Margo- I am sorry you still don't like the morning pages- I look forward to them every day. they seem to settle my mind before the day begins. I even get up early on really busy days to make sure I do them. - which in itself amazes me because I do not like getting up any earlier than I have to!!
Linda

Oh, Sandy! Those speedbumps in the road to life! We just need to remember where we are headed, and get back on track!

I’m sitting here in front of the computer trying to figure out what happened last week. I just shut down. I did not sew, I have not walked in 6 days, I did not do my morning pages, etc. I don’t feel like I accomplished anything but it was still a busy week.

Work has been really busy but it has been exciting. We are moving our web sites from html format to Microsoft Sharepoint and I am in charge of getting my groups site up and running. This is management’s solution for us taking back control of our web pages rather than dealing with the Web Master (her term not ours) who listened to no one. It has been fun learning to use Sharepoint and teach others to use it.

Tuesday night we went out to eat with ladies my husband works with. One of the ladies had won the Cash 3 lottery and put back $100 for us all to go out and eat. Dan won the Cash 3 lottery earlier this year and he started the tradition. Cash 3 pays about $600. I was up most of Wednesday night getting ready for my colonoscopy and Thursday I rested per doctor’s orders. Worked Friday and Saturday I piddled. I tried to clean out the spare room where I moved all the bedroom junk the week before when I painted but just did not accomplish much. I did get the 3 bookcases I took out of the bedroom moved downstairs. They were in the middle of the living room for a week. We kept my brother’s dog while he and his girlfriend went to a car show in Kentucky and Johnny was like a little kid, every step I took he took.

In other words, I was not in control. Everything happened whether I wanted it to or not and we all have days and weeks like that. Things started improving yesterday. I turned Johnny’s care back over to my brother, I printed out the August BOM and got it taped together and the vinyl block cut so I can trace the pattern. I decided on the block I am doing for Mickey’s challenge to use a piece of her hand dyed fabric. I’m having second thought about my choices but the fabric it cut, it is too late. I should get it finished tonight. My fabric and Bubble Jet finally arrived Saturday. I am definitely back on the treadmill tonight.

I haven't done well following this journey, but I don't want to quit either! There has been too much stress lately for me to pin myself and my mind down and concentrate on the journey. I am doing all the reading, but only one or two of the tasks. The artist's date might be just be watching the last TQS. The morning pages might get done twice a week, on a good week.

The morning pages are sometimes prayers, sometimes venting, sometimes full of questions for God. I guess I'm not consistent enough to get much out of them. What is the "truth point"?

I hope most of us who are taking this journey are getting something out of it. I know some of you will really "get it"
And I can't wait to see the renewed creative energy in your quilting!

Joyce

I've been out of town for a few days and completely out of my routine, but I am definately going to continue with week 6.
I'm counting my trip as my very selfish artist's date. I drove to Virginia to see my brother and his family so that I could personally deliver the quilt I made for my nephew's high school graduation. Two full days in the car by myself, and one day to visit, but I enjoyed the drive and no responsibility but to drive and listen to a book on tape!
I'm still doing the morning pages (except for the days I was gone), but don't know if I'm writing about the right things. I think I'm doing it more like a diary than a journal. Just recalling events of the previous day, but not necessarily artist stuff. Is that wrong??? I'm still not sure I understand the purpose of writing in the mornings, but I AM sure that I don't look forward to it!!!

It has been a quiet week for posts. Maybe everyone is busy doing tasks and being creative. I am very glad I am doing this-- one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I plan to continue on
Linda

I want to apologize to everyone for being absent this past week. I've been obsessing over having RSD and trying to find out more about it.
I'm still working on week 5 but if everyone else is ready go ahead to week 6. I'll catch up by Tuesday.
I did notice that there's been no activity since last Sunday. Are we continuing or shall we stop?
I've missed you all this week.
Eileen

I cut down on my reading this week, but didn't follow the rules 100%. I am getting so much out of this without being legalistic about it, I am sure you all understand!
I just got back from my artist date(and yes my dh went too). We went to the OKC Museum of Art and saw the Roman Art from the Louvre. It was awesome. I have recently read a series of historical fiction books about Rome, so this was perfect timing for me.
I bought the book about the exhibit, so I will be able to continue the tour at my own leisure, as often as I would like!
Friday night we went to see Mamma Mia, and I don't know if it would be considered an artist date, however, it was very colorful, and joyful.
Elizabeth

this week has been a total loss in terms of following up with the Artist's Way and all the things associated with it. I didn't so my morning pages once and haven't even finished reading Chapter 4. (Eileen, would you like to slap my hands for me and get me back on track?)

