So, my gallbladder surgery is Monday and the doc says no driving for five days and no heavy lifting. So, I'm making a list!
Watercolor Practice!
The wonderful Vivian Swift kindly asked if she could embark on a challenge of painting one of my Giverny photos. (Uh... yeah! Please!)
She had been painting scenes from Monet's garden on her wonderful blog and in a comment I had said how frustrated I was with the one I was working on. So in several posts with step-out photos, she is working on the same image I've been struggling with. My two versions are below.
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| version 1 |
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| version 2 |
My task will be to follow the Vivian method and see if I can get it closer to what I would like using some of her techniques while avoiding copying. By surgery time, we should be two posts in -- the treeline and the center. I'll keep you posted! (And thanks, Vivian! Follow her results in several posts HERE)
Clean the Office/Art Room
I don't expect to finish this but I've just GOT to get this room under control. (This is called showing warts and all! But to be honest, it does look like an episode of "Hoarders." Can you find Lizzie in this photo?)
OK, it looks extra bad because I had already started messing with stuff so lots more is on the desk than there might be if I'd taken the pictures a day earlier. I know, some who read this and know this room well will quibble. I suspect just straightening out will help loads!
There are supplies I don't use that could use a better home and those I do seem to get out of hand. Even if I can nail a corner or two, I'll feel like progress was made.
Scan, Baby. Scan!
This is my pile of photos to scan. You see the problem.
I won't get through all of these either, but hopefully I can make a big dent in them!
Catch Up on a Few Videos
I have a few videos on WWI I got for Christmas, along with some Brit series I'm partially through and while I don't want to spend my whole time watching TV, I'm sure I'll have some downtime and this will be far more entertaining than the news. (Well, I don't know if WWI docs are more entertaining than the news but probably more comforting, which is a scary thought.
Walk, Walk, Walk
The doc told me I had to walk after the surgery so walk I shall, down to the Ditch and see what's happening and if there is any sign of baby goslings. The nest is empty so they must be someplace!
(Oh, and a clarification in reply to many who mentioned that Canada geese were far from their favorite creatures! I love watching geese at the Ditch. But I have to say they aren't my favorite birds either! Just wait till a flotilla of them comes up on your beach at the lake or walk through the golf course across from the Ditch where they seem to hang out. You'd see what I mean!)
It's been beautiful there and lovelier every single day!
It's like watching a baby grow -- every day there is a difference.
But the house is clean, the old TV recycled, my new IKEA table for the family room assembled and in place, fridge stocked, sheets changed, laundry done, trash ready for pick-up and books stacked! And of course I'll look forward to visiting you, too!
See you soon!
You've just made me feel so much better. My art room looks about the same and I am glad its not just me. Listening to my family you would think I am the only person to ever so much art stash. :) Lucky you to get to Giverny too. I wanted to go but we went to Paris in February and it was still closed for the season. Someday I hope. I also hope the surgery goes well and you can be busy for those 5 days. Kidney transplant surgery is coming up in a week for me, and I'll need a few weeks of business so I am also coming up with a list. Good luck and hope you feel perfect soon. Hugs-erika
ReplyDeleteI can out-mess you at forty paces. Good luck on Monday. You seem to have planned your recovery very well.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos and your watercolor . . .
ReplyDeleteI think we are such testy, pesty critics of ourselves.
Maybe some perfection characteristics play out . . .
I am happy to see your office and to realize you might be related to my Mister Irish . . .
You get an "oh my!"
I'll be thinking of you in all those familiar places . . . (not how the song goes, but close!)
My thoughts are of care, answers, and all . . .
Take good care of our Jeanie, "docs!"
Enjoy your Ditch Walks this week . . .
