I realized once I started working on this post that I was chattier than I expected!  I only posted twice on the blog this week and twice last week, and I think I’m feeling that!  Writing and posting on this blog have been part of my creative process for over 15 years, and when I take that away, I miss the outlet.  It’s like when you haven’t called your mom or a friend you usually speak to regularly, and then have all sorts of catching up to do.  I’ve just had a lot of work to do behind the scenes, and have had to let my usual posting pattern slack a bit.  In a way, that’s a good thing, because I used to be unforgiving about missing a blog post, even when I was sick or on vacation.  On full, tiring, busy days, I would stay up just a little later to get something posted.  It’s a healthier approach to say, “I filled my workday with other priorities, and I don’t need to work overtime to put up a blog post today. That can wait.”

One of the behind-the-scenes things I’ve been working on is prints.  I’ve been packing and shipping print orders as they come in and getting ready for July’s mailing of the Pup Club Print Club.  This month, my sweet boy, Sebastian, is the Pup of the Month.  We lost him last July, so it seemed fitting to honor him this month.

Members receive a 5 x 7 fine art giclee print along with a little write-up about the Pup of the Month.  As Jeff and I pack the envelopes each month, I have found it to be a fun point of connection with subscribers.  If you’d like to join and receive Sebastian’s print in July, you can subscribe HERE.  (It’s $10/month and you can cancel any time.)

 

Here are my four things for this week: Confessions, PAOTY 12, a small fortune, and an audiobook recording.

 

what I’m reading

I will come clean and confess that I have still been allowing myself to be distracted by novels.  I haven’t read any that I would say, Oh my gosh, you have to read this, but I will let you know when I do.  I have been enjoying getting lost in stories and suspense, though, things that are enjoyable, easy reads, and nothing too heavy.  While I do need to put a leash on it, because I find myself daydreaming about characters and wondering what happens next when I’m trying to get work done or need to sleep, I find that it’s taking time away from the moments when I would usually scroll mindlessly on my phone or browse around on streaming services for the next show to watch.  I find I’m more content to run back to the book and sneak in another chapter.  I’d say that’s a win when a book is winning out over apps and algorithms designed to be addictive.

I’ve mostly been reading novels on my phone, which is a killer on the eyes, so I finally ordered a Kindle Colorsoft today.  I’ve been watching it for a few months, weighing and considering it, but it’s now over 30% off for Amazon Prime Days, so it was time to go for it.  I wanted to get the colored version so I could read art, interior, gardening, and cookbooks as well, without missing out on the photos.  While those are books I’ll most likely buy in physical form to add to my library, it’s nice to check out books included with my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

I am still nearing the end of the Van Gogh biography.  I’ll need to have a celebratory moment when I finish that book.  I think I’ve been listening to it on Audible since March.  Usually, I drag my feet on a book when it’s boring, but I feel like I’m in for a penny, in for a pound, and I might as well finish.  But I think I have been procrastinating finishing it because I know it doesn’t end well.  It might even draw some tears.  I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Vincent more through this book, following along with a book of his complete works.  I think I’m a little sad for it to end.

 

what I’m watching

Portrait Artist of the Year, Season 12 just dropped on Amazon this week.   Or, at least I just noticed it this week!  I’m always excited when a new season makes its way across the pond, and I can catch up.  I’m trying to pace myself so I can savor the season.  The first episode already had me in tears as one of the sitters had an emotional response to one of her portraits, finding an unexplainable connection with the artist.  Somehow, through paint, they found common ground, perhaps a common experience, that didn’t need words to be understood.   It was a beautiful moment and such a great reminder of why this is my favorite show.

what I’m loving

I have been spending a small fortune this year on cherries, but I love them so much.  I’ve been eating them by the handful, the bowlful, and I enjoy every expensive bite while they are in season.  Food, in general, is expensive, so I might as well buy the good stuff.

what I’m working on

I turned the manuscript in for Move Slow and Make Things almost a year ago and turned in the manuscript for the follow-up book a few weeks ago, but there has still been lots to do for both books!  You would think that once the manuscript is turned in, the bulk of the work would be done, but that really is just a piece of putting a book out in the world.  Last week, I worked on recording the audiobook for Move Slow & Make Things, which was tricky because I needed to do it when everyone in the house was gone or asleep.  The boys were in middle school when I recorded my last audiobook, so I did the recording while they were at school and Jeff was at work.  Now that we have two college students who take some classes online and work odd hours, I never know when I’ll have the house to myself!  I  ended up doing my recording early in the morning, displacing my morning walk and most productive writing time.  But, I got it all done!

This week, I’ve been working on book promotion stuff along with photos for the follow-up book.  I was just telling Jeff that I’m still trying to find some new rhythms as I balance painting, writing, blogging, and home/garden stuff.  I am getting better at letting go of old routines and leaning into new ones, though.  It’s impossible to keep adding new elements to my creative work and not expect that a few need to be left behind, or at least set aside.

I’ve also been painting, of course.  Here are a couple of recent ones…

What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?