A LITTLE ROOM FOR ART.....AND OTHER STUFF!

REMEMBERING ALETA

2008-05-20T12:58:00.009-04:00

In the late evening hours of January 7, 1968 a star was born. Two minutes later, another star was born. And from that moment on my life was catapulted into the hectic days and nights and months and years of raising twins, along with their older sister, the first star.
And the first-born twin was Aleta. She was beautiful, with eyes that sparkled and twinkled, a laugh that tinkled, and a heart that went out to anyone in need...her family, eventually her children, her patients. For she became a nurse and she was much loved. Once, in college, she went to where there were homeless people and talked with them, trying to understand why their life seemed so hopeless. She loved fiercely.
Excerpt from a teen letter to mom while she visited her older sister: "Dear Mom, Hello! I love you alot and boy do I miss you. I just thought I'd write to let you know how much I love you and that I'll never stop thinking about you. You're the best mom anyone could ever have!............... " Several years ago she became a single parent. She worried about her children all the time. Having grown up in a single parent home, she had emotional needs I never knew about until she was grown and told me. My heart loved her even harder then.

A pre-teen little league cheerleader

Once a hopeful bride.

A beautiful young lady.

One of her children was Lindy, and Lindy had Down Syndrome. She called Lindy her little shadow and chuckled when she said it. She took Lindy everywhere: shopping, swimming, camping, working with her one-on-one, teaching her to sign, teaching her about life. A wonderful mother.
If you walk through a park and see a lady sitting on a bench with her hands over her face, shoulders shaking, that's me....grieving. I lost her on Sunday, May 4 in a freak ATV accident in the mountains in the Tahoe area. I never liked it there, even when she first took me there years ago. She loved it. She thought those God-forsaken, ugly, Nevada/California mountains were so beautiful. Not me. She never had a chance as an adult to see the wonders of the Blue Ridge mountains, the Shenandoahs, the Poconos. So she settled for the shale-covered, barren, whatever mountain range that is. Those mountains took her from me, and I hate them. But it's where she wanted to be.
If you hear a loud, haunting wailing in the darkness of the night, that's me, calling for my child to be returned to me. Or perhaps it's her twin, searching for the spirit of her other half.
Exerpt from an email I received on Mother's Day, 2006: "Happy Mother's Day Momma! I want to take this minute to explain that it is because of you that my life is so great. I have taken all your words of wisdom and am practicing them now. It's working just fine. Thank you so much for guiding my life the way you do. I miss you so much. Check your mailbox this week to grab your surprise. It may be late but at least I'm consistent, never without you in my mind as the best momma for me!!! I love you..........God Bless you......Rainbow." That was her nickname. Rainbow. And she was. The thoughtful one.

Note written on a birthday card she sent me in 1996 ..... "I love you every single second of my life! And if you're ever gone, your love will still always be in my heart, my soul, my tissues, my organs, blood and especially my eyes! xox

"Now you're the one that is gone Aleta, and I love you as you loved me. My heart, my soul, my tissues, my organs, blood, and if I close my eyes I see you standing in the room and I can hear your voice. Always a talker.
Aleta, a hero. She saved her daughter's life before she lost her own. When she was on that icy incline, she put the child off and told her to wait while she got back to a safe place. That's where Aleta's fiance found Lindy - standing by the road waiting for her mommy to come back up that mountainside she slid over, that heavy machine on top of her.

Things she loved:

- Those mountains
- Guinea pigs and bunnies
- Family
- Especially her twin
- Camping and Quadding
- Her precious two boys and one girl
- Her work as an R.N.
-Her fiance
- Life
- Smiling

Excerpt from a note she left me July 2001: " I love you so much....I'll take care of you forever whenever you need me......(heart, heart, xoxo) Dr. Black, BSN, RN"........We always called her Dr. Black!

Her fiance told me she woke up that morning in the campsite and said" Isn't it wonderful to wake up next to someone you love?"

The week before the tragedy she went to see her twin, and when she got home she sent her beloved twin a bible and a picture of Jesus, with Matthew 5:3-12 marked. She wanted her sister to apply those lessons to her own life.
There is a heaviness inside me that won't go away. One third of my heart is broken off, and though it will eventually heal over, it will never be repaired or replaced. And how can a twin left behind ever heal?
There is no creativity left in me. All my paints are now put away. I am colorless.

ALETA GAYEL BLACK

Just like a beautiful flower. She grew, she blossomed, then she was cut from the stem of life and perished. I am grateful only that she found her spiritual self before she left. I love you my child.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.THIS BLOG IS CLOSED.

THE AVIARY

2008-04-30T13:44:00.010-04:00

No talkee. Just Lookee. Enjoy! :)

All of the above including the header are 5 x 7 or smaller and done with T-H20, regular watercolor, or gouache.

Something to consider: A bird does not sing because it has something to say.

It sings simply because it has a song.

-Chinese Proverb-

I'll be back in a couple of days.............................................................................

4/30/08

THE COURTESAN

2008-04-29T14:08:00.005-04:00

Courtesan: a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper class clientele.

Sometimes I name my art before I paint it. This name has been going around in my head for a long time but I just couldn't find the right incentive to sit down and do it. I had thought to use one of my life drawing figures and expand on it, but then I visited Tara at Paris Parfait (sidebar link) and her french window dressing photos inspired me to do this. Thanks Tara.

THE COURTESAN

12x8 water media

Now "The Aviary" is running around in my little pea brain, so I guess I'll have to work on that one next.

'A pipe of Kif before breakfast gives a man the strength of

a hundred camels in the courtyard.' - Nchaioui Proverb

WELCOME TO PARADISE

2008-04-25T19:43:00.026-04:00

A couple of days ago I spent a lazy afternoon aboard the above 50' Marine Trader Sea Spirit with some friends.

Captain John - holds a USCG Master License
An observer watching us pass from someone's seawall

Heading down the channel to open water

Getting a safety lecture from Captain John

Oh My. Check out the food!

Looking up at the bridge from the lower deck.

The lounge area below. There are also two bedrooms just as lovely.

The lower pilot area. For rainy days.

Me and a diva friend. I'm the one in the hat with...of course...a macaw attached! She is a super art instructor!

Part of the "crew" having fun. Check out her glitter and fuzzy cup holder.

A small seabird sanctuary island we passed.

Some show off guys who just wanted to make a big wake.

A really fun part of the "crew". Trust me, they are! Wearing my 'caw hat for the pic because her straw hat blew overboard. I was up front at the time and saw it floating by. Is blew a word?

Me and another friend. OMG Where's my hair...I'm bald!

This bridge is opening for us. When the new one is completed (you can see it above the opening one) it will be high enough so it won't have to open.

Coming through!

These itsy bitsy cogs operate this big bridge!

A view of Clearwater Beach in the distance

Hulk Hogan's house. Well, his wife's house now. HeeeHeeeHeee

Police patrol. Capt. John said he has been boarded three times in the Gulf because his boat is a type that brings in Haitians and Cubans illegally.

A fitting end to a perfect day.

Just another day in Paradise

THE MUSEUM

2008-04-17T19:16:00.004-04:00

detail of Sistine Chapel fresco - internet photo

I can only say I was overwhelmed by my visit to the Vatican Splendors at the International Museum. Aside from the sculpture and awesome paintings, there in a glass case was an old, yellowed, frayed paper, slightly smaller than 8 1/2 x 11 letter size, written in Italian, an invoice for materials used to paint the panels of the Sistine Chapel, signed by Michangelo Buonarroti five hundred years ago! Oh my. I am still overwhelmed when I think of it.

THE END OF THIS CRAZY BIRD!

2008-04-15T18:47:00.003-04:00

Ok, the little dude from the previous post is now black. And gold. This is a painting of a baby goofybird that lives way, way deep in the Peruvian jungle and no one, except me, has ever seen one before. Honest. Here's proof! ;)

Um, Dr. John, could this black bird be a clue in midst of the CSI crime scene?

And now I have totally lost it, because I have a baby mosaic goofybird. Or something. I had most fun doing this, because as I was playing around, I thought about Saturday afternoon kids art class, and ...ta daa..........

The more color I added, the more I thought of a little girl I know that might like to have it so keeping her in mind I kept on adding more and more color and some glitter and scribble paint. What fun. Painting is so much more satisfying when you have a goal. And this is the end of this goofybird. You will not see him again, I promise!

Tomorrow I am going with a friend to the museum where they are having a showing called Vatican Splendors. There are supposed to be things there sculpted/painted by Michelangelo. I am soooooooo excited to be going. Wonder if they will allow picture taking?

I'll be back......one of these days.

Supercharge your soul! CREATE!

AN EXPERIMENT

2008-04-13T19:26:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine (Dr. Jo link on my sidebar) is an accomplished author and artist. From her, I learned a new technique, and these pics are the result of it. In case you'd like to try it, here's what you do:

Lay out a large protective cover (I used an old shower curtain)

Crumple a big leaf bag and lay it on the cover

Crumple a sheet of white tissue paper and spread it out on the plastic bag

Make watery puddles of paint, and choosing colors you think you might like to end up with, brush on lightly and randomly. Then go back and splash or spray on some "zinger" colors..like reds or purples...something bright.

Let the tissue dry completely then peel it off the garbage bag (carefully or it will tear) and TURN IT OVER to use the back side.

Carefully adhere the tissue to a support (I just used a mat board for experimentation) with craft glue diluted about 50%. Press to get rid of air pockets. You'll end up with a nice crinkled effect.

When it dries, it will "tell you" what it is!

This was my initial painting after it dried.

Does it tell you anything?

OK, so it told me it wanted to be a bird. Here's my bird. A little unusual, but after all it was just an experiment. Can you see the bird in the first photo?

This bird was brought out with metallic paints. Not sure I like that.

Now I am wondering if I should change it to a red bird, or a black bird like a silhouette?
Or perhaps outline it with scribbles? What do you think? I could use some suggestions!
It's still in the experimental stage. It isn't exactly something I want to frame and put on my wall. Maybe the next one! I like the crinkley effect.
Try it. You may have fun experimenting with this.

A teeny wisdom: The speed with which your eyes travel over a painting is determined by the artist.

TALENT

2008-04-12T08:00:00.012-04:00

Regarding the heading "Talent", look at this image below. This is a brick sidewalk chalk drawing being done in Tampa by Hani Shihadi, age 49, born in Jerusalem, art educated in Rome. Why he is wasting his talent chalking a sidewalk, I don't know. But he certainly has it. This is the beginnings of Raphael's "The Parnassus", a Renaissance masterpiece. (Some of you know I LOVE Renaissance art!). Hani states "Anybody that walks down the street, no matter how rich or poor, educated or not, is a schooling for me. It's a great way to meet people. It's the best medium to bring people together. When two people meet and talk and form a relationship...they start talking because of my painting.........We need a Renaissance ourselves".

Maybe he has something there. America, and many other parts of the world, certainly seems to need a Renaissance - a rebirth - and not just in the art world. Only, if I had his talent, I think I would apply it to a canvas to be preserved forever, and not be washed away by the next rainstorm.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Below is some of my own art...again all small, again all for pleasure and to soothe my own soul. This is not talent, this is just fun!

Watermedia with collage background

Watermedia with collage background

Watercolor with pen and ink

Watermedia/Gel Pens

......."There is a fountain inside you. Don't walk around with an empty bucket....." Rumi

IT'S THE SEASON!

2008-04-09T07:13:00.012-04:00

It's the season.....for arts and crafts festivals around here. And finally...FINALLY...I am finished with the one we have at work annually and I can breathe in my own space again...and find some blogging time hopefully! It's been a very busy blogging break! The banner above is a photo of Beauty and the Beach Art Festival, Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. I admit, I did put it together and am proud to say it was a great success, and I'm so glad it's over for this year. It was a LOT of work and I really don't want to do this every year..nope...all those different personalities (80 artists and crafters) wanting special this and special that!

Even though I've been very busy working, still...I found a little time for art. You HAVE to have it in your life, right? These are a couple of things I've worked on. All small. All to relax and soothe my soul.

WATERCOLOR AND ACRYLIC - SIGNS OF SPRING

PENCIL - HOMELESS

SKETCH DONE IN A RESTAURANT - PASTEL COLOR ADDED LATER

WATERCOLOR AND GOLD PAINT PEN

WATERCOLOR AND SCRIBBLES

WATERCOLOR AND PAINT PEN WITH COLLAGED BACKGROUND

MORE LATER!

Tidbit: ...Lightening travels at a rate of 60,000 miles per second!

LIKE AN UNTITLED PAINTING, AN UNTITLED POST...

2008-03-23T19:12:00.005-04:00

Instead of any "traditional" Easter dinner, we had stone crab claws. It doesn't get much better than that! Sorry, I didn't save you one...

Yesterday was my last life drawing class; there will probably not be another until fall. I totally enjoyed every class and I'm sorry to see it end. It was such a pleasure to draw with others in a quiet setting, just some soft music in the background. Below I have posted just two of the quick sketches we did. Obviously I need lots and lots of practice yet, but I'll get there one day. Hands are still very hard for me. Well, and toes, and arms, and faces, and ears, and...and...well, you know.

And....now I must say goodbye for awhile. The Little Room for Art will be closed until after April 5. Life just gets in the way, or is it blogging that gets in the way of life? Either way, there are things I must do so be sweet and I'll see you all soon. I'll still be visiting though, and my email is always open.

.........Be like a mountain in the wind

Do you notice how it moves? There are sweet illusions

that arrive to lure you away.........Jelaluddin Rumi

SOMETHING NEW, AND SOMETHING FINAL

2008-03-19T10:32:00.012-04:00

TUESDAY: Notes about the new banner......I had this done a few years ago by a Korean artist, Moonsan Hong. In this art, the letters have meaning. For example, in the practice of oriental symbolism,

flying birds represent prosperity;

sitting birds represent happiness;

the sun indicates fame;

bamboo means honesty;

sailboats represent hope;

butterflies indicate love;

fish means good luck;

shrimps indicate talent;

flowers mean beauty;

flowers on a rainbow indicate family unit,

etc.

