Darting Through the Darkness |

A friend of mine suggested I say something, anything. “Hello? Are you there?” 🙂

I haven’t written a blog post in a while, for no other reason than it wasn’t where my inspiration was, just not for now. I have tons to still say, but I’ve been looking for other ways to say them. For instance, my little notes scripted on stationary was a challenge to myself to condense everything. Find a cleaner, quicker way to say what I mean. (HAIKU!…not quite, but you know what I mean.) I was putting those up on all of my social media. Just a quick snap shot of something I’d thought….profound or not. 🙂

Then what started as a simple scribble around a stain on a wood crate became an obsession, one of those beautiful things that will happily keep you up into 3am in silence, playing with imagination, darting through the darkness with little bits of color. I’ve done quite a few pieces in the last few weeks….Someone asked if I was in need of more boxes. I want to say “HAI!” But, my heart tells me that the magic of all these sketched boxes was looking around the house, noticing things I didn’t need anymore and instead of tossing them to the side of the road, or junking them in the trash bin, that I could instead have one of the coolest, most artistic yard sales ever! So, I kept sketching things I no longer needed….making them into something of value to someone, hopefully. You can find them in my shop.

And then there is Honeychurch. I’ve been spending beautiful time in the sunlight. The windows have been cracked wide, all doors opened. Fresh air and sunlight have been abundant. So, I’ve been scouring every little nook and cranny off this old lady’s wrinkles, washing her up, polishing her up, dressing her up, decorating her and making her worth the beauty that she is. I have painted almost every wall, bleached every cabinet, wiped every base board. I needed to….

For a minute there, this old cottage and I didn’t care for one another….until we realized we already had what we’ve always been looking for. A cottage for me, a caretaker for her. Honeychurch is beginning to look tended to, loved. And she is responding with just the most vibrant, joyous energy. You can feel her presence when you walk through the front door. She is gracious and invites….My friends want to sit, rest and visit. (And my landlord is installing new windows!!!! YES!!!)

There are other little projects I’m working on here and there. (I’m sketching the bottom of a vintage cribbage board set in this picture!) I find something that inspires, that keeps the joy alive, then I gravitate, despite whatever else may be happening in the world. I gravitate towards joy….and everything else falls into place. (Thank you, God).

You know, some may say that the world is dark and turbulent, especially now. There is an overabundance of sadness.

However, if you can find a way to find just a sliver, just a beam of joy that keeps you moving towards better thoughts about life, you’ll find your world is a wonderful and resoundingly bright place to be right now. Not tomorrow, not yesterday. But, right here, right now….like a dart, your joy will pierce through the darkness. 🙂

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