Organize This on Wednesday

A few weeks ago I mentioned in a post that I wanted to take a month off and organize my life--like that is even possible in 30 days! But, it got me thinking and I've decided to take another leap of faith and post my organizing escapades with any tips I've learned along the way.

I also realized as I was snapping photos this morning, that I'm allowing you into my private space. It's a little scary--sort of like starting a blog was scary for me.  But I'm doing it anyway and will just see where it leads us.

In this particular case, organization isn't about decorating. I have a private hideaway and wanted to create a space to journal so I used what was available. I love the results because its cozy, fits my needs and..ta da, it is organized! 

Where do you like to read, knit, browse through a magazine? Make a space special--for you.

1. Start small - give yourself 15-30 minutes and go with it.

2. Find a space with the right light and comfy atmosphere that appeals to you.  I'm fortunate to have a studio space over the garage where no one else wants to go but me. However, that type of privacy isn't always possible for young families. Perhaps you can find a corner in the bedroom or the end of the couch.

This is my prayer/meditation/journaling/reading chair. It's a photo prop that I got at a 2nd hand store. Same thing with the end table--a few years ago, I painted it some crazy colors as you can see.  

3. No need to go to the container store to organize. My basket holds favorite books and  journals. In the drawers of the table are pens and post-it notes because I always have abstract thoughts when I'm journaling.

 

4. I like to have a blanket or cozy shawl handy. It just makes me feel comfortable to know it is there.
This is another photo prop found in a 2nd hand store. Don't you love the texture?

 5. I needed something I love close by to give me some loving energy. This bowl was made by my daughter--probably in 9th grade. She's a mommy herself now.

 6. Finally, I added some rocks and shells for memories. I love the shapes and the textures.


I feel good organizing my little space. Hope you can do the same. Do have a favorite place to read or journal?

Red and Peaceful (and texture)

Red is not a color I typically consider peaceful. But here it is saying "look at me" while my brain is saying, "breathe, enjoy, relax."  Of course this photo isn't just about the bridge. In addition, there is Spanish moss on the trees, the still waters, as well as my memory of the heat of the day in August. I love that the designer of these gardens gave us a splash of "look at me" red in the midst of all that slow-me-down lushness.

What does red say to you?


Texture Tuesday notes -
1. Cropped bit of sky out of photo and did a PhotoShop levels edit to bring out blacks.
2. Added a little "texture" with Topaz Adjust
3. Used Kim's Grunge texture at about 60% opacity.

Living With Pain

Of course there are many types of pain. And writing this I'm reminded of pain of the heart. Of love lost, lives lost, illness, suffering. We live in a broken world, a world we all can pray for everyday.

I've included photographs today of a battlefield in Scotland with a small portion of its modern memorial. It was a very cool, rainy day yet I stayed in the field protecting my camera as I walked among the lost lives and memories of those who believed in their cause.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about pain--perhaps
because last Thursday, I bent down to pick up a remote and my lower back muscles clutched and spasmed so hard and so fast that I wasn't sure if I could even make it to the nearby couch.

The healing has been slow, I think slower than usual. Whenever I get sick or something on my body hurts enough that it changes my life for a few days, I wonder if there is a message in there I am supposed to discern.

Things pain has taught me AGAIN.

1. I can be a slow learner.

2. There are very few things I "have" to do on any typical day.  Normally, I just think I have to do them.

3. I am not indispensable and that's OK.

4.  The people I love, love me even when I'm a bit grumpy about this pain thing.

5. Pain is a humbling experience.  Simple tasks aren't always possible without help.

5. Pain reminds me to be thankful. Too often I convince myself that I'm not smart enough, young enough, fit enough.  Today I know I am enough, that each of us was put here for a purpose. And I believe that purpose is to love. Love you.






 

5 MORE FUN FACTS ON FRIDAY

It's time again (already?) to share 5 fun facts--or facts that may or may not be fun. You be the judge.

