Grateful

Yesterday was Awesome in many ways. I got call backs on job prospects, went to the Art Museum, had a wonderful lunch out, had some girl time with a new friend and to cap off the day was greeted by a wonderful thing - the sun going down. 
I stepped out the back door to take the dog out and this is what I saw:

Bright sunshine just peeking over my neighbors roof line but it's what was apparent just off the stairs of the deck that was amazing...

For some reason this picture did not come out as well - but you can still see the rainbow!! 

T'was like a cherry on top of a great day! 

Have you had a great ending to a great day?? Or even just a good day?

Changes for Spring

Finally the world outside my windows is changing. Therefore I feel a need to change up some too. Yesterday I felt a need to make some changes and start a new in some respects. Since money is tight and gas is way too expensive to justify taking a long drive or even a small trip, I had to get creative. I was feeling stir crazy, not nice enough to be out too nice to be in and just feeling like I needed a change. So I picked myself up and made the decision to shave my legs. I know it's way early in the season to expect it to benefit the public, for certain I will not be wearing a skirt without leggings anytime soon. Even though it was a small change for some reason it felt right. 
Feeling a little lighter on the legs I lotioned up to protect that exposed skin during that time the fog on the mirror had dissipated. Upon looking in the mirror - YIKES!!! What a fright! My mane had gotten a bit out of control, even wet just towelled hair had the appearance of a Beetlejuice character. Ok, time to make a bigger change. I called and got an appointment then anticipated what it was going to feel like to loose weight off my head. It feels wonderful! 
After spending some time in the morning again searching for jobs, writing cover letters, tweaking  my resume and then taking time to take care of myself and invoke some change, I had hope that something good would happen soon. And it did! Seems that just deciding to and then following through with the small changes to alter that feeling in the soul the universe responded. By 4pm yesterday I had a call back from a contract to hire place that I had registered with over a month ago. At 6pm, I got a call from a job prospect that I had applied for earlier in the morning!!! THANKS TO THE UNIVERSE FOR ANSWERING!!! 

Spring has sprung, happy that I chose to jump in and swim up the river of change. Looking forward to new adventures to come:) 

burrr but sunny

After waiting for days and days and days, it's sunny today!! It's about 44 degrees or so but SUNNY!! 
So I am trying to pop in every little bit to warm up cause the heat keeps coming on - it's still cold. 
I am almost reluctant to plant the flowers bought earlier this week because of fear of frost! Perhaps it'll get warmer this afternoon or maybe I should just check with the weather channel to make sure it's not going to get below 35 degrees. 
In the mean time, I have plenty of help with cleaning out the dead branches from the old pots from last year. Karluk has been 'hands on'! (more like mouth on)

I have a lot of pots to clean before I can plant new stuff! Karluk will love the hose though! 

Rabbit has been helping as well but she likes to get into it, literally! She's been 'chasing' the worms - Yuck! I am surprised that she'd sit and stare and wait for them to surface and then pat at them. Surely not as fun as chasing a moth but maybe she's not warm enough to pounce but patting the dirt is about right! 

Well, I can only hope for the best today. Looking forward to some color and growth! 

Where'd it go??

It's Thursday already...almost Friday??? Wow! Where did the week go? Usually when my husband is away on business the weeks seem to drag on however, this week seems to have flown by. Job searching in the mornings tends to go into the afternoons which I suppose is where many hours have gone. Then there is the little zoo I have to care for, but eve that doesn't seem so bad this time. Mostly being stuck inside due to crazy rain and wind though Karluk and I have been lucky enough to catch breaks in the rain to go get some exercise. There was a day and a half of another day where it was good to be outside and I was able to go and get some plants to pretty up the back yard. Whew! I needed some color to brighten up the scenery. Perhaps those plants will make it into their designated spots this weekend! Maybe I will be lucky enough to have some sun to plant in...Hope, Hope!! 
In the mean time I did work on another owl wood burning but it took quite a while to undertake this one, it's very detailed but felt very good to stand back and feel good about the work. 

