Tuesday, May 29, 2018

A mindfulness note...

Upon reflection, that first photo of the truck may be one of my favorites of the town.  The haziness, increasing into the distance, has a very real look for me.  Real, yet still whimsical and imaginary.  I can lose myself in a vision like that, sometimes.

I'll carry that view in my mind and bring it forward... during a boring social occasion... a stressful medical appointment... a relaxing rest on the porch.  I can envision walking/exploring; I can dream up new stuff for Gailtown; I can escape to a place where there are no pressures, bills, stresses, threats.

Whatever situation my physical self is in... my mind (heart? soul?) can be someplace very different.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Fordrolet Pickup Truck

OMG... just realized... I didn't put any side mirrors or antennae on the three cars.  Back to the garage.





Saturday, May 19, 2018

The Beetle, Part 3

As I'm constructing this ancient VW Beetle, a very old friend commented... "That's just like the VW Bug you bought back in grad school!"

I blinked a few times as it sank in.  The first car I ever bought was a thoroughly dilapidated blue-gray 1960 VW Bug.  I was in college... the year was @1980.  I paid $250 dollars for it.  Astonishingly, it ran for YEARS.

Doesn't that boggle your mind?   It did mine.

The Beetle memory had faded and faded, only to sneak up on me in Gailtown.

I spent the next day or two reflecting on related dynamics...
*how many memories "sneak up on us?"
*what are these memories telling us?
*it makes sense to look around regularly and search out these emerging memories in places like... our dreams... our fantasies... our anger... our outbursts... or joys... our aspirations...
*I think a helpful question might be "what does this remind me of?" or "where is this coming from?" when we experience a moving emotion or event.

Interesting things may pop up... and be of assistance as we seek to be mindful, in the moment, at peace with the past.

For me... I think I needed, and profited from... some thought on past and present goals... acceptance, forgiveness, planning...


The Beetle, Part 2


Next steps...





Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The B-b-bus, part 5 (final)

I have definitely lost my mind.

Okay, here comes the bus... it turns off the highway, heads down Main Street, and parks in the boarding zone.

Don't believe me?  I have photos!








Friday, May 11, 2018

A Break from the B-b-bus

The doggone bus is so angular and mechanical and demanding that my eye wandered just a bit.

I decided to glue the arboretum's trees and shrubs down to a base.  It's easier to maintain/dust/move, and makes for better imaginary mindful strolls, too!






Thursday, May 10, 2018

The B-b-bus, part 1

This is probably the hardest project yet. 

Bus structure is so precise and angular, with so much metal and glass and detailed thingies.

A 3-D bus will be really difficult.  If I can't get a satisfactory construction, a 2-D stand-up may have to do...





Tuesday, May 8, 2018

The Bus Stop, part 6

A busy day at the ol' Bus Stop.

Signage was completed, including a roof sign.
The tin roof was finished and applied.
The distressed asphalt base/parking lot was finished.
The building was attached to the asphalt.
The bus stop was situated in Gailtown.

This is a fun little scenario that could host all sorts of meditation "trips", visualizations, guided imaging.  If you ride busses in daily  living, close your eyes and imagine/experience a ride to Gailtown, or anyplace, really.  If you don't ride a bus, then maybe you're a passenger in a car.

And as always, this kind of leisurely construction is so relaxing.
I find it usually has these stages...
* dreaming up the general idea for a building
*itemizing functions, areas, floor plans
*deciding where to start... materials, methods
*experimenting with actual building 
*the usual progression... exterior to interior... large items to small items...
*deciding when you're finished... no pressure... I still go back and add or perfect previous places.

Engaging the imagination with hand-eye activities is calming and mind-body integrating, and just plain good for ya!


Next, I'm gonna make a bus.  Yes, a BUS.   Well, I'm gonna TRYYY...