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Well, I have been quite busy here as we are working on the Hungry Lucy songs for our latest album. Also, I have been busy in the garden, kitchen, writing the beginnings of a story and many other selfish indulgences.

I also completed a project for my youngest sister, Shara, and I felt a huge sense of completion with it. I did a photo shoot for her when she was pregnant and decided to make a true, old-fashioned photo album for her as a keepsake. I also gave her a disc with all of the files so she could get the enlargements she needed in the future. Anyhoo, since I completed the book, only last week, Micah, the baby, is now 6 weeks old… maybe even 7 by now. Gee. I didn’t work very fast, huh? But, it was great fun, and quite difficult in some areas, and I am happy with the outcome, as is Shara. She gave me permission to post a few pictures on here so you may see some as well. For now, I’ll just post my favourite one. I want to showcase them better in a gallery form soon, but this site isn’t quite ready for that yet.

I did a colour shoot, but then decided where I wanted the tone to be. This shot just screamed gentleness and rich blacks. It’s not quite stripped of all colour, but it’s just hinting at flesh tones. Shara and Chris, her husband, have such pretty skin and hands. Shara managed to have the perfect preggo belly!!

In other news, I have started the beginnings of a story I have been thinking of for a few years now. It was inspired greatly by my Father-in-law, Peter (I call him Dayadee) and my niece Christina. While the younger character Christina evoked has changed into an older woman, the essence of Christina’s spirit is still very much there. Then, while listening to David Darling’s album ‘Cello Blue’ I got the whole beginning scene/chapter in my head. I have since written that chapter and am thinking of what comes next. I got three folks to read it and they all wanted more. Good job on my part I suppose! My tentative title for this story is called “Days with Indigo”. I’m putting this out in the open web so people can ask me how the progress is going. I used to be afraid to do this, as it invited questions, and thought it would stress me out with people constantly asking me about it. I’ve done that with a lot of things in the past and never completed them. So, I’m trying a reverse method where I put out what I want to do in the hopes that people wanting it will make it happen faster! I do get distracted very easily with gardening. I think, in a weird way, it’s an avoidance tactic. If I don’t complete it, it can’t be judged. On the other side of that bitter coin, if I don’t complete it, it can’t be enjoyed either!

Another bit of inspiration for this story, the character of Indigo, is my eldest niece, Jasmond. When I saw the first scene in my head, I saw her as the kind, deep-brown eyes that stare back at the main character with hope and innocence. It’s not really based on her as a person, per se. But, certainly a frame of reference to the beautiful, kind people around us everyday. I think there will definitely be strands of Jasmond present in the character. How could there not be? She’s such a giving person, as is Indigo. Plus, I thought Jasmond might like that name It’s a bit mysterious, like her.

So, I hope to write this story/book or whatever it becomes by this time next year. The race is on! From this day forward, ask me how I’m doing on my story, “Days with Indigo”. If I fail to complete it by July 4th of next year, I shall forever face the shame of NOT completing my own work. You may hiss at me publicly and shout “for shame, for shame” in the streets!

I heard a quote from my tried and true old friend “Little House on the Prairie” just yesterday that made me wake up and realize I need to get a move on. The quote was this “There is no shame in the work you’ve done, only the work you haven’t.” I promptly sent War-N my thoughts and he loved that quote as well. It’s a good one!

Well, I’ve got a lot of work to do! I must, by the end of this year, make my end-of-year movie and finish the HL album. All the while, writing for ‘Indigo’. I love having a creative list of things to achieve. And the best part is they are all from my own desires! Maybe if I consider it just that, an achievement list, it will seem less like a task to be done. I don’t want to die not fulfilling my own dreams. That would be very sad indeed.

Ok then. Talk to you soon!

Much Love to All,

Christa Belle