RJD #44

The first week of back to school has come and gone in a flash. I was so excited to have the house and days back to myself again, I celebrated with window shopping on Wednesday, painted and mail arted most of the day Thursday, then totally just chilled for Friday and caught up on my week's shows on the DVR, Tucker and Pea curled lazily by my side...A good first week...

But...the realization that I simply cannot fritter away my days lay lingering at the back of my mind and there is just so much that I want to do! I have started a new painting which I'm super excited about. I'm thoroughly ensconced in mail arting and loving it! But I also would like to begin drawing and sketching again, so that idea sits patiently at the side while I'm settling into a new routine and schedule once more...So here I am again playing with priorities and determining to be more disciplined. I've been giving Michael speeches about setting goals and deciding just what he'd like to do with his future with a mere two years to find his way into the high school program he wants. I, too, need to crack down and do something more productive with my time and energy. My One Word: Focus looms...

Meanwhile, Random Journal Day #44 has its link up this weekend (with a sweet giveaway if you'd like to follow the link and check it out!) I am still managing to keep up in my prayer and scripture journal, seven months in! Just a couple doodles to share this week:

 

And we have a super full weekend ahead. This morning is bowling league for Michael then we're off to the Apple Peach Festival in Acushnet. Food, arts and crafts, and music by this guy, Neal Mc--he's AMAZING (and a personal friend...) Check him out:

 

 

Tomorrow morning I'm running in another 5k at beautiful Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. I went and ran the course yesterday, so I'm ready! And training continues for our Working Waterfront Festival Whaleboat races coming up at the end of the month. Our team made the paper as we headed out for practice one early Sunday morning:

How cool is this??



And that's all I have to share this week. Head on over to Enthusiatically, Dawn for more journal inspiration and link up love! Have a great weekend and I hope to see you back here again soon!

Working On It Wednesday #14

I know I've missed a few weeks here, so thanks for not giving up on me! It's been a bit hectic having the hubs home for three weeks after his back surgery--which went wonderfully well and he started back to work in record time! And Bug 'n I are wrapping up summer with final back to school preparations: clothes and supplies shopping, hair cuts, just fun excursions...Add on top of that running, training for my first 10k this fall, and rowing training for a race at the end of September...there's not been time at all for playing on the computer much. I'm hoping to get back into my regular arting routine once kiddo starts school again next week--I'm anxious to paint and have several projects lined up already!

I have managed to draw up some Scripture doodles here--my most recent batch:

Continuing in my Love series

I just started reading John...

Needs something doodled in the space on the left...

more Love

A bookmark I made for my bloggy friend, Dawn :)

So it's not been a total wash these past few weeks of recuperating and running around like mad! Still playing with mail art and want to do more explorations of mixed media envies...But, there's still a few days left of summer to play, so maybe, just maybe we'll be heading to the beach...yes!

 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you back again soon!

Workin' On It Wednesday #13

Where is this year flying off to?? We have almost a week post-surgery under our belt and Mr. Patient is recovering nicely. I have him up and walking as much as possible during the day and am so thankful for our neighborhood plan. The streets all loop and interlock creating myriad possibilities of walking/running adventures for as long and as far as you could want to go without ever coming close to the main road that runs below us. Our own little street is in the heart of the plan and forms a quiet, squarish loop. Monday we walked up the shorter length. Yesterday morning we walked the opposite direction for the longer length--okay, maybe it's more of a rectangular loop...Then yesterday afternoon Mr. Patient felt well enough to walk the full loop and today we will venture out to the next street that loops around our inner sanctum. He's even managed some brave steps indoors without his cane--which scares the devil out of me with both dogs running around, anxious to love on Daddy after he'd been gone in the hospital for four terribly long days...I am surprised and thrilled that he's doing so well. Now if we could get his appetite back up to where it should be to help him regain more strength, then I'll be even more pleased. The pain meds he's on have zapped his desire to eat, and whatever he does try to nibble on seems to taste too salty (it's not the cook, salt never touches our food anymore!) But, we'll take just one day at a time and be thankful for how well he is recuperating after such an extreme procedure!

