Resolution FOUR: Create.

     I aspire to see every day of this year as an opportunity to CREATE.  It doesn't have to be a masterpiece... just something that can be viewed and treasured by me as a work of art.  On some days, like yesterday, I may have the time to drag out all my paints and paint with the kids.  On other days, it may just be that I cook a beautiful meal, take a pretty photograph, or do a really good job on Em's pigtails.  The idea is that I create something that means something to ME.  Something that comes from me and is food for my creative soul.  Anyone with a creative bone in their body needs this, and I think they do best if they get it often.  But, in my opinion, it requires a way of thinking and an attitude that opens you up and broadens your sense of what ART and CREATING really is...what it means to YOU.  If it turns out that it brightens someone else's day...EXCELLENT!  But the one responsible for brightening my day is ME, no one else.  So, I challenge you to open your mind, get your hands dirty, make a move...any move...to CREATE.  Chances are, you're already doing it.  You just have to recognize it!

CREATE.

Have a great day!
Outside Lisa

Squam Art Workshops Fall 2010

"Squam Art Workshops Fall 2010"

I've been home from my trip to Squam Art Workshops for two weeks now and I can't believe it has taken me so long to write about my experience there.  I think it has a lot to do with my tendency to hang on to big events by avoiding the final task on the to do list.  This tendency is why I still have the proofs from my wedding photographer in a box under my bed.  It's hard to let go of momentous occasions like these.  Especially the ones you know have changed your life forever.  This experience really has changed me and my life forever, and as much as I would like to pour over every detail, I have decided to let my photos speak for themselves for the most part.  I think there is magic in the intrigue, and magic is what we all need a little more of these days.

To my instructors-
Thank you, Jen, for opening my eyes through writing and your kind, gentle words.  Your stories are spellbinding and your heart is as big as the lake we gazed upon.  I'm more of a Dr. Phil, but this Texas girl will drink your Kool-Aid any day!  You have a gift.

Beatrice, your class was so much fun and so helpful for what I do in writing and photographing recipes for my blog.  You have changed the way I look at food forever.  Your patient and soulful demeanor made the day such a joy. I will never forget your smiling eyes.  Thank you for sharing your amazing talent.

Flora, to put it simply, you are a rock star.  Your captivating presence makes you seem larger than life.  You have a natural gift for teaching.  Before your class I was paralyzed by deciding what to paint.  Your fingers-in-the-paint-no-brushes-needed-get-it-on-your-clothes-create-now-explain-later method is so liberating and fun, it was just what I was missing.  I was a beginner painter who now, thanks to you, considers herself an artist.

To my cabinmates-
Kate, Jen, Monica, Elizabeth, Helen, Aleece, and Cinderella...thanks for the fireside stories, the gut busting laughter, the birthday dip in the frigid lake, the constant atmosphere of acceptance, encouragement, and love.  I can't imagine seven people I'd rather shack up in the woods with!  You all are beautiful and so amazing.  Thank you for giving me a little piece of you so willingly and openly.  You made my Squam!

To Peg-
Your tireless attention to detail and positive attitude are what makes a good thing perfect.  I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to send Cinderella and I the "Things to do in the area" email that helped make our trip so great.  I loved getting to spend the day with you and your daughter in Beatrice's class.  You are so amazingly kind and true.

To Elizabeth-
You have created such a truly unique and magical experience.  The lake, the trees, the fire, the food all seem like a dream looking back now.  But the faces of people I met, the relationships I made, and the feelings that stirred deep in my soul are still very clear to me.  You are a magic maker, and everyone needs a little magic in their life.  Thank you for having the courage to follow your dream.  I bet you never knew what an impact that would make on so many others.

To Cinderella-
We could have gone our whole married lives just going through the motions at family events year after year having no idea what kindred spirits we are.  Think of all the years we wasted.  Imagine all the years ahead.  I am so blessed to have you as a sister-in-law and so glad I got to share this amazing experience with you.  What an unforgettable adventure!

To those who make the magic,

Outside Lisa

Painting Day

     What a great weekend!  I can't say I got much rest, but I did get a lot done.  I did things I needed to do, as well as things I wanted to do.  That, to me, is the measure of a good weekend.  I really covered my bases, too:  Saturday morning we went to Billy's first football scrimmage of the season.  Then I spent the day putting up tomatoes...tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, and tomato preserves.  Sunday started out with a dip in the pool with poolside cinnamon rolls.  Then I cooked a "Country Breakfast" for lunch.  That's what we call our traditional weekend breakfast which typically includes bacon, sausage or pigs in a blanket, biscuits, home made jelly, skillet potatoes, scrambled eggs, and orange juice.  There is no way we can handle this much breakfast during the week so we do it up big on at least one day of the weekend!  Harrison and I spent the afternoon painting together and after our beer can chicken dinner, Billy took the kids and I for a ride around the ranch.  I am ready now for another busy week!

