A timely Artist date

and wrestling with time change!

An imperfect voiceover for your listening pleasure (I hope!)

I am up early and bright eyed at 4 am . This is what my clock reads -Yet I know it’s really 5 am my typical rising time. The cats also know it is 5am -Hence their persistent histrionic whining and scratching at my door .. The dogs bounce up as well..Why not?

It’s feeding time of course on a typical morning ..Yet I do recall the day when I sighed with appreciation at that extra hour allotted for extra rest and officially called daylight savings time” The out to work person I was celebrated this extra hour every Autumn-It felt like a reward of sorts for the dark months ahead.

In fairness to the furry members of our family my own body recognises that it’s 5 am like always ..but somehow we all must adapt to the illogical time change ..and abide by what the clock says. The next few weeks will be all about trying to move the sleeping in time past the insanely early 4 am to it’s comfy place of 5am (6 am would be most welcome also.)

So here I am putting my wide awake -too- early -energies to work on this newsletter. With two coffees already coursing through my veins my brain is primed and ready to type out something brilliant (I hope haha)

I am currently what may be called “a morning person”- but this sea change occurred over the past 7 years or so.

I do love the quiet in our home with now just the fire glowing and the animals pushed up for warmth against my body on the couch. My head is open for free flowing thoughts and my initial sips of hot coffee in a favourite mug -comforting.

While I was still working in a 9-5 job my decline and fade started at 3 pm when of course I was seeking the caffeine lift once more. Working in that strange and isolated pandemic time in an almost empty workplace seemed to only encourage my body to slip into the jet fuel coffee pattern of survival. Mornings took on a frenetic pace.

Sleep was interrupted ..and self care took a downward slide.

Now I try to limit caffeine after 12 pm and food no later than 5 or 6pm. I walk every morning to incorporate exercise into my life and try to stretch daily .

Sleep takes on a new import it seems -although nice to know I don’t have to bound out of the door early to fit someone else’s time schedule!

After the recent upset and stress of work on our home and a lengthy dental appointment I felt the need to break out.. Yesterday I committed to offering myself an afternoon of art exploration in the community . An artist date.

This solitary practise seems to soothe my soul as it is about taking in the beauty of other’s art and taking time to appease only myself. Totally lusciously self serving. We have a small city nearby with two wonderful galleries , an art school and one Art Co-op Gallery . Local talent abounds. I also perused a weaver’s exhibit at the local library and spent time chatting with the owners/artist at a small works show. Being on my own timeline is such a huge gift. I felt mentally stimulated and encouraged about my own art making after time spent appreciating others creations.

Elaine Davidson Art

Roly Fenwick

Grey Gallery John Laughlin

Time well spent. It’s easy for me to slip into comfy pattern of a predictable schedule -I of course need to attend to domestic callings, others needs, a little social, animal care and time conserved to make art .

Taking intentional time away seems heathy to me. A timely escape from my own art making and cozy world. It also offers me perspective and permission to roam without a set timeline.

So I will try not to be hobbled by this time change ..and if I wake at 4 am for a little while so be it !

a recent early morning snowfall

A quick tour of my Inktober Illustrations

a rare Autumn self portrait

Are you affected by the recent Autumn time change ?

How do you experience your time now as an Ageless Artist?

I would be interested in your thoughts!

Thanks for reading and or listening

Yours in Art

Heather