Festina Lente - Proceed Slowly

This is my first attempt at coloring the whole piece. I love tortoises and found the picture on the internet. My daughter Jean sketched the outline of the tortoise for me.  This was really fun and quite a learning experience. I haven't quite decided what to do with her yet though. She reminds me to slow down - take time!

Lighthouses

One of my first ideas for Zentangle Inspired Art was lighthouses.  I'm not a lighthouse nut but I love the seaside and wanted to tangle places I've been. Of course Hattaras was my first lighthouse. I like how it turned out (remember I'm just beginning this and I do not see well). It is framed and hangs on my bedroom wall.

Then I decided to tangle my friend Janet's favorite lighthouse Haceta Head in Oregon.  Jean sketched the first string for me but I didn't like what I'd done to it and stopped about 3/4 the way through. She sketched me a new outline and I tangled away even playing with more saturated colors.  But, I think I will try again for something I like better to send to Janet.  I'm just not happy with this one.  I may just try a different viewpoint on the lighthouse.

Hacita Head Lighthouse attempt 2

My next lighthouse is going to be Split Rock on Lake Superior. I remember seeing it as a child. It was my first lighthouse.

Doodling the Winter Away

My tangled sheltie - available on cafepress.com/lazytea

Last summer I received an email contact from one of the Etsy artisans It suggested Zentangle for children. What a great idea! I saw it as a fun way for my daughter to hone her fine motor skills.  I immediately visited Zentangle for Kids and ordered supplies and the book from Sandy. But, I couldn't wait to try it out.  It brought back memories of all the long hours I spent doodling in Algebra class when I was her age.  I recalled all the newspaper and magazine margins filled with doodles on our kitchen table. I think I was born to tangle. I've always had a love affair with pens, pencils, paper, watercolor...but I am NOT a visual artist. But, hey, this isn't really art it's just doodling.

Six months have passed and I spend hours everyday doodling. I managed to get some projects done for Christmas presents and to tangle some pumpkins and ornaments for the holidays which quickly sold on Etsy.
I even made a coloring calendar for Maybelle. She seems to prefer coloring my tangles to making her own.  What I haven't done is actually get my work up on a blog.  Since tangling is so meditative for me, I decided it belongs on this blog.

February coloring calendar page 

That's the sound of sunshine

That's the sound of sunshine comin' down.....

What gorgeous weather. My heart is happy and leaping with joy. Calm down, calm down - relax and enjoy. This is as good as it gets!

Cloud Hands

I know the Tai Chi form Cloud Hands describes the movement of the sun and moon throughout the cycle of a day; but, lately it has come to take on a new meaning for me.

I started working on the Cloud Hands portion of the Chen form a few weeks back. I had to concentrate on sinking my Qi and not injuring my knee. My arms noticeably grew stronger from slowing down the form and working it over and over to get the footwork figured out. Then, while untangling the dog's long line from the lilac while having a low blood sugar episode, I was reminded that I need to stay grounded and present all the time.  The dog twisted and lunged and I pulled muscles in my arm. It really hurt!

I immediately did some healing qigong; but, the swelling and bruising started anyway. Since I vowed to not let anything dissuade me from my Summer Solstice hide & form at Gold Cord Lake, I decided to continue working on my form and doing the Ba Duan Jin. IT HURT!

It hurt ALOT! But, I did a little every day. Sometimes I did only my right uninjured arm. Sometimes I just did foot work and thought about the arm movements. Then, it dawned on me to visualize moving clouds with my hands instead of water. I focused on soft movements and slowed down as much as I could. It seemed to help. Perhaps I will still be moving clouds up at Gold Cord Lake in a few weeks (or maybe snowflakes since there is still snow there); but, I am back on track and a wiser player by far.

Favorite day of the year

This year my favorite day of the year fell on May 28. That is the first day the new leaves rustled in the breeze. Of all the sounds in the world that is my favorite.

Kelly Dygert

Kelly Dygert - As I'll always remember her - enthusiastic, encouraging, & supportive

I don't usually make blog entries like this; but, Kelly is a special soul. Kelly passed peacefully from this earthwalk early Thursday morning May 23, 2013 after a very brave battle with cancer. I took my dogs out one by one and gave each a training session and a bit of TLC with Kelly in my thoughts. She was not only a great person she was a gifted dog trainer.

Kelly and I met by accident. I was going to a herding clinic with Lynn Leach in Fairbanks. The arena was close to Kelly's place and somehow someone connected me with her as a possible place to stay. Kelly allowed me to use her brand new Chalet motor home. Ordinarily, July in Fairbanks would have been a great time for my tent; but being tired and stressed, I'm sure glad I opted for Kelly's generous offer. During my stay it FROZE and all the crops died. There was frost on the car in the morning. I would have been miserable in a tent.

Kelly invited me into her home and introduced me to all her dogs. She told me of times past in Colorado when she had a blue heeler and worked on ranches there. Kelly had a unique sense of humor and a optimistic way of seeing things. She was generous, thoughtful, and always thinking of ways to include people or help.

If I ran into a training issue or wanted to share insight, Kelly was the first person I talked to. We shared a common bond with dogs. But, Kelly was also my inspiration. I often asked myself "what would Kelly do?"

She, like my husband, worked in a laboratory. I understood her work and workplace. We could often speak without words. She was always kind, supportive, gracious, and enthusiastic.

Usually when someone passes we get caught up in our loss.  Yes. This world lost someone very special; but we gained so much from her life and spirit that Kelly will never really die. I can hear her voice and see her smile. I know I'll see her in the tracking field and at dog shows. Kelly will always be with me.