Blissful-Bohemian

Ramblings of an Artist

2012-01-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

Be in love with your life. Every detail of it.
—Jack Kerouac

I have lately been noticing and coming to terms with the fact that I am an oddball.
I took one of my small paintings to the Millicent Rogers Museum for a miniture show next month and I saw paintings of chickens and barns and sunsets and here I was with an abstract that had nothing to do with anything except my imagination.
Reading a blogger's post about London and the comments are full of people who have been there many times, due to lack of money most of my life I have never been to Europe, but I will, watch me I will!
Reading another blogger's post about her daughter's wedding, I thought to myself, I have never been married, never had kids, it just never worked out that way and now I don't even want to get married and it is too late for children even if I had ever wanted them. I have been in love before and for that I am very grateful even if it ended up sad.
In this world I am an odd woman out. But you know I would not change any of it. I have had experiences that few will ever have and some that are unique to just me. My life has been full of paint, and love and friends and joy and spirit.
Most of my choices have all been around the fact that painting has been the most important thing to me. Yes, I love my family and friends and my animals, but art and painting and now clay, they keep me balanced and sane and very happy.
I just needed to say that. Thank you for listening.
Happy Monday! XOXO

Gratitude

2012-01-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

i thank You God for this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes
—e.e. cummings
That about says it for me today:-). Happy Friday! XOXO
P.S. Still waiting for my light cube to arrive.

Finding Great Joy in Small Wonders

2012-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some small pleasures with you:

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read and that is saying a lot. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Note, it is not about hedgehogs :-).

Bored to Death on HBO. I don't get TV (no cable or satellite), but my friend W puts this series on DVD for me and I love it. Be warned there is sex and drugs, but it has a sweetness that runs through it and it is FUNNY!!!! HBO just cancelled it though. Poop.

My Tumblr blog

Painting is of course one of my favorite joys and I am working on many.
I have decided to send for a light cube, so hopefully soon I can start sharing some of what I have been doing.

Have a most wonderful weekend!!!
XOXO

Just a Reminder

2012-01-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Even within the seemingly most unacceptable and painful situation is concealed a deeper good, and within every disaster is contained the seed of grace. Throughout history, there have been women and men who, in the face of great loss, illness, imprisonment, or impending death, accepted the seemingly unacceptable and thus found “the peace that passeth all understanding.
Acceptance of the unacceptable is the greatest source of grace in this world.
—Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks
From my tumblr blog. Must have this tattooed on the palm of my hand :-). XOXO

Sneak Peek

2012-01-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

I wanted to show you the actual completed paintings, but no matter what I do I can't get a good photo, and even working in photo shop I can't seem to make the photos look right, the last post I did, the photo does not look like the painting, it is an awful photo actually and it frustrates me, so I don't want to show anymore paintings until I can get a good shot. I take them outside in natural light I put them all over the yard with different backgrounds and nothing works. The ones I take inside are worse! I have a nice canon Power Shot and it should take good photos. I can get detail photos though, so for lack of anything else to show I am posting closeups of 2 new paintings.

If anyone (Lori, Becky) has any pointers for taking good shots please share.

I will eventually be getting professional photos done before I take them to a gallery to show.

So after a frustrating couple hours working on this I am now going to give up and go paint!

Happy Sunday!

XOXO

A New Painting for the New year.

2012-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

This is a painting I finished today, after many weeks. The tip top photo is the painting, complete and the other 3 photos are detail close ups. You can also click on the photos to enlarge them. 21" x 16", venetian plaster, acrylics, pastels, graphite and coffee :-), on canvas.

It is titled "The Ever after". This is the best photo I could get of it. I love to hear what you think.

XOXO

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-12-30T17:59:00.001-08:00

To change one’s life:
1. Start immediately.
2. Do it flamboyantly.
3. No exceptions.
—William James
:-).
Have a most wonderful and joyful beginning to the new year. Love. XOXO

Sparkle and Shine ( Happy Christmas!) And Hanukkah!

