All that remains...

is a shy, solitary leaf,

lamenting

in the stillness of the day.

longing for the wind,

with it comes encouragement to fall.

where it lands it will not mind,

and when it does,

bliss.

IF ~ wind ~

What a little artwork can do...

Thank you all for your birthday wishes for my mom and my little gorilla. ;-)

What a time of celebration.

Celebration of life, celebration of a new season, celebration...just because!

Here are a few of my latest pieces of art...I shall be listing them on etsy soon."There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!”
-Percy Bysshe Shelley

~ 3 ~

Today is my little gorilla's birthday

(yes, I guess that makes me a mama gorilla...)

He is this many ~ insert three tiny little fingers here. This afternoon I got a call from my daughter's teacher...Saying she was upset about something and wanted to come home...so I picked her up at school. She gets into the car crying and my all fired up three year old son says "no crying on my birthday! Mommy, she's crying on my birthday" ..... I tried.... I tried really hard not to laugh...how insensitive of me, to laugh, but he kept saying it, over and over...until we made it home. oh, the antics of motherhood.

the clouds frost the sky

I think of you.
all the years, ahead. behind.
together
the branches sway, the leaves dance about the sky

if you listen closely you can hear their whispers...

happy birthday. happy birthday. happy birthday

all the gifts I bear are fruitless, compared to the gift you gave to me.

this life. my life.

so I give you this,

thank you

a mother and her only child

growing together, quite becoming.

you have given to me, all the gifts to be the person I want to be.

thank you.

I take these gifts and keep them delicately tucked,

passing them on to my children, as needed.

like wishes from the night sky.

Where life takes us, we never know,

it can be sharp, but you softened the edges

thank you.

Happy Birthday mom.

I love you.

Picking up the bits and pieces covered in melancholy...

...the dreariness has fallen into place. My buoyancy is fading like all wonderful things eventually do. It's fall. The leaves, brilliant shades; crimson, salmon,brick, amber, saffron...like wishes falling from the branches that held them there for so long, no longer to keep the promises that come with the blue and green hues of summer. Summer has faded into Fall. With Fall comes a freshness, a beginning to another season here on this amazing place we all call home.

Fall brings a secret I hide in my heart...one I try to ignore... but honestly, I am not good at keeping my own secrets secret...so let me tell you, fall is actually my favorite season. but. noooooooo I am a summer girl.... the beach, the forget-me-not blue shaded skies, the blissful, carefree days, melted ice cream kisses, barefoot walks in the lively grass, blanketless nights...oh, yes. I am a summer girl. sigh. but. Now that it's Fall I can feel that deeper connection within myself. Fall arrives with such a full bag. Filled with moodiness, reflections, and longings. It's now that life seems to slows down a bit. Longer conversations are shared over cups of chai or hot chocolate with a bit of chili powder...Warming the soul with every sip. Afternoons are spent strolling through crisp leaves, stopping here and there to throw a few handfuls in the air as my little ones gleam while they catch the fallings. Snuggling under blankets while talking, reading, or watching a movie. Pumpkins, waiting to be carved or turned into an amazingly satisfying food. The smells of apples, nutmeg, sage, maple, cinnamon, leaves, smoke, coldness, linger just a little longer in the ripe air. I guess there is no hiding it, I do love fall. The only reason I try to shelter this tiny piece of me is that what follows Fall is heavy and bitter... ~ winter ~ . I want no association with such a season. I detest winter with all my might. But without winter perhaps I would not appreciate the beauties of Spring, the joys of Summer, and the warmth of Fall. Happy Fall to you. May it fill you with a warmness you share with all.

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.”

Happy Birthday Dear Nina! xo

All my bags are packed...

So, I am off...can't wait to get there...can't wait to get home. xo
powered by ODEO

a little time away.

