Women's Quarter: Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

I was at Aldi's returning my cart when a sweet woman came up to me and said, "Here! Take my quarter." It turned out to be one I hadn't seen before—the Dr. Mary Edwards Walker US quarter. Oh yay!

Mary Edwards Walker made history as the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, where she served as a unpaid, contract surgeon despite women being barred from the military. Born in 1832, she earned her medical degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855, one of the few women to do so at the time. During the war, she worked tirelessly for the Union, even being captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war for several months. She was released during a prisoner swap. In 1865, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for her bravery. The U.S. War Department revoked it in 1917 for not meeting the military criteria, but it was restored by Congress in 1977 after a long campaign by historians and advocates who argued that her service and achievements were deserving of the recognition. According to the Smithsonian Institution, she remains the only American Woman to receive the military decoration.

Mary was also a passionate advocate for women's rights, especially when it came to dress reform. She rejected the restrictive clothing of her time and championed the right for women to wear more practical attire, like pants. 

On a side note, I'd like express gratitude for women like Mary Edwards Walker, Amelia Bloomer, and Elizabeth Smith Miller, all of whom played pivotal roles in advocating for more practical, less restrictive clothing for women!

Walker's defiance of gender norms extended to her personal and professional life, where her choices often clashed with society’s expectations. Her unconventional lifestyle, including her decision to wear men's clothing, contributed to the breakdown of her marriage to Albert Miller, who struggled with her defiance of societal norms.

Mary passed away on February 21, 1919, at the age of 87 in Oswego, New York. What an extraordinary life she led—one marked by being a prisoner of war, a relentless defiance of societal norms, and an unwavering commitment to helping others through her medical work. Her story inspires me! Unfortunately, her quote rings true: we often wait too long to recognize great people. But perhaps this little post will help bring her remarkable story to light just a bit more.

Located on her statue by the entrance of Oswego Town Hall

Holloman Air Force Base display

Post Civil War - "reform dress"-shortened dress with bloomer pants

Circa 1911 - often seen in a man's top coat and hat

Our Lives in Watercolor: Exploring the Process

Arcadia Round Barn - Oklahoma

In January, as part of my Pride & Prejudice themed activities, I immersed myself into watercolor painting. Like many women during the Regency era, the book character Georgiana Darcy would have likely taken up painting as a graceful hobby, and I wanted to explore this.

To get started, I picked up some hand-held watercolor paints and a sketchbook. The paint set came with a brush that holds water inside so I don't need to carry a cup of water to clean the brush and I learned the tip of wearing a workout sweatband on my wrist so I can clean the brush on it instead of trying to keep up with a rag or paper towel to wipe the brush with between colors.

So far I've painted 17 little scenes using different techniques while following artists online. And of course, what thorn in my side keeps coming up? My perfectionism. You see, I planned to keep all my paintings in a book to see how my art develops. I guess somewhere I developed the expectation that each piece would, of course, get better, right? The other day though, I worked on a fairly advanced painting technique. It was of a window with raindrops where someone had drawn a heart in the condensation. At one point near the end of all my work on it, I smudged it. "Ruined!" I thought, "All that work for nothing." I was ready to tear the page completely out. But, when I had such a strong reaction, I started to ask myself why I was so frustrated or felt the need to hide my mistakes. So what if it didn't turn out? It's my art book...I could just start another one on the next page and try again. After all, I had just watched a video of an artist that painted the same scene four different times to develop it how she wanted it. And, isn't that what many of the great artists do? Did I really think that the best works of a master artist was from their first attempt? That's silly! There's nothing wrong with practice. Why was my expectation so high? Well, because I'm always fighting my own perfectionism and being results oriented. What a great lesson watercolor painting is for me!

But not just in art—I'm trying to change my approach in life too. I want to ease up and not view my life as something I must “get right,” but more gently, like an experiment. Creator Malama Life on YouTube shared this idea of looking at your year's activities as an experiment and it's been giving me a fresh perspective. Instead of viewing my goals, art, or daily tasks as successes or failures, I'm focusing on learning what works and what doesn’t—almost like gathering data for future growth. Researchers don’t get upset if an experiment doesn’t work. They take note and try again, maybe in a different way. When I view outcomes in this gentler way, I can use that insight to focus more on the process instead of the result. If you're a perfectionist too, this approach can help take some pressure off, allowing curiosity and growth to be the paint on your brush instead of a perfect outcome.

Lately, I’m learning to embrace imperfections as part of the process—because it’s often in the 'mistakes' that the magic happens. My raindrop painting ended up better than I thought it would because the mistake caused me to try a new technique to salvage it. An experimental artist finds freedom in the process, and I long for that same freedom. What if, instead of striving for perfection, we embraced our lives in watercolor—exploring each brushstroke and enjoying the process instead of focusing on the result? Perhaps it’s time to be gentle on ourselves and find more joy in the journey itself.

Below are a few of my recent art pieces. Enjoy!

Dandelions  - salt technique; didn't work but still cute!

Snowy Day

Chocolate Mug Goodness

Love this mountain scene

Hazy Dayz

Negative Space leaves

Just Flowers

Free Style

Little Chirper

Forest - the artist painted this one 4 different times.

2nd salt technique attempted, didn't work. Ha, but it's pattern inspired me to turn it into this little turtle!

Obscure

A Perfectionist's Lesson

Mountain technique

 

Rediscovering Life Beyond the Digital Noise: A Shift in my Online Landscape

I’ve been reflecting on how much of my time and energy is spent in different digital neighborhoods. While I enjoy technology, it’s time to rediscover life beyond quick videos and baiting. I deleted TikTok after it went dark, and even if it comes back, this feels like the right moment to bid the app adieu. I’ve been off Instagram since March 2024, and now I’ve decided to change how I use Facebook as well. I’ll still gather information about my favorite people and communities but I won’t use it for my own life updates, photo sharing, or engagement any longer. (No phone app either, just occasional desktop access.)

This shift grows from a desire to live more creatively and cultivate personal projects, giving me the room to focus on my own life rather than just watching others live theirs. ❤️

Privacy is also a priority—I’ve grown uncomfortable with how much access companies have to personal data, regardless of what country they’re based. That’s why I’m moving towards my Blogger platform, where I have more control and can share updates free from ads or monetization.

To some, this change may seem small but as I embrace it, I’m excited to see the new stories, insights, and creative sparks that bloom. 

"Turn down the noise of the world and tune into the rhythm of your own life—creativity blooms in the quiet spaces we dare to nurture."— ChatGPT

Skip the Vision Board—Make 2025 a Bingo Year!

Let's ditch making the same old resolutions and vision boards. For 2025, try something unique: a personal bingo board! It’s a fun, customizable way to reach your smaller goals and actually enjoy the process. Below, you’ll find a blank bingo board to download and fill with your own ambitions for the year. However, you don't have to fill this out alone - plan a dinner with a group of close friends and fill them in together! My husband and I are going to have a date and fill in ours.

Why it works:

1. It’s a clear visualization of your goals. You can see everything in one glance without flipping through pages or apps.
2. It turns self-improvement into a game. Checking off squares feels less like work and more like play.
3. It encourages small, specific wins. Breaking big goals into smaller tasks makes them less intimidating and easier to achieve.

Celebrate! Make it extra motivating by planning rewards for each bingo—whether it’s five across, diagonal, or vertical. Treat yourself to something special to celebrate your progress!

Click below to download this blank bingo board and start building a year you’ll love!

PS. This idea has so many applications. You can change this up and make a work bingo board, date idea bingo, or family road-trip bingo. Get creative!