“April Showers” and Easter signs were on my mind when I created this one. All about the pastels and neons. And lots of rabbits. Rabbits everywhere.
We’ve had uncharacteristically warm days in the 70s and 80s F. The magnolias have already bloomed, and now it’s back in the 40s. Seeds are starting to sprout, and the dog has Spring fever and is ready for days of napping in the sun.
What do you like best about April?
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I found this Good Housekeeping article about things to give up for Lent and had my own idea. Instead of avoiding something, I’ll embrace myself and open up my heart. Radical acceptance and radical growth. Here’s days one through twenty – click the day to go to Medium.
“In like a lion, out like a lamb” is the phrase I’ve always heard about for the month of March. With climate change, the lions and lambs are having a rave or something. One day it’s snowing heavily, the next day it’s 40 and everything has melted.
A friend who moved to California to avoid the snow and ice in Rochester had snow today! Absolutely bonkers. Weather is a wild card in the life game of Uno.
I feel like life is happening to me this month, rather than me being a part of life. Some months are like this. I’m working to get better organized so I’m not running out of steam, and my PTSD is less invasive. I’m being more generous with myself and others. Some days, it’s really hard to do.
What’s happening in your life?
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January was a mix of things for me. Anxiety about a class I needed to repeat (and passed!), frustration with people misgendering me, concerned about subconscious racism I witnessed, my 100 days of violin, and starting off the new year. Life in motion, always growing.
I’m welcoming a month focused on Love with a capital L, and putting love into my actions. I fell off the violin bandwagon, and I’m getting back on. I am terrible at correcting people when they call me the wrong pronouns. Inside my head, I want to scream or cry. I feel unseen for who I want to be in the world. Who I think I am presenting. I can’t say it with love, so I don’t say it at all. I’m not loving myself though by being silent. Which brings me to racial microaggressions.
I found some links that explain racial microaggressions better than I can. I’m still learning, and am able to see some of these, but it’s a daily practice for me. I mess up by trying NOT to mess up. It can be complex, but is extremely important work to do. The impact can be significant.
It seems in so many ways that 2019 was yesterday. The pandemic has made the years between move both slowly and faster than ever. The good news: many of my annual traditions resumed. Some have adapted. It was really good to get back to things, though. And now here we are at 2023!
Do you make resolutions?
I don’t think I make resolutions exactly. I do have things I hope to accomplish this year, which is probably about the same as a resolution. I have committed to 100 days of violin, even if that means only 5 minutes. I just want to get my violin out of its case on a daily basis and exercise my violin muscles. The days where I could rest on my laurels has past, and I need to build them up!
Would you be interested in hearing a practice session or two? I think that will be in the future! Keep an eye out!
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Neil Gaiman liked a picture of me icing my head after listening to him read steamy John Wilmot poetry on a podcast. *squeeeee*
Avoided Covid until August 2022, just in time for my 46th birthday. *womp womp*
Chocolate Alchemy Treat making with my friend Eric!
Went to my first Clerk of Session “One-on-One” Minutes swap at our Presbytery.
Accidentally bought cryptocurrency while sleeping (Bitcoin). (And not even Ethereum! WTF.)
Fixed a shower drain and leaking faucet – I’m handy!
Started a brand new degree online, and was invited and joined the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Made tissue paper crafts at the Advent Festival.
Grew one green bean. That’s it. Just one. Enough to have seeds for next summer. Haha.
Completed my first whole Inktober.
Read and completed The Artist’s Way with my partner Jymi. Also drove to Massachusetts and had so much fun visiting him and his cat Moo. (Moo unfortunately passed away on Halloween.)
Accidentally left my glue gun plugged in for over a week and didn’t burn anything down! (This one I hope never to repeat!)
I feel like every character in this picture is a possible emotion we experience during the holidays. The stoic soldier, the enthusiastic happy corgi, the gift giving hedghog, the dolly that performs on queue out of obligation, the grumpy but festive cat, the surprise dino, and the irritable llama. Or is that an alpaca? Anyway… I aim for “corgi” but probably run the gamut all month. December is both a magical and stressful time.
I try to remember the Reason for the Season – which to me is Love for Humankind.
Simplifying and clarifying our needs and wants.
Enjoying what we have.
Watching the beautiful snow fall.
Drinking a warm cup of delicious tea and savoring the sunrise.
How will you celebrate life during December 2022?
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My daily gratitude practice has been a lifesaver when I’ve been fighting off anxiety and depression. I have a little book that I write 3 things in daily. The thing I write most is probably dog cuddles or some kind of food.
Here are some other examples from October:
Halloween movies
Shakes
Groceries
Sunny Days in October 71 degrees F
Creep
Book Club
Flossing
Pizza
Quiche
Snacks
The Grace of my Higher Power
Thank you for your support and kindness. I appreciate it deep in my soul. Self-doubt is a tricky thing, and relies on ourselves perpetuating the lies to ourselves. Believing in ourselves, and extending that belief to our family and friends is vital. We are all worthy as human beings. We are enough.
What are you thankful for? What is on your gratitude list?
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October ushers in a season of mystery, when the veil between worlds is a little lighter, and we honor our ancestors. We scare ourselves silly with costumes and movies, and stuff ourselves with candy, chocolate and popcorn, bulking up towards winter.
After two incredible harvests, the grapes grew absolutely nothing this year. I’m thinking it is because of my extreme clipping last year. Gosh, I hope next year they return. Maybe by then I will finally have last year’s oven horror cleaned up. (I overcooked a grape pie, which overflowed into a pile of charred mess.)
What are you looking forward to doing this month?
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We are headed to Fall here in Western NY, but not quite there yet. It’s still sunny and warm. The children are getting ready to start back to school. Labor day is this coming Monday.
Inevitably, I did not get to spend as much time as I wanted to outside during the summer. I’m making it a priority to do so as much as possible before Fall really arrives. I did start a wonderful knitting blanket for myself, and have another crochet blanket planned to start soon. In efforts to have more physical accessibility for myself, I’ve been learning how to do things in different ways. It is an effort to stand to cook. I learned how to make pasta in the oven! I am also looking forward to grape and apple pies in my future!
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Coriander in the Spice Rack 