The Five-Minute Plan / March 6, 2025

 March 6, 2025

The Five-Minute Plan

I remember a weekend gathering with Dave’s extended family in New Jersey back in the day—people of all ages from a few months old to over 70. The weekend included specific events but also considerable unstructured time when folks who didn’t see each other often were navigating decision-making together about what to do, and where, and how to get there. Sister-in-law Linda turned to me at one point, frazzled, asking what we were planning to do. “Linda, I’m on the five-minute plan. I can only tell you what I’m doing for the next five minutes.”

Dave and I were both under the weather for the past week or so, and we reactivated that five-minute plan practice as our modus operandi. Below are snapshots of a few of my five-minute (or one-minute) actions between naps.

installing hanging hardware on my 12 x 36″ canvas

adding sketch lines for an idea I hope to explore

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1. 

   Joyful Puttering

   March 6, 2025 at 11:42 am

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   Oh how I love your idea of five-minute planning! And I’m so glad you and Dave are on the mend. I was so tickled to see you took my advice and got the painting up! I love seeing it in the space where it will live…and I’m sure it will help inform what you do or don’t do next. But I’m with you…I like it as is. That pop of color rhubarb red is just fabulous!!! I think I want to know the brand and color number.

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   1. 

      Dotty Seiter

      March 6, 2025 at 1:11 pm

      Edit

      Benjamin Moore Rhubarb 2007-30. What I have is interior satin for cabinets, doors, and trim.

      I call on 5-minute planning and the general concept of micro-units frequently! Sometimes it’s all I can do; other times I think it’s all I can do but then it acts valuably as a kick starter for more. A win either way.

      Having the underpainted canvas in place on the wall is fun! And it WILL help inform subsequent choices. So happy you lit a little votive-candle’s worth of fire under me.

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2. 

   Sheila Marie Delgado

   March 6, 2025 at 11:28 pm

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   That sounds like an awesome plan to have. And I love the idea of hanging it up. I’m looking forward to seeing the various stages! 

   So glad you are both feeling better. There is a lot of yuck, and mild yuck going around lately.

   Happy creating to you! xoxo

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   1. 

      Dotty Seiter

      March 7, 2025 at 5:51 am

      Edit

      Illness itself I think is gone. Energy levels are rising, but slowly!

      Rhubarb canvas trusts all to unfold in its own good time : )

      Thanks for your good wishes on all counts, Sheila.

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3. 

   Simone

   March 7, 2025 at 7:57 am

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   What a great idea to hang the canvas already on the place where it will eventually hang! And see the painting unfold.

   
   

   1. 

      Dotty Seiter

      March 7, 2025 at 8:14 am

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      I’ve done that once or twice before, not necessarily with any creative intention, but it’s a lovely experience!

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4. 

   lolajovan

   March 7, 2025 at 3:05 pm

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   I LOVE this five minute plan concept! And the perfection of that vertical (and its color) hanging in that space. Whoa.

   Hope you and Dave are both feeling heaps better now! xo

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   1. 

      Dotty Seiter

      March 7, 2025 at 4:12 pm

      Edit

      Gotta say, Five-Minute plan has served me well time and again! Thanks for the thumbs up for the vertical (and color of) canvas in its space on the upstairs landing.

      Dave and I are indeed feeling heaps better, ALmost 100% : )

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5. 

   carolee36

   March 9, 2025 at 12:54 am

   Edit

   First, glad you are feeling better stay well.

   Love the piece! Great place! Great balance. Love the tension between the black peeking lines and new horizontal. Simplicity!

   5 min plan GREAT!

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   1. 

      Dotty Seiter

      March 9, 2025 at 5:39 am

      Edit

      Carol, my health is back in good shape. Thank you for the kind wishes.

      And thank you for the visual language feedback—always welcome and informative : )

      I’m hoping to maintain core elements of enlivening tension and nourishing simplicity …