Digital art by Emily Dimov-Gottshall

The past few days have been scorching hot, and the added humidity has only amplified the intensity of the heat. Beyond the usual seasonal shifts, we’ve been witnessing dramatic weather fluctuations, a surge in hurricanes, and an overall heightened sense of urgency. These changes evoke a sense of fear and uncertainty about what lies ahead. It’s become increasingly apparent that we need to prioritize our planet, and this responsibility extends to those in positions of power. We, as individuals, can also contribute by making conscious choices, such as avoiding mass-produced goods that harm the environment and exploit workers through pollution and unfair wages. While it may require us to curb our shopping habits, the effort is totally worthwhile. Signed your environmental hippie in training. 😉

Recently, I’ve been exploring life without a car. Initially, it made sense to have only one car when I was working remotely. Now, I’m starting to have second thoughts, though at least I’ve reduced my carbon footprint a little. Here’s hoping my workplace remains within manageable distance.

On the creative front, I’ve been delving more into digital art. It’s a medium I find enjoyable and efficient. Nevertheless, I need to make more time for physical collage work. There’s a special satisfaction in cutting and arranging pieces of paper, discovering new connections between images – a process I absolutely love. This has me wondering, what artistic or creative outlets do others pursue? How do they express themselves? Balancing family responsibilities makes finding time challenging, but I’m determined to prioritize it, especially as a way to visually share my experiences and emotions. If you want to share your process of finding creative time/outlets let me know. I’d love to share!

Speaking of visuals, I’ve been grappling with adding photos and images to my blog here. I suspect it’s related to linking and supporting them correctly. It’s a bit frustrating, especially considering this is the “ART” page! I’m considering using a dedicated image host to overcome this hurdle.

Oh, here’s something exciting I did recently – I bought around 4000 sunflower seeds and decided to scatter them in my yard to see what would sprout. I’m still eagerly awaiting the results, hoping the recent mix of rain and heat will be in my favor. Of course, there’s always the possibility that critters got to them first, but we’ll see how it unfolds. If I do have some sunflowers blooming, I’ll be sure to share photos. If you’re interested, you can check out my Instagram page.