(sometimes)
I am turquoise
confident, creative
shining brilliant,
reflecting
sonoran sky
caribbean sea
(sometimes)
I am gray
silent, solitary
suspended in space
between
black and white
gathering thoughts
for turquoise days
What is Writer’s Block
Some call it “writers block,” for me it’s more of a lack of inspiration, low energy, self-doubts I call them my gray days. Whatever it is, these dry spells are concerning for me. Negative thoughts creep in and that internal nagging voice seizes the opportunity to taunt me: you are a bad speller, no one will think your writing is interesting, there are better uses for your time, it’s too much work…
Moving Through Writer’s Block
What do you do when you experience a block to your creativity? First of all, don’t panic. It happens to all writers and other artists. Here are 4 things I’ve found to be helpful during gray days.
It happened again. I’ve been retired from teaching for four years and I thought I was over it. But there I was, frozen in the “Back to School” aisle in Target. Dr. Seuss pencils, Welcome Back banners, calendars, pencil cups, plastic totes, color coordinated planners, notebooks, and file folders shouted “Pick me! Pick me!” Imagine the possibilities! My heart raced and my husband had to drag me away.
Happy New Year!
For those of us who have been teaching most of our lives, the New Year doesn’t start on January 1. It begins in August on the first day of school.
I always loved getting my room ready and set up for the new school year. I convinced myself that the right combination of room arrangement and color coordinated organizational gadgets would start the year off right. My energy level peaked in the weeks before school started as I moved tables and chairs around, set up the fish aquarium, and prepared eye catching bulletin boards. Like a marathon runner, I burst out of the starting gate with a well-organized room, eager to meet and greet my new class. Now my energy rush is building but it has nowhere to go.
Getting my “fix”
I begged my friend to let me come in and help her set up her room.
She let me put nametags on cubbies and coat hooks, organize her classroom library, and help hang a string of decorative lights to add just the right touch to the front of her room. I was in heaven. For a brief time, I was back in my element. I could still do this, I thought as I drove home. I could!
Reality hit as I pulled out of the parking lot and glanced at the school in my rearview mirror. I was reminded of a sign I saw at the hairdressers (of all places.)
Don’t look back, you’re not headed that way.
New Horizons
I will always honor my past as an educator, but I’m not going that way. I’m living life on my own terms, on my own timetable now, traveling and spending unhurried time with family and friends and exploring new horizons as a sewist and a writer.
Retirement suits me.
School-Supply Obsessed?
But still… crayons for fifty cents?!!!
Lord, keep me away from Target right now!
Threads of Thought
My heart goes out to teachers, administrators, students, and parents as they face what looks to be yet another challenging year. Be kind. Stay safe. Do amazing things against all odds. I know you will. You always do.
Read more about my school supply obsession and my transition to retirement in: Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer
I have no plans today. For someone who had been a teacher for 37 years, and retired for four, this continues to be problematic for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my retired life and most days I have plenty to do. My husband and I travel, we do things with our children and grandchildren, I enjoy lunch or tea with friends, I journal, blog, work on my next book or read, I hike and swim. But today I feel like a whiny child…”I’m bored…I have nothing to do.”
It’s hard for me to sit still with no expectations of working on something or planning my next project. I feel a need to fill in every minute. In a pinch I’ll turn on TV or mindlessly scroll through my phone. Is it my personality, the traits I was born with, or the result of having to plan and overplan each moment when I was teaching?
During my morning journaling time , I reached for one of my go-to books, the one with the strange name: Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
I revisited the idea of Voluntary Simplicity. Here are my take-aways:
One of the joys of retirement is that I have time to explore hobbies. I’ll admit, I’m not much of a gardener, and the desert Southwest makes it even more challenging, but I have a small herb garden in the corner of my yard. Here is where Oregano, Thyme, Mint, and Sage live in large clay pots. Rosemary is a wild thing. She is planted in the ground where she is free to grow where she will.
My garden also includes an agave, a succulent, a jasmine vine, and two lizzards, none of which are edible.
My husband Ed is the chef of the family and the fresh herbs we grow are an important part of his meal creations. This time of year we grow more than we can use, so I’ve divised a simple way to dry and store them. This is my kind of DIY project. No tools, quick and easy.
