I’m working hard to prepare a new launch of prints. Lots of things to be done. Photographs to be taken. Sayings to write. Computer layout. A considerable amount for my mind to keep track of – my mind, one that has always been distracted by a “shiny object.”

I walked from my computer to the studio to take a photo of this pear. I had written the verse for this pear. Scanned the verse for this pear. Put the verse for this pear on my computer. All I needed now was the image — this pear. Inside the studio, amid all these shiny objects, I immediately thought, “Well, as long as I’m here, I could take photos of these paintings…” And I did. So proud of myself — I found just the right lighting. It was nature’s golden hour, and with my new spotlight, and easel, I was really getting good images. I put these images in ProCreate to check for color. Cropped. Adjusted. Scanned for my computer. Placed them in my layout program. Started arranging the images for the prints. Getting so much done. Then I got to the page with the verse for the pear. The pear. I had forgotten to take a photo of this pear. The light was gone. Settling in the sky. It would have to wait for the next day.

Still shaking my head, I took the photo in the light of the next day, and it was beautiful. I forgot about my forgetting, and really looked at the image. What I find most lovely, are the imperfections. I painted this pear on a wood panel. You can see the life of the wood, giving character to the life of the pear. The bruising. The near wilting leaf. It’s all the “flaws” that bring it to life – that give the words meaning. I can see it in this painting. In this morning’s sun. Maybe even in myself. Oh, how we can rise!

Good morning, my friends, it’s time to shine!