life, love and all that stuff

Being back here suddenly feels so unfamiliar to me. I have been away from my little blog and I apologize to all of you my dear friends for being gone. I hope your Halloween was wonderful and magical and I owe so many of you a big thank you for creating such amazing Witches Tea Parties. Thank you so very much.


Thank you also for all your concern and well wishes. Your emails meant so much to me and it warmed my heart to know that I was missed. It seems my personal life needed much of my attention and that is what I have been doing.

My husband and I have had our ups and downs, more down than up perhaps the last few years and it was time for us take a long hard look at what we wanted. And what we both wanted was to be better friends and partners to each other. So we committed to working much harder, starting with spending more time together.

The hard work is paying off but unfortunately my muse also decided to take a holiday. My creative juices just went out the window, maybe because I've been on this emotional roller coaster the past few months.

When I can't find inspiration to create with paint and paper I go back to digital doodling. I'm hoping it will jump start my brain so I can get back to creating again. I've had such amazing support from friends that keep encouraging me to start making things...anything! Thank you for being there for me.

I have also taken this opportunity to work on getting healthier. I had problems with my shoulder and arm all year and it took a while for it to start feeling close to okay. Stress has a funny way of putting you on an involuntary diet and when I realized I was dropping a few pounds I thought I might as well keep going, so I started walking and doing workouts again. I feel better and my shoulder and other joints seem to be doing better too.

So that is what's been going on here in my little world. Changes, hopefully for the better. Challenges waiting to be met. And if all goes well maybe I'll find my muse waiting just around the corner.


I hope you're having a beautiful season.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.


25 comments:

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Oh bless you both Anna dear for this new beginning in your worlds! Good things are worth fighting for...together!
All will be well if the hearts are in the right frame of mind...looking together into the future!
Hugs, Karla

Lisa said...

Sending you lots of hugs. Good for you with the weight loss and exercise. About the creative juices - I find that the harder I try, the more stuck I become. Maybe this is just your time to focus on yourself. Take care,
Lisa

Unknown said...

Oh Anna I can so relate to your situation with your hubby. My hubby and I have certainly had more downs lately than ups and we even went so far as to see a marriage counselor. One of things that she suggested, which seems so small, was to start holding hands again. I can't tell you the last time I held my husband's hand. How sad that something so little could be lost in the shuffle of every day life. I hope you find your muse again. I seem to have misplaced mine too.

Hugs, LisaKay

Betty said...

We had problems around year 10 in our marriage and we worked hard to make it work and it did. We have now been married for 35 years. During the time of trying to make it work was hard and took all our energy, but afterwards things got better for us. After you have gone through what you need to you will find your creative juices coming back stronger than ever.

Healing Woman said...

It's good to take a break once in awhile from blogging. It sounds like you have your priorities in the right place.

Leanne said...

Oh, dearest Anna . . . You actually popped into my mind just this week, and I found myself saying a little prayer for you hoping all was well. While blogging is such a wonderful way to nurture our creative souls, it's most important in these lives of ours to make sure we are nurturing the relationships that are right in front of us. We (the bloggers) will always be here, when our own lives permit. I am thinking of you, and hope that you are happy my dear. You deserve all the happiness in the world . . . Wishing you peace.

Art From The heart said...

Big hugs and happy wishes for the Holiday's.
So glad you are taking time with each other.
After 42 years of marriage we have founf communication is the most important part of staying together.
Hugs

Anonymous said...

Taking care of your personal life is much more important. When everything works out OK your muse will be back again, I'm sure of it ; )
Take care !!

goddessandmagick said...

I miss your blogs!! Glad to hear you are back, healing to your shoulder and love, to keep going!!!

Aisha @The Bewitching Bibliophile said...

YAy!! Your back, Im so happy your working out and getting healthy, Im also rooting for you and the hubby to pull through and get it done, making it work is always harder than quitting, and so well worth the fight!!! Good luck and I can't wait to see what comes out when your muse gets back online

Linda said...

Im sending you a basket full of huggs and kisses. I'm so glad to see you again. I was getting lonely with no insparation going on in my head...so very happy. All of my thoughts are with you. Happy days are sure to find you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Your muse is just waiting patiently in the background...just waiting for you. Be patient!

