First Day of My Birthday Month

Yesterday was the first day of my birthday month and what did I do? Nothin' much! Dougie made an adorable little wooden toy and we had a spat because I wanted to photograph it before he took it to his intended recipient. The man can be very impatient and he loves to give people little gifts, so don't stand in his way! However, I think it is time for him to properly photograph a piece before letting it go. I'm pretty sure all of you would agree. So, I insisted and I prevailed and now he has a very nice photo of his little elephant with copper ears! And he is appropriately apologetic.

Little wooden elephant with copper ears made by Doug Crites-Moore

The only other remotely creative thing I did today was to edit a photo of Puddle. Adeline took it with her iPhone and it just needed a bit of touching up. I was bundling some old New Yorker magazines for the recycling bin, a job I resist because I LOVE The New Yorker and it doesn't matter how old an issue is, it's still interesting to read. My family, on the other hand, especially Adeline, lets it be known that I don't really need to keep them for years. They also seem to think piles and piles of magazines do not represent a particularly glamorous approach to home decor. Hmph.

Puddle and The New Yorker :: Photo by Adeline Jessica Crites-Moore
I think it's quite clear that Puddle agrees with me. She appears to be protecting this particular little bundle of magazines from 2010 ... not nearly old enough to be tossed. But I told her I ripped out dozens of articles before I tied up the magazines and she relented. I wonder if Adeline and Doug will like the look of piles and piles of magazine articles, with raggedy ripped edges.

Begin Anywhere

The beginning is the most important part of the work.  - Plato

Plato speaks to me.  I understand what he means.  If you don't begin, then there is no work.  Beginning is key.  Go into the studio and do something; do anything.  

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  -Lao-Tsu

When I've been procrastinating and paying attention to the ridiculous things, like reorganizing my bedroom closet, the linen closet, and the pantry - Really? YES! - then beginning is, indeed, the most important part of the work. 

But once I've begun?  Once I've begun, there are all those other most important parts of the work!  I know, I know - a superlative applies to just one thing.  There can be only one most beautiful girl in the world.  So, allow me to rephrase it: There are many aspects which are of the utmost importance. How's that?

What are those aspects? There are the obvious elements - choosing the right pieces of cloth, or thread, or buttons, and so forth.  That almost goes without saying.  A crucial aspect of the work involves being mindful, being with the piece, caring about the piece.  I have to feel the soul of the piece in order for it to work.  If it has no soul, then it is not complete.  And that's the other element that is as important as beginning:  ending.  And by this, I mean properly ending.  There is no such thing as "good enough."  It has to be right.   When it is right, it is perfect.  

Dre & Adeline with Charlie - A Particular Kind of Perfection

My new mantra, replacing Waste Not * Want Not, is Begin Anywhere.  Adeline introduced me to the phrase (it's attributed to John Cage) and I love it! Waste Not * Want Not  is an old lady scolding.  Begin Anywhere  is freedom and encouragement and no judgment.  And that's exactly what I need.  Maybe you do too.


Lately, when someone asks me for my card, and even sometimes when they don't, I hand them one of these. 

*  BEGIN ANYWHERE  *

Baby and Me


Oh my! See what happens when I clean out the closets?
My baby and me, circa 1988.
Such sweetness.

“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” - Lin Yutang

“A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, 'Where mother is.'" - Keith L. Brooks

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” - Rajneesh
 

"You Are A Miracle"



What a beautiful video.  It makes me teary ... remembering moments gone forever, the astonishing realization that I have so many memories which she has forgotten - lost in the swirl of childhood; mourning the moments I failed to share, and the ones I shouldn't have shared; the everlasting worries over things left undone, or done not well enough. But it also makes me grateful to be a woman, and a mother, especially a mother of a daughter, and most especially mother of  Adeline ... remembering so many moments of joy: middle of the night joy, with a newborn baby whose skin, in the dim light, looks like a wax doll; cuddling joy, playing in the mud joy, creating "food" from clay, being gifted with Mother's Day breakfast in bed - handmade pastry adorned with fresh-picked flower petals (how did such a young child know to create such beauty?); shared lunch at the park, followed by pushes on the swing; a red plaid jumper just made for twirling; incredible, artful, outlandish, beautiful outfits; delirious dresses; paper napkin art, tucked into a lunch bag; gourmet dinners, now cooked by her, a young adult where once there was a child ... oh, my, how lucky are we to have this life? Thank you to Katherine Center for the lovely reminder, and to Oriah for posting it on Facebook.  :-)