Lifelines in heavy times

As our democracy is in free fall, when it all feels too heavy to process and I wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety, I have three lifelines that tether me to some semblance of normalcy: my art, my hiking, and my granddaughter. 

How are the rest of you coping? Chime in with a comment or email me at sherriequilt@yahoo.com. Let's help each other get through this.

COLOR, COLOR, JOYFUL COLOR!

I've been making more quote collages, with the intention of joining them vertically and hanging them around the house. I've packed some in my travel sewing kit to work on during an upcoming trip to Spokane. Sometimes, when I'm watching the news and feel like I've been sucker punched, I get up and look at the piles of colorful fabric on my work table and it staves off a panic attack. (Although panic attacks are perfectly justified in these times.)

Blogging also pulls me back from the edge, with its color and creativity.

My plan to go on 70 hikes for being 70 years old this year also helps. Getting fresh air in nature feels so good, especially when you go with a friend and get your muscles pumping.

Barb and I went on our 10th hike yesterday, about four miles in pretty steep, rocky terrain under a fabulous blue sky only half a mile from my house. I tried to circle my little neighborhood in orange so you can see how close I live to the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, but something went wrong lol. Maybe you can make it out on the lower right.

Instead of taking a shortcut down the middle of the Linda Vista Loop like we usually do, we did the full loop with an added extra leg. We're getting stronger with each hike!

The brittlebush is blooming after our recent rains, and I've read that we're in for a big wildflower season this spring in Tucson!

And then there's my Juniper lifeline. I look at photos of her throughout the day and that grounds me. My daughter gave her paints for her second birthday and she created this masterpiece! (And her face was also covered with purple.)

Finally, RIP Bobby Weir, youngest member of the Grateful Dead who passed away last week at age 78. It was a shock because he's known for his healthy lifestyle. He died from an underlying lung issue after a brief battle with cancer. This joyful picture was on social media, but I don't know who the artist is to give credit. It was a black and white sketch, but my brother added color with an app and my son shortened Bobby's shorts, because he was known for his short shorts in his younger days.

I've been a Deadhead for more than 50 years, and we always look for the JOY.

Have a colorful day