End of the Season, End of a Project

One more day for the B&W photography project! What an experience this has been. I think my biggest lesson learned here is looking at light and dark – contrast – something which color so easily hides for me as I see a million shades of green when I look at grass. How light plays against other things, too, is a big lesson. Light on a ridge top against the one beyond it. Light on the edge of a trunk. Shadows on a wall. I have also learned that red and green often merge in film photography or conversion of color to digital. As a result, learning how to manipulate software is another lesson.

I like setting goals that are simple. The goal of one black and white photo per day made me limited in what I could do – sometimes I broke it to get a sip of color – but infinite in its potential. Simple goals allow for complexity as advancement in a goal develop. Complex goals are restraints against experience. I have goals for 2020 (you can read about them here) with regards to photography, but other goals, too.  I would like to say one goal is to be more focused on one thing, but for me, it’s anathema to my magpie personality!  Simple goals but lots of them is more my style.

Summertime

“April is the cruelest month.”  Let’s change that to “July is the laziest month.”

Hilltop

Normally I am always busy, but this past year the busy-ness of my life changed to just hanging on because of the work schedule.  In fall, it will resume, with one difference:  I will have Wednesday afternoons off at 3:00 p.m. for 8 weeks, and then 2 p.m. for the remainder of the year.  M, Tu, and Th will remain the same – 9 hour days with a 30 minute lunch.  Sucks!

The result of this constant working is no sense of self or life – and this summer, it is really hard for me to focus on making things or finishing things.  I can start, but lose interest in a moment.  Only a few things seem to keep my interest:  reading (something I haven’t done in years), gardening, photography, and being outside as much as possible, even if it is just to loll around.

Productivity is something by which I measure the value of my time.  Making things in particular.

I guess what I need to do is set a few goals.  Therefore . . .

  • Goal 1:  finish a dress.
  • Goal 2:  finish a small quilt.

That should do.  Life will fill itself in between with friends and family and a contentment lolling in the sun brings.  (Not sunburn – I do wear my sunscreen.)

Here’s to the heat of summer in the heart of July!