You can tell fall is here just by the smell the wind carries. Summer has come and gone, just like that. It brings mixed emotions. Today is a perfect day, breezy and warm, a few lighthearted clouds in the sky...a perfect summer's over, fall day. I sit here,with a cup of hot "calming" tea, on this most perfect afternoon, sharing my thoughts, words, and heart with you, as I reflect upon my life. Past. Present. Future.
I have been over emotional this week, worrying too much about my upcoming trip to Art & Soul. The thoughts of leaving my family makes me heavy and sad. Leaving me questioning myself for going. Is it worth the distress? Should I stay or should I go (...the clash) . Of course I should go, (right?) for many reasons... and I want to go, I cannot wait to see Portland and my friends, take classes, and hopefully sell some of my work. It will good for me to go and I know I had these same exact feelings before leaving for Artfest. Last night, after talking with my husband about it...over and over, he told me how much he thinks I should go, how important it is to do things like this for myself, and if I don't go I will just be giving in to my fears. I know my children will be loved just as much as they are now while I am away...I know my husband will be fine and even enjoy being the "boss" for awhile... I know...I know....I just worry to freakin' much. I know. sigh

~

THANK YOU to all of you that have emailed me and left me comments, I am overwhelmed and feeling a bit guilty that I cannot respond to each and everyone of you at this time, as I try to spend less time with the computer, I hope you understand.

I do feel that I have so much I want to share with you...pictures...thoughts...this and that ...but it will have to wait for we are off to the beach to sit in the sun on this perfect afternoon.

I will post again, when I return from my trip out west...wow, that sounds cool. xo

Me with my favorite accessory on my shoulders.

more Self Portaits here.

I love you tube!

This video is awesome! Of course, this is still my favorite... this is very amusing.

Illustration Friday... Phobia

Autophobia

Tagged

I've been tagged by Celine.

I changed a few and added some...
One book you'd want on a desert island: The Illuminated Rumi
One book that made you laugh: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

or anything by David Sedaris
One book that made you cry: The Time Traveler's Wifeby Audrey Niffenegger
One book you're currently reading : The History of Love: A Novel by Nicole Krauss
One book you've been meaning to read: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
One book you'd like to write: How to live forever and make everyone around you happy.

Just a few of my favorite children's books:
The Magical Drawings of Moony B. Finch by

David Mcphail
The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail De Marcken
Paperbag Prince (Red Fox Picture Books) by Colin Thompson
Yay, You! : Moving Out, Moving Up, Moving On by Sandra Boynton
The Lorax (Classic Seuss) by Dr. Seuss and Theodor Seuss
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams and William Nicholson
Little Gorilla by Ruth Lercher Bornstein
A few of my favorite children's cd's....
Raffi to shake the sillies out
Laurie Berkner Buzz Buzz
All of the Music for Little People cd's
Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
No! by They Might Be Giants
A few of my favorite children's videos:
Sharon, Louis, & Bram Hard to find, but we LOVE them!
Baby Einstein - Baby Newton - Discovering Shapes and all the others, too.
The Wizard of Oz ... my daughters first favorite movie with a plot.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory the first one.
E.T. one of my favorites, as a child.

Your turn....Consider yourself tagged.

....recommend your favorite book, video, cd, author, and /or musician to me.

SPC..with someone...& some random stuff

I have been trying hard not to buy this song from itunes. It's been so long since I have heard it and it feels too much like an impulse-buy. Although, I probably would have by now, if only I could remember my password for itunes. It was my absolute favorite song when I was about eight years old. I LOVED it, loved the video...loved singing and dancing to it. Today I had the radio on in the car...which is very rare, and this song came on. .....it is, it really is the simple things in life! ..... and my husband thinks I should keep the fact that I like this song private!

I have been playing hooky lately....spending very little time in my studio. It has just been way too nice outside to be inside. We spent most of the weekend outside playing here and there. Sunday morning at the beach, soaking up the sun...just enjoying the last few days of summer, while they last. Okay, I take a little tiny bit of that back, my daughter and I did spend a little time inside this weekend, to watch this movie. What a great movie! Here is my little princess in her cowboy boots on a little four wheeler at a friends birthday party.

The most exciting part of my weekend was Saturday night. My husband and I went on our second date in five years, hold on... that's not the exciting part. We went to a local playhouse that was having its annual art auction to raise money for the theater. I had spontaneously donated a piece for the auction, after a friend told me about it. It was a real live auction (my first), with a charming auctioneer. And..... my piece sold!!! I won't tell for how much...but it was very exciting and I have yet to sell a piece for the amount it sold for.