So, after being gone for all that time at the hospital, I didn't think I'd have too much to share for this week's post-but I did manage to get a few doodles done:

Another lyric doodle--I just wish the previous page hadn't bled through so much...

Reading in Luke right now

Inspired from my perpetual calendar

And Sunday our baby girl turns 27! I made a little card for her gifties-this is just the sketch up...forgot to take a pic before I tucked the actual card in the envie...my brain is so scattered this week...

 



So that's the week's offerings. I'm beginning to contemplate just what I might want to do once kiddo and Mr. Patient head back to school and work--there's a couple online classes I'd like to try along with my stash of books here that I need to get back to...We'll have to wait and see what fancy hits me, I suppose...For today I'm off to go rowing this morning--it's been almost two weeks since I've been out on the water and I miss it!! My lovely rowing friends volunteered me for another racing team in September--are they great, or what? Can't wait--need to get some practice in and we just might take a win this time!

Thanks a bunch for stopping by--have a great week, go do something summery! Hope to see you back here next Wednesday!

Until then,

xoxox

Workin' On It Wednesday #12

Our Wi-Fi connection seems to be getting worse and worse lately. Pages taking forever to load, if they even do--feels like we're back on dial-up except when the bill comes and I'm paying for way more than dial-up!! Not making me happy...But I'm hoping I can get this posted this morning as we'll be pretty much gone the next couple of days. Hubby goes in bright and early tomorrow for his back surgery--we're both getting to be anxious wrecks...We've been waiting months for the go-ahead and now it's finally happening, we'll be glad when it's over and his recovery begins!

 

I have a few quick Scripture doodles to share this week:

 

From another song I keep hearing when I'm out running...

I want to do a Love series after last week's 1 John 4:19 doodle...

Wondering if I should add the pink hearts...?

I did up a few envelopes in preparation for something to keep me occupied at the hospital then ended up writing out all the letters yesterday and mailing them...Hoping I get some more mail today! I'll have to bring a book or two to read while we're waiting...

I'm up to six miles now for my 10k training. I didn't quite make it on Monday before it started to rain--giving it another try this morning. I'm off the water all week until Sunday when I'm subbing for a friend who's away for a week in Acadia (jealous!!) So running is my sanity this week--and, speaking of, it's that time!

Thanks for stopping by--do keep Bill in your prayers for a successful surgery and an easy, speedy recovery! Hope to see you here again next week-God willing!

Workin' On It Wednesday #11

Well, I haven't had an overly productive week-my mail stack is overflowing but I'm tackling it day by day. I did manage to doodle a bit in my prayer journal through the week:

I think I hear this song every morning on K-Love when I'm out running and had to doodle the chorus

This Scripture gave me such strength and peace this week, so thankful for His unending love!

I did have a great weekend--Saturday I drove to RI to meet my friend, Dawn, for the South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour and spent the day cruising Tiverton and a bit into Little Compton enjoying beautiful art as well as gorgeous scenic views. Sunday I ran in a 5k and beat my previous 5k time by more than a minute and a half--whew!! Next week hubby will finally have his back surgery so I'm taking advantage of this week to get some summer fun in with Bug and check off a few much needed things that might not be as easily done once Bill's home for his recovery and we're housebound for a while.

I also just finished up a twelve week long Biggest Loser Challenge on Spark People and lost a total of 19lbs over the duration of the challenge--much thanks to Bob Harper's Skinny Rules, rowing and running! I'm feeling great and continuing towards my final goal weight. I have three more road races coming up in August and September and lots more fun planned with our rowing club! Ain't no stoppin' me now!!

Have a great week!

Linking up with Juana Mikels this morning:

 

Workin' On It Wednesday #10

Good morning friends! I know I missed last week and couldn't skip two weeks in a row, so--since it's raining and I can't sneak out for a run until later--I figured I ought to take advantage of the down time and whip up a quick post.

I've really been in a bit of a funk again lately--uninspired creatively...just not sure what I want to do and not feeling like doing much of anything. This too shall pass, no doubt--just have to wait it out.

