Life

Balance Acts

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Holy mackerel! No posts since December 2016! What gives? Well-  trying to figure out the balance act of life and allowing self to take some detours to expand experiences.  I also forgot that I had set up the blog to Tweet when I publish – so now everyone is seeing my catch up frenzy! After this rush – I am pointed to just find the balance between this personal blog and a private family blog.

I am finding that a comfort zone and close circle is wealth in life – but it grows richer when one travels a bit outside the trail to circle back. I am starting to see life as a path that goes forward and back – ahead and around. It is not a one way direction. One step forward – 2 steps back. To me it is like Billy’s maps in the Bill Keane comic “Family Circus”.

Did you ever look back at something you did and wonder “who was that person that did all this?”

The ds106 path seems that way for me and now helps me understand when new participants dive in that personal expectations could drown you. There is so much to sample, explore, create. DS106 has no “rules” about how much effort or production one does. But the gem is that so many have added and built upon it as well as continue to add to it that the opportunities to have a path that has markers and resources upon it – doubled with a diverse community who will jump in at a moments notice. It really is like having part of your life in Hotel 106 – you can check out – but you never leave.

Hotel 106 - TDC1585

I am so pleased I committed to myself and started the open course in Jan of 2015 – hitching onto ds106 Noir and expanding into open collaborations with the Burgerons, Prisoner, FairyTale Festival, and ds106Western – I think I even had a small touch of Tales of Open DS106. The experiences opened up discovery, skill building and a sense of creative community. The online world has connected me to others who also practice paying it forward, but without the drama. Individuals who are confident in self and find success in seeing others successful. The selfish, the needy – the ones that see themselves the center of the universe are still there. I think what I find in the online communities is that the introverted extroverts have a place to be heard and to know they are not alone. Now – friends  I am not labeling you! But I have discovered many of you who have highest self expectations but also the heart and soul to support others without enabling.

Well – loads of life and transitions that is what has happened over the last 8-12months. As the circle of the hamster wheel (or is it hedgehog) turns, other things come up and consume one’s life. The ebbs and flow of what should be. I have moved to a new region of our state, bought a home, sold a home, a daughter’s wedding, the birth and first year of first grandchild, taken on some part-time consulting work.

A large part of relocation planning and managing and doing was on my plate due to health limitations of my husband. The blessing of early retirement has allowed for the time and attention needed to work through things in a comfortable (although sometimes lengthy) pace.

I am ds106 #4life – but it is now becoming integrated into life and not the focused and concentrated learning that leaves the rest of ones experiences wedging themselves in. I find the true barometer is how your connections can be intense and focused for a time. You set up the threads of common beliefs and interests, work on things grand and mediocre. But you can not sustain. The sustainability is in knowing and living that you can have the rush of the moments and common path and then take a turn and cross again without feeling like there has been an absence or neglect. Bringing what you gather from the time apart back and never missing a beat.

I had a short obsession with an online FB group of HGTV Fixer Upper Fans. A community page focusing on Farmhouse decor style of Joanna Gaines. It was like being able to tour people’s homes and see their creations. Great advice – some dreaming and interesting to see how no matter what a budget or place – people take pride in their homes. It really is a group who make houses homes. It also was a positive space during the months of first tension due to political climate in the USA. A great escape from the extremes -but also showing that in general people of all different backgrounds and beliefs can find common ground and be nice. I still scan and take part but have “balanced”.

I have been immersed in settling into a new community, caring for family, welcoming a new grandchild and watching him over the last year. I still watch and scan what others are doing and where their new paths are taking them. I know I do not have to be a part of every inch of another’s life to still feel connected to them, still support them and still call them friend.

So – Ronald_2008 – is expanding his art skills and creating some fantastic creations as well as still being the #1 daily create participant. He even authored a book!!!

Our book in the classroom

@johnjohnston is back in the classroom (I think) and making a difference for kids but also still expanding his support of educators and his futzing with how things work. I love that he has found some of his own balance.

Mariana Funes – @mvdfunes –  is finding her balance and together with John are on the airwaves again for all of us to enjoy and break open new thoughts in our brains thru their broadcasts and discussions. Mariana also models how to interconnect all these online spaces. I am excited and intrigued to see how her different online spaces come together and the strategies she has developed to keep immersed, but balanced.

