Anniversary

Two years ago in March, covid-19 came to our country, the first restrictions appeared and then the total lockdown. No one had enough experience, but good enough information was rolling everywhere. At this point, I decided to start with watercolor.

As I have mentioned several times, I have held a mental block to wet techniques since childhood. But fighting this fear was easier than dealing with upcoming pandemic or better to say with scary scenario, served by TV 24/7. So I bought watercolor paints and paper and dived into tutorials. Which really helped, because I discovered a new world.

I didn’t stop living my life except the ongoing restrictions. But somewhere inside me a flame of passion began to burn, and it burns there up to this day.

My painting success is floating up and down, I am still trying to learn new skills and have more practice. Sometimes I push it too hard, but painting is still a great pleasure for me.

I would like to thank all of you, because your encouraging support helps me to overcome weak points. You deserve to know about that anniversary. Thanks for being with me on the watercolor road!

Hugs and love,

Ivana

My watercolor set of March, 2020.

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Vaccinated!

From the beginning, I was pretty sure I wanted the vaccine when available for the group of my age because I didn’t feel strong enough to fight this virus alone.

When vaccines began to appear like mushrooms after rain, I asked my intuition which one is the best for me.

Instead of a simple recommendation I got a short story parallel to each vaccine available at that time. Based on my imagination only, because I am not an expert in any concerned field.

First, I was thinking of P.B. and I watched at the brave warrior who was conquering new territories to rule over them. He was not ready to share the leadership, but was fully prepared to fight the external enemy.

Ok, it looks like extremely effective vaccine, but I am not ready to give a complete control over myself to this warrior. His ambition didn’t seem satisfied with the only task of protection against covid.

Then, A.Z. came to me like a mist that slowly settled into each and every cell. The main mission was not to dominate, but to merge and cooperate.

Yes! This type of vaccine I decided to get. And I stuck to my decision even after all the negative news that has been coming up in recent months. The mist and cooperation are not for everyone. Leaving responsibility to the warrior is much easier. Just as fire may seem more suitable for immunization than water.

So I knew which vaccine I wanted but I didn’t know how to get it. Deliveries were small and slow, mostly based on P.B.

I was patient, didn’t want to skip vulnerable groups. Last week, I finally signed up for the vaccination and prayed for getting A.Z. Unfortunately, this was the only way. Even though we have the right to refuse the vaccine, we cannot choose which one to get.

And you know what? The next evening my local GP called to tell me, that she had two A.Z. vaccines left and if I didn’t want one. Was it an answer to my prayer?

To be honest, I didn’t feel well yesterday. I had a strong headache with feeling like be drugged and body beaten. But I took it as a proof that the vaccine was working.

Additionally, my imagination watched the body, getting an intense course of fighting covid. If I went to the judo lesson, I would also have a beaten body!

I was quite fine today, the cooperation with the A.Z. has been started!

Hope you get your dream vaccine if you choose one.

Love and hugs,

Ivana

P.S. Immediately after vaccination I was very thirsty and within two hours I drunk about two liters of water. Which is, I believe, kind of natural prevention against thrombosis that people fear with the A.Z.

In the middle of lockdown

Since the covid pandemic invaded our lives, we have all experienced a number of restrictions and strange situations, as well as suffering or even death of our loved ones. We learned how to wear masks and read facial expressions only from eye wrinkles, when we are lucky enough to meet in person.

Staying at home, we are overwhelmed by the endless flow of catastrophic news and / or senseless political quarrels about things they cannot understand. Sometimes I feel that this is worse than the pandemic itself. Mentally and emotionally, I am tired of it.

Then, it is completely out of my comprehension how health professionals can handle such situation for more than a year. On a daily basis, they keep dressing up in protective spacesuits and fighting for lives. Unlike the rest of us, they don’t have time to complain.

Whenever I remember their work, I am ashamed of my petty complaints about how I cannot breathe through the mask, and I do my best to be obedient to all the restrictions. Although the current lockdown is very strict and many people are trying to get around it.

The pandemic also brought me something good or I should say great. It’s been exactly a year since I decided to buy a brush and paints and start watercolor painting. All the pandemic limitations gave me freedom to learn and try. And I believe that once the horror of covid-19 is over, I will remember the times of the pandemic in connection with my watercolor beginnings.

I would like to think that we keep the better memories if we can choose.

Recently, I learned how to draw and paint droplets. The first example doesn’t need a comment, the second one should be a tribute to the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. I hope the shamrock is clear but who would recognize that beer foam is covering the top? I still have some work to do. And I will be happy to do it, especially in the middle of lockdown.

Love and hugs,

Ivana

Dreaming

We’ve been living with pandemic for a year and it doesn’t seem to be better. Hospitals are about to collapse, even young people are dying, only the virus happily survives in new mutations.

From many reasons our little country is having a hard time just now. We are probably facing a strict lockdown in a few days. Listening to the bad news made me dream about the coming spring and my walks among flowers.

Until politicians find agreement on the lockdown’s terms, I will keep my dreaming. I need walks outside, even if I have to wear a top-class respirator on my face. Which became a reality since today.

Anyway, I hope to use my boots for walking not for gardening.

Stay healthy!

Love and hugs,

Ivana

Being a stranger

Do you ever think you don’t understand anything as if you’re on the planet for the first day? People seem to speak a weird language and want bizarre things, even from you!

Then I’m back in the little girl’s shoes, clueless and naive, pure blond and pink.

Because of the virus, we don’t live in standard circumstances, it is clear enough. But what some can make up to take advantage at the expense of the others, it took my breath away. In various forms, they grow like mushrooms after rain, considering themselves clever and others as fools.

Remaining a fool, I seek my balance in nature, where wisdom is still stable, hopefully.

Warm greetings to all who are still human and do not become hyenas.

Hug and love,

Ivana

P.S. Regarding my beginner’s watercolor painting, I’ve got a good advice today – less effort could bring a better result. I’ll try to implement it next time 🙂