My friend, Wendy and I have a sentence we speak to each other, over and over.
It comes from the book of the same name by Anne Lamot.
One of us will call the other and lament over something that might be overwhelming in our day. The other one says, "Just take it bird by bird, friend, bird by bird."
Some days we list our birds.
Just do the laundry bird first. Then worry about the dinner bird.
Wait before you blow up, then tackle the conversation bird.
Just get the kids to school and then you can put your day back together, bird by bird.
Big or little, it is a great reminder.
Hence my newest journal entry:
How many birds do you tackle in a day?
How many birds do you tell to take flight?
(Don't ask how many I have had to chase out of my house.)
How many times do you change direction in any given day?
I used dry cleaning tags for the center of this piece.
They line up nice and straight, but then, like life, they end up ragged and sometimes sideways.
I have an obsession for collecting these. Mine seem a little dull as far as dry cleaning tags go, but I like them for some reason. I doctored them up a little for this project. The colors were too "new", so I tossed them in some left over coffee for the day.
not bad!
There are days I feel like I am many different "birds".
Momma bird.
Trying to find life's instructions for the day.
A bird with a little bit of a dark side.
Or just a bird trying to figure out how to keep the nest from self-destructing.
Some days messy, some days not so much.
Always full of others...
What are your "birds" today?
NOTE:
All birds are from Jamie Miller at:
I just love your bird collage! Where did you find those darling birdies? And great philosophy, too!
ReplyDeleteyou save dry cleaning tags...what a great idea!!! We don't get the tags. Ours uses something else. Hmmm...may need to change dry cleaners, LOL. Well, a wonderful collage, to say the least. Wonder of she has a website or fb page and you could tell her about your blog spot and invite her to look at it. Fab idea!! Love your work. Always.
ReplyDeleteI love this piece of art. It's so personal but so colorful and universal at the same time. Looking at it is about how I feel on a daily basis too. So many directions, goals and responsibilities to tackle everyday. Such a cool way to present them.
ReplyDeleteApril @ HomeHinges.com
Wonderful collage!
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without our birds?
Have a great Wednesday!
:)
I love the bird collage...I love birds!! Have a great Wednesday. Susan
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn -
ReplyDeleteI love your collage, but even more, I love your post. Many days I feel like I've got a flock of birds swirling around my head. I am inspired and encouraged to send them away today.
thanks again!
:-) Molly
Hi Lynn! What a clever lady you are! That was a wonderful post and I wanted to say thank you too for your very sweet comments about my "Labor of the Heart" post. I also wanted to let you know that I am going to be featuring your Wet Suit post at my Inspiration Friday party this week. It was so hilarious and it needs to be high-lighted for sure! :-)
ReplyDeleteVanessa
P.S. Hope you will linky up your birds to the party this week too!
It's been far too long since I've been able to visit ...
ReplyDeleteback from CA now (most of me at least) and playing catch up
The first thought that came into my head when I read "bird" was YES your post about chasing the birds out of your house ... I really did "feel" that post ... the hairs on the back of head actually LOL!
I think your dry cleaner tags are lovely and even better after a java bath!
Such a thoughtful sharing post and creation dear Lynn.
Birds of a feather we all are at times, aren't we ... you have my bird wheels turning
free bird
mockingbird
Lovebird
thank you for inspiring me again and again!
oxo
I love the quote and the bird journal is so fabulous...a true work of art ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous weekend!
Julie
I absolutely love your journal page. You are very talented. I often through things in the left over coffee for the day and wash them out when I get home! You are a girl after my own heart. I'll be following! Thanks for your visit today to my blog.
ReplyDeleteVicki at Rusty Rooster Vintage
That turned out just beautifully! You did an amazing job. And love that saying too, will have to keep it in mind!
ReplyDeleteAnd is Jamie not the best? She came to Wicked Tea this weekend...gah, I love that gal! She's a hoot.
-c