John and Mariana stayed true to their promise to their 1M listeners of the 106Bullets radio broadcast and are back at it with a monthly session of Loose Learners. I missed the first ones due to erratic scanning of feeds – but it is on my calendar for June!  I encourage you to join in. Just look at this awesome poster Mariana created to tell about it! The conversation and tweet along is a must do! And for those in the USA – 1pm EST/2pmCST etc. Check out the archive episodes.

@cogdog expanding our understanding of the alchemy of the narrative online world and sheparding thoughts and directions of Creative Commons. Most of all sharing Felix with us! I love this dog! Such a soul.

You Rang?

flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license

@jimgroom traveling the world and teaming with @timmyboy in providing reliable, affordable access and domain of one so that we may all connect. Thanks Reclaim Hosting.

So many others who are active and doing things and I can’t mention them all in this post or what they are doing and really – most of you know what they are doing because you do keep up! I know they will come up in future posts. 🙂

I see hedgehogs, stepping out for a concert and Twitter as the date, finding WA state beauty and running for the ds106 Athletic team, research and teaching, creating beautiful daily creates and art, traveling, gardening, grandkids, great things for kids in education led by many of my media specialist friends, classroom teachers with astounding energy and devotion to their students and selves through continued growth and practice, hard working being done in transforming public education from the ground up in SE Wisconsin.

Thanks to all that share and allowing me to learn from you and for your support in my loopy journey of life.

Re-entry with Garden Creations

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Picking up the keyboard again and beginning to post here and in family site. Going for posts more often and probably shorter eventually. Thinking it will be better to keep up with things if I chunk it as it happens.

This blog has been my DS106 documentation – but as others who have journeyed that path – it is now just turning into whatever I am into at the time blog -but highly influenced and still with the #4life influence.

So-  we are now 8 months in our new location. We closed the chapter on our former residence March 17 so all is behind us now. Things are feeling like home and yet still have a newness and adventure feel.

The first spring and summer season is bringing the discovery of the garden and yard.

Watching what comes up!

Spring finally Sprung!

I have no idea what is planted and what might come up. Today I found that the large Maple tree at the corner of the house – which when we looked at the house and when we moved in was surrounded by deep brown mulch is now flush with new sprouts of something encircling the full trunk and about 5 feet around it! They are all the same type and seem to be planted in a pattern. Guessing they might be Lily of the Valley – which I love! – they don’t look like hostas. It is still such a surprise as there wasn’t a piece of green anywhere in the mulch when we move in the first of August.

Being retired now, I can do gardening. When I was teaching and working – the end of the school year ran the schedule and I mostly didn’t get things in until right before the fourth of July! So the itch is there and I have been watching the freeze and frost forecasts and comparing them to the records of averages. Since the yard is unknown I am creating in containers. I decided to plant them. Until the nights get a little more stable I carry them in and out of the garage each day. The deck railing plants may go in soon -even if I lose them. I am still not sure about light over the days – so it is a gamble anyways. I have to give credit to Cathy Jo Nelson – my muse and inspiration for the deck planters. She creates and nurtures the most beautiful porch setting with deck planters. I have admired for a few years now from her posts on Flickr and FB.

Garden Creating

I have also been searching out the garden centers in the region. Each new one brings delights! Here my favorite so far of the containers for the front porch.

2017 Flower Containers

I also am working on the back service entrance.

Vintage

And have created my Gnome and Fairy succulent dishes as well.

Gnomes in the garden

Finding Fairies

My other influence is a very enjoyable young woman -Laura,  from Ontario Oregon who started with her own YouTube videos and has been picked up by sponsors now. I love her passion, style and creations. Check out the Garden Answer on YouTube and Facebook.

 

 

Blowing in the wind????

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Getting back to documenting #4life  – my life.

After a long winter – a day of exploration and fun with my go to lady and friend, Judy.

We took a photo walk of the Old Soldiers grounds at the regional VA Center. A little rusty with my camera- but it felt good.