So, it's raining now and I have no excuses left to use ...... off to the studio. Tell me, how are you passing the time?

SPC....with someone

me...with my little sweet pea. This picture was taken last night, as she slept so peacefully after a long day of work and play. I find myself in her room at night a lot, nowadays. Just sitting there, watching her sleep, thinking about how we got here from there...it really does seem like I was just picking out little cute pink onesies, with matching pants, a hat, and tiny cute socks. It couldn't possibly have been five years ago that I was snuggling her warm sweet self into mine, singing "the muffin man" one of her favorites.......then. This morning that same song, different version, played in our car on the way to school.... much to my daughter's chagrin, my son and I happily sang along (and no, I am not tired of it, not even if I have heard it a billion some times) . My daughter pointed out that she no longer likes that song, apparently it's "too babyish".

~

Here is my little guy....I just Love this picture of him. We have been having a good time hanging out together. He is so different with just me. His sense of humor is so wonderful, I love it. So far we have done every puzzle in the house, many times...He LOVES them and can do a 100 piece puzzle with a little help...Pretty cool. We have been going on walks, reading books, playing, and painting He's such a fungi. get it... fun guy. yeah, so. it's not that funny.

Feeling a little wordless today, tired & quiet....trying to chug a very hot cup of tea before pick up. ~ I was scolded heavily yesterday after school... and I am afraid I am now on the official bad mommy list. FYI ... if you plan on writing your child a little " i love you" note and sticking in their lunch box, PLAN on doing it daily...and if you FORGET...plan to be questioned, extensively. I must now figure out a way to repent?! Yes, I am aware that this is a lot of words for feeling wordless. So, I will end with this... ( ______ ) get it ...no words. Oh, I hate when I have to explain my own jokes.

9/11

Be grateful for what we have, give of yourself today and often. Reach out. Find Peace. Remember.

"Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.”
~Eugene Ionesco

an interview...

by: Susan Schwake-Larochelle

Thanks so much Susan.

Isn't there a song, Some days are better than others, by U2? Well, that's about how I am feeling right about now. Honestly, I don't know which today was. It all started with a morning thunderstorm. The storm made the house feel cool and a bit dismal, adding to my already overcast mood from dropping my daughter off at school. She hasn't been thrilled to go lately, lunch being her worst time, from what I am hearing, I wouldn't like it either. The whole day sounds overly structured, with hardly any time to play. Yes, I am sure I am being much too sensitive and it's only the second week, and I am still having separation anxiety. ~ So after school today we headed for the beach. It was an absolute perfect day to be there, the beaches were empty, hallelujah! The kids ran around freely and wildly while I scavenged through the offerings. I took this picture while there, I just love it so much, the colors are magnificent together. I wish I could share with you the feel of the wind, the sound of the waves, and the smell of the air, yet there is no way I could do that, I couldn't possibly do it all justice. Being there, at such a place just sweeps away all the negative feelings you are carrying....of course until you get back into the car and you hear I have to go peeee and realize it's time to rush home and make dinner, and it goes on and on, the beat goes on.

Kevin found this Monarch in our front yard this weekend, unfortunately not alive, but in mint condition. We let ours go last week, it was a male, this one is a female. We have two more still in their chrysalis and one swallowtail still eating. Please feel free to copy and print this butterfly picture for your work if you would like. It's as much mine as yours. I printed it out and I am going to use it in my work. I will share that with you later....time for yoga now

...and check out the moon if you can, it's breathtaking!

