Landscape with Ink

 Simple, sepia, indigo.  Sketchbook practice.

Sketchbook lines, cross hatch, white marks

 

Quiet Observations, common, frequent, often known, the usual.

 

Sad.  Shitty retirement. Almost a month.  Now - over the next week, it begins.  One month without a paycheck after 45 years or more.  Can I do this?  I have prepared.  My spiritual practice is my back.

I watch vintage couples, my age walking hand in hand.  Walking, walking, moving through the landscape.  Having a meal, walking the dog, driving, taking a trip, shopping, doing those things that people our age do together. 

I know we women are strong, calm, all seeing or at least clear sited. 

Clear sited.

Remember to pause. 

Listening deeply. 

Compassionate self care.

Sense of the collective. 

  

Corporate Departure Riff to Retirement March 20th, 2023.

 

Sketchbook circles - appropriate, I think for where I am at.  I declared my intention of being riffed into retirement and it happened. 

Objectives or intentions declared can be powerful.   

I do not miss work, have been concerned about having enough cash, but I am managing and "watching".  Of course, who knows, if RHH will put a kink into my careful planning or monitoring.  

During this time I repeat "words" and slogans to help me stay focused and to remind me to "empty" my mind of junk.

Compassionate self care is my primary focus right now.  Pausing.  I used to say breathe - but taking a pause is a more active choice.  I intend to pause.

Pausing means to practice deep listening.  Not talking.  Being open to being empty and receptive.  Restoration in luminous darkness.  (I remember during work life traveling, sitting in the dark, quite early in the morning before the work day began, drinking coffee (sometimes bad coffee) and just "sitting" in the dark.

Even looking back the image, experience makes me feel restored.  Safe, observant. 

I am snapped back to now - and repeat, no matter what the circumstances, respond with kindness.  My current reality demands a forgiving, loving (self love and love to rhh) way of being.   

The night before a milestone birthday....

 Volunteer at Fort Clatsop today.  38 degrees and rain and snow early.  Warmer and sun later.

Achy hips, legs. shins these days.  Does not bode well for facing the milestone.   

  

Coast

 

Abbey Guesthouse View 6/10/22

 

Quick draw and quick paint out the window of the Abbey Guesthouse.   Would this be classified as an "ugly painting"?   From Louise Fletcher's class.   

View of the lake - next trip - bring my swim shorts.   Swim, kayak, walk - but the mosquitos are awful this summer.  Wet, standing water in the woods.  

I attended Friday Eyeing Prayer.   Saturday morning I decided to sleep in and go get coffee.  More retreatants than monks.  The monks went to the Twins game. 

What next for art?  Continue with Anita Reynolds paintings.  Begin the Laura Horn month 3 class.