2011-12-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

Snow is my Christmas decoration :-). I love how it sparkles and crunches under foot.

After I relaxed and focused a bit I was magically able to get all gifties wrapped and sent, all cards mailed and all gifts delivered. I am done!!!!! I now have this week to visit with friends, call family and basically have fun.

I will miss my family this year. Though Bella is much better with the kitties, I would not want to leave a pet sitter with her this early in the game, so I will be staying home and having Christmas with friends. Friends are the next best thing to family, don't you think?

This year was rough, I lost 3 of my furbabies, and many friends to illness. But I know they are not really gone and that is a comfort, though I miss them. I also found out how strong I can be when I have to be and that is a gift.

This year was also full of abundant blessings.

New friends,

Lots of painting sales,

Lots of work with wonderful clients,

A shift in my painting,

Growth,

Much joy

I can't wait to see what 2012 holds for all of us.

I am excited! I hope you are too.

To all my friends (bloggy friends included) near and wide, and all my family, I love you, I am glad to know you. Have a most wonderful Christmas and New Year and Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends! XOXO

How to Stay Sane When You are Crazy Busy

2011-12-10T10:36:00.001-08:00

I thought I would take a minute to share a photo I took the other day of Taos Mountain.

Christmas is looming and coming fast and I am far from ready, but I am trying to keep the holiday cheer, so I have decided I can't get everything done, I will settle for the most important things, like:

Staying in the moment and doing my best,

Connecting with friends and family,

Giving my self quiet time,

Lots of hikes with my dog Bella,

Taking time to always see the beauty around me,

Giving gratitude for all I have,

Meditation,

Getting into the spirit of Christmas and not stressing over it.

Doing what I can, with what I have from where I am.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! Happy Saturday! XOXO

In a Nut Shell

2011-12-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

Whatever the present moment contains, accept is as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.
—
Eckhart Tolle

This is my spiritual practice in a nut shell. I brought this over from my Tumblr blog for my bloggy friends that don't do Tumblr.
P.S. My 15% off all items in my ETSY shop is going for one more week. Check it out here.
Happy Thursday! XOXO

Home

2011-11-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend with friends, one of the best I can remember in recent history, but in the mist of all that joy there was a bit of sadness. The bloggy world lost a shining brave angel by the name of Vicki or Nolly as I and others called her. If you did not know her, I am sorry for you. Nolly, you will be sorely missed. Fly high darling. XOXO

Gratitude

2011-11-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for my life. Here is a small list of what I am thankful for today:

My health

My family

My friends (including my bloggy friends)

My sweet furbabies

I am ever so thankful that I am an artist

My talent

My passion for the things that spark me

ART

BOOKS

MOVIES

NATURE in my back yard and all around me in Taos

Taos mountain (my guiding light)

Having plenty of food and shelter and heat in the Winter (I am reminded that many people have much less than I do).

The knowledge that my life is perfect just as it is.

There is so much to be grateful for and most days we forget how much we have, look around there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for no matter what. Love and joy to you all.

Happy Thanksgiving! XOXO

Time

2011-11-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

Dandelion ceiling by Regine Ramseier

To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. This state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a certain way, good or bad. It seems almost paradoxical, yet when your inner dependency on form is gone, the general conditions of your life, the outer forms, tend to improve greatly. Things, people, or conditions that you thought you needed for your happiness now come to you with no struggle or effort on your part, and you are free to enjoy and appreciate them - while they last. All those things, of course, will still pass away, cycles will come and go, but with dependency gone there is no fear of loss anymore. Life flows with ease. -Eckhart Tolle

I love Sundays and today has been one of relaxing, hiking, varnishing and attempting to get photos of two new paintings, but I was unable to get the good photo, so will have to wait for another sunny day, as they are now they bare no resemblance to the paintings :-).

I have also been figuring out what to make for Thanksgiving as I am cooking for a friend or two, I can not believe that Thanksgiving is already next week, does anyone else feel that time is speeding by at an alarming rate?

