2.25.2011

magic (vanilla) beans and pats on the back

I'm posting from the library while Olivia's in dance class. It's been a very interesting library visit and a good one for people watching. You can just feel the Friday in the air, everyone is talking, cell phones are ringing, not a bit of the library silence I thought I was in for, but the thing that is going to stick in my mind is what the woman at the table next to me is doing. Picture a woman about my age (38). She has cute bobbed hair and polished nails, hunched over a laptop, writing furiously. Every five minutes or so, she stops, sits up tall and gives herself a quick pat on the back, and says in a whispered voice, "you KNOW it." There was even a "you go, girl, you're good and you know it." I am not making this up. Sometimes she pats both shoulders. She doesn't look mental either. Just a regular person who is pleased with herself, I guess. It makes me think that I should give myself a "you go, girl" more often, yanno? Maybe just silently, in my head, because I don’t care for a lot of attention, but still, I want to incorporate more of that into my life. Lesson heard, dear proud woman to my right, lesson heard.


But that wasn't what I was going to post about tonight. I was thinking more along the lines of honoring the creativity in the everyday and how I want to be more conscious of it all. It’s coming up in conversations with friends and I was thinking about how I want to share more of that sort of thing here on the blog. So often I don’t post unless there is something finished to show. I’m giving myself permission now to open things up a bit. I want to share not only the paintings but the other creative things in my life, like for example- the image of the bottle above. A friend gave that to me. Isn’t that color just gorgeous and what about the shape of the beans? I love it! Homemade vanilla extract. Last night we made oh-sooo creamy hot chocolate with it. *recipe here.* It’s simple to make vanilla extract though I have never taken the time to do it. My friend has inspired me. I love her presentation, how she chose that lovely bottle and how she made a label and tag, even sealed the cork with wax, and I have vowed never ever to purchase vanilla extract again. As a matter of fact, I want all of my kitchen spices and things to be this pretty.

I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking on how I want to spend my time, what is best for me and my family and I’ve had to say no to some things in my life recently, to things I would really and truly want to do if there was more time in a day. It hasn’t been easy and I’ve carried the heavy weight of that this week but prioritizing has been necessary to have time to learn about and be a participant in this wild business of art and still have time for cooking healthy meals and being present with family. I’m envisioning more time spent closer to home, time tending a small garden, having more time for contemplation as I scoop and lift handfuls of earth. I want to picnic more and hike more, paint the furniture and count the stars. And after each, maybe I should give myself a pat on the back and call out a “you go, girl.” Yep, I think I will.

And lastly, a link to an article I think you will like. It's all about being a creative badass. :)

15 comments:

Lisa said...

Love it. Yes, we all have to focus on what is best for us and/or our families. Gardening becomes more and more important to me over the years. Tonight I know that my son is leaving early in the morning for a city far, far away and I know that the only things that will bring peace are paint, glue, etc and digging in the dirt with that indescribable March/April post-shower smell in the air. Thank you, dear Tricia, for your sweet spirit and inspiration.

Karen said...

I have always thought that if I could just do away with sleep I would have enough time in a day....but alas, I DO like to sleep ;).

Jeannine said...

I'm with you on the not-finished thing. I find myself stirred to blog but then don't because my art/writing/photography is incomplete. A lot of the time I'm super happy with something in it's unfinished state, but there is this weird part of blogging that feels an obligation to "entertain" people that stop by, and it seems most people want pretty, complete things to look at. So what happens is, I just don't blog at all. LOL!

I so love blog posts such as yours here, and a few others where the content is more heart-driven, less technique/tutorial-driven.

This is a beautiful photograph and I suddenly have an intense craving for hot chocolate!

All good wishes to you, dear Tricia. You go girl! :)

Dreama said...

You are an inspiration and a mighty fun one at that! Love that image--might have to cut loose and make some of that hot chocolate. Got to spend some studio time this afternoon and just came out, it was great. I am listening to Amy Bender's " Saddness of Eating Lemon Cake" (might not be exact words) but it's fun, in between hits of the new Music Mix for Art making! Love the images some of those lyrics bring to the imagination. You Go Girl!!

bridgette said...

love this post Tricia and the story about the woman at the library is the best! love it. We do need to give ourselves a pat on the back more often.
I hear ya on the balance part and being present. There's just not enough time in the day and energy as well. We need to take care of our spirit as well as our physical selves. While I am always doing my artwork, I am finding myself concentrating more on the homefront lately...thus less blogging for me and computer time. I love to take care of my home, my family, creating healthy meals...Creating Home. That is just important to me as is Creating Art.
I really like your idea of creating the other creative aspects of your life and I look forward to seeing them.
You go girl!

Tiffany said...

OMG. I hadn't read this post yet, and the woman in the library story totally made me lose it! LOL!! But yes, I know what mean re: finding everyday magic. I think we did today. I feel it--feel so alive and rejuvenated, it's incredible. *YOU* are my magic vanilla bean, T! *hugs*

Jen Osborn said...

Girl, you ROCK!

What an awesome and insightful blog post. I knew when we challenged each other to write more that fabulous posts like this would come of it. What a fantastic lesson to learn ... I LOVE the idea of giving ourselves more "you go girl!" & "you did it"s. Isn't it wonderful when the exact lesson we need to learn pops up in our life in such a profound way. Sure, she looked like a nutter doing it, but can you imagine how much confidence she must have in herself to not worry what people in the library were thinking about her little song & dance!?! I'm actually jealous of her moxy!

I love EVERYTHING you said in this blog post, and feel exactly the same.

give yourself a pat on the back for blogging ... and then get another one up by Saturday
{ hint hint }

triciascott said...

me too, karen, me too. :)

triciascott said...

lisa, hope you get to visit with your boy real soon. xoxo

triciascott said...

thank you, jeannine, what you said about how people want pretty and complete things to look at feels so true to me. That's why i'm taking my blog back and making it more for me, more a journal of my days and not caring at all what anyone thinks of it. at least, i am going to try. :)
sending a "you go, girl" your way as well!

triciascott said...

sending a "you go, girl" to my dear dreama!

triciascott said...

hehe! yep, we found it in your yard! still thinking about that fun time, dear friend. hope you are feeling better today. xo

triciascott said...

"Creating Home. That is just important to me as is Creating Art."----oh, yes, that's it-exactly!

triciascott said...

thank you! and a pat for you too cause you a post rocker as well! have you posted this week....going to go check..... **hugs**

Relyn said...

I love that little story you hadn't planned on sharing. I can just see her there, so very pleased with herself. I LOVE it! Thank you so much for sharing it. We all do need more "atta girls." I know I do.