Relaxing

I have only recently discovered how relaxing sketching with a charcoal pencil can be. Most of my efforts have been truly awful, and this one needs some work, but all in all I am celebrating great progress. The vine running up the right side and the Imagine that shows faintly on the bottom were a surprise. They are the imprint left from the scratch work I did on the previous page. I wish they were not there, but they are.

I love faces, to draw and to photograph. I'm just learning to ask people if I can take their picture but I was raised in a house where it was very impolite to stare and you did not want to get caught looking at anyone. I probably passed that on to my kiddos, so here is the public apology, "I'm sorry", and the admission, "I was wrong", and the therapy, "go out there and look at some faces!"

Here's to paying attention, living deliberately, fully conscious and seeing spirit everywhere we look.

Everybody sing...

"Life's been good to me so far..."



I seem to be the Occasional Blogger in spite of all of my intentions. So here I am to catch up on all of the tender and good things that have found me.

Remember Nancy? Friends when we were 2? I found her, after 30 lost years on FaceBook, which I'd just like to say I was "forced" onto. Clucking and sighing at the silliness of it, I was. But the gods smiled and smiled again when Nancy came to spend 10 wonderful days here at Trails End. I'm still sorting it out, still trying to find words to describe more than the day trips we took, the things we laughed at, the things we discovered and rediscovered about each other, the meals we ate, the fun-fun-fun we had. I'm looking for the words to describe the amazing thing that happened in my heart the moment I saw her get off of the plane. Something so warm and loving, so soothing and enlivening that is with me still, all growing and glowing. Something that is whispering to me of itself. Possibly, this feeling is preverbal. Going back to days when we experience without having to name it. Back in the days when we were closer to heaven and still spoke and thought in the language of the angels.

OK, out of my heart and into my head! Here is a journal page I did recently that is all ready and waiting for me to write about the success I am about to step into.



My wise and talented daughter recently held a seminar at the ranch on Multiple Streams of Income. What an experience. Laura helped us discover so many ways to get paid doing what we love and her gifted co-presenter, Susan helped us discover what holds us back from accomplishing what we desire. A very powerful day. I had a major "ah-ha!" moment that I am quite excited about bringing to fruition. Besides the priceless information, Laura provided a delicious pasta salad lunch with cupcake desserts. You must watch for these smarties to put this on again and sign up!!!

These past weeks have filled my head and my heart and I find myself in a sort of perpetual state of contemplation. I am having the most wonderful dreams at night and am experiencing synchronicity nearly everyday. Here's one example; tonight the husband and I ate at a restaurant that we'd taken Nancy to and I wished she was with us again. Suddenly, I overheard the woman in the booth in front of us talking about someone named...Nancy! A few minutes later, the woman in the booth behind us asks her dinner partner if he's heard from...Nancy yet! The magazine image in the next piece looks like I felt. The addition of the leafless trees and the lack of a horizon all fit my current state of mind. The sticker told me it belonged on the page. I wonder what the H stands for. Any suggestions?

Oh, I have sooooo much more to show and tell. But lest I wear out my welcome on your computer screen, I'll go, leaving you with a final piece that I am a bit proud of. It is the first piece I have completed using a set of oil pastels that I have struggled with for years.

It was one of those projects that seem to put themselves on the page and only when I looked at it the next day did I "get" it. Odd, isn't it?

Wishing for you the time and inclination for contemplation.

Just a few

I am so backed up on things I want to post. We had a week long trip to Seattle and Vancouver with a return on Amtrack. I have 530 photos to share but just can't seem to get them ready. More on that later.

Right now I'm making time to share two heart warmers. My daughter, who you all know as Katydiddy, kept bugging me for a copy of the old photo of the house. And here's what she wanted it for!!!


When you come for tea, you will be sitting at one of these beauties. I love them, I love them. A friend, here for coffee and ice cream, said she felt like she was visiting a famous resort. Here's a closer look.

How lucky am I? Go to Katydiddy and see what she might be able to do for you!

Next, I have a "from the mouths of babe's story." I had been working on a clay art doll for weeks. Starting and stopping because it just wasn't going well. My 8 year old granddaughter visited me this weekend and, as usual, we were doing some art together when I said that I may just as well give up and just finish this doll up the best I can because she was not coming out as I had planned. The wee wise one said, "no one will know how you meant her to come out so they will think she is fine." One of the, probably golden, rules for making art being spoon fed to me by someone who I think I have things to teach. Ha! Those little folks are so wise and twice as dear.

I have her to thank for this piece


which looks nothing like I'd planned, but I kind of like her myself now. And I have the added bonus of always thinking of my granddaughter when I look at it.

Remember awhile back I posted about reconnecting with my friend from baby days? She is arriving this week and I am so excited I can't stand it. Needless to say, I doubt I'll be catching up on blogging until after she leaves. Then I should have even more to add to the stash I've already got. Looks like I might be doing some marathon blogging in a few weeks.

