Josie's JUNE 2023

_{For the 3rd year now - it's not a June if there is no dandelion wine.}

Wanted to reflect back on June, but more in a Journal style with a focus on visuals. I've always admired pretty journals on pinterest but had never tried out the style myself and now that I have finally tasted the probability of maybe, finally not being afraid of drawing, it is clear to me, that I just need to get out and through as much as drawings as I possibly can, to eventually catch the feeling, that maybe I can draw SOMETHING after all.

It's difficult to explain this irrational fear, but it's so ingrained in the bones, that I have to fight it constantly. So the intention is - max exposure to the fear - feel it and draw anyway. The fear is there not only before starting, you know, the fear of white paper.. no, no, it's constant.. finish one item/line, be afraid to mess everything up with the next. Finish the most epic drawing that you've ever done - look at it and sit with the fear that you couldn't even reproduce it, let alone that you could ever come close to drawing anything that epic ever again.. constant, constant.. nonsense.

_{The loveliest white hibiscus in a pineapple pot did not have a drainage hole at the bottom. We had to drill that to save the plant from possible root rot.}

For this Journal page I wanted a frame that would visually join the separate elements together. I opted for.. you guessed it.. coffee. Added bonus - the page smells deliciously now. ^^

The downside (after hours of playing with coffee on different kinds of papers to see what happens) - is reduced readability. Yes, I overdid it, I admit. But hey, at least I had fun. And also, the readability of the texts is never really a focus in journals like these, so the mere hint of a text works just fine. For your convenience, the text (with corrected spelling) is also provided here below the images.

_{Why waste monies on garden games, when you can just make them yourself?}

With my birthday and summer's solstice June has flashed past in a glimpse. I can only find solace in a belief that July and August might be just ever so slower and more forgiving.

Honest to God I have no clue where that time just disappears. If I manage to stick to the rough idea of attempting to draw at least something each day in July then maybe at the end of the month I'll at least have something to show for, otherwise, if someone asks what I have been doing this whole time, the only thing that comes to mind is - washing dishes, mostly. There are always more dishes to be washed. xD

_{Fire-safety first! Always.}

And yet, somehow it feels as if the summer and quite honestly life itself is only now starting. It is a weird feeling. Especially knowing that I have no idea where that life will eventually take me. The probabilities are endless.

The only thing that I know for sure is that the summer is for enjoying here and now. Whatever happens after that is up to.. ..forces.. of life and destiny. Meanwhile, I try to relax into the unknown.

So for now the plan is to enjoy and make the most of the summer. Draw, draw, draw. Read books, go for walks, weed the garden, go swimming, wash dishes, start renovating grandma's house together with dad, continue with my sewing projects, learn trading, play-pretend to be a pirate, you know, all that summery jazz. ^^

June has been quite hot and dry, so we're now welcoming any tiny bits of rainfall that we (but mostly garden) get these past two days or so. It might be that the whole of July turns rainy now, but hopefully, we get to go to the seaside too at some point.

But that's that for now. Have an epic summer!
Catch you soon enough. ^^

Hugs&Coffee,
~Josie~