Goals, Today, Art Challenges

"There is nothing in the world more futile than the attempt to find out how a task should be done when one has not yet decided what the task is." Philosopher Alexander Meiklejohn said that, and now I'm relaying his advice to you. Please ignore it if you're having no trouble at all figuring out what you should do next. But if you are the least bit fuzzy about your future direction, spend some time in the coming days defining the precise nature of your short-term goals.

Lisa has this on her blog: Heart of the Nest.

Now, I think my goals on Jan. 1 were probably unrealistic. Here they are again, and I'm going to check the ones I think I can and have been doing:

1. Draw one thing each day...either a challenge, or from lessons, or on my own...√
2. Create one mixed media collage/ATC each week...or more...√
3. Work on a quilt each week...sometimes, but not weekly...did go to quilting club once
4. Plan what to make for Christmas gifts and begin...and finish...√
5. Participate in at least one swap per month...√
6. Participate more with my Glitter Sisters...√
7. Keep my studio clean and straight...straighten it NOW...√
8. Read at least 60 books in 2007...I've only read 2, am on my third...that's not enough to reach 60
9. Be nicer and kinder...realistic, but I am not near there yet
10. Slow down...well, the blood pressure has made this happen
11. Pray daily and read the Bible daily...I have tried, so far not every day
12. Become more involved in the church...√, even being ill I have been able to do this
13. Blog daily...√
14. Write something daily other than blog...start on that book again??...so far I've only written my 3 columns and one haiku...that's not enough
15. Walk every day, at least on the treadmill...I was doing this until the blood pressure acted up, and doctor said to wait until it's back down
16. Keep the house straight...ho hum...so much for that!!

So, I'll be working on all that! One way or another.

Today, the blood pressure was down...we took it every three hours, and I didn't have to take rescue meds today.

John came by as he's home from college. He wanted his photo taken with Sadie (age 13+). He was a little boy, age 7, when we got her at the rescue place in Graham, Texas. We had such a good visit, and he stayed until his Papa came home from the store, and we watched Jeapordy together. I am soooooo proud of him...3.8 and is a college junior...gee, I'm sure I haven't mentioned that before! HA!!

This first drawing is of SadCat...the way I felt yesterday when the BP was UP. I was really depressed, and as Terry can tell, I tend to burn all the candles at all the ends and feel really helpless when I have to sit!
Well, so much for SadCat...I hope he is behind me!! I read the second chapter in The Artist's Muse, and I tried the 1st challenge there. The first was an experiment with watercolor and flowers...interesting, especially the one when I drew flowers with water and the dropped paint (the first two).Then I set off on my own to paint the way I enjoy, this time with pencil and watercolor pencils on moleskine (the other one was moleskine, too) watercolor paper.
Well, it's almosst 11:30 pm, and I hear the sleet falling outside. Think we are in for another bout of freezing rain and snow....wow, strange for Texas!

And as Gail reminded me: Isaiah ch. 26 v. 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.

AMEN and AMEN.

See you guys tomorrow...have a good night and a wonderful weekend.