Bloom where you’re planted unless…

you get transplanted.

Wow! Another week has gone by! Why is it that time seems to be going by so fast and it feels like I am moving so slow?  Now that we are past Labor Day, it feels like Autumn and even though there are many restrictions because of Covid, the world is getting busy again. Summer is over, even though the calendar disagrees.

There are many things to do, explore, and experience and it all takes time, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough.

Friday and Saturday the air was heavy with the sadness of the memories of 9/11. I watched a little of a National Geographic special (2 of the 7 in the series) which was very well done. I could not watch it all I still have vivid memories from 20 years ago and I did not need to know anymore.  It is tragic how that event which seemed to bring us together as Americans actually was a catalyst to bring about the splintering of this country more than at any other time in our history. Hard to know how we can overcome it. I hope we can. We are far from perfect, however, so much good has been created here and spread to other places. There are also many lessons we could learn from the rest of the world as well, there is good the world over. It would be great if we could figure out how to work together.

I spent a lot of time painting this last week. I finished this one that we worked on in Watercolor Happy Hour over the last 2 weeks. It is an old abandoned building on HWY 99 just out of Beaverton that was in the process of being torn down. You know how I love old abandoned places. 

Then I found a dandelion coming up in a crack in the sidewalk that reminded me of the saying grow where you’re planted which I have often identified with. It occurs to me that I am moving far from the last planting of me, however seeds get scattered and also move to new locations. Rationalizing maybe, but hey, I am going to go with it. 😊 I had to paint that on a card to go in my Etsy collection of handmade cards. 

Then the leaves are turning and the acorns are falling and I have started a painting of that. I have been studying botanical art and looking at nature and plants in a new way. Much more methodical and trying to pay attention to the intricate details of small things. This is my new painting near completion. I am using a much more controlled painting style than I have done in the past. This painting is done on a hot press smooth paper that is just delightful to work with. I have used it for colored pencil but not watercolor. I now see that I love it for that as well. Can’t wait to finish it! This will be part of a Autumn series that I will have made into printed cards. Hope to have them all together by next week.

There seems to be lot’s of new events for Fall to explore, so I am making a list. Almost every city has an art council here and there are so many opportunities to see art, make art, talk about art. And exploring as many as I can will help me find the group that is right for me. Will also be going to a gallery orientation for a cooperative this week. Who knows, maybe I will have a home gallery by the end of the week. It is a place that seems very community oriented and it is nearby. Fingers crossed.

Had a good time again at the Tigard Market on Sunday. Small but full of great vendors and patrons willing to share their experiences and ideas for the future.

People here are very friendly and so wanting to help, a lot like most places I have lived. In my experience, if I am open and interested, people are willing to be that way as well. It is always wonderful to find new places and new people. We really are all much the same. We want the best for our family and our friends. That has been my experience in this country and many others I have traveled to. If only we could see ourselves as a global community without so many barriers. That would be my dream. 

Hope you have an awesome day. Be well and take care.

Cheryl