Trying a new routine

and hopefully that will become established before the Christmas period comes along. I know once the kids are here for 4 wks, I will be struggling not to slump into my not doing anything routine.

So I managed to walk for an hour this morning which given I didn't want to walk the dog this morning when I got up was surprising. I find the later I get up the more I hate walking as the days here soon warm up. As I already completely soak through my clothes with sweat if I start my walk at 7am, any later and I am taking 2 water bottles with me!

Anyway this morning I put on my stove timer and the aim is finish on the Internet once that time has finished. As it went off about 10 mins ago I am not doing well but then I did have an email to write. Once I have finished this I am going to have a shower and then take myself off upstairs to the room. I have started my August BJP and I plan to sketch out some ideas for at least one painting. It is so long since I painted I am actually scared but I know it like riding a bike, once you know how to ride, you never forget. Well at least I hope so.

well I managed to something this morning

I walked for 1 hour and 45 mins with the dog before 9am. I watered the garden as requested. Ah I feel so virtuous and smug now.

Since then I have been reading a few blog updates via bloglines (saves so much time) and looked at the new scholarship blogs at the UNT College of Art and Design. Wish I could get $1000 just to write a blog. I have listed the 4 winners from last year and so far this years, 2 winners. Only one of them, the grad student posts on a regular basis and that is mainly his photography, very little text. I hope the 2 new students blog more frequently. If I was the one paying the scholarship I would be expecting more regular posting to be honest but they are interesting in their own way.

So on Sunday I finally managed to finish my July Bead Journal Project page (see it here) and I have started my August page. Last night I actually managed to spend 2 hours in my new room but it still seem alien at the moment. Today I will be sorting out the old Laundry come art room and moving more stuff in my new art room. Maybe then it will be more welcoming. I wont be doing all my work in the new room though as I decided being the messy person I am, I would continue any painting in the Laundry room. Weird as it seems from my walks recently I have actually got some ideas for painting and it actually relates back to my work in my final year at college.

So now I am off as Emily needs some money transferred into her account for materials - for her drawing and design classes they have packages that totalled $360 and she still needs more stuff! I will be interested to see what these packages actually contain and whether if she had been informed about their contents earlier, whether she could have got them cheaper elsewhere. Going on the stuff I saw at the UNT supply shop, I suspect she could. At least she was forewarned doing an Fine Art degree wouldn't be cheap!

Its only Tuesday!

going on this week so far it going to be a long long week. Not allowed to talk about Alan other than no change in that area but I did lose my rag with him last night. Stupid thing to do, as that now gives him the upper hand.

Did my longer walk again today, out the door by 6.49am, so that was a good start.

Haven't been doing my TAST or beaded Journal for the past few days as the situation at home is not a good vibe to be creative in. However, I have decided on the theme of my beaded journal for June, Flags. A logical step after that would be the flowers associated with those countries or states.

I have been tagged by Gina, I think its 8 funny anecdotes or factoids to share which is going to be hard, so I will think about it and do that tomorrow.

Heart in my mouth

I watched Emily drive the SUV out of the drive to get to work for the first time. She has had her full driving licence for a while now but refused to drive the SUV as she was quite rightly scared. She says its was just the SUV but really its driving itself she is scared of and I really don't blame her. I am glad I didn't have to drive at her age, 17, (didn't learn until I was 31) and if we were in Scotland I doubt she would be but here to get anywhere you need a car. However, she called me when she arrived and said with a huge sigh of relief "I made it!"

So this week will be memorable for 2 reasons for her. Last night she won the school medal for her photography and now she has the confidence to tackle college. She will need it and I suppose it helps I did a fine art degree, as I know the only way to get on in the art world is to be pushy, determined and self confident as well as be talented. Unfortunately I didn't have any of those characteristics but Emily does, which still surprises me because she doesn't come across that way.

Emily self portrait


I have joined a new online project being run by Robin Atkins of Beadlust. Its the 2007 Bead Journal project and its beginning in June, running for 12 months. I have often thought of joining these online projects but usually they have begun months before I get there. I have joined the TAST project where Sharon B sets an embroidery stitch a week because I figured I could catch up with that. So far there are 18 stitches and I have managed 1! However, in the coming weeks I plan to be creative at least 3 hours day. Its good time to set a goal like that as the days are longer and brighter, believe it or not, it does get duller in Texas during the winter. Anyway watch for progress on both projects on my arty blog, Puddles of Dreams