I’m giving myself a break from developing a full-fledged crazy idea tonight.

What if, a picture could be a prompt?

Here’s a photograph of a simple collage I worked on today.

What emotions or thoughts does it evoke?

 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)

 

 

 

 

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a photographer doesn’t always tell the whole truth. Nor is it possible to give the whole picture with one frame.

I had this crazy idea to share this photo with no explanation. If you’ve been following my series this month, you might be cheering me on. Saying things like, “Wow, she met her goal!” Or how many trips to Goodwill did she make to get her books down to just those shelves?” That would be nice of you to think all that, but the truth is this photo only shows part of my success.

Or another way to put it, “I’ve made progress, but I’ve got along way to go.” Now, I could tell myself that I’m a failure and that I better stay motivated or else! But that wouldn’t be very kind or true.

The truth is that I have worked hard and I have more to do. I am satisfied with my progress. And now it’s time to take a break, so that I can enjoy a family dinner tonight. I may even step outside to soak in some sunshine on this blustery autumn day.

How do you evaluate your progress? What’s a positive truth you can tell yourself today?

I hope you get to enjoy the rest of you day.

In the meantime, here’s a couple more photographic perspectives on my book sorting adventure.

 

I set this crazy goal to go through thirty-one years of accumulated stuff before Thanksgiving this year. I have been downsizing our “stash” for the past few years, but the basement and garage (and ahem my art studio) still have quite a bit of sorting to be accomplished.

I was reading over at the Sylvr Pen today, and Sylvia made a good point about how to keep the creative juices flowing as a creative project ends. By mere coincidence, I was practicing her principle over here in my basement. I am still in the middle of sorting books, but the boxes of other odds and ends around the perimeter of the room were calling me to sort and gather things into categories for future decision making about whether to store or get rid of some of it.

All that manual moving around produced in me an energy to keep working on the project this evening. I had already decided to paint the white wall a fresh color the other day. My husband carefully asked, “Are you planning to paint the paneling, too?” And I immediately replied, “No, what, do think I’m crazy?” So tonight while he was out with some friends, I painted the wall.

A bright turquoise. Leftover from a previous project. I thought it was lighter hue, but it wasn’t. I think it’s very cheerful, and I hope it brings the husband some joy, each day he walks by it on his way to work. (His home office is in the basement.)

It felt good to use up something I had on hand, instead of buying more paint. I don’t usually hang out in our basement much, but this autumn a strong desire to use our home for celebration and hanging out with friends and family has been compelling me to clean the basement, and see what stuff we have that can be used or re-purposed or given away. And to clear off the pool table, so it can actually be enjoyed for its intended purpose.

How do you feel about your stuff? Do you have a soulPantry overflowing with abundance? What could you use that you already have? I’d love to hear what inspires you.

I will bless her with abundant provisions . . . (Psalm 132:15a NIV)

As part of my creative practice, I like to get out of the house and sketch or collage outdoors. Sketching used to intimidate me, but for some crazy reason “practice, truly makes better.” One of my crazy ideas is to invite others to join me on my creative adventures. I invited my souldare students to join me at Frontier Park in St. Charles, Missouri. My friend, Kathy, agreed to go. (In a crazy moment of dreading the cold weather, I almost cancelled, but she called and told me how much she was looking forward to sketching by the river, so we kept our date.) It was cold in the morning, but we bundled up, carried our art supplies and folding chairs to the riverfront to capture the scene flowing before us.

We alternated between chatting about life and sitting silently with our pencils in hand. After sketching, we each pulled out our portable watercolor sets to add splashes of color to our pages. We yawned and stretched, when the sun broke through the gray and warmed our faces. We took pictures of each other to document our day, as “real” artists painting “en plein air.” Which literally means we were painting outdoors.

We joked about what advice Bob Ross would give us. Kathy imitated his voice, and told me to add a happy little tree, and to make it my own. I sketched the scene before us, with my own little twists. And then a small leaf fell onto the page. I glued it to my completed scene.

After that I decided to collage using an old book page, and some more of those little leaves that were scattered on the ground by my feet.

After I pasted in my little grove of trees on the book page hill, I painted the rest of the scene, leaving the “sky” blank. I decided to write a little reflection on our day by the river. I noticed a phrase on the book page, which I used as a prompt to begin my free flow writing. Below are the thoughts that found their way on to the parchment sky:

“My dear, nobody asks you to believe in such a thing.” 

Such a thing as a little tree, a little tree of happiness to call your own, and maybe even a little grove of trees to hide and seek in the dappled sunlight streaming down, warming your face, knowing you can face the stark, gray winter ahead, if perchance, you could go back to the little grove of happiness across from the island of content; to be and to cease at the same time– to be alive

(found quote, followed by my words)

It was a good day to go to the river, to create and to imprint memories, which will bring us back to the joy of the moment, the warmth of the sun breaking through the gray and the company of good friends.

If you need more inspiration to go to the river, listen to this contemplative song written and performed by our younger son.

Where do you go for inspiration?

 

They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights. (Psalm 36:8 NIV)

 

I have this crazy idea to reduce my book collection. As a word lover, it makes sense that I own many books. And it seems crazy that I would let any go!

As the years have passed by, each year I come up with various ideas to keep my book purchases to a minimum. Such as, only use the library. Or read the books I have on my bookshelves. But then a friend recommends a book, or I see a cover and title that catches my eye at the bookstore.

I have noticed the older I become, the less I read. I guess it’s easier to watch Netflix or scroll the internet. But even if my rate of reading books has decreased, my passion for them remains. To let a book go, I weigh my emotional attachments with my rationale for keeping one in my possession.

One book series reminds me of a season, when I read fiction for leisure. Another stack recalls my desire to read everything I could about writing. I have books for reference, for reading and for re-purposing into collage and mixed-media projects. There’s a row of children’s books that I can’t bring myself to part with.

Books related to my faith, books from my college days. Books to learn a craft, books about a couple boys traveling on a raft. Vintage books and new paperbacks. Books, books, so many books that I could never read. Some I’ve read, some not. Some I keep, because they were important at certain time in my life. Others I let go, because I started and never finished them. Some I can give-away because I’ve never read them and never will.

All of this sorting, keeping or giving away takes so much courage and energy. I’m trying to be gentle with myself, as I say good-bye to volumes that I cherished at one time. And then I remember what my mom tells me, “Whenever you let something go, it has the potential to be a blessing for someone else.” Letting go of so many books feels crazy, but at the same time a true relief. The belief that these books could be a blessing to others, just like they have been for me, helps me release them one by one, box by box.

How do you know when you need to let something go?

 

You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours. (Psalm 128:2 NIV)