Elizabethton, TN

Jon and I recently went to northeast Tennessee to visit family. We wandered around through quiet downtown streets on Thanksgiving night, their lights brightly anticipating the next holiday to come...

If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It's a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it's time to reflect on what's come before.

Mitchell Burgess, Northern Exposure, Thanksgiving, 1992

Downtown Elizabethton

Downtown Barber Shop

the Covered Bridge

Jon walking across the bridge

Lights above the Doe River

Thank You

Thankful for:

*Jon- who is always there when I need him, is shockingly patient with my flaws, and I cannot/would not want to imagine life without.

*My good health- which I am often guilty of taking for granted.

*This year of gorgeous weather- so many beautiful days to spend/spent outside. This summer was one of the best in years-sailing, waterfall exploring, kayaking, swimming- days filled to the fullest! Even this fall, with its 5p.m. darkness, the mild temperatures and sunshine have been so pleasant that the depression that seasonally comes with the darkness has not been so bad. I'm optimistic for a mild winter, as well!

*Nashville community- I just love the people I am surrounded by. I appreciate that I am part of a vibrant creative ecosystem. As a proud Nashvillian, I'd like to point out that we rank 4th in the nation for cultural vitality being outranked only by NYC, Washington,DC, and Los Angeles. You can read about it HERE, but it's not something I needed a researcher to tell me because I see it in my friends everyday. They are opening their own art galleries; they are spending time volunteering and looking for ways to improve lives of others; they are dedicated to creating new music or illustrating books in addition to working their full time jobs; they are organizing free running groups promoting healthy lifestyles; they are vital.

Of course there is more, but these few are at the front of my thoughts tonight. I hope you are well, and overflowing with all kinds of goodness- Happy Thanksgiving!

New Paintings for Me! Or You?

I finished two pieces yesterday that I want to hang at home (kitchen, maybe?) once I put them in a frame. I've got a couple basic black frames for them that I will paint a robin's egg, aqua type light blue. They are a combination of watercolor, ink, and collaged paper.

These guys are the sweetest little buddies EVER- how could I not paint portraits of their lovable faces?

 If you are trying to find the perfect gift for someone who adores their canine buddy as much as I do, consider a custom portrait like these of their best furry friend! These pieces fit a standard size 8" x 10" frame, making framing easy and inexpensive. Price is $50; contact me for more details!

1hour.56minutes.24seconds.

This morning I ran my third 1/2 marathon, but it was the first one I've ever raced. Like- set a time goal, wrote my mile splits on my arm with a sharpie, pushed myself past my comfort zone, raced. It was a gorgeous morning for the Nashville 1/2 Marathon, an I Run For the Party event, to take 1200 runners through downtown's riverfront, along the sunny greenway, out to metrocenter, and back.

The glorious weather calmed my nerves, as did seeing so many other East Nasties out on the course. East Nasties are the best, seriously. Supportive, encouraging, knowledgeable- everything a girl who's never really considered herself a "real runner" could ask for in a running group.

So, the best news is that I met and exceeded my goal- which was to finish in under 2 hours. My official time was 1.56.24- YEAHHHHHHH, THAT'S RIGHT!!!

Then, I went home and took an ice bath-yikes. YES it is entirely as bad as it sounds, but it does prevent aches and pains.

A friend commented this afternoon about how important being mentally committed is to this kind of thing, how powerfully your mind can tell your body what to do. Or not do. All my life I've told myself "I'm a slow runner", and I was until I told myself I wanted something different.