Tag: what’s up

What’s up? Taking Stock November

Annette15 Comments

Hey there, what’s up? 

Lately my life feels epically boring, and a bit like I’m treading water with no land in sight – not great for a human, or a blogger! Time to take stock of things, don’t you think? List courtesy of the glorious Pip of Meet Me At Mike’s. 

Let’s go. 

Making: a list of things I’m interested in or fascinated by as part of artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon’s new class: Idea Generation. My list includes art supplies, modernism, gender fluidity, nature, galleries, books and still life.

Cooking: sparodically, it’s so frustrating not to be in the groove. I made a deliciously simple soba noodle salad last week, and a yummy pesto and couscous combo too. So far today, just baked beans on toast. 

Drinking: coffee, soda water and Bickford’s lemon cordial, and lots of water. Hydrate, people! 

Reading: The New York Times, BabyMac, Woogsworld, and a couple of fantastically timely posts by The Everywhereist. Read this post and this one too. 

Trawling: Twitter. Can’t look away from American politics. WTF? 

Wanting: some sense of direction or purpose. Should I consider studying something? 

Looking: up! In all kinds of weather. 

Deciding: not to get my op shop on today, I’ll go tomorrow. 

Enjoying: sketching, I’m almost finished a year of drawing every day. I’m kinda chuffed with my dedication and growth. You can check out my progress on Instagram, search the hashie #IGYTsketch.

Waiting: for Godot. 

Liking: lots of great Instagram photos, there are so many creative peeps out there. 

Wondering: if 2017 will be better, if I’ll find work again soon, how long I can stay in this holding pattern. Le sigh. 

Loving: that my sister has Netflix, I will be lobbing on her doorstep to watch the reboot of Gilmore Girls soon. 

Pondering: how to remember how your life changes, it seems to happen both glacially slowly and then all at once. 

Listening: to Starship’s Greatest Hits. Toe-tappingly great tunes. 

Buying: I think I’d like to buy a super short hair cut and maybe a colour, I’ll have to ask Santa about that. 

Watching: a fascinating show about Beatrix Potter. I’m inspired by ladies of the past who made their own way in the world. 

Hoping: is costly. I’m protecting my reserves. 

Marvelling: at the generosity of friends. Knowing I am blessed, even when my feelings don’t always concur. 

Cringing: at the rise of white supremacists in the US. 

Needing: a plan. 

Wearing: my gloriously cosy pink dressy gown. I think it’s got superpowers of comfort. 

Noticing: how incredible the cloud formations have been lately. 
 
Knowing: this too shall pass. It doesn’t feel true all the time, but I know it, I hope. 
 
Thinking: about how little I care about Christmas. Bah humbug. 
 
Admiring: the tree on my nature strip. Just yesterday I stood underneath it and admired it. 
 
Bookmarking: lots of articles about painting techniques. 
 
Disliking: feeling less than shazamy, but I dislike big fat fakers more. 
 
Opening: the wrapper on a block of Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond chocolate. Thank you $2.50 special! 
 
Hearing: cicadas, they’re baaaaaack! So loud, so summery. 
 
Pretending: a little bit, I’m keeping an eye on it. 
 
Embracing: my feelings. 
 
Gasping: for breath, that was a long list, even though I skipped a few of Pip’s prompts. 
 
Finally, 
 
 
I shared this on Instagram this week, and I want you to see it too.  
 
Don’t shrink, okay? The ones who want you smaller are not your team. Please make sure you surround yourself with people who cheer you on, and that you cheer for too. It’s super important that we don’t spend another minute feeling “less than”, don’t you think? 
 
Let me know what’s up in your world in the comments. I love hearing from you. 
 
Cheers, 
 
Annette x