Kind words do not cost much, yet they accomplish much. - Blaise Pascal

I often forget how powerful social media can be. When I started posting throwback pictures on FB and Instagram it was just for shits and giggles. I wanted to share this quirky, silly, fun loving person I am through various years of my life. I have a lot of comedy GOLD pictures like this priceless gem from when I was 8 years old. Holy nerd-love anyone? My face is so super jazzed over Nintendo birthday "I can't even"!

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook

Somewhere down the line in my artistic tinkerings I forgot the last part which is the most important part of doing anything that you love. If you are not having fun, if you are making it into something else entirely...then honestly why are you doing it? You aren't. Lesson learned for sure! I definitely needed to make art, well, art again for me. Something that flows imperfectly and differently from my fingertips. Imaginative, colorful, and something that peaks from inside of who I am, a creator and dreamer at heart. 

 

As I was hiking this weekend and breathing in the fresh pine trees and decomposing leaves I knew that I had to let go of myself right then and there. 

I knew this was my own chance to spring forward and "bloom" anew. Corny, yes, but it felt right. It felt like something inside of me wanted to be let free. I guess fresh mountain air has that unique quality to instantly draw that out in people! Thanks mountains. Thountains. 

I came back fresh and ready! It truly was a creativity miracle blessed my little heart and I now I see a clear path before me. So I am creating and I am NOT caring about what I am creating. I am just doing it to do it and to love it! It feels... so right!

 For the first time in a while my space is messy with paint and everything is coming out so easy. I am inspired and I am letting everything around me inspire me. I am excited! I can do this! I have some pretty awesome and supportive people in my life and because of that all of this is possible.

 (Nevermind the fact that Durango is clearly not having any of Dad's shit in this photo)

Here is to a healthy, creative, and loved filled week full of all the things that make our hearts sing! We can do it and we can inspire other people to do the things they love too. 

  

I heard rumors that it was supposed to be spring today but we all know that like 99% of all rumors turn out to be not true at all! Still, 60 degree weather just days before and me starting to garden had me really hoping. Nature sure had other plans for us. Boo. Our first day of spring looked a lot like winter was still in charge. He is a persistent little sucker.

I hope my poor little bulbs will be okay. I don't know much about gardening yet but I know they don't look quite right hanging out in 4 inches of snow. Look at these poor little flower babies! UGH! We actually have A LOT coming up this year and I am so excited to see what colors they will be!

I do have to admit that for a while, as the snow was falling it looked pretty darn charming. So maybe it wasn't ALL that bad? I do like how still everything gets with the fall of snow. Of course, it would be better with a soft warm spring breeze and the sweet smell of rain too...just saying Mother Nature.

...and one of us had a REALLY good time frolicking and eating all the snow in the yard. I need to teach him to only eat the snow that falls in the driveway, hah (yeah right)!

Also, that same four-legged frolicker got to cozy up on the couch in some soft warm blankets all afternoon. He is DEFINITELY not spoiled. Nope, not at ALL.

Maybe tomorrow Spring will come back and melt all this white stuff. I am on a mission to warmth. In the meantime I will be the crazy one covered in 7 blankets wearing three layers of clothes sipping some hot tea. I wish I were kidding.

365 Project Day 12 - Island

I walk up to a white house planted on the white sands of a private island that is really just a small sandbar off the shore of a larger piece of land. It is so small that only the one story house and a single palm tree can fit to sway in the warm breeze. None the less it is breathtaking. Paradise. I get the feeling that I visit my family who lives here often but this time it is with a certain urgency.

Bright turquoise water surrounds the house but instead of quietly lapping against the crystal sands of this tiny oasis it is creeping up quickly, dangerously. Soon it will tear this house apart. As the waves hit violently against the thin walls of this house we try to get everything we can. We are carrying large pieces of furniture desperately between the waves a short distance to the shore. It is chaotic, the house is crumbling, lives are being ruined and the water is taking everything - even me. I am disappearing with the house into deep turquoise my hands outstretched to the distancing shore.

I remember dreams like this because I feel like they want me to remember them.