And I have been thinking about life and death. A neighbor/friend passed away this Thursday, suddenly. We never know when our days are up and it is important for us to live our lives from our hearts and to be true until the end. I want to live each day as if it were my last, I fail miserably, but I do try :-).

I thought I would share a couple things from my Tumblr blog (see side bar) that have moved me in the last few days. Have a wonderful Sunday!XOXO

P.S. My ETSY sale is still going, 15% off all items.

SALE!

2011-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

I thought I would have an early before Thanksgiving sale on my ETSY site, it has been a while.

I re listed some of my pendants and ornaments and will be doing so all week, I also have many non Christmas items for sale. I am giving 15% off all items. To get the discount just type in christmassale in the coupon window when it comes up at check out. Happy shopping :-). XOXO

Happiness is...

2011-11-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about doing this post for a while when Artpropelled did one and it inspired me to finally do this, I also borrowed this wonderful poem from her post (Thank you Robyn!).

From the tip top on down: Happiness is:

Creating, this is my newest painting, side view and close up, 5"x 5" mixed media on board "This is Why". I fixed it so you can enlarge if you so choose.
The Oregon coast, I miss it so...

Ravens!

Coyotes, this photo was taken a few Summers ago, but in the last 3 weeks I have seen 3 coyotes and as some of you know this always means major change is afoot for me.

My Bella, I have done some research and she is a Dutch Shepherd and has no lab in her like we once guessed.

My sweet Zoe.

My bad and wonderful Max.

Taos mountain with snow aboard.

The wonderful Fall colors that are short lived, but much loved.

I hope your weekend is full of happiness, make it so. Happy Saturday! XOXO

SO MUCH HAPPINESS by Naomi Shihab Nye
It is difficult to know what to do
with so
much happiness.
With sadness there is something
to rub
against,
A wound to tend with lotion and cloth.
When the world falls in around you,
you
have pieces to pick up,
Something to hold in your hands,
like
ticket stubs or change.
But happiness floats.
It doesn't need you to hold it down.
It doesn't need anything.
Happiness lands on the roof
of the next
house,
singing,
And disappears when it wants to.
You are happy either way.
Even the fact that you once lived
in a
peaceful
tree
house
And now live over a quarry of noise
and
dust
Cannot make you unhappy.
Everything has a life of its own,
It too could wake up filled with possibilities
Of coffee cake and ripe peaches,
And love even the floor
which needs to
be swept,
The soiled linens and scratched records…..
Since there is no place large enough
To contain so much happiness,
You shrug, you raise your hands,
and it
flows out of
you
Into everything you touch.
You are not
responsible.
You take no credit,
as the night sky
takes no credit
For the moon, but continues to hold it,
and to share it,
And in that way, be known.- Naomi Shihab Nye

Animal Wednesday

2011-11-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

This is Max and Bella on the sofa together, friends and pals. I wish I could say that Zoe is accepting of Bella, but she is not and I am out of ideas, so maybe time will change it, I hope so. Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

More New Work

2011-11-07T17:24:00.000-08:00

This is the painting I finished today. 14"x 11", venetian plaster and mixed mediums on board "Red Calls Out Orange". The paintings are still in flux and some of them may get painted or plastered over. The thing is, is that I am changing and my work is changing and I am still finding my new voice with these pieces. Working with different mediums and trying out different things, I imagine that I will be changing things with each new painting until I hit it :-).

I am having fun and for the first time in years I am painting daily and it feels really good.

As always I love to know what you are thinking. Happy Monday. XOXO

Another New Painting

2011-11-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Close ups and side view as blogger will no longer let you enlarge (BAD BLOGGER!!)

12"x 12" "The Edge of Intent" mixed media on venetian plaster and board. I just finished another painting, but still have to varnish and I have 3 more in the works. I really must stop and make my Christmas list and start making cards. Perhaps I can just ignore Christmas, but probably not :-). I really am not a very got photographer, but I did the best with these photos I could. I always love to hear your thoughts on my work. Back to painting... Happy Sunday!!! XOXO

New Painting (Finally)

2011-10-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

16"x 16" venetian plaster and mixed mediums on board. Titled "Unfettered".

