FILM26 - D

Its time for the letter D over at FILM26. 

 Staying the course with my encaustic letter panels....

all the way to Z is the goal

Me and D

 I ordered another box of Impossible Project Film to see if I can't do a little better with my Polaroid.  This one actually turned out the best of the first lot. 

Deciduous

 Two shots from the doors of the Asian Museum with their Art Deco styling

Deco 1

Deco 2

 And... of course, my D photos would not be complete without the Doughnut at Seattle's Volunteer Park

Doughnut

Whisper

Whisper
Encaustic on Birch Panel
20 x 30

This is Whisper.

She is the latest in the portraits around here.

My husband likes this one so she gets the spot of honor in our main floor family room.

The particular wall has been empty since we moved in

waiting for the right artwork to come along.

Whisper gets the lucky spot

Until she gets bumped by something better.



Good Boy

Rufus
Encaustic and Paper
on Birch panel
10x10

This is Rufus.

Its a sweet painting for a sweet boy.

Well, really its for

my very good friend, Ingrid.

Ingrid is hosting me for a few days in her lovely home

outside of London.

I'm feeling so lucky to be able to visit her.

We've known each other for ten years and have been connected through the internet and visits here and there for 8 of those years.

Ingrid is the reason I am on Flickr.  She is the reason that I fell into photography.  The invite that came from her to join in her 365 was like a life ring thrown out to me.

At that very point in time, I needed something.  

I needed a creative outlet.

Flickr opened the door to a world of people that are similar to me.  Its a place we all come together and cheer each other on.  Encourage, laugh, cry, and partake in each others daily lives.  I've never met any of my Flickr friends, but I do call them friends.

Its a funny place, Flickr.  Its a community.  And, thanks to Ingrid I found a place there on Flickr and a place in photography.

This painting is for you my friend.  Many thanks for your hospitality and your friendship over these past 10 years.

You can find Ingrid (and Rufus) at her beautiful blog

The Fable of the Table

or follow her on Flickr at

rufusandco

Good Food Update

I am now through week two of the TQI Diet.  Kathy Abascal's "To Quiet Inflammation" Diet.  You can find it here

The second week builds upon the first.  We all dropped weight, started feeling better and all the good things associated with her plan.  Here's some things that I have learned:  

1.  there is more to eat than fruit.  It seems to be the "go to" item in the first week. 
2. eating Quinoa for breakfast is really really good. 
3. not having wine in the evening is really OK - sipping lavender tea after dinner is really nice.
4. by mistake, I learned that eggs are a food to which I am sensitive.  They give me a headache and a runny nose.  And depending... they give me a bit of tummy upset.
5. I tested for wheat sensitivity - yep, sensitive to that too.
6. I sleep better and wake up brighter
7. I feel way better and have lots of energy
8. there are tons and tons of recipes for good food that works for this plan that are available out there
9. I'm surprised that I really don't miss the foods on the elimination list
10. my husband is eating better, because I am making us better foods in better proportions.

Food sensitivity is an interesting thing.  I am finding that two of MY foods are not doing me much good - wheat and eggs. 

Does that mean I can't eat them - well, no... but if I have the choice to not, then that is what is best for me.

What does sensitivity mean?  Well, I find if I eat these foods I go from feeling really good to feeling a bit dragged down, headachey, and generally not good.  Can I tolerate it - yes, of course.  Turns out I have for years and not really understood why I don't feel 100%.  Did I feel good two weeks ago before this diet plan?  Yes, I did or thought I did.  However, I feel much better now.  I have just gotten used to feeling the way I did and thinking that was what I get in life because that is how I have always felt.  That's the point I guess.  You take away the foods that cause inflammation and you feel better.  Much better.  It is said that you really don't realize how bad you feel, until you feel better. 

There is so much more to this than I am saying here.  The way our bodies process inflammatory foods - well, and just how the body functions in regard to how we eat.  This information really brings home how all this works together.  Its an important part of this diet plan.

OK, with all that said... 

I have to kinda make due here the next 10 days while I am away.  But I will make the best choices I can and go with it.  Its just nice to know what to avoid if I can and if I do eat these foods, well... I may not feel my best but I will be just fine and understand why I don't feel my best.

By the way... my best is now reset to a new level.  Its nice to be there for sure.

As I said before, I am not pushing this diet - I'm just sharing my experience.  Maybe it will inspire you or maybe not. 

But, I do have to say it is nice to have a new standard of how I feel every day.