For November, a Challenge

Blogger challenges don’t appear to me as being as popular as they once were. It could also be that I don’t read as many art blogs as I use to for me to see challenges. 

A challenge to draw every day shouldn’t be a challenge because, as I see it, no matter the skill level, an artist should draw everyday. Years ago I tried such a challenge. Easily distracted, my success wasn’t all that great. 

Mixing it up, a challenge to post every day a photo, a sketch, a painting or a craft project in November is the challenge for this blog. 

The eleventh month, to me, isn’t all that exciting. A challenge will hopefully brighten up those anticipated blustery days. I will prepare by jotting down notes to help me along with those 30 posts, starting just 8 days away.

 

Day 2 of empty blog idea stash

A moment of chat then…

Not being outdoors much is similar to not airing out the indoors. The atmosphere gets stuffy in the room as well as the brain. 

At some point, I will read outdoors today to freshen my spirit. My pulled muscle is much better, tender still, but rested enough to do more. My hand and wrist are also better. 

I hope y’all have a chance to be outdoors today.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

It is uplifting to read in the news that early mid term voting has a good showing! 

This is one of the most important elections in American history, probably at number one. All Americans who can vote, need to vote. 

 Please, vote.

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Sewing. My goodness, on Instagram, I’ve seen amazing sewing in clothes and designing. The creativity is surreal. Also, the blogger, Magpie’s Mumblings, does beautiful quilting and posts links to other art and artists as well. 

More than paintings on canvas, fiber and needlework art can spread the imagination in fantastic directions. It airs out the brain without going anywhere. 

If you have a chance, then browse fiber arts and sewing designs online.

Have a wonderful day

Would you believe it?

My blog idea stash is empty.

😱

Amazing that after thinking several times of a blog subject to post about, my brain says the harvest of good ideas is over. There must be charming old wood crate stored somewhere in blog cyber space that’s out of my reach. 

Here’s a silly one.

Click to enlarge

What was I feeling when I chose that Anthropologie mug as my Fall 2026 mug? 

Out of all the dozens of mugs I had looked at, I believe, this one is the best design and most cheerful. The gold accent is a nice touch; and, it was on sale.

There are other items at Anthropologie with the mug theme.

Not a sponsored post

Mug inside bottom

The route of the revisit

Yesterday revisiting my idea of becoming a photographer felt right. Raring to go, I have no idea where my old notes are. They will turn up when I clear out old spiral notebooks. 

Today, the spirits (confidence muse team) tell me I’m on the right path. As it happens, years ago a blog was created for the purpose of being my photography blog*. As I recall, some of the details, one is that the blog will not be connected to this blog. 

Back then, there was a blogger that appeared out of nowhere, crossing over to several other blogs, I think, through the Blogspot feature, Blogs I Follow gadget. The surge of familiarity had a very who are you vibe. Other troll like things going on then also gave me reason to want that blog separate. 

Fact is, once you’ve been online for so many years, concerns like that shouldn’t impede  progress. I ended up feeling I wasn’t ready to take on promoting my photography. Maybe that helped dampen my enthusiasm. It can be creepy when you tell a person or persons about your blog, but they never mention they read your blog, (even when they happen to mention content you happen to have recently posted).

Ah, the old days.

That old blog has a plan that fits well with my pursuit of learning photography. It is nice to know I gave the project a lot of thought to have that done. 

On the landscape of elevating life, revisiting an old idea is proving to be a source of happiness. 

I hope y’all have revisited an old idea that brings you happiness.

* Forgot to mention that the name of the photography blog is clear of any similar word use online. Salty Pumpkin was clear as well when I began using the name. This time I will be carefully watching for anyone trying to use my photography blog name in some way. 

On being happier, a slow journey

It was still dark out. Awake, I wanted to sleep more. At 4:30 AM, there are options. Think for a few hours hoping to fall back to sleep. Read. Stretch. Start the day in pajamas.

I chose to rise and tackle a couple of projects. Then back to maybe sleeping for a nap after getting dressed. The pulled muscle is too tender for me to do much. 

I have 5 areas to sort out instead of a list of tasks to do. That approach declutters things in my mind. 

Adding an outdoor part to the day, cleaning up planters after the hard frost is an area that will be coupled with taking photographs. 

And then without warning, as I rest, a heavy wave of dread unrests me. I have so much to do, any reduction of energy is not good. But, an anxiety disorder doesn’t care. I say happy. Anxiety says oh no you’re not. 

I might fit a nice donut and coffee into my day. I’ve given up sugary donuts in favor of a plain donut. Not the best reaction to a slam of dreads, but it works for me.