KITTY'S FIRST HALLOWEEN

She's a black cat (mostly) so I thought this was
HER
holiday.

......wwwwweeeeeeelllllllll..............

NOT

At first she acted timid, staying far behind me each time I opened the door.
Then for a little while she stayed on the side table far away from the door.

Then.........horror of horrors

she came up behind me when the tiniest little
lady in waiting (trickster # 3 in the grid) all in pink showed up.

AND HISSED AND GROWLED...YES, GROWLED!!!

Jeepers, even I was scared of the crazy black cat!

So she was banished to a bedroom.

Luckily, just in time for little Mickey Mouse.

Close call for him.

HAPPY HALLOWEENIE BLOGGIES

And little Mickey...he threw the candy down on the ground
and cried to come in the house.

Clearly unaware of Attack Cat in the back room!!

Oh, and the funniest costume was a teenage couple. He was a plug and she was an outlet. I laughed so hard and forgot to take a picture.

And, the funniest thing a trickster said.

Obviously exhausted, he looked up at me and queried,
"Have we already been here?"
Me: "um, no, I would have remembered the green hair."

IMAGE FOR YOUR USE




I thought you might enjoy using this for a journal page.
I hope if you click on it you can get a larger size.

It's Friday, yippeee.........
Nest time is fast approaching.

The art doll that I need to finish and mail is top priority.

I have finished her, and she is quite lovely if I do say so.
I gave her a speacil little muse to keep
her company that I just love.

Part of the process is also doing a little work in a
journal or book that accompanies them.
THAT is what I have left to do.

It's been a wonderful round robin. One of the
best I've ever been part of I think.
My own art doll came back to me so
beautiful with very special
embellishments.

I've also been working on the tiny faerie houses and
having such fun with them.
But, alas, I am out of little houses
I will need to move on to another project.

Something else I find I am doing more and more
is drawing.
Wistful girls.
That's all I seem to want to do.
Draw
then paint.

Isn't it funny how we evolve?

REMEMBER THE TEENY FAERIEHOUSES??

One is now done and ready to head to JoAnna's in California...

On the back it
says:

HOME IS WHEREVER YOU ARE

JoAnna is gathering tiny ornaments to place
on a small 3 or 4 foot artificial tree she is sending her
precious niece serving in Iraq.

You still have time to send one
as the deadline is Nov. 1

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be
so far from home, in such a foreign place
at Christmas.

THE BLESSING AND LOVE IN FRIENDSHIP



On Thursday, I came home late from a long and tiring day
at the place that pays for the nest I so love.
Darkness had come already and I was thinking
how quickly the days were coming
and going.

I started the trek from the car across the street
with my cellphone that becomes my
flashlight as I fumble at the teeny mailbox that
is ours in the 'gang' of teeny mailboxes.

That is how it is here.

We are not allowed to have a mailbox at the foot of the drive
nor are we allowed one at the front door.
Somewhere, someone decided that this was not esthetically
pleasing. Hmmm.

I was talking on the phone when another call rang in.

It was my dear friend JoAnna from California.
An amazing artist and sweet soul.
She asked me if I got a box in the mail.
ummmmmmm....trying to see in the dark
I tell her 'No, I see an arted envelope, is that
what you mean?"
"No, sweetie, a box."

I explain that I will now walk back to the house and look
at the front door as it may be there.
Sure enough, there was a package.

Now I am perplexed as it is not a birthday...
our artdoll round robin is almost over and I have the last
doll already. Hers, in fact.

Joanna goes on to say that she hopes I will not cry, (gulp)
but she would like to stay on the phone with me as I open it.

I'm intrigued and delighted to have this fun adventure and begin the
funny process of finding the key to open the door in darkness (I had not planned on working so late or I would have left a light on!!)
as Ms. Morgan is crying on the other side now that she
hears I'm home.

In I finally go with the package.
Opening it I still have no clue what this vintage box
with gorgeous ribbons holds.....
...........but I soon discover

and the tears well up...
.....as I touch and see the most beautiful, handmade
book put together by a group of loving souls
who wanted so badly to reach out

with art

with love.

