Sunday afternoon/evening. Myra is sleeping, Sam is snoozing on the couch. And the creative urges I have been sitting on, keeping them locked down, need to break free. I need to paint and draw and write, I feel like I won't feel settled today unless I do. I started creative writing Friday night, and like always, once I open the door a little, everything creative wants to come out.

I don't know why sometimes I feel afraid of being creative. It soothes me, it makes me happy. It makes me feel...good. Alive. And yet, I sit on it a lot. I'm trying to work on that.





With Sam asleep, I figured it would be a good time to start playing. He didn't bother me while I was drawing a tree with hot pink flowers that is everywhere down here, or when I was drawing my favorite foot bridge that I see on my way to work every day.

But Sam is apparently a painter. He had to help, check out my paints, see how I was mixing colors.





I haven't picked up paints in a very long time. I decided it was more important to play and put colors to paper instead of worrying it's not good. I think that is part of why I don't paint much. I love it, but I don't really know how to do it, or I don't know how to do it the way other people do. But just playing with colors, blending white into my swirly blues and greens, trying to make my heart have wings, it felt really good. So I guess I shouldn't worry about not doing it right.






It says: Let your soul and spirit fly free.

Painting, drawing and writing seem to do that for me.

Hrm. The painting is actually much more vibrant, and the photos in iphoto look brighter and richer. Not sure why they seem flatter on the blog.

small, happy moments

• Running in the woods on a quiet, Sunday morning, coming face to face with a young male deer. The only sounds: birds in the trees, my feet on the dirt, nature
  

• Opening up a container of grapes to see them red/purple, fat and glistening. Perfect grapes.
  

• Myra making her wookie sounds as she rolls around on her back getting a belly rub
  

• Sammy licking my hand when I rub his belly
  

• Gluten-free brownies that are so good, you wouldn't know they are gluten-free
  

• Walking by someone's computer and seeing them reading an article I wrote. It's a powerful feeling to know people are reading your words.
  

• Knowing most of our bills are already paid for the month
  

• Putting letters or cards in the mailbox, knowing the people you are sending them to will like and appreciate them
  

• Chai green tea with vanilla soymilk and a blueberry gluten-free waffle for breakfast
  

Meeting Sam

Sam, his first day out and about in his new home










































Meet Sam, the newest addition to the family. He is a small black cat who purrs much louder than his small stature would indicate.

Myra loves her new brother. When she met him for the first time, her tail was wagging at triple speed.

He follows her around. She runs up to him, her whole body wagging and then will kiss/slurp his forehead. He will lick her and rub his head on her face and purr.

He is not a quick to love cat, he is still feeling us out, but we are slowly winning his approval. He joined us on the bed for a family nap, and for a very few minutes, the four of us were snuggled on the bed (we might need a bigger bed at some point). He runs off if you approach him too quickly, but if you sit down and let him come to you, he purrs contentedly at you. Just a few minutes ago, he was down below my desk chair, I invited him up. He didn't stay long but he did jump up into my lap.

I was worried about him not eating for almost two days, and then I was worried because he didn't seem to be eating much. But I am learning Sam does things at his pace, when he is ready. That's not a bad thing.

I am looking forward to getting to know him more, and seeing Myra with her new little brother. And oddly and nicely, bringing Sam home made me love Myra even more, because she is such a wonderful, sweet, happy dog.

Welcome to your new home, Sam