ugh, we've had bugs...

  

 and they weren't pretty bugs, like this one... I took this photo in Ohio. It seems butterflies really do like butterfly bushes. Handfuls of all sorts of butterflies hung out in those bushes every morning, like it was IHOP or something. I guess it is for butterflies, gotta get that morning shot of sugar nectar before flying off to do whatever butterflies do all day :)  

Anyways, last week (our last week before school started, wouldn't you know it?) my boys came down with a nasty virus, they gave it to me, and then our computer. I've been electronicless for awhile. Mike devirused the computer, but it's still running wonky and wierd-- and slow! I was planning on a couple more photos, but  this one took three minutes. So there ya go.

Life gets more normal every day here. And we're moving into new routines. But I was sad to send my kids back to school Monday; summer vacation is the shortest three months of the year... and June didn't count as summer here this year, with rain almost every day. And you know about my July.. but we managed some fun things in August, mostly the pool. My kids took private lessons this year, which helped them so much more. Between the lessons and lots of pool time, they are swimming pretty well now. I mostly laid around watching, and reading books. Lazy, I know, and I didn't care.

One wonderful book I've been rereading is, The Artist's Way. It's at Amazon, of course. (I'm not even going to try linking it today.) Don't let the title put you off; this is a book for ANYONE searching to live a more authentic, expansive, and creative life. It's my Bible for when I need to get creatively unstuck or move further along on the creative journey.

A few of Julia Cameron's suggestions for getting unblocked include:

* Daily morning walks.

* Writing morning pages-- three pages of writing anything.

* Not reading. (I know!) But it's helping.

* Instead of reading, Julia suggests any other right brain activity to get you out of your head. Cooking, gardening, driving, scrubbing floors, etc. Haven't been desperate enough to scrub floors yet, but I did bake the BEST apple bread Monday. I'll share that recipe soon. It's amazing. Had it for breakfast three mornings in a row, which probably makes the walking I've been doing pointless...but oh well :)

So I'm going to quit writing for now. Six paragraphs without a photo-- that's just too long, isn't it? I'm off to be creative today. Yesterday I got back to my studio, and actually had IDEAS and made THINGS. Thank the good Lord. I was starting to wonder if I'd ever have any desire to make anything again.

I hope to be here more often now, with more photos and goodness to share--  if my computer stays healthy until my hubby is back in town...

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope all's well with you.

xoKelly

Comments

[Cindy Geilmann]

what a terrible was to end the summer. and the computer virus, that's awful. I'm glad you getten it back together.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com

[traci]

virus' for you all and your computer, that's just not right. hope you're all on the road to feeling 100%. the butterfly is gorgeous. would have loved that view every morning. not reading, are you kidding. i don't know if i could do that. i am so happy that your creativity is starting to appear again. you definately have a gift. sometimes life just barges in and mixes us all up for a while. enjoy your day!!

[Meleen Dupré]

kelly,

sorry to hear about all your "viruses"! and i know how you feel about summer ending....this has really become the lost summer for me. i can't wait to see all your inspiration...in the kitchen and the studio!!
take care,
meleen

[Gabriela]

Good morning,

Love butterflies! And this one is beautiful.

~ Gabriela ~

[Kat Eckstine]

Kelli,
I love your site!! The pictures are fantastic. Sorry to hear about all of the virus problems and hope that everyone is over their illness.

I must thank you again for your inpromptu handling of the flowers for Mom and Dad's anniversary.

[kayellen]

Hi sweet Kelly...
melting here today 106 is expected.
Love your butterfly picture!!

Hummingbirds and butterfly's like to hang out at my butterfly bush...
fun to watch them flutter around:)

A working summer for me... saying goodbye to my son for college, to quite...this has been a tough week and I am still adjusting...
my father in law is very ill...but

Today is a new day:)

I need to count my blessings and be thankful for each moment.

So glad I had some time to pop by! off to read some of your blog:)

Smiles,
Kay

[Cindy]

Sorry to hear about the bugs. Ugh. And yep, I LOVE that book. I got about half way through it and probably got distracted by some mindless brain candy book...but it was helping. Need to pick it back up and start over again. Hope all get better.

-c
yapping cat