1.  If there is a bench around, I probably will take at least one photo of it. Don't ask me why, I may not like the answer.

  2. I love the artist Andy Goldsworthy. Inspirational, endlessly playful and creative, uses only natural materials.  

3. A walk in the woods is full of wonder and peace.

4. This orginal peace that I created earlier this year is over my computer screen. It reminds me of what is important in life to me. 

 5. I like to get away from the obvious. This shot, taken from the window of my 1st studio, was taken because I noticed all the "reds."  Also appreciated the fire escape cutting across the shot.


5 freaky funny facts for Friday! Any facts you want to share?

UNPLANNED ROUTINES

My imagination tells me to rise at 5:30 every morning for a little yoga, journaling, inspirational reading and prayer before I walk, hike or go to the gym.  Coffee or tea isn't necessary, mostly I'm a water drinker, but I would have to get up at 4:30 am to get all that done!

When I think of "routine," my initial reaction is "boring."  But experience tells me "soothing" is a more appropriate description.  Like the steps in this photo, routine is something planned and expected. The steps are a measured distance apart. Your brain begins to know how high to lift your foot so you don't stumble.  

Sometimes I think I'm more like the graffiti--controlled yet unexpected, spontaneous with the potential to be messy.

So my routines aren't usually at the same times every day, but they are woven through my life to help me focus.



Here are some things I do regularly that a younger person would probably call "routine AND boring."

* Schedule gym time 3 days a week.

* Stretch some part of my body every day. I also am having "a thing" with my foam roller which I recommend to everyone who has an ache.

* Pray in some way as much as possible. More some days than others.

* Attempt an attitude of gratitude.

* I've got to include check email in there someplace. It's never a planned time, but I'm thinking I check it too often.

* Call my mother daily, listen, try not to give advice,  and always say "I love you."

* Check my calendar in the evening to see what preparation I need to make for the following day.

* Apply lip balm before I go to bed. I know--weird.


What's your routine?

TOUCHED BY TEXTURE

Love, love, love--did I say "love" texture! I leave my fingerprints in every store I enter because I'm a tactile kind of gal who needs to touch with my eyes and my hands.

So when thinking about texture today as a word prompt from Shutter Sisters, my mind buzzed all over the place. I was tempted to add a texture layer (or two) to a photo, but refrained. As much as I like to do that repeatedly, I decided to take one photo and consider the textures.

And as I studied this shot, I was taken back to the "feel" of the day--the cooperative clumpy clouds, the wet sand, the water coming into my boots and changing the texture inside them! There's more--the texture of the poles, the barnacles on the poles, even the water in this photo has differing textures due to the slower shutter speed.

This exercise helped me to think about texture in a different way--normally texture is something I can both see and feel.  In this case, it was all eyes and the memory of the experience.

Do you love texture too?  

SEEING THE MUSIC

It isn't a far stretch for me to imagine movement when I think of music.   A favorite song has the ability to make us dance in front of others, to drum our fingers against the steering wheel--we even bob our heads to the beat.

We hear it, we feel it, we have our personal tastes and understanding of what music is and what it means to us.

I thought of architecture (surprise!) when I considered the transformational power of music. Just like this incredible walking bridge, our emotions can start at one place in the song and end at another.

.

And of course there is rhythm. The beat of the drums and the bass guitar are the very reasons we are prone to head bobbing.

Music is mysterious. We don't always understand why we like a particular song, but that music can churn up specific memories decades later when we can remember what we were wearing, the time of day and of course, the person we were with.

This same mystery can be applied to the beauty of chants echoing through the stone walls of this cathedral destroyed during the reign of King Henry VIII. 

Music is a powerful media--filled with love, longing, power and emotion.

I can't say I have favorites, but I do love the big bands, the 50's, 60's and 70's. Keep it country for today's music mixed in with some spiritual music.  And I can't forget the old hymns that take me back to my grandmother's country church.  

Do you have favorites or music memories to share?