It seems my name in oriental symbols means a lot of things. Whatever they are, the art is beautiful!

The card below is my final art for the HEALING CARD in Mother Henna's Inspiration and Healing Deck. The previous post of the girl dancing with her muse is the final drawing for the Inspiration card.

A Wisdom From Coleman Barks: This is the material plane

and every outward thing we do is inner work......

GIRLS JUST GOTTA HAVE..........SHOES!

2008-03-16T11:59:00.008-04:00

A girl has to go shoe shopping once in awhile. For me, it's like bra shopping...can't make up my mind about which fits best, which looks best, which is best priced. I don't like shoe shopping. BUT...today in the paper I saw these ads, and right away I knew where to find the shoes I wanted, whether they fit or not! This first one is a Bruno Magli, and sells for only $375. ONE pair!

This pair below, to me is the creme de la creme. A must have! They are Emilio Pucci at only $450.

And these little ditties, with the pleated fabric and cabochons across the top, are also Emilio Pucci, and you can pick them up for $570. Cute, huh?

Last but not least, comes the.....ho hum....boring pink wedgie. These are a mere $665! What? For a wedgie? I thought these were last year's styles, but that's what I get for thinking! I don't care for wedgies anyway. Wedgies is something you get when your underwear is too tight.

The thing that gets me is that some of us artists have been painting shoes for a year or more, and now comes these high class designers who think they have a whole new bright idea. If I had known I could sell my painted shoes for three to six hundred bucks a pair, I would have at least pitched my design to these Magli and Pucci guys last year, and would have been satisfied with a tiny ten percent! Or less!

SIGH............

And then I read, in my Sunday morning with coffee paper, that these shoes are only available inTampa, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. I don't live in any of those places...and at $3.25 a gallon for gas, I'm not likely to drive there! Now, I REALLY feel slighted!

INSPIRATION CARD FOR THE DECK, AND FEELING THE PULL OF THE VORTEX

2008-03-11T13:55:00.014-04:00

Yeah, ok, the red rock canyons are calling ........................

Here is a little information you might be interested in: Congressional Bill S548 on Artist Deductions, would give an artist the right to deduct the fair market value of their work when donating to a charity. Right now, you can only deduct material costs. http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=952195/ Help pass this bill by filling in the on-line form.

Below is my second contribution to the Healing and Inspiration Deck that Mother Henna is facilitating. This one is the "Inspiration" card. I am inspired by my muse, so what else could I have done except include it here? My muse is the cause of my art...she makes me think something over and over, meditate about it, become absorbed in thought of the subject matter, then whamo! Suddenly the object of my art appears in my mind's eye. Granted, it doesn't always end the way it started out, but without my ever-present muse, it would never even get started. Hats off to my muse. Like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps me going, and going, and going....boing...boing....boing...

For the past year I have been creating illustration style art. It was new to me and I wanted to experiment with it, as well as collages and ATCs and the like. Truthfully, I am a little bit over it, and want to put my black line drawings back to pen and ink work, so I think I won't be doing much illustration type art any more. I'm even going to delete them all from Flickr. Although I dislike doing things twice, I needed to convince myself that I really don't want to do illos, so I did a second Healing card like the one I posted a couple of days ago. This one I did with colored pencil, no black outlines. Not sure about working with this medium..can't seem to get past the waxy shine. Interesting to see the difference...scroll down to the last post and compare.
Which do you prefer?

I am still playing with this card. It is not really final yet.

THE WAY TO DO IS TO BE ...Tao-te Ching

2008-03-08T11:35:00.005-05:00

...and here, in keeping with the blog heading, I am just being ME! This is my first contribution to Mother Henna's Deck of Healing and Inspiration cards. This one is for healing. I feel one must heal one's self before advice or help to another can be offered. Sometimes I may sound like I'm giving out advice, but it's really just an opinion, for I cannot pretend to heal others emotional wounds until my own are all healed, and that is a lifelong project. Perhaps someday someone will pick up this card and apply it to their own soul and find inner peace, as I do over and over again.

I'm not actually done with this card yet. I will probably add a bird somewhere.
My next card will deal with Inspiration. I suspect it will focus on my muse.

GEESH, I WISH I WERE GOING TO SEDONA!!!

IT'S BABY BIRD SEASON

2008-03-05T16:10:00.004-05:00

Only a mother and a bird lover would think these are beautiful creatures. And I'm both. Of course, I think vultures are beautiful creatures too! :)

BABY SWANS, Appx 6" x 8"

Conte on Cansons Mi-Teintes paper

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

One of the biggest honors you can give a person as an artist is to buy their work. Terri Leonard

THE MOLESKINE CODE...and a little art

2008-03-02T12:59:00.004-05:00

SUNDAY: Everywhere I go I read about the moleskine project. At first it went in one ear and out the other, but then they turned up more and more so I just had to check it out. Is this something I HAVE to have----can't live without? Is it really the skin of hundreds of little moles - surely not! PETA would already be involved! But just in case, I started my own untrained, unskilled detective work and went on a quest to save these little moles. :)
It is said that moleskine sketch books and notebooks were used by Van Gogh,Matisse, and Hemingway just to name a few, although this is probably just romantic hype made up by marketers to get us to purchase a moleskine. It seems a moleskine is a threadbound notebook with acid free pages, with an interior, expandable pocket to carry our "stuff". It's apparently very durable and comes with watercolor paper or sketching paper, as well as ruled or unruled. Some of them have decorative laser-etched covers. One can even purchase personal replacement paper to make your own moleskine.
If you carry one and use it in public, you are suddenly part of a "culture" with your own personal identity of being a moleskine user. You are immediately tagged by those unfortunates outside the moleskine culture as an artist or a thinker. Someone named Armand Frasco even has a blog called Moleskinery, dedicated to this product. I haven' t found that yet.
I am going to have to get one of these mokeskines...with an "e" , so people will recognize me as an artist AND a thinker! . Oh yeah -- the mole part? It's heavy duty cardboard. Now, where did I put those Michael's coupons!?

AND..... SOME ART

RESTAURANT TABLE, Pencil

a study in black and white values

Source: an original colored pencil drawing by an unknown artist.

I will gladly give him/her credit if anyone knows the name.

GRIEF, Pencil

Source, AP

A black and white value study. I cried when I drew this.

If you happen to know the story, you'll understand why.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Rather abide at the center of your being,

for the more you leave it, the less you learn. .....Tao-te Ching

WEDNESDAY

2008-02-27T16:03:00.008-05:00

Lonely Bird, Pencil

THE CONTINUING SAGA OF MZ. WEE: The peanut butter sandwich trick lasted one day. Not even a full day. She was wise by noon, and by evening we were back to the syringe and the stress. Today I tried something else. We took her medicine together. STOP LAUGHING! A bite for mommy, a bite for Mz. Wee. Now, you moms remember that trick, don't you? It works for Macaw moms too. I had her licking her medicine off the spoon......no joke!!! Of course, I just pretended. Hoping the trick works til the pink stuff is gone!

Speaking of gone, I will be for a few days. Just life happening! But I'll be back.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: " A page a day. You have to write a page a day if you want to be an author. In 365 days you'll have a book. If you don't write a page a day, you might as well hang it up." John Grisham

A LITTLE MORE ART AND SOME MZ. WEE ANTICS

2008-02-25T18:54:00.016-05:00

The new header is a mural I did awhile ago on my guest bedroom wall. Botticelli's La Primavera. MY version! You don't sleep alone here! :)

OK, some of you know this Diva. This little monster. This demanding little brat! But she's sickie. She has some kind of infection in her nares and her throat...same thing she had a year ago...so I took her to the avian vet last week. I had to hover around the waiting room. I was more upset than she was. Even that far away, I could hear her honking and crying while she got a couple of shots (one medicine and one hormone) and got her blood taken and her wings clipped. It seemed to take forever and I was sweating like a rail worker! The girls in the office were laughing and cackling because they said she sounded like a duck! Well, she does, but she's MY little ducky and it really distresses me when she is stressed. Anyhow....I have to give her medicine three times a day via a syringe. She KNOWS when I shake the bottle what's coming. She KNOWS when she sees that syringe full of pink stuff what's coming. She KNOWS when I grab the towel it's going around her and she HATES all this. So...as soon as she catches on, and believe me she WATCHES all the time...doesn't miss a thing, she slides like a fireman down her ladder, tightens up her feathers, and streaks across the floor like a blue torpedo. You think you can catch her? Think again! She heads straight for the dining room table. It's bamboo and has a low place underneath, and she KNOWS I can't get her if she's under there! Then, when I finally do capture her and give her the meds (it takes two of us to do it) she holds it in her beak and when I let go she spits it out, like a little kid. Grrrrrrrrrr! So, tomorrow I'm going to try to soak some bread and peanut butter with her meds since she loves that, and see if it works. I don't have much faith. As soon as she realizes her bread is pink, it will get flung - and it will stick to the walls and stick to the floor and stick to my cheek..... Sigh...........

Photo of Mz. Wee

A little reality check here. These are a couple of the 2 minute poses I did in Life Drawing class Saturday. We had a male model. I did have more frontal pics but I just didn't post them. This model was an older gentleman who must work out because he had a six-pak. He also had a....um....uh.....a ring on his.... well, you know. I didn't draw the ring.

If you'd like to visit my drawing instructor's website, it's http://www.douglaslandartist.com/ He also does court drawings, and was the court artist for that trial of the two guys that got picked up in SC for having bomb makings in their car. I believe they are USF students and the trial was in Tampa.

THIS, is a treasure I found in my mailbox a couple of days ago. It's soooooooooo very beautiful. I love it. It's glass and it's made to hang in a window to catch the light. It's from Nature Girl (sidebar link). Isn't she just the sweetest? It's far more beautiful in reality than this picture shows. Thank you again, NG!

Long day today at work and I'm tired, but I'm off tomorrow so I'll be doing some blog visiting. Missing everybody!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much!

Please say a little prayer for our blogging friend - Cre8tiva -(see sidebar link). She could use some big hugs!

SOME ART AND A REALLY NICE POETRY BOOK

2008-02-16T16:47:00.009-05:00

After working "too much" the last week or so, I was ready for some artful relaxation today. I turned on NPR to the Metropolitan Opera Live, and settled down for a painting session. This is a great program to paint by. Although I cannot understand the words they sing, the moderator explains exactly what they are singing about, so you can follow along with the story. It's really conducive to putting one in a relaxed painting mood. These are the results.

Untitled, 9 x 9 watercolor and pen

Untitled, 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 pastel on paper. This was a thumbnail sketch I did in drawing class (not the life drawing obviously...I'm taking two) and I just lifted most of the graphite and added color.

ABOUT THE POETRY BOOK

My neighbor, Rhonda, has just published this book of poetry called "Eclectic Thoughts". I believe some really deep, heartfelt thinking went into her words and I'm going to put some excerpts from her book here so you can get an idea of what this juicy little treasure is about.

IN THE WORDS OF THE AUTHOR:

"BURNED INTO REALITY" is an observation on what is real in our everyday lives.

War and peace.

Hatred and love.

Cruelty and kindness.

Such contradictions........

"EXTREME MAKEOVER - LIFE EDITION" is a sort of commentary on today's way of thinking.

In keeping with today's theme,

The emphasis on reality.

Hoping to change the outside,

Blending with the "new me" mentality........

and "OF THE EARTH" will hopefully express how precious the earth is to us, and that we must protect it.

Eagles soaring in the sky,

Dolphins playing in the sea.

Majestic mountains reaching upward,

Forever will they be?..........

Don't you love it? There's lots more, and if you are interested you can purchase this book at Amazon, or if you want to get in touch with her directly, let me know and I'll ask if I can give out her email address.

Until next post.........remember:

The Universe,

like a bellows,

is always emptying,

always full.

The more it yields,

the more it holds.

Tao-te-Ching

AND THE WINNER IS.....

2008-02-14T20:42:00.005-05:00

FEBRUARY 14 - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

It's been a long day at work, then dh and I went out to dinner, so I'm late getting this posted. Well, late for Eastern Standard Time. The West Coasters still have daylight, and it's nearly my bedtime! Anyway, this is the finished painting "Backyard Birds" for my OWOH drawing, and the winner is........

Drum roll please......

KATHY

of Kathy's Quilts

http://www.kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

Please go check out her fab quilts. They have a meaning and are made with love.

Kathy, I'll be emailing you to find out if you want me to put this on a dowl stick so it can be hung, or if you want it as is, to cut, paste, trim, alter, quilt, do whatever you want. It's yours!!! I have a feeling you can do something wonderful with it.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PLAYING. I cannot believe how many people wanted my humble offering, and I am so pleased. I wish everyone could have been a winner. But I am the real winner, because now I have dozens and dozens of new blogs to visit and new blogging friends to make, and delicious new blogs to explore that I never would have known about if it had not been for Mz. Oceandreamer and her heartfelt plan to bring us all together. Thanks Lisa!

See you all in a day or two. Be kind to someone and it will come back to you twofold.

TIDBITS

2008-02-12T13:11:00.001-05:00

A little of this, and a little that. Something for everyone......or not!

22 x 28 acrylic on canvas, crows are painted on a separate wc paper and glued on. Crows are also covered with paper glaze to make them dimensional and shiny. This is what is painted on top of the gesso that is on top of that spanish looking girl that is on top of......who can remember?? You never know what will appear in my paintings! Actually, I had this all in a sienna color, which would have gone with my walls, but I decided to glaze it with alizarin crimson. MISTAKE!!! Now, it won't go anywhere! Sigh...this is probably the last time I will use this canvas. It's about the 3rd for 4th time. But...it was a fun experiment and any artful project is always worth the time.

