Happy solstice Kelcey! I relate sooo much to attaching hard to the “how” (and driving myself to tears in the process). I just came back from a residency where I really wanted to figure out the shape of my book project and emerged with no clearer shapes, but a sense of aliveness and lots of fragments and imagery from inhabiting the world. It feels more fertile despite the mechanics of structure not being solved. Learning to make peace with however long that process takes!
Oh Carolyn, I'm so glad to hear that you know what I'm talking about! I mean it sucks for both of us (ha!), but it's comforting to know it's not just me. And I love what you said about emerging from your residency with "a sense of aliveness and lots of fragments and imagery"! So beautifully put!
Also feeling a little lost and not sure which direction to go creatively, so feeling this. Also, I find on an academic calendar, it takes me almost a month to actually settle into summer. It's just this week that it's felt like summer, which I guess makes sense. And there's all the pressure of GETTING SOMETHING DONE that often gets in the way of, you know, actually getting anything done.
Ugh, that is my exact experience with the academic calendar! As soon as grades are in, instead of seeing a vast field of spendable summer time, I basically see the summer clock start counting down, taunting me with how quickly it will end. I'm starting to feel settled but also starting to feel like, Wait, it's almost JULY?!
I was going to ask what that little critter is but is Robyn right that it’s a groundhog? That’s a critter we don’t have in California so i couldn’t figure it out.
😢So maybe like gophers here? Except gophers are super ugly! One place I lived I gave up on gardening because anything i planted would be pulled underground and eaten overnight.
Happy Summer Solstice to you, Kelcey, and to your animal advisors and ancestors! May the new approach to the project be fruitful, and may all of the World Cup matches be as astonishing as the match between Cape Verde and Spain. :)
Happy Summer Solstice to you, Susan! Thanks for the good wishes! And yes it's so fun to see an underdog win or draw. Ivory Coast was minutes away from doing it last night against Germany!
Yes, his podcasts are so engaging and full of insights. And I was thrilled to find that he is just as nice and awesome in person! I met him at the Ohio Book Festival and fangirled.
Kelcey, I love all the mediums together, drawings, photos, videos, your legible personable script, they illustrate your thoughts in a lively manner. But, girl…Groundhogs are bastards not cute thieves. Also, despite their girth they can balance on My deck railing and eat ALL of the petunias and sweet potato vine before dismounting and sticking the landing like Nadia Comăneci.
It's a baby groundhog, so it WAS cute...until it wasn't! It's eaten all of my petunias too! And I fear for the budding tomatoes and peppers. Now we just call it "the little fucker." But I didn't think that would be appropriate for the post. 😂
Happy Solstice to Kelcey and all! My Big Project timeline got thrown out the window when I had to have two eye surgeries in April that left me homebound and without the ability to read or write for two months. My version of going small was to do artwork in natural light, and I was able to complete 18 pieces for an upcoming show at a time when I could not tolerate backlit devices. I ordered Jennie's book and am hoping to start a memoir in essays in July.
I'm so impressed you were able to create 18 pieces amid all your limitations! I hope your eye surgeries have been successful and will be excited to hear more about the memoir. Jennie's book is a good place to start!
Love your adorable drawings and heartfelt sharing. (I also listen to Andy J Pizza's podcast and found this episode particularly inspiring.) The idea of "thinking small" feels "right" for me as well as I've hit a slump in my writing. Not that I believe in writer's block--I don't--but a slump in motivation and direction IS a real thing. Maybe we can all use a little extra time and space to recalibrate. Doing a little bit every day takes some of the "big" pressure off. Good luck in the second half of the year and happy solstice. PS: The ugly ducklings are so cute!
I totally agree, Shelley: I don't believe in writer's block, but a "slump in motivation" is all too real! Thanks for kind words, and I hope that thinking small will work for you too! Fun to find another Andy J Pizza fan!
Now, every time I see Canadian geese, I think of you! 😂 They hang out in the retention pond next to the hospital parking lot at work. Sometimes they stroll around in the parking lot and I keep my distance. 😂
We’ve been watching La Copa wherever we are! I find myself rooting for the “little” countries like Ivory Coast, because I know what a big deal it is for them to be playing on the world stage. // How about those Scots??? The fans who drank all the beer in Boston then rented a fleet of school buses to get to the games.
I was so sad for Ivory Coast last night! And yes, the Scots have made a splash! (The fans more than the team at this point!) Glad you're watching it too--it's fun!
Happy solstice Kelcey! I relate sooo much to attaching hard to the “how” (and driving myself to tears in the process). I just came back from a residency where I really wanted to figure out the shape of my book project and emerged with no clearer shapes, but a sense of aliveness and lots of fragments and imagery from inhabiting the world. It feels more fertile despite the mechanics of structure not being solved. Learning to make peace with however long that process takes!
