IT'S ALMOST TIME

IT'S ALMOST HERE...

THAT MAGICAL LAST EVE OF THE YEAR.

Somewhere along the journey,

I began to look at the last day, the last night

of each year

as magical.

Rather like sweeping out the house

and turning around with a renewed spirit..

eager anticipation of good things to come.

That is how I look upon 2010.

Eagerly welcoming the magic that will occur.

Adding to the wonder is the fact

that we will have the second full moon of the month.

a "Blue Moon"

A blue moon occurs every two and half years on average,

(according to NASA)

There hasn't been a month with two full moons since 2007 on June 1 and again on June 30th.

The last time a blue moon fell on Dec. 31 was in 1990.

Research shows me that a blue moon appears on New Years Eve

every 19 years!

The first full moon this month occurred

on Dec. 2.

So, my bloggies, THIS is

a very

special

New Years Eve, indeed.

With that in mind,

I want to host my first GIFT AWAY of the year.

A Laini Taylor, Magical Angel
(She is brand new in the box - from Bottman Designs
I did not make her.)

She hangs a bit over 9" and both sides are the same.

I think she can remind us all year that there IS magic all around

Just leave a comment here

(with your e-mail if you don't have a blog so I can contact the winner easily)

There are no rules or regulations...just leave me a note.

and be sure to pass the word.......the more the merrier as they say.

The name by numbers will be chosen by a computer program

next Thursday evening.

So with that, I wish you all a

wonderful,

magical

New Year.

May all your wishes come true.

(image credit nasa - i c stars)

xox Rella

MEMORIES

When my sister, Jenny and her children fled in April, they were able to hide successfully for almost a month through the efforts of a shelter for abused women and children.
We knew after a few days through authorities that they were alive, but I would not be able to speak to her for almost a month.
That is how deep "underground" these women and children have to go.

They fled with very little, but felt so rich and so free for the first time in many years.
I am so grateful to the shelter for their help and assistance during this time. It was the happiest Jenny and the children had been in a very, very long time.

Jenny felt like the butterfly.
The years of struggle, the life of the caterpillar were now over and the new chapter was beginning.
She was afraid, but so hopeful.
~~~~
In creating a piece for a collaborative I am doing with eleven others for a 2008 calendar, I thought of Jenny and her butterflies.
This piece just flowed.
The verse is from a card that someone very close to me gave me many years ago as I was leaving my comfort zone and heading out to an uncharted life, unfamiliar territory, and somewhat scary.

My page for 2008 will be the month of September.
The child image is from Paper Whimsy. (sheet #133)
Using paints, inks, colored pencils, a gel medium transfer of a music sheet
and a touch of free hand painting with a vine of roses.


"Memories"

In the evening,
when every
sound
lies sleeping,
when all
the doors
are shut
and the soul
is open...
memories,
like quiet
visitors,
arrive.