Tag Archives: Artwork

Therapy + Snow = Snowball Fight With Therapist

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It snowed last night here in Seattle and it sucks but at least I was still able to see my therapist in person. My therapist and I discussed the death of my dad and how challenging it has been to lose him so close to my mom dying. We also discussed how not just my mom’s death but my dad’s death has increased my PTSD symptoms. While discussing the increased PTSD symptom my therapist noticed that I was starting to dissociate and thought it would be a great idea to go outside to have a snowball fight to allow myself to let my inner child out. So, today’s session focused on allowing myself to let out my inner child as I had a snowball fight with my therapist.

Allowing myself to let out my inner child helped a great deal with my dissociation and my therapist saw this as we had our snowball fight. She asked me in what ways I could let my inner child out so we discussed how my cat, Billie helps. I also brought up the fact that I never stopped coloring and continued to color despite being made fun of on the occasional basis from people. Coloring has always allowed me to be me and kept me connected to my inner child even though I didn’t realize it till today.

Now that I am home, I am coloring as I watch the local news with my cat, Billie sleeping in my lap. I love the fact that I have my cat, Billie in my lap purring as I color letting out my inner child. I am so happy that I let out my inner child today in therapy and that I am doing that with coloring at home.

I do not have much more to discuss or write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Sleepless In Seattle Type Of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is a few minutes after two o’clock in the morning here in Seattle and I am sadly unable to sleep. I am unable to sleep due to PTSD and insomnia which is nothing new to me. It is literally below freezing outside and is supposed to snow in Seattle. Other cities in the area already have accumulated snow. I do not like snow and I really hope we do not get any.

Since it is so cold outside I have my heating blanket on as I really do not like turning on my heat unless I have to. On that note since it is so cold and I am unable to sleep, I am coloring as I have my heating blanket on. I have this special lap desk I can use in bed which comes in handy especially when I don’t feel like getting out of bed and want to color. I really enjoy coloring.

As I color my cat, Billie is curled up next to me snoring. I am so grateful that my cat is in my life. I do not know what I would do without my cat, Billie. I love my cat so very much and I am so very grateful for Billie’s unconditional love.

I do not have anything else to discuss or write about in this particular blog post except, I really hope it does not snow in Seattle. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Daily Prompt; How Do You Relax?

Posted on by Gertie
Daily writing prompt
How do you relax?
View all responses

There are many ways that I relax. One of the ways that I have relaxed since I was a child is the water. I spent the first sixteen years of my life in California and there was not a week that I didn’t go to the beach at least once. Now that I live in Seattle, I go to various lakes as well as various places to access the Puget Sound. One of those things is taking the one hour ferry ride from Seattle to Bremerton. The water is so peaceful and relaxing. I go to the water at least once a week.

Another way I relax is by doing some artwork. I usually do art by coloring or diamond art/painting. I do paint rock on the occasional basis. I really like doing artwork as a way to relax and to be creative.

Another way I relax is music. I love listening to it as loud as my neighbors can tolerate when it is not quiet hours. I also love playing music on my flute even though I suck at it. It truly helps me relax.

Last but not least cats help me relax. That is one of the reasons why I volunteer with cats. Hell, that is why I have my cat, Billie. He helps me relax and I love him so very much. Anyone who has pets of any kind knows how relaxing they are. I love how Billie helps me relax.

A Good Day & Yet I’m Currently Dissociating

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It has been a good day for me here in Seattle yet I am currently dissociating which suck shit. I am not really one hundred percent sure why I am dissociating which is scary as hell but I am sure that it is PTSD related. I do know it was a cold foggy day here in Seattle which is probably why my depression symptoms are slightly worse. Like I said I have had a good day and I have been in a really good mood. I will take a good day and a good mood with slightly elevated depression symptoms over a shitty day any day of the week.

Something I realized around the time I got hurt by a neighbor in the summer of 2023 when my dissociation started getting bad again, I color when I am dissociated. It is usually a giant poster or two that are mandala type and/or kaleidoscope type poster. I also color smaller posters that are about eight by ten (or maybe eight by twelve). The smaller posters that I am doing are sort of the similar designs as the giant poster. I only color these particular posters while I have other posters I color and focus on when I am not dissociated. You can tell just by the coloring and the mindset I am in. I think I am going to cuddle with my cat Billie as I do some coloring. My cat is even more of a lap kitty or velcro kitty when I am dissociating. I think my cat Billie does this to make sure I am safe. I love my cat, Billie so very much.

I do not have anything else to write about or to talk about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, than you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Another Sleepless In Seattle Type Of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am once again sleepless in Seattle. At least there was no family drama involved this time around like last night. Sadly, my depression and PTSD symptoms have not decreased much due to being so hypervigilant from last nights family drama. I really dislike hypervigilance and wish I did not have PTSD.

Since I am unable to sleep again and dealing with the aftermath of the family drama of last night I have been cuddling with my cat, Billie. In fact he is all curled up in my lap as I type this particular blog. My cat, Billie has been curled up sleeping as I do some artwork. The type of artwork I am doing is coloring a gigantic coloring poster. I love coloring and enjoy doing it especially when my cat, Billie is curled up on my lap or beside me.

I do not have anything else to talk about nor to write about in this particular blog post except that I hope that I can get some sleep. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Attend an in person 12 step meeting
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Go to the DSHS office
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Attend a second online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Appointment with my employment specialist
  • Appointment with my peer specialist
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Appointment with psychiatric nurse practitioner
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Attend a second online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Go to the movies with my partner
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Go to the U-District Farmers Market
  • Attend an online virtual 12 step meeting
  • Go to the movies (again) with my partner
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)

Daily Prompt; How Are You Creative?

Posted on by Gertie
Daily writing prompt
How are you creative?
View all responses

I am creative in many ways. I, of course am creative with music. I started playing the flute when I was twelve years old. I was never good at it but I loved playing the flute. I was in the marching band as well as the concert band when I was in junior high and high school. In fact I started playing the flute again at the beginning of last year. I still suck but I love it as well as enjoy it.

Another way I am creative is by doing artwork. In fact I have painted a couple of pictures which I have given to friends and family. I have also painted rocks which I have placed throughout my neighborhood so people walking around can enjoy and take them for their homes. I also do artwork by coloring some giant coloring posters as well as some smaller coloring posters and coloring books. Another art form I do is diamond art/painting.

I really enjoy being creative and I hope you can find a way to be creative.

Billie Got the Zoomies; Want to Play & Then Eat, so No Sleeping in For this Cat Owner

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World. It is four forty nine in the morning here in Seattle. Billie, my cat decided to have the zoomies and after that want to play. I love my cat dearly but I would like to sleep in a little bit longer. Preferably eight in the morning but be okay with seven in the morning.

So my plans for the morning is feed the king of the house; my cat Billie Dean. After that, play with Billie. Right now his go to toys are balls especially the noisy ones. As much I wish I was asleep right now, I look at it two ways, Billie is getting me prepared to waking up early when I start work next week and that I have time to do some art work actually some coloring.

I’m pretty sure I will be listening to some music. Most likely my recovery play list. If I don’t listen to music then I will listen to podcast on philosophy. Specifically the podcast “Philosophize This.” I’m not sure why I like to listen to music or a podcast while coloring but maybe it helps me with the creative juices in my brain.

I do not have much more to say is in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog post. It is greatly appreciative from my end of thigs that you read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be writing my blog. So, thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World.