I have received and continue to receive many beautiful cards
and stunning pieces of art
and I have kept them close to my heart
and not spoken here of it
but only with and to those that have
been the givers
but it's time to begin to share what others have
shared.
and so I begin with The Book
(at the link below, click at the lower highlighted
text that says 'book for rella')

THIS
link will bring you to the blog place
that dear JoAnna set up
for the art sisters to place their pages
She has given me permission to share the link with you.

This is a beautiful testament to the creative, healing, human spirit
shown through art done with loving hands.

xo

I FEEL LUCKY

In 1996 a friend of mine was making the big move from Connecticut to Arizona and she needed someone to ride with her. I say "ride" because she did most of the driving while I kept the journal. Even today reading this log will make us both laugh so hard we cry.
Example:
Bathroom stops were about every hour. Sometimes just to get out of the darn car
and stand upright. At the first stop which was in N.Y., I made a comment about the condition of the facility wondering what we would be facing over the next
several days. Because it was going to be A LOT OF BATHROOMS!!
So I decided that we would rate each one.
Like they do for eating establishment with how many forks.
Except we would use pieces of TP
yes maam. Toilet Paper.
From one to four sheets!!
Many (and I will spare you the details) received one or LESS!!
With the exception of one that was so amazingly clean that
we could honestly see our reflection in the tile on the floor.
Not something we necessarily needed OR wanted.
AND
it had a fab latte machine in the lobby.
That facility rated a GOLD five sheets!

Anyhow,

It was the most amazing trip I've taken so far in my life. We laughed, talked, laughed more, even had some tears over life.

It was a Thelma and Louise kind of trip, including the Grand Canyon...minus the ending.

We had a ritual each morning.
We'd get in the car....
....pop in the cassette (no CD's in our cars at that point), look at each other and I would say, "Do you feel lucky?" and she would reply "I feel lucky!"
then I would hit 'play'

and

THIS

is what we would crank up extremely loud and sing along to.

I had not thought about this trip in a while, nor the song
But yesterday reading some posts from Nita's blog
reminded me

Thank you, Nita, dear.

THEY WERE WAITING AT THE GATE

My dream life has been pretty interesting my whole life.

I seldom have pretty, flowery, fun dreams.

Mostly they have been of a nature of solving problems.

Several years they were filled with water or the threat of water.

Then there was the claustrophobic scenarios that would catapult me into sudden waking and ultimately, a panic attack.

I can say that at this moment (with only slight trepidation) it's been a while since this has happened.

My fear since Jenny's death was that this would begin again. Anyone who has suffered from panic attacks knows exactly how horrifying they can be, especially in the middle of the night when you feel like you are totally alone in the whole world and you have to escape outside because it's the only place you think you will be able to actually breath and stop that awful feeling that you have to... or want to... crawl out of your skin.

But mostly you think you just

might

die.

But none of that is going on this time.
A wonderful, wonderful thing.
And the dreams......well, they are interesting, but not horrible.

So this morning.....the few seconds before waking.......I had the dream-vision.

An iron gate. Somewhat ornate, really.
I was standing in front of it.

On the other side: several dark figures.
Not scary, just dark, no faces or names.

Clearly I was not opening the gate, but it wasn't fear that prevented me.
It was a decision not to open it.

In the next moment I'm awake.
Staring at the ceiling and the morning thought came.
(I've spoken of these morning thoughts before.)

The dark figures where the sad thoughts of that horrible night when Jenny was taken, of my little brother's death and that of my mother's.

All the thoughts that would send me spiraling downward and into the panic attack.

However,

I was not opening the gate and NOT allowing the thoughts to come in.

THEY were on the other side.

I was safe.

