Willow's Five Questions

Last week Willow of Life at Willow Manor, was interviewed by Steph and then she invited any of her readers to participate if they so desired. I was one of the volunteers. Willow emailed me five questions. Here are my answers. If you would like to be interviewed by me please let me know in the comments section and I will email you your five questions.

I’ve called myself artist before, but I’ve never really thought of myself as one. Instead, I’ve thought of myself as a person with some artistic talent. I think there is a difference. As a person with artistic talent, I am proud of the fact that I’ve tried to improve on that talent.

2. How do you balance your career, personal creative time and attention to your children and grandchildren?

Balance…there is no balance in my life anymore. That is one of the perks that you can afford yourself when you live alone. Who does it hurt if you stay up to 3:00 am? Who is hurt if you don’t do the dishes for a week? Who cares if you never cook? Except me that is.

When it comes to work, being creative and giving attention to loved ones, it is also impossible to be balanced. My career always takes the hit. For me, my job is what I do to pay the bills. Being creative and nurturing my relationships with those I love are the two most important things in my life. If I have to choose between those two, people always win. Time with children is fleeting. Treat them well when they are young and you will always have friends. I not only love my children, I like them too. I admire them. They have grown into exceptional people. They are fun to be around. I hope my grandchildren will grow up with good memories of me. I love it that I’ve been dubbed the crafty grandma and the grandmother who tells stories to them. Grandchildren make you work hard though. Just when you’ve forgotten how to play, how to be messy or how to be silly, they come along. I’m blessed and I know it.

So in conclusion, I think I’ve always been unbalanced. I like myself this way.

3. Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?

I think maybe Martin Luther. I understand the doubt, the self-examination that an analytical mind can impose on one. I understand wrestling with God in the search for answers to unending questions. I understand the peace that comes with salvation through the free gift of God through Jesus Christ and the determination that these truths must be shared.

4. What is your greatest personal extravagance?

I don’t have many extravagances. I simply can’t afford many. If I could I would travel constantly. I’ve been lucky in my life to have seen a few of the sights on my list. There are many more as yet unseen, probably never to be seen, but a girl can still dream. In the meantime, I indulge myself with the occasional treat from Anthropologie and Barnes and Noble.

5. Besides your children and grandchildren, what is your most treasured possession?

This question has me stumped completely. I like my jewelry. I like my entertainment center. I like my teal crushed velvet jacket. I like my Fiestaware dishes. I wouldn’t want to do without my craft supplies and paints. But, if asked what I would grab if the house was on fire I would say, my purse, my jewelry, my photographs: my purse for practical reasons, my jewelry for vanity’s sake and my photographs for sentimental reasons.

If you would like to play along, here are the instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the

questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview

someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask
them five questions.