My prayers will be with you tomorrow. And walking to the ditch should help both your body and spirits. And don't forget while you are straightening up --- NO heavy lifting. And yes, I found Lizzie in the picture!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, even your clutter looks inspiring (or at least interesting)... although, it does look like a LOT of inspiration. Good luck with your Giverny redux, and best wishes for an easy (and FAST) post-surgery recovery. Much love, anno
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeanie! I didn't realize you were having surgery. I hope both surgery and healing go wonderfully! The most important part of the next few weeks is a complete recovery so don't strain yourself on that art room/office. That looks like a long term project (and makes me smile...reminds me of my ancestral home and also what my office would probably look like if it didn't double as our only guest room.) Just walk and rest and enjoy the loves of your life and paint more beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteImpressed with the artwork - of course! AND that there's another human out there that doesn't look completely organised/house perfect - everything's relative and I can relate to your shelves. G'luck with the surgery - just do what the experts tell you to do and you'll be skipping about again in no time.
ReplyDeleteI'm just learning about your surgery,Jeanie. I'll think of you tomorrow. Relax and heal!
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos! The top one is simply stunning and I can certainly see why you would want to paint it. Your efforts at painting are a far sight better than I could ever do, he he. Your craft room is chock a block full. You are so lucky to have a room for your stuff. Mine is strewn all over the apartment. And, I do mean strewn, lol. I don't have a devoted arts and crafts or sewing room so I have to make do. I am currently paring down. Oh it seems I'm always paring down but I think now I am making progress. Happy week ahead. xx
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you will be getting that old gallbladder out. You will feel terrific and now the surgery is so much easier, i had a large incision, but now it's a little one. Prayers will be said tonight for your fast recovery.
ReplyDeleteYour craft room looks like my garage. I need to get in there and get rid of so much junk.
Stop by and read my new post when you feel better. God bless you and take care of yourself.
Hugs,
Mary
Oops, forgot to say, I hope your surgery goes very well and that your recovery will be quick and uneventful. Hugs. xx
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of you on Monday. I know it will all go smoothly and you'll have a speedy recovery. It seems you have your time planned out! My art room looks so bad at times I swear I'll never get it under control but somehow I always do. I know you will, too.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have a wonderful time of year to be out walking...enjoy all that springtime has to offer. I know you'll be taking lots of gorgeous photos to share with us.
Hugs to you, Jeanie!!
Lots of wonderful photos, you have some good places to walk to after the surgery, and good luck for the OP. Don't let us talk about tidying craft rooms, I want to have a lazy day today....Love the Monet pictures, enjoy painting them. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanie. Just responding from your comment-here's my email-dekn@tds.net.
ReplyDeleteDrop me a line and I will send you off my snail mail. :) Good luck with the surgery.
Hugs-Erika
By the time you read this, Jeanie, you'll likely be out of surgery. I'm sure all will go well for you and apart from walking to the ditch and back, be sure to put your feet up and power watch some Netflix or something. Do not fret over your office / art room. It shows you are creative and busy. I don't think my desk area at work will ever be perfectly clean until I retire! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the surgery, Jeanie. Stay away from the craft room - that looks like heavy lifting to me! Your painting and scenes from the neighborhood are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHugs for a speedy recovery, prayers for the team whose hands will treat you!
Rita
Jeanie... you certainly have an ambitious list. My daughter had that surgery and the key to a quick recovery is to walk as much as you can. I'm assuming that it will be laparoscopic - you need to walk off all the air that is inside of you. I will keep you in my prayers for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.n
ReplyDeleteTake care.. wee are so lucky to have homes and hobbies to get well in..so many dodn't have things to fall back on when getting better:)
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful you already love to walk..loved seeing your 2 Monet's Gardens..and look forward to seeing after VS..:)
She has great tips..you seem to use the same colors..
re the art room..I think it's so fun and honest to show it..
:)
I find I can't work..when I don't have order..I tend to HIDE disorder..and then rampage it and organize it..
I am not a neat freak..sanitizer wash my hands ten times don't play in the dirt person..but I am on the verge of the OCD line for where I like to look at my things..
we're all different..
believe me this is full circle from my teen days..
ok..
so I think you will walk into that room once it's done and be overjoyed..
did you see this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_HAabc9i2k
You might LOVE it..you might..
I love that Ikea turquoise trolley:)
I can also tell you that when I see impeccable blogs that show their craft/offices..I don't believe them.
I think they are shown to make us feel bad LOL..