The above sketches are from my life drawing class. Three are 2 minute sketches, the sitting model is a 20 minute sketch. I may develop that one...or not! If you ever have a chance to take a life drawing class, do it! It's a wonderful learning tool.

OPERATION MIGRATION: A year ago I posted about the 18 whooping cranes that followed the ultra light to Florida and then 17 were killed in a storm. Later the remaining one died. But.....this year....17 made it, all healthy and fit! It took the young cranes since October 13 to come from a preserve in Wisconsin, following the ultra light through fog and rain and high winds, with many stops in between due to that weather. But they made it and they are now at their winter home in the Chassahowitzka refuge in Florida. They will fly back to Wisconsin on their own in the Spring (now that they know the way!), and hopefully return to Florida next fall. Kudos to the people of Operation Migration who are trying to save these endangerd birds. There are fewer than 500 remaining. And special kudos to the ultra light pilots. That's a long, long trip in an ultra light!!!

This is "Hurricane", a 24 year old male manatee. Isn't he a cutie? He is being lifted by crane onto a truck to be transported to Blue Spring State Park where he will be released into the wild. He is the third captive-born manatee to be released and since manatee's are very adaptive, he should be fine, but he will be monitored with a tracking device. Yeaaaa!! Freedom!

Speaking of freedom, Bobby is still flying free!

If you have noticed the award on my sidebar, it came from Janet at Just Bee Cause (see sidebar link). Thank you Janet. I so appreciate it! I am supposed to pass it on to five others I think should have it for their writing, but I'm going to send it on to only two.....just because I'm not sure who else is interested in writing. So....the award goes from me to TINKER and to TARA...because Tinker's writing keeps me laughing and happy, and Tara keeps me informed of happenings in the world and of the beautiful things Paris has to offer, not to mention other places. Please, ladies, take the award from my sidebar. You deserve it.

WISHES: I wish I could put on a slinky, red flowered dress and do the jello wiggle like those girls in the commercial! :)

CYA

Whooper and Manatee photos courtesy of St. Petersburg Tmes

A DAY FOR SOME WRITING

2008-02-06T18:11:00.000-05:00

I know it isn't the regular on-line poetry day, but this morning I was struck with these words all of a sudden so I had to write them down. Maybe I can call this Prose Wednesday?

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Where, in the throes of this daily confusion can I find answers

As I sit here in my rocker on this wide veranda with others who are mute strangers,

An Afghan on my lap?

Here at this place where I don't really live, a building foreign to me,

Full of thriving, uniformed beings running to and fro like an ant colony,

Each with a purpose that has some sort of end somewhere,

Some short-term goal.

My mind puzzles - is this my home?

They tell me it's my home now, but I know it isn't. Why do they tell me that?

Where are my familiar belongings? Where is the soft, tattered chair near the window

Which had become my favorite place over the years? My security corner?

Where are the precious little shelf items - the glass owl, the set of dainty teacups,

A gift from my own mother long ago?

My mother?

Where is she? Do I hear her calling me to come in from chasing fireflies

In the twilight with my small friends?

Do I detect the delicious scent of her cooking wafting on the gentle breeze,

Or is it an imagined dream floating briefly through my mind's cobwebs?

Did I even have breakfast yet?

The warm rays of the sun splashing over my arms are lulling me to nap.

It seems I nap a lot lately.

The sunshine envelopes me and takes away the permanent chills I feel constantly now.

My nap takes me to a dreamy place where there is a soft cat snuggling on my lap,

Purring and kneading as I stroke her silky fur.

I don't think it was too long ago. It seems like only yesterday that I sat in my favorite chair by the window

In my warm, secure home, as the stresses of life permanently left me,

And I could finally transfer them on to my son, my daughter. And my dear husband of so many years.

My husband?

They told me he left because it was his time. What time is that? I don't understand.

He said he would always care for me, protect me. Where did he go?

Now who is this person, unfamiliar to me - have I seen her before - speaking loudly near my ear,

Telling me I must come to dinner?

Go away. I'm not hungry. Why are you always taking me to dinner?

I just want to nap in the warm sun.

Go, I'll be along soon.

I want to sit here awhile longer in my chair by the window.

Welp, that's all for now folks. Work tomorrow, drawing class next day, be back in a few. Be safe and don't forget to stop and smell the rose. It may be wilted tomorrow. And Love yourself!

ONE WORLD ONE HEART

2008-02-03T10:25:00.002-05:00

FEBRUARY 3: Ok, I've always been a late starter! Why change now? :) So anyway, I'm in the ONE WORLD ONE HEART GIVEAWAY started last year by our sweet Oceandreamer (link on sidebar) and continuing this year bigger than ever! So, there are only two rules. One, you must have a WORKING blog, and two, you must leave a comment in THIS post so I'll know you want to be in the contest. Here's the giveaway:

A 12X16 acrylic painting on unstretched canvas titled "Backyard Birds". This is only a corner of the painting which is yet UNFINISHED as you can probably see. My scanner will not hold it all so I'll have to photograph it when it's done, but you get the idea, I hope!

There are seven birds on the painting, and a few florals with the birds not true to real life color, but just colorful fantasy! I'm not sure yet how I will present the final painting, but it will not be framed or matted. Perhaps hung via a dowl rod. I'll see how it goes. It will also be slightly smaller when it is finished. I can see it hanging with nature's sticks from someone's back yard glued all around it......but of course that's up to you. One could even sew it to a quilted backing (Ah, if only I could sew!). Or even glue it to a wood backing. Lots of possibilities. When it's yours, you do what you want!

So, leave me a comment that says you want it. DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 13. And...thanks for playing....and thanks to Mz. Oceandreamer for her wonderful original idea!

http://www.oneworldevent.blogspot.com/

GO THERE!!!

QUICK UPDATE...

2008-02-01T07:56:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are interested, Bobby is apparently still doing well with his freedom. Although the Seabird Sanctuary has not updated their website regarding this, I did read in a local neighborhood paper that the director of the sanctuary has reported that Bobby is still being spotted, apparently finding food, and now has lost one of the straps on his tether! Come to me Bobby, I'll take the rest of it off, give you an apple, and set you totally free!

Off to work. Bye for now.

GETTING RELAXED AND CALM.......

2008-01-30T15:40:00.001-05:00

Remember that kind of Spanish-looking girl I was working on? And I said it might turn into a polar bear? Well, she's gone. I LOVE gesso! And I have been working on something else but I just can't get it right....maybe trying too hard...so I took a break and doodled a little. It really calms me. I can get lost for hours in pen and ink.

I have to work tomorrow and Friday, so I'll probably be back in a few days. 'Sides, I don't feel too good. Hope it isn't a "bug". I'm sure I didn't touch any door handles...LOL

I'll be blog visiting every chance I get!

Be Safe, Be Happy, Feel Loved!

OH SIGH, THOSE TAGS :)

2008-01-28T18:34:00.000-05:00

Some time ago I was tagged by Lisa Froggy and then later by Violette. Since I don't like to do MeMe's, I sorta kinda tried to let it pass on over by just hiding my head in the sand, but I'm filled with...um....I guess it's guilt? Or maybe there's too much sand in my mouth. So I might as well get it over with. Here goes...

Five WEIRD Things About Me

1. I don't do alcohol. Maybe a glass of wine at dinner or something like that tho I really like the taste of champagne. I can't stand to be around loud, boisterous drunks. I've been a victim of a violent alcoholic abuser, and my dh has a hidden head injury because of a drunk driver. I can't find sympathy for alcoholism. Life is choices, and if you made the choice to do it, you can make the choice to stop. Be tough and love yourself.

2. I can and will easly cry and feel pain in my heart if I see an animal hurt.

3. I am afraid of trains. They are BIG and POWERFUL and I suppose I have seen too many TV movies of the girl being tied to the tracks. Eeeek! I have never been on a train. BUT, I would like to ride the Orient Express!

4. I have a bit of a psychological germ phobia. I try not to shake hands (Hello, Howie!). When I go into a public place, I push the door open with the back of my hand or if I have to pull it I use my pinky finger. In restaurants, I pick up the condiments with a napkin. If I hear someone behind me sneeze or cough, I scoot away really fast and hold my breath til I feel "safe".

5. I totally adore Marc Anthony's singing and whomever plays the guitar on his CD's. I love Salsa music. I'm a romantic at heart. Once many years ago I had a Latin Lover. HeeHeeHee for real! Oh my! Thats a whole nother story! ;)

Now that you see I am a total Freakazoid, I won't tag anyone. If you want to tell us all 5 weirdo things about YOU, please FEEL FREE!!! Come on, if I had to do it, you should too. Take the challenge!

Gone Painting.........

THE CULPRIT

2008-01-26T19:40:00.001-05:00

Although I have done a little blog visiting, I haven't posted for almost a week, for several reasons. One, I've been working some extra time, two I've been trying to paint,

and three, this dang computer is SO SLOW I GET FRUSTRATED AND DON'T EVEN WANT TO USE IT!!! I couldn't imagine why it was so slow. DH and I have both been threatening to throw it out the window. We almost went out and bought a new one. Even went and looked at them! Today while I was at work (yes, work on Saturday, ick!) DH decided to clean inside the computer. Of course it was filled with teeny,tiny feathers from the keets, but the main thing was he discovered....IN THE PHONE LINE...a nick! A cut! A slice! Right down to and frayed in the copper wire! NO WONDER MY COMPUTER WAS SO SLOOOOOOOW! IT WASN'T GETTING A GOOD CONNECTION. Now just how to you think that happened??? Here's a clue!

GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! But I'm ever so grateful it wasn't the regular power wire. Thank you Gods and Goddesses and Angels for watching over my precious little blue and gold baby!

JUST SOME FUN PICTURES

2008-01-20T08:22:00.000-05:00

Sunday: It turned pretty cold last night, and very windy and rainy. A storm came through quickly and took some people's power, fortunately not mine. It's like 48 degrees. I know, I know, some of you are up to your eyeballs in snow and below freezing temps, and here I am whining about 48, but this old southern gal is wimpy! When it snows as close as South Carolina and even Atlanta, I get nervous! ;)

Just for fun, I posted some pictures that I think are cute. This is the Rox with her new "shoe" toy. She wouldn't give it up!
Mz. Wee also got a new toy. It was wood with rope hanging off it. This is what is left of the $12.99 toy an hour or so later. The wood is now in teeny cubes. Well, it's what she does! She still has the rope part to destroy. Better than the legs of my dining room table!

When I saw this hawk flying low, I figured it was going to be a cold night. Usually they are so high my zoom can't reach them. But the cloud cover was so low, and misty, this guy kept flying in and out of the clouds. So graceful!

You know, this is a little pathetic! Roxie hates the cold weather, and tiptoes thru the grass when she has to go out in it. Then right back to burrow in the blankets. I caught her snoozing. A few minutes later, I looked again, and the picture below is what I saw. She was totally covered, and you can see her outline on the left side. She is wimpier than me!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll be back some time next week! I wish you love and peace in your life.

A REALLY BLAH DAY.......

2008-01-19T16:21:00.000-05:00

Saturday: .....It really is blah! The weather here for the past week has been either humid and/or foggy all day, very cool, and windy. I don't think I have seen the sun at all for several days. So, I never made it to the beach with my camera, like I said I would do. If you go out and walk in this stuff, you get soaking wet. Your hair drips and clings to your face, and your clothes are salty sticky. Ick......I know in a few days it will get back to true sub-tropical weather, so I'll just be patient. Right now there is thunder rolling around and rattling the windows, and big raindrops are plopping down. Looks like a stormy night.

Since it isn't pleasant to go out, I made a couple of ATC's, for fun.

TREASURES OF NATURE
SIMPLE ELEGANCE

I'll probably be blog visiting tonight. Maybe I'll see you around? :)

SOME MORE ARTSY STUFF

2008-01-13T08:23:00.000-05:00

These are a couple of ATC's I did early yesterday morning. They will go into my art journal. Later in the morning DH and I went to an outdoor art festival, then had lunch at a place called Sea Sea Riders. I was hoping for some inspiration I think, but it didn't happen. Lunch was good though! THE KISS mixed media
PAPER FRACTAL cut papers and jelly roll glitter pen
SERENGETI SUNSET alcohol inks and cut paper

It's so froggy outside I can barely see the tree line down the street and the air is very damp. I'm hoping the predicted rain will hold off for just a few hours, and the sun will burn the mist off so I can go over to the beach in a little while. I feel the need for a little beachy solitude. A nice long walk along the shore should do it. I'll take my camera.

If you feel the need for a little inspiration today, you should visit Mother Henna. She has a wonderful post. (link in my sidebar).

Welp, DH is up now, and so is the dog, and here comes Mz. Wee climbing on my chair, hungry for her breakfast, so the daily ruckus begins in my personal zoo!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

THE LITTLE MONSTER...

2008-01-10T18:18:00.000-05:00

...She ate my Gerbera Daisy. After all I did to care for it through the cold spell, propping the stem with one of those plastic tube thingys so it wouldn't droop til it got strong, clipping and watering and loving it....she ate it! Climbed up on the table on the porch when I wasn't looking and clipped it right off with her big beak, tasted it, then left the evidence right there among the leaves in the pot!

Oh, you know who the little monster is...that blue and gold thing that thinks she's special! It's bad enough I have to get after the dog because she wants to dig in the pot for the lizards that run under the leaves and hide. I saved it from the dog several times already. But now........DRAT!!!!!

Stop laughing!

A BIT OF ART STUFF NOW...

2008-01-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

Between working, takin' care of business, and agonizing over that lost bird, I have managed to spend a few hours at my art table creating some art images.

5 x 7 floral, pen and ink and pastel on bristol
5 x 5 mixed media collage "Generations Three" They all had different shades of gold hair, but when I put paper glaze on it, the hair...um....tarnished!

