This is so great Sue. The list of enjoyable things - and the way you illustrate them - is really inspiring. I do believe that where we put our focus is often what gets magnified and it's so easy to put it on worry and stress but so valuable to put it on what's working and what gives us joy.
Hurray for Lady Cinnamon Sugar!! The rest of my day will be sweet. I like your idea of a list of enjoyable things. There are so many enjoyable things I encounter on a day-to-day basis. I should start writing them down!
So glad you liked Lady Cinnamon Sugar!!! I hope you do begin keeping a list!!! Sometimes, especially if I'm feeling down. I can reread some of my list and feel richly blessed again. Sometimes my list is also a resource for how-to-successfully self-soothe... I can pick one of those listed items and enjoy it again. Thank you again for asking "where's Lady Cinnamon Sugar?) I appreciate you!!! 💚💚
Oh thank you!!!! And it delights me that you'll keep your own list of things you enjoy!! Just listing one item a day helps me maintain my sense of hope. We win every second we are hopeful and pleasant with ourselves and each other (and not full of fears and hates as the authoritarian types wish us to be). Hang in there!! As Joyce Vance so often says "we're in this together". 💙💙
Thank you!! In my original sketchbook that peacock feather was created by using gouache in a watercolor manner. When I reproduced my original sketchbook I tried hard to make the reproductions match my original sketchbook pages. Thanks again!!
Ooh, I’m thinking I might have seconds for breakfast - cinnamon toast! Yum!
So much to love in here. You’re a prolific artist and I adore the thought-provoking words. I’m definitely someone who has learned that what you focus on is what happens, so I focus on the good stuff and thankfully really enjoy my life.
By the way, sharing the PDFs works well. I so loved the Breakfast Drawings book that I ordered a real book for my sister for Christmas. Wishing now that I’d bought two as it is just so lovely. (And arrived so promptly too!! I’m in Australia.)
Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. Thanks for all you do. 🤗🤗😘😘🌼🌼
Wow!!!! Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!! I appreciate hearing that you're enjoying your life!!! I also appreciate hearing that my PDFs work well and that the printed book arrived to you so quickly!!! Yippee!!! Thank you so much!!! Sending you heaps of love and best wishes in return!!! Thank you again for your kind comment - it's a keeper!!!! 💚💚💚💚
Btw: That book order link will be reusable whenever you wish for it 😘
Sue Sue Sue! I love this!! I keep a mini notebook (with lines, otherwise quite resembling your sketchbooks) with tabs for boring adulting items like passwords, work, and finances. I buy these in a 3-pack. As soon as I post this, I am going to get a new notebook off the shelf and start adding at least one sweet thing per day (probably more, but at least).
I thank you for this ludicrously simple and effective way to practice that daily recognition that, no matter what happens, we are insanely lucky to be alive. I also 100% agree with you that what we focus on expands. This is one of my mantras. The trick is to *keep* noticing what we are focusing on! Bless you, sister, for such a lovely post! 🐇🐰❤️ -Kate
Oh Kate thank you!!! I'm delighted you liked my newsletter!! I'm even more glad you've already got a book you can use to start your own lists of enjoyable things!!! Hurray!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
My copy of A.M. Sketching arrived today and is delightful! I thought I could zip through it in a single sitting but found myself lingering ,thoughtful..I have only looked at a few pages so far! Definitely time for me to slow down.
My lovely partner, Tom, turns wood into wonderful angels, bowls, candlestick holders and most recently, joy jars. I have some lovely paper, cut into strips that I can write a joy upon. I plan to review them at year's end and begin anew to commemorate joys and gratitude.
Oh thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!!!! It makes me happy to hear about your joy jar project with your partner and the delightful things Tom makes!!! My hugs to you both if you'll accept them!!! And it makes my artist heart thump with gladness that you're savoring my book!! 💚💚💚💚
Oh! Just thought of a cinnamon sugar memory from childhood. [Historical note: "back then" i.e. before the internet, before VCRs, before cassettes even, you could only watch cartoons on Saturday mornings because, well, that's the only time they were on TV. For reals. So it was a standing appointment with kids.]
