View from the dock near my cabin on Squam Lake in New Hampshire.

One of the most AHA moments I had while I was at SQUAM was when we had the chance to eat our box lunch anywhere we wanted. Though I wanted to connect with more people and hang out, I felt a pull to just go and sit by the water alone. I sat on the dock, with my feet in the water and the dock rocked slightly as the boats wake would create slight waves. I felt alive and ready to take on the world. I knew at that moment that there was a lot of shifting going on in my universe. I have yet to realize all these shifts, but the person who left for New Hampshire and the one that came back seem so different in spirit. And then right after that these few people showed up on the other dock, and were doing cannonballs and just taking delight in swimming in the lake. It was so much fun to see them giggling, laughing, screaming (cuz it was a little cold) like children playing. I promise next year I too will partake in the joy of jumping into the lake…CANNONBALL!

That one word sums up the five days I spent at Squam Art Workshops. I actually feel so energized and the ideas and creative juices are just flowing like crazy. I can not even sleep I am so excited to get back to work on projects, and try new things that I learned. It was an amazing five days, filled with just the most amazing people. Everyone there had such a positive creative energy flowing out of them. Will be writing more later, but really need to get down into my studio and crank out some work!

Will definitely be missing this guy while i’m gone. I really do hate leaving him, he doesn’t understand like people do. Finally I am all packed up, have a few very minor things to remember in the morning, but otherwise the suitcase is ready to go! And so am I. I am excited and can’t wait to get out there and meet everyone!

Will be back next week with many, many stories to share I am sure. Oh yes I will take pictures!

That photo above is what I slept inside for four days. This is why…
The first night was quiet, without incident. The second night I awoke around two in the morning to the flutter of wings and the click-clacking of tiny little nails walking across the floor. I then shooed something away from me that I thought was a moth. The continue of tiny little footsteps on the floor led me to believe there may be a mouse on the loose. I called for reinforcements (my dad) who turned on the lights and inspected the room. There he was a little bat hanging from the eaves between the roof and fireplace. (didn’t think to take a photo at the time) We were in shock that a bat made it inside the cabin.  So I grabbed CJ’s dog bed and put it inside my parents room where I slept on the floor for three nights. Needless to say it was uncomfortable and CJ was a little peeved to not have his bed. So off to the store we go in search of something to maybe hang over the bed to keep the bat out. A screen house is the cheapest thing we found. So now I can sleep without fear of getting either bitten by a rabid bat, or just it flying around over my head. The weird thing is we haven’t seen the bat since that night…elusive little bugger.

Before I forget… Happy Independence Day! Hope everyone has fun some with fireworks, food, and friends! All in honor of the fourth!

Photo taken mid-flight on my way back to Chicago.

This is the very first photo I ever got to take from an airplane. For some reason I was either flying at night, or just too tired to take a photo before this one.  Either way here it is.

I arrived home from Birmingham on Monday night and since then I feel like i have been running non-stop. It isn’t that I need to play catch-up or anything, I just like to give myself enormous to-do lists and then try to hold myself to them.

I have been trying so hard to stick to a schedule, and I had it all on track before I left, but somewhere in Alabama I lost my schedule keeping abilities. There is this constant feeling of anxiety in my gut, all the what if’s creep in and I start to doubt myself, my abilities, and my dreams.

I know so many people have been there and got through it, and I am sure they also doubted that they would ever make it through. They are succesful now. I doubt myself CONSTANTLY…I have to stop and re-assure myself that this is the right decision and that I can do this, and that yes it is scary and since when isn’t jumping off the career cliff not scary. I just sure hope my chute opens soon!

I’ll leave you with a picture of a lion from the Birmingham Zoo. More highlights of trip later, when I recover from all this imaginary paperwork I am buried under!

Leaving here shortly to head to the airport. I will be heading to Birmingham for a long weekend getaway. Going to visit my friend down there, been awhile since I last saw her. Will bring back tons of sweet tea for all. ok maybe not for all, just me and Dave. Never been to Alabama so this is quite exciting for me, I hear I will be sweating buckets though which is kinda gross!  It is a good thing I have a roundtrip ticket because I would probably never come back. Well i’m off to finish packing and freaking out that I forgot to pack something.

Will try to post view friday tomorrow from my phone…we’ll see how that goes. Otherwise I leave you with a newly finished painting…

Took a little trip down to the Garfield Park Conservatory on Friday. Was so nice to be able to enjoy the gardens in summer for once. I have only ever been down there when it is too cold to enjoy all the outdoor gardens. The palm room is still my favorite though! Some of the photos I took while I was there…

More photos from my adventure here.

Fish Creek, Wisconsin - Sunset

I so can’t wait to go this year, I have not been back since 2005!

A little late in the day, having wordpress issues!

Photo taken by me, Byron, Illinois 2007