There is a time for everything in our lives and you saw that there were much more important things to tend to. Not many people would. We've been married almost 42 yrs and as Amy stated, talking is the most important thing. Not always easy, but worth the effort.

Glad you are taking time for yourself, too. We forget to do that sometimes.

Warm hugs
Jan

Dianie said...

Hi Anna,
You are wonderful!!!
Your priorities are right where they should be :)
I have creative blocks from time to time and I do digital doodling too.
Not near as good as you do, in fact i drool over your digital doodling.
I find it to be so relaxing and good for my soul, just a slight creative change.

Hugs,
~Diane

Queenie Believe said...

So good to see you in blogland. Our muses are as individual as each person they visit. Some folks connect the greatest with their muse in hard times and for others its the opposite. For me I'm much more free to the influences of my muse when I'm happy. I encourage you to be gentle with yourself, all will be healed and your muse will find it's way home.
Take very good care and have a great day.
Always, Queenie

A Magical Whimsy said...

Life has its challenges and we go on from there. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your muse will come back at the appropriate time...I have tried to 'rush' mine and it just doesn't work. So, I usually peruse doll magazines or blogs, and I found 'Just Steampunk' a magazine by Scott Publications I bought at Michael's. It had me drooling over the spunky creations...jewelry, dolls, and everything else. I will try any new art media that comes along and that is what keeps that creative process chugging along. At least I have a lot of ideas rolls around in my head.
Cheers!
Teresa in the Cloth and Clay doll ning.
BTW...I adore the image of your sweet angel girl in the red dress, stripped stockings, dark hair, and black and white diamond wings at the top of your blog page...soooo sweet!!!

A Magical Whimsy said...

Oops!...I meant to say 'rolling' around in my head'
And I see the girl in the red dress is a 'permanent' design in your side bar graphics. Love it!

Celia said...

So glad to hear from you....you have been on my mind a lot.....I know that your muse will return soon...stress can put blinders on us sometimes....but it sounds like you are on the right track. If you need to talk...I'm here.

TheBlakkDuchess said...

I'm so happy to hear that you & your hubby are working hard & putting in effort instead of just calling it quits. Working on problems with our partners is so important. ^-^
I'm glad your hard work is paying off. Yay! =D

Hang in there! Your muse will return & your creative spark will flare once again. Everything moves in cycles, so it's only natural for creativity to wane on occasion. You will find your inspiration. ^-^

Glad to hear from you once again.

XOXO

Ricki Treleaven said...

I wish you well during the holiday season! I hope you are feeling better in your marriage, and your health!

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Toriz said...

I was just wondering where you were, and wondering if it was normal for you to be gone from the blogs for so long...

I'm glad you have your priorities straight; the blogs can wait when you have important things like spending time with those you love to do!

*Sending you hugs and positive thoughts*

I'm sure your muse will be back in full force before too long... Just be patient!

pchickki said...

This piece is just beautiful. It has a 3D effect.
Best of luck to you and your hubby. I have the exact same problem and it takes alot of work so I wish you both the best.
Hugs

Anonymous said...

So wonderful to hear from you, Sweetie. I think we all hit times in our lives when we need to put our blogs on hold to care for our personal lives. Like everything in life, there is an ebb and flow and that includes personal relationships. Sometimes they continue beautifully with very little to no additional attention and other times they require adjusting, tweaking, or just learning to fall in love again. And look at the other wonderful changes that fell into place. Your muse is still there. She just wants to be sure you are ready to plunge forward again.

I can feel the need to pause myself for health reasons but am trying to hole out a little longer. Sending you warm hugs and sweet kisses, Mina

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Thank you so much for checking in, Anna. It was my pleasure taking part in your tea party...I know how much work that it was for you to put together. It is SO very important for you and your hubby to heal and grow closer. Your muse will return in time...don't rush things. She will reemerge in your life when she is ready. Sending lots of love and wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Anna,
You are such a true inspiration to so many! And actually, it's wonderful that you've had personal time...and I hope that life is treating you kind as you are such a wonderful person.
XO
Cindy

A Magical Whimsy said...

Hi, Anna
Just stopping in to say hello and to wish you a lovely Holiday Season!
It's a busy time of year...hope you are doing well!
Smiles!!! from Central California