing and restorative.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Mindful, Day 345, One Last Reminder

As I enter the last stretch of days to the end of the year I need to give myself one last reminder about the purpose of this blog!

Mindful –
Every Day I see and hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It is what I was born for – to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world – to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant- but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these- the untrimmable light of the world, the oceans shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?  Mary Oliver

So, over the next few weeks I will continue to observe and find those small, insignificant things that add joy to my days.