Illustration Friday... ~ safe ~

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
~ Maya Angelou

Artfest ~ Artfest ~ Artfest

Hard to believe it was only a year ago that I was doing back flips about sending in my registration form for ARTFEST! Little did I know that a year later I would be doing mega back flips for being on the list of teachers for artfest 2007. Hold on while I dance around like a dork... Okay...now that I got that out of my system....I must remind you to get your registration in ASAP! The floodgates open TOMORROW!!! You don't want to miss out on such an event as this! It really is for everyone, artist or not! I have heard that something magical happens during artfest and I can attest that is true. For me, it was many things that made it such an amazing magical experience. ~ Being away from my life and my family for a week, making me appreciate it so much more. ~ Being so very close to the ocean, on such a beautiful campus. ~ Traveling to a new place, exploring a new city. ~ Meeting so many wonderful people at once, all different, yet alike. ~ Making new friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life. ~ Taking such cool classes that I loved, especially my class with my dear friend, Nina Bagley... Such a treat she is!!! ~ Oh yeah, and I turned 30 during artfest, what a birthday gift!
In case you didn't know...I will be teaching two classes at Artfest 2007. ~ A box to treasure ~ and ~ A Greater Perspective ~. Both should be much fun~ (I can't promise that, but I will try my very, very bestest...bringing my very charming sense of humor (ha ha) and maybe even breaking out a few of my notorious dance moves....( nah, that's not likey, you couldn't pay me enough to do that.) Nonetheless, I cannot wait! I hope to see YOU there!

Besame Mucho

Finally, ART.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the week and I couldn't be happier about it. My daughter had a good day today, nothing major...although, I feel a few of my insecurities starting to surface.... my daughter asked me why her teacher is always so pretty, then continued by asking me why I never wear high heels. Me... in high heels.... not a chance.

Your comments and emails have been wonderful and helpful...thank you. thank you.

Take your peaceful feelings and go share them with others.

My yoga instructor always says that after class...I love it!

SPC....~ enclosed~ in the ones I love

Another school day....how many more to go? I picked up my daughter from school today. The first thing she told me was that she cried for me today. My heart aches. So tell me...how do you do it? How do you let them grow to be the flowers they need to be without blocking the sun? I know the answer, but I don't like it.

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,

Feeling a bit languid this evening. I think I shall surrender to my pillow soon, but I just had to share this darling picture with you, my dear Kindergartener and her little brother. Honestly, it was a long day, very quiet for the most part, but My daughter had a wonderful day, she really loved it. ~ insert Proud mother smile here ~

Thank you so much for your thoughtful words to me today! I greatly appreciate it! I wish you all the comfort, joys, and vitality you need to get through to where you are going!

Hey maybe I will even post some artwork sometime soon...it has been awhile, hasn't it.

Nikki, thank you for the tea and chocolates, and Melanie, some distraction and a cup of coffee...Sounds perfect!

"The time has come,"...... the Walrus said,"

"To talk of many things...
...Indeed it has. The time has come, that I have not been looking forward to at all. Tomorrow morning we will be sending our little girl off to kindergarten. Her clothes are ironed, her lunch is packed, her new book bag by the door..... And all of a sudden I have a headache, tummy ache, my heart is tight, there is a lump in my throat, my eyes keep watering and I don't want to go to school tomorrow.....I think I am coming down with something terrible...something I have had before.... the mommy blues. I thought for sure that an entire year in preschool would have prepared me for this, yet it has not. Actually, I think it is a bit worse this time around...this time it's the real deal, we have to send her...and she is so badly wants to go too. Tonight, as I was ironing her outfits for the week, she came in and said, "mommy, why is your face red, are you crying? You're crying because I am going to school and you are going to miss me, aren't you? You know I will still see you at night and we can cuddle then." All said with a smirkingly cute and innocent face. I know I should be glad that she is so thrilled to go, and I am. I guess what I am afraid of is that tomorrow when she comes home from school, all of her sweet and tender innocence that she is so full of, will be swept away, gone. She will storm through the door with a dog-eat-dog attitude, telling me how it is.... I guess that's my fear from here on out. Although, deep down, if I dig, I know that's not true, and if I stay on the right track,
nurturing her as I have been, hopefully she will not sprout sharp little horns. And don't even try to tell me it gets easier...I know that's not true.

I have to go through all of this again, with my little guy... he will be turning three soon enough! I think tomorrow is going to be just as hard on him as it is on me. He doesn't really understand that his one and only favorite sidekick won't be here with him daily for the rest of the school year. I have learned so much from their relationship, being that I am an only child and all, everyday they amaze me. All day long they are together, side by side, playing one game after another. They have their moments, believe me, there are many times I have to separate them. For the most part they truly love one another, like no relationship I have ever had.
So many mixed emotions lately...many changes, so much going on. Sometimes I feel like curling into a tiny ball and rolling back into the very quiet life I once had, then other times I feel like summiting the closest mountain, so I can stand there, arms widespread, and yell... "alright life, bring it on"........right now, I am not so sure how I am feeling...somewhere in between goodnight moon and oh, the places you'll go.

