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Sunflower
Wow! This is my third post here in three weeks. It’s been a long time since I’ve written regularly and I hope it continues. I’m still not completely settled in, but I’m taking time to indulge myself by writing here, so perhaps I’m getting close.
I’m one of those people who needs a daily dose of creative time. That hasn’t been happening since July or possibly even before that. In the midst of the crush of moving in just over three months, I’ve been strung out, grumpy beyond words, and unable to just take time to call my own and do something that nourishes my soul. Getting back into a creative routine has been a slow process. As of yesterday I’ve been here for two months and now I’m ready to roll.
I started with getting back to cooking, which I’ve always loved doing. It’s a way of creating goodness for those who live in my home and is always appreciated. Add that to being somewhat of a health nut, I’ve found that creating delicious food that won’t kill my brain and body, part of my creative routine. But in the last few years and especially during the moving process I didn’t enjoy the time I needed in the kitchen to do that. One of the things about aging is that time doesn’t work the way it used to. It takes longer to do many of my daily tasks, and I’m often very hungry before I’m ready to cook.
From mid-September until early December, we ate our dinners out or brought in take out. Fortunately, here in C’ville we have a number of good restaurants and one in particular with a generous menu of gluten-free and Paleo meals. But there are a couple of problems with that including the cost. Secondly, most restaurants have great dessert menus. Since we rarely have sweets in our house, especially icecream which is my biggest addiction, we’ve naturally been enjoying what the menus have to offer us, like flourless chocolate torte and the like. Addiction is addiction, and trying to slap my hand as I’m enjoying such treats only makes my cravings worse. The result? You guessed it. Clothes don’t quite fit they way they used to. But now that’s beginning to change.
Thirdly, I’m completely tired of eating out. No longer do my favorite restaurants
pull me in so I can take a night off from hovering over the stove. But that’s okay, I’ve been enjoying planning and cooking up some fabulous meals and enjoying the process. This past week I put together a wonderful Broccoli Cheese soup, Shrimp Scampi, and a to die for casserole of chicken, cheese, and locally made organic corn tortillas and all the flavors needed to make tasty enchiladas. Of course lovely salads of fresh greens, avacado, orange or grapefruit segments, and sliced almonds top off these meals. And the only dessert in our house is a piece of fruit or an occassional piece of dark chocolate. Yum!
And now the writing is coming. Next I hope I will be getting back to work on my visual journals and maybe even a bit of beading. I just discovered an old beading buddy is one of my neighbors. We’re both into creating gorgeous French Beaded Flowers and I’m looking forward to spending time with her.
What do you do when your creative routine has been interupted for a lengthy period of time? Do you get right back into it or does it take time to stop pissing and moaning about it and get back to work?
Joan — “Broccoli Cheese soup, Shrimp Scampi, and a to die for casserole of chicken, cheese, and locally made organic corn tortillas and all the flavors needed to make tasty enchiladas”
I wish I lived next door to YOU!
I wish you did too!! But we might eat too much!!
I’m glad you have a “beading” buddy close by. And you’re cooking in other ways too. For the first time ever, I made a yummy broccoli cheese soup for friends New Year’s weekend.
As to your questions: Since May 2016 we cleared out our former house, sold it and also a rental. Then we moved, followed by a long, long process of settling in. Last January we started clearing out Aunt Ruthie’s house and sold it in the summer. Hers by far was the hardest. The word “excruciating” comes to mind, but I got lots of great blog material from the process. I never stopped blogging, but I had to set my memoir aside, a forced time to marinate – ha!
Things have settled down as they always do, but just today in between memoir rewriting sessions I tossed a bunch of old photos (duplicates mostly) so now I have two more orderly drawers.
I predict more creative moments in 2018. You are off to a great start, Joan.
Wow, Marian, You have had a really packed couple of years and I’m sure it was all very challenging. Moving is not for the faint of heart nor is clearing out a dear relative’s treasure trove. You did have great blog material though. And I’m glad to hear your back to work on your book!
I’m just glad you are back. I’m envious of your creative bent, Joan. Creativity with my hands? Oh, deliver us all. I hated those rainy summer camp days when we’d be sheltered in the “crafts barn” and everyone would come out with beaded belts and lanyards for their parents, or little bags. All I wanted to do was get outside, even if it was raining. My creativity has always revolved around words, whether just thinking them or writing them or trying to speak them. They were what took my focus. Words still take up a large part of my day. Unfortunately, those long walks in nature tend to result in some project for Woody or me to tackle. Must examine that one a bit. Thanks for returning.
Thanks for the warm welcome back, Janet. It is really great to back in touch with friends and have time to read their blogs as well. Words are an important part of my life, too, and having the time to write down what is important, frees my brain and nourishes my spirit.
I miss that you aren’t in Virginia part of year! Come for a visit!!
Your beading creations are exquisite and your menu sounds delicious, Joan. It’s so nice to see you getting back to your creative self and to have you share your treasures with us. I’m so glad you’re back!
Thank you so much, Kathy. It feels great to be back here and to have regular contact with good friends. Friends are an important part of everyone’s life and it’s amazing how many friendships are formed through the internet!
I hope you’re staying warm and shoveled out. We had a bare inch of snow overnight and the rest of week is supposed to be in the 50’s.
I can’t wait to see more of your beaded flowers! And maybe some beaded gourds too! Hugs!
It’s so good to hear from you Donna. I look forward to showing you my gourds and flowers next time you visit with Margaret! We’re just across the commons from each other!
Still enjoying those lovely flowers!
Thanks, Sara. Come on over and see our new digs. It’s been way too long again!