Perfectly matching sleek desks and storage wall/ribbon organizers..vintage scales.. Wing Chairs on wheels lol crystal chandeliers..
who can craft w/out a mess?
I too know you will breeze thorugh Monday..just don't overdo anything after:)
Take care!
I didn't realize your surgery was so near! Just home from vacation and missed all of blog land. Guess you are in surgery as I'm reading your post. Hope all goes well with a speedy recovery. Dear Jeanie, the art room organization can wait, close the door and remember "no lifting" till you are 100%! Lovey paintings of the Monet photo. Brings back memories, I have photos like that one. Such a beautiful place, I feel so lucky to have visited there. Take care, hope to hear you are recovering in a post or note, take care. Hugs........
ReplyDeleteI know your surgery will go well and you will feel so much better! The rest part is important so don't take on too many tasks. I too feel better seeing your craft room. Mine is a jumble and I clean it up and bit and then turn around and tear it up looking for something. There has to be a better way! I always enjoy your watercolors and I'm working on some projects myself that I hope turn out! Let us hear from you soon so we know you are OK. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHope your surgery went well and that by the time you read this you are up and about, enjoying being driven around like Lady Muck and working on your list! Your office/art room is gently reassuring to those of us who can relate!! I'm not quite sure how my new study of a few weeks, has the same look as my study of 7 yrs in Australia and certainly needs a straighten up for sure! Good luck with this and your Giverny art work - looking good to me!
ReplyDeleteWren x
Hope the surgery goes smoothly.
ReplyDeleteGood luck making a dent in your pile of things you want/need to get done.
I hope the surgery went well today and you'll recover soon, Jeanie. Enjoy reading, watching TV and the walks at the ditch.
ReplyDeleteI recently cleaned my studio a bit but it always gets messy again fast.
Get well soon!
xo Julia
Keeping you in prayer today sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteMay everything go smoothly and you have a quick recovery.
HAHA....thank goodness, I am not the only one with a craft room like that! haha.....I have started weeding mine out and getting rid of stuff. I realized I was buying up more and more stuff to recycle into crafts but I was never getting around to crafting with it all. So....its been hard but I am trying to let go. Hoping surgery goes well and you will be up and about soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today. Good luck with that room, that does look like a challenge. Have fun reading, cuddling Lizzie, walking, and art!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I hope all goes well with your gall bladder surgery today. There's always so much work to do around the house, isn't there? It never ends haha, but it keeps us busy, which is a good thing. I know you think that your office/art room is messy, but I've always wanted an art room work on creative projects.....maybe someday. : ) Your watercolor is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today, Jeanie, and sending thoughts of comfort and love.
~Sheri
Oh Jeanie, by now you are done your surgery and on the mend. Thank heavens. Now just take it easy, one day at a time. I wouldn't start at the art room 'til later although if you are like the retired guy you will start, find something interesting in there, and then read for a few hours. Not much gets done in his garage. Take care dear lady. And there's Lizzy saying..."I'm over here, mom."
ReplyDeleteDear Jeanie,
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today. I hope all went well with your surgery. I will keep you in my prayers.
Not to concern yourself with your room.. It will get done in good time. Now is the time for you to recover and relax.
I love both your watercolors, but the one on top is my favorite. You do such lovely work!
Take care of yourself
blessings,
Penny
Sending my good thoughts to join everyone else's! It sounds like you are well prepared for a smooth and sure recovery.
ReplyDeleteHow cool to have Vivian walking through steps on one of your pics! :-) :-)
Hoping you get to see the goslings. I haven't seen any ducklings yet this year.....
Here I am late as usual, and now learning you have more than likely already had your surgery. Hope it was a success, but I'm sure it was.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I could breathe in that craft room. I will NEVER be a CLEAN freak, but I am a NEAT freak. I guess I'm lucky that I can take as many rooms as I choose to store my art supplies.
Will be anxiously awaiting learning about your surgery and maybe seeing a watercolor painting in progress, too.
