Challenge 107: Quandry

Once again I find myself playing catch up with my posting.  I've spent over 2 weeks out of town with my very ill 93-year-old mother.  This was her worst bout to date, and she is still very weak and now mostly bedridden, which is very difficult for her. 

The time I spent with my mom really highlighted to me the virtues of tangling.  It was something I could do that really seemed to relax HER as well as me.  I sat close to her, sharing her hospital bedtray as a table.  She seemed to really enjoy just being with me and watching, without having to talk or do anything herself.   If she wanted to talk, she could, but mostly she just watched and dozed.  I tangled a nameplate for her nursing home room door (one letter per tile, that's seven tiles right there), plus lots of other tiles.  The tangling kept me calm and focused during a very trying time.  Plus, the supplies are so easily portable and take up so little space in a small room.

In addition to spending time with mom, we had to clean up and close out her assisted living apartment, since she needed to be moved to a nursing home.   And once again I was struck by how much I've learned from tangling.   Don't be overwhelmed by choices.  Take things one step at a time.  Small strokes lead to completed works.  So many really helpful life lessons, all from one simple art form.

Now the zentangles.  First is this week's Diva Challenge, using the new tangle, Quandry.

 

Next is Challenge 105, Dansk.

 

And finally, a few others from my trip.