Inspired by the concept of “Morning Pages” from Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” (see my previous post for details), I’ve been working on developing a daily writing habit – three pages, longhand, no holds barred. Just write.

It’s fast becoming an addiction!

Sure, I’ve kept personal diaries and journals throughout my life – for as long as I can remember knowing how to write – but this is different. When I journal, I don’t obligate myself to do it every day, nor do I set page targets – I write when and for how long I “feel” like it. (And as you might imagine, this lack of structure often leads to great long gaps where no journaling takes place at all!) Morning pages, on the other hand, have only two real “rules” – write every day, and write three full pages. This, different from personal journaling (which absolutely has its place – don’t get me wrong), is helping me to develop discipline and depth in my writing habits.

I am writing every day, and I keep writing to meet my page target, whether or not I “feel” like it or think I have anything left to say.

And by doing so, surprising things are emerging.

Some of the biggest issues I struggle with as a writer are learning to push aside my inner censor and just write… to quit expecting perfection at the first go and just write… to stop comparing myself to other, better writers and just write. (I somehow doubt I’m alone in this!) The practice of morning pages (though I have to admit that up until now they mostly haven’t taken place in the morning!) is helping me to get past these blocks and find freedom in how I express myself through writing.

And that can only be a good thing.

Have you developed a daily writing practice?
Please share your experience!

Throughout the years I’ve known of several friends who have worked through The Artist’s Way (by Julia Cameron), a twelve-week program which “teaches techniques and exercises to assist people in gaining self-confidence in harnessing their creative talents and skills” – and without exception, everyone I’ve talked to has given the program rave reviews. As you can imagine, I’ve been dying to work through it myself!

Well, this week I finally got around to ordering my own copy of the book, and I’m planning to start the program in June as a summer project to jump-start my creativity. (If you’re interested in following along with my progress, I’ll be posting about my experience here in Alphabet Salad.)

While I am of course prepared to go through the exercises on my own, I believe that a new dimension of richness is added when the experience is shared with others who have similar goals. In fact, it sounds to me as though Julia Cameron herself agrees with this idea – she talks about Artist’s Way groups or “Creative Clusters” on her own site:

When I first published The Artist’s Way I hoped that Artist’s Way groups – “creative clusters” – would spring into being, where people would serve one another as believing mirrors, uniting with a common aim of creative unblocking.

Having a place where you can share, support, and celebrate each other provides artist-to-artist and heart-to-heart help. Success occurs in clusters and is born in generosity.

With this in mind, I decided to approach my friends via Facebook to see if anyone might be interested in going through the program along with me this summer… and much to my delight, several people signed on!

In order to make it a little easier to work together and to communicate about our experiences, I’ve invited everyone who is planning to go through The Artist’s Way this summer to gather together in a Facebook Group set up expressly for the purpose of sharing and support…

The Artist’s Way Facebook Group

…and you are invited to join us!

Seriously, if this project is something that interests you as a way to nurture creativity in your own life, you are more than welcome to hop aboard… all you need to do is to pick up your own copy of the book, then visit our Facebook group page and send a request to join.

I hope to see you there!

A few small reminders to a perfectionist self when feeling anxious about the impending arrival of friends who have never before visited your house but are coming by tonight:

1. This house is old… very, very old. It will never be perfect, and you know that you like it that way, so embrace it!
2. No, all the pictures still haven’t been hung, nor has all the furniture been purchased, nor have all the books been shelved (because we need more shelves). Like life, this home is a work in progress.
3. You probably wouldn’t want to eat off the floor, but the place is clean enough. (And who wants to eat off the floor, anyway? Sheesh.)
4. You have three very furry, fluffy, active cats. There will be cat hair! But they are lovely creatures, so it’s a small price to pay.
5. You might not live in the very most desirable neighbourhood in town, but you like it here, so quit apologizing for it.
6. Stop comparing yourself to your mom, to your friends, to other party hosts. You are you, and this party is yours, and it will be fine.
7. These people are your friends. They’re not coming over to judge your house, or your hostessing abilities, or your cooking skills… and if they are, well, let them! You love your house, you love your friends, and you prepared for the evening with love… so it’s all good.
8. What’s really the most important, above all, is that people feel welcome. The rest is gravy.
9. This is supposed to be fun! Quit worrying about making everything perfect and start enjoying yourself already.

