• About
  • Contact

Deep Blonde Thoughts

~ Emitting thoughts, tongue-in-cheek observations on life and lifestyles

Deep Blonde Thoughts

Category Archives: Art

Using art therapy to enhance staycation activities

05 Saturday Dec 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, Health, Mythology, pets, philosophy, reading, therapy, Warm fuzzy

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

art therapy, COVID-19, COVIDdoodles, staycation, vacation

Nine months into this COVID-19 pandemic and we’re hanging on relatively well here in Eastern Ontario.

Most of the people I know have been abiding by the advice of public health officials with wearing masks, distancing and keeping within small social bubbles.

I am fortunate to still have the work from home option. The cat (aka The Home Office Supervisor) tolerates my constant presence, is enjoying frequent tummy rubs on the couch and “comb comb” sessions in her window box. She’s like photogenic putty afterwards.

Relaxed Tabby Cat after a combing session

Some days the best you can do is go through the motions while staying healthy and safe. Most days you say a little prayer of thanks, gratitude that you have shelter, food, health and social connections. Thank you, Internet and the good ole telephone line.

My youngest Millennial came to stay with me for the winter. I am relieved that I get to see one of my adult children on a regular basis but am reliving memories of habits from his earlier years. It could be worse.

Since I was encountering disappointment and frustration with the working life, I was relieved when I started a much-needed vacation week. I survived another anniversary of my life altering experience at the hands of my now ex-spouse. I see it as traumatic and liberating in that our children were finally free of his controlling, stifling grip.

Practising art therapy and allowing in happy thoughts, I decided to let loose my inner child that week, to express and create art. I also read one of my favourite novels again.

I pulled out a Koi compact watercolour kit that my daughter gifted me five years ago. I remember attempting to do flower paintings once a month but that inspiration wilted after three.

I felt pleased with my rough watercolour copy of Starry Night by one of my favourite, misunderstood artists.

Watercolour rendition of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night
Watercolour recreation of Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night

Being a fan of the Golden Ratio, I made a few magic marker and water colour versions of the Fibonacci Spiral.

I did a watercolour version of The Tree of Life, one of my favourite objects in mythology and spirituality.

Watercolour Tree of Life 2020

My stage of life could be represented by the squawking, flapping ninny in the upper left – or the tired-out old bird dropping what may be seeds of wisdom. Who knows where they will fall and eventually sprout?

That Monet “bridge over lily pond” attempt is taking longer than anticipated. I hope I can finish it before the end of vacation weekend. I want to finish writing Christmas cards and put up our wee artificial tree.

It’s good to have plans for the short term and long term. I look forward to finishing that part-time college program by the end of 2022. Not sure what I can to with that diploma but at least the courses are keeping my mind busy and allowing for social connections with classmates if only online these days.

As usual, I refrained from Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sprees, cringing still at the abuse of our natural resources and persistent use of plastic in toys and other consumer goods. There is nothing outstanding that I need. My children are old enough to appreciate money as gifts so they can buy the things they need, they want – or to pay off bills.

I may lead a quiet and boring life but I’m just happy to be alive and to know that those in my sacred circle of loved ones are too.

Thank you for dropping by. What have you been doing to keep safe and mentally sound during this pandemic?

T

Impermanence

23 Saturday May 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, Health, philosophy, photography, therapy

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

buddha board, COVID-19, drawing, impermanence, meditation, therapy

It’s the weekend. At least I think it is.

It’s a good thing I write these things down, making short lists of tasks for each day on scraps of paper.

I was moving slowly this morning, emerging from the fog and deep in thought. Like many of you, I was wondering when this pandemic would pass and we could spend time closer with family and friends again, when we could do a stress-free trip to the grocery store, and when we could go back to the workplace.

I was feeling thankful for the opportunity to work from the home office these past ten weeks and not have to wait for – nor venture onto – crowded buses in to the city.

What could describe this feeling about something that will not last long? Itching to express, I sought out my Buddha Board. 

Buddha Board Impermanence

Impermanence

It demanded patience to stand in the same spot and take a picture every few minutes as the water evaporated off the drawing surface.

I present to you a time-lapsed photo project called “Impermanence”.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Thanks for dropping by. Stay well. Stay safe. This too shall pass.

T

Comforting thoughts of going home

07 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, community, Health, pets, therapy, Warm fuzzy

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

anxieties, cats, comforts, community, crafts, fund raising, health, homeless, mental health, quilt

I recently pushed my limits with social anxieties.

I was proud with how I kept it together at a public event last month. Yeah, I lasted about an hour and a half. 

The event was a mid-week fund raiser for a local agency that provides temporary shelter plus mental health support for the homeless and those caught in the claws of addiction.

Based on the ticket cost, the quality of the tasty treats, wine and dignitaries in attendance, I could soon tell I was in with a different crowd.

According to the suggested starting bids for the items in the silent auction and the live auction, I felt a sense of disparity between the purpose of the event and the money flowing from attendees. I felt disappointment at the waste of food and lack of sustainable measures taken for composting and recycling.

I was certainly in with a different crowd.

The one thing that kept me staying longer than I wanted was to see if anyone else would outbid me on a quilt in the silent auction. I lingered beside the table, nursing my wine while wincing at the loud music from the speakers and the over-excited voice of the live auctioneer. I had my fill of food and wine. I had my fill of social interactions.

The quilt appealed to me because my paternal grandmother used to make them – back in the day when they used scrap material and there was symbolism, cultural meaning in the patterns.

The quilt appealed to me because of the comforting feeling it can represent, a feeling like a loving home, like a soft blanket wrapped around you, holding you tight and assuring that everything is going to be alright.

It also appealed to me because it was one of the less-expensive items on the table. 

Quilt on futon

I approached the people at the registration desk and explained my need to leave. They assured me it was okay and that they would call my cell number later if I had the winning bid.

And they did.

I was soon the proud owner of a locally crafted quilt. I like how it adds to the colour and comfort of my quiet, humble home. 

Tabby cat on quilt on futon

Miss Geneva Tabby checks out the new quilt on her futon

I have a home. For that I am grateful.

Thank you for stopping by.

 T
← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • Home Phone
  • Dilemmas and distractions
  • Family reunion word fun in our virtual new world
  • Winter nesting during the pandemic
  • Using art therapy to enhance staycation activities

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 122 other followers

Follow Flo on Twitter

My Tweets

Blogroll

  • Learn WordPress.com
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Links

  • Deep Blonde Thoughts – the other blog
  • Deep Blonde Thoughts Domain
  • Where the Tabby Cat rules

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • Home Phone
  • Dilemmas and distractions
  • Family reunion word fun in our virtual new world
  • Winter nesting during the pandemic
  • Using art therapy to enhance staycation activities

Categories

  • activism
  • Art
  • community
  • education
  • Food and Cooking
  • Health
  • libraries
  • Mythology
  • pets
  • philosophy
  • photography
  • reading
  • therapy
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Warm fuzzy
  • writing

Category Cloud

Art community Health pets philosophy photography reading therapy Travel Uncategorized Warm fuzzy writing

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy