Full Blue Moon Dreaming and 2010 Word of the Year!

Happy New Year!! Happy Full Blue Moon! Dream on and Dream BIG!

My best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous and creative 2010 to all of you! Thank you again, Jamie Ridler, for introducing me to the wonderful idea of creating these Full Moon Dreamboards! Thank you too, Christine Kane, for your idea of the Word of the Year! I've chosen to combine them together in my Full Blue Moon Dreamboard.

As I hum along with Dean Martin, I am thinking about the year to come. How very fast they fly by! 2010 promises to be an excellent year and I have much I want to accomplish. The fireworks in my FMDB seed some of my wishes for this year. These include (since the image of that part of my dreamboard isn't as focused as I'd like it to be - note to self "Buy new markers!"):

• Contribution
• Art
• Create my Path
• Research
• Play
• Inspiration
• Invitations
• Travel
• Energy
• Friendships with Remarkable People
• Focus
• Magic
• Prosperity
• Passion
• Write and
• Fitness.

CREATE! is the Word I have chosen for 2010.

CREATE!

I chose "CREATE!" as there is something specific I want to create this year. A document but it may become a book. It will be a minimum of 60 pages and the most I have ever written is 22, so I know this will be a challenge. I still have much research ahead of me but the time has come to start writing. And creating. It has little to do with the type of creativity I see in the dreamboards - Or does it? Does creativity and creating in one arena lead to creativity in another? I am betting that it does. What is your experience?

What kind of mechanisms can I put into place, I wondered, to ensure that I create this year? Participating in the Full Moon Dreamboards is one way. Already in my 2 initial efforts I am astonished by the finished products and by the process. Amateurish they may be, but they are my creations. So I have started to create! Another decision I have made is to participate in the Creative Every Day 2010 Challenge. Some days creating will be the writing I want to do. Other days - who knows?! I feel excited just thinking about it!

I looked at one of the Flickr group slideshow that Leah Piken Kolidas, creator of CED2010, mentioned and immediately started to doubt my ability. Amazing artwork has been created! At the moment of my worst angst, I looked back at the screen and saw this:

Wow!!! What an amazing image to see at that very moment! Thanks so much Annette Q for your great picture! The synchronicity continues!

In 2010, I will Create!

Full Cold Moon Dreaming

One of the things I love about the web is the synchronicity of it. An interesting little thread leads to another stimulating post and to still more. Ideas flow. Curiosity reigns. Creativity often hidden, blooms and flourishes!

Last month, I came across Jamie Ridler's site and was introduced to her Full Moon Dreamboards. I LOVE the Moon, especially when he is Full, (and talkative) and tonight he is especially beautiful. And "Dreamboards"? Very intriguing! This felt like a creative endeavour that was worth trying, one worth reviving this little inactive site so I could participate!

So many beautiful and varied submissions did Jamie receive for the Full Frost Moon that there were oodles of ideas on how to proceed. But what would work for me? A trip to the art store was in order! (Any excuse.)

Intending to buy bristol board, I came away with a large 11x15 watercolour pad and the same size art book. Confused as to which side of me won out: the artist wannabee who received the artbooks and watercolour pencils; or the practical gal who couldn't fathom where to store these (to be) completed posters but knows where a pad or book could live; I realized that a perfect win-win situation was found and all of me left happy!

My first Full Moon Dreamboard:

With Christmas in mind, thoughts wrap around my tree to clarify this month. Full Moons are the perfect decor. Nutcrackers stand guard and make me smile as I start to bring out my own collection from their long stretch of storage. Books call to me to be read: "Pick me, pick me!"

The second full moon in a month is relatively rare and is called a Blue Moon. So I am looking forward to the next FMD, to using the phrase on New Year's Eve "once in a blue moon" as often as possible and to singing along with Dino!

Thanks to Jamie for this fun idea, and to everyone for the motivation to join you in Full Moon Dreaming.