Of course, I haven't done anything for the back ground but I may just stain the work and call it good. I like the wood grain and the stain will make that stand out a bit more. I did another one for my mom, I am not sure if I like it or not.

This has a light paint everywhere except the cardinals which have a nice dose of red. 
What do you think?? 

Changes

I went to two different workshops yesterday relating to unemployment. The first was at the unemployment office and the second was at PSU. The first one was using the Holland Code to determine where one's interest lay to align the career search to the proper field. The only problem with that is where most of my interest lay, there are no jobs. As far as what can I do; the counselor said "the great thing about you, you can do anything and excel. The difficult part is finding what will make you happy." Well, that was kind and I agree; I can do any job and do it extremely well but, it really didn't help with a direction. 
The Oregon Worksource office did give more techniques on the job search and how to research companies etc. If anyone needs tips, let me know - I am gaining knowledge and search skills like crazy! 
So the second workshop was put on by PSU it was called Leading Transitions. Awesome facilitator, Paul Spindel lead us through a process of understanding change and how to be at peace with it and make it work for you. Hummm... should have had this in February! 
Of course there's the normal flow that comes with change be it a death in the family, a separation, or a job change. There's shock, anger, denial, depressed feelings, blame and then acceptance. From the point of acceptance is where change begins; solve problems, make decisions, take action and find new vision. Well, I didn't have the shock, anger, or denial really and the blame system wasn't active either. I knew the layoff was coming. If I was angry etc. it was only because I thought that for the department I was in had already lost enough folks and I felt we didn't have room to lose another. As the HR manager had said to me and many others 'if you're not happy here go somewhere else'. I wasn't unhappy to leave that. 
I am joyful to be able to embark on the rest of the cycle; I love solving problems, making decisions, taking action and finding a vision. I am excited for this part and it felt so validating to be around others who needed to hear the same message. Quit rolling in the past, you can't change what happened yesterday, last week, last month etc. Today is a new day time for a new plan!! 
Paul laid it out simply and was so excited about his message that it was rejuvenating. It was explained that yes, this is and these are stressful times and if you are out of work in this economy it probably feels even worse but it's OK. Being stressed out isn't going to help you instead it will hurt you. Who wants to hire someone who's sleep deprived, depressed or outwardly stressed out - no one! The message is simple; 
Make Peace with Change
Take Care of Yourself
Don't assume the world is out to get you
Focus on what is in your control - REALLY in YOUR control
Don't waste energy on what is not in your control
Establish a support system
Help others 


And as my husband would agree on - GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! 
Going for a walk - Have a lovely day, embrace change - it's good for you :) 

Morning

It's Tuesday and it was a busy weekend and Monday. Funny how when there is so much to do is when I most feel the need to work in the studio. Kind of like I am inspired when I know I can't get in there and when I have time, I can create so many other tasks that need to be done. I think that comes from feeling guilty that I am not working to bring in an income right now. (so if you want to buy any of the below pieces - let me know! :) )

 I need to make time to make art. I have read books on the subject but reading doesn't make it happen, only applying the techniques does something get accomplished. 

I have been trying to hold back from buying art supplies due to the lack of income. My husband bought me a Michael's gift card for my birthday which I use when the coupon comes out, but I try hard not to be frivolous and go for only what I need. Yesterday after an hour + interview I was near the Michael's at the airport; since I had been looking for a particular nib for the wood burning tool, I stopped in. Amazingly enough, they had the nib I had been waiting for but it was in a pack of other nibs so it was a bit spendy - but I had the coupon so - Jackpot!! That one little tool was the inspiration for a lot of work beginning last night and into the morning. So, the work has begun and with the plans on the calendar for the next few days I will be busy with the job search but I have inspiration and motivation to put it all together eventually.  

Here's what I started last night/this morning:

This is how the panels start out with the wood burning, then I add color and I will post a few of those that I finished recently. 

Hope you enjoy, have a Great Tuesday!!!