the blue muse

I forget how much of a homebody I am until I go away. Just a couple of days, good days, fun days, but I couldn’t wait to get back home, to my tiny little house in the country, my kitties, my own bed.

I am so lucky. Blessed. I know this, I remind myself of this fact, often. Still, there are times when I forget. Going away for a few days is a great way to remind myself.

I have a home. To come back to. Not a perfect home, not extravagant, or even large enough, really. But it is a home, much more than just a tiny house perched atop a hill on this tiny postage stamp of earth that I call mine. But a home in all the ways that matter, all the memories and the gatherings and the milestones and the good times and the sad times and the love. All the things that create a home.

I spent the weekend in a big city. I love to visit cities, so much going on, so cosmopolitan, so filled with life and energy and art, there is always something to see. But I could never live in one, I need my space. I need my silence. I need my hill and my garden and my outdoor fire on cool fall nights.

I need a place to come home to.

I have that, here. I have this back door that I installed myself. (Well, with lots of help from my dad.) But the two steps and the new walls and the floor in the entryway, I did that myself. It took forever, last fall, it was a project I had wanted to tackle since I moved here 23 years ago. My house is an old house from the 40s, with small rooms and arched doorways and a quaint cottage feel. And always something that needs fixing or painting or replacing.

It is a lot of work. But it is also a labor of love. This has been my place for a long time. And while I might venture out to try on other places, see how they fit, learn new things, experience life from a different perspective, I always love walking back through that door. I am always glad to be back where I started. I am always thankful.

You’re welcome, home.

I’m feeling slightly faded myself these days

shifting seasons, busy times,

lots and lots of reflection.

but even so, i keep looking

for those tiny bits of beauty

lurking in the shadows.

How about you?

There are times when life gets away from me.

And after the dust settles, I must work my way back to myself.

Back to a place where I live in my head, in words, in my writing. In my heart. Living the life I want to live, being the person I want to be. Paying attention to what’s important and looking past all the things that are not.

I love it when I’m there, it’s where I want to be, everyday. But during those times when life comes by and drags me away, kicking and screaming, I find myself in a different place, a place of distraction, disorientation, indecision.

I then I am not who I was five minutes ago.

I am not where I was yesterday, grounded. I am lost. Out of place. And all I want is to feel that comfort and that strength and that focus.

So I’m working on it, working my way back to my words, through my words. Working my way up this hill once again, one rock and slippery slope at a time.

I know that when I get there, the view will have changed, that is life. The words I thought were there will tell a different story. I know this, but it does not stop me, does not keep me from climbing. It does not keep me from ignoring the mud on my feet, the scratches on my legs, the burdens of life that weigh me down.

Because when I stand on the top of that hill once again, I will feel whole and centered. I will feel like me.

The me I want to be, rather than the stressed-out, tearful mess I was last week.

The me with roots in this hill of words and hair that whispers in the breeze.

The me with vowels and consonants flowing through her veins.

The me inside the words.

And then I will spill myself out between the lines, bleeding
thoughts and feelings I did not know existed,

until I stitch myself back together

one comma, one hyphen

at a time.

:

::     ::     ::

:

For debi, and for mrs. which, and for me.

Lauren Szklany

Congratulations Lauren!

I will contact you through email to get your delivery info.

We had a fabulous time at the Clothesline Arts Festival,
a little bit of rain on Sunday but nothing like our last show!

This was the view from our tent:

The Memorial Art Gallery is in such a beautiful building.

The new layout seemed to work out really well, and it felt like
the perfect ending to summer (I know it’s not officially over, but for me,
this festival always marks that change).

Thanks to everyone who came by.

::     ::     ::

I have a lot to catch up on over the next few weeks, adding new pieces
to the etsy shop, getting a new shop ready for my images,
and reading all of the blogs I have been missing lately!

And maybe even a little bit of relaxing…

Clothesline Arts Festival
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607

Booth 510
September 11th •  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
September 12th • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If you are in the area, stop by and say hello…
:: :: ::
And don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a free pair of earrings!

To enter, go here and leave a comment!

We have a big show this weekend, and you know what that means…
time for another giveaway!

This fun pair of earrings will go to the lucky winner.
There is a different pattern on the reverse as you can see in this photo:

These earrings are handmade from precious metal clay.
They measure approximately 1 1/4 inches long by 1/2 inch wide, and are a $35 value.

HOW TO ENTER:
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.

To make it a little more fun, tell me the title
of the best book you read this Summer!
(but any comment will get you entered)

ADDED BONUS:
For an extra chance at winning, follow me on twitter or facebook and tweet or post about the giveaway for an additional entry.
Just come back here and leave an additional comment to let me know that you have done so, and you will be entered twice.

This giveaway will be up until midnight on Monday, September 13th.
I will announce the winner next Tuesday, September 14th, 2010.

GOOD LUCK!

If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and say hello:

Clothesline Arts Festival
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607

Booth 510
September 11th •  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
September 12th • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

one butterfly

one flower called kiss me over the garden gate

…surely that equals butterfly kisses?

::     ::     ::

I just wanted to say thank you, to all of you,
for stopping by here, for reading, for commenting,
for encouraging me and for your friendship.

It truly does mean a great deal to me, and even though
I don’t always have time to respond directly to your comments
or make it over to your blogs, (especially lately),
I am thinking of you, I appreciate you,
I am so glad you are here.

::     ::     ::

I also wanted to tell you about a wonderful giveaway
my friend debi is having over at her place, emma tree.
She is giving away an original painting interpreting the words
“just sit there and look pretty.”
To enter, post our own interpretation on September 23rd,
via writing, painting, photography, whatever moves you.
Doesn’t that sound like great fun?

For all the details, go here:

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

::     ::     ::

This next week will be insanely busy as I get ready for our biggest jewelry show of the year.
I may be here less, or just in pictures.
I have also decided that I will be selling my images on etsy,
and hope to get all that in motion after this next show.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Have you been to Inspiration Studio yet?
Kim Klassen is doing such a great job with it.

Today I am over there, talking about what to do
when inspiration turns its back on you.

Would love it if you popped over to say hello…