This month kind of felt like a cheater month… I carried May along into June and did no new work on my word. (although the end of the month saw me full of FRAGE thank you, Nadia Bolz-Weber for defining my feelings so eloquently.) Knowing that was coming made the month feel like something was hanging over us all…and sadly, that feeling of more impending doom has not abated. And so you will see that this month I did no work with my word. I coasted on May’s work. Although, I did make a synopsis of where I have been with my word, and this was the exactly what I needed this month from Ali Edward’s team.
I have spent half the year, thinking about what filling myself means…what does it look like as I navigate life. I spent time thinking about being full versus being empty and I realized that there needs to be some empty in my life to appreciate full… and that led me to contemplating being content with what I have… realizing that I do not need every new thing to fill my days. Perhaps the best of all was the idea of stepping outside the frame to see the whole picture and that was such a joyful discovery!
Which brings me to May… and slowing down. I loved it! (Thank you May for providing the perfect thing to carry along with me!)
So a bit of my slow down June:
I took a new approach to gardening this year… no big veggie garden. But rather a few tomato plants in containers… which are doing incredibly well! This is good on a number of levels… first, I don’t mind being the “solo gardener” my containers of a few tomatoes and my few flower containers. The second bonus is that there is no longer the “water argument” with Steve. He complained every single day about how much I watered the garden. These containers are turning out to be the perfect way to fill my garden longings!
Next, I have been setting aside about 45 minutes each day to practice painting. Sometimes, I just watch a video, sometimes I play with colors (this is where I need the most work… oh boy, lol) and sometimes I actually paint! This is absolutely the best thing I am filling my days with and I have no plans on stopping. (FYI, for all of you who are looking for a bit of inspiration… Rick Surowicz has a plethora of free classes on his YouTube page. You are welcome!)
Finally, I am embracing a “rules free” summer of reading and that also feels so good! So reading, yes and lots of it! But it is all stress-free reading…which is exactly what reading should be!
As always, I want to thank Carolyn for providing a landing place for us all to share our progress. The Blogging Word Community is one that inspires me every single month!
See you all back here on Wednesday with some making (and reading, of course!)
I don’t think you cheated at all; by carrying your May insights in June you were continuing to practice. You are making slowing down a habit and that is a good thing. Congratulations on those great tomatoes and your new gardening slowing down!
I agree with Bonny. Slowing down can be so freeing! Your tomatoes look wonderful. Thanks for the link to Rick S. – I will share that with my friend who has recently started painting with water colors!
Seems to me that your life is full to the right amount. And your tomato plants look so healthy.
I think slowing down and focusing on little bits of joy is an excellent strategy for dealing with the mess that is the news every day. There is something about existing in spite of the news and using our lives to do things like grow food and create beautiful things that feels like an act of defiance.
I am loving your approach, Kat! Playful, exploratory, no rules or requirements–sounds like summer. And I’m also loving your watercolors. The water in the bottle of lavender last week–well done!!
We have gone the same way with our veggie gardening, and I couldn’t be gladder. (That’s kind of a fun–and funny–word.) Something I picked up from a friend is to have an empty pitcher next to my sink. Any time I need to dump water (an unfinished glass someone leaves behind; cooled water from boiling eggs, etc.), I dump it in the pitcher. When it’s full, I pour it on my porch plants!
Happy summering.
Slowing down is a lovely way to contemplate filling up. I don’t think you’ve cheated at all – you’ve embraced your word wholeheartedly!
I love that you found a way to garden that’s working better for you. Those tomatoes are amazing! Soon you’ll be filling up on those and living the best life 🙂
Cheating? I think not. Days bleed into weeks which bleed into months. There really are no stopping/starting lines, y’know? It sounds like you are right where you need to be, Kat! Love your tomatoes and your commitment to painting and your embracing the slowing down! XO
we have one tomato plant and from that one the chipmunks are stealing everything off of it…hm. Lovely to see your half year review.
Container gardening is a great way to scratch that gardening itch without being overwhelmed. I’m glad it is working out. I think slowing down allows one to savor the time and the days. Letting May seep into June sounds lovely to me.