Author Archives: Susan Spangler

About Susan Spangler

I'm a graphic designer and illustrator, observer and survivor. My website, www.susanspangler.com, contains a wide portfolio of my projects and images – some for pay, most for love, many for both. These graphic essays are inspired by things that catch my eye, my ear, my heart. Funny, confounding, astounding and encouraging, all at once. You know. Life.

Here’s the Thing

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Susan Spangler
Posted in affirmation, comfort food, comfort zone, encouragement, family, gratitude, home, inspiration, old age, solace | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Living in the Vast Maybe

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Susan Spangler

Nothing in this world is certain. And I think we need a name for that. Continue reading →

Posted in affirmation, comfort, encouragement, inspiration, peace of mind, solace, stress | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

3 Days Away

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Susan Spangler
Posted in comfort zone, gratitude, inspiration, peace of mind, solace, travel, vacation | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Road Across the River

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Susan Spangler
Posted in inspiration | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Sunday Afternoon, Mid-November

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Susan Spangler

This morning it rained, and the afternoon was gray and mild. The past week the weather’s been up and down. For a few days, it felt like the middle of winter. Then it backtracked to early fall. November’s like that … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, gratitude, home, inspiration, kindness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Send in the Clouds

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Susan Spangler

My mother taught me to love clouds. “Look at that beautiful sunset!” she’d sigh. How many times did she marvel at the sky before I heard her words? No way to know. Because, like all kids, I could tell the … Continue reading →

Posted in affirmation, beauty, family, home, inspiration, kindness, peace of mind | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wading Barefoot

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Susan Spangler

Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. Remember that? It’s the refrain of a song Pete Seeger wrote in 1967 and sang a few months later on the Smothers Brothers show. CBS, the network on which the show was broadcast, objected to the … Continue reading →

Posted in encouragement, family, inspiration, kindness, peace of mind, stress | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Always thank the Pizza Guy.

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Susan Spangler

Writing makes you think about boundaries. How much to reveal. How much to hold back. Never mind writing. All it really takes to think about boundaries is living in the world with other people. Sometimes you want to talk to … Continue reading →

Posted in boundaries, family, gratitude, inspiration, kindness, marriage | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The Family Tree

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Susan Spangler

If you’d been looking for me when I was a kid, this would have been your best bet: In the living room.  Curled up in the puffy chair with pencil and paper or a book in my lap. Or LOOK … Continue reading →

Posted in affirmation, family, home, inspiration | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

wonderful

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Susan Spangler

I don’t usually talk about this, but thinking up scary things is one of my special talents. No matter what happens, I can always imagine something worse. I don’t have to try. Fear just comes naturally to me. You might … Continue reading →

Posted in encouragement, gratitude, inspiration, kindness, peace of mind, stress | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments