Longboat Key, Sarasota Florida

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

The Gulf Coast.

Florida

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

I'm enjoying our last few days in Florida. We are in Sarasota and the weather is mixed. It's warm, 80 degrees F., but it has turned windy and cloudy. The Gulf of Mexico has some substantial waves which I found surprising. On the local news they have a count down to the last days of the hurricane season. It begins June 1st and ends November 30th. Sarasota is a big town. Population about 370,000 in total, but probably 50 to 100,00 in the city proper. There is a lot going on in the arts. Ringling College of the Arts is located here. The Ringling circus family have contributed quite a bit to the cultural life of Sarasota. This is the first time I will spend Thanksgiving in a warm climate. I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Traveling

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

Traveling abroad but will be back soon, stay in touch.

Color Color Color

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

I guess we all know how much I love color. This image is made originally from clouds. Playing with the colors and finally combining two images together. 

Expectations

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

Expectations, we all have them and what are they exactly? We have expectations that are part of our rearing and home environment. Basically the expectations of the family at large. Then we have expectations that we acquire as we experience life, and the ones that we think we should have and hope to or want to acquire. Now, how does this effect us? 

I wonder if what we receive in life is equal to our expectations? What we expect we get. Can we live life without any at all? I'm sure Buddhists think we can. Having realistic or unrealistic expectations can effect us enormously. If you have unrealistic expectations you set yourself up for lots of disappointment and pain. By contrast, if you have realistic expectations you gain confidence and self assurance by accomplishing what you expect to. How do we differentiate between what's realistic and unrealistic? Between expectations that are our own and the ones that are not?

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

I suppose by knowing ourselves intimately. Taking a hard look at what is really possible for us. But that might mean placing limitations on ourselves where none exist. We may think or feel that some things are beyond our reach and this may not be true. I think there is nothing worse then imposing limitations on people. Life can be magical and wonderful things can happen if you are open to them. Perhaps its necessary to think, believe and have faith in possibility. Isn't possibility a wonderful word?! It's origins are Latin and pertain to ability. Possibility is extraordinary, mysterious and implies potential. I think if we have the expectation of things being possible, then it is probable, that wonderful things will happen to us in this life.

Snow on the Jura Mountains

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

We woke this morning to snow on the Jura Mountains. Winter is imminent now. Geneva is surrounded by mountains. You have the Alps on one side and the lower Jura mountains on the other. The Jura lie mostly in Switzerland but a good part of the western sector lies in France. The mountains above are the view from my flat here in Geneva but they actually are in France. The highest peaks of the Jura are in the south, in the Geneva area and include Cret de la Neige at 5,636 feet and Le Reculet at 5,633 feet, both in France. If you are a skiier Geneva is a wonderful place to live. In a half hour to 45 minutes you can find yourself in an ideal place to have a run. I remember the first time we drove up a local mountain side and just pulled the car over to the side of the road, parked and took the lift right up. No fuss, no lines, pure joy, amazing. Especially wonderful if you have small kids. So easy.

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

It's that time of year when I promise myself to do "winter projects". I always imagine extra time to do things not yet done. You know, all those either personal or artistic ideas that have been floating around in your brain. Yet somehow it remains elusive to me. Each year I'm just as busy as I always am. I think one should try to make space all year long for experimentation and personal projects. Experimentation and personal projects are fun, and after all, we all need fun!

Two Pears

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

Two pears just before we ate them.

Autumn in Geneva

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

We have been so fortunate with the weather here in Geneva, but today it has decided to change. I was walking in the park and I remembered something Joseph Campbell had said in an interview I had seen. He said, "I have such enormous admiration for mothers". He considered motherhood an incredible sacrifice. When my children were small, life was usually hectic and busy. I didn't have the luxury of contemplating "my sacrifice" if indeed I thought I was making one. Now that the girls are in college and I have more time for reflection, I am able to see bits and pieces of sacrifice emerging. I'm not sure where I will go with this, but explore it I will. 

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

When we lived in downtown Manhattan I remember other artist friends who wouldn't dream of having a child because it would take away from their art. They were absolutely correct, it would. Other artist friends had only one child. They felt it gave them more free time and flexibility, as a couple with a child and not as a family per se. I will admit there is a big change going from having one child to having two. Women have a complex life to lead as wives, mothers, sisters and lovers. So much to juggle, to do, to be. I'm like Joseph Campbell. I admire women. Being a good mother is such a wonderful, difficult and consuming job. If a women is able to achieve more than that, they are super women to me.