February Report

Reading/Listening

My paintings: This year I’m trying to spend as much time actively putting paint on a piece as I do reading/studying/deciding.  I’m practicing slowing down, observing, and restraining. I’m trying to use my art as a reference more than other artists so I’ve been analyzing my past work and writing about what I love/want to do more of vs what I feel like I’ve outgrown.

Listening to a lot of calm contemplative music like this.

Eating  

Bolognese:  I made a really delish and relatively easy bolognese that made a HUGE batch and the leftovers were still amazing! Matty Matheson’s 1-hour Bolo.  I’ve made a more traditional cook all day long bolognese in the past and this one is equal effort for the reward. If regular bolognese is like a 10/10 this one is a 9/10 but a fraction of the time. *tip: don’t finely chop all the veg just throw it all in a food processor. Ain’t nobody got time for knife skills when you have to cook slow and low.

Playing 

Weird pottery: I have this absurd vision to make what I’m calling a “produce shrine” basically a quirky, 3-tiered, colorful, immaculate,  version of the fruit basket we all have on our kitchen counter. It’s ridiculous and completely unnecessary and I love it so much! The top piece, which I’m calling the crown, is almost done. I’m trying to make only FUN things with the utmost silliness in pottery this quarter. I also picked up some really fun crystally glazes and speckled clay! Ooooooooh they’re so pretty. Stay tuned for the progress on that.

Obsessing

Alpenglow & the weather: We had so many alllllmost snow days in Seattle and a little bit of freeze a few weeks back but no satisfying snows. BUT the snow did cover the Cascades and made them a beacon of beauty out our big windows at the front of the house. I’ve been obsessively checking the weather forecast throughout the day, watching the alpenglow every evening, documenting them on the good camera, and painting abstract versions of the fluorescent mountains. 

We got our first bloom in the front yard and I’ve been counting down the days till the “last frost dates” so I can start working on the garden again. I bought a bunch of flower seeds! I’m determined to have my front yard absolutely bursting with color all spring and summer. Last spring in the new house was gorgeous and now that I’ve learned the sunny spots better I’m so excited for GARDENING SEASON to be upon us!

Recommending 

Finding your flow:  I’ve been working to figure out my natural energy cycle throughout the day - my peak productive times, creative times, reflecting/writing times, etc. I’m trying to scroll less so I turned on a shortcut that makes my phone greyscale in the morning/evenings. Zapp demands a walk first thing which I used to dread but now love starting my day outside even when it's freezing. For now, my days flow like this: get the admin stuff/write/plan in the mornings, break for lunch, paint/do creative work in the afternoon, and then relax or tie up loose ends after dinner.  I feel much more calm and happy when I make time to do the creative work but I feel like I have to “earn” it. Hopefully, that’ll change one day.

Treating

Spiced Blood Orange Shrub & Mocktails: We’re trying to be a dry-ish household this year. I’ve made a few shrub recipes and mocktails recently and this one was my favorite! Very delicious, refreshing, cozy, and feels classy without a lot of effort.

As we wrapped up February and enter March it is really living up to it’s nickname of “fool’s spring” we has blooms and snow in the same week. I hope March is good to you! I hope you lean into your confidence and potential. We are evolving like the changing seasons. Trust the magic of new beginnings. Bend and stretch into those growing pains. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

All the best,

Juliann :)