Oh Carolyn, I'm so glad to hear that you know what I'm talking about! I mean it sucks for both of us (ha!), but it's comforting to know it's not just me. And I love what you said about emerging from your residency with "a sense of aliveness and lots of fragments and imagery"! So beautifully put!
Also feeling a little lost and not sure which direction to go creatively, so feeling this. Also, I find on an academic calendar, it takes me almost a month to actually settle into summer. It's just this week that it's felt like summer, which I guess makes sense. And there's all the pressure of GETTING SOMETHING DONE that often gets in the way of, you know, actually getting anything done.
Love your groundhog visitor.
Ugh, that is my exact experience with the academic calendar! As soon as grades are in, instead of seeing a vast field of spendable summer time, I basically see the summer clock start counting down, taunting me with how quickly it will end. I'm starting to feel settled but also starting to feel like, Wait, it's almost JULY?!
Hi everyone!
👋🐢🌸🦢
I was going to ask what that little critter is but is Robyn right that it’s a groundhog? That’s a critter we don’t have in California so i couldn’t figure it out.
Yes, it's a groundhog, but it's not very lovable! 😂 It's eaten most of my flowers!
😢So maybe like gophers here? Except gophers are super ugly! One place I lived I gave up on gardening because anything i planted would be pulled underground and eaten overnight.
Yes, I think they're similar even if they're not technically related! Ugh!
Happy Summer Solstice to you, Kelcey, and to your animal advisors and ancestors! May the new approach to the project be fruitful, and may all of the World Cup matches be as astonishing as the match between Cape Verde and Spain. :)
Happy Summer Solstice to you, Susan! Thanks for the good wishes! And yes it's so fun to see an underdog win or draw. Ivory Coast was minutes away from doing it last night against Germany!
Watching the World Cup. Thinking of you. And believing in you and your story. The what and the how.
I'm going to put that on a post-it note. ❤️
I could stitch it for you?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am on it.
👀👀👀👀👀
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Onward!
Always!
I really like Andy J. Pizza's podcasts. He's so likeable as a person, and always has interesting ideas and suggestions. Happy Solstice!
Yes, his podcasts are so engaging and full of insights. And I was thrilled to find that he is just as nice and awesome in person! I met him at the Ohio Book Festival and fangirled.
Nice! I'm not surprised.
Kelcey, I love all the mediums together, drawings, photos, videos, your legible personable script, they illustrate your thoughts in a lively manner. But, girl…Groundhogs are bastards not cute thieves. Also, despite their girth they can balance on My deck railing and eat ALL of the petunias and sweet potato vine before dismounting and sticking the landing like Nadia Comăneci.
It's a baby groundhog, so it WAS cute...until it wasn't! It's eaten all of my petunias too! And I fear for the budding tomatoes and peppers. Now we just call it "the little fucker." But I didn't think that would be appropriate for the post. 😂
I'm also cracking up at your image of their gymnastic prowess!
Happy Solstice to Kelcey and all! My Big Project timeline got thrown out the window when I had to have two eye surgeries in April that left me homebound and without the ability to read or write for two months. My version of going small was to do artwork in natural light, and I was able to complete 18 pieces for an upcoming show at a time when I could not tolerate backlit devices. I ordered Jennie's book and am hoping to start a memoir in essays in July.
I'm so impressed you were able to create 18 pieces amid all your limitations! I hope your eye surgeries have been successful and will be excited to hear more about the memoir. Jennie's book is a good place to start!
Love your adorable drawings and heartfelt sharing. (I also listen to Andy J Pizza's podcast and found this episode particularly inspiring.) The idea of "thinking small" feels "right" for me as well as I've hit a slump in my writing. Not that I believe in writer's block--I don't--but a slump in motivation and direction IS a real thing. Maybe we can all use a little extra time and space to recalibrate. Doing a little bit every day takes some of the "big" pressure off. Good luck in the second half of the year and happy solstice. PS: The ugly ducklings are so cute!
I totally agree, Shelley: I don't believe in writer's block, but a "slump in motivation" is all too real! Thanks for kind words, and I hope that thinking small will work for you too! Fun to find another Andy J Pizza fan!
Love this 🤩
Thanks, Becks!
Now, every time I see Canadian geese, I think of you! 😂 They hang out in the retention pond next to the hospital parking lot at work. Sometimes they stroll around in the parking lot and I keep my distance. 😂
If you'd have told me ten years ago I'd be the Goose Gal, I'd have never believed it, but here we are. You're smart to keep your distance! 😂
We’ve been watching La Copa wherever we are! I find myself rooting for the “little” countries like Ivory Coast, because I know what a big deal it is for them to be playing on the world stage. // How about those Scots??? The fans who drank all the beer in Boston then rented a fleet of school buses to get to the games.
I was so sad for Ivory Coast last night! And yes, the Scots have made a splash! (The fans more than the team at this point!) Glad you're watching it too--it's fun!
Happy Solstice! This gives me such hope! Fills me with possibility for the days ahead. Thank you!
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that, Dawn!