It has been a while and this is not the painting I have been struggling with for 3 weeks, this one I started a few weeks ago and just finished last night. Now I will go and finish the one that has be frustrating me, I finally know what I need to do :-). I have added many detail closeups so you can get an idea what is going on and if you enlarge you can see even more. My paintings really need to be seen in person to really see, but this will have to do.

Love to hear what you think.

In other news, Bella is doing well and knows how to heel and is getting much better with the cats, I left her for an hour today and no barking, no chewing and no harming of cats :-). I think in a week she will be ready to be alone for a few hours. We are both in training and taking baby steps.

I forgot about Halloween until today, but Happy Halloween!!!! I will be painting :-).

XOXO

LOVE LIFE

2011-10-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel right now, and I am doing it and I am painting up a storm, still and I promise I will have something to show soon, I hope :-). From my Tumblr Blog:

I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud.
And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection
of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes.
I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open
and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down,
and I want everyday to make God belly laugh,
glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift.
-Shauna Niequist-
Happy Saturday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-10-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

They say a photo is worth a thousand words and this one says it all. My new, sweet Bella is hooked to the chair (I did this for a few days so she could not chase the cats) and the cats are up on their high perches, but they are all in the same room, so that is a good beginning. I now let Bella loose and we are all finding our way, I do not think she means harm, only wants to play. I have been taking Bella on my jobs as I still don't trust her alone with the cats, but this weekend I will try an hour here and there and see how it goes, I think in a few weeks all will be calm.

Bella is a dream dog, she is so smart (her Shepard part) she has already learned so much, I am teaching her to heel this week. She rarely barks and likes to play, but is really laid back (her lab part). She is a keeper for sure. HAW XOXO

My Week in Pictures

2011-10-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

See that wonderful face up top, that is Bella, she may be my new dog, we are having a test weekend. It was not planned. Yesterday a client told me about this wonderful dog at her vet's that needed a home, so I went to visit her and fell in love and took her home. She has been unadoptable because she is an escape artist.

She will either be with me or in the car or house. I am not one to leave my dog in the yard for long as here dogs often get poisoned. I named her Bella and she is a wonder, she already knows sit, and no and come, and does so about 95% of the time she is a year and a half old, Shepard/lab mix.

Very sweet and very smart and she loves the car. We took a long run/hike this morning and she can totally out run me :-). The only question is if she will be okay with my cats, she does like to chase them. Max is unafraid and Zoe is terrified. I am attempting to teach her that it is

unacceptable to chase them, we will see. I am hoping that it works out. I will keep you posted.

I took the photo of the tarantula last year, but saw one this morning without a camera to catch it.

This is what the mountain looks like this time of year.

My painting station in the kitchen, very little cooking gets done these days :-).

I will have paintings to show soon.

Happy Saturday! XOXO

New Painting

2011-10-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a small 8"x 8". I finished it a week ago, but it has been raining so I just got this photo (I take all my photos outside now, as it gives the best light). I like the details of this painting better than the painting as a whole, so I may plaster over bits of it, this is the forth painting I have done on this canvas. I do that a lot and I think it adds so much to the finished piece. The new paintings are taking a while as I am bringing something new and since I don't really know what it is until I see it, it takes some work :-). I have 3 new paintings in the works and perhaps will have something to show next week.

Between blogger not letting me comment and the time spent painting I am sorry if I have not been around much. Painting has to be top priority right now :-).

As always I love hearing what you think of the work. Happy Monday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-10-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Look at these beautiful faces. This is Max (stripped) and Zoe (black) my two wonderful cats.

I have been working and painting, I am mostly down to just those two activities, my friends think I have died and gone to hermit heaven :-). I have been visiting some blogs and blogger won't seem to let me comment, it keeps eating them, so if you have not heard from me (Pam, Jos, Marion and others) this is the reason, please forgive me it is not my fault. Is anyone else out there having this problem?

