Sculpting a creative life
Smiles on the saddle above Sunlight Lake in the Crazy Mountains
Chloe was soooooooo ready to stretch her wings when she moved to Montana last summer. We’ve spun some depth and breadth together into this post-college chapter in her life. Next week she will begin a new chapter moving to the east coast with her boyfriend - so we got ourselves out for one more dance together with Momma Nature…
I’ve completed two intensive workshop retreats during the last two weeks. Today Raymond and I leave to immerse in a one-day creative workshop together this weekend. The last two weekend workshops shifted, stretched, renewed and resurfaced parts of myself in a zillion positive ways. I am blessed (and excited to return to my studio…!!!)
I was one of five storytellers who took the stage at the Wilma Theater last week for The Moth Mainstage.
Stretched myself….in front of a packed theater full of 1400 peeps last week. Phew….! Honestly, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into and the work that goes into crafting a story within a time frame for an audience. Was I scared? Hell yes. Did I do it anyway? Yup.
Sharing story seems to be part of my calling. I listen - to those parts of me that are actually bigger than me which pull, push or nudge me to go deeper. What a deep dive into a bubbly (sometimes effervescent sometime thick gooey) brew of “new.” Thank goodness for executive producer Sarah Austin Jenness for her story coaching, encouragement and tough love. I’m full of gratitude for the opportunity and gumption to continue to grow in the creative realm of storytelling.
The Moth Mainstage
(real stories told live)
Beautiful blooms and fountains in the Bellagio in celebration of the Year of the Pig. The place held sweet memories of my mother as the last time I was in Vegas I took her on a promised trip. She would have LOVED the elaborate Year of the Pig exhibit with over 32,000 flowers.
I’d planned to meet girlfriends for a little climbing adventure this week at Red Rocks just outside of Vegas but unseasonal weather deterred me (the eleven-year snow storm happened twice in the same week…!) So when Raymond’s mother gifted us tickets to see Cirque du Soleil for both our birthdays we enjoyed a plunge into color and creativity (plus sunshine and 70 degree weather just days after the abandoned climbing trip). I’m not into gambling but I LOVE the layered magic and beauty of Cirque shows…
Rocky and I took turns painting the same canvas together…
My birthday morning I awoke early to potent Full Moon + Super Moon energy in 32-below-zero crystallized beauty winter-wonder-landscape beneath the Tobacco Root Mountains at the magical Ghost Wolf Ranch where we spent a few art-fully inspirational and love-filled days and nights hosted by our dear friends Rocky and Kat. Raymond and Kat cooked delicious food and decadent desserts, we discussed art, watched art documentaries, shared art and played in art when Rocky and I collaborated on a BIG painting in his hallowed studio. Bliss. Blessed. Juiced. (check out Rocky Hawkins art)
Many well-known published and aspiring writers live in Livingston. The cozy local destination spot Pine Creek Lodge hosts one evening each month in the Winter Writer Series for a local writer to read and share. I’m honored. I have also invited a special secret guest to read from his writings (hint: I’m married to him).
Details at PINE CREEK LODGE
New York
One month without the pressure of a post; the hiatus from social media afforded me clear space to regroup and make some lifestyle changes.
I gained extra time in the studio, climbed more ice, started and finished several books. January included an impromptu trip to New York, triple the norm yoga classes, a bright life-changing four day intense retreat at Elevation Barn and two art world fundraiser events. I nursed my niece through surgery, enjoyed lotsa love making, thoughtfully plotted life n work, wrote, hiked n xskied with Tala regularly, cleared my desk, and made more time to chat and hang with friends. A rewarding launch into 2019. Fueled and freshened..
She arrived near midnight after a 14 hour ride from Minnesota. I tucked Kiera into her bed at the studio nap room as she excitedly gaped at the stars. Just after dawn Kiera zipped over in JD (the ATV) to drink tea while I geared her up for the promised summit adventure. She’s been itching to tag a peak since early spring when she visited with her sister (and we almost summited a local peak but were turned around by snow conditions near the top).