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The album of my shots: https://flic.kr/s/aHskUb4r5J

Judy’s Album of Shots – she wasn’t as rusty as I was!

We found a great place for lunch and then wrapped up the day with a glass blowing lesson and session at Square One Art Glass in Milwaukee. Erin was a great instructor and guide and helped us create some pretty awesome pieces. I think we are hooked!

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My first glass creation

Next – garden inspirations!

 

 

 

Popular? What the heck?

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So as I am getting back into posting and recording #4life transitions of creating…..

I fell into a Facebook group for HGTV Fixer Upper Fans. It has been a positive group and very active. All things decor with a strong lean towards Joanna Gaines style of home decorating. It has been a good fix over the winter months and an entertainment diversion as the state of the nation is in flux.

I have added posts, got into the energy of red trucks and tiered stands. Everyone wants white cabinet kitchens and gray walls- but lots of levels of design. Amazingly – with 300K members – a positive group that is supportive and helpful to others in choosing the right backsplash or how to hang curtains etc. Most of my posts did not draw much interaction – but enough to have a conversation or two. Until this last weekend.

I have been working on setting up our front entrance for curb appeal and to welcome guests. Its not my nature to be too generic and trendy – but also finding I am refining my style after many years. I also like a bargain -so trying to find the best for the best price.

I posted one section just to the side of the front entrance that I finished and within one day it had over 400 likes! HUH? It was the simplest thing I have done so far and touched the most in others. That either means it is too mainstream – or just a touch of mainstream with a twist that gets attention. Either way – the likes count etc. has never meant much to me – it doesn’t change what I do, why, or what I believe -but it did feel kinda nice to have the attention.

Ice Cream Carton!

and a little wider shot….

Ice Cream Carton!

the potted plants will fill in the spaces, along with a Gnome and fairy garden dish….

more to come…..

September 2017….

Front Yard Update Sept.

Hurry up and Wait Zone!

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Seems I never published this so doing so now with an update:

Moving is a job!

We have spent the last 40 days in a whirlwind of seeing a home, making an offer, having an offer accepted, the finance dances, sorting, purging, donating, selling, and packing the current home, putting current home on market and scheduling all the dominoes.

NOW IT IS HURRY UP AND WAIT!

It is four days to closing on the new home and 7 days to the movers showing up to haul all of our belongings to a place 65 miles away. These few days now my mind is churning away and so much to do – but it has to happen in sequence and much of it is not anything I can control – only be aware of it happening.

Our lives are in a twilight zone of not knowing where anything is and doing without. Normal routines are upset and new ones can’t be started.

One of the checklists I found says to make friend visits during this time and say good bye as well as make plans for reconnecting.

I have been a regular Zumba Gold participant 2x a week since August 2015. I only missed 2 classes during that time. I have nothing but complete adoration for my instructor. She is a natural for all age groups and tunes into her participants needs. She was kind enough to give me a list of instructors who might be good for me to connect with in our new location. She also was so sweet and gave me a gift. I love it!

I now have my official Zumba T-Shirt and a nice tote bag for my towel and water.

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We did move and after a lot of efforts, a daughter’s wedding and other things, we are starting to feel settled. We still have our former residence to sell and hope some action picks up on that soon. A winter of having two homes is not the most pleasant thought.

When arriving in our new local – I did find a Zumba class. Not low impact and only once a week. The participants were great and I began to pick up some of the routines. Then on week 4 – pulled and strained ligaments in my knee and hamstring. I couldn’t even bear weight for 3 days. I had to drop out and was limited in activity. Then from favoring the right side of my body – twisted my back out – another few weeks of not being able to do anything. Now 6 weeks later – back to just older adult aches and really out of shape!

There are no more sessions until late January – so it is off to YouTube and finding some exercise videos and gaining the motivation again. I have kept weight the same within a couple of pounds – but inches have creeped back and well – let’s just say my muffin top is a little larger than it was and i don’t like it!

Much like maintaining a daily create habit -so goes exercise. We all know it is good for us and the right thing to do and many rewards – but it does take some hills to climb to get back into the routines.

We will see – hoping I can post in the future that things are back in the routine groove.

 

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