Happy Animal Wednesday! xoxo

Kitty Update

2011-10-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

I know you all must be wondering what is happening with the kitty, she is gone. I wish I could say I found a home for her, but after a week of trying my best I only had two calls about her and they did not work out. I called the shelter and they took her yesterday, they seemed so much better equipped to care for such a tiny kitten and to find a home for her. She is very adoptable.
I struggled with the decision for 3 days, but asked for a dream and guidance and got the go ahead. It was just getting too stressful for me and Zoe, Max was okay with her, but whenever I let her out of the bathroom, Zoe would attack her and when she was in the bathroom she cried constantly. She was not meant for me and this I knew. I know she will be fine and sometimes I have learned you have to take care of you. This is the seventh cat I have rescued since I have lived here and the first one to go to the shelter. I have rescued 5 dogs and one of them went to the shelter, so my record is pretty good. Please pray for little Tiny that she finds her forever home soon. XOXO

New Painting and kitty Udate

2011-09-25T13:18:00.001-07:00

This is my latest painting, 8"x 8"

mixed media on canvas. No title yet.

Close ups and side views as well as front view.

I found out that neighbors put the cat on my porch and now they and I are looking for a new home for her, she is not my cat, nor meant to be my cat, I am simply her foster parent for now.

I would know by now if she were mine and I feel sure that she is not, plus my other girl Zoe hates her and I don't think they would ever get along. Please pray that we find a home soon as tiny is getting very attached to me.

I am squeezing a little painting in...

Happy Sunday!!! XOXO

Look What I Found

2011-09-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

This little girl was on my front porch last night when I returned from the art show. There was not much choice, but to take her and make a little home in the bathroom. She is off to the vet's this morning to get checked out. I don't want another cat right now, so if anyone out there in New Mexico wants her, email me, I am trying to find a good home for her, otherwise I will have another cat! Pray for us :-). In the meantime I will attempt to get some painting done. Happy Saturday! XOXO

P.S. She has been checked out and tested and she is healthy and good to go, so now I am going to go attempt to introduce her to my other cats. Still looking to find a home for her...

Newest Painting

2011-09-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

This one is called "Spark" and it is tiny, only 4"x 4", I did a side view and some close ups and if you enlarge you will see much more (blogger is now letting you enlarge again, yay) As always I love to hear what you think.

I finished another one too, but sold it yesterday to the first person to see it! Yay! I have two more almost done and just began another large one. I can't seem to stop :-). Have a very happy

weekend! XOXO

P.S. The big Fall Arts Show opens tomorrow night and I was juried in, wish me luck :-).

Now for Something Completely Different

2011-09-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

This is my newest painting, it is so different for me it kind of freaks me out :-).

20"x 16" venetian plaster and mixed mediums on board, I dreamed the title "Monument"

I finished it a couple weeks ago, but I have been living with it to see if it is really finished, still not sure. When I am sure I will varnish it which will make the colors pop more. I included many close up detail shots and if you take the time to enlarge you will see much more. Let me know what you think.

I know I have not been visiting much or blogging much, but I am obsessed with painting right now and I am working many jobs, so please forgive me my absence. I have 4 more paintings going in various states of dress, I will share when I can.

Have a wonderful Monday! XOXO

New Large Painting

2011-09-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

It is unfortunate, but I could not get a good photo, I even lugged the painting outside and all around the yard, but I did the best I could. The bottom photo is the whole painting and all the rest are detailed shots to try and give you an idea of what it really looks like. There is a lot of subtle detail going on and if you bother to enlarge you will get a much better idea of what is going on. This painting is huge, 47"x 47"or 4' x4'. Venetian plaster, acrylic, pastel, crayon and graphite on board and the title is "Dusting the Link". Please let me know what you think :-).

I am working on 4 new paintings all going at once and last night I made a huge leap, hopefully I will have something to show in a week or so.