Snow, once again, played a part in our summit day (we were on snow the whole approach). But nothing was going to stop us. What a fine day we shared...!
Tala looks either concerned, contemplative or protective on Ramshorn Peak
Chased by demons after a sleep-deprived night, I lurched into yesterday with my list of “to-dos.” The darkness demon persisted, my mood and gumption spiraled as I fell into an inner loop of anxiety which I opted to quell by tagging an impromptu summit. Mid-afternoon I parked at a trailhead surrounded by aspen already turned golden. I saw beauty everywhere. Tala exuded joy. Yet eight satisfyingly quick trail miles did not slay the demon, neither did the burger and Moosetracks milkshake. But after a night of vivid post-summit, dream-filled sleep I can happily report we needn’t call an exorcist today. Phew...!
Movie scene? Photo shoot? Naw. Snapshot taken at a party last week. It’s how we roll - when the hosts are sweet and splendid Kat Hawkins and powerhouse Rocky Hawkins and the party is at their fabulous inspirational GHOST WOLF RANCH. My chaps made by Heidi Martincic of Paris Montana
Tala loves spring, and wildflowers, and mountain trails and mountain biking and....
Tala and I have ventured out mountain biking together this spring. Three years ago this month we were both attacked, separately by dogs (she was 5 months old when the giant mastiff attacked her just 3 days before the pack of pit bulls attacked me). We fueled each other’s new fears. Our desire to protect each other made even friendly dog encounters stressful as Tala leapt into previously unknown aggressive behavior. We are healing. Improving. I purposefully pick less-peopled places to ride. She LOVES going. I have biked since the attack but never with Tala. Sometimes I biked and cried. Sometimes I froze in fear while meeting dogs. A few times fear sickened me 'til I puked. But I have kept riding - bits and pieces. Yesterday during Tala’s 3rd time mountain biking we ran into a bear. She listened to me as we waited (and waited) for the bear to move off the trail and on it’s merry way. Later when we passed someone and his dog near the trailhead Tala was full of friendly greetings. I’m proud of us.
Tala LOVES mountain biking (and wildflowers, and fresh spring creeks and…)
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Last spring we had the privilege of being "guinea pigs" by playing a card game during an early development stage. Our dear treasured friend David invents games (just one of his zillion talents). He'd sketched out the cards we played with. Fast forward to this spring when we broke into the newly launched "Long Cow" game complete with cards beautifully illustrated by our friend Steve - did Tala influence the illustration for the "Cattle Dog" card?!
The once-in-fifiteen-year snowstorm happened while I was in Paris....twice...!
Traveling is damn good for....everything...! The opportunity to go to Paris was totally unexpected and lucky-for-me travel expenses were in a large part paid for as I was asked to speak to youth at a business school (one of my favorite experiences from the trip). My first day in Paris at Muse d'Orsay and my final day in Montmarte were my two favorite days with plenty of goodness (and LOTS of art) in between. I was struck down by food poisoning one night. The attack was intense enough that I passed out and hit my face on the way down (in my hotel bathroom) but once again luck was on my side as the black eye from the fall waited until I was on my way home to "bloom." Although the attack was violent and I was alone, it was rather quick-lived and I was able to recover and resume Paris goodness. Plus a good friend from home arrived in Paris with her friend at about the same time as the attack so Raymond knew that if I had to be taken care of then she would step up and mother me. While in the bathroom (for the second time) of the Museum in Monet's house (I was still recovering) I remember thinking happily how I was sooooo inspired all I wanted to do was draw and draw and draw (and then I remembered that is all I wanted to do before I left for Paris). I laughed out loud. Happy as hell.
My two happy feet left for Paris after sharing a blissful afternoon with Heidi and Kobi together in this sweet little spa followed by tasty lunch topped off with a walking tour of public art and fresh chocolate factory samples all in their ‘hood. #blessedwithfriends #happyfeet #gratitude