Photo play

I should be doing 100 other things, but...

Here's what I'm thinking...

Wishing you Peace and Love 

as you celebrate 

what is sacred to you

in this season of Light.

How in the world

did I get here? Thanksgiving is already over, my first child just turned an age that stuns me, my youngest grand is turning 3 and I am now, according to the government who labeled me "adult" at 21, officially "old" having just turned 65!

Thought I'd better take a minute to post before the Christmas madness begins and I wake up in 2013.

           

I have still been painting! Regularly! with the most amazing women. Our most awesome (as my friend Nancy calls her) teacher is Charlotte Backman, a painter of mandala.

I previously shared the first one she guided me through and here is what I am currently working on.

I'm not sure what will establish it as "done" but I know I'm not there yet. I have plans for more dots, lines and a nice boarder. Mandala painting has really slowed me down. They are a meditation aid and I find myself really getting into the flow when working on one. It's a good thing.

And, as it seems to go in my life, one good things leads me to another. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to spend a day at Charlotte's taking a Thangka painting class from a delightful Tibetan monk, Yeshi Dorjee.  Do yourself a favor and visit him on Facebook.

This is going to take awhile to complete and I am looking forward to every moment. If you go to Yeshi's page you will see wonderful work. Also google Thangka and you will get a good idea of what I am undertaking!

Light is such a funny thing. The golden dragons at the top are actually the same gold paint as the diamond at the bottom. As you can see, I will be busy. There will also be waves around the fish. I learned many new techniques in this class that will apply to all of my art. But I have to say, the real life changer for me was the teaching and meditation that Yeshi did with us in preparation for painting. He shared processes for achieving happiness that I have been working on with dramatic results. 

I am getting a bit more settled in my art room. I was, in fact, all settled until the husband and I found a little dining set; table, chairs and buffet at a super bargain price. The tables I had were either too big or two small to make me happy and this table was just right. Now I am moving my considerable stash of paper and ephemera of all kinds from bins to my lovely new storage. THEN I will be DONE! I will!

It is good to be able to get my hands on my toys and I have returned to my habit of snapping little vignettes around the house. Here is one in the kitchen.

Over the years I have collected quite a few chickens. One of the things that made me sure this was the house for us was the kitchen drapes. They have chickens on them! Don't know about you, but it's not every day that I see drapes with chickens on them.

This was one of my favorite things at the ranch.

After a huge wild fire went through most of our property, taking out several structures but sparing the house, we commissioned this painting from Joy McAllister, an accomplished artist who is part of the Pomona Artists Colony. For many years it was the focal point of our veranda. We brought it with us to the new house, although at 4'x8' and very heavy, we knew it would be a challenge to find a sheltered place to hang it that would support it. 

We thought and we thought, we measured wall after wall. Outdoors was no longer an option. There are no walls under enough cover to shelter it and the sea air would surely ruin it. Inside we discovered two possible place, both of which were high up and difficult to get to. 

But, we underestimated the resourcefulness and the helpfulness of our son! He and his long time friend rigged ladders and risked their necks to hang our lovely lady over the back staircase. This photo depicts how well this location showcases our painting but it does not begin to demonstrate the daredevil feat of getting it up there.

Now, I just have to find a good place for this beauty languishing in the garage.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Every moment of our lives brings change. Hopefully I can learn what to let go and what treasures to bring to my new adventures. And if life has taught me nothing else, I have learned that there is always another adventure and more treasure on the horizon.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I think I am finally making some headway getting settled into the new house. It seems to have been a long exhausting ordeal.

But I am making progress! These are shots, taken on my big girl camera that was literally in the very last box to get unpacked. The photos are a bit weird, I think camera may have been bounced about a bit. This is my new art room. I think I will be very happy here!

                                     Hey, I said "progress" not "perfection"

So here's what I'm thinking: I am exhausted, moving is so stressful, I'm not as young as I used to be, I had to move my Mom in the midst of moving myself, I have Fibro, whaa!!!

Then I think of what lies ahead for all of our fellow travelers on the East Coast who face massive, heartbreaking and backbreaking clean up, if not the loss, of their homes on top of everything they have already been through. Then there are those who were injured and, most heartbreaking of all, those who lost loved ones. I am sending them peace and love, and endurance so that they may soon have healed hearts and homes. And I am sending a donation to Red Cross, aware how little that will do to ease the suffering of so many. What happens to one of us happens to all of us.

And I am going to stop whining. And be grateful, for all of the obvious reasons and for our children, all grown with families and lives of their own, who were incredibly helpful, supportive and caring all during our move.  I promise to keep some perspective.

Once and Forever

Once upon a time, in a neighborhood of tiny Post-War bungalows, three little girls and one baby sister played together nearly every day and grew into best friends. Then high school, boy friends, weddings and relocations happened and they lost track of each other for over 30 years.

Say what you want about Facebook, but that was the magic that brought these baby-day friends back together to spend a wild and wonderful week at Myrtle Beach last year where four, lets just say "seasoned," women discovered they were still those same little girls and one baby sister and they still loved playing together all the day long. Email, snail mail and Facebook have kept them in touch and that special bond between people who knew each other when, has kept them in each others hearts.

A few weeks ago, I was feeling a bit blue and overwhelmed and that leaked out in my post. A few days ago, I opened my mail and found this amazing present from the baby sister who I always wished was mine. Thank you so much Little Joanie. I tear up a bit every time I look at this beautiful bit of love.

Here's what I'm thinking. Life is good. I am counting my blessings. What comes after a zillion?

Sunday Morning At The Pier

La Galette Creperie, located across the street from the San Clemente Pier, is the latest   discovery of great places to eat in our new neighborhood. Scrambled eggs, nice and moist, ham and swiss all wrapped up in a lovely crepe and topped with béchamel, devoured at a small metal table on the sidewalk looking at the ocean. Sigh. It was a good morning.

We have been so busy "moving to the beach" we have not taken enough time to "enjoy the beach!" That simply must change.

We walked off that béchamel by crossing the street and train tracks and walking to end of the very long San Clemente Pier. Come on along.

I wish I had my good camera, this does not do him justice.

                                                 
                                                I LOVE PANO

Who is the guy with the white sox?

Pedestrian tunnel under the tracks

                                             

                             Just about long enough to make up for breakfast.

          

Here's what I'm thinking: Gratitude for a great morning and someone to share it with.

P.S. Someone (you know who you are) should be California Dreaming right about now.