Learn it. Know it. Live it.

After ongoing nagging spasms of guilt over NOT writing, characterized by agonies over what on earth I should DO (beyond “just write!”) to get back in the groove of creativity, and culminating in an inspiration-seeking Facebook post reaching out to my fellow writers for solutions and input, I am tentatively dipping a toe back into the long-neglected ocean of blogging.

I’m still not sure exactly how I’m going to do it, or what I’m going to say, but I’m here!

As a start, a Note To Self: This doesn’t have to be great literature – it just has to be. Alphabet Salad is just a little ol’ nicheless, non-money-making, personal blog, after all… no pressure, no expectations, and no agenda, other than whatever I choose to heap upon myself.

And as of today, I choose to quit the heaping.

Because I miss writing. I miss connecting with others in the blogosphere. I miss being creative. I miss my blog!

So, by way of getting my feet wet again, let me catch you up on one of the major changes in my life since you last saw me around these parts.

Drumroll, please…

Peter and I have had an addition to our family… in the form of three wonderful cats. Yes, I did say three! After saying goodbye to our beautiful Spidercat last October, the place just wasn’t the same… partly because Spider was such an important part of our little household, but also because Peter and I both feel that for us, a house just isn’t a home without at least one furry creature in residence. Well, forget one… when we decide to do a thing, we really do it!

How did it happen? Well, one morning back in February a good friend messaged me with the information that a mama cat and her two three-month-old kittens were in what had developed into a rather sad situation and needed to be re-homed ASAP. Though the timing wasn’t totally perfect for us – we’d planned to wait until Peter was fully up and around after his second surgery – we discussed the situation and decided to jump in with both feet. We’re so very glad we did – we haven’t once regretted our decision and haven’t looked back for a moment… except perhaps to wonder how it’s possible that the three little monsters ever weren’t part of our life!

My Instagram account is chock-full of their photos if you’d like to check them out (I’m sure my Instagram friends are wondering if I’m ever going to stop posting kitty pics already!), but by way of introduction, here are a few of my favourites.

Meet mama cat, who came with the name Grizabella (from “Cats”) – we modified the spelling to Grisabella and added Rossellini for good measure! We rarely use her full name, of course – most of the time she’s Momma, Mom, Grizz, Grizzly Bear, and sometimes Bella.

Grisabella Rossellini

Grisabella was a pregnant stray who was taken in, cleaned up, and brought back to health by her previous person sometime last fall/winter, and gave birth to four kittens (three born alive, two of which survived) at the end of November, 2012. We’re not sure how old she is – we took her to the vet shortly after they all moved in with us, and she received a clean bill of health, but he wasn’t able to give us any indication of age other than a range of perhaps three to five years (based on the tartar buildup on her teeth, believe it or not!). She seems pretty young to us, though – very playful and energetic. She’s not a cuddler, but very affectionate – she loves head and ear scritches and regularly flops down on her back at your feet in search of pats and love. We love our Grizzly Bear!

Felix and Oscar

The two boys came with names which we abandoned in favour of choosing our own. I suggested Oscar for the smaller kitten, as I felt that with his sleek tuxedo, he was all dressed up and ready for the Academy Awards Ceremony the next day (I was going to an Oscar party, so it was on my mind!)… and Peter immediately said that of course the other one had to be Felix, as the other half of our own little odd couple!

Oscar

Oscar is an absolute doll – my own little lap cat. He’s cuddly, and affectionate, and playful, and has a purr you can hear across the room!

