Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Meditation and the 'Art' of Gardening...



The weather has been so nice lately that I have been able to get out into the yard and start my gardening. It's really just yard work but calling it gardening makes it seem like less of a chore. I like to say that I am going out to meditate in nature!



There is a lot to do because I haven't been the best with keeping up with everything. I hurt my back many years ago and it has been very difficult to bend over, crouch and kneel to do what I need to do to keep the yard up. This year is different though. I started yoga about 2 1/2 months ago and I am feeling better every week. I now feel well enough to tackle many things that I have put off for years! Yeay!!!



Much has already been done but there is still lots to do! I am lucky to have my husband to help! He has been digging up the ground for me. I am hoping to have the garden about twice the size that you see already dug up. Right now it's about 6ft x 8ft.



I am planning on planting green beans, beets, grape or cherry tomatoes, peppers, Chinese turnips, and maybe carrots. I know it is late for some of these veggies but it is hard to get anything in earlier with my husband's and my schedules. So what ever comes up is great!



Some of the veggies will be planted in containers although probably not in the ones you see here. I think they have seen better days. If I can I will fix them but I am not optimistic about it.



I love being able to create not only my art but also my world or experience. I read a great book many years ago about becoming a 'Conscious Creator'... that is being conscious of all the choices we make and how they create the life that we experience. That includes the thoughts we choose to think and words we choose to say as well as the the actions we choose to take. I am choosing to take more time to do those things that make me happy. 'Meditating' in my 'Garden' is one of those things.

Monday, May 4, 2009

ARRRRGH! My first blog rant!

Ok... it's official...

I HATE CS3!!!
(At least for Illustrator)

Why Oh Why
do they have to mess with something good? Seriously!!! I have been using Photoshop and Illustrator now for quite a few years. I have gone through many upgrades and changes to the programs but this last version has me flabbergasted!!!

I finally upgraded to CS3 this winter just before I started my classes. It wasn't an issue then because I was mostly using Flash and Dreamweaver, which I didn't have any prior experience in, but now that I am back to doing my work mostly in Illustrator I am having conniptions! The new palettes stink! They changed the color palettes and the way the palettes work in general. I am sure it's to be able to "customize" your workspace easier but it is a bigger pain in the a*s than not with palettes that are open disappearing when you try to open other ones. Also... Where are the general default settings??? Now they have a variety of defaults (nice to have options) but they do NOT get you back to your original color palettes when you mess them up! ARRRGH!!! I am irritated mostly because now I have to spend MORE time with tutorials or with playing with the palettes and menus to understand this new interface instead of learning what new stuff the programs can do! I just don't have this kind of time!

It's just been one of those days! Lots of wasted time trying to figure out THAT which I shouldn't have to figure out AGAIN! I sure hope your day was better!