January 5th is now Dancing Crane Day!
Cranes, particularly whooping cranes, migrate to Texas every year, so a dancing crane in January wouldn’t be considered abnormal at all around here…
Dance today as awkwardly as a long necked, long legged crane!
It was a rainy day Saturday, followed by the densest foggy night. And I felt a sense of foreboding, and also an awakening perhaps, the way fog always seems to be conveyed in books and films. And to witness the full moon under that fog was beautiful! It would wisp in and out of the fog!
But really, this is about Japanese Maples because come on…they’re brilliant at letting go their leaves, so majestically and beautifully. Tellement triste, pourtant tellement beau. Just as with all endings they be. The lettings be…
I’m so glad I captured them before they were to lay in their slumber until spring!
I go through a lot of journals. Just doodlin’ this and writing crap, jotting down the most obnoxious of thoughts …but this journal took me exactly, almost exactly, as I started it October 15, and here it is December 14th, two months which is quick!. I had a lot of introspection going on, and wasn’t creative, wasn’t putting it out there. Just getting out the messy, good for nothing thoughts out. Oh boy, the endings of things are always messy. The letting go and shedding of skin. I feel that is what is going on in my life right now. The need to curl up into a ball and let the body rest, the mind rest, let go of the sadness that’s been creeping in…
Here is my last page, the last tidbit. And perhaps I will move forward into another journal soon with some insight into love and into life.
I read a quote the other day that struck me and I had to save it and so, wrote it in my final page. Needless to say I ordered the book pronto! It’s from Nick Cave and Sean O’Hagan’s book, Faith, Hope and Carnage. And I believe it is an intimate interview with musician Nick Cave and his wonderful insight on life, grief and love. I can’t wait to read it. My Christmas present to myself.
Here is the full quote:
Love has something to do with the notion of being seen-the opposite of invisibility. The invisible, the unwitnessed, the unacknowledged, the isolated, the lonely-these are the unloved. Loving attention illuminates into the observed world. To truly see someone -anyone- is an act that knowledge’s and forgives our common and imperfect humanity. Love enacts a kind of vigilant perception- whether it is to a partner, a child, a co-worker, a neighbour, a fellow citizen, or any other person one may encounter in this life. Love says softly- I see you. I recognize you. You are human, as I am.
-Nick Cave from Faith , Hope and Carnage
I hope this quote sparks a tenderness into you that illuminates into the holidays, as the holidays are always a way to show how much we love and enjoy each other. While we still have time!
Oh yeah, I get terribly mushy this time of year! And weird. 😉
-CM
I’ve been in a creative slump, it feels like for a couple of months. And just also even writing, ugh, it’s like I have an empty brain. I haven’t been out exploring! Perhaps, been busy getting ready for the holidays, wanting to be more present with my family, trying to work as hard as I can to make it a magical time of year for them.
So here’s just an ordinary, repetitive mush brain. Ordinary repetitive doodle. Because sometimes repetition leads to some form of understanding. Maybe when you see the patterns, you can create a better understanding of what it is that makes creativity an ordinary, but extraordinary way of life. Ahhhhh I’m a mush brain ….
I do enjoy making these, and to me homemade gifts are special. Especially mushy!
I’m writing to inform you the clouds are dispersing, I think, so time to get cracking on code mush cards. I have a lot to give out this year, plus I want to add an origami to each one. I’m still working on my paper star, as the cheap origami paper just isn’t cutting it. So I think cutting strips of thick wrapping paper might work better. But the easy Santas actually look a little mushier than a star so who knows..depending on how busy I get Santas might have to do!
I also got to spend some time looking at an artist I’ve always admired, the late George Rodrigue this weekend! At the Longview Museum of Fine Arts! You might be familiar with the blue dog paintings that you may have seen, especially in the 90s and early 2000’s.
I love this quote by him that was in the exhibit:
“In art the more personal you are, the better you become.”
And also another quote by Rodrigue:
“If you paint to please the public or a critic, you’ll never paint anything lasting, anything real, or anything your own.”
I can’t help but think about Joni Mitchell’s beautiful, iconic song Both Sides Now. I guess just the end of the year coming to a close, life seemingly the same but really so much has changed. The fear of the unknown, knowing you’re not sure of anything really. I don’t know, I think we all need to listen to melancholy music. Just to feel something, instead of dissociating. A dark cloud over your head can bring another perspective. Got to look at clouds from both sides…
Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would’ve done
But clouds got in the way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions, I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancin’ way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
You leave ’em laughin’ when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions, I recall
I really don’t know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well, something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions, I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions, I recall
I really don’t know life at all
Ugh, I’m such a sappy, crappy person. Let me just blah, blah, blah
I did say that I love a good log 😅🪵 one full of weird life growing on it, or decomposing on it. Here’s some photos of various trees I found interesting. Some are redundant, of course!
At the end I had to add some fall foliage from last year! Can’t wait to get out and again and explore the trees!
Code Mush 