FLOURISH!!!!!!!! - My Word for 2009

Do you set New Years Resolutions?

A few years ago, a close friend and I decided that instead of setting resolutions, we would chose a word for the year. This word would represent the theme or perhaps the goal for the year. It might be a verb or an adjective, maybe even a noun that had meaning for the chooser. We did that both of the last two years and each year we promptly forgot our words.

Late in 2008, I saw a blog discussing the Word of the Year concept and decided to try it again and this time to remember my word for more than a few days! In December, over lunch, we choose our words. My friend chose RE-INVENT, her husband chose INQUISITIVE and I chose FLOURISH!!! To ensure I remember and embrace my word, I have written it in my agendas, very colourfully and with silly flare, since FLOURISH is that kind of a word!

What does FLOURISH mean to me?

The dictionary defines it as:
intransitive verb
1: to grow luxuriantly: thrive
2 a: to achieve success: prosper <a flourishing business> b: to be in a state of activity or production <flourished around 1850> c: to reach a height of development or influence
3: to make bold and sweeping gestures
transitive verb: to wield with dramatic gestures: brandish

Those definitions feel right and like what I'm aiming for - to thrive, to prosper, to grow. Flourishing also implies health and fitness to me. It suggests colour and boldness. It involves action. I have always been a bit concerned about words like growth, abundance, expansion etc as they can include getting larger physically and that I definitely do NOT want that. Flourishing to me doesn't include growing in girth since to flourish you must be fit, healthy and strong. Those are traits I want to improve upon and build.

The only concern I have had, regarding my word and 2009, is that I need to spend time this year doing research for two projects I want to accomplish. This will involve a lot of reading. Reading at times feels like sitting on my fanny doing nothing, inactive. Flourishing evokes taking action. However for a plant to flourish, it must have a strong root system. Reading and my research are like building my root system - necessary to thrive and flourish later. So it still applies! :)

I am very excited about my word. FLOURISH!!! I see 2009 in a bright light now. I expect it to be colourful, happy, healthy, playful, filled with pizazz and music. Laughter, love and living life to the fullest are part of flourishing as are action, accomplishment, contribution and celebration!

Have you chosen a word?

What is it?

Rhubarbolution!

I love the look of rhubarb leaves - whether the yummy, edible, garden-variety rhubarb or these beautiful ornamental rhubarbs which grow so tall in British Columbia (and no doubt elsewhere). The one above, in Vancouver, was well over 12 feet tall!

Havi at Fluent Self recently had a blog post declaring she had nothing at all to say about rhubarb - which of course ended up with some discussion of rhubarb.

It reminds me of those times you tell yourself you're not going to think about something (or someone!) and that's all you can think about? Have you ever had that happen?

On Havi's comments, I mentioned that I have a great recipe for Rhubarb Mooncake and I have been encouraged (arm twisted) to join the rhubarbolution (word compliments of Diane Whiddon-Brown and Havi Brooks) and post it here. I hope all of those rhubarb lovers of you out there enjoy!! Everyone I know loves it.

RHUBARB MOONCAKE CAKE

 ½ cup shortening or butter 

1½ cups sugar 

1 egg 

1 tsp vanilla 

2 cups flour
I tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt 

1cup buttermilk 

2½ cups chopped rhubarb (@1/2 inch pieces) 

1 tbsp flour

 TOPPING 

¼ cup softened butter 

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 cup packed brown sugar 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9x13 inch cake pan. Cream shortening or butter together with sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Sift together flour, soda and salt, then add to creamed mixture alternating with the buttermilk, making 3 dry and 2 liquid additions. Toss rhubarb with the 1 tbsp of flour. Mix gently into the batter. Spoon into pan and smooth surface. For topping – combine butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle over batter. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake has risen, browned, comes away from the edge or a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Surface will resemble the surface of the moon. Serves 18. From Homemaker’s Magazine.