Happy Monday! XOXO

Following Suki's Lead, PEACE

2011-09-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give credit for this photo, but I can't find any, the image links back HERE, so that is the best I can do. In any case it is a lovely photo and a good reminder on today of all days. Peace.

Cy & Lucian, A Tribute

2011-09-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

self portrait by Lucian Freud, I got the image HERE

Cy Twombly, see more where I got this image HERE

This Summer the art world lost two of it's shinning stars, Cy Twombly and Lucian Freud.
Their stardom was well deserved. I love their art more than words can say. They were both very different painters, but they had one thing in common, bravery. They painted with their whole hearts and it shows in every creation. I can only hope to one day be as brave as they were in their art, I attempt it daily and fail, but I do get more free and braver with every painting and I have them to thank for the example. May they both shine bright forever. XOXO

Fun with Cameras

2011-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Santa Fe to see an art opening for my lovely friend Alexandra Eldridge I attempted to take a photo of my favorite lone tree on the outskirts of Taos, as we were whizzing by I snapped these and I think they are kind of cool in an odd way. Then later I of course forgot to take my camera into the show which is why I brought it in the first place :-).

I am off to work on paintings, these days I have many going on at once. I will be sharing them soon. Happy Saturday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-08-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I did an animal Wednesday post, so I am doing 3 at once :-).

Tip top is a friend's dog Finn, he is a doll.

Then a humming bird, we all know how hard they are to catch with our cameras, but I was lucky.

And bottom photo is Max and Zoe (I am down to having just two cats ). Can you even recognize Zoe? She has gained weight since living with me.

Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

What is Tumblr and Why am I in Love with it?

2011-08-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

I know I have been missing from my blog and that I am not a very good blogger lately, but with work and painting with almost all my free time I just don't find I have the time and then I went and found Tumblr! Tumblr is a place where dreams are and images and words of inspiration and beauty. I started my Tumblr blog as a place to keep all the wonderful images I was finding on other Tumblr blogs, but then I realized it was a place to share that beauty too. Robyn, my new lovely friend over at the most wonderful blog Art Propelled and my sweet friend Angela were the first people who alerted me to this new form of blogging. Some people I have shared Tumblr with don't get it and some do. Basically I find an image of a painting, photo or poem and quickly post it (Tumblr makes it quick and easy) and if I see an image or poem or quote on another Tumblr blog all I have to do it hit this niffty little button called reblog, and there it is with links and everything. There are no comments, just notes, there is a heart button that says you like the post or it shows you who reblogged the post. I can do 10-20 posts in ten minutes! For me it is like when I am reading an art magazine or a really good book and I want to mark something wonderful in it so when a friend comes over I can share it with them, only this is easier and faster. And I always have a place to go to see really great art, better art I might add then what I see in the art magazines, which seems tired and old in comparison. Do you see that yummy painting on my side bar, at the top? That is a link to my Tumblr blog. You can visit anytime and see what I am loving and get inspired and if you click on archive you will see all the images in thumbnail form, just click on one to enlarge and if you want to see more from an artist, just click on the image in the post and it will take you to their site, this is where I tend to get lost late at night looking at beautiful art.
Please let me know what you think of the blog and if it makes you smile like it does me.
Happy Saturday. XOXO

Good News

2011-08-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

If you recall this post, long ago I told you of an art show here in Taos called the Taos Arts Selects, it is a yearly Taos Fall Art show. It is a juried show and Taos is tough because they like landscapes and cowboys and Indians for the most part. Abstract is not usually what they go for. I entered one of my new abstracts (and not the flowers and vase painting) so I knew it was a long shot, but today I got the news that my painting was accepted. This is the first juried show in Taos that I have entered in 14 years that I have ever been accepted into. They took this painting:

I told myself when I entered the show that if I got in it did not mean I was good and if I did not get in it did not mean I was a bad artist, I believe in my work no matter what others think and I stand by that. I do feel blessed to be included though. Have a happy weekend. XOXO

P.S. No matter what I do blogger spaces this post goofy.