5 x 7 parrot, Prismacolor markers on Bristol

A 22 x 28 acrylic on canvas I have been working on for awhile. Very preliminary. Who knows when it will be finished or what it might turn out to be at that time. With my history of growing bored with something, and slathering things with Gesso, it might even become.....a polar bear!

All of these are just for fun and relaxation, and I suppose will go into the closet, or maybe (except the canvas) into my art journal, so a year or two from now I can remember what I was doing this date.

HAVE A CREATIVE DAY!!!

UPDATE

2008-01-07T17:35:00.000-05:00

UPDATE ON BOBBY: Eight days out and Bobby is still flying. He seems to be heading east. The area he was last spotted has a woodsy section. Apparently he is finding food. For those of you interested in keeping up with this little fellow, you can follow it at http://www.seabirdsanctuary.org/

I'm still hoping and praying he gets captured because of his poor eyesight and his straps. That kind of makes him a "target" in the bird world. But wow, I bet he is loving this taste of freedom.....you think?

SAD,,,

2008-01-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

This is Bobby. Enlarge the picture below to see him better. He is a partially blind falcon who escaped from the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary at the beach last Tuesday evening when we were having high wind gusts. He has lived there for several years. Apparently he was being transferred to another cage and a gust of wind blew him from the arm of the person handling him. He flew, and he is still wearing his tether (called a jesse). Friday he was spotted trying to get into someone's screened pool enclosure and is still wearing his leather straps. The location he was seen tells me he has crossed the intracoastal waterway and is now on the mainland. Bobby was rescued from someone who was not treating him well, and his life has been to educate school children about the American Kestrel. Please, think positive thoughts for Bobby, that he can be found before it's too late. Being a bird lover, this is really bothering me and I pray for his safe return. Thanks.

DIDN'T I TRY TO SELL HER ONCE BEFORE?

2008-01-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

...for twenty-five cents? When she was being a really, really bad bird? Well, she is for sale again! Twenty bucks this time! Here's why...

DH played the lottery using her birth date as the numbers. It won forty bucks! So half is mine right? I laid my twenty next to the computer. BIG MISTAKE! Usually she dismantles the keyboard; today when no one was looking she dismantled my $20 dollar bill! I guess she figured since it was her birthday numbers, it was her twenty! Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

But you gotta admit she's a cutie!

Factoid: Did you know...a macaw's feather lines on it's face are as distinct as a human fingerprint? No two are alike and macaw's can be identified that way.

A NEW BEGINNING......A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

2008-01-01T08:21:00.000-05:00

The Green Man is the first new year addition to my yard, hanging on my fence, hiding just behind the fronds of a gentle Areca palm. He was gifted to me and made by the talented Jane, Pottery Instructor. I placed him there to be the God of the Plants and watch over them so they will be protected, grow, and provide food, shade and homes for little birds and insects. I have no doubt there will soon be a territorial fight between two lizards who will covet his protection as their new home.

As this new year begins, I consider how fortunate I am for the friends I have found in this blogging cyberland, and not being an exceptionally wordy person, and knowing I cannot do anything about the sad things that go on upon our planet even if I comment about them, I simply offer these words of another with which to start your own New Year:

from Russia, Elina Kunikeeva

I WISH YOU...

HAPPINESS DEEP DOWN WITHIN

SERENITY WITH EACH SUNRISE

SUCCESS IN EACH FACET OF YOUR LIFE

FAMILY BESIDE YOU

CLOSE AND CARING FRIENDS

HEALTH INSIDE YOU

LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS

SPECIAL MEMORIES OF ALL THE YESTERDAYS

A BRIGHT TODAY WITH MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

A PATH THAT LEADS TO BEAUTIFUL TOMORROWS

DREAMS THAT DO THEIR BEST TO COME TRUE

APPRECIATION OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS AROUND YOU

and I will return soon..........

THE LAST OF 0 - SEVEN...

2007-12-17T16:31:00.000-05:00

These pictures were taken Sunday afternoon. It was extremely windy and we don't usually have a "surf's up" here, but there was one this time. Not exactly Maui or even East Coast Florida but it was certainly different for the usually calm Gulf waters. I couldn't stay out on the beach long because the sand was blowing so hard it was biting. As you can see, there were not too many beachgoers. Later, a tornado came through and flattened a jail in a neighboring county. Temps are cold (to me), about 45 degrees, but we will have high 70's again by mid week. That's the Christmas season in the sub tropics!
Even Johnny looks a bit hunched against the chill. It was funny watching the gulls get pushed around by the wind.

This green water is usually blue. If you enlarge this one, you can really see how the wind is pushing the surf as it rolls over.

This will be my last post for this year. Taking a blogging break since I'm off work until January and maybe I can get some art and writing done. I will still be visiting blogs though, and of course my email is always open. I wanted to post the lovely holiday cards I've been receiving as a sidebar decor, but....drat....my scanner seems to have bit the dust! Oh, Santa baby...

The photo below is the International Peace Choir. I want to leave you all with the spiritual poem these precious children recited on the Peace on Earth CD by KITARO....If you have holiday stress, get this CD and get lost in the amazing musical talents of KITARO.

GREAT SPIRIT

All living things come face to face with the Great Spirit

And the Great Spirit dwells within all living things

Trees

Flowers

Water

Birds

Wind

All things.

At times the Great Spirit is severe,

At times the Great Spirit is soothing,

Encompassing all life.

Every place the Great Spirit dwells

Is a source of gentle, crystal light.

And within that light we become one,

Floating as in the mothers's warm body,

Living together as children of the earth,

Without time...

Without end...

Without time...

Without end...

Without time...

Without end...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blessings.........from me to you!

IT'S STILL CHRISTMASSY AROUND HERE.....

2007-12-15T21:27:00.000-05:00

A few more photos of Christmas in Florida. These are homes in my neighborhood that people have decorated. Some went really all out. Some are subtly beautiful. And some are, well....you decide. ;)

This is the dock at McDonalds. There was only one small boat there this morning, but later in the day there is usually waiting room only and lots of larger boats. The wind wasn't blowing when I took this photo so it's hard to tell, but that little red dot at the end of the dock is a Golden Arches flag! Get your burgers here! This looks across the intracoastal to the beach. The Gulf of Mexico is on the other side of those buildings.
And back to the hood! See? We have snowmen in Florida!
A manger scene. Was very beautiful in reality. My camera doesn't do night very well.
Oh geesh! An orb!
This may be Dancer and Prancer...
Notice the orange tree towards the front...
Can't have Florida without palm trees...

Somebody is into Nascar...
And Mickey Mouse...
And more Nascar... Isn't that Tony Stewart dressed in a Santa suit?

That's all folks.

MORE AROUND HERE.....

2007-12-10T17:34:00.000-05:00

Roxie guards her new Christmas teddy bear (complete with squeaker). She couldn't wait til Christmas day. Spoiled little brat dog!

An origami Christmas ornament made by the Japanese Sumi-e instructor at work. She said it takes about an hour a day for a month, folding these little papers into a ball. The photo does not do it justice. It's totally amazing and I treasure it. An adult Wood Stork. This wader with it's 66" wingspan, is on the endangered list. A flock of them hang around my neighborhood. In the 1980's, there were only 250 pair left, down from about 40,000 pair 30 years before. The wood stork chronicles the deterioration of the everglades ecosystem, which was their original home. More evidence of global warming, development, and Big Sugar farming!
Santa sits in a lawn chair under a neighbor's palm tree, waving at passersby in today's 84 degree sunshine. Yep, this is the Christmas season in Florida! :)
to be continued.........

AROUND HERE.....

2007-12-08T07:04:00.001-05:00

Christmas time in Florida is not what one see's on TV, with the snowy yards and kids making a snowman and having snowball fights. Rather, it's usually mildly warm (in the 70's) and sunny. If Santa wears his suit, he will be roasted. He would have to even shave his beard and catch some rays.

I'll try to take some more pics and show what it's like here, so we can all have a variety of holiday scenes. (I've been visiting some really snowy blogs!!!) These pictures are of "Holiday Cards" that are in the park across the street from where I work. I forget the size, but they are bigger than a door. They were painted a couple of years ago by myself, along with the previous art director, and a couple of volunteers. Together, I think we all did a pretty good job! These "cards" (painted on wood) were done at the request of the City of Indian Rocks Beach and are put up in the beautiful park each year. There are about twenty in all. I only took pictures of a few.

This tree is the one in the lobby where I work. All the ornaments on the tree are hand painted by members of the art center, and are being sold as a fund raiser.

More later. Have a HAPPY day!!!

EDIT: After reading a couple of the comments (thank you!) I thought I should clarify that this is not "my" art, but rather a combination of all of us who worked on these cards, and the artwork and ideas mostly came from altered, old holiday cards.

VERY EARLY MORNING

2007-11-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

The moon at 5:13 a.m. today, beginning to lower over the Gulf of Mexico in Florida.

Think of the stillness, the total quiet in the cool early morning air.

No birds yet winging or calling, except the silent-winged owl going home,

no traffic on this Sunday morning,

no barking dogs.

Only the sound of my bare footsteps echoing softly in the crisp, dewy grass.

Close your eyes for a brief time and search deeply into your soul.

Find a moment of peace.

Enjoy your day!

***** comments disabled *****

WHAT ONE DOODLES WHEN BANISHED TO THE PORCH WHILE THE CARPET IS BEING CLEANED!

2007-11-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

I came upon a large conch shell as I walked along the shore at sunset.

The gentle waves lapped at the edges of the wonderous pink and white shape,

rolling and pushing at this marvelous crustaceous covering,

foamy bubbles washing in and out of the mysterious opening.

I pondered, in my small way, what miracle had taken place

to mold and shape this spectacular beauty.

And why is it here, washed up on this lonely shore.

Is it because it has outlived its usefulness?

Is this out of the way beach its final resting place,

to become dried by the blazing sun that would soak up it's brilliant, wet shine

and leave it dull and uninteresting,

with no one to give it a glance as they walked by?

Or could it have been pushed here accidentally in the fury of a passing storm,

by waves that tossed it over and over in the silt of the ocean bottom

until it settled finally here at my feet.

And then I saw a rising, sparkly wave, collared in white foam,

reach greedily for the large shell and roll it easily back into the blue-green water.

The shell tossed and turned in the wave,

pulled by the tide,

sucked into the sand.

And after a short time,

it disappeared into the mysterious depths of the sea.

Was it still needed somewhere, I wondered?

A shelter for a delicate sea creature?

Was it perhaps a mermaid's home?

ROOM IN MY DAY FOR A LITTLE ART

2007-11-16T16:44:00.000-05:00

She doesn't have a reason for being, really. She's just amusement. I enjoyed my time creating her. She has no name. She is just a little bit watercolor, a little bit pastel, a little bit collage, a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll!

A WIERD THING HAPPENED.......

2007-11-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

I really, really like glass, and especially decorative clear glass that has some kind of "texture" inside it, like bubbles, or the etched macaws below.

And...I think crystal bottles are beautiful. These are perfume bottles that belonged to my mother-in-law. I think they are pretty old.

And I love diamonds. What girl doesn't? WHAT?? You are asking if this is REAL????? Puhleeeeeze. Would I display a fake?? OK, so it has a couple of flaws!

A little glass fish that I've had a long, long time. The bubbles inside him just seem like they belong there.

Now here is the wierd thing. This is my "crystal ball" I love it. It's ordinary, I know. But I love it just the same. I took a picture of it in the sun, and I thought it would be cute if I went in the house and got a couple of my Goddess Guidance Oracle cards, placed them behind it, and it would look like a "reading" was taking place. As I was walking away from it, I smelled something burning. I thought....geesh, it's 80 degrees and there is a ban on burning, who in the heck is burning a fire?

Oh my gosh, you see that bright spot just to the left of the crystal ball?

It was burning! In about 2 minutes or less, while I was taking this picture, the sun magnified thru the glass and started burning the black cloth I was using as a background. LOL LOOKEE!!!

Lucky I didn't go into the house to search for my Goddess cards, or the Fire Department would be here now.

Welp, that was my exciting morning. What was yours?????

MY SUNDAY LESSON

2007-11-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

There are times in life when I don't do so well. I appear to be upbeat all the time, but inside I cry, as do many other people I'm sure. I try to be positive at all times, but "all times" is totally impossible, and whenever I might get a bit "down", it seems there is always something to lift me up, if I search for it. Or perhaps I may come across it accidentally. Or, perhaps I was searching unconsciously, and that is the "accident" I come across.

Although I am not especially a religious person, today I was doing some early morning channel flipping, and came across a TV evangelist who, along with his wife, was preaching "The Secret". Not the popular best-seller book as we know it, but the same idea only from the other book, the Bible. They spoke about thinking positive, and about thinking about what you WANT, and not about what you DON"T WANT, so that it will come to you. I don't especially mean just material things, but spiritual and emotional as well. Of course, most of us know that secret already, and know that it works if one is consistent with the WANT, or GOOD thoughts. It's just that sometimes we get lost in daily "things" and forget to think the positive way. I do. So today I'm back on the positive track, and I do feel much better already. If you have been down lately, I hope you can get your spirit uplifted in some way, to help you along life's rocky road and get yourself back on the positive track.

I did light a candle yesterday, and said a small prayer for all my glitter fristers.

Above is a small glittery wall hanging gifted to me by Oceandreamer. It came at a time when I didn't especially "need" it, and although I truly appreciated it as a gift, it sat around awhile. Yesterday I "needed" it, and I decided to put some bling on it (it was all white glitter), and now I'm going to either hang it here at home or take it to work and hang it near my desk, to help me remember that life, even though it deals a bad hand at times, really is GOOD!

Today, I'm off to fill two shoe boxes with items to give to a person I know who is affiliated with the Bethlehem Centre, and is collecting these filled boxes for abused and neglected children who have been taken into protective custody. And I will feel uplifted about that, too! Life really is good!

