Juggling

With my thoughts and actions racing around in so many different directions over the past month or so, I feel like I've started this year off juggling my entire life! While it's a good thing to have so much going on, sometimes I wonder if there really can be too much of a good thing. I have paintings on exhibit in a variety of venues in Raleigh and Cary and am happy about that, but I've had to start a spreadsheet so I can keep track of just what is hanging where and when it needs to be picked up. I'm not generally much of a spreadsheet kind of person, but out of necessity, I'm quickly learning to become one.

Also, I've begun taking pastel classes with Addren Doss out of Greensboro. We're starting out with values and in that vein, I've been painting nothing but still lifes for the past two weeks.

Still Life Homework Assignments in Greyscale and Color

While I think (hope?) that's helping me better understand value and temperature in color theory, I have to admit I'm looking forward to eventually getting back to painting my beloved landscapes and animals!

And speaking of animals, Frylie was quite ill over this past weekend with some kind of stomach upset. Fortunately, he appears to be well on the road to recovery now, but he gave us quite a scare when he went off his food and suffered nausea, vomiting and lack of energy or interest in anything for those few days.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the handwriting on the wall has reached massive proportions such that I can no longer pretend that my weight gain and lack of fitness don't need to be addressed. In light of that, I'm easing back into a regular exercise regimen of brisk walking/hiking and bicycling. With the cold and rainy weather this winter has brought, I've been limited to the indoor exercise bike, hand weights and yoga most days, but I suppose that's better than nothing. And I can still dream, while I'm pedaling away in the house, of warmer drier days in the coming spring when a hopefully slimmer and fitter me can get back outside on actual mountain bike trails...