Some pics from the past couple of weeks (you can see how unproductive I've been for two weeks!) First, the Diva challenge last week was to use the pattern, Crux, which the first picture is an example of variations of the pattern (not done by me):

 

I love grid patterns so had to give it a go, only I went off in a different direction and came up with this:

I've decided to name it as a new pattern Dayzee

I managed to get a few Scripture doodles done in my prayer journal:

I loved playing with this trinity/mirror image

My cursive is really sad...

 

I finally realized that mixed media paper would make great envelopes--not too heavy or stiff for mailing purposes but sturdy enough to take on water media! Can't wait to play more with this!

 

Fitness/diet wise: I'm still losing and just got into my favorite super cute, super skinny size 8 shorts yesterday which felt unbelievably good!!! I was pondering what to wear this weekend for the Southcoast Artists Open Studio Tour (yes, it's that wonderful time of year again!!!) and thinking there was no way I'd get the shorts up over my thighs, I still tried them on and was beyond thrilled to find they actually fit again!! Then I went and bought another cute pair of shorts to wear instead--so silly, but I honestly only have two 'nice' pairs of shorts since I wouldn't wear them with fat legs. I think I'm overdue for another pair!

 

I'm on week six of my 10k training which is 4miles/4miles/5miles. I ran 4.25 on Monday, plan to run 4.5 this morning if the rain will let up--I love a rain run but it's torrential out there and I'm not interested in drowning...tackling the five miles on Friday and then I've signed up for a 5k on Sunday--my first road race since TN...that's entirely too long! Signing up for three more--two 5k's in August and a 4.1 mile race in September. The 10k I want to run isn't until October, so this is motivation to keep on moving!! I think I'm most excited about having race T-shirts again! Haha!

 

So there you have it, my two week recap. The rain is slowing down so I think Tucker 'n I will head on out of here now. Have a fantastic week!! Hopefully I'll have more to share with you next week!

 

Linking up with Juana Mikels:

Workin' On It Wednesday #9 Meets RJD #42!

In a lovely coincidence this week, my dear friend, Dawn, over at Enthusiastically Dawn, asked me to guest host Random Journal Day for a special week long celebration since RJD falls on the Fourth of July this month, and now the week also includes my birthday! There is just partyin' all around! So do make sure you swing over to Dawn's for my guest post and you can also check out everyone's link ups for more wonderful journal love!

I have a few Scripture doodles to share this week from my prayer journal:

 

This song was playing the other morning while I was running
and I just had to doodle it out!

I've fallen into a bit of a block of sorts lately. I just don't know what I want to do. I'm really craving color so thinking about painting, but what? I feel stumped and unproductive. Nothing seems to hold my attention or spark any inspiration.

Meanwhile, I've really been enjoying our snail mail group and through them discovered this fabulous new toy: a Xyron sticker maker!! You can turn just about anything into a sticker with these gadgets--I'm in love! I bought two: one small (1.5" width) and one medium (2.5") There's a larger one that makes stickers 5" wide (as well as laminates, makes magnets...) but I didn't see a need to make stickers that big. I've mostly been making pretty little bits to stick on my envelopes, dressing up labels....entirely too much fun!

And more celebrating this week here in New Bedford centers around the homecoming of the Charles W. Morgan! I was lucky enough to get the chance to row out to greet her when she arrived last Wednesday. It was wicked windy (uh oh, Yankee-speak is beginning to rub off on me!) but I'm so glad we went--seeing this magnificent ship out on the open water in full sail and being right next to her was breathtaking, to say the least!! It is an experience I'll never forget! We followed her in to port with dozens of other boats tagging along, the canons were shot off in welcome from Fort Phoenix and helicopters buzzed overhead taking pictures of the great celebration. It felt like living history! This past Saturday I rowed in the homecoming boat parade, which was such a blast, and this coming Saturday I'll be rowing in another race as the celebration wraps up before the Morgan heads back out on her journey along the coast...Fun, fun, fun! Birthdays, blogs, and boats--and fireworks!! Life is definitely good!!

Pulling up her sails as she came into port

So thanks, as always, for taking the time to stop by and don't forget to swing by Dawn's for more journal love! Wishing you a spectacular Fourth!! Happy July!