Do you have any photos of lovely or unusual rhubarb leaves? (My own rhubarb in asleep under a light blanket of snow at the moment - so no photos of mine here today.) Any excellent rhubarb recipes to share? Rhubarb stories to tell us? Join the rhubarbolution!!!

Know Limit

One of my favourite artists is Marcus Pierson and one of my favourite pieces of his work is "Know Limit".

His work is very unusual in that it contains words as well as images.

I fell in love with this one when I saw it. (Discovering the gallery with Pierson's artwork, and this piece in particular, happened in a most synchronistic manner, making it all the more memorable and impactful to me. A story for another day!)

Unlike some of his other pieces, I knew that this one was THE ONE I had a proper home for - on my office wall. It could talk to me there. It could inspire me. It affirmed some of what I have already experienced and accomplished. Some, as I know I can do more. The words continue to ring true. They encourage me. They remind me to know and PUSH my own limits. Such amazing creativity his paintings (limited editions) and his sculptures display!

 The words are: “Like everyone else I was told my future had no limit. While it was true for some, for myself - I knew better. So instead I simply set out to find it. And once I had, to push against it and try my best to move it. More like a bull than an eagle, just stubbornly plodding along. Looking back now, I can't believe what I've done, where I've been. So I say to you these two simple words; not no limit - but KNOW LIMIT.”

Do you have any artwork that reminds you of your potential within?

Nests and Berries

Today I went for a walk with my camera. I wanted to take photos with a theme in mind. At first I thought the theme might be wreaths. Or perhaps interesting doors. But as I walked, I found there were very few unique or colourful doors in my neighbourhood and fewer wreaths. We seem to be in that interim time period where Hallowe'en decorations have disappeared but Christmas wreaths are not yet on up the doors of the local homes.

So what did catch my eye?

Two things in particular caught my attention. One was the nests in the trees. It sure does explain the abundance of squirrels in the area! The other was the berries that are still abundant on certain trees.

There are always squirrels around. Red, grey, and black squirrels frolic and play. They chase each other. They chatter at the cats when they get too close. The telephone lines are their roads and their leaps from those paths to tree branches are amazing to watch. Most of the nests that I saw, I believe belong to the squirrels.

I was delighted to see so many berries! The mountain ash, euonymus, and two other kinds that I was unfamiliar with, were just beautiful!

Hope you enjoy these photos as seen through my eyes and lens! What did you see today that caught your attention?

The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

Have you ever thought of yourself as a fairly bright, knowledgeable person only to delve into a topic and discover just how little you actually do know?

When I used to read almost exclusively fiction for pleasure, I rarely had the need to look up words or look into a subject in more detail. I was entertained and usually enjoyed what I read. I learned, but more than anything else, I learned to look at things from different perspectives and to empathize with the characters. Now I read much more non-fiction than fiction.

So often lately, I am overwhelmed by feelings of ignorance, of lack of knowledge, lack of awareness. “How did I get to this age without knowing ____?” is a common thought of mine. Perhaps it is because I have started to read outside of my usual genres? Or maybe it’s because I am studying some of what I am reading as opposed to just perusing it? Even when I am web surfing, one reference will lead to another and then to another and yet more. Multiple quick trips to Wikipedia later, I have more information on what has aroused my curiosity. Sometimes a superficial glance satisfies that initial curiosity. Or I may choose to delve deeper and read more on the subject, looking at multiple sources and books. Still other times, I set it aside as a topic to return to and pursue at some later date.

Either way, I am learning so many new things! More than anything, I am recognizing I have so much more to learn, in so many different areas. Much of it is fascinating. How exciting!

Richard Feynman wrote a book called “The Pleasure of Finding Things Out”. While the subject of that book has little to do with what I am talking about here, the title really reflects my feelings about gaining knowledge and learning. It is indeed a pleasure!

How do you feel when you find out how little you know? Do you make trips to Wikipedia or other encyclopedia type sites? Or do you go to the library? Or read an actual book encyclopedia? Or do a Google search on the topic? What sources of information do you like most?