The importance of finding time to create and just enjoy yourself

Sugar’s puppies have been so easy to are for, that apart from keeping Shuggie fed and getting some cuddle time with the babies, I have been pretty much free.  

They don’t keep me up at night, she keeps them perfectly cared for.

There has even been time to get the baby books done and completely updated. One litter at a time, is certainly the way to go!  I was frazzled and exhausted last fall with two at once.

Plus, Honey tends to lay on or step on her babies and I was constantly responding to terrified squeaks from puppies in danger.  Sugar is very gentle and these little sweeties have been a pure joy to have around.

In addition to the last round of pups needing more care, it was in the middle of a major puppy shortage and I was getting dozens of applications for a baby every day.  I was overwhelmed and not ready for such a huge response.

That made me decide to slow things down with these guys.  I haven’t actively marketed them yet.  I wanted a week of enjoying them as newborns and learning to tell them apart from each other before FaceTiming so many people a day, it is nice just to be with them, not try to sell them.  

It has been an ideal interlude, a time to relax and just be happy to have these new, little lives to love.

 
And I have had time to host some paint pour parties.  The paintings above are all done by the participants.

This is one of mine.

So is this one.  Acrylic pouring is such a relaxing craft.  

Typically, when I paint, I get too detailed, like in the rose behind these landscapes.  I decided to try pours to loosen up and get more abstract.  It’s not only been good for my style, it has been good for my soul.

 Following the paint as it swirls and glides around the canvas can be rewarding and zen like.

Watching family and friends create is every bit as refreshing as doing it myself.  I love sharing the technique and watching their colors slide around to form arty creations.  Fin and I did this one together.

My friend, Shanna did these two.

Friends are coming by today to see the pups and have a craft date.  Soon the puppies will become more demanding, I’ll be training and caring for them more each day.   I’ll be finding their new homes, interviewing families too.  And I love doing that.

But this last week, when they are all still just mine, not anyone else’s? It has been just what I needed.  And thank you to everyone who came for a craft day or to paint with me in the last couple of weeks, I sure have enjoyed it.