A Toast to Strong Women. Models for All Ladies

      This week, fearless women spoke truth at the impeachment hearings: Fiona Hill, Marie Yovanovitch, breathtakingly strong and articulate, reminded me of Anita Hill's testimony years ago. Recently we have seen  the strength of Nancy Pelosi, Christine Blasey Ford, Jennifer Williams, and Laura Cooper. I remember watching, without ceasing, the Hill hearings and have found it difficult to overlook Biden's heavy hand at that time.I remember staying up all night to paint Anita and the Ships of Fools for a show at the SMFA the next day. I have awaited the absent muse for a visual idea for today's strong,stirring souls.

       Where to get ideas? A meeting this week at the Quilters Connection last week reminded me of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. In the book she encourages one's writing, uncensored, three Morning Pages a day, possibly in a notebook. By the end of the week I usually have so many ideas I have to quit writing.Do you need the Muse for a creative project? Try Morning Pages. I purchased and will reread The Artist's Way, it is so good.

        I don't recommend rewarding your creative efforts with the sweets I have been baking: acorn- and leaf-shaped muffins (molds from William Sonoma), buttermilk biscuits while reading Morrison's Beloved, Jen's vanilla buttermilk cookies, and rolling pen-embossed seasonal cookies. Some goodies went to the church fair, but most to Joe and Linda. I am now off sweets and making a myriad of bookmarks for my book club exchange. Fewer calories. Google "fabric book marks" or "embellished fabric bookmarks". A lot of fun awaits.

     Hmm...the title to this post suggests a visual "toast." Maybe the muse is hovering.