Yet, Another New painting

2011-08-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

This one is small, 10"x 10" and the title is "Connecting Link"

venetian plaster, acrylic paint, pastel, graphite and varnish. Enlarge to really "see" it.

I have also been working on a large 47"x 47" and two small paintings. The big one is really different for me and I am not sure about it yet, it will likely take me a month or two before you

see that one finished.

I have had an exciting day so far, a mouse came in the open door and my mad Max caught it, killed it and ate it! And it was HUGE!!! Yuck is all I can say. He is very proud of himself :-).

Hopefully the rest of this glorious Sunday will be quiet and I will get much painting done.

Happy mouse less Sunday to you! xoxo

Another New Painting

2011-08-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Let me keep my mind on what matters

Which is my work

Which is mostly standing still and

Learning to be astonished

Mary Oliver

This is my favorite painting so far, I wish you could see it in person because the photos cannot capture it properly. I did take a side view and close ups to help show you what is going on, but please enlarge if you have time.

I call this one "The Path" and decided to title the other painting "Finding My Way Through".

12"x 12", venetian plaster and pastels, acrylics, graphite and varnish. I am also working on two smaller paintings and one 47"x 47", having great fun! Please share your thoughts. Happy Monday! XOXO

New painting

2011-08-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it"-Buddha

This is my newest painting and many detail shots of it so you can really see it. No title yet. Again, it has a zillion layers, Venetian plaster, acrylic, pastel, graphite, varnish and collage. I am really loving doing these paintings. I have 3 more in various stages and hope to finish another one soon. Please share your thoughts. Happy Saturday! XOXO

More on Lightness

2011-08-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

I think I need to clarify a few things from my last post.
When I talk about being in the light, I am not saying to avoid pain or sadness.
I myself have been deep in both the last year. Dealing with 3 sick and old animals, having to put them down, the loss of a favorite cousin and a dear older friend, my mom's stroke. That is a lot of pain and loss in 1 year. I know that many around the world have had to deal with much more than I, but in my world that is what has been happening. I have not avoided the pain, nor looked away. I have sit with it and cried. I tend to do that on my own, I do not share my pain very often, but that does not mean I don't feel it. I feel it deep. It makes me more alive and makes my soul richer. I don't fear it as life is and will always be full of it. What I am talking about is not getting immersed and stuck in the pain, but looking at it and shining a big, bright light on it. I believe that things are not good and bad, they just are and they are for a reason. Things are complicated and very simple at the same time. I cannot answer all the mysteries of the Universe, but what I know for me is that GRACE abides and it has helped me weather the storms. Worry, complaining, and fear are human, we all do it, but my spiritual practice is to shine light instead, because NOTHING else changes anything, it only makes it worse. Okay, go shine your lights!
XOXO

Light

2011-08-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

Lately I have felt like I am full of light. Even though I am grieving for my pets who passed, I have found that sadness can reside beside joy, sometimes in the same minute. I have felt buoyed up and very happy. Yesterday, I received very dark news about someone I love very much.
My feeling is that it will be okay in the end, but until then we have to live everyday and see. I thought, " I can respond with fear and more darkness or I can respond by pouring light into the situation. I choose light." In the end I think it is the only thing that can help and change it.
Darkness just makes things more dark and why would I want to add to that?
I am just thinking out loud here and thought it may be worth sharing. Have a light filled Thursday! XOXO

New Paintings

2011-07-30T14:05:00.001-07:00

These are the paintings I have been laboring over for weeks. To all who were expecting flowers in a vase, so sorry to disappoint, I did start one, but became so bored out of my mind that I had to plaster over it. The first and only one was fun because I had never painted one before, but I can now see that it is not for me. I love abstract because it is a way for me to get close to spirit and paint what I am not able to verbalize. Does this make any sense? When I finally broke through my old patterns of doing things these are the paintings that came. I used Venetian plaster, acrylic, graphite and pastel and varnish. They were so fun I got lost in them. One day I painted for 11 hours with just food breaks, now I call that being in the groove. Both paintings are 12" x 12". The tip top painting is called "A Thousand Views of A Spirit in Motion" and the middle painting is called "Nine" The last photo is a close up of "Nine". There are a zillion layers and I sanded and scraped and plastered and drew and carved and burnished. If you enlarge you can see more of the detail. Very labor intensive. I hope you enjoy them, please let me know. Happy Saturday! XOXO

