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Recent Posts
- The Gentleman Farmer from Newark: Part 2 December 8, 2025
- The Secret is to Make Practice Effortless November 8, 2025
- An Inch Made All the Difference October 31, 2025
- The Gentleman Farmer from Newark: Part 1 August 17, 2025
- Sumac, Horses, and Crickets July 13, 2025
- Storytelling for the Soul June 30, 2025
- Telling Tales in a New Way June 8, 2025
- A Good Book Is Like a Mirror June 1, 2025
- Give Yourself Permission to have Gentle Habits May 25, 2025
- “May I?” is a Great Question May 4, 2025
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Category Archives: Beauty
The Secret is to Make Practice Effortless
To increase your skill level with any job or hobby, you need two things: LOTS of book-learning hours LOTS of real-world practice Surgeon or master carpenter or architect or watercolorist. They all require lots of study and practice. The challenge … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Watercolor
Tagged Creative Habit, Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance, Watercolor
1 Comment
An Inch Made All the Difference
So much can happen during an unplanned 10-week break from blogging. My last post was on August 17th, and a week later I got word that I had reached the top of a housing waiting list, so it was time … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Books I Love, Musings on Life, My Story
Tagged blog, downsizing, Inspiration, life, love, mental-health, Perseverance, simplicity, Writing
2 Comments
Sumac, Horses, and Crickets
1964: The summer breeze is a blend of fresh hay, saddle soap, and the sweet smell of horse sweat. At Chestnut Bay Stables, learning to be safe and responsible in the barns and on the trails long precedes any time … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, In the Meantime, Musings on Life, My Story
Tagged art, books, Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance, poetry, Writing, Writing Habit
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Telling Tales in a New Way
I’ve spent hours this week listening to The Art of Brevity, a brilliant celebration of “less is more.” “Flash fiction is a brook flowing through the woods. It is easy to step over, and it’s not big enough to be … Continue reading
A Good Book Is Like a Mirror
Much to my surprise, I am experiencing “an embarrassment of riches” with this recent deep dive into reading. The latest FICTION audio/eBook I am enjoying is The Dictionary of Lost Words. ~~~~~ On my eleventh birthday, my dad gave me a … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, My Story, Writing
Tagged Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance, Writing Habit
2 Comments
Give Yourself Permission to have Gentle Habits
Here’s a mostly true story: Aaron (or “Double-A-Ron” as his friends called him) was a gentle soul lovingly referred to as the town drunk. His regular haunt was the Village Tap Tavern. Every day he would wander in about 4pm, … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Books I Love, Musings on Life, Trips to the UK, Watercolor
Tagged Creative Habit, Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance, Watercolor
2 Comments
Planting future seeds of creative momentum
“Not every day is meant for painting.”What?? Blasphemy! The garden metaphor is helpful. If we were watering, fertilizing, weeding, and bothering our plants every day, they would ask us to leave. They might stop thriving, or wilt, or even die … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Design Basics, Seeing and looking, Watercolor
Tagged art, Creative Habit, Creativity, Inspiration, Mentors, painting, Perseverance, Watercolor, watercolor-painting
1 Comment
What could you learn in just two hours a week?
Three questions for this next week of April 2025 Spring Fever: 1- Would you like to have room for even more learning? 2- If so, what subject would you explore? 3- Would two hours a week, for only a month, … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, Watercolor
Tagged Inspiration, lifelong learning, Mentors, Perseverance, Watercolor
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Mentors are the Key to Momentum
“Next, how do you refill your energetic / creative fuel tank? How often are you doing it, and might more time be helpful?” -question from last week’s essay April’s theme is all about harnessing restlessness, claiming your focus, and developing … Continue reading
Posted in Beauty, Design Basics, Watercolor
Tagged Creative Habit, Creativity, Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance, Watercolor
1 Comment