For today…

It’s Monday, October 21, 2013.

Outside my window... it’s beautiful and sunny, though a little crisp this morning. This is the view from my art journaling position.

I am thinking...that is was a good thing that FB was kind of down this morning so I could concentrate on working in my journal rather than getting distracted by random posts there.

I am thankful...for the creative juices that seem full up right now. I just have to sit down at my work table, and let whatever comes spill out. Love that !

In the kitchen...the clean dishwasher dishes and my grocery list are calling me but the studio feels better!

I am wearing...skinny jeans, a navy tunic t-shirt, pink scarf and cerise Chucks. Chica is wearing her pink collar and checking for squirrels.

I am creating... art journal pages from ink blobs, letting the shapes tell me what they want to be. When these two figures came to be, it reminded me of this dear quote from Ram Dass.

“We’re all just walking each other home.”

How beautiful an image is that?

I am wondering… if you have seen this video ?

It made me cry. It made me remember that Art is Love and Love is Art. It made me want to go and look at a stranger in a new way. There are no strangers, really, are there ? We are all in this together…

One of my favorite things...is stitching randomly as I watch tv at night.

This is a rust stained piece of cotton gauze that I am slowly working on right now…

Letting these shapes speak to me too…

I am going...to have to go grocery shopping in a bit. The fridge is pretty bare. Then, I think a walk in this glorious Fall color will be a must. And maybe some leaf raking too.

 
I am looking forward to...David’s birthday coming up (October 31st, my Halloween Baby !) and also a girls party up at my sister Kristina’s house in a few weeks. It will mean a reunion with an old friend that I haven’t seen in 8 years ! Time goes so fast ! Looking forward to seeing you, Tracy !

Around the house...there seems to be a thousand things to do to get the house ready for the season that shall not be named, and not a lot of energy to do those things !

I am learning…that even baby steps count. Gotta remember that !

Let’s keep putting on foot in front of the other, Beautiful Ones!

Glad to be on the journey with you.

Happy Monday !

The weather outside is frightful....

this is the view out my studio window this morning...

White Christmas, Winterwonderland, Let It Snow...

Nope, sorry just not getting that...

but in spite of my unease about all this white stuff and especially the cleanup it entails later,

I am determined to find grace in all things winter today.

My wise and wonderful friends, Paula and Sherry have posted a list of what fills their hearts with joy and makes them smile about this time of year.

In order to keep the focus on what is right, I decided to join in the fun.

Here is my list of December joys f0r 2009...

- peppermint anything !

- cardinal red against the snow

- black headed chickadees eating at the bird feeder

- some sentimental Christmas songs and carols (found this today and I love Jason Mraz's version !!!)

- angels in all their forms

- white lights under the snow on branches

-the smell of real Christmas trees

- thinking of spending time with family and those sweet kiddos

- how David loves the holidays

- how my heart fills with generosity

- thinking of where we will give our share our good fortune with those who need a hand and some extra love

-paper ornaments

-candle light

-driving through the neighborhoods where the super-lit up houses are

-walking in the evening and peeking in windows to see people's trees lit up

-the slowing down that is filling me this year...

Hmmm...just writing that list is soothing and making me come into that pace that my being wants to be in right now...

So as the snow falls and the wind howls, David and I are cozied up (at least until shovel and snow blower time !) on our first big snow day of the December 2009. I am off to play in my art journal (I have some ideas for a Christmas page that are kind of bursting in my mind...) and he is working from home. Pumpkin/Oatmeal/Bran muffins and hot coffee for breakie and the kitties and dog curled up on the day bed...I may just do some of my Christmas shopping later - on-line goodies for good girls and boys on my list :) !

If you have some of those little things left to buy too, I have filled up the Etsy shop with some sweet little things that I made for the craft sale and my mom's office sale. Every one of them is under $10.00 and there are some things that would make perfect teacher gifts or hostess gifts.

Angels of Love - wooden hand painted ornaments

Flower Faces Round Magnets

Love Birds - there is even a black one in the shop that looks like a little crow !

Some note cards with Queen of Art journal page prints on them

The Jeep has four wheel drive and I have a cozy pair of boots and a good coat so I can get your order to the post office asap no matter the weather is tomorrow or for the rest of the week ! I think I need to add shopping for gifts on line to my list of joys...

Stay cozy and safe, Beautiful Ones...

More Squam Lists...

Some more lists of Squam Stuff...

Top Ten Beautiful Sights - this could have been the top 100 instead, at least ! So much beauty to be seen...

(click to enlarge any of the photos and lists)

Flowers on the Playhouse steps - Jenny Doh spoke here...so beautifully.

The lake from Sap House - our classroom for two days

Jonatha Brooke sings by the campfire

This is Angel from Austin, Texas - our unofficial roomie and oh so talented artist friend

Some of my Biggest and Best Squam Lessons :

# 1 for me I think is that I can be the Big Heart Walking, Shiny One, that I am no matter where I go. You know the old saying "Don't let anyone hide your light under a bushel" ? I have been hiding my own light under this big ugly bushel for a long time, and now that I have learned how good it feels to shine it again, I won't let anything stop me.

Our room before Carolyn and I settled into it - cozy sanctuary,

but it would have been soooo much better with some heat !

My own art - face painted upside down, fearlessly, from Judy's Play Book class

There were some miracles at Squam, everyday miracles that sparkled so brightly and will be with me forever when I think of my experiences there. Judy Wise jokingly calls them "Pink Unicorn Moments" ! Love it ! Here are a few :

My Beautiful Room-Mate and new Dear Friend, Carolyn -

how wonderful it was to share our stories with one another so safely and

with such friendship love.

This is a photo of me wearing the necklace I bought from Georgia on Vendor Night, this gorgeous girl who was selling beautiful necklaces with the wings of butterflies pressed between glass and sealed in with solder (they come from a butterfly farm that collects the wings from dead butterflies). Among the butterfly wings was this peacock feather. I knew the necklace was for me. David once bought me a bouquet of peacock feathers in a long stem rose box when I had told him months before that I loved their colors so very much.

I got to share my story with Georgia - we had a "pink unicorn" moment of perfection.

The back of the necklace was perfect too...

for a Queen with big old wings !

For Today

So I found this lovely, once a week list on Snap's blog Tales from Twist Lane. She found it here at The Simple Woman's Daybook.


FOR TODAY (MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009)...


Outside my window...spring buds on the maple trees bursting open.


I am thinking...that I need some new clothes to wear for spring.


I am thankful for...the sweet time I had with my man this past weekend


From the kitchen...green yet slightly crisp asparagus, steamed and served with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette


I am wearing...yoga pants, a teal colored t-shirt and my "party on my feet" flipflops


I am creating...pages about being a "nice" girl in my art journal


I am going...to meditation class from 6:00-7:00 pm - Heaven !


I am reading... blogs written by my most magnificent and inspiring friends in Blog land


I am hoping... that I can start eating better and lose a few pounds gently and lovingly


I am hearing...the tweets of birds and the gentle whirl of the fan in my studio


Around the house...kitties and dog are dozing


One of my favorite things...tulips that are just opening in my garden - especially the new "Parrot" variety !


A few plans for the rest of the week: working on some earring and things in the studio, lunch with a friend and getting outside as much as I can


Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The incredibly beautiful stain glass piece that my David created for my aunt Lise (with a little help from some friends) !

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook.