The ARTS are my saving grace.
I NEED
visual arts,
musical arts,
literary arts,
culinary arts,
~ ALL the creative arts!
I am so thankful for the variety
of ways I am able to see, hear, feel, taste,
and experience artistic expression.
Thank you to all the artists who make my life rich!
My blogs are one way I try to give back to that commUNITY.
It's my hope that you see or read something here
that accentuates your own gratitude
and motivates you to venture into investigating new experiences.
This is a documentation of my monthly muses and doings.
Thanks for your interest in my explorations!
This month I met up at the Art Institute with friends from a former life.
Three and a half decades ago I lived in a magical neighborhood
where "pick up play" ruled my calendar
and lifetime friends were born.
What a blessing to go through life with others.
Snail mail, e-mail, calls, texts, and social media
have allowed me to keep and deepen these connections.
Many of the photos that I plug into my blogs are
references to people I hold dear.
Snoopy items are a shout out to a past next door neighbor.
Sometimes I even buy Peanuts stuff
and meet up with the person for a drop when I am back in Ohio.
It makes my thrifting hunts more fun.
Taylor Swift swag gives me a hug. 
Winnie the Pooh themed items put a smile on Granny's face.
Readers will notice a slant toward PEACE related
and '70s memorabilia.
Taking a photo gives me the thrill
of reminiscing without actually owning the item.
(Our basement is full enough!!!)
Okay, truth be told, I DO buy lots of these things
and even have a couple e-bay searches going on...
(That's how I found my Susan Bristol faire isle sweater!)
Did anyone else have a Toot-a-Loop radio?
I wonder if this is actually MY former radio!
Where DID my childhood stuff go?
Why wasn't I a better ward of these incredible belongings???
I wasn't thrifting for awhile because I have stopped
major purchasing of items for my YMCA camp.
(I can't completely stop!)
Being on my feet on hard floors for long periods
of time is also really hard on my knee that was fractured.
But I stop into big box and small resale stores
that fall within my monthly path.
I've also been given an assignment to find something in particular
so that lets me "justify" my adventures. HA!
Here are February's finds:
(My mushroom lovers know who they are!)
This pair of unicorns is coming the the Ishkaboobie
at Phantom Lake YMCA Camp.
(Bought this shiny gem and this handmade scarf.)
Y'all know puzzles have been a nice meditation tool for me.
I buy so many of them secondhand.
This one had a little note in it that said,
"Missing one piece."
How thoughtful!
When I am doing puzzles I like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts.
I'm reading this book on Kindle.
It was recommended to me when I told a friend I would be traveling soon.
I have discovered a local bookstore and attended a storytelling event there!
I have dabbled in dog sitting again
and have some neighborhood pups I love to walk.
(Sometimes with a dear neighbor.)
The three dogs on the ATV live in Thailand.
Maybe I'll meet them someday.
We sure miss Magnus.
But I do love how much easier it is to clean my home!
Cleaning is so physically painful!
Golly, my body gets sore from vacuuming!
(Dog sitting can be such a spa moment of meditation.)
They are a shout out to a Mission:Pic peeps but mostly
they are a reminder to notice the little things.
It's also entertaining to see the temperatures!
February has been a chilly month here in Chicagoland.
I am missing two very special people.
These are sweaters they owned with a sailing broach
that reminds me of my Thailand bro.
Recently I was given some Israel postcards
that were gathered by one of these loved ones.
I am so thankful more hostages are being released.
I doubt I will ever get to Jerusalem.
Before October 7th I was signed up for a trip there.
Now the holy lands are terror lands.
Continued prayers for PEACE around the globe.
Thank you to those of you who reciprocate.
Avocados are common on my blogs.
They are a love letter too.
I am "one of those people" who take photos of food.
Digital photography lets me "taste" deliciousness again
and maybe expose others to new concoctions.
(I will say, those pics are the ones y'all write me about the most!)
Sometimes the food is so yummy I am halfway done
before I remember to snap a pic to share!
These crabcakes from Ann Sather are an example.
"Magnus Pym" wrote a review for this amazing restaurant.
Go check it out!
I found someone's credit card while mailing a package
to my friend who has 26s years cancer free.
(WOO HOO!)
The woman insisted that I take some Belgium chocolates as a thank you.
YUM.
I was also mailing some important items to my mama.
Taylor Swift and she have something in common. 
Sometimes many arts are mixed together with one theme.
The Oscars are this weekend.
I have won a "Guess the Oscar Awards" competition at a big theater event.
I love films.
But I gotta tell you, some of the movies I watch
TERRIFY ME.
(For different reasons...)
Many movies are so sad and many that I adore
don't even end up in the award nominations.
Streaming services continue to give me great joy.
When I dog sat I was able to see the Bridget Jones movie on Paramount.
And I watched some documentary features about Saturday Night Live.
The 50th Anniversary special was amazing.
It was so cool to see John Prine on a older show!
And of course libraries are such a gift to us all!
So what's your MOOD these days?
Are you able to maintain some sense of serenity and peace
among the many changes in America and the world?
Are you using your power for advocacy?
(Martha Rich is the graphic designer.
@martharich63 on Instagram.)
(I am also looking forward to this event:)
I am also very excited to be heading to SAN DIEGO in a few days!
Here's to hoping the March blog will have pics
of parks, oceans, sunshine and more!
I hope you have things to look forward to and JOY happening in your lives.
Peace be with you,
Jen Pen