Beauty is everywhere...

tin roof.....rusted

chain, chain, chain...

Delicate

This morning, while my little man and I waited for my daughter, during her yoga class... (I know...just too cute) ...we took a stroll outside. I had my new camera with me and decided to take some shots. I couldn't believe just how many beautiful things were in such a small area to photograph.

Beauty is everywhere...if you just look.

~ Namaste ~

Monday Confession....cont.

~Last night I woke up at 2:30 am, WIDE awake, still in the blue jeans I wore to dinner. Slowly it all came back to me, I was reading to my kids, this book, (sorry Mr. Lithgow, but I did not enjoy this book one bit whatsoever). Then as they fell asleep, so did I, at 8:30 pm. We had an early dinner at a friends house at 3 in the afternoon, before we went I told myself and my husband, "I am only going to have ONE glass of wine" ....sigh! Hey, at least I didn't spill any!

~I hate to admit this, but I DO judge books by their covers. I know, I know, it's just awful isn't it! BUT, it works, I don't think there is one book out there that I have read, liked and not loved the cover.

~One of my biggest fears is flying. I hate being stuck in a big silver tube, around people that act like it's normal, talking, laughing, eating, drinking, not even noticing we are sitting in chairs above the clouds.... YET, The thing I would love to learn the most is how to fly a plane. I drive past the airport and see the sign, advertising flying lessons and I am so tempted. Once I was so lucky to go in an ultralight like this one, it was awesome!

~The movie I have watched the most in my life it this one. I even had BOTH soundtrack cassettes. I even had a Patrick Swayze poster adorning my wall, along with The Cure and Sinead O' Connor. I loved Sinead O'Connor in high school so much that my friends were always worried I was going to shave my head...it sure would have made a more interesting blog post if I had. Since I am back in high school, I will continue to embarrass myself by telling you that I went through a "black" phase where all my clothing was black...I now deny this, but my mom insists it's true. Later I traded in my all black garb for long hippie skirts. I remember one occasion wearing one of my long skirts...I took a bus all the way across the state to visit my boyfriend...when I was getting off the bus to see him, so excited, I stepped on my skirt and ripped the bottom half right off.
c'mon...shed your silly things about you, with me...

what to be today...

oh, to be the sweet,

aching euphony,

bellowing up from the strings of a violin.

to be the first drop of rain,

falling gently onto the parched grass.

to be the sugar,

that stirs in the delicate cup,

full of tea leaves and hot water.

to be the cloud that screens the sun,

on the hottest of summer days.

to be the night

that falls so gracefully on to the day,

so the stars can radiate in the distance.

to be the long awaited for letter,

opened and read over and over again.

to be alive,

on such a day,

to enjoy all life has to give

and to see it clearly.

More free poetry here.

SPC... ~ enclosed spaces ~

life is magic

It was such a wonderful morning that my little ones and I decided to take a stroll around the block. We stopped to admire the beautiful view of the bay, the gingko trees, and lastly, the cicada skins. As my two little ones were pulling the skins off one by one, tree after tree, we saw a cicada that had just molted its skin, the shell still sitting nearby. They both squealed with delight! Funny, isn't it, something so simple, yet, so exciting. THEN, I looked down and noticed a cicada still in its nymph stage. Now, It was my turn to be excited! ...Thinking about how we will be able to watch it emerge from one stage to the next. So, we carried it home, made a little house for it, and spent the rest of the morning hanging out with it as we watched it crawl from stick to stick, leaf to leaf. After about three hours the shell started to crack...slow drum roll please...very slowly we watched it crawl out. It was pretty darn cool, even if they are a bit creepy looking. I just love that things like this can still make even me, so thrilled!

Tonight, my mom called to tell my daughter that she found her two monarch caterpillars to watch transform into butterflies. Last year was the first year I ever experienced seeing such an event. I posted about it way back then...it was amazing, to say the least!

i carry your heart with me
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

~ ee cummings

if I live to be 107

Been downhearted baby...