My next-oldest sibling and I used to get up early on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. We would get our own "breakfast" which consisted of Pepperidge Farm oh-so-white bread (but not as gross as WonderBread), toasted to perfection. Because there was no adult supervision (even older siblings were still sleeping), we *smothered* our toast with butter, which melted into lakes. Before it soaked in, we did not sprinkle, but *dumped* cinnamon sugar onto it fast. The goal was no "dry" cinnamon sugar remaining. The result? A thick, dark layer of the most amazing, crunchy (due to all the sugar), buttery, bready, kid ambrosia that existed. Two pieces each with milk. Then Looney Tunes: Buggs Bunny, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Huckleberry Hound, Roadrunner, Daffy Duck...all of them. "I'm gonna get me a wabbit..." (Elmer Fudd was such a dud and Buggs so smart, that of course he never succeeded!)
Thank you for Lady Cinnamon Sugar's emergence, and her artful evocation of this most treasured and poignant memory, as the brother in question was badly injured on the job, and like many, was over-prescribed pain meds, became addicted, and with the alcohol combination, slowly declined and died prematurely in his mid 50s. So this is indeed a treasure. Thank you for this happy gem! 🐰❤️🐷
You're so welcome!!! What a real treasure such memories are!!!! 💚💚💚💚😘 P.S. you and I might be of similar vintage as I grew up with a similar standing appointment with those very same favorite only-on-Saturday-morning catoons!!!!
Yes! It's so fun to share that vintage experience! I forgot Tom & Jerry, Sylvester & Tweety, Pepe LePew...I know I'm forgetting some. Love it!!❤️🐔🐰🐷🐓🐥🐈⬛🦨
Thank you so much!!! Do you keep a list of things you enjoy too? I suspect that you might because so many of your poems are so attuned to the small daily pleasures. 💚💚💚
After reading your post, and coincidentally meeting a stuffed bunny by the roadside on my walk last few mornings , I bought the book and am excited to read it!
This is so great Sue. The list of enjoyable things - and the way you illustrate them - is really inspiring. I do believe that where we put our focus is often what gets magnified and it's so easy to put it on worry and stress but so valuable to put it on what's working and what gives us joy.
Awww Thank you so much!!! I'm delighted you liked it!! Thank you for your wonderful comment!! 💚💚💚
Hurray for Lady Cinnamon Sugar!! The rest of my day will be sweet. I like your idea of a list of enjoyable things. There are so many enjoyable things I encounter on a day-to-day basis. I should start writing them down!
So glad you liked Lady Cinnamon Sugar!!! I hope you do begin keeping a list!!! Sometimes, especially if I'm feeling down. I can reread some of my list and feel richly blessed again. Sometimes my list is also a resource for how-to-successfully self-soothe... I can pick one of those listed items and enjoy it again. Thank you again for asking "where's Lady Cinnamon Sugar?) I appreciate you!!! 💚💚
Sue, you’ve outdone yourself this time. I’m ready to make my feel good list to save me from 2024 gloom! ❤️
Oh thank you!!!! And it delights me that you'll keep your own list of things you enjoy!! Just listing one item a day helps me maintain my sense of hope. We win every second we are hopeful and pleasant with ourselves and each other (and not full of fears and hates as the authoritarian types wish us to be). Hang in there!! As Joyce Vance so often says "we're in this together". 💙💙
Ps: the peacock feather , looks like done in water color is Amazingly beautiful.
Thank you!! In my original sketchbook that peacock feather was created by using gouache in a watercolor manner. When I reproduced my original sketchbook I tried hard to make the reproductions match my original sketchbook pages. Thanks again!!
It is amazing work.
Aww Thank you!!! 💚💚💚
Ooh, I’m thinking I might have seconds for breakfast - cinnamon toast! Yum!
So much to love in here. You’re a prolific artist and I adore the thought-provoking words. I’m definitely someone who has learned that what you focus on is what happens, so I focus on the good stuff and thankfully really enjoy my life.
By the way, sharing the PDFs works well. I so loved the Breakfast Drawings book that I ordered a real book for my sister for Christmas. Wishing now that I’d bought two as it is just so lovely. (And arrived so promptly too!! I’m in Australia.)
Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. Thanks for all you do. 🤗🤗😘😘🌼🌼
Wow!!!! Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!! I appreciate hearing that you're enjoying your life!!! I also appreciate hearing that my PDFs work well and that the printed book arrived to you so quickly!!! Yippee!!! Thank you so much!!! Sending you heaps of love and best wishes in return!!! Thank you again for your kind comment - it's a keeper!!!! 💚💚💚💚
Btw: That book order link will be reusable whenever you wish for it 😘
I have learned that too
💚💚💚💚💚💚
Sue Sue Sue! I love this!! I keep a mini notebook (with lines, otherwise quite resembling your sketchbooks) with tabs for boring adulting items like passwords, work, and finances. I buy these in a 3-pack. As soon as I post this, I am going to get a new notebook off the shelf and start adding at least one sweet thing per day (probably more, but at least).
I thank you for this ludicrously simple and effective way to practice that daily recognition that, no matter what happens, we are insanely lucky to be alive. I also 100% agree with you that what we focus on expands. This is one of my mantras. The trick is to *keep* noticing what we are focusing on! Bless you, sister, for such a lovely post! 🐇🐰❤️ -Kate
Oh Kate thank you!!! I'm delighted you liked my newsletter!! I'm even more glad you've already got a book you can use to start your own lists of enjoyable things!!! Hurray!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
My copy of A.M. Sketching arrived today and is delightful! I thought I could zip through it in a single sitting but found myself lingering ,thoughtful..I have only looked at a few pages so far! Definitely time for me to slow down.
My lovely partner, Tom, turns wood into wonderful angels, bowls, candlestick holders and most recently, joy jars. I have some lovely paper, cut into strips that I can write a joy upon. I plan to review them at year's end and begin anew to commemorate joys and gratitude.
I love the turtle mandalas!
Oh thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!!!! It makes me happy to hear about your joy jar project with your partner and the delightful things Tom makes!!! My hugs to you both if you'll accept them!!! And it makes my artist heart thump with gladness that you're savoring my book!! 💚💚💚💚
Oh, such wise, inspirational words in a deliciously beautiful post, Sue. Awesome, as always.
Awww thank you so much!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Oh! Just thought of a cinnamon sugar memory from childhood. [Historical note: "back then" i.e. before the internet, before VCRs, before cassettes even, you could only watch cartoons on Saturday mornings because, well, that's the only time they were on TV. For reals. So it was a standing appointment with kids.]
My next-oldest sibling and I used to get up early on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. We would get our own "breakfast" which consisted of Pepperidge Farm oh-so-white bread (but not as gross as WonderBread), toasted to perfection. Because there was no adult supervision (even older siblings were still sleeping), we *smothered* our toast with butter, which melted into lakes. Before it soaked in, we did not sprinkle, but *dumped* cinnamon sugar onto it fast. The goal was no "dry" cinnamon sugar remaining. The result? A thick, dark layer of the most amazing, crunchy (due to all the sugar), buttery, bready, kid ambrosia that existed. Two pieces each with milk. Then Looney Tunes: Buggs Bunny, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Huckleberry Hound, Roadrunner, Daffy Duck...all of them. "I'm gonna get me a wabbit..." (Elmer Fudd was such a dud and Buggs so smart, that of course he never succeeded!)
Thank you for Lady Cinnamon Sugar's emergence, and her artful evocation of this most treasured and poignant memory, as the brother in question was badly injured on the job, and like many, was over-prescribed pain meds, became addicted, and with the alcohol combination, slowly declined and died prematurely in his mid 50s. So this is indeed a treasure. Thank you for this happy gem! 🐰❤️🐷
You're so welcome!!! What a real treasure such memories are!!!! 💚💚💚💚😘 P.S. you and I might be of similar vintage as I grew up with a similar standing appointment with those very same favorite only-on-Saturday-morning catoons!!!!
Yes! It's so fun to share that vintage experience! I forgot Tom & Jerry, Sylvester & Tweety, Pepe LePew...I know I'm forgetting some. Love it!!❤️🐔🐰🐷🐓🐥🐈⬛🦨
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Love the video of you drawing. Thank you for sharing. And your journals too.
Thank you for viewing my work - and especially for your kind comment!!! 💚💚
Love this post Sue! Lady Cinnamon Sugar is adorable!
Thank you so much!!! Do you keep a list of things you enjoy too? I suspect that you might because so many of your poems are so attuned to the small daily pleasures. 💚💚💚
After reading your post, and coincidentally meeting a stuffed bunny by the roadside on my walk last few mornings , I bought the book and am excited to read it!
Awww you're so kind!!! Thank you!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