Felix

Felix is a tiny bit more standoffish than Oscar – not a lap cat, but still a little darling – and so very fluffy! I have a feeling he’s going to grow up to be a big, beautiful cat.

So now we are a family of five.

Of course, no one could ever replace my Spider, or Peter’s Zeke – nor would we ever try to make that happen. But these dear little creatures are making their own place in our home and hearts – and our lives are the better for it.

This month I’m participating in the February photo a day challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

February 4, 2013
Hope

February 5, 2013
Something you smelled

February 6, 2013
Soft

February 7, 2013
Your name

February 8, 2013
Something orange

February 9, 2013
Guilty pleasure

February 10, 2013
3 o’clock

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?

Happy February! At the risk of sounding trite, I seriously can’t believe we’re already into the second month of 2013. Life is certainly flying by!

Well, it’s flying by for me, anyway, in a flurry of Italian classes, work, web design and blog writing, dinner out, and bowling. (Yes, I did say bowling – my first time doing so in years! I’m not going to tell you my final score, but it was distinctly UNimpressive. I had a ton of fun, though!)

Time isn’t flying by quite so speedily for Peter, unfortunately. He is bored, frustrated, and restless – largely because he’s starting to feel better and raring to go, yet feels like there’s no end in sight to this whole using a walker business. Poor guy.

In Case You Missed It

You missed nothing. Nothing, I say!

Random Delights & Inspiration

Found in my travels…

• Conner and Cayden Long: SportsKids of the Year – pretty much guaranteed to make you cry. But in a good way.
• Skinnytaste and Chocolate-Covered Katie – The Healthy Dessert Blog – who says healthy eating has to be boring?!
• “No Asians” – not what you might expect, I promise. Please watch it all the way to the end!

Photo A Day Challenge

This past month I participated in the January photo a day challenge, and am now carrying on with the February challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

January 28, 2013
Through

January 29, 2013
Grow

January 30, 2013
Down

January 31, 2013
Yourself

February 1, 2013
Fork

February 2, 2013
Pattern

February 3, 2013
Something beginning with ‘E’

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?

After four months of very interesting times (“May you live in interesting times” – isn’t that supposed to be a curse?!), I do believe we can see a tiny pinprick of light winking at us from the end of the tunnel.

Peter went in for surgery this past Thursday. He tested negative for infection, so his hip replacement went ahead as we’d hoped it would – and there was much rejoicing! He was up on his feet the next day, and the physiotherapists were very impressed with his mobility and use of the walker (four months of constant use taught him something!)… so after a very short stay in the hospital he came home this afternoon and is now resting comfortably.

We are so thankful!

The doctor would like him to minimize the weight he puts on his leg while it heals – probably for six weeks or so – so he won’t be doing anything too ambitious for a little while. That said, I can already see a huge improvement – he is stronger and more confident and is able to move faster now that he’s not carrying around the equivalent of a bag of wet cement in his leg!

Now, on to the healing.

In Case You Missed It

I promise, I have been writing – just not here!

Random Delights & Inspiration

Found in my travels…

• Windsor Girls Growl – OK, so this is a shameless plug… but it delights and inspires me, so I think it qualifies to be included in this section! Please take some time to check out the brand new blog I’ve been working on with a terrific group of friends – your mouth will water, and you will want to visit Windsor!
• Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design Premium – a brand spanking new box of software is sitting on my desk waiting to be installed and explored. I do believe I am rediscovering my love for web design!
• MAPfrappe – a tool that uses an outline overlay to give you a visual comparison of the size of one part of the world compared with another. Ever wonder how the size of your province or state compares with, say, New Zealand? Check out MAPfrappe!
• 40 Secret iPhone Features and Shortcuts – I found and put to use several features that I didn’t know my phone had. Worth looking at if you have an iPhone!

