Hello Creative Peeps

Hello again, yes, it is me. I've been absent from here for too long--and have no idea who, if anyone might still stop in to see if anything is alive here in The Dresser Drawer. In short, life has been hard these last many months, and while I have been journaling, reading, knitting, writing letters and posti, playing with some collage, poetry, stamps and taking pictures, what I haven't been doing is blogging about it. Well, that is not quite true. I have still been blogging on my hope blog partners4hope. 

Wilbur, the-marvelous-white-cat-in-residence, is as fuzzy as ever and equally amusing & personable (yes, that is an orange  peanut butter M&M he is balancing on his head.) Wilbur helps me keep my sanity. His zen-like presence is very calming--most of the time.

This is, again or still, a time of contemplation and discerning for me. I will share more soon. 

Check the right hand column and you will see my montage of art and creativity books from my Goodreads page. I am currently perusing more than a few books on creativity, crafting and business. If you are interested in finding a copy of any of these--or other books, you can click the Powell's Books graphic and search their site for new or used copies. If you haven't ever been to Powell's in Portland--I highly recommend a trip there.(And, yes, it is true they buy books too, in person and online. There are easy to follow directions. 

I've been writing myself out of my journal recently.
There has been so much in me, near me, around me. So, I pick up my pens, sometimes a glue stick, certainly a rubber stamp or two and I just start in on the pages.
Hence, I have been scarce here.
Today is the anniversary of my mother's funeral. It is also the day her youngest sister finishes up some potent radiation for breast cancer...odd to have those fall on the same day.
There is no silence around the house to take this in--neighbors have workmen pounding on something--so the prayer garden is out of the question.
It is almost time to dress and leave. I am reading Psalm 23 in a memorial service in awhile.


I added a very courageous poem on the connected Hope blog. That is really my entry for today, but I just thought I would say a little about where I am at the moment. Thanks for listening.

a new moment

There is a welcome fresh feel to the garden in the morning after such a hot day yesterday. A fresh feeling of gratitude to be able to sit and write and listen in the garden this morning after waking so early with a migraine and neuralgia...you are just not suppose to start a national holiday with that kind of pain...especially such a noisy holiday!

"There is a calmness to a life lived

in Gratitude, a quiet joy."

-Ralph H. Blum

This is a difficult time of year for me. Still filled with grief that parts my emotions suddenly and pushes its way in--unwanted. There is nothing to it but to recognize and welcome it, ask it what it wants and listen. Then it will be and being heard it will leave...for now.