REMEMBER VETERANS EVERYWHERE. GOD BLESS THEM FOR THEIR BRAVERY.

SUNDAY BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL.

THE SEASON IS UPON US!

2007-11-07T13:51:00.001-05:00

Christmas lights are everywhere already! Friday at work we will be putting up a tree - - this early because we close December 15 for the holidays. We have asked for volunteers among our members and instructors to paint a box or two of clear glass ornaments to put on the tree. We'll be selling them as a fund raiser. These four are my contribution.

They are painted simply with acrylic and sprayed with Krylon, with a little added glitz and glitter. I did not use glass paints because I didn't want that transparent look. The inside was poured with liquid acrylic to achieve the solid color background. It was tedious and I'm glad they are done, but I'm happy with the way they turned out. I also attached a little bling to each one for added fun. The helmet is paper, mirrored on both sides, glued to bristol to make it stronger, then sealed with sparkle mod podge.

I'll be back in a few days. Be happy everyone!

TOWARDS THE WESTERN SKY AT SUNSET

2007-11-04T09:39:00.000-05:00

DUSK

The sun has disappeared over the Gulf,

over the fence,

and my yard becomes quiet,

no birds chattering their satisfied good nights to each other,

no rustling lizards run for cover under the leaves and mulch,

only a slight, cooling breeze

swishing softly, gently, through palm fronds and jasmine leaves,

barely a whisper.

There is a moment or two,

exactly at dusk,

when all seems to become quiet and peaceful,

even the distant vehicle rumble calms,

neighbors night murmurs are in limbo,

daily activity of human

and animal

and mechanical

and nature

wind down to a mere exhale.

Listen!

It's a brief moment of Peace

before the night sounds begin.

Dusk
Dusk using the flash

BACK TO SANITY

2007-11-01T17:28:00.000-04:00

Whew! I'm sure glad Halloweenie is over. I was starting to scare myself! And eat TOO MUCH kiddy candy!

Back to some art stuff. Below is a small (6x9) watercolor painting I am submitting to the Peace Project Mother Henna is having on her blog. If you are interested in submitting something, please visit her at www.motherhenna.com/peace.htm It doesn't have to be a painting. It can be a doll, a photo, most anything you want that you feel represents your idea of PEACE. And you don't submit the actual item. Just the image. Check it out. I think you'll be happy you did.

Title: The Goddess of Peace with her Messengers

HELLOOOOOO

2007-10-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

I'm on my way to the graveyard to gather my ghoul "friends" so we can all go to the Koolghoulfest. Perhaps, if you peer through the mist, you will see us there, heh heh, and perhaps not! But we will definitely see YOU!!! If you feel something "touch" you from behind.............heeeeeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don't turn around. You won't SEE anything! HeeeeeeeeeeHehHehHeh

Someone will return here after the Halloween moon sets. Someone! Heeeee Heeee Have a SCARY Halloween! R.I.P. BOOHAHA.........

A LITTLE ART JUST FOR FUN AND RELAXATION

2007-10-25T17:17:00.001-04:00

A collage. Just paper and glue, and paint pens.

WRITER'S ISLAND "STRANGER" PROMPT

2007-10-23T10:56:00.000-04:00

Please join me for a cuppa your favorite, and accompany it with this very, very short story. ***Hoping your day is pleasant***

internet photo unknown artist

LESSON FROM A STRANGER

I'm not afraid of strangers. I'm surrounded by them every day. My friend Lou and I, we sit on the bench down at the corner of 5th and Winslow, right downtown, almost every morning. Lou is a people watcher. He sits there and talks about the expresson on the faces of the people walking by, how they look angry or sad or stupid. He decides who didn't sleep last night, and who was out drinking until 2 a.m. I guess he has a sixth sense about people, or at least he thinks he does. He talks about their clothing too; mentions if they are wearing baggy pants, or dirty shirts, and expounds about a particular pretty lady who passes every morning on her way to work wearing bright, short, summer dresses, her high heels clicking on the shadowed pavement as she taps by.

He describes their smells too, although I have a darn good nose and I don't need him to tell me about that pretty lady's perfume, because it smells like the field of flowers that used to grow behind the little country house where I grew up. I can still remember how the sweet, almost overpowering scent of those flowers wafted on the summer breeze, rushing on unseen air through the open windows of our small home. I liked that smell better than when my mom made brownies, the odor of the baking chocolate causing my mouth to water and that little impatient, squirmy thing that lived inside me hardly able to wait until they were cool to taste them. But the flowers smelled the best.

I always know when that lady is approaching because her soft, flowery perfume precedes her. And Lou, well he gets a little excited. I can hear it in his voice as soon as he spots her. It's like he gets a tickle in his throat and his lowered voice becomes raspy as he takes in what she's wearing today. He talks about her long, shapely legs as if he's never seen a lady's legs before. Well, knowing old Lou as I do for these many years, it probably has been awhile. Neither of us is a spring chicken any more.

This morning though: I started to tell you about this morning and the stranger. A man sauntered past us, and true to his personality Lou began to talk about how this person seemed a little surly, with hooded eyes that looked from side to side like marbles rolling around in an egg cup, shoes untied and ill fitting that sort of slap-slapped against the concrete sidewalk as he went slowly past our bench. Lou didn't need to mention that he was not one of the regulars on their way to their same old regular day. No, this one was a stranger. I knew by the way he walked, slowing as he passed, that he would turn and come back. Lou was keeping an eye on him, never fully trusting anyone, fearful of the unusual, cautious about anyone not in the flow of the morning routine. The stranger shuffled closer to our bench and stood in front of us, not speaking. Lou tensed, and I could tell he was about to say something perhaps a bit rude, when the stranger slowly reached out to me and took my hand in his own. "Sir," he said, "I'm a poor soul. I don't have many material things, and in the winter I sometimes lack a roof over my head, and a coat warm enough to keep out the icy chill. There are times when a bowl of warmth from the soup kitchen and my faith are all that keep me going." As he spoke, he pressed some money into my hand. I could tell it was several bills. "Sir," he continued, "even though I am poor and have none of the riches I see around me every day, I still have my eyes, and that makes me very wealthy indeed."

As he turned away to leave, I moved my red-tipped cane so he wouldn't trip, and thanked him, my heart filling with grateful love. And Lou, well, I knew he had just learned a little lesson about trust and love, no matter how a stranger might be dressed. END

please visit http://www.writersisland.wordpress.com/ for more "Stranger" stories.

A LESSON LEARNED - EXTERNAL INFLUENCE

2007-10-16T10:20:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at work I was listening to one of the instructors tell her students "DO NOT LET OTHERS INFLUENCE YOUR PAINTING. PAINT FOR YOURSELF.

Oh, what a valuable lesson that is! Last week I posted a preliminary underpainting of what I was currently working on. As I was painting, someone walked by me and asked a question about the lips. After I answered, he said...well, maybe you should make an adjustment in the lips, since it isn't (what he asked). As I continued to paint, without even thinking, I made an adjustment. Why???? At the time, I didn't KNOW why nor did I even think about it. So, I adjusted the lips, then of course I had to adjust the nose, and then the chin, etc. etc. to make everything "fit" right. When I got done, the original drawing was totally lost, I was frustrated, and the painting now looks absolutely NOTHING like what I was originally doing, and by the time you read this the canvas will have a new coat of gesso!

I loved those lips! Without even realizing it, I was basing my entire painting around those lips. After hearing the instructor tell her students not to be influenced, I finally realized why my painting failed. I LET MYSELF BE INFLUENCED AND WAS NOT PAINTING FOR MYSELF! And worse, this influence came from someone who can't even draw stick figures! Huh? Am I just duh?

If you are a painter, please heed this lesson. Never, never let anyone else influence your art. Paint only for yourself, and you will be much happier with the end result. And thanks to Charlotte, the Instructor!

Geesh, I loved those lips!

T.G.I.F. !!!!!

2007-10-12T14:30:00.000-04:00

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

**********

This is a very preliminary underpainting of what I'm working on. It's funny how it seems like a painting is coming along fine when you are standing in front of it, even farther back from it, but when you put it up here, you can see ALL the things you need to adjust that you didn't see before. This also happens if you hold your work up to a mirror. Oh, wish me luck. I can see I'm going to need it!!!

Wishing everyone a happy weekend! I'll probably be back one day next week.

And down

down

down the rabbit hole

I go!

TUESDAY'S CREATIVE FLOW

2007-10-09T12:34:00.001-04:00

HEY LITTLE GIRL

Hey little girl

Look at the stars.

Do you think we can touch them,

Or are they too far?
Hey little boy,

Look at the moon.

Perhaps we can bounce it

As we sing a short tune.

And look over there

At those stars in a row.

Can we toss the moon over?

They look very low.

Hey little girl,
We can play here all night.
The sky is our playground,
The moon gives us light.
Here, my new friend, take my small hand.
I will lead you to paradise
In the Universe land.

MAKE YOUR LIFE BLOSSOM

2007-10-07T16:20:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to make my life blossom. Are you? Sometimes it's difficult...there are so many variables. Life shifts like the sands on the desert and when you think your feet are on sturdy ground, you may unexpectedly sink, or the hot winds may blow the sand under your feet in a different direction and the trail you are following may be temporarily lost. But if one waits until night, and trusts the luminous astral bodies, the way back can be found. Trust the Universe to help you find your way, no matter where you are or how lost you feel. You'll return to your own soul and feel at peace again, when the time is right.

Above is an ATC/collage I made today. It's the first art I have done in awhile. It tells how I felt when I saw the child's face. She is someone real, tho I don't know her name. When I got started, the creativity flowed, and the sand felt steady under my feet once more.

Until next time.....Namaste

THE PROMPT FROM WRITER'S ISLAND

2007-09-25T05:12:00.000-04:00

THE KEY a short story

Margaret sat on the wooden swing hanging from the ceiling of the wide front porch. Her aunt - well, really her step aunt - sat beside her, both of them quietly watching the end of summer evening begin to envelop the trees along the long, paved walkway, making the woodsy area just beyond the paved section grow darker and darker. The porch was attached to a rented house, a caretaker's house on the campus of a bible college in a small northern city. The old caretaker had long been replaced in this somewhat modern mid -1950's times of salaried maintenance persons. But being still very young and inexperienced, as well as uninterested in worldly matters, Margaret didn't know about all that. She only knew it was pleasant and peaceful here. Much more peaceful than being at home six states away, where there was always turmoil and scuffling, similar canned food on the table each night, embarrassing, ill-fitting hand-me-down clothes to wear to school. Margaret liked it here, even though she sometimes thought Aunt Lou wasn't too fond of her. Occasionally Aunt Lou fussed at her. Like the time she came in the bedroom when Margaret was dressing. Aunt Lou saw her wearing her trainer bra, and embarrassed Margaret by telling her it was dirty, asking in a loud voice with a mean frown on her round face why she "wore the same one every day! Didn't she ever wash it?"

Margaret felt as low as a worm, and was terrified that her cousin Paul would hear the conversation about her "bra"! She finally blurted out tearfully that it was the only bra she owned, had ever owned. And no, she didn't wash it because she didn't have another to wear while it dried. Margaret's thirteen year old mind could not yet consider that Aunt Lou didn't realize how poor her family really was. She only experienced the embarrassment and sensitivity that a very young teen, only just beginning to develop, would feel. She really didn't even need a bra, but all the other girls in her class had one.

But tonight it was pleasant. She and Aunt Lou sat swinging gently in the mild evening weather, while her cousin Suzie who was three years older, could be heard rattling dishes in the kitchen doing the shared after-dinner dishes duty. Margaret could hear twelve year old cousin Paul in the back yard with two of his friends shouting as boys do, gleefully chasing the fireflies that were beginning to light up the evening space. She felt happy and secure at this moment, and full of anticipation.

Her anticipation grew as the evening bells began to chime further up the hill at the main hall and classroom buildings of the bible college. She knew the students, clothed in their long, black, flowing robes, would momentarily be walking in a group down the hill on the winding, paved walkway, perhaps going to some evening prayer, or lecture, or recreation. Margaret, not having been raised in a church environment, didn't know and never thought to ask where they were going. She only knew they came every evening at the same time, at dusk, soon after the bells chimed.

Glancing up to the top of the hill she saw movement, and suddenly they appeared, walking briskly, waving and smiling as they passed - perhaps 15 of them - she had never counted. But that one, the one with the slightly darker complexion and the cute little glasses with gold rims, frequently stopped to chat briefly. He must have been about 21 or 22 Margaret thought, and was pleasant to Aunt Lou. He never stayed longer than one or two minutes, but it was long enough to set Margaret's young, still unbroken heart pounding, for she had a huge thirteen-year-old crush on this young seminary student. Her eyes always searched for him in the group of darkly clothed young men. Sometimes she would feel distressed when she couldn't pick him out immediately from all the others that looked exactly the same in their black robes. Then suddenly, there he would be -standing out slightly because he was the only one who wore those gold-rimmed glasses, the only one whose skin was a shade darker than her own prized suntan. Tonight she thought her heart would burst out of her chest as he separated from the others and came to the porch steps to greet her round, chubby Aunt Lou. Margaret never spoke to him, usually looking down when he approached, and was always afraid he would say something to her and she would be forced to answer, to stutter something stupid, terrified he would see how silly and dumb she really was. In the twilight, she stared at a blade of grass showing through the porch steps near his foot. She noticed his shoes were clean and polished; his voice was soothing and creamy like the way ice cream melts when it sits in the dish a few minutes. Keeping her head held down, she let her eyes wander to his hand on the porch railing, noticing his clean nails and smooth skin. She dared to let herself wonder ever so briefly what it would feel like to hold that hand in her own clammy palm, like she did once last winter with that boy Martin who lived next door to her at home when they were out riding bikes in the near dark. When they stopped, Martin had reached for her hand and she let him hold it, but then her mother had called so she'd had to go in. But Martin had never made her heart thump intensely like this young man did, never turned her to a sticky blob of jello the way she felt right now.

