While it certainly is not fall yet (gauging by the temperature, anyway), it has been a bit cooler than last week's hinge-melting heat. Therefore,  needing a respite from the office, I took my lunch to my secret little shaded park this afternoon. I really can't recommend this enough - I spread a blanket on the grass, kicked off my shoes, and ate my lunch whilst listening to the splashing fountain.

At the start of this year, I announced my intention to make this my "year of magic." That can mean many things, of course. This post is about a very particular kind of magic. Long ago and far away, I taught film classes and I hit upon the idea of centering the class around different science fiction films (any excuse to introduce students to…

At the start of this year, I declared that this would be my "Year of Magic." I wasn't sure what that was going to look like and I'm still not positive. I'm not interested in learning stage magic - card tricks, making a coin disappear, that sort of thing - but I am interested in being more present in my life and noticing the things around me that make life seem "magical."

I've often talked about the importance of using heirlooms and not just letting them gather dust and be "hands off." I really, REALLY think this is important. You won't feel connected to the people who used these things if the items are kept like museum pieces. And yes, that means things may get broken or lost - and when that happens, it's sad for a moment.

Sometimes there's so much to do that the only sensible course of action is to ignore all of it and find a few small pleasures. Here are three. The zinnias by the front steps are the talk of the pollinator world. I took a final look at that beautiful puzzle then joyfully tore it up to return it to the box. And I quick sketched a flower-stuffed handbag. A good end to July, I'd say!

Sad, really, but inescapable. Some people just are Debbie Downers, some dislike seeing women of a certain age behave in ways that are outside their particular worldviews, and a very few are just unhappy people. What to do when someone yucks your yum? There are, of course, a number of responses that don't involve having a bail bondsman on speed-dial, ranging from a quick smile to a shoulder shrug and it's up to each particular Diva to determine the best response.

Weekends with Dad can be bittersweet. In my memory, Dad is a tall, devil-may-care man with a huge appetite for life. As he enters his mid-90s, things are changing, and sometimes it's hard to see how my memory doesn't match my current reality. But there is so much beauty in the passage of time, too. I try to remember that it's common for age to show true value.

I've recently finished a virtual race. Upon pondering, I think it's the raven in me that is motivated by the promise of acquiring shiny things. To earn this one, I had to log the requisite number of miles (I decided my everyday steps didn't "count," although if that gets you moving, you do you, Boo!) and the summer heat slowed me down a good bit.

Today, to give myself a much-needed break from a lengthy to-do list that wasn’t getting any shorter, I took my lunch and left the office. I dropped a few novels off at a nearby Little Free Library (one of the most civilized organizations to exist in this modern world), and found myself by a small […]

Sometimes plans change suddenly and quite a bit. Friday, I drove home from work and stopped to take a few pictures of two lush fields of blooming sunflowers. I stood on the edge of one of the fields for a few minutes thinking of the fun weekend I had ahead of me while trying to […]

Today, I went to a tea tasting. Think anything that comes in a “flight” and you’ve got the idea, but with tea. We worked our way from a light blueberry-and-pomegranate green tea to a fig-and-ginger black tea (my total favorite!) and another black tea that featured mango and marigold petals. We finished with warm scones […]

I have written before about the importance of whimsy as an Essential on the Diva path. (Remember, you can search for all the Essential posts by using the search bar.) However, I think it's a great time to re-visit that with a bit more detail and discuss the importance of keeping a "whimsy list." It can be hard - very hard!

For years, I had a quote by Samuel Johnson painted on my fireplace mantel - "To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition." When my Beloved and I moved to this house, I didn't paint that on this mantel; I like to think I've worked to inscribe it on my heart, but some days I wonder.

My Beloved had a work trip for a few days and I've decided to make it a "staycation" by doing a number of fun things close to home. After work today, I had a small adventure in geocaching, a sometime-hobby of mine that I've written about before. I like the treasure-hunting aspect of geocaching, but I also really enjoy the "finding cool places" part of it.

I work in Gaffney, a small South Carolina town that has some lovely bits to it (I've tried to spotlight some of those), along with some serious challenges. My job involves near-constant interaction with the public and most of that is lovely. Oh, sure, there are days where I have to remind myself that the chances are very, very good that this particular person did not - despite all evidence to the contrary - wake up and say, "Yep.

Building the life I want to live has taken - and continues to take - time. I find that it is valuable to take a beat to occasionally stop and look around at how the landscape looks. On Thursday, for example, I celebrated one year at my "new" job. They seem quite happy with me and I know that I am delighted with them.

Taking a slight break from painting. It's been more than 100 days since I worked on a puzzle, so I took some time this weekend to do that. A friend and I took advantage of the clear, hot days to meet up for chat and ice cream in the nearby town of Boiling Springs (aka "Bubblin' Waters") where we discovered the old and the new. Just look at that mosaic! And I am REALLY curious about that time capsule!!

On Friday, June 5, you can find me inside Box Turtle Books on Warren Street as part of Shelby's "First Friday" celebration. A block off the main square, Greenbrook Design will be hosting quite the event and Stem is having a Crème Brûlée Dance Party just a little way down the street. I'll be at Box Turtle from 4 to 7 with watercolors for sale with prices ranging from the truly ridiculous ($5) to the downright reasonable ($50).

Whew! With a lot of work and a great deal of encouragement, I made it to the 100 Day mark! That's right - 100 paintings in 100 days. This is my final batch, which is Day 92 through yesterday, which was Day 100. I must say, I'm quite pleased to see so much progress and I am living proof that it's all about consistent effort.

I haven't written a "Gaffney edition" of one of these for a while but, rest assured, there are Good Things in Gaffney. A week of frequent rain has eased the drought and it's been good for the flowers in the little park next to City Hall. The day lilies are gorgeous and at home, I can see hints that my gladioli will be blooming in a week or so.

I've gained enough confidence during this go-round to try that trickiest of subjects - the human form! Honestly, even doing cartoon-y style people can make me get tight and cramped, so it was important to remind myself of that tough wisdom that "it's just paper." It's okay for things to not quite work - you'll never, ever get better if you're too scared to try.

It's a rainy, nearly-chilly weekend. We badly need the rain and the cool temperatures are an excellent excuse to stay cozy at home, so I don't mind much. I walked around outside between cloudbursts and noticed how the yard projects are coming along. My Garden Gal has done so much to bring this first phase into being and I've contributed some efforts as well.

I struggle with calling myself an artist. I finally settled on referring to myself as an "enthusiastic hobbyist." But I'm not sure about that. I mean, it's not NOT true, but - seven years after first picking up a brush - I've sold paintings (some to people I don't even know!), people have purchased my paintings as cards and prints on…

It has been several days of NOT good things. There are, however, still things to celebrate. Let me explain. I don't want to seem like Pollyanna. She was very popular for a time and there's some good stuff in that book; honestly, there is. But there is a limit to cheery positivity in the face of rough times, bad news, and overall crisis.

The 100 Day Project continues! Here we have Days 71 - 80 - most are postcard-sized; that's just a VERY convenient size for everyday painting after a day of work. I'm actually going through paintings tonight - it's time to select two or so for the County Art Show and I'm going to participate this year! And there's another one in Rock Hill coming up that I'm considering.