Summer always fees like it ends with August, even though there’s 20 more days before the Autumn officially starts. Blarrrg can’t wait
My husband has gone back to work at the High School, and years of muscle memory recall the excitement of buying school supplies and making my way back to a desk every September. This is the time when Summer break *ends*. No more pools or lazy days. But this year, my Summer wasn’t as lazy as it used to be…
Reflections on Summer of my past
I grew up without internet and without much TV. Sure, we watched shows in the evenings, but mostly we played outside and read books in the shade of our mulberry tree, or on our bed with a stuffed animal beside us. My children are young so they really depend on my to play with them and show them how to spend their time. And it’s just tooo eaaasy to turn on the TV or get caught up on my phone when I’m checking my emails.
Because of this, I’ve been placing tucking my phone away, and been more intentional about turning off the podcast and music- which is really hard to do if I’m being honest. But instantly my brain space widens and my psyche settles. It’s like magic. It’s also boring. (My kids acknowledge this, too as they run amuck with nothing to do.)
When your’e bored though, your creativity turns on like a light bulb. Boredom brings song ideas, plot twists, characters to the surface. All the good stuff happens when you have mental space, which isn’t possible if you’re plugged in all the time.
The more I’m bored the better off I am creatively. That’s the truth.
Doing the work this Summer
I have been painting a ton this month since I’ve had pockets of open studio time. I put some original paintings on my website, and the large underwater piece will head to my friends house in Reno sometime this Fall. I’ve also been working on a new tarot deck with Carrie Mallon, and we’re making slow progress, but still it’s shaping up nicely.
I can’t show too much from the Tarot deck, but here’s a rejected card. You can catch the vibe:
I finally made it to the coast with my kids. I had been lamenting that I wouldn’t see the ocean this year, but we did it! Both kids were weary of the sand and confused about the ocean waves. It makes sense. It’s a very unique setting and it was their first time really processing it.
Last but not least, my little Detective book is still in the works with my agent. I hope to send it out to publishers within a month. We’re trying to refine it as much as possible so it’s picked up! Finger’s crossed.
That’s all for now! Enjoy the rest of your Summer. Let yourself be bored a little, and stay creative.
Love,
Annie