And then it was over! As suddenly as he had approached, he was gone. She lifted her head and watched him quickly catch up with his group and disappear around a bend in the walk. They always came back later after she went in - she wasn't allowed out alone after dark and anyway would never dream of being out on the porch alone when he came by in case she might have to speak to him. Sadly, she thought how she would not see him again until a few days later, because it was her turn for dishwashing duty next. She sighed, relaxed, and happily became herself.

Aunt Lou looked at her with a slight smile and said softly, "You like him, don't you?" Mortified that she was so transparent and suddenly feeling almost naked to the world, she politely answered, "Well sure, he's a nice person." But Aunt Lou, a perceptive lady, pushed. "You like him a little more than nice person, don't you?" In her embarrassment Margaret didn't know what to say, so she said nothing. In her silence, it seemed as if the night crickets chirped so loud her eardrums might burst, and the creaking of the porch swing thankfully drowned out the hammering of her suddenly thundering heartbeats. Aunt Lou continued, "You know he's black, don't you?" Margaret looked at Aunt Lou with astonishment! She lived in the South, and there were no black kids in her school. Racial integration had not reached there yet. She'd never had any contact with them and being born of parents raised in the North, it was never discussed in her home. There was really nothing to discuss. But her young ears had heard some wild and crazy stories from her peers, and her inquisitive mind took it all to heart, and she was sometimes afraid. The black people she'd seen in public places were much darker than this young man. He was barely brown. He was the same color as her suntanned arms. How could this be?

Her heart locked, and she felt like it closed up so tight no key would ever be able to open it again. "Such a cruel world," her little teen mind thought. "A world that dictated what a person's feelings could and could not be. A world that put love and pounding emotion in her heart, and feelings that ran through her young body and warmed it like the sun's rays on a balmy day, then snatched it all away, ripping it out like someone pulling and tearing her very flesh." Tears burned her eyes, and she ran into the darkened house, flinging herself on the bed she shared with her cousin, sobbing until her newly found, and quickly lost, love was washed clean from her soul. Some time later, she got up, wiped her tears and put on her jammies. Then, feeling suddenly much more grown up, she took her little training bra to the bathroom sink to soak it clean in warm, sudsy water.

END

Please visit http://www.writersisland.wordpress.com/ for more stories and poetry.

A MEMORY..... AND THANKS

2007-09-21T07:43:00.001-04:00

Happiness is a butterfly which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Internet Photo

Back in January of this year I posted a birthday tribute to my Aunt Beulah. She had turned a delightful 99 years young! I remember when I was growing up she had told me once that she planned to live to 100. She almost made it. Two weeks ago, she joined the spirit world, and I have no doubt she was welcomed with total joy. If the spirits who have gone on before her love her as much as she was loved on this earth, she will be happy for eternity. This is a memorial card that was made by her granddaughter and great granddaughter, Katie and Christina. I thought it was so heartfelt and wonderful that I wanted to share. You can see by their words how much she was loved. Farewell, Aunt B. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life, and for the inspiration you perhaps never knew you gave me. I loved you soooo much, and I know you will wear your angel wings proudly.

I THANK everyone who remembered my birthday with cards, gifts, emails, wishes and thoughts. You are all so wonderful. I value you more than you can know! xoxoxo

WORKING AT IT !!

2007-09-16T12:51:00.001-04:00

Some time ago I took a drawing class, using pencil only, and this slightly portly gentleman was a live model. Well yes, he was portly, but my drawing makes him just look slobby! :) Both drawings are the same person and were timed drawings. Today instead of doing a new drawing, I decided to colorize an old one, so I did using Gioconda 12 soft pastel pencils (a Koh-I-Noor product). I love these pastels, which I discovered last summer, and I highly recommend them to pastel lovers who like working with the pencil type. I have always used Conte pencils, but they are hard pastels and these are so much more easy to slather on the paper and smooth out. I like to use the pencils rather than the sticks because I have much more control over detail than with the sticks.

If you get a chance to take a drawing class with a live model, I highly recommend it. You can really tell the difference in your perspective as opposed to doing a practice drawing from a picture. You can see the negatives and positives much better.

Now, I am going to do some reading on my newest book, and hopefully this evening I can find some writing time. Seeya next week. Hoping your days are GLITTERY AND MAGICAL!

PASSION

2007-09-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

I read this morning about a gentleman named Chris Gardner who changed his life from a homeless person living on the streets with a tw0-year old child to a successful multimillionaire. His secret? PASSION. Mr. Gardner says "Passion is Everything". Passion for his work is the one thing that helped him change his life. He thinks one must be borderline fanatical about what one loves in order to succeed. His advice is to "be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about" and stick with it. Do it! It's Passion that separates "electrifying" from "average". Imagine where harnessing your Passion can take you. Some quotes and exerpts from AOL article by Carmine Gallo, Pleasanton, CA
I belive that! I believe if you are Passionate about what you love, you can succeed. I believe if you imagine where harnessing your Passion can take you, you can get there! I believe, as Donald Trump says, "Without Passion you have no energy, and without energy you have nothing." How true is that?

My personal Passion in life has always been drawing, painting, and writing. I have done all of these since I was about 12 years old. Unfortunately, life's rocky road took me on a path away from my Passion. I had to follow the roadsigns of necessity. Even now, necessity interrupts, but not as frequently. So I work with my Passion. I know that I will most likely never become famous for anything, and I am happy with that. This is a time of my life where I kind of like to relax and just be peaceful. Peace in spirit is all-important to me. But I will never give up my Passion completely. I will draw, I will paint, and I will write until the end. And whatever your Passion is, I hope you will keep it with you forever.

A practice work of sunflowers, oil on paper, painted with Passion
A practice pencil drawing, scribbled with Passion

WAIT! WAIT! DON'T ABANDON ME!

2007-09-12T08:11:00.000-04:00

I haven't forgotten about blogging. Nope! I've just been really concentrating on other things lately. Doing a lot of writing on that book. -- Working. --Taking a class. -- Reading. Thanks to Angela and Oceandreamer for the postcards. There is a mysterious box sitting on my table too, but I'm not allowed to open it just yet. I can't stand it!!!!! I'll be at Gemma's (link on sidebar) grand re-opening too. Be back soon!!

Silly Roxie and her two Bobo toys.

JUST ONE MORE.....

2007-09-07T08:19:00.000-04:00

...and this is my favorite of all my art treasures. It's a pen & ink drawing of New York City which you will all recognize, with the very finest of detail which you may have to click and enlarge to really see. The drawing is approximately 15" x 20" and must have taken many, many hours to complete. This scanned image does not do it justice; in the real drawing you can read every bit of that signage. This one is also signed by the artist. I'm not sure when the time period is...I would have to research the plays, etc. being shown...maybe the 70's or 80's? This one, since I totally LOVE pen and ink work, is a keeper and will get framed as soon as I get a roundtuit. Have a great day...I have to run off to work now! xoxoxoxoxo

TIME FOR SOME ART...BUT NOT MINE

2007-09-05T17:29:00.000-04:00

These are some delicious architectural/art illustrations I purchased at an estate sale some time ago. Unfortunately, the previous owner did not protect these prints as well as would be desired, but nevertheless, even though the paper itself has yellowed with age, the colors are bright and the artwork is delicately wonderful and undamaged. These are all Paris scenes. The artist is Barclay, or Barday, and I have researched the internet and so far cannot locate information about him/her. It does seem that these prints are actually individually described and signed by the artist. Almost illegible in a lower corner is the information that they were "Imprime en France 1942". I'm thinking they may have been sold as tourist items, since they are prints. But since they seemed to be signed by the artist, perhaps not.

Paris. St. Severin

Paris. La Saires Ceut et St. Pierre-de-Montmartre
Paris. Notre-Dame
Paris. La Tour Eiffel
Paris. La Toier de l'Horloge
Paris. de Pont-Neuf et la pointe des "V"erti-Galantin

Forgive me if anything is mispelled. I do not speak French, and in some instances I cannot be sure about the letters in the artist's delicate handwriting. I love these prints, but I also may sell them one day...not sure yet. They would probably be more treasured by someone who loves Paris and has been there, and can make a comparison between the scenes as they were in 1942 and present times. For instance Notre Dame....much bigger now no doubt.

If you know anything about these paintings or the artist, I would love to hear it. I believe they are pen and ink colored with either watercolor or ink. Enjoy!

BIRD FOR SALE!

2007-09-03T13:28:00.001-04:00

My momie says I am for sale. Cheap! Only 25 cents, maybe even! I have been a very, very, VERY bad birdie today. I have screamed LOUD every time my momie left the room. Sometimes I run after her so fast my claws catch in the carpet and I take a tumble! I have screeched for a taxi ride from one room to another...I am too lazy to climb down my perch and walk. I have chased the poor dog and tried to bite her butt when she ran, or bite her nose if she tried to climb up on the bed. I sit on the back of my momie's chair and jump up and down, up and down and say "hello, hello, hello" 50 times in her ear to annoy her, so she will take me to my perch to pootie, because I am too lazy to walk. Or I climb into her lap and beg to be scratched, every second. No breaks! If my mommy picks up her purse I know she is leaving and I scream and scream and scream!! When my mommy left town to go on vacation, I did not speak to her for two whole days when she came back! I raised my head feathers and did a war dance every time she came near. But now I have forgiven her for leaving me, and she wants to sell me. CHEAP!!! TWENTY-FIVE CENTS!!! Oh me, oh my, I am a poor, unloved birdie! Woe is me. ;)

A FEW MORE VACATION PICS

2007-09-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

A waterfall in the mountains. It's hidden so you cannot see it from the bottom and you have to climb to it. It's so dry in that area, and no rain for three months, no snow capped mountains (yet) so I can only imagine this water must come from an underground stream....perhaps draining from Lake Tahoe? It just sort of pools there and goes nowhere.

The dog goes everywhere, and she loves water (a Labrador). She can climb mountains too. Her name...............Judy! Now WHY did my daughter name her dog Judy? LOL
This is Lindy, now 8 years old, leading an imaginary parade in her pj's.

Lindy's mom (driving the ATV) and her twin....yes, they ARE twins! That's the State Senator's house in the background. He lives across the street from daughter. They drove the ATV about 10 blocks to the mountain...luckily didn't get caught on the road with it. Why trailer it for 10 blocks? Well, to avoid a ticket is one good reason. "All-terrain" does NOT include public roadways. They gambled and won. No ticket today.

Lindy telling you exactly how it is! She is still learning to talk but she does carry on a conversation that mostly only she can understand. Her hand motions and facial expressions tell you how involved in the conversation she is, and how emphatic she is about the subject. She also knows sign language, which her mom taught her from a baby, knowing that it's typical that Down Syndrome children are often late talkers. Lindy's favorite word is "NO!", also typical I understand, and she can stick out that bottom lip better than Daffy Duck! When she learns normal conversation, one is going to have to have earplugs! :)

Lindy and Grandma enjoying hugs. She is a most precious child. Well, when she's in a good mood TeeeeHeeeee What is that nursery rhyme...I can't remember...but it's ends "And when she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad she was horrid". Yep, that's Miss Lindy!

Lindy and her mom in the pool. Lindy LOVES the water and is taking swimming lessons. She is not afraid to put her head under water and holds her breath for what seems to ol' granny like FOREVER!

THIS IS FOR YOU, LINDY!

FROM PIONEER TO MILLENNIUM...AND BEYOND

2007-08-30T11:47:00.000-04:00

I never thought going on vacation would cause me to make a connection between 2007 and 1860. It isn't a thousand year millennium connection, but it's in the range. Here's some food for thought:
On August 4 2007 the explorer Phoenix blasted off for Mars. Who knows what information it will send back that may tell us of things that happened in that thousand year period, or even the future? Or, current information we are as yet unaware of.

And just a few days later, I was able to unexpectedly visit a pioneer graveyard some 2000 miles from my home, with unkempt headstones and many unmarked graves. From the 1860's. What stories could these stones tell if only they could talk? And oh my, how far we have come since then. From indian arrows to Mars landings. From the past to the future, all in three weeks.

The Phoenix that blasted off Aug. 4 for Mars. (NASA photo)
The vapor trail from the rocket blast left over the Tampa skyline which I captured during my very early morning trek to the airport. I saw the rocket go up too, which is amazing in itself since I live some 400 miles across the state from the cape. But it lights up the entire eastern sky. I was standing in the front yard in my pj's to watch it, with NO camera in hand. DUH! Oh well, it isn't exactly new stuff these days! But I was delighted to photo the vapor trail lingering around some 30 minutes later. The moon is in there also.

During my visit to Carson City, Nevada, an amazing and wonderful little town full of historical victorian homes and a beautiful governor's mansion, I ventured upon a pioneer graveyard on one of my morning hikes.

The tiny, unkempt pioneer graveyard on the mountainside.
ATV trail leading to pioneer graveyard on the mountain, the way unmarked but for the plaque on the cross. A smaller foot trail winds alongside this atv road and goes directly through the graveyard.

oops sorry about the double pic. I can't figure out how to delete just one without deleting the entire page!

cross carved from stone

What caused the death of this 3 year old pioneer baby named ...n Ronin? The harshness of pioneer life? A peyute arrow? Who was f/c? Was he or she loved only a little, that no one took the time to carve the entire name in the rock? Yes, food for thought. And a vacation experience I won't soon forget.

On a lighter note - while I was away I checked my email and was delighted to find I had won an honorable mention for my poetry submission to ARTELLA, picked by public vote. Here is the poem:

THE CRY OF THE WEAK

A flame within my soul burns high

A fire that stubbornly will not die

A searing coal...NOW HEED THIS CRY

It's name.......BLACK JEALOUSY!

