Dreaming and Trying to Keep my Shine

I have a lot of dreams, some of them have come true...some of them I'm still working toward.  But, wow, not having them happen right when I want them to can be pretty hard sometimes.  Makes me wonder if they ever will come true or even if they're meant to, you know?  Sometimes I even wonder if these dreams of mine are realistic.  But, are dreams meant to be realistic anyway?  Probably not.  Whoever thought of walking on the moon was probably considered a nutcase at first.  Whoever thought we could send messages by typing on a computer wasn't probably too realistic many years ago either, right?

© Jill's Dream Artwork

But I've really been wondering:  if they were meant to be they would happen and they wouldn't be so hard, right? Well, maybe not. Probably not. Maybe if they aren't happening, I should throw in the towel--maybe it's a sign these dreams of mine aren't meant to be. I've heard that saying many times about anything worth achieving is probably hard work and worth that hard work.  Well right now, things have been a little hard for me.  I don't really want to go into specific details, but I'm having some struggles.

It does help to have support of those closest to you as well.  A personal cheering squad so-to-speak.  I have a girlfriends that are here for me...I do wish some of them lived closer though!  Unfortunately, some of the people "closest" to me just aren't part of that cheering squad, and I think that's what's making things feel so much harder to handle right now.  But I really am thankful for the ones that are here right now.  Don't know what I'd do without them!

©Jill's Dream Artwork

I also get tons of inspiration from a few great authors such as Patti Digh and recently Danielle LaPorte who said in her book The Firestarter Sessions:  "Intend to shine...You can be a magnet for goodness even in hard times, if you simply choose to accentuate the positive and focus on where you want to go" (p. 102).  This quote is something pushing me forward right now.  Hopefully you can find a little inspiration from it as well.

Getting Ready...Trying to Find Focus

I've been pretty busy lately getting ready for three different things that are taking place really close together...these kinds of times are when I really need to prioritize and focus.  Those of you who create know that can be hard because many of us have a few projects or paintings going on at one time so just working on one and getting all the things done for ONE event in the order they are going to happen just doesn't happen.  

This Thursday I have an event close to home called "Wine, Women and Shopping" at Shorehaven in Oconomowoc and I'm going to be showing some new items so I've been feeling a bit wacky getting them done.  I'm trying to get more art pendants, hand-painted picture frames and wood mounted prints ready as well as working on original paintings for a minis exhibit which are due in less than two weeks for an event at Artbar in Milwaukee.  

(picture frame for the silent auction at Wine, Women & Shopping)

(a few pendants made from my paintings)

(one of the minis for Artbar, Riverwest Milwaukee)

Also, I was accepted for a holiday exhibit at the Waxwing in which I've already got some work, but I need to prep a few new things as well as update my bio and inventory.  I love working on all this stuff but I find myself getting wrapped up in one thing like painting some minis and then I realize, hey THIS Thursday is the first event I have to be ready for--put that mini away!  As much as working on all of this at the same time is energizing and exciting, I will be glad when Thursday is over for sure.  I'm actually waiting for an order of cradled birch wood panels from Dick Blick which I hope come today--I need to mount some little prints, varnish them and have them dry by Thursday afternoon.  

But right now, the sun is shining so I'm going to take a walk and rejuvenate myself to do some more prep when I get back.  Have a great fall afternoon! 

Fall's Here and I'm Thinking of Food

Fall has been here for a couple of weeks but today it seems like it's officially arrived because the temperature is dropping tonight, maybe down to 48 degrees.  I've even heard some relatives in Minnesota have a bunch of snow already too.

At this time of year I start thinking of homemade chili, chicken and dumpling soup and just getting cozy with some good comfort food.  Now, mind you I really can't stand cooking.  I just really enjoy eating.  I'm a sloppy cook and baker--really sloppy--and my cooking sessions have a tinge of disaster in many of them.  I find cookie batter in odd places in the kitchen MONTHS after I cook.  Tonight while making homemade mac and cheese I dumped a bunch of cheesy water from the kettle that I was rinsing right into the baking pan of mac and cheese that I was just about to put into the oven.  Water everywhere, on the window above the sink, the counter, the cabinets, my pants, socks, my daughter, the rug in front of the sink and yes IN the mac and cheese--which I mopped up with paper towel.  For the record I ate from the other side of the dish.  Ugh.

Avocado Enchiladas

Well, Pinterest has got me eyeing up some really yummy dishes and desserts that I will make this fall. I will probably complain while I'm doing it, but if I want to eat, I gotta cook, right?  I am in the process of recruiting my daughter to cook more though--it really doesn't agree with me.  Here are a few that I'm drawn to and will be trying soon.  I think.  If you love food as much as I do, pop by my Pinterest "yummy" page and check out some good-lookin' food!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Also, if you have any REALLY easy dinner suggestions that a picky picky family (not me) will like, I'd love to hear them. Or if you'd like to make some of the recipes I've pinned and drop them off here, that would great lovely too of course. Thanks!