Still breathing

Currently on view

Tucked in the lobby of a high end beauty clinic

What happened to her?!

It is a new year and I haven't written on here in like FOREVER!

What happened to me?

I don't quite know...
but I am here now so I am going to throw some more information your way!


I am slowly going vegan...it is not a path I was planning on taking
but when the doctor says " so you might be dealing with genetics "
It was a total shock to this 27yr strict vegetarian,
apparently my cholesterol count had no idea it was in me!
.

So being the overachiever that I am, I dove in the deep end of the pool and have dropped most
dairy, white foods (potato, bread and rice) plus alcohol from my diet
It makes me sad at times, because I really love ice cream and goat cheese.
I only indulge in "treats" one day a week now...treats being cheese or wine or hash browns...
Other then that, I have been looking for swaps to my favorite foods
....so I don't feel like I am totally tortured, and punished.
Here is my version of a daiya cheese baked mac and cheese

the flavor was like the cheese on popcorn...
not on mark but close enough to work now and then

I am working on not being bitter about it, really...

I have been taking yoga consistently since July of last year
this is the longest I have taken yoga
It has done amazing things for me,
I don't think I will ever look back.
Well, unless I am twisting that way

I love it when feminism pops up in pop culture like this:

There has been a more and annoying and blatant forms casual misogyny
recently and when people point it out it makes me happy!
The current attacks on women by women, and men is mind blowing, when did this become OK?
Normal or even accepted?

My mind is swimming for this coming year...
I have plans,
I am refining plans and I have goals,
lofty and big bright goals!



A photo montage

There are too many new changes,

and not enough energy to write about them all,

so I will explain as best as I can in pictures:

this is still one of my favorite things to do

my page for a collaborative book, hidden in the background is a mantra:
"the loving are the daring"

Xander will always pose for the camera now...here he is showing what a hot day it was

Theo is camera shy, this is a favorite place for him to nap we call it the bucket

 

You have to use WHOLE eggs in matzo ball soup or it will look like this
*sigh*

I went to printers fair and drooled over letterpresses



I won an award

 

I got to burp my niece, see how scared I look.
She was kind enough to spit up on me just so I could get over my fear of being spit up on.
Reminder to not sweat the small stuff

I am still doing yoga, I can almost do floor bow like this...
except this isn't me and my boobies are bigger

Grandma of the Westside

image

 

I don't live in a particularly affluent area of town.

In fact when we first moved here, it was a roll up the windows and lock the doors sort of cruise down the avenue. It has gotten better, you only really need to consider it at night now.

 

I went to the local market down the street lovingly referred to as the ghetto market, as there are metal detectors and security guards at the front doors. The shoppers are mostly from our neighborhood, and our neighborhood has a fair bit of meth, a good mix of recovering addicts, alcoholics and nomads. There are families too, and that is what makes this section of town sweet and lovely.

 

Anyway, I went to this market to get three things, we only go to this market for an item or two, we rarely really do our shopping here because we often get fresh produce from the farm or go to trader joes. This morning was a typical visit for me, as I picked up the peanut butter and chocolate chips I watched a woman speak to herself, fill her cart and display the violent ticks of meth; her cheeks sullen and body bruised and scabbed. She saw me and quickly turned on her heels and then snapped her head to look again at me over her shoulder. I went and got my bananas, and was watched by a man leaning against the deli counter, his overstuffed and dusty backpack at his feet.

 

 

I stood in the 15items or less line and placed my items on the belt, waiting my turn, as the line grew quickly behind me. The woman directly behind me, saw I had brought my own bag and asked as she stepped out of line, unable to stand still, if I made the green living bag.

I said I had, and that it seems to get a lot of attention.

It is a small handmade tote I carry in my purse for occasions just like this.

It is red and covered in tiny colorful polka dots.

She said she liked it and it reminded her of handmade things like her grandma use to make.

I thanked her and then she told me I should start a business, I could sell them for $5 or $10 each,

but the market sold reusable bags for a dollar, so it might be hard.

I smiled and thanked her.

She repeated again that it was nice quality and was like a grandma made it,

I smiled and said, I could be the grandma of the Westside.

She liked that, it made her smile a big smile.

I paid for my groceries and the cashier mentioned how much work it was to make your own bag...

as I packed up and left I told the lady behind me to have a nice weekend,

and she said you too Grandma of the Westside, God Bless.

I love the smell of ink in the morning

I am rounding the corner, I am putting the final touches on the big Artwalk Project.
I completed 4 woodcuts for this event...
I still need to figure out the window display...hopefully that will come to me
in a dream or the bath...a clear vision of what I am suppose to do.
Until then I will package, label, list and market what I've made.

The studio smells of ink and baby oil
it smells like work!

Wordless Wednesday-SOAPBOX