It winds around my innter 'one'

And blocks the warmth of healing sun

Clutches my heart and helps me none

Forces me to turn and run

Why can it not be over and done?...

BLACK JEALOUSY

Oh Lord, I beg...release me now

Relieve the pain and show me how

To Free my soul again....I vow

To kill.....BLACK JEALOUSY!

Alas! I cannot turn and fight

I am a coward, this is my blight

I cannot see the peaceful light

I live within the strangling night

And terrors hover just out of sight

And though I try with all my might

I cannot rise above the height

Of.....BLACK JEALOUSY!

Nope, it isn't representative of me! Just my writing.

The Little Art Room will remain closed for awhile longer - for Artsy things at least - while I clear some dark cobwebs from my muddled brain. There is no color in my spirit just now. But it will return. It always does.

ON VACATION.....

2007-07-29T09:08:00.001-04:00

GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

2007-07-28T12:21:00.001-04:00

This wonderful foiled, glittered, ribboned, colored ATC is from Ang. It's part of the "little blue book" filler and the little blue book is almost full! I love this bright, colorful ATC. The other object is one of her scrabble tile pendants, which she has artfully colored and added beads. It's lovely and it was a complete surprise. THANK YOU SO MUCH ANG, tho I know you prolly won't read this becuz you are on vacation having too much fun! But at least I got to brag a little!
Normally I would have enhanced this picture to show the pendant better because it has a delicate flower design, but my computer is ACTING UP!!! My pictures go somewhere I DON'T put them and can't find them, my broadband acts like dialup, and a lot of other things are not working properly. It's time to get rid of XP and get Vista or something and a NEW COMPUTER (Universe, are you listening)?This one is five years old now, and I think in computer years that's jurassic. Hmmmmm, maybe on my trip next week to CC I can gamble enough winnings to get a new one! If only, if only, I don't get greedy and LOSE IT ALL BACK TRYING TO GET MORE MORE MORE!

Well, I'll seeya later if the creek don't rise and this machine I'm illiterate about cooperates! :) Help......I'm being swallowed by a Vivitron!

YES, I'M A CLOWN

2007-07-27T14:25:00.000-04:00

Uh, huh! This morning I posted a rose I was working on. But I hated it. It's gone. It's in the TRASH!!! Yes, that felt good. So......I'm a clown. So what. It feels better than a rose.

FEELIN' SPECIAL

2007-07-25T19:42:00.001-04:00

A very special friend, Betsy, painted this pot of geraniums just for me. It's done in oil on canvas, 16X20, on gallery wrap. I feel so special. I know, I know, she'll tell me not to let it go to my head! But, she painted it FOR ME! FOR ME! Is that a friend, or what? Notice the little petal that just now floated down onto the table! Thank you Betsy...I will treasure this forever!
The Rockin Girl Blogger Award on the sidebar came from Violette. This is just my lucky day!

Notice the World United Bloggers Logo.....more about that later. It's a GOOD thing!

END OF ANOTHER WEEK!

2007-07-20T15:11:00.000-04:00

A painting for a lazy day. I could just untie this little boat, lay back and watch the clouds, and drift with the tide for a few hours. Listen closely and you can hear the waves lapping gently against the sides of the boat, the gulls laughing above. Feel the warm, balmy breeze gently washing over your face. Let your body move with the motion of the waves, and your fingers pull through the cool, refreshing water. Close your eyes, and allow time to disappear.

TUESDAY MORNING.....

2007-07-17T13:17:00.001-04:00

Thanks everyone for the kind comments about the Fire Goddess and her Firedog. I was inspired to do this by Ninnie's (sidebar link) June post about her Summer Solstice personal fires. If you check back there, you can certainly see the resemblance. One can draw inspiration from most anywhere, if you just look deeply into something; clouds, trees, and especially a fire! I saw a goddess spirit there, other people saw eagles, fairies, and other objects. How very special is our imagination!

*********

Here are a couple more Good Luck Dolls I made trying to use up the "stuff" I have laying around. The rose petal one on the left was the first, which I posted a few days ago, but the other two are her new "good luck sisters". I haven't even made a small dent in the fabric and other ephemera I'm trying to use up. I think I have 50 million sequins and 20 million beads, plus loads of other stuff. I would have to make 500 dolls! They are really kind of silly looking, with nothing really matching. Kind of like those junk mail 4x4's some of us did awhile ago. I mean, not that anyone's art was silly looking, but, well, you know what I'm saying! And here's a horrible thought! What if I couldn't buy any more art supplies until I used up what I already have? OMG! And now..........I have all these dolls standing around, and more to come!

I decided to go ahead and risk the Voodoo Spirits and gussie up my JuJu doll. She just wasn't very attractive, and certainly not worthy of being in the glitter circle. Now, she has glitter all over her grubby, mossy hands, a birdhead nesting there, sequins and cabochons all over her dress, beads hanging from one hand, a small mirror and shells around her feet, and one golden earring. I think she looks a lot more like a glitter girl now and hopefully the Voodoo Queen will approve!

old
new

I also received my prize-winning car from Dr. John, and trying to decide if I want to glitz it up. It's already a very fine car, but...well, you know, it isn't ARTZY!!!

A QUIET, ARTFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON

2007-07-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

Fire Goddess with Firedog

SPIDER MUMS

2007-07-14T09:45:00.000-04:00

A "just because" bouquet I received, and posted because they are so lovely. More pale yellow than the photo shows. I have never had nor seen Spider Mums before. Such a delicate flower.

I just wanted to briefly mention Doug Marlette, the cartoonist. He spent some of his growing up years in a small Florida town, so that may be one reason I became aware of him many years ago. (I used to want to be a cartoonist!) Any political beliefs aside, I feel the U.S. and possibly the world, has lost a great artist with his passing. If you remember the cartoon many, many papers carried in their editorial pages right after nine-eleven (and it hit the email circuit also) of the simple drawing of the crying eagle, that was Marlette!

I sure hope I can get some art done today. I dunno. Maybe a slump here!

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES!

2007-07-12T17:59:00.000-04:00

I found out I don't have to work tomorrow...YES!!! so I'm baaaaack!

I had to post this. It's a card I got in the mail from Savanna (most of you know who she is). A sympathy card she made. Top photo is back and front, next photo is both sides of inside. It is so very precious, I cannot even express how heartfelt this is and how much I am touched by it! A child like this is certainly a wonderful reflection of those raising her! This is something I will treasure forever!

The other picture is an ATC I received at the same time from Mz. Ninnie. It's all glittery with angelina fibers. I am so pleased with it, but I hafta say, Mz. Ninnie, that your wonderful artwork pales in comparison to the angelic work of that little lady! :)

Goodbye Ladybird - Wildflower Lover

2007-07-11T18:49:00.000-04:00

America could use more classy ladies like you!

Today errands, Tomorow work, Friday work, this weekend art, I hope! See you then.

Hmmmmmmm, I have a lotto ticket I haven't checked yet! :)

POWERFUL DISCONTENT!

2007-07-10T10:36:00.000-04:00

This is the reason for my "powerful discontent". I really dislike this painting. I didn't realize how much I was going to dislike it while I was doing it. First, it's watercolor and I just don't appreciate working with watercolor, although I keep trying and trying and I can't figure out why! I enjoy watercolor when I do something small, like 4 x 4 or 6 x 6, but anything bigger just does not make me happy. And the "wait" time for drying layers drives me nuts! I'm too impatient. It would have looked much better in brilliant acrylics. Don't get me wrong; I love soft watercolor paintings. But it seems only when someone else does them, not me! Not only that, but it's too "spread out" and the words I printed look awful. The words were the main reason for the painting. It says "With silent dedication, follow your own special star path. Experience - discover - and understand your elusive self." I think to salvage it I will have to cut it out, rearrange it, and make a collage. Geesh! I hate doing things twice! When I get the collage done, I'll post it again for a comparison.

*************

This (below) I painted on a straw purse I got at a second hand/antique store last summer. I don't think it has ever been used. I've been waiting to figure out something to do with it. At first I was going to embellish with 3D items, but the other day I decided on paint. I used acrylic, then sparkle mod-podged it, then a light spray with clear acrylic. I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think? I do appreciate honest critiques!

********

I am making some "Good Luck" dolls. They are dolls made with stuff I have just lying around and need to do something with. I made three polymer clay heads, glued them to Cassia sticks, and this is the first finished Good Luck Doll. She is made with raffia for her body, her skirt is rose petals glued one by one (thanks Redhead), and her white top is some of that sparkling yarn I needed to find a use for. (I have MORE...sigh..) She has a little tag about good luck. I'll be making more of these with different "stuff".

But today I have to go to the dentist! Aaaiiiieeeeeee!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRIDA!

2007-07-07T14:07:00.000-04:00

This is an AP photo I got from the local paper. In Mexico City, they are celebrating Frida Kahlo's birthday. She would be 100 years old. These ladies did a pretty good dress-up job I think. The post office has Frida stamps out, I've seen them stuck on machines there, but they never seem to have them. I've tried two locations, and I am NOT going downtown to the main post office. Uh Uh. No way. Frida would not wish that on me.

So, Happy Birthday Frida. You left the world some wonderful art!

OK OK, the new car! If you look on my sidebar and see Dr. John in the link list, go to his blog (The Fortress), the FRIDAY post, and you will see a picture of my new car that I won. I am so excited and lucky! It's true! I really did win a car!

Honest! No joke! I did!

I'M A WINNER!!!!!!!!

2007-07-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

I WON A CAR!!!!!

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I WON A C A R!!!

THIS POST WILL CONTINUE........................... I'm so excited!!!

MY HERO

2007-07-05T19:01:00.000-04:00

This is my hero! This morning we had a bathroom leak, and before we knew it, the leak had traveled from the bathroom, through the laundry room, through the kitchen, and almost to the dining room door. Ms. Wee, who resides in a special corner in the kitchen near the dining room door, began screaming like a banshee as soon as she saw it. Not knowing what was wrong (I was at work) DH ran to see why she was screaming. And there was the leak. She saved our carpet, and who knows what other damage. It took hours and hours to clean up. But my sweet baby got lotsa loving and an extra pistaccio for her warning! UGOGIRL!

Now for another story that really has me fuming, and this just happened a few minutes ago! I belong to an on line group of bird owners and when anyone has a problem they ask for help, and someone with the same kind of bird is always willing to provide friendly help and advice. But this time, Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr, a DUMB lady wanted to know why her blue and gold macaw was plucking, and had ALREADY plucked all of his gold chest feathers and was starting on the blue ones. She said she called a vet that does house calls but he had not shown up yet. WHAT???? House calls? Already plucked all the gold? What is WRONG with this woman, that she would let this go so long before she tried to get help, before she even called a vet, and perhaps not even an AVIAN vet! She said a friend told her to spray the bird with something that tastes bad but that didn't work! WHAT??? I asked her how she would feel if someone sprayed her with a foul tasting liquid if SHE had a nervous problem! Then she said she was afraid of the bird. WHAT? She won't touch it because she is afraid of it?? WHY does she have it? Well, I told her to find a certified AVIAN vet, told her the name of the drug that can help if it isn't too late, and then asked her why she waited so long to seek help, that it may already be too late if the bird has already destroyed the feather cells beneath the skin. Then I told her she needed to find a rescue place for this poor creature, because she was not qualified to take care of this bird. Yeah, I did that. I was not nice to her. But nice doesn't save animals that are living with people that don't know how to care for them, and wait til the damage is done before they ask for help. And if those of us who care don't stick up for them, who will? I'm trying to cool down! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

INDEPENDENCE DAY - THE TRUE MEANING

2007-07-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

Ok, Ok, here I go on my soapbox again. It's just that I see so many people showing pictures of veterans graveyards, and troop activity, and that sort of thing. Please don't get me wrong. I pray for our troops all the time. I want them home! I feel for the families who have to visit gravesites of downed soldiers. I truly appreciate all that these wonderful troops have done and still do for our continued freedom, and the freedom of others they are asked to defend. But today is not Memorial Day. Today is not Veterans Day. Today is INDEPENDENCE DAY. And it isn't just a day where we eat backyard burgers and set off fireworks for the fun of it. It's a day when we celebrate our roots, when we should also remember our founding fathers, and remember how this great country got it's start.

Before we were a totally free country, we were part of the British Empire, occupied by British troops, paying our tax monies to the British Government. (I love all you UK friends of mine-don't forget that! This is merely a sort of history lesson!). So the Colonies revolted and started a war for our Independence. The American Colonies wanted freedom so bad they even got the French to help us defeat the Brits. It was called the Revolutionary War. Remember your history lessons?

So, while we are out there exploding all the brightly colored SKY ART and eating our ribs and burgers and having fun, and thinking how much we want all our troops home, let's try to remember our roots, and think a little about our founding fathers. I for one am grateful to those Colonists who, over 200 years ago, wanted their freedom. Because they passed it down to me.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

.....and it's POURING down rain here!!!!! :)

JU JU GUARDIAN

2007-07-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

VOODOO! WHO DO?? YOU DO!! This is the voodoo doll DH brought me back from New Orleans. It has GOOD voodoo vibes tho! I am supposed to place it anywhere I need protection from negativity and evil. And it smells good. It's really kewl...that green is glitter, and the other colors are neon. The stuffing is moss. Hope it doesn't have chiggers! I think it looks a bit like Edvard Munch's PRIMAL SCREAM! I'm not sure I can resist doing a little more embellishment! Don't you think it needs a bit more glitter, and some beads?? Would it change the vibes if I altered it?

STORMS!
Last week when I was feeling so anxious and funky, this may have been the reason. You think??
The pics were taken in my yard. I felt like I could reach up and touch these huge thunderheads. The lightening was pretty bad but I didn't stick around for pictures of that!

