The Gathering Continues

My first 12 contributions to the 30 Day Creative Gathering

This has been such a full year for me that blogging has taken a back seat as I process so many changes. Mum went into care and it seems unlikely she will be back home. At year end I sold the largest sculpture in my portfolio and the future hinted at more. Then Covid 19 shifted my personal priorities. I set up an Etsy Mask shop to support the cause. My trip to celebrate passing into the third age was axed and then in July, my friend of 25 years died. I now know more about dying and paperwork around it than I ever wanted to. I’ve been on a steep learning curve and there is no rest ahead. 

The whole world and everyone I know has had a tough year and we are all trudging zombie like towards 2021. However, it seems like I’ve had to process more than most. I keep thinking about the movie Titanic and I feel like I’m standing on the stern peering down into the abyss. How about you?

Anyway, life goes on and my internet friend Sheila Delgado has been doing an admirable job hosting the twice yearly Creative Gathering on Facebook. Each participating artist and crafter is soldiering on, and I’m thoroughly enjoying each new work they post. There is a great feeling of camaraderie and support. What a solid, reliable set of worldwide friends I have. Thank God for the internet.

Above are the first 12 postings I have made to the Creative Gathering. We are allowed one piece a day and we each post in the daily album. It is so interesting to see the changes in rhythm, color and media as time goes on. I’m sure we are each influenced a little by the others.

One of my favorites is the work produced by choosing a magazine image and attempting to mix the main colors. I think these are art works in their own right.

Then there are the wonderful character faces of 

Take a look on Facebook - 30 Day Creative Gathering - Friend me and ask for an invite

And Etsy - My Mask Shop - https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SEA2YOU

Google Performance

Bedding plants for my balcony planters

I had a nice surprise in my email, a performance review from Google. There was a lot of information, some which was new to me and quite useful.

It confirmed that more than half of my readers are from the USA, which makes sense because the Canadian population is much smaller than our neighbour to the south and it is my main market.

My most popular blog posts are informational; its good to know that, because they take a lot of time and effort.

Only a little over half my viewers are using a smart phone, most access my blog via a desktop computer. I haven't used a desktop for more than 20 years, so this surprises me. I was also surprised that the majority find my blog through image, not word searches. Statistics are important to any business, so I’m pleased that Google has it in hand.

Seedlings for my Victory Garden Planters

Cold April and Macro

I’m glad I don't have my lettuce crop in yet. “According to Environment Canada, Kelowna tied the record for the coldest April 2, recording a low of -7.8C at the agency’s weather station at UBC Okanagan just before sunrise at 7 am. The temperature ties with the same record low set in both 1936 and 2002. The average is 13C high and 1C low, so Thursday was far below average for early April,“

However, my creative Photo Walks group had a group session this evening and we were encouraged to post anything macro. Here are some of my submissions taken with my 2015 iPad which doesn’t do a bad job!

GNH or Gross National Happiness

As I enter my third age, that of so called retirement, I have been pondering what I really want to plan for my next 10 years. When I dedicated the last 10 years to art in 2010, I had no idea of the challenges ahead, and I suspect I have no idea of the challenges ahead in the next 10 years, but I do want them to be happy and involve plenty of fun.

In contemplating the idea of happiness, I remember that one country in the world actually has it written into their constitution. The phrase “Gross National Happiness” contrary to most countries “Gross National Product”, was initiated in 1976 by then King of Bhutan, Jigme_Singye_Wangchuck. The tiny, landlocked nation leads the world with their desire to nurture a happy population. Read more about it here. Wikepedia.

As I look back, almost my entire life had been dedicated to helping friends and relatives stay in the happy zone. That hasn’t necessarily lead to my own happiness, especially when caring for aging parents and friends: There is a modicum of pleasure, knowing that you are making their life a little better, but it doesn't involve the type of unbounded joy I experienced when young. Personal aging and health issues also leave a toll on mental, emotional and physical well being. I’m not even sure that unbounded joy is what I want to experience, as it seems a little unhinged. I’m open to all possibilities though.

REACH FOR THE STARS by Sea Dean 

I do think that unless an opportunity for fun and pleasure is built into the schedule, it will be passed over or totally ignored amongst the busyness of life. Therefore, for the past year I have actually started scheduling in fun, pleasure and happiness. My schedule is color coded, so I made the fun color bright yellow for joy. Every day I check my life balance and if I see too little yellow in my schedule, I look for some joyful things to add. It may be a walk by the lake, thrift shopping, a ballet performance, lunch or just chatting with a friend. It has made a difference in my well being, and I encourage everyone to give it a try. Squeeze out a few moments to nurture your own happiness.

WINTER SUNRISE

In Canada days are shorter in the winter and this changes the timing of sunrise and sunset quite drastically. This morning I opened the curtains at 6:55 am to this beautiful sight. Of course two weeks ago our clocks went back so really it was just before 8am. In the summer I was getting up around 5am to catch the geese having their morning bath. It’s nice to have a bit of a lie in.

DRAW THE LINE - DAY 24 - 30 in 30

This time a twilight shot. I’m always torn between keeping images natural, by gently erasing such things as cell towers, power lines and jet trails, or allowing them to intrude on the scene. After all they are part of our modern world and they could become a trendy part of the composition if allowed to be part of the scene rather than an intrusion.

What do you think?