Red Dirt Farm and Studio

It’s been a snowless January, I am more than ok with that.  Intermittent days of sunshine and above normal temps.

 

 

 

 

It’s raining today.  Tomorrow, perhaps a wintery mix.  Cheerful colors in the veggie bin make me smile and chocolate chip cookies go well with a warm cup of coffee.

 

 

January has been a time of reflection. Time to process the losses that were too many in 2022 on a personal level as well as collectively.   Time for lots of meditation, asking my spirit guides for their wisdom and courage and strength.  Lots of PJ time cuddling That Cat. I have made time to paint almost every day, a real luxury and a new practice for me, to work consistently.  Discipline – it’s a new word in my vocabulary.  Ha I can hear the laughter.

Almost a year ago, I started to clear out a room to use as my space for art.  That got put on hold as other more important things came up that needed my attention.  I have a separate building that has been my studio in the past, but it hasn’t suited me to use that space for many years.  This past year that Boo dog was alive he couldn’t walk and he always wanted to be in the room with me.  He weighed too much for me to constantly carry him from space to space, so I ended up painting at the kitchen table, in the kitchen/great room where we do all of our living and where Boo’s bed was.  But it wasn’t without challenges, as the kitchen table was always full of projects and I had to put away the paints every meal time.  Even though we lost Boo dog last summer, I continued to work there out of habit/laziness or convinence.  It was time for me to make a new space with a fresh perspective.

Decluttering my mind, my space and owning up to things that I have done to self sabotage.  Moving forward in the best possible way, sometimes stumbling and falling, but picking myself back up and trying again.

 

Still working on decluttering and donating items, but at least I have a dedicated space that is starting to take shape and allows me to go and create whenever the feeling hits me.  There are lots of twinkle lights and healing stones.  Vases of flowers and cards and art from friends near and far.

 

 

 

 

Years ago at auction I purchased a stack of old calendars.  That old paper is so nice to work with acrylics and other media.  It’s just yummy.  I am working with CaranD’Ache (water-soluble pastels) for the first time as well as woody Stabilo (watercolor pencils).

 

 

 

Before

After

Part journal with my thoughts, part paint.

 

 

Flowers, birds owls – always show up.

Before

 

After – Learning to let go and paint over an existing painting, has been good.

 

 

A cherished gift from a friend, just when my soul needed a friend.

 

 

I just polished off a bowl of honey lime chicken enchiladas for breakfast with a generous dollop of sour cream – uh lip smacking good.  Recipe here.

 

 

It’s my birth month in February and it’s a big one, so I’m celebrating big.  Doing things I’ve been too scared to do before. Leaping off the cliff and swimming in sunshine, even if there is none.  I’ll be eating the chocolate cake for breakfast (and enchiladas) and dancing like no one is watching. I will buy myself the flowers and burn the special candles. I’m going to wear my joy out loud and share my sadness too, for it is forever a part of me.

I am having a ridiculously big sale in my Etsy shop, yes I am so that I may share the joy with you.  Happy great big 60 years young birth let’s make this a party.

What have you been doing this past month?  Have you cooked anything good?  Are you creating something new?  Are you cliff jumping too?

Happy joy-filled day to you.   Goodbye January – hello February!

Peace Y’all

Kim