I usually write in the morning.  It’s when my mind is fresh, and the words flow best.  But this morning, as I eyed a ball of cat hair fluff scurry across the studio floor, I decided to get the vacuum, dust cloth, and tidy things up beyond just a quick hit with the vacuum.  I moved everything sitting on surfaces (which is a lot of things), and vacuumed every bit of cat hair and dust I could spot.  I put things away that have been hanging out on the counter or my desk, waiting for a home.  I didn’t get into the nitty-gritty of organizing some of the problematic storage spaces, but I did get the studio squeaky clean, which felt really good. Now, I am ready to write and then paint.   what I’m reading Instead of sharing something I’m reading, I’m going to share a book I wish

I know I have a reputation for being a highly productive person here on this blog, but there are days when I faff about and waste time with the best of them.  I’ve been glued to the weather reports, surfing blankly online, and generally piddling the morning away.  I did catch up with my parents, shipped out a commissioned painting, and varnished another.  But I’ve been avoiding diving into actual work.  I think the anticipation of a significant snow event has me feeling ready to hunker down and enjoy being socked in. Our efforts to organize the garage last summer have paid off, and we’re able to park two of our vehicles there to shelter them from the snow.  Jeff reved up the generator and filled up the gas cans.  I ordered groceries and charged power packs.  I think we’re set. I know this incoming storm is affecting a large

As a reminder, my next original art sale is tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026, at 1:00 EST.  You can see a sale preview HERE. This week has been a busy one for me!  I came home from helping my parents on Sunday afternoon, so I had to hit the ground running Monday morning to catch up on things I couldn’t do last week away from my studio.  I’ve been catching up on photography, painting, and other things that require more gear than I could take with me.  It’s been a good busy, though.  There are exciting things happening and a lot to look forward to. Here are my four things for the week: Fishing for Elephants, Drops of God, creative stakes, and a manuscript review…     what I’m reading Fishing for Elephants: Insights and Exercises to Inspire Authentic Creativity by Larry Moore. I read this book a few years

I’m at my parents’ house for a few days to help them as my mom recovers from surgery to repair her broken wrist, so my work has been a little different for a couple of days.  That’s also why this blog post is coming out a day late, but hopefully you’re too busy with life and your own creative work to notice.  I did bring along things to do, though, as I continue to plan for 2026 and prepare to launch some new things. So, I’m doing this and that between doling out doses, rotating ice packs, helping around the house, and confiscating expired medication (seriously, one pack of Tylenol Cold my dad had in his med stash was over 24 years old).  We had a good laugh about that, and I bought some new cold medicine that will certainly be more effective. Here are my four things for the