Day 6...

First of all...Thank you Rhonna for mentioning me on your blog...And for all those who've found me...Welcome to Foolsewoode! Rhonna was right, this is the time for me to change...And I am so grateful that there is such a fun way for me to do it (because let's face it...We can all use a little more fun in our lives!)...and creative (I mean, look at the artwork she posts every day for this challenge...I am so inspired!) I was catching myself already wondering about the next challenge...ohhh...What else can I change and create in my life?!! Although, I am safetly staying with this one...for the rest of the challenge!

Open my eyes to the beauty around me...You'd think that would be easy to do, considering that I live in such an amazing part of the country. Yes, I know that we are going through a 10 year drought (how they predict the times for these things, I'll never know) In my part of Arizona, we are a mile high, which means we have pine trees and snow...And small "seasonal" creeks and a few lakes...And monsoons (with the most amazing thunder and lightning you've ever been in). A little over and hour north there is a ski area, and then a little over an hour south...One of the only natural occurring saguaro "forest" (that's fancy talk for a desert) And yet, I forget sometimes to actually open my eyes to the beauty, whether it be my business (mostly created by me) of my days, or the stress (again created by me) it's wonderful to have a reminder that I need to stop and look around me at the miracle that is in the moment NOW. And if I actually can stop and observe, then I think it would be easy to open my heart up...And notice to, those who love me...Especially myself (sometimes the one person I forget really loves me). Listening to that little voice that is me...And trusting that ME...And then being true to that? Sounds easy doesn't it? I will work on that more every day...I was up and out early today, so I didn't get this quote until the late afternoon (I'm finding myself wanting these quotes first thing in the morning, so I have something to carry through the rest of the day!)

And, I forgot to mention the other day...I was floundering around not being inspired to do the journal pages. Hemming and Hawwing and not wanting to do anything that I would be responsible for publishing on the blog every day. And I realized that if I really want to participate that not only do I have to set the goal, and take the action steps to reach it...But I really needed to participate fully...Which meant doing the journaling as well. I once loved to draw, and gave it up for various silly reasons (marriage, age...Not having enough time...You know, the usual!) So, I was schlepping around the house looking for something to draw with and in, and came across my Berol Prismacolors...Now, these are amazing soft color pencil sets that one should never be without! SO...I have a set! I threw it into my bag along with a sketch diary and took it to the shop with me, and when I got there, I pulled out the pencils and noticed that out of the 36 in the box, I maybe had sharpened 10.

Yes 10.

Now, I've had these pencils since I graduated from college (oh...Maybe, well...Let's say it's been about 10 years...Hey, that's a pencil a year!) So, I sat down and sharpened all of them right then. I think I have a block about using things and saving them for a "special" occasion (I know this because my mom moved out of our childhood home, and found some figural soaps in the shape of Snow White, which of course I never used...And we may have sold them to a collector on eBay) So...No more saving, my special occasions are all the time now! And I am loving using them and creating these pages. It's more drawing than I've done in years!