I am safe.

~~~

SHARING THE DAILY OM

October 8, 2007
Opening A Closed Connection
Consciously Reconnecting

There may be times when we feel like our connection to the universe is closed. Maybe things don't seem to be going well in our day, or our lives, or we may feel out of our element. The truth is, the universe is always there for us. We know that we create our experience with our thoughts, and this is another way we need to make a conscious decision about how we want to experience life. It is up to us to do the work of making the connection, because nobody can do it for us, though sometimes the universe may send us wake-up calls.

You can think of it as getting some fresh air. We are always breathing and the air is always around us, surrounding us, moving through us. But we may need to step outside of where we are in the moment physically, mentally, or emotionally and make the conscious choice to take a deep breath in order to feel the air coming in and going out. Whether this means stepping outside physically or merely shifting our thoughts, it is only our perception that changes; the air remains the same.

It is just as easy to reconnect with the universe. Using the same technique as a breath of fresh air, a deep breath can bring us back to our center. As we inhale, we fill our bodies with the oxygen needed to replenish our most basic physical needs, allowing the air to circulate within us. Exhaling, we release the stale, the used, the potentially toxic air, removing any blocks that may keep us from going deeper into the stillness that lies at our center where we connect to the universe. Feeling closed off does not need to be a negative experience. When we become conscious of it, we can think of the wholeness of a closed circuit, which allows electricity to connect and flow properly. Our bodies work the same way, and when we make that connection in our minds, it can help bring us back to the connection we seek.

What resonates with me:

"Going deeper, to the stillness that lies in our center, where we connect to the universe"

Think on this as you take a really deep breath;
and then let it out.......all the toxins (perhaps from toxic relationships) and just FEEL GOOD AND CENTERED.

And I challenge you now.

For yourself.
Do an art page as a personal translation to going deeper to the stillness.

NOTES FROM THE NEST

and in my best singing voice.......
~small dogs are now running.....

^..^
but not kitties 'cuz they are brave

happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear Alicia..........
happy birthday day toooooo youuuuuuuu!!

AND

in the same voice

welcome home little bird, welcome home little bird
welcome back from europe
welcome home little bird

***

I did not get too far with the cleaning.

Instead, I was distracted.

(what else is new??)

.....by a blank 5x5 canvas

and a pencil drawing
of a wistful girl I did
this week at my desk

and bits of text and poetry

and my paint

so I did my ADD (art distraction disorder) proud

I started a project

I'm not done with her
but here is a peek.

Then I added her butterfly

She may go on ETSY next week. We shall see.


Then I got out these little morsels that have been beckoning to me in my cupboard

And took out these two paints...
.since they were right there on my table that I should be cleaning

and I started to paint, first with the lovely light, almost Tiffany blue
but called Robin's Egg Blue

Then topped and wiped off the darker glaze

How cool is this now? Looking like old copper worn by the elements.

so here they are waiting for further inspiration.

Are thy not just the cutest little faerie houses??

Oh.....YOU were thinking birdhouses!!!

They will actually be little ornaments

One or two heading to California to a THIS SWEET SOUL who will be sending

a little Christmas tree with ornaments to her niece in Iraq.
maybe YOU would like to send a tiny ornament

One may fly to the other end of the states....
who knows

And as for the cleaning..................

................ anyone know a house cleaner who would work for art?

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE



I cannot wait to see this.
Coming soon.


Happy Saturday peeps!!

I'm hunkering in today

and cleaning up the
studio with a bed

as the bed and the little couch are the only places
not covered with

paper
paint
brushes
gesso
gel medium
stamps
art dolls (that certain people have either loved or were scared by)
notes to myself about possible projects
pencils
crayons
buttons
o.k., you get the picture.

M E S S Y MESSY LOVED A LOT MESSY

Oh, and I forgot to mention the dust

especially on my ficus tree that is lovingly called my twinkle tree

because it has twinkle lights, of course
on 24/365

So I have to dust that and rearrange the faeries living on and in there
and the birds

Can you see the dust???

The crazy thing is within a day or two

after dusting it all

it will be back.

that's how it is
living in the desert.
you dust...

turn around....
it's back.

Why in the world is THIS the place
to come
if one has allergies?

I wonder.
(insert spontaneous sneezing)

that is not why I am here

but I'm just saying!!!