Photo A Day Challenge

This month I’m participating in the January photo a day challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

January 21, 2013
What you do

January 22, 2013
Corner

January 23, 2013
Electric

January 24, 2013
Stripes

January 25, 2013
Landscape

January 26, 2013
Together

January 27, 2013
Sun

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?

I am exhausted!

This past week has been a flurry of work (at my main part-time job), book club, Italian class, dinner and project meeting with friends, work (at my new short-term part-time job), studying, web design, re-learning CSS, squeezing in some reading so as to keep up with my 2013 challenge, photo taking, and (believe it or not) a little bit of writing. Meanwhile, hanging over our heads is the knowledge that Peter will be back in the hospital this coming week for his second (hopefully successful and FINAL) surgery… good news, and a long-awaited event, but stressful nonetheless.

I feel as though I’m being pulled in about fifteen different directions at once… and, to top it all off, the sink is full of dirty dishes and I still haven’t taken down my Christmas tree!

My predicament is pretty much all of my own doing, however, as I’m not willing to sacrifice any of the above for the sake of some downtime. Guess I’ll just have to muddle through for the time being!

In Case You Missed It

Once again, it’s been a week with no blog posts. Oops.

Random Delights & Inspiration

Found in my travels…

• “Friendship Redefined?” – thought-provoking blog post (particularly for those of us heavily involved in social media) by Corinne at Everyday Gyaan.
• Windsor Girls Growl – brand new Facebook page (set up as a prelude to the web site/blog I’m working on with a group of friends) for Windsorites, foodies, restaurant review lovers, etc. I’d love it if you’d check it out, “Like” it, and stay tuned for the launch of our schmancy new blog!

Photo A Day Challenge

This month I’m participating in the January photo a day challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

January 14, 2013
Something yellow

January 15, 2013
An ordinary moment

January 16, 2013
Two things

January 17, 2013
Ready

January 18, 2013
Shadow

January 19, 2013
Delicious

January 20, 2013
Something you saw

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?

I mulled over some ideas, I drafted a couple of posts, I had the best of intentions… I promise! But transitioning from a blissful two-week holiday break and plenty of time to myself to the busy-ness of my regular schedule proved to be a bit of a shock to the system… and without a commitment to NaBloPoMo to keep me diligently posting every day, I’m afraid writing – and my blog – took a back seat to living life (and trying to catch up on sleep!).

Unfortunately this coming week doesn’t promise to be a whole lot better, schedule-wise, as I have several irons in the fire including the startup of Italian classes (Level 2!)… but I’ll do my best over the next few weeks to settle into a routine that includes writing and tending to my blog.

Thank you for sticking with me!

In Case You Missed It

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along…

Random Delights & Inspiration

Found in my travels…

• ‘Here Comes the Sun’ In Spanish Unemployment Office – this video is a total day-brightener!
• How To Watermark Images from Your Phone with Marksta. I haven’t given this a try yet, but it’s definitely on my “To Do” list (not so much from a “please don’t steal my photos” perspective as a “please visit my blog if you like this photo” approach).
• The Lumineers – my latest musical discovery, and quite possibly my favourite album of 2012. Modern folk rock, obviously Dylan-influenced, with a hint of Simon & Garfunkel thrown in now and then for good measure… just good, good stuff.
• The Magic Adjustable Ring: A Better Way to Begin Crochet in the Round. It’s a miracle! I still need to give this some practice before I have it mastered, but it’s a brilliant (and attractive) option for crochet projects “in the round.”
• “Bodhisattva in metro HQ” – an oldie but absolutely a goodie. If this video doesn’t make you laugh loud and long… I mean really laugh… you’re made of sterner stuff than I!

Photo A Day Challenge

This month I’m participating in the January photo a day challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

January 7, 2013
Street

January 8, 2013
Something beginning with ‘T’

January 9, 2013
Paper

January 10, 2013
One o’clock

January 11, 2013
Water

January 12, 2013
Surprise

January 13, 2013
Circle

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?

