Go Slow

I am impatient, I like control and predictability. What's wrong with that? Nothing. I get things done and I get there on time.

But lately, I have been giving myself the message of "go with the flow," "ride the tide," and "glide on the slipstream." That "slipstream" phrase is my own creation (I think). I'm not even sure what it means. I even had to look up "slipstream" in a dictionary to understand its meaning. My handy little Oxford Dictionary says "slipstream" is a "current of air driven astern by propulsion unit of aircraft." Anyways, I still like it. I imagine myself on a a surfboard riding a wave of air to safe ground.

It has been challenging for me to let go of control, but has been rewarding. I have no specific story to tell, but sometimes if you pull back a little, some decisions are made for you. I am not advocating hiding your head in the sand. But sometimes it's okay to be an audience member watching the play of your life, until a player comes down from the stage and beckons you to participate.

Grow.....Go Slow.....Follow.....Flow.....Glow

A Request

I had a request from a dear sister/friend to take a second look at my pile of poo picture and come up with something that smells a little sweeter.

I got to thinking about that favourite catch phrase, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." And it is also sometimes true when life gives you manure, you can either complain about being stuck in the stinking muck or you can plant a garden and reap the fruits and blossoms of your efforts. The difference between the lemonade and the garden analogy is time and patience and that is a lesson I have been working on for a very long time.

So, a Rosemary by any other name would be just as sweet...here it is....

a Reason.....a Remark.....a Range..... a Rise..... a Rose

Remorse

Remorse. What does it look like? With the challenges we have recently faced with our daughter, many ask me "is she remorseful?" And each time it is asked, I answer, "I am not sure."

If someone is sorry, do they roll up in a fetal position, crying and rocking themselves in pain for the pain they have caused? Do they write letters of apology? Do they walk around depressed and in a daze wondering and bemoaning the choices that got them in trouble? Do they look like someone who resolves to turn over a new leaf, with promises and actions to put them on a positive path? Do they pick themselves up and get on with the business of the day and not look back and think, oh well lesson learned? Do they just regret getting caught? The loved ones looking on hope and feel that any and/or all of the above would indicate that remorse has taken place.

I looked "remorse" up in a dictionary and the definition uses words such as "moral anguish" and "bitter regret."

In the end I think remorse means, moving on, remembering, and revamping your life choices that demonstrates compassion for yourself and those in your world.

Remorse.....Regret.....Rethink..... Resolve..... Repair

Alliteration

The quinary poetry generated in the month of June consists mostly of alliterative phrasing. I tried to challenge myself by creating phrases for most letters of the alphabet. I have over 20 quinary/watercolor pieces for June 2007.

I am trying rhyming quinary for July. I'm in a strange mindset right now and have not created too many pieces. I have also found distraction by the latest Harry Potter book.

I don't know if I have a certain image in mind when I start. I do enjoy hearing what others see or feel. Sometimes I start with the words, sometimes I start with the watercolor.

Below is the first, alphabetically in my series for the month of June.

Amuse.....Annoy..... Admonish..... Accept..... Ascend

Purple & Yellow Make Brown

I admit, I am really new at this watercolor art. So I am happily exploring my feelings with brush strokes of all kinds and different colors, shapes and designs. I enjoy watching the watercolor paints run into one another and when it's dry I use a fine point marker to outline various/or all aspects of the design.

My neighbor/friend asked me, "what kind of brushes are you using?" And I thought, I don't know, just brushes left over from when my husband was into art. (His art is a whole other subject for another time).

Now, before you look at the watercolor below, I will give you a little background on my thinking. I was going for a spirally swirly effect. And I was hoping to make the colors purple and yellow stand out. Why purple and yellow? Well they felt like good colors at the time. Any ways, when I was done with the piece, I looked down on it, it was actually shades of brown and looked like a pile of doggy do-do. And well I know doggy do-do, as I do do-do clean up for our three dogs.

I don't know what you will see when you look up at this picture, but that's what I see. As for the words, well let's just say I feel like there's been a lot of bullshitting going on these days.

But I will be happy if some art critic looks upon this work and declare " I think this painting is a piece of shit." Thank you!

Dark.....Direct.....Detect.....Deflect.....Drek

Quinary Poetry and Abstract Watercolors

Hello and welcome to Quinary Poetry. The poetic rule with Quinary Poetry is to limit your poetry to five words. That's right, a minimalist approach or poetry for those on the go. The words will take you on a journey. Accompanying the words is an abstract image of my own creation.

I have my family (my husband and daughter specifically) to thank for this journey. They have given me angst and inspiration to discover this little frustrated artist. And well lately, angst levels have been above normal around here, so I have been generating a lot of "art" and "quinary poetry."

Actually, the first piece I created was a little over two years ago when I was flying back and forth between my current home and childhood home. My inspiration and angst at the time was my father's final battle with colon cancer. That image/words hangs in my bedroom. I have not yet photographed it for publication here.

The first watercolor and accompanying words I wish to share is:

Explore.....Envision.....Express.....Experience..... Enjoy

I got some interesting reaction to this art work from some women at the framing section of the craft store. I will leave it to your imagination.