is easily distracted

Wednesday, December 31, 2014











recent photos from my adventurers & explorations - shrine of truth & beauty found on the Back Harbour Walking Trail 

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.

T. S. Eliot

If I let myself I could/would get completely carried away with resolutions for this sparkling brand new year awaiting on our doorstep. Plans, dreams, goals, to-dos, want-to-dos, should dos ... could-I-dos ?!? I've done it many years in the past and I'm learning that too rigid a plan is often foiled by the unexpected and the unexpected sometimes is good, even better than the original plan. Like that email that arrives one instant in your in-box "Hi Susan, wondering if you'd be interested in creating a commissioned art piece for Starbucks ?" - uh Y-E-S !!! -  a super big highlight of my 2014 and an opportunity that came completely out of the blue.

So this year I've chosen one word to be my guide and a handful of supporting words (at last count I had 10 I'd like to ideally edit that down to a half dozen). I will choose a word, a theme for each month - January's word is promote - the secret of the self employed creative person - pitch, promote & pester ;-) 

I have a dreamy loose-ish, long list of want-to-accomplish-this-year items, most all of them have to do with continuing the building of my Creative Empire, with securing my future & fulfilling my daily passion(s). I want to do more, learn more, be more, be less, step out, step in, nest & settle in my new home of Lunenburg. I'm anxious about tomorrow, I'm thrilled about tomorrow. I feel like a runner poised on tippy toes at the blocks waiting for the Jan o1 2015 starting gun to go off. 

The one thing that is top of mind, the one quirk in my character, the one flaw or weakness in my role as my own employee, the thing that if I were my own boss (Hey Wait ! I am my own Boss), the thing that would be mentioned to me at every performance review is - Susan is easily distracted. That damn www. again, knocking on my brain, urging me to check my Instagram, google something, order that book from the library you just heard about, wonder something - wait why wonder ! Google again, what about Pinterest ... oh my it's been at least 10 hours since you opened up Pinterest ! if we were to look at my browser's history on any given day  - trust me, We would be appalled. 

Instead of falling into the mish of la la land by opening my browser (a billions x a day) I've decided to keep a small note pad beside me as I work away at my computer. I will instead jot  down that request to my brain for a future pre-planned www. playtime at the end of my work day - I know some of you who know me well just snorted with laughter and fell off your chair thinking to yourselves Yeah ! Right I wonder how long that will last ?

I'm going to try & if I don't succeed at first ... 

When you want something you've never had,
you have to try something you've never done. 

a big bonjour 2015 !!


bitter & sweet

Monday, December 29, 2014



oh my sweet Winnie Dixon I love you & I miss you + the most beautiful poppy perhaps that I have ever seen 

Someday you're gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You'll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing... Elizabeth Gilbert 

 I'm gearing up for this brand new year a favourite imd of mine it's no secret - I sure do love that feeling of a fresh page, a clean slate, and especially this year in my new home with my new life - a chance for a complete reinvention of me, myself, we & of course my bustling & ever growing Creative Empire ;-)

I've chosen my "one little word" for this year (details later this week). I tried on two others before I finally landed on the one + I love the idea of choosing 4 or 5 supporting words to go along with your main word and also the idea of choosing a word or theme for each month of the year.

Do you choose one little word to help guide you in the new year ? if so I'd love to here what it is and why you chose it. Want to know more about the process of choosing a word. Elise Blaha Cripe talks about her word in this post + listen to her podcast with Ali Edwards & her One Little Word project. Also Susannah Conway has a free 5 day email course guiding you to your perfect word.

Happy, happy Monday !

oh my geranium

Saturday, December 27, 2014










hot pink & white geranium blossoms, sunshine & most excellent photography assistant and all round best cat ever ! Oliver 

Everything always works out in the end 
if it hasn't worked out ... it isn't the end.

les very comforting mantra on rapid repeat in my head this early morning

hearts & diamonds

Friday, December 26, 2014










I found a beach & it's an easy walk from my house / seaweed / the green of the golf course / flotsam / beauty / Atlantic barnacles / awaiting spring / house boat / still like glass 

We need the tonic of wildness ... At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature. Henry David Thoreau

I know I need the tonic of the wilderness, of the ocean, of nature. The top two must-have's on my list of criteria for my new home were an easy walk to the ocean and an easy walk into nature - I have both in spades here in lovely Lunenburg. Spades & hearts & diamonds galore !

Recently I've discovered yet a third and completely unexpected must have. Perfect, sweet, and dear, still secret - a want so deep & intense I feel ill with longing for it. We're hoping, wishing & praying for this want to come true and if it does ... I will feel overcome with happiness, relief and enormous gratitude.

winnie + bleet

Wednesday, December 24, 2014


Winnie & Bleet - they were the best of friends and my best friends for nearly 15/16 years - love you, miss you

Wishing you all a merry & bright holiday season 
xoxo Susan & les Gang 


* Susan Black holiday card design circa 2001

'tis the season

Sunday, December 21, 2014















holiday scenes from our new home - lovely Lunenburg, including a few from Dec 06th & the Santa Claus parade ;-)

new york, paris, lunenburg

Saturday, December 20, 2014











lunenburg still life with lobster sign, vintage car & coke machine - sigh / from the other side of the harbour / more red building love / sunshiny explorations / interpretive signage / from Pelham Street / brightly coloured wooden buildings / potential ocean adventures - be still my heart / architectural details abound / more of last Saturday's incredible sky meets sea / in love !!

When you take the step towards your dreams you will be met with fears because you have never traveled this way before. As you go, you will discover that you had nothing to fear. Through overcoming your fears you give those that follow you hope that if they pursue their dreams, they will achieve their dreams. E'yen A. Gardner

I've been fortunate to have travelled lots in my life. New York City many times, perhaps a dozen and Paris 3x. I can vividly remember the feelings that would wash over me as soon as I arrived in those exciting, stimulating & perfect-to-walk-around in cities. Seriously ... I feel the same way about you - lovely Lunenburg, you are a treasure I am so thrilled to be exploring & discovering.  And I live here ! I'm not just visiting. Phew ! I can take a few breaths & relax into everything you have to offer.