Those of you who are my Facebook friends know that two weeks prior to leaving on our recent five week around the world trip, I was loading the dishwasher and ended up with excruciating back spasms for no reason that was obvious to me. It was so bad I had to call my sleeping husband in the next room on his phone to help me to the bedroom because I couldn’t move. I had sincere doubts about being able to make the trip. However, we threw everything we could think of at it (i.e. cold, heat, steroids, ibuprofen, and valium), and miraculously, I was able to travel and didn’t have any back problems despite taking 13 flights during the 5 week trip.
Unfortunately, this past weekend, I decided to get a jump start on my perennial New Year’s resolution to get more exercise. There is actually a gym in the building where we live, so I can’t use as an excuse, “but it’s raining/snowing/too hot/too cold outside,” ad nauseum). My husband, Mr. Excitement, volunteered to show me how to use the equipment. I started on the treadmill, did some rowing, and then a circuit of weight training machines. By the time I finished, what had been a twinge in my back on the treadmill, had crescendoed into a full blown spasm in the same back muscle that was affected last time.
Note to self: There’s a reason why they suggest people of a certain age obtain guidance from a medical professional before initiating an exercise regimen. It’s true that Mr. Excitement is actually a medical professional, but he’s a pulmonologist (lung doctor). If I have pneumonia, he’s my guy. Otherwise, I clearly need to see a physiatrist or physical therapist who can prescribe appropriate exercises for me.
My orthopedic drama notwithstanding, the winter holidays approach apace. I’ve seen some lovely Christmas and holiday inspired Zentangle Inspired Art online. I found this Pinterest board by Debby Morris High and I’m sure a trip down the Google and Pinterest rabbit holes will produce a plethora of other Christmas/holiday inspired Zentangle Art.
I’ve come across some lovely tangled Christmas ornaments, and I’ve used Zentangle Inspired Art to produce book marks that are great stocking additions for your bibliophile friends. Even though many of us now do most of our reading digitally, bookmarks still seem to delight.
Hump Day Zentangle® Challenge #22
Zentangle Inspired Christmas/Holiday Art
(If Zentangle is a new concept for you, you can read more about it here.)
My father was an artist. Every year, he used to make and silk screen the family holiday greeting card. One year, he used one of my bird designs. I was surprised and have a residual warm feeling about this because he considered me his musician child, not his artist child, a designation reserved for my talented youngest sister.
This week’s Hump Day Zentangle Challenge is to create some Christmas/holiday inspired art. Since discovering Zentangle Inspired Art, I no longer buy greeting cards for special family members and friends. Rather, they seem to enjoy receiving one of my own creations. I recently did this card, perhaps channeling that Christmas long ago when my father picked one of my birds for the family holiday card:
Here’s another:
For these bookmarks, I used pre-cut blanks. I tangled on one side of each and used 2 sided adhesive tape to tape two together. I then laminated them in plastic, used a one hole punch to punch through the laminate covering the hole and used tassels I bought online. I also used a special punch to round off the laminate corners which could otherwise be quite lethal. I’ve also made bookmarks with beaded tassels. At the end of this post, I’ll add a buying guide in case you want to give them a try.
Please Share Your Hump Day Zentangle® Challenge Creations!
Please share your responses to this week’s challenge with us in the Hump Day Zentangle Challenge Facebook Group and/or on your Instagram, Twitter or Flickr feeds. Use the hashtag #hdchallenge22. If you’re not a member of the FB group, ask to join and I’ll be happy to add you. The more the merrier.
There are other ways to share your work: We also have a Pinterest group board to share our Hump Day Challenge responses. Email me at suzanne@boomeresque.com if you’d like me to add you as a contributor to the Pinterest board or you can mention that in a comment with your Pinterest name below.
If you have your own blog and are posting your challenge responses there, leave the URL to your blog in a comment below so people can paste it into their browser and find your post. (PS: The first 2 times you comment, I will have to moderate the comment. After your first two comments on Boomeresque, your comments will appear without moderation.)
Feel free to share your work for this or any challenge at any time—even next week, next month, next year, ad infinitum. Participation in the challenges need not be linear!
BUYING GUIDE FOR BOOKMARKS
(These are affiliate links. If you purchase anything using these links, Boomeresque will receive a very tiny commission that does not affect your price.)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I know a fabulous physical therapist, based in Bala CYnwyd, who really knows her away around senior backs.
She probably doesn’t take your insurance but she’s worth every penny.
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll probably try to find one closer to home, but if that doesn’t work I’ll ask for her contact info.
Am I missing your affiliate links?
Here’s praying for a quick solution to the back issue! I hear yoga is very good to help strengthen your core, thus your back – even chair yoga.
I want you and Mr, Excitement to have a WONDERFUL Christmas.
We did some “restorative” yoga this summer and I’m sure it’s good for backs, but I think I better see a PT just to make sure I know what I’m doing. To see the affiliate links, you need to click on the title of the post you receive by email. That takes you to my actual blog, then they show up at the end. I’m obviously not doing this for the money.