Dearest Jeanie, first of all, I wish you great success in your surgery and a rapid recovery!!!! And, I've had some of my photos done in oil or watercolor before and it's fun to see the artist's interpretation, and these are WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, those geese are a hoot. There were a few in the road one morning as I trekked to school. Evidently, it was a family that was crossing the road and I had to stop. No problem. But the family decided to take a break ON THE ROAD, and father goose was patrolling the street. I honked my horn so I could pass, and HE HONKED BACK with his wings high up in the air...teeeheeee
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you and wish you speedy healing, my friend!
Hoping and praying that your surgery went well yesterday, Jeanie... and that after some rest and recovery you will be feeling fit and fine again! :))) I think your watercolors are looking VERY good! And I'm liking seeing what Vivian is doing with the same image--she is sooo good with those watercolors too! haha... yes, there's Miss Lizzie! ;) Wow... I thought I had a lot of craft supplies, controlled chaos, you know... But, yes, my friend your room looks like a great episode for Hoarder... LOL! Not try not too over do too much too soon... Enjoy those walks, and sneak peeks at the sweet grand-baby boy C's pic... I'm sorry to be so slow to wish well, my friend. Yesterday was a holiday here, May 1st--Labor Day over here, so we had a long weekend and I wasn't online as much. Hopefully, you are resting a bit now... ((LOVE & BIG HUGS))
ReplyDeleteThat room is a hoot. I knew you had a ton of supplies stored somewhere because of all those wonderful projects you do. You should send a photo of that a to one of the HGTV shows that do makeovers. Wouldn't that be cool?
ReplyDeleteGeese are beautiful but messy. You know what I mean.
Best of luck with your surgery. I'll be thinking of you. Take special care of yourself afterwards.
Hello dear Jeanie,
ReplyDeleteI hope all went well with your surgery and now your healing.
I think you have more than enough to work on during your healing phase. I am so glad that you can walk. Your art room might be best when you can bend and lift over and over again. That does look like a big task. Sending healing light.
Jeanie, I am behind on my reading. By now you have had the surgery. Take care and be well soon.
ReplyDeleteBad, bad me for not realizing the time for your surgery had rolled around already. I thought it was scheduled for May. Oh -- it is May. See how bad it is around here?
ReplyDeleteI saw a second post in my email, so you clearly survived the surgery! Yea, you -- and your docs, and care team. I hope all's going well. Things certain are different today than they were when my family members had the surgery. Of course, when my mother had a hysterectomy, she was in the hospital for weeks -- it's just the way they did things. When I had mine, via laser, I was in the hospital overnight, and back at work the next week. Medical miracles are a reality, not just a cute phrase.
Those photos of your creative space are -- daunting. Of course so much of it's needed for your various projects, so there's that. Maybe that's why I like writing and photography. I can make enough of a mess with those projects. Heaven knows what I'd do with real crafts!
Listen to those doctor's orders and take it easy! It's good that you have a list of things to keep you busy while you are homebound. I imagine that Rick will take good care of you! I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of my hip surgery - so glad that is behind me as that was a rough recovery at home since I was so immobile. I was too drugged up to read much so I just really laid there and did next to nothing. That sounds kind of nice right now given how busy life is, but I don't want the pain and crutches part! ;)
ReplyDeleteI think most of us have a corner that we wouldn't want to show others. I imagine it can develop into a room after you live somewhere long enough! I took a picture of all the wedding stuff in the basement last weekend and shared it with some friends. It was a disaster as for the last 5 months I have just brought everything downstairs but did not organize it. So I spent 2+ hours this weekend boxing things up, labeling boxes and putting together an inventory for the coordinator so she knows where all the stuff she needs is! Now it looks much tidier!
I assume surgery was this past MOnday so I hope you are feeling well!
Jeanie, I have been away from my computer most of the time and not visiting or posting nearly as much as usual. I am sorry for coming late to this post and not adding my good wishes at the time of your surgery, but I know now, later, that you are well into recovery and I'm glad about that. Thanks for continuing to post wonderful, cheerful, colourful and positive posts in what must be a rather trying time in some ways. Oh, and I had to smile at your "glory hole" .... isn't it just too easy for things to get like that? I find that when doing a big clear out it can be fun discovering all kinds of forgotten treasures! :)
ReplyDelete