All the best of th last glorious days of Spring. Wishing excitement and anticipation, wise words and beautiful gifts to all.

Psst

If you don't about this blog you should. I love this woman's mind and her art gives me courage to keep drawing and painting.

When I grow up I want to be an old woman

This is a phrase from a song on a Kaiser Healthcare commercial...


and here is my 80 year old Mom demonstrating just what that would look like.



Mom said she always wanted to fly in an open cockpit bi plane so this is what you get the woman who has everything for Christmas! (a ride, not the plane)


How cute is she? We couldn't decide if she was Snoopy or the Red Baron.


And I got another chance to play with my new camera.

Beauty comes to my kitchen.


This little girl lives on the counter and seems to be enjoying her lovely companions.

And wait! There is more!

I am about the luckiest woman on the planet. The husband brings me roses for no reason.

These coral lovelies sat just down the counter from the Tulips. The morning sun comes into those windows and the warmth released the fragrance of these blooms. A very kind way to start the day.

Do you struggle, like me, deciding what to do with the precious cards you received at holidays? I have stacks, too many, of cards I have saved and I have regrets, too many, over cards I have tossed.

Add this dilemma to my passion for journal making and here's what you get. Pages ready to be collaged, painted over and transformed. I first thought I was a genius for inventing this, but further reflection brought recall of seeing something similar done with Christmas cards to make a seasonal journal. I wish I could remember which blog I saw it on so I could give credit. If it's you, let me know so I can acknowledge your creation.



Anytime I can hang beads off of something, I will and I find myself using more lace lately. The cover is doubled ivy covered tissue paper copied onto card stock.


It's a good size to slip into a purse to catch moments of inspiration.

If you enjoy reading, hop over to my friend's blog, R Mary Ann Reads and Writes for a delightful take on the written word.

The birds sound like an orchestra tuning up for a concert. I'm off to see if I can get a good seat!

A Sign

We had our usual Spring fire-prevention-tree work done so the property was humming with lots of heavy equipment. I have to tell you that I don't like these days because it's all just so rough and scarring. But, when at last all was quiet and still, I ventured out of the kitchen door, across the patio and saw this where one of the trucks had been parked.



It's still there, a week later, to remind me that love is always in the air! My granddaughter thinks it's somewhat magical and I have to agree.

Hope you all enjoyed a beautiful weekend whether you call it Easter, Passover, Spring, Sunday or something I can't think of. I had a wonderful day with all of my chickens under one roof. Because I have always called my four kids my chickens, my darling Katydiddy made me this.
Next is an example of the cards I made for everyone. They said Happy Easter in the space to the right. How I love to throw paint around. I hardly ever use ink with my stamps anymore. I use paint and they get all thick and gloppy. Yeah.



The last time I blogged, I mentioned that I'd been to Mammoth Mountain with the husband, my son and daughter-in-law. They skied but I remembered, exactly, the moment that I gave it up. I was sitting on a stalled lift, in howling wind and sleet, freezing, with cramps in my feet that made my toes try to curl up which they couldn't do because they were strapped down tight in huge heavy boots. I was DONE. Now I am so out of shape I couldn't ski anyway. But I went along for the scenery, to enjoy some quiet time and to play with my new camera. I did a little shuttling to the lift, a little hanging out and journaling in the lodge,

a little cooking and lots of quality time with people I love.

Turns out it snowed and snowed while we were there so I took most of my photos from the car on the way up and the way home. I'm not complaining, I love car photos. I think it's one of my "things".

The scenery in California is so varied and beautiful. Here is a shot in the high desert on our way up.

The colors are, of course mineral deposits. This area is littered with the remains of old mining towns.

An early glimpse of the Sierras. I love the fact that desert meets alpine like this.

Don't these darling scattered trees look like scenery from a model train set. Those clouds are full of snow that will soon enough fall all over us.


This was the view from the balcony of our condo the evening we arrived.


And this was taken at the gondola that goes up the mountain right from the heart of downtown.

The following photos were taken on the way home.
The first part of the drive down was in some pretty heavy weather. Good thing we are from Cleveland and know how to drive in snow.

Remember those train-set trees we saw on the way up?

Another photo showing the contrasting conditions you find up there.



A farewell view of the Sierras.

We've made this trip several times and I never tire of the scenery.

Today is what Winnie the Poo would call a blustery day. Some pretty heavy wind coming off the desert clears the air and makes the scenery so crystal clear it almost hurts to look at it. We have a lot of pine up here and the branches are all rubbing against each other releasing the most heavenly fragrance. I'm off to see what my new camera can do with a day like today and to distract myself from the fire danger that comes with these drying winds. I think the Buddha said this; "who worries is a fool for then he suffers twice." I'm trying hard not to be a fool!