You will need:
An expansion rod that fits under your kitchen cabinet, and thread or fine string
For this project, you will need to check under your upper kitchen cabinets to see if an expansion rod will fit. This is the key to the project. (Tip: do any adjustments to the fit now… then remove the rod and place it on the counter top while attaching the herbs.)
Gather and rinse your herbs
Oregano and Thyme fresh from the garden
String them
Cut a piece of thread about 10-12 inches long. Wrap one end tightly around the top of several sprigs. (no need to tie if you wrap it securly)
Wrap a second bunch using the other end of the same thread.
Now drape the thread over the expansion rod.
Hang them to dry
Once your bundles of herbs are on the rod, carfully attach the expansion rod under your cupboard and …
Voila! Your DIY Herb Drying Rack is complete! The beautiful hanging herbs will make your kitchen look (and smell) like a gourmet chef’s paradise. (Bonus tip…Stage it with a fancy cookbook to impress your friends. 🙂
Processing and storing your dried herbs
You will know when your herbs are dry when they are crunchy. Here in the southwest, just a few days is all we need. Grind the leaves in a coffee bean grinder that is used only for herbs,(unless you are partial to coffee-flavored herbs) then store them in airtight containers. (We like these from Bed Bath and Beyond)
So my work here is done. Now it’s Ed’s turn…I wonder what he’ll be making for dinner with oregano and thyme…Italian, I hope….
Bon appitit!
Threads of thought:
Tell me about your garden or your favorite Italian dish!
When I’m not gardening, I’m writing! Find your copies of UNTIL ITALY: A Traveler’s Memoir, and OUT OF THE CRAYON BOX: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life HERE
Denim shorts…Emerson Pant and Short Pattern from True Bias, Cap-sleeved top…Bondi Top from Sew to Grow
Capsule Wardrobe
One of my goals for this year’s Me-Made May celebration was to create a summer capsule wardrobe ( a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other) featuring handsewn garments I’d made over the past few years. I wanted to eliminate the “I have a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear” syndrome that would usually lead me on a shopping spree. Don’t get me wrong, I love to go shopping, but this year I was curious to see if I could get by with less. With the addition of a few non-handsewn items that I already had, and three new sewing projects this month, I was able to come up with a 15 piece capsule wardrobe that should meet my needs all summer long!
Getting Started
I had read that the key to a good capsule wardrobe begins with a foundation of neutral colors. Going through my closet, I found that I already had some pants and shorts in black, beige. Sticking with these basic colors, I added in some denim, white, and printed tops. Nothing was thrown out, but the items that didn’t make the cut went into a box in the spare bedroom (my emergency stash in case I discovered I couldn’t really live with 15 items!!) I did not purchase any new clothing pieces, but I bought fabric to make 2 white tees in different sleeve lenghts and a pair of denim shorts. Here are my 15 items:
The Bottoms
Emerson Pant and Short Pattern by True Bias
Wide- legged pants in black stretch denim Emmerson Pant and Short pattern by True Bias
Jeans from JJill
The Tops
Willow Tank Pattern by Grainline Studios in Rayon floral print and polka dot cotton
Black cap-sleeved tee (not handsewn) and white Bondi Top Patten by Sew to Grow
3/4 sleeve striped tee from Old Navy and white tee (made my own patten for this)
White cotton peasant top from TJ Maxx
Finishing Touches
New Look Pattern N6651 out of navy blue rayon
My live-in cotton sweater(several years old) from TJ Maxx
well worn, but still functional Vans and sandals (didn’t count these in the 15 items…)
Pop of Color
Emerson Pant by True Bias
Just in case I get bored with my neutrals, at the last minute I added these wide-legged pants in Goldenrod linen to my capsule wardrobe.
ready for summer
So there you have it! My 15 piece summer capsule wardrobe!
..as an added bonus, my capsule wardrobe fits into a carry-on…just in case…..
a trip in my future????
Threads of Thought
Even if you don’t sew, check out what you already have and create a summer wardrobe of your own! You might just surprise yourself!