~~~~

Sharing my Daily OM

Goodness, they just keep coming in a timely fashion

October 4, 2007
Stronger For It
Mending A Broken Heart

Heartbreak happens to all of us and can wash over us like a heavy rain. When experiencing a broken heart, our ethereal selves are saturated with grief, and the overflow is channeled into the physical body. Loss becomes a physical emptiness, and longing is transmuted into a feeling that often cannot be put into words. Mending a broken heart can seem a task so monumental that we dare not attempt it for fear of damaging ourselves further. But heartbreak, like all emotions, falls under the spell of our conscious influence.

Often the pain that wounds us most deeply also leaves the most enduring mark upon us. The shock that becomes the tender, throbbing ache of the heart eventually leads us down the path of enlightenment, blessing our lives with a new depth and richness.

Acknowledging heartbreak's impermanence by no means dulls its sting for it is the sting itself that stimulates healing. The pain is letting us know that we need to pay attention to our emotional selves, to sit with our feelings and be in them fully before we can begin to heal. It is said that time heals all wounds. Time may dull the pain of a broken heart, but it is fully feeling your pain and acknowledging it that will truly help you heal. Dealing with your heartache in a healthy way rather than putting it off for tomorrow is the key to repair. Gentleness more than anything else is called for. Most important, open yourself to the possibility of loving, trusting, and believing again. When, someday soon, you emerge from the cushion of your grief, you will see that the universe did not cease to be as you nursed your broken heart. You emerge on the other side of the mending, stronger for all you have experienced.

Gentleness....I spoke recently to a dear friend about this. Being gentle with herself. We forget to do that sometimes.

Be gentle with yourself today dear friends.

xo

~~~

SHARING MY DAILY OM

My dear friends. I feel I have so little to give these last several weeks. My moments of creativity come and go......but they come!! And that is good. The daily inspirational messages that come have been extremely profound and timely. The most wonderful thing is that sharing them here has then, in turn, helped others. I love that this happens. So here is the message from today. In reading through it I am particularly touched by the last paragraph that likens the moving through darkness with being deep in the woods, frightened and alone, all the while finding certain beauty in the "going through", especially once on the OTHER side. So I hope that this message today touches someone else and lightens your burden or feeds that portion of your spirit that might be feeing totally alone in the woods. I hope you come away knowing you are not alone.

October 2, 2007 Moving Through Darkness The Places We Go In life, most of us want things to go to the places we have envisioned ourselves going. We have plans and visions, some of them divinely inspired, that we want to see through to completion. We want to be happy, successful, and healthy, all of which are perfectly natural and perfectly human. So when life takes us to places we didn’t consciously want to go, we often feel as if something has gone wrong, or we must have made a mistake somewhere along the line, or any number of other disheartening possibilities. This is just life’s way of taking us to a place we need to go for reasons that go deeper than our own ability to reason. These hard knocks and trials are designed to shed light on our unconscious workings and deepen our experience of reality. Often it takes something major to wake us up, to shake us loose from our ego’s grip as it struggles to maintain an illusion of control. It is loss of control more than anything else that humbles us and enables us to see the big picture. It reminds us that the key to the universe lies in what we do not know, and what we do know is a small fraction of the great mystery in which we live. This awareness softens and lightens us, as we release our resistance to what is. Another gift gleaned from going to these seemingly undesirable places is that, in our response to difficulty, we can see all the patterns and unresolved emotional baggage that stand in the way of our unconditional joyfulness. Joy exists within us independently of whether things go our way or not. And when we don’t feel it, we can trust that we will find it if we are willing to surrender to the situation, moving through it as we move through our difficult feelings. We can take our inspiration from any fairy tale that finds its central character lost in a dark wood, frightened and alone. We know that the journey through the wood provides its own kind of beauty and richness. On the other side, we will emerge transformed, lighter and brighter, braver and more confident for having moved through that darkness.