Can't seem to shake these dismal feelings I have been carrying around lately. I have been feeling downhearted for over a week now and I just cannot figure why. It's nothing really. It's strange. Maybe it's the time of year, the full moon, this quasi cold, that is making me so blah...sigh. I wish it would pass. Life is so strange, isn't it!? Think about it ...it's strange. Well, I do think it is strange. I think it's strange how much we let things change and control us. I think it's strange how much you know about me and chances are I don't know that much about you. I think it's so strange that whenever I am really sad it rains. I think it's strange how I can have such strong feelings for someone I barely know. I think it's strange how I can listen to a song and it feels so much like it was written for me! Oh, yes, life is strange...it's easy to go days, weeks, months, and years without thinking about what life is ...well, not too easy for me. I think about why we are here a lot, maybe too much. If I am living the life I should be, if I am the person I should be. Trying to figure out what means what and why ....and how to rid myself of these heavy feelings...I know the best way to try.. out for a walk and to the studio....and it's raining...now I am laughing. Ah, life, how wonderful it is!

" a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."
Lao Tzu

Yearnings

August already? I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. Three weeks until my baby starts kindergarten...only three weeks. Okay, hold on just a moment while I try to get a grasp on the fact that my little girl will be wearing a school uniform, staying all day, and packing a lunch... I am never ready for letting go when it's time to let go. Preschool was a huge part of learning to let go for me, it took some time, as I am sure this will too!
Isn't it amazing how we all just float on?! I guess we have to or we will sink. We have been floating full speed all summer. Trying to fit everything in before we have to settle down and fall into a strict routine. If you haven't figured this out yet, I hate any type of routine, and the lack of spontaneity that comes with it. As much as I despise following a routine, I have found that it is very good for me and I seem to work better following one. As the summer seems to be slowly winding down, I feel like I want to hold on to it as tightly as I possibly can, not letting go of the freedoms and joys of summer. But. I am also feeling ready for the change that comes with this time of year. It's about this time of year when the garden starts to look scraggy and tired, and the thoughts of sitting inside at night to read a book while sipping a hot cup of tea sound soothing to the soul, and long sleeve shirts can be dug out from underneath the exhausted short sleeve shirts and tank tops. HOLD IT.... As wonderful as fall is and all that comes with it, it's STILL summer, that's my mantra, at least until that first day of fall! Even if the stores have Halloween stuff out already....ooooh that ruffles my feathers!
And for all of you inquiring minds...yes, I did get a new camera. Should I insert one of those lame Mastercard commercials in here... ~ swimming at the beach with my family zero dollars, getting hit with a big wave and ruining my camera...$$$.$$. Being married to very understanding and supportive hunk of love....Priceless! The new camera is pretty awesome...still trying to figure it out, but it has a 10x lens that just amazes me. I was able to take this picture of the moon tonight. With my old camera I could never take distant night photos.
I must remove myself from the computer now...I was up past 3 am last night...working on a painting I will share with you later, but tonight I am hoping to get a little more sleep...until tomorrow!

~ on Etsy ~

Here is a very lovely Icon I just received from Laurie Mika. I got to meet Laurie briefly at Artfest this year and looking forward to seeing her again in October at Art & Soul! Her work is just stunning!!! Thank you!

~

I ordered some awesome stamps last week from Michelle Ward. I used them today, I love them. You can check her stamps out here and her wonderful artwork out here. She also included a sweet little cd with bird songs. I have listened to it over and over again, love it~ Thank you!

week in review...

Another summer week, swoosh,
just like that. And it's August already...how did that happen? Today is a perfect August day, the humidity has subsided a little ~ thank goodness~, the skies are blue, and the cicadas are singing. On top of all that I got a chance to get into my studio today. Unfortunately, I cannot show you the piece that I have been working on. sigh...... See the beautiful waves picture above...well. The other night we went to the beach, the water was 80 degrees, the sunset was gorgeous, and the waves were so amazing...SO AMAZING that I really wanted a perfect picture of my daughter screaming with joy as the waves approached her. So, I was in the water taking pictures...and a HUGE wave hit me, knocked me over, tumbling me and my daughter into the sand, we were both fine.... I am not going to share with you what happened to my camera....or the fact that I was told NOT to take it into the water. SO. Anyhow, here are a few pictures I took earlier this week, with my then beloved camera.

