mar '25 favorites
Small things that made my March just a little bit better.
sharing
As most of you, well maybe some of you, or at least a few of you know I spend a lot of time on YouTube making videos, encouraging others to be creative. I am a one-woman show from concept to audio to editing, so some videos are better than others. The word better is probably an overstatement because at one point my videos were described as, “watching a car wreck in slow motion”. Lest you think I’m looking for sympathy, ironically, I viewed it as a compliment. It meant I was finally reaching beyond the lovingkindness of friends and family. Those types of comments, albeit hurtful, can be the impetus to improve, and my editing is better for it. Whew, I didn’t initially set out to say all that, but like intuitive painting, some ideas pour out regardless of your intention. I guess my point is if you are learning or trying something new, you are not always going to get it right. But try anyway. Share anyway. We all need what you have to offer.
With that in mind join me as I try something new. Friday, April 4th at 1pm (PDT) I will be going LIVE on Youtube. The plan is to make some art and answer your questions. You can sign up to be notified here then click the “notify me” button. I’d love it if you joined me.
cooking
Although according to the calendar, we are moving past the soup season, our March felt abnormally chilly, hence this delightful Creamy Turmeric Chicken & Orzo Soup. The only change I made in the recipe was not including the parmesan rind—although I’m sure it would be a tasty addition. The last time I made the soup I did not have any fresh dill and the soup was still flavorful. I would definitely recommend the Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy cookbook which I’m discovering has many excellent recipes.
The one thing you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.
—Neil Gaiman
reading
This book is nuts. And I mean that in a good way. Life On Svalbard depicts life lived on a Norwegian island near the North Pole. Extreme, remote, hardcore come to mind when I think of this region juxtaposed with words like spacious, austere, and resplendent. This book is filled with a beautiful collection of photos and minimal text, offering a snapshot of this rugged land. Personally, it’s hard to imagine living 4 months in complete darkness and another 4 months in total daylight, but the author truly loves it.
inspiring
Although Cuban abstract artist Carmen Herrera painted prolifically for over 70 years, she did not sell a painting until she was 89 years old. She continued making art until her death at 106. How astonishing is that? This short video highlights some her art and offers a few details about her life. To learn more, read Carmen Herrara: Lines of Sight.
This art journal painting on the right is my loose interpretation of this painting by Herrera.
For what it is worth…it is never too late to be who you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. Live a life you are proud of, and if you’re not have the courage to start over again.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
following
YouTube: Roben-Marie Smith is an artist I have followed for years. She is down-to-earth and generous in sharing.
Pinterest: Floret Flower Farm has beautiful and informative pins about growing flowers.
Instagram: Jeannine Close is an abstract artist from the UK whom I have followed for years. I enjoy her style and color palette.
giving
This big smile, thumbs up, and double chin may leave you wondering if I am witless or absurd (please don’t ask my husband). My excitement stems from the realization that I am close to my 5-gallon blood donation pin (yes, they will give you an actual pin!). The first time I donated blood was as a senior in high school, a mere 45 years ago. My donating has ebbed and flowed through the years but I always considered it an easy way to give back. How many things can you do in less than 30 minutes that could possibly help save a life? If you need additional motivation (other than altruism), my husband rewards himself with a small bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos (reminiscent of ye olden days of our youth) that are offered free in the cantina while you hydrate afterwards.
If you live in the greater Seattle area you can schedule a donation here.
I have found that among its other benefits giving liberates the soul of the giver.
—Maya Angelou
enjoying
My sweet grandbaby Remy Zoe born March 5th. What a joy and delight. Adorable and captivating. I generally tend to have too many words but in this case the thesaurus isn’t big enough to capture all my feelings. So it is best summed up in the concise words of a dear fictional character, “my heart grew three sizes that day.”
growing
A chalky white magnolia set against an almost-crystal blue sky might be normal to you, but it is something of an anomaly here in Seattle. Capturing this moment in my front yard made me feel optimistic like it might be possible to trade my sweater and raincoat in for a t-shirt. Dreamers can dream.
There is no remedy for love but to love more.
—Henry David Thoreau
challenging
Aren’t these two adorable? Rex the Cat and Leo. Best buddies. BFF’s. Ultimate troublemakers. They are prone to bring all manner of critters into our house….dead and alive. Last week, we found ourselves in the basement playing whack-a-mole with what I retrospectively titled, “The Great Rat Debacle”. For two days, we chased, enticed, and coaxed Rat. Outsmarted by a brain the size of a grape, we sat defeated on the couch, drinking wine, surly, and peevish. Our next strategy, we realized, would require less intelligence and more street smarts. As luck would have it, we ambushed Rat inside the drawer of a large bookshelf, drug bookshelf outside, and released Rat into the wilderness. I would be remiss in not mentioning that, as the drawer was pulled open in classic horror movie fashion a black wig and Rat popped out simultaneously. In the end, Rat was the real winner. And who do I blame? Why yes, those two in the photo.
PS…you may wonder why I include this appalling story in a list of things that made my March better. Well, during the Great Rat Debacle of 2025, we were forced to pull out all items, large and small. As you can imagine, many, if not most, could no longer be considered “gently used” resulting in a Suburban load of items dropped off at Goodwill and a trailer load taken to the dump. In a weird turn of events, I call that a win. And I have two hooligans looking for a new home if you’re interested.
Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.
—Mark Twain
I’m curious, what’s on your list of favorites?
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