The new year has arrived, and with it a slightly tweaked Alphabet Salad “Sunday Summary” blogging tradition. In addition to posting my Photo A Day Challenge pictures (as I’ve been doing each week for the past couple of months), I’m going to expand my “Sunday Summary” post into a potpourri of random tidbits – happenings, interesting finds, other creativity challenges, and so on – from the previous week in my world. I hope you enjoy the new and improved format… and then take a minute to share in the comments what’s been happening in your world!

In Case You Missed It

• In the eye of the beholder?
• Reflections on 2012

NaBloPoMo: Challenge Complete!

One of my goals at the start of last year was to develop discipline through daily blogging, using BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo as a source of motivation and inspiration. I signed up for (and completed) January’s challenge and, though it wasn’t my original intent to carry on past the first month, I went on to do it again in February, then March, then April… and before I knew it I found myself at the end of December, 2012 having successfully completed a full year of daily blogging.

Whew!

I really enjoyed being involved in the NaBloPoMo challenges each month, and also getting to know some of the other NaBloPoMoers, but you know what? After twelve months I am SO ready for a rest!

So once I’d finished the challenge in December I made a conscious decision to take a bit of a break from committing each month to daily blogging. I still plan to post regularly, and will do my best to maintain the momentum of self-discipline that’s been building through the practice of daily blogging, but this year I’m leaning more towards a focus on developing the quality (rather than quantity) of my writing.

Now, a challenge to… put down the iPad!

A couple of Facebook friends shared that they were participating in the Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge, which motivated me to commit to a reading challenge of my own for the first time in several years. This time I chose to set my goal at 60 books in 2013, which will mean reading an average of five books per month. I’ve done it before (albeit pre-iPad!), so I should be able to get back in the swing of things and do it again. I’ll just have to be firm with myself about putting away the gadgets (unless it’s my Kindle or the iPad’s Kindle app) and picking up a book instead!

Psst… you can choose your own goal – any number you want – and join the challenge too!

My choice to kick off the reading challenge was Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford. I thought it was a rather fitting and symbolic selection, as Melissa is the Section Editor of BlogHer‘s Blogging & Social Media section (which includes NaBloPoMo), and I had just finished my year of daily NaBloPoMo blogging the day prior. It was definitely a great pick and a perfect way to start off my reading year – I lost myself in the book, loved the characters and New York City setting, was tickled with the blogging aspect of the plot, and was sad to see the story come to an end. (I hear rumours that there may be a sequel, and I’m fervently hoping that’s the case!) Meeting Melissa in person at BlogHer ’12 was a thrill, and I’m looking forward to catching up with her again at BlogHer ’13.

Random Delights & Inspiration

Found in my travels on the internet…

• ReFashionista – written by a blogger who takes unwearable (and often hideous!) thrift store finds and magically refashions them into lovely (and most definitely wearable) outfits. I am enthralled by this blog, and now wish I had the ability and inclination to sew (not to mention the patience for thrift shopping)!
• Humans of New York – a Facebook page with gorgeous photographs that make me long to visit my favourite city once again.
• Orla Reynolds furniture design: “As If From Nowhere” – an ingenious and creative piece of furniture that combines form and function to make the most of a small space.
• Michael Moore Facebook post on self-acceptance and going for a walk… for no other reason than simply going for a walk.

Photo A Day Challenge

Last month I participated in the December photo a day challenge, and because I’ve been enjoying the exercises so much I’ve decided to continue on with the January photo a day challenge. I’m sharing my photos daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, and weekly here on Alphabet Salad. (Clicking on any of the photos below will take you to my Flickr account.)

December photo a day challenge – Week 6

December 31, 2012
Self-portrait

January photo a day challenge – Week 1

January 1, 2013
Today (Happy Birthday to me!)

January 2, 2013
Something new

January 3, 2013
Heart

January 4, 2013
The view from here

January 5, 2013
Movement

January 6, 2013
Mine

Now, what’s happening in YOUR world?