My excuse if you can call it one is that we are staying at a friend's house (in the motorhome in the back yard) but we have gone out to eat every night but one and played cards or visited until late enough that all I get a chance to do is check e mails and maybe read the forum before I am sitting with my forehead on the keyboard. Then there was the little detour to the hospital which ate up about a day and a half. Tomorrow we leave here and head back to Minneapolis to have the generator on the motorhome checked so tomorrow and Tuesday will be quiet days. Maybe I can get back on track.

I did do some sketching this week and have a couple of quilt ideas brewing in my head so maybe it wasn't a total wash out but I am determined to get back on the right track tomorrow. Will keep you all posted on my progress next week. Thanks for all the great entries. You all have inspired me to go back at it. Ann

Mary Anne, I too wait until I get back from my early morning walk to do my morning pages. I'm not sure but I think that just getting them done is more important than doing them first thing in the morning! Anyway, that's my take on it! I've been good about doing my morning pages this week, but for some reason I've been feeling the need to "vent". I haven't yet, because I was taught to never write on paper anything that you wouldn't want to hear read out loud in a court of law!! However, I have a feeling that I'm going to write some soon that will go directly into the paper shredder!! :shock:

This whole week without reading has been difficult, and I couldn't give up ALL my reading. I still checked TQS daily, but did without my bedtime beach novel, the book on tape in the car, the daily newspaper and the magazines beside my chair. I've noticed that I definately got more accomplished by not reading as much, but I sure couldn't handle it all the time! Talk about withdrawal!! I also think that since the book was written in 1992, we are now using our computers as communication tools as much as just a source of reading material. I wonder if J. Cameron would have done a "telephone deprivation" week? Hmmmmmm.

I just got back from my weekly artist's date. I went to a couple of antique malls, specifically looking for something that my niece asked for when she was here last week. I didn't find what I was looking for, but it was nice to just stroll and look at stuff. Then I went to the quilt shop and found a couple of "perfect" pieces of fabric for a pieced quilt that I'm working on. It was a great artist's date!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the welcomes. Glad some of you are reading and posting. I spent so many years working, going to school and taking care of the elder and younger generations, that I thiink it is wonderful I have the time to read just for fun! I quilt a lot, too, but I also read. I agree, it is as necessary as breathing! LOL

I started my morning pages today when I first got up; but then the dogs needed to go out for their walk and morning business. My DH took them so I could write, but I found I felt resentful that I was doing that instead of enjoying the early morning walk and romp with the dogs and visiting with DH. That is quality time, too. I am going to do the morning pages when I get back from now on. I think that will work better.

Have great day everyone! Mary Anne in CO from AZ

Welcome, Mary Anne. TAW is an interesting way to look inside yourself. My morning pages have had some revelations for me. I just let the words flow and sometimes I surprise myself.

I'm a baaaaad girl. I had to read. Same as breathing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it
Eileen

Hi, Mary Anne, I assume you are asking me, Judy in AZ, these questions about rain, etc. Just so you know, we have Judy (dogquilter), and Judy in Torrance, CA. and other Judies as well. who also like to get on this site. Anyway to answer your questions if they are directed to me, it is about a 2 hour drive to Tucson from where I live. And no, we don't have any rain as yet where I live, but it is supposed to be coming from Dolly over the weekend. It is cloudy out there as we speak but nothing is falling from the sky. It was 111 yesterday and I am in the house!!!!!!!!!
Lucky you being in CO for the summer. And welcome to forum. Judy in AZ

Welcome, Mary Anne! Just a comment about your recent entry into a judged show. First of all a big WHOO-HOO for your ribbons! Feels great, doesn't it?

I would like to remind everyone that it's really important to enter your quilts in shows, even if you don't think you stand a chance of taking home a ribbon. If only the "best" quilters ever entered quilt shows, the quilt shows wouldn't be nearly as interesting! I want to see all kinds of quilts and all levels of quilting when I go to a show. You never know what you will see that will spark your next creation! Can you imagine how overwhelmed a brand new quilter would be if the only quilts hanging at a show were the winners???

IT'S NOT FAIR IF YOU DON'T SHARE!