Halloween Traditions

We celebrated Halloween a lot this year. On Thursday night we dressed up for the SLO Farmer's Market. On Sat. we painted faces on the Pismo Pier. On Sat. night my daughter's family went to a Halloween  party and I stayed at her house and handed out candy. I got to be a witch and a pirate.

But I also spent the time thinking about my ancestors. My departed mother, my sister who is either missing or deceased, and friends I've lost to cancer. Halloween or Samhain as is the pagan tradition is the day for honoring the dead.

Appreciating Family

I came up to visit my daughters and my grandson a day early. I wanted a chance to see them outside of the Halloween event we were working at. So much has changed since the last time I came. My daughter got a new carpet, my grandson is walking now, my other daughter is busy being a wedding photographer. Everyone is so busy. It's easy to feel disconnected.

Learn to Travel

By the time you read this I will be on a train traveling up the central coast of CA. It's always a good idea to take a casual trip on public transportation so you can learn the ropes. Then when you really need to take public transportation you'll have some experience. So I'm taking a short 5 hour trip which is half train and half bus up to see my grandson. He just turned one. Next time you want to take a day trip consider a train or a bus. Give your car the day off.

Asking For Help

Today I went to move my truck for street sweeping and found someone had broken into it. So I figured it was a good time to test out today's theme, which is 'asking for help'. So I called the police and they helped me make a report and gave me advice on what to do if it happens again. Sometimes we can't handle things alone. It takes a more experienced person to know what to do.

Make An Art Journal

Life passes by so quickly. The older I get the faster it seems to go. So I do my best to document it. That's why I blog and keep journals. It's a way to say, "Yes I was here." Art journals don't have to be expensive. I like to stock up in late Aug. when school supplies are on special everywhere. Then I like to decorate the cover with a painting or a collage and make it personal. I used to try to add to it daily but sometimes that becomes too much like another chore. But I do keep it out where I can see it so I don't forget to paint or draw in it. Don't forget to add something in your own handwriting to it. It doesn't matter if you are not a calligrapher. What matters it that you are you and your handwriting or printing or scribbling is park of who you are. So grab a pen and write down something in there. It can be poetry or an essay or even a grocery list. But get it in there. Because one of these days you may not be able to hold a pen, or you may go blind or you may have hands that shake a lot. It's one more of those things that you can't take for granted. So get busy and get a journal.

Renew an Old Dream

Today I started practicing my didgeridoo again. I took it to the archery tournament yesterday and a lot of people loved it, but I didn't know how to play it. I realized I had given up on learning because it doesn't come easy to me. So tonight I practiced for awhile until I drove my boyfriend nuts. Not so much because the noise bothers him, but because his advice for playing it just don't seem to make sense to me. So I guess I'll have to practice it in the park or something. It just boggles my mind that people can breathe in and out at the same time.

Learn to Work With a Partner

Today I shared a craft booth and it was an epic fail. We visualize things so differently. I won't go into it here because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I've shared booths with other people in the past and had no trouble what so ever so I don't get why I can't make this work. The physical part of setting up a craft booth is hard enough without all this emotional drama.