Bowls Dressed and a Spoon And a SALE

2011-07-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week! I spent a few days in Santa Fe with a friend and I have been working on paintings, mostly I have been plastering over them, as I am trying new things and most of it is not working, but I never give up!

I got my new bowls back from the kiln today and wanted to share. Each one is hand built (which means I don't wheel throw them) each one is porcelain and one of a kind (no two are ever alike even if they look similar). They are all food safe! Over in my ETSY shop I am having a Christmas in July sale, until July 31St all items in my shop are 10% off, even new items. I will be listing these new bowls this week, but if you would like one or would like to know more about them (like size or cost) just email me or leave a comment on this post. If you want one I will list it reserved in your name. To get the sale price just type INJULY in the coupon code box that comes up at check out.

Please let me know what you think of the new pieces. I always love your insight.

Have a creative and happy Tuesday! XOXO

More Inspiration

2011-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

I found this quote today and it struck my heart, thought I would share:

Don't bend; don't water down; don't try to make it logical;
don't edit your own soul according to the fashion.
Rather follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.-Franz Kafka

MERCILESSLY, he said.
This I am doing and this I will continue to do :-).
May you as well.
xoxo

Animal Wednesday, A Call for Help

2011-07-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Please go here: A Place to Bark and make a donation, anything at all will help. The wonderful Bernie who has rescued a zillion dogs and cats and saved their lives is in need of your help. If you love animals and I know you do, please go and give what you can. And blog about it too, get the word out that she is close to losing her animal shelter. Thank you! XOXO

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of the writer Jan Frazier and whenever I need a shot in my spiritual arm, or feel anxious or sad I go read one of her essay's and always come away feeling full of grace.
Here is what I read today:
Jan Frazier April 23rd, 2011 -->
Open the Door

On the other side of the familiar is the extraordinary.
Have you always known this was so?
That quiet hunch, that there is more to you?
More to life than the day-to-day absence of satisfaction?
Everything a door, every wall an opening, on second look.
Every floor a trapdoor.
Every solid thing you lean against, a thing on hinges.
When you walk through and look back, it’s gone.
When you drop through and look up, there’s only sky.
You are floating but nothing’s holding you up.
It isn’t the way it appears to be.
You aren’t what you think you are.
When you think you’ve got it, and you put your fingers around it,
your hand comes up empty.
There never was anything to be afraid of.
Outside the room of every terror,
someone is looking in the window, smiling.
That’s you.
Give it a go. You don’t have forever.
What if you had only a day in which to do
the one thing that matters?
Today is the day.
Don’t try too hard to figure out what this means.
Smell something burning?
It’s the inside of your head.
Just let yourself fall backwards.
Never mind wondering if you’ll be caught.
Be quiet.
Let yourself rest from all the effort.
It isn’t a dream.
It’s real.
You are the dream.
Know what you know.
Open the door.

I hope you enjoyed this thought provoking bit of writing.
I am off to work on paintings I have been struggling with for weeks. I went to an art show last night and was very inspired by a Taos artist named Tom Dixon. Hopefully some of that inspiration will help :-).
Happy Sunday! XOXO

More Naked Bowls

2011-07-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

Just for fun I thought I would show you my new bowls (and a spoon), they are not glazed yet.

I am really enjoying making the bowls, but right now I am currently hard at work on a painting.

I am really missing Zeus and Spike and B around here, but trying to keep my spirits up with art, funny movies and hiking with friends and Zoe and Max help a lot. I hope you are all having a great week.

Love. xoxo

Animal Wednesday

2011-07-13T07:09:00.001-07:00

I think we need a little humor around