I recently started a new habit: Each evening before I go to bed, I write down 1-3 things I would like to work on the next day. In the morning I refrain from checking text messages, social media, and email until after I’ve spent some time with the kids, gotten ready to send Caia off to school, had breakfast, and had a chance to work on at least one of the items on my personal to-do list.
I only started this a few days ago, but I’m already finishing more personal projects. And I’m still keeping up with work demands.
I finished this necklace I had started a bit ago. It’s made with Howlite stone beads and black seed beads in matte finish. I feel calmer and have an easier time focusing when I’m wearing Howlite. If anyone needs a Howlite necklace, let me know; I’ll make you one.
Today I finished the improvements I had been envisioning for this free-cycle store. This was an old newspaper stand that had been donated to the neighborhood many years ago. Neighbors were using it to share books and other items. Things were often falling down below the original newspaper shelf, and the bottom area was mostly inaccessible.
- I removed the old shelf and spring mechanisms. I replaced it with a solid wood shelf.
- I cut a section out of the lower area and mounted it with a piano hinge in order to create a door and make the lower area accessible.
- I added a fresh piece of plexiglass to the top door so that you can see what’s inside.
- I gave the outside a fresh coat of paint. (No, the color wasn’t inspired by the color of the Desert Living work truck; it is actually one of the neighborhood colors.) I made the mandala stencil myself by printing the linework onto a sheet of transparency using my laser printer; then, I spent a couple hours cutting all the pieces out with a razor blade.
I’m looking forward to putting it back in it’s spot and seeing what neighbors populate it with.
Today, someone reminded me about this blog space I created many years ago (now, neither he nor I can remember exactly what lead me to talk about the significance of uncarved wood, which then reminded me about this blog). Nearly four and a half years have passed since I last wrote here. Those years were full of life. Yet, lately I’ve felt restless and uncertain about my purpose. Coming back to this space this evening has been a nice reminder about some aspects of myself that I’d forgotten.
I’ve been feeling enormous pressure to define my purpose. But I can’t. I can envision a million realities. How am I supposed to choose just one?!
…
So maybe that’s it. To see how I can move through this life, creating without whittling my block of wood down too far so as to limit potential. I don’t have to devote this entire existence to one main, specific endeavor. That’s my purpose; to remain as open as possible while exploring what’s possible in this physical existence. I knew it before, I forgot, and now I remember.
…
I had begun to carve my block. I had adopted a very limited mission – to transform the City (yes, that’s limited). I became disillusioned – thinking it’s not possible. Then I thought I had to choose a new, similarly specific mission. I actually think it IS possible to transform the City. It’s just that it isn’t my purpose; it’s not why I’m here.
I post here so infrequently, but I was recently inspired by an old friend of mine who does a “year in review” post each year. It seems like a nice way to reflect on the events that are shaping my life.
I’ll break it down into categories that are meaningful to my life.
Caia
Caia turned 3 at the end of the year. This summer she started pre-school! She goes for half the day, five days per week. I pick her up two days per week and Brent picks her up two days per week. Her favorite day is probably Friday, when Grandma and Grandpa pick her up and she spends the afternoon with them. She seems to be thriving; her language skills have broadened, her teachers say she demonstrates a surprising level of empathy for her age, and she is forming sweet friendships with some of her classmates.
The downside to all this? The illness! She/we have been sicker than ever since she started school. I had been warned about it by friends who had been through it, but you really don’t know how bad it can be until you experience it yourself. I’m hopeful for a much healthier 2019 (though, we aren’t off to a great start).
Caia also broke her arm. She was at the ranch with Brent, he put her on a horse, and she fell off the horse. She was in a bright pink cast for 3 weeks. She adapted well, but by the end of the third week she was really ready to get that cast off. She recovered well, and within hours of getting the cast off she was back to using her left arm like usual.
Projects
- outdoor shower
- cistern
- mulch! (6 cy)
- hooks for Caia’s room
- leather cuff
- sourdough
We finished the outdoor shower at the end of January, just in time to rent out the studio for gem and mineral show.
We got a free (except for our time) 1320 gallon cistern from someone who didn’t want the one that was installed at the house they had recently purchased. Crazy! We got it hooked up in October. By the end of the year it was full.
I made some hooks for Caia’s room out of a piece of wood I found and some salvaged knobs.
I had been envisioning and had the supplies for a leather cuff project for a while. I finally brought it to life. I was really pleased with how it turned out. I wore it for a solid week…then it disappeared… 
I was grateful to receive some sourdough starter from Barrio Bread, via a parent at Caia’s school. We really got into the flow of making bread to the point where we were making (and eating) a loaf each day.
Work
In October I left my job at WMG. A week later, Nate left too. We decided to branch out and start our own design-build business. It was an instant relief making the decision to shift my energy to a new endeavor. We are starting a new program within my dad’s general contracting company, Desert Living, Inc. We also have one other former WMG installer on our team who had left just weeks before I did. We hadn’t planned on getting rolling until the new year, but we ended up doing three installations before the end of the year.
Travel
- Mt. Lemmon, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Sonoita, AZ
- Mt. Graham, AZ
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Lake Elsinore, CA
- Telluride, CO
We spent numerous weekends up on Mt. Lemmon.
Over the 4th of July weekend, we had fun playing with ladybugs in the meadow.
We made a few trips up to Scottsdale to hang out with Tamara and crew.
In May, we went to Sonoita with Drew, Sarah, Chris, and Amanda to taste some grape juice. 😉
In May, we went to Mt. Graham for the WMG staff retreat. It was a very pretty area with a stream. Unfortunately, the spot they chose was recently burned…I’m glad I brought black jeans. All the kids were filthy.
I won tickets to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival! In June, Nate and I went and had the full townpark camping experience. The place where we decided to wedge our tent turned out to be right next to and right across from what must have been the two biggest party tents in the whole campground…we tried but didn’t get much sleep that weekend.
Literally the night before I won the Telluride tickets I had purchased tickets to the Flagstaff Bluegrass Festival in September. Caia came with us on this trip. It was much more low key and family friendly than Telluride. I think I’d prefer to go back to the Flagstaff festival over the the Telluride festival.
One day in November, we left Caia with Tamara and crew while Nate and I drove to California and back to buy our cool blue work truck.
Looking Ahead
- I need to be more consistent about incorporating exercise into my weekly routine for improved health. Once I decided to give up playing soccer due to repetitive injuries, I’ve had trouble figuring out what to do to stay active. We’ll see what I come up with.
- We already have some trips on the agenda, and I’d love to incorporate a visit to a National Park or two along the way.
- We have some cool personal projects in the works. The big one is a greenhouse!
- And we’re ready to ramp up the business. With such low overhead, we should be able to cover our costs and pay ourselves well.
Big Buddha Dragon Well from Seven Cups Tea House
uncarved wood 