Do you ever get me time? 
Do you ever set aside a calendar day just to become more of who you are?
When I know I have a day with no outside appointments scheduled, nothing looming that screams for my attention — that’s a day I covet and treasure and protect. I can dress in my jeans and denim shirt, and I can paint, or write, read or think. (Or all of those…) These are my play — as well as my work. These are what I do — and I do them best uninterrupted.
But it’s a rare day that goes uninterrupted…
Yesterday as I painted this watercolor, I remembered a blurb I’d written after one such day… I named the painting after the blurb: Gone Fishin’.
You can read it here…
I hope your day is as you want it… Feel free to share your own “Gone Fishin’‘” thoughts here. Over Coffee, of course. 
Barb
You can see more of my paintings here.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Love your Gone Fishin’. It really evokes the feeling of escape to the wide waters.
By the way, Happy Unbirthday. I had forgotten that we share a birthday! Last month was grey and dismal here in England so like you I have the feeling we never had an August. At any rate it has sunk without trace. Better things now the tang of Autumn is in the air though!
Hi Valerie,
“…it has sunk without trace. Better things now the tang of Autumn is in the air though!” I love how you worded that. Our weather was gorgeous — it was only time that came and went with a whisper.
Thanks for commenting on my painting. And happy birthday to you too! (I’d also forgotten we shared…)
Barb
Loved Gone Fishin’ and the painting. Close call which struck my heart more, thanks! Getting out that poster board now;O)
Thank you so much, Susie… for taking the time to read and comment. You’re going to share the poster when you’re finished???
My goodness but you’ve been busy with this blog, and it looks wonderful. I only had time to scan, but I did see your “gone fishing” watercolor. Just beautiful…but never mind the painting, your writing has such a lyrical quality Barb.
Me? I’m definitely the technical writer type unless I’ve dabbling with poetry. Lyrical prose is not my forté…ah well…LOL.
Great job on Gone Fishing.
I have to wonder though. You said the sign by the phone was for you, but what about your husband?!?!
I love your picture…but oh my goodness, your blog layout is beautiful!! I will be back to visit! Laurie
Congratulations on your blog! I admire your artistic talent in all ways! Not only the paintings are incredible, but the look of your blog really seems to reflex such a peaceful environment.
Coming from the opposite side of that, as in I’ve ignored all else for years, to the detriment of my life, I think I’ve used all my ‘gone fishin’ days up
Wonderful art and writing both Barb
I am taking the LVS Online class. Great blog!
Excellent point, Bean — I changed the last line. Not only do I need the boost to keep my own appointment, but he also answers the phone. Thanks.
Elaina, you fill a technical spot for so many of us. Not only are you an artist, but a geek as well — said only in the most loving of terms. And a great teacher…
Thank you Laurie and Daniela… my blog design comes from InfoCreek, their active link at the bottom of this page.
Dear Alice, you have many fishing days ahead of you — sometimes our best thoughts come in the quiet of the day.
Great class, isn’t it Karey? I’ll watch your blog too.
Thank you so much for coming to visit me. I accidentally hit the wrong and you went poof. I wanted to ask you more about the liquid pencils, I watched the videos, but I’m not sure I understand what the difference between them and watercolors. Have you found others that have used them? Laurie
Hi Laurie — I’ll get back to your site and reestablish myself.
Liquid pencils are pulverized graphite put into either a water solution or an acrylic polymer. I bought the water ones. They do paint like watercolors, only they’re not. When they dry, you can run your hand across the paper and get graphite on your palm. Just as if you’d drawn with pencil.
I love the colors too. (Six of them.) They are so subtle. I’ll have to post another, using all the colors. Just remember, the color pigment has been added to grey pencil, and looks like it.
Thanks for visiting and asking the question, Laurie.
Barb
Me time – go fishing… Those type of days don’t seem to appear on my calendar.
I am so envious of your artistic abilities. Beautiful work!
I truly enjoy your blog and paintings. I am craving such a day…trying to invent reasons for my family members (who I dearly love) to LEAVE the house!!
I want to clean alone…does anyone else love cleaning alone? There is a floor lamp in our living room that was knocked partially over by the dog. I could easily go over and set it up straight again…but I don’t….yet, if the house was mine, that would be the first thing I would do.
Yes, an uninterrupted day…a solo day that was just mine.
But then I think…what will it feel like when the kids have moved away? Do I crave something now that in the future will be too real?
In any case–I did take time for myself to view your gallery of paintings. You seem to make paint breathe.
Laura
hello barb, i’m taking the painter class at lvonline with you, i wanted to stop buy and say what a beautiful talent you have for this painting, and also to say thankyou, I’ve been looking at the tutuorial on the gorgeous little boy you painted, I’m going to have a go on the weekend, he’s so lovely, you’ve done a wonderful job, i’m off to look at your gallery and drool !, thanks again for sharing your work, cheers, sherryll
Thank you Sherryll – it pleases me a bunch when someone wants to use the tutorial to paint their own. I hope to see what you’ve done — are you on one of the painting forums? If not, hopefully I will make contact with you some way — maybe in class!
Barb
Sherry, I certainly know what you mean. Life wants to run faster than we do sometimes. That’s why a day like that, when you get one, is worth protecting.
It’s Biblical, you know. And studied from a psychologist’s point of view as well… If we don’t rest (meaning do something different) one day every week, our energies drop out the bottom. Sometimes that something “different” can still be work of sorts. Just a change of pace, one I choose, energizes me.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Barb
Hi Laura — thank you so much for your comment.
That someday — when your kids are grown and gone from home — will come tomorrow morning. Or so it will seem then.
So, while I often pined for a day alone to straighten the lamps and dust — yes, it’s a verb now and then — my mom wisely told me early on to not miss any of the today stuff. And a lot of it is stuff! But even stuff, when remembered later for such a writer as you, will bring tears of memory and joy.
That said, I understand you completely. That lamp upended reminds you there are games to get to, homework to help with, tears to dry, stories to hear, hungry mouths to feed, clothes to get ready for tomorrow, hugs to be given, night-time rituals to love your kids through… well, and a myriad of other things far more important than straightening a lamp.
When the light is needed, you’ll pick up the lamp.
Thanks for coming to my galleries!!!
Barb
I, too, used to crave for a day all to myself when the kids were younger. A break from the seemingly never-ending commitments to school, sports, etc. Guess what? Those empty nest days – right. Two of the adult kids have moved back in, and hubby now works from home. Peace and quiet? At least I used to have the time while everyone was gone for the day!
So tonight I leave for our second home, our condo near the grandkids. Hubby’s got a conference or two, I’m not really sure, and I get NINE days by myself! I have s couple of commitments, including babysitting and dealing with the contractor, but surely somewhere in there I will get some time to go through and try some tutorials, to sit and watch the river and just think. To calm my spirit, and spark my creativity which has been sorely lacking recently amid the chaos we call home here.
Patricia