What a week it’s been.

Although I think they’re a good idea any time, when life feels heavy or dark, I find it helps to write a Joy List.

It was fun to type a Joy List on the vintage typewriter Matthias recently found for me.

I love seeing it in my studio.

I’ve been harvesting and eating tomatoes every day. They’re one of my favorite things about summer.

After focusing on some other things it’s been hard for me to get back into painting. In part because my list of behind-the-scenes, non-painting work keeps growing and in part because of inertia. It’s always hard to get back to painting when my focus has been elsewhere. It’s hard to find balance. And it’s impossible to do everything.

I KNOW this, and so I try to be gentle with myself. Take things slowly and not rush the process.

Choosing one of my very favorite flowers to paint helps.

Quin knows just the wrong time to show up, demanding attention when I’m in the flow of painting. He takes the long way to my painting table — jumps up on my computer chair then onto my computer table, squeezes across the bookshelf onto the windowsill and then to my painting table. I have plenty of time to get my painting and palette out of his way before he arrives. His charms are always hard to resist. Doubly so since he had a seizure last Saturday. He’s doing fine, but still, I worry. All the pet health issues we’ve had this year have been good reminders to cherish our furry family members each day.

The scent of marigolds, of nasturtiums, of all sorts of herbs… whenever I’m in the garden I’m sure to brush against something fragrant. I try to stop and savor it.

I’m enjoying all the grasshoppers I’m seeing this year, too. There seem to be so many more than usual, but I haven’t noticed them damaging anything, so for now they’re just fun.

Thank you to everyone who voted for my clematis pattern design in Spoonflower’s Climbing Vines Wallpaper Design Challenge.

Although I’m 68 on the list (out of 709), I’m actually in the top 50 because of so many tied numbers of votes. If you’re curious you can see the full ranking here.

Placing in the top 50 means my design is now available for purchase as wallpaper, fabric and home goods (including face masks!).

I hope you are well and safe and finding things to add to your Joy Lists, too.