The clock is ticking!

Marking Time. 2015

JB-Calendar Flyer-2 pdf 1 page

I'm spending some time thinking about how I spend my time. Time like currency can be valued, invested or wasted. It can also be appreciated, gifted, hoarded, savored or shared? Above all else, even currency, time is our most valued asset. How we spend it shows us what we value.

Last year we created a calendar specifically for Child and Family agency of CT. I thought of this project as a one-off until I'm in the car, my mind wanders to calendar appropriately as I'm on my way to our Child and Family November meeting. As these things happen: I was greeted by Suzanne with an eager question, "Jill are you doing another calendar this year, my friends are asking, I hope so". I smiled, laughed actually, and said, Yes! That is how it happens. An idea comes and when we're listening, the Universe reinforces it (someone asks the question) and when we're paying attention we recognize it, chuckle, and we get to say yes, or no.

January's illustration is titled, "KFS", knife fork spoon, and marks what could be called the never ending eating and feeding, or, it can mark how we share a meal. Growing up I remember family dinners, we were required to share our day's activities with more than grunts and groans, no chowing down and jumping up to escape. Sharing a meal, especially a home cooked meal, creates sacred time.

Mech-Calendar-2015-final marchThe "Travel" collage is for March. This particular piece was first shown in Paris. I was excited and nervous to be sharing these nuanced messages to a rather traditional French gallery goer. The message being, "no matter where I go the who I am goes too!" This can be traveling the world or on your way to the office. Are we happy and courteous, or snarly, rude and impatient? As we travel, we're creating a trail and setting the tone for the day. What's it going to be ~ happy day or a stress-filled, angry day? The collage also reads: "In the absence of hurry I miss nothing". If time marks our lives and we're not present in the moment - creating, noticing, participating, what's the point?

"What we shared was more than wine and time" is November's message. The glass jar was gifted by my Boston friend, Judy. The kitchen tiles were specified by my interior designer friend, Karen. Linda, my assistant, had the idea to shoot it. The photograph was taken by Lisa. Multiple friends, plus Paul and I, contributed to the corks. Collaboration is the real spice of life.

Mech-Calendar-2015-final novemberMech-Calendar-2015-final October

The calendar wouldn't be complete without a coffee and croissant at La Palette, my favorite Left Bank café. La Palette, has existed since 1913, and remains authentic to its history. The backstory is: the creators of the café were coal sellers. They came to Paris from the mountainous and rugged Auvergne region in the middle of France. The tradition was when you bought coal from the ground floor of their home or apartment, the wife served you a coffee. It was so appreciated that the idea for a café was born. Young men were recruited from the Auvergne region to work the café. These were and still are stern and serious, not always user-friendly, workers who have left their mark on the café. La Palette is located in the St. Germain art gallery district and the tables in the back dining room are "Reserved" for the regulars from the neighborhood. During my recent October visit, I was able to have a late breakfast in the back room. Two small round tables in the middle of the room were my only choice as all others were already set and "Reserved" for lunch. It so made me smile!

Cheers! To You! & Yours!

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