     Now that we've got that covered, I'll get on to the really good stuff .  I recently wrote a post called "Artful Living" in which I talked about creating circumstances in your every day life to feed your creative soul.  Well, I have decided it may be helpful to others if I post some examples of how I feed MY creative soul while spending quality time with my family.  So here we go...

     Harrison is very much into animals right now and was asking me if I would help him draw some.  I am not very good at drawing, but I didn't want to let the little guy down so I said, "YES!" and quickly decided I could seize this moment for some creative time for myself as well.  We settled on painting an animal scene for his room and he began looking through his wildlife magazines and books to decide which animal we would paint while I got out our supplies and set up our work area on the screened in porch.

I really like this brand of acrylic paints.

The scene is set...fresh canvases, brushes, water.

Harrison and I made a list of all of his favorite animals.

Next I did some sketching to narrow down our choices.  I discovered very quickly that he was the creative art director and I was the one doing the work!  He IS his parent's son!  He prefers a more realistic look and I am better at whimsical, more abstract creatures, but we found a happy medium, FINALLY!

He chose this father lion and cub and wanted them under the shade of a big tree. I sketched them out on the canvas to give Harrison lines to work within.

We chose our colors and began mixing them to make the perfect shades for our lion family.

Next we chose the greens for our big tree.

The painting begins.

Harrison did a great job!  He has a very steady hand and quite the eye for detail.

I did some touch-up and painted on their faces.

Harrison decided we needed Mama Lion, too.  

Sister gets in on the action.

Proud little artist!

Harrison's new Lion Family painting for his room!  

This all took about an hour and a half, but is worth a lifetime of great memories.  It was a small thing that I was able to do with my child that fed both of our creative souls!

Em still has paint in her hair!

Artful Living

My sister-in-law, Cinderella, and I have been talking recently about the importance of having people in your life who support your creative side.  We do this for each other and have great fun doing it!  For those creative souls like us, there also needs to be an outlet for that creativity so that our heads don't explode!  Whether it's writing, photography, cooking, sewing, planning events, painting, canning, gardening, scrap booking, singing...there needs to be something...and all of these activities are MY "things"...my ART.  

Sadly there are plenty of people out there with God given talents that are just wasting away.  The saddest part, though, is that there are people out there who are missing out on the everyday joys of their lives because they feel like they are being deprived of living out their dreams.  They blame this on their jobs, family, kids, or sheer lack of time.  But I believe that there is absolutely nothing about having a job, being a wife, and raising kids that should hold a person back from having their own little world inside their head where they are constantly spinning a web of dreams, ideas, and new projects.  I make it a point to try really hard every day to LIVE my art.  Finding my art in my daily routine saves me.  No.  "Finding" is not the right word.  "Creating" is more like it.  Creating moments in my daily life where I can incorporate something from my creative artillery into whatever it is I may be doing is what saves me.  I have always enjoyed my own little world apart from the everyday life I live (and love) where I dream up new ideas about this and that.  I believe everyone needs that place...that little secret they keep until they're ready to share.

This blogging thing has given me an outlet for all of the sides of me.  Not just writing in my own blog, but by reading the blogs of others.  There is an ocean of bloggers out there who are speaking my language.  It is my nightly adventure and it has opened up yet another door for me to express myself and create a legacy for my kids to savor when dear old Mom is someday gone.  

My point is...why does it all have to stay in your head?  Why can't it trickle out here and there?  Your day only has to be as mundane as you allow it to be.  And don't think you have to go to great lengths to make things happen.  INVITE your kids to have a picnic outside in the middle of the week and ENJOY the green grass together.  Choose a new recipe to COOK and PHOTOGRAPH the steps of making it.  Then post it on your BLOG.  WRITE down a favorite quote or scripture and leave it on your loved one's pillow.  You can THINK big, but START small.  Don't spend too much time or money and don't feel like you have to finish today or ever.  I'm the girl with the most amazing collection of scrapbooking supplies, but not a single complete scrapbook made, but I tell you what...when the moment comes...I'M going to be ready!

When I picture myself and my ideas, I see an image of myself with a tree growing out of my head where each branch is just another part of ME and the roots are planted deep into my heart and soul.  That is how I picture myself.  How do you picture yourself?  What is your outlet?  Do you make time for yourself and your dreams or just wait on the sidelines for someone to tag you in to your own life?  What amazing side of you will your kids completely miss out on?

My poor kids are gonna have to deal with all of my sides 'cause I'm not gonna sit on the sidelines of my life.  I'm going to teach them by showing them that your life is what you make it.  Make it sweet.  Make it artful.  Make it unforgettable.