~
The pictures of my little ones are just too adorable not to share. yes, I am biased! My son is so very proud of his new boots, he even picked them out himself. And here is my girl sporting a cool hat. I took all of these pictures back when I wasn't having camera withdrawal...I know, it's all my fault, I know, it was stupid to have the camera in the water..what was I thinking..I am so disappointed in myself. And this is nothing like the time I spilled a glass of wine into our laptop, THAT was an accident. THIS was just plain stupid! ....(shhhh, but this is all my ploy to try and get my most wonderful, handsome, sweet, and caring husband, he also reads my blog, to feel a tiny bit sympathetic that I no longer can satisfy my cravings to capture moments with a camera.) .

~

Here I am with my friend and college roommate, Melissa. We are at an awesome little boutique shop... in the um......eh hem...mall. We HAD to go to the mall today, just to get out of the heat....it's like a billion and some degrees here. We did have fun being silly...trying on hats!

ARTFEST 2007

I cannot express in words how enthusiastic I am when I tell you...just in case you did not know....the Artfest 2007 brochure is up.

An amazing event, with so many wonderful people, and the most beautiful surroundings.

I hope to see you there! Only 241 days to wait!

The boxes pictured here are for my workshop...

~ A box to treasure ~

Poetry Thursday

Am I not your girl?

I love my walks at dusk.
The quiet calmness,
As everyone around descends inside.
The wind blowing along beside me
the fallen leaves chase behind,
Trying their best to keep up.
The darkness gets heavier with
Each and every step
As I walk, I try my best to be present.
I follow my shadow,
Painted on the sidewalks in front of me.
Guided by the street lights ,
Strewn out in a perfect line.

I walk to the bay,
To say goodnight to the lake
One last light goodbye, on this day,
for I know it will be hours until we meet again.
I arrive, in darkness, before this tranquil body of water.
alone.
I feel the nights embrace.
The definition of the lake, almost lost,
As it seeps into the a new day.
sadness hits me, thick and heavy.
My throat tightens
I try to hold back my tears.
I feel selfish,
Feeling so alone.

I ask for someone to appreciate me.
laugh with me, love me.
admire the leaves with me,
as they go awry with the wind.
find beauty in all of me.
hold me, tightly.
be here with me,
When I need you most.
know what I mean,
When I speak of the beauty and chaos,
that comes with the wind.
Like you once did.

Monday Confessions

I have always said summer is my favorite season. I must confess, this summer...has not been my favorite. It's been an odd summer... I feel like I have a lot of sorting out to do when it comes to life...... c'est la vie!

"We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself."
~ Lloyd Alexander

I rarely wash my paint brushes...or change the water they sit in for long periods of time. Why stop there....my hands are often covered with paint...or worse...gel medium. I will be somewhere and turn my arm over and notice a long streak of paint...I shower daily...sometimes more..Honestly, I do...it's just that Golden is so stubborn when I try to wash it off, and I don't want to hurt my delicate skin or cuticles....

Sometimes...(just sometimes) I find myself dancing and singing along to this song..(in front of the mirror)..I can't help it...somehow it found it's way onto my itunes and I find it hilarious...

Being mom has been the best and most difficult title (not that I have many titles, mind you) I have ever been in my entire life...it's trying, it's exhausting, and at the end of a lot of days I cannot stand myself as mom anymore. Tired of hearing my own voice...begging for the toys to be picked up...the lids put back on the markers...or the broccoli eaten...Then they fall asleep, and aw, my are they just darling.

I am so introverted....and so extroverted...I cannot stand it! Does that make any sense to you? No. It does not, but that is how I am.

I get very excited every time I sell a piece of my work...I feel all warm inside and sometimes even dance around... cheezy, I know.

Last confession of the day....I stole this link off of Claudine's blog...where I found some really great shirts (thanks Claudine and the person that gave it to you) ...so, I was wearing my really great shirt on Saturday night...lookin' cool...or so I thought...when I spilled the very first drink of wine onto my shirt...argh!

Please feel free to share your own confessions with me...or on your blog.

I feel much lighter, really I do.... (lie). So, I am off to yoga...to try to get rid of all this junk...all this junk inside my trunk...hilarious!

"Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too se