Painted Rock On The Barton Creek Greenbelt

Stay At Home Adventures

It’s summer and I want to be outside.

Swimming, hiking, camping, road-tripping.

But the coronavirus infection rates in Texas have dramatically increased since Memorial Day and I want to protect myself and others. So, I’m staying in…or at least, close to home.

To satisfy my wanderlust, I’ve been going on solo hikes and walks around my new neighborhood. It’s a small neighborhood, only a few winding streets, but it’s on top of one of the tallest hills in Austin and has great views. It also happens to be a few miles from a big city park that offers swimming, camping, and miles of trails.

So, maybe I can plan a great stay-cation?

Looking out over Lake Travis, on a trail near my home.
Someone is leaving these adorable painted rocks around my neighborhood.

I originally planned to take a week off in June to relax and prepare for work on my next series of paintings. But like so many other items penciled into my planner, that vacation time was erased by the pandemic.

I’ve worked hard to adapt to the new reality of life while distancing. My art show was canceled and shopping feels safer when it’s online, so I’ve been taking online classes to gain the skills I need to run a better business and build a better website. It’s still a work-in-progress, but I have some art prints available in my online shop and the Art For The People Gallery has added my stickers to their website.

Looking for opportunities to exhibit, my friend and I participated in The National Arts Drive , a drive-by art show created to support artists who have lost the ability to share their craft.

It’s been good to stay motivated and busy. Having goals to focus on has helped keep me positive. But it’s been a difficult time for everyone, and even my free time can feel like work.

As much as we may try to keep it light, conversations with friends and family are pulled toward current events. We grapple with the new normal, grasp for actionable steps, and strive to understand different points of view and incorporate, tolerate, or fight against them.

It’s been a lot of work, all of this new information, new perspectives, new challenges, moving into a new home. I think it’s time I took a break to process it all, so that I can integrate it into a new life.

Like a butterfly in its cocoon, I need to rest so that I can transform.

Taking time to get outside and out of my head is vital for maintaining my mental health.
I regularly hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt and recently discovered the Lost Creek portion, with its impressive cliffs and flowing water.
On one of our hikes, my friends and I found this obviously hungry and lonely cat meowing around the trash cans. He is now healthy and happy in his new home.
Scenic drives are a great way to get out of the house while socially distancing. Earlier this year, some friends and I did a convoy tour of Willow City Loop, which is a perfect day trip from Austin.
Just going for a walk can have huge rewards! I discovered this cactus in bloom along the side of the road, in a neighbor’s yard.




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WHAT’S KEEPING ME BUSY

Weekly free professional development classes for creatives, online at CreativeLive.

Improving my art-photography skills after watching this amazing instructional video.

Finally getting a cute, washable face mask by Carly Weaver.

Talking about the invisible privilege inherent in not knowing about historical events like the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Listening to The Happiness Lab podcast, with tons of tips for improving your mood.

Working on some cute sticker designs and a painting commission which I’ll be able to share soon!