A NEW MONTH - A NEW BEGINNING

2007-07-01T10:14:00.000-04:00

OPENING UP

Insight: The power or act of seeing intuitively into the inner nature of a situation.

I have been floundering a bit in my life, wondering why I am even here, what purpose could I possibly have, why even bother? In my mind-wandering search, yesterday I somehow was led to purchase a set of Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards and this morning gave myself a reading. I was amazed, astounded, excited, and I think my jaw was touching the floor! It was so true-to-life (and how could that even be??) that I wanted to share my reading here with any of you who may be interested, who may believe, who may need guidance, who just want some entertaining reading with your morning java. Whatever the reason, if you read to the end (I am not noted for LONG posts!) know that I appreciate you. And if not, enjoy the wonderful artwork at least. And if you want to know anything about the artwork, just ask. I have a resource of names and websites for these original lovely paintings.

How it works: After consecrating the cards and making them totally "my own", I shuffled them and laid out three cards, left - middle - right. This is my reading:

VESTA, a Roman goddess of home and hearth. VESTA was my first (left) card and speaks of IMMEDIATE PAST. The card states "Your household situation is improving, ...........through a healthy change in the occupants". Conclusion: There has been a wedge in my household for many years which I will not detail here except to say that it has kept me very unhappy for literally years and caused me to simply "go nowhere" with life. Several weeks ago, this wedge disappeared. Overnight! And a healthy life outlook took its place. I am slowly repairing. Perhaps VESTA, who is credited with bringing warmth to households, both as temperature and emotion, is now here to look over us. I so welcome her into my life!

SULIS, a Celtic sun goddess who oversees bodies of water associated with healing. SULIS was my middle card and speaks of CURRENT SITUATIONS. The message is to spend time near water, etc. to recharge your batteries. Conclusion: I have been thinking of water - walking on the beach, visualizing a river or rocky stream. I need to be near water. Water always recharges me - I knew that. I've always known that! Why haven't I already done it? Perhaps I needed SULIS to give me a push. I will now.

YEMANYA, an African and Brazilian goddess credited with creating the sea. A protector, supplier, and one who grants wishes. YEMANYA was my final card, to the right of my reading. She represents GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY and advises the reader to walk through the important doors opening right now! This card speaks of INSIGHT INTO FUTURE OUTCOME. Conclusion: I have been thinking of two major projects in my life lately. One, writing a book of short stories, which I have already started. I get lax, but now realize I must make time each day to work on this. And two, making a set of artistic goddess cards (I believe I was led to purchase these by the Law of Attraction). Only mine would be original "deck of cards" size so one could carry them in a pocket or purse so they can be taken out no matter where you are and get an instant "consultation" with your own inner spirit. Not so much to be used for a "reading", but rather to be able to look within yourself when you need uplifting, because the cards would all have positive thoughts or source-identified positive quotes. THIS IS THE REASON I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DOING SOME GODDESS PAINTINGS. I HAVE BEEN FEELING OUT MY INTEREST, SO TO SPEAK, AND IT HOLDS.

And thus a new month, a new beginning, an inner search brought to a close.

EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.....

2007-06-30T05:55:00.000-04:00

I am needing something alive and happy, at the same time serene and peaceful in my life right now. I think I can achieve that with this mix. Grazing deer near a stream in the summery setting seems alive and happy. A light winter snowfall brings a cooling and peaceful serenity. Ah, that feels better now.

untitled watercolor 9x12

untitled watercolor 11x14

These are quick "get in and get out" paintings I did after a wet-on-wet watercolor class.

2007-06-29T06:39:00.000-04:00

UNTITLED POST...SIGH.............

2007-06-27T14:02:00.000-04:00

THE SOUL OF A MERMAID

16X20 acrylic on canvas

THE GLORIOUS ART OF MOTHER NATURE

2007-06-25T18:57:00.000-04:00

I wanted to show this postcard picture of a Catalina Macaw I received today from Naturegirl, simply because of the brilliant, wonderful, juicy colors. This is natural art, and it just doesn't get any more beautiful than this! Thank you Naturegirl.
And thank you, Mother Nature.

PAINTINGS vs ILLUSTRATIONS; THE GODDESS FILES CONTINUED

2007-06-24T13:44:00.000-04:00

This is a basic drawing that "evolved".
This is the final evolution..THE GODDESS OF THE RIVER

GARDEN GODDESS - it also "evolved"

There is a Canadian artist living and working in Mexico by the name of Gary Slipper. He is a fantasy painter, and his work is brilliantly beautiful with colorful Mexican influence, a combination of fine art and folk art, and much of it sells for thousands of dollars. I think it's wonderful art and I wish I could paint as well as him. Gary states "When you start a painting on a pre-determined path, it becomes illustration. You might say the parallel is in giving a speech versus having a conversation; paintings evolve - like a conversation or like a dream."

Perhaps this is true. I know when I did the 101's (remember them?) I considered them illustrations. I planned out each one based on the type of day I'd had, or expected to have and knew beforehand what the finished drawing would look like. I guess that was like a speech. But when I paint, I only have a general idea of what I am going to do; my paintings definitely "evolve". I think Gary has the right idea! You can google his name to see some wonderful eye candy.

There are no "speeches" in this post. Only conversations and dreams.

GODDESS ART ON MY MIND......

2007-06-22T08:17:00.001-04:00

GODDESS OF THE PLANETS

Acrylic on paper

I'm doing some painting and blog reading and working and trying to get some shopping done here and there in preparation for my trip out west in August (yeah, it takes me that long to get ready!). I'll be back in a couple of days. Be creative, and most important be peaceful within yourself.

2007-06-20T08:14:00.000-04:00

This is a gorgeous "Tomorrow" flower I received from Ang. It will go into my little twelve-month ATC book. On the back of the card it says "Tomorrow I'll call you. Tomorrow I'll live a dream. Tomorrow I'll giggle like a child. Tomorrow, tomorrow!" I love it Ang. Wonderful design. Thank you!!! And Ang, I haven't been able to see those boxing kangaroos yet!

I'm quitting my glass class. Maybe I will start up again in the fall. Just too much to do right now.

Hope your day is filled with things you love!

MY PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO DAISY.....

2007-06-19T15:38:00.000-04:00

.....the only way I know how. Through Art.

"BECOMING"

Ironically, Daisy herself named this painting. I was going to call it "Lady of the Moon", and I went back to my May 29 post to be sure I had not already used that name...but I had not. I had painted "Lady of the Sun". Here is a comment on that date about that painting...and I quote from Daisy Lupin..."I like the title 'Becoming' as the woman looks as though she is striving and beginning to become ethereal under the power of the moon."

When I re-read that post, there was no question that this painting must be named "BECOMING".

Daisy, this is my personal and final tribute to you. I appreciated knowing you through your blog. I envied you your country life, your bus rides, your cottage garden. I often wished I could sit there with you and have tea, and get away from this harsh, hurried life I have to live in the city. Be happy where you are now in your spiritual life. One day I will see you again. Thank you for allowing me to know you.

TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED GLITTER SISTER HILARY

2007-06-17T09:53:00.000-04:00

Daisy, if you come in spirit, or send your tiny garden fairy friends to visit our blogs, know that you made all of us glitter sisters aware of just how much we mean to each other. Thank you for that.

AHHH...SOMEONE LEFT THE CAGE DOOR OPEN....

2007-06-16T09:34:00.001-04:00

.....And I'm FREE!!!! I will return soon....just checking to see if the grass really is greener over there!

NO RHYME OR REASON, JUST FOR FUN

2007-06-13T13:54:00.000-04:00

THE NEST IN THE WOODS

11x14 acrylic on canvas board

ISN'T IT AMUSING WHERE YOUR IMAGINATION CAN TAKE YOU ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A PAINTBRUSH IN YOUR HAND!

SUMMERTIME

2007-06-12T09:56:00.000-04:00

One can tell from just looking out the window at the sun's glare when the oppressive heat of the southern summer has begun. But when you walk outside day or night and the heat hits your face like an oven blast, when you can breathe deeply and inhale the wonderful heady jasmine scent that happened almost overnight, and feast your eyes on the overgrown blue plumbagos, and hear the locusts lonely song; and when in the morning the sparse grass feels damp to your bare feet from the humidity, even though it has not rained for days and days, yet in the afternoon it burns your heels, you know without a doubt the lazy, hazy days of a southern summer have arrived.

ARTFUL MEMORIES

2007-06-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

For lack of any new work I am ready to show, I decided to go down memory lane and dig out a couple of things from the past.

The fish is BLUE ANGEL, 16 X 20 pastel DH doesn't want me to sell. Oh well.

The girl in the tub was my first true attempt at watercolor some time ago. LOL........see the crooked tub, see the crooked bottle, see all the painted hard edges...oh my! STOP LAUGHING!!! I don't think I will ever master watercolor.

The other is a print of a pastel PELICAN. The original 16 x 20 was sold to a lady I did a mural for. Did you know that with the brown pelicans, the yellow on the head signifies a juvenile?

Well, now that I have bored you with memory lane art, what am I going to do the rest of the day? Oh yeah, I wanted to mention that I recently received a very huggable little bear from the sweet Mz. Kai. She sensed that I needed that bear hug and it came in the mail! I tried to photo it but it is being very stubborn and does not want to be photographed.......or scanned! But THANK YOU Kai! You already know Ah Wuvs You.

I have projects to do; I just can't seem to get started! Oh sigh, maybe tomorrow, Mz. Scarlett........

BACK YARD FISHING

2007-06-04T18:54:00.000-04:00

photo source: St. Petersburg Times
A local man went fishing off his back yard seawall. This bull shark is what he caught. It weighs 650 to 700 pounds, and is 8'10" long. It took him and two of his neighbors three hours to bring it in. He called around to local fish markets but no one was interested in having this fish. He plans to mount the jaws, and throw the rest of the carcass back into the water. Bull sharks are dangerous and aggressive animals, but this time of year they come into the bays and inland waterways to give birth to their pups. I wish he had just left it alone to live it's life in peace.

RAIN, RAIN, DON'T GO AWAY YET

2007-06-02T07:15:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny that we finally get some rain on the first day of hurricane season, and that the much needed rain is caused by a tropical storm that made landfall further south? A little scary, but the rain is so welcome. It will make the plants and grass grow green again and put out those terrible wildfires. It's been raining straight for about 15 hours now. But...that's a good thing.
Did you ever think you might just want to hop onto the back of a tiny bird and fly away to somewhere unknown? Forget everything here and just start over? I've been inspecting myself, wondering what my "calling" is. Why am I here? I seem to go in great circles. I have started my life over before - with great determination - and seem to circle around to the same place each time. Do I really WANT a purpose in life? Do I need a passion, a direction, a meaning? Is there someone/something in my life stealing my destiny? Sometimes I feel stressed out, overloaded. Not with things to do, but rather with personal drudge.

I think I'll tumble down the rabbit hole and mull this over for awhile.

NEW ART PIECES

2007-05-29T06:32:00.000-04:00

I spent my holiday weekend drawing and painting. Here are the results.

"ATTITUDE" pastel on paper

"LADY OF THE SUN II" acrylic on canvas board

"Untitled" pastel on paper - Can you help me out with a name suggestion? This is my first horse. Edit: The horse has a name. "SPIRIT" I like it! Thanks Gemma

"THE SOPHISTICATE" acrylic on paper

*****MORE ART*****

Three juicy ATC's I received in the mail last week from a swap with Maryellen. These are not collaged, but hand-drawn art. THANKS Maryellen!

BE HAPPY TODAY!

MEMORIAL DAY

2007-05-28T08:55:00.000-04:00

I CAN ONLY SAY.....THANK YOU.......FOR YOUR DEVOTION TO AMERICA, FOR MY FREEDOM, FOR THE FREEDOM OF ALL COUNTRIES WHO DESIRE IT. THANK YOU, SOLDIER. GOD BLESS YOU.

".........that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain" Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, PA, November 19, 1863

TODAY'S THE DAY!

2007-05-25T18:54:00.000-04:00

When I was a child, my most favorite toy, along with my plastic horses, was an inexpensive cardboard kaleidoscope! It had pieces of brightly colored glass in the end, and you could hear them rattle around as you turned this cardboard tube that was painted in busy colors like a circus tent. I would sit, stand, lie down for hours, staring and turning and trying so hard to get the same pattern twice, to no avail. It was amazing to me that there could be such wonderful colors and shapes crammed into this little round tube. Today, I have seen hand made kaleidoscopes at art and craft shows that are large and made of brass and glass and are very fancy. I covet them! But alas, they are a little out of my budget for a "toy", so I just remember my wonderful childhood, cardboard kaleidoscope that brought me so much joy. Perhaps that is why I started painting at an early age. The colors and shapes just drew me in.

A couple of years ago DH bought me a small, carved wood kaleidoscope - the one pictured below. It does not rattle and shake. It does not have bright glass pieces trapped inside it. Instead, it simply has a rounded glass at the end and some kind of cuts and shapes on the inside of that glass. The bright colors are there when you point it at bright things. It distorts shapes and brings them together to make wonderful designs.....almost as wonderful as the childhood type. Only, these you can identify if you look closely.

The person who most closely, and first, identified the contest picture is DAISY!!!! Yes Daisy, it is looking through this small kaleidoscope with my camera lens, looking outside through a window. The greenery you see is distorted palms, plumbagos, and white birds. The segmented part is the underside of my awning. It turned the awning sideways, upside down and inside out, and gave it a shape with many sides. Congrats, Ms. Daisygirl. I will email you.

Thanks everyone who played this short, fun game with me. I thought I was so clever and it would be hard, but you guys are just too smart for me. Several people came very close, but I think Daisy was the closest and of course the first. I am going to be posting more kaleidoscope designs in the future, with more color, because I just think they are so beautiful. And of course, I'm easily amused!

Have a SAFE and happy Memorial Day weekend. See ya next week!