The last time I wrote anything of substance here (or elsewhere) was November.
Truth is that November was the last time I did much of anything that involved creativity.
I think I went into a seasonal depression of the winter kind once October ended even though my seasonal depression is diagnosed as the summer kind. Strange for me as I usually enjoy winter but this one was brutal in more ways than one. Bitter cold with none of those sporadic mild days that give a reprieve - just the kind of relentless cold that settles into your bones and stays there.
And then the most terrible thing: my daughter's fiancé got into a horrible car accident in January that left him broken up, in ICU, several surgeries and an extended stay in the physical rehabilitation facility that he's still in which has been a very extended endurance test for him as he heals. All the while watching Sherb maneuver his doctors, insurance, and every other thing that got thrown at her was heart-wrenching. Life as they knew it might not return in the way they were used to but they're getting through it.
As for me, it's hard to go off and be whimsical and creative with the level of stress that came with all that going on. But we've rounded the corner, healing is happening, and it's time to exhale and get back to living.
As for me, it's hard to go off and be whimsical and creative with the level of stress that came with all that going on. But we've rounded the corner, healing is happening, and it's time to exhale and get back to living.
Taking photos of old houses and barns was, afterall, the basis of my photo art for Land O' Make Believe.
I also love making videos and back in the day when I was really active with my photo art business, I created a whole series of video movies that featured my artwork. I absolutely love working on videos and back then I used to use the very simple Windows Movie Maker for video editing which was a 'just enough' program for what I wanted to accomplish for my video movies.
Well, alas, Microsoft in its usual not-so-infinite wisdom decided to discontinue the Movie Maker program and replaced it with a terrible program that was far inferior to Movie Maker.
So began my quest to find another video editing software that I could get into.
I tried them all - including the popular ones that everyone out there seems to use.
So began my quest to find another video editing software that I could get into.
I tried them all - including the popular ones that everyone out there seems to use.
I pretty much hated all of them; not because I can't learn the software - I taught myself Photoshop afterall so I don't have a problem finding my way around technology.
But I am not trying to be a Steven Spielberg with creating my simple video movies...I just wanted something intuitive and not overly laden with technical features that I had no reason or desire to use.
Last year I bought a program that I thought came close to what I was looking for.
I wound up being wrong - it fell short in many ways - and so I sort of gave up on making video movies again even though I kept taking videos of my life, my adventures, my excursions, my dog doing cute things.
Periodically I would go back to the purchased program and try to put together a video movie but I would just give up when I couldn't get it to do the things I wanted it to do, simply.
Earlier this week I came upon software that I hadn't heard of before. No, it isn't one of the 'popular' ones but I really don't care about things like that. I have always gone with what works for me no matter what the cool kids are doing or using. I downloaded the trial fully expecting that it would be yet another that disappointed.
Last year I bought a program that I thought came close to what I was looking for.
I wound up being wrong - it fell short in many ways - and so I sort of gave up on making video movies again even though I kept taking videos of my life, my adventures, my excursions, my dog doing cute things.
Periodically I would go back to the purchased program and try to put together a video movie but I would just give up when I couldn't get it to do the things I wanted it to do, simply.
Earlier this week I came upon software that I hadn't heard of before. No, it isn't one of the 'popular' ones but I really don't care about things like that. I have always gone with what works for me no matter what the cool kids are doing or using. I downloaded the trial fully expecting that it would be yet another that disappointed.
I wound up being wrong again - this time in a good way. I've been playing with the software for days and so far it has not disappointed so I'll probably buy the full software and - be still my heart! - maybe actually start making video movies again.
I have no interest in being YouTube fabulous and asking for or caring about likes and subscribes - I just want to indulge my passion for creating video movies and incorporating whatever floats my boat. I also very much like the idea of recording my life - a video diary, if you will.
I'm just excited that I'm feeling excited about feeling creative again, finally.
I'm just excited that I'm feeling excited about feeling creative again, finally.
Last week we had a tornado warning happen for our immediate area.
I have a legit tornado phobia because I've had two very close calls in the past and they scarred me so when a tornado warning happens I go into full-on freakout mode. Like, instant panic. We do not have a basement but we do have a well-placed interior walk-in closet which is my go-to fallout shelter (are you old enough to remember schools as fallout shelters?).
I have emergency lights stored in there as well as noise-cancelling headphones because hearing fierce wind and things blowing around makes my panic runs the risk of going into full-on hysteria or whatever panic to the 10th degree is. I grabbed Luna and went into the closet but JP stayed in the bedroom close-by because he somehow wasn't scared at all (he never is) and kept saying 'it will be fine". When it comes to tornadoes, I can't believe him when he says that.
I made use of my time in the closet to clean and organize it. Keeping busy is essential when I'm having a weather-related panic attack. At least I got something productive done in the meantime.
Well, we got lucky and no tornado touched down in our neighborhood but it did touch down three miles from our house! Talk about too close for comfort.
I am very much not looking forward to spring and summer and the severe storms that come with those seasons.
Because of all the storms we had this winter, our property - which is pretty big and not something either of us feels like doing the yardwork for - is badly in need of some landscaping help with cleanup. Lots of leaves and small branches everywhere. We called two landscapers we've used in the past for estimates on cleanup.
Landscaper #1 comes out and literally the first thing he says to me after hello is:
"I'm sure you realize that our prices have gone up since you last used us because our business is growing and all."
To say I was thrown by that would be an understatement. I wanted to say that since you're growing doesn't that mean your prices would go down?, but I figured I'd keep quiet so he didn't jack the price because I called him out.
We received his estimate via email later that night: $1,000.
To clean up some leaves and sticks.
To clean up some leaves and sticks.
Landscaper #2 got the job because he came out and we walked the property together and he told me he'd come by on Saturday and take care of it for...$200.
I plan on giving him $300 at least but he doesn't know that yet.
I plan on giving him $300 at least but he doesn't know that yet.
Also, we have a few other projects that he'll be doing for us in the future.
See how that works?
That's it for now.
Happy Spring to you if you're someone who celebrates such things 😉
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