TGIF

This was the carousel in Seaside. This photo will get lots of editing before it gets listed, but I do love the busy-ness of the raw image.

Yesterday, I was visited by two very good friends. Girl friends. In my world, where I'm surrounded by truck drivers all day at work, surrounded by males at home... it is a rare treat to visit with my girl friends. I am not a social person. When I am not at work, I prefer to be at home, creating. Or out taking photos. But my one friend called me and we visited for quite awhile, the other stopped in at my work. Both recharged me in ways that I didn't even know that I *needed* to be recharged!

In the constant quest for balance, I have never figured out how to work in time for friends. My best friend and I used to meet for happy hour once a week. That time became difficult at some point and we stopped. And now, I think happy hour is not the right place for us... but how do we make the time? We could have crafting time... I could go over and sew journals while she paints. Or I could take my laptop and edit photos while she paints. Nah, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on editing, but it would be nice to bounce ideas off of her. Perhaps we'll each open up our hearts and our minds again.

The other friend... we have an amazing connection and we've never made time for each other. Only once outside of work or phone have we gotten together. Our lives are vastly different, but we are kindred. Hopefully at some point we will be able to be part of each other's lives as well.

Do any of you have a hard time incorporating others into your lives? I often find that I'm such a more 'out there' and 'accessible' person online.

Time

I took this photo on my day in Newport a few weekends ago. I love clocks. They have an impossible job... to measure time. Time, I think, is completely subjective. Like if you have had 3 cups of coffee and you're waiting for your boss to get out of the bathroom, time crawls. Or if you're working on a big project and the deadline is in two hours, time literally flies. In both circumstances, we watch that clock... and yes, it goes slower or faster. Or so it seems.

Long ago, I decided that I worked best under pressure. That fed my want to procrastinate. So I put things off til there's a real time crunch. Then I work like mad to get it done. What a lot of stress I'm putting on myself!

This weekend, I'm going to work on sorting through some more photos. I have tons that I need to organize. No deadline, just a want to get it done. But, if I really have a need to get it done, I'll create a deadline, then when that's near, I'll just buckle down and do it.

I'll also be working on more journals and listing them. I will keep you posted on that.

So... are you a procrastinator? A deadline maker? A list maker? What tools do you use to get things done in a timely manner?

After such a long weekend

After such a long, productive weekend, I had forgotten the time vampire that was work. I forgot how little I can actually get done on work days. I had forgotten what a huge chunk of time my 10 hour work day actually is, and how exhausted I am afterwards. Oh how I envy those with jobs at schools who have the summer off!

The picture today is one in my new line of journals where I utilize the photos I've taken. I took that picture on a drive up to Multnomah Falls... just a curve in the road, but it meant so much more for me. To me, so much of life is about the journey. Honestly, I think 10% of life or less is about the actual destination. It's all about what you learn along the way.

To me this journal would be perfect for everyday journaling, but it would also make a really wonderful trip journal.

I have something in my psyche that makes me need to run away. When I was married to my first husband, his mother and I shared that. So, about once a year or so, we would take off on a trip. And we would keep journals, and write through our feelings. We would pour everything out on the paper, wander through towns aimlessly, absorb all around us and go back home days later recharged.

Soon, it is time for another journey... this time alone. And I will be taking my journal with me!

If you'd like more info, click on the journal above.

A productive weekend

Everytime I am given a three day weekend, I feel as if I've been given a gift! A whole extra day to create! Saturday we did some shopping and I listed a couple of journals. Sunday I finished and listed a couple more before we went to spend the day in Seaside and Cannon Beach! Monday I made and listed five more gorgeous journals! I was busy! While in Seaside, I took a few photos of their carousel as well. I will be editing and listing those soon.

I've become obsessed with making journals... for a couple of reasons. One because I want to get ahead of the game to free up time this summer with my boys. And two, because I've been getting a lot of special requests for custom journals.

I distributed a small stack of my rack cards at a gallery area in Cannon Beach. I also enquired at a gallery recommended by a friend... to submit work, I must make a photo cd and mail it to them. They don't even have an email address. It was an amazingly funky cool gallery, and I will submit a cd... if only for the experience of doing so.

Today it's back to work. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going with my shop. I did discover last week that on slow days I can sew journals if I have all the stuff with me. And I have put some basic photo editing programs on my computer at work.

I hope that this wonderful four day week fits each of you perfectly!

Looking forward to a long weekend

I am so glad that it's Friday! And the Friday before a 3 day weekend! There's a road trip planned for this weekend, just a one day trip to the coast. And besides that trip, I'll probably be cleaning and making journals! I am working on two custom journals right now. One will have a photo of my Daisy Duo on the cover. The other will have a green cover, and my blue tree will be featured. I also got a shipment of new paper, so that is coming up as well! I'm moving in a million new directions, with both my journals and my photography!

It's still my goal to get tons of journals made now so there's not a real mad dash to create this summer. Lots of photos will be being posted this summer though. My oldest son is turning 17 this summer, so I want to really enjoy the time we have, and be as present as possible. It's astounding to think the boys are that old.

Happy Friday Everyone! Please have a safe weekend!

Exhaustion, an interrupted schedule...

This morning I have to go in for a fasting blood draw... just for a thyroid level check and cholesterol screen. That means no coffee for me this morning. Ugh!!

Life has been stressful lately. You know, even change that will end up being good is hard on a person! There's been lots of drama. And I don't like drama!

On a good note, business has been good. I'm now at 67 sales and am enjoying making quite a few custom journals. Today I'm working on one with my Daisy Duet photo on the cover. This weekend I'll be working on another with thick green paper as the cover and my Blue Tree photo on it. I even sold one of my jellyfish photos last night! I love having my etsy shop! It gives me such a wonderful outlet and I have made lots of new friends.

A long weekend is definitely in order. I will try to get caught up on everything etsy-wise, and have time to relax.

My blood draw is about 8 my time (that's when the lab opens)... so, Dad, I'll be calling you around that time.

There's a Long Weekend Coming up

I am beyond thrilled at the prospect of a 3-day weekend! Ideally, I would stay home and create journals. I'm trying to build up stock to free up more time for my children this summer. However, there is most likely a road trip in the plans. I love road trips! My camera battery is charged... I am ready!

I took the above photo while visiting a friend. He has these all along the pathway leading to his backyard. In life, it's so nice to have a light to guide you....

That tutorial I promised is underway, and I will be posting it soon.

You know, that's a lesson that is taking me the longest. I have self-imposed deadlines and I get all stressed out over them. In a way, that's good... it leads to getting things done. But oftentimes life gets in the way, and the deadline becomes impossible. I need to learn that life happens and it's ok. So... let me try that. Life right now, for several reasons, is very hectic. I am working on the Etsy Account Tutorial, but will finish when I once again have a big block of time that I can dedicate to it.

I have a million thoughts zipping through my head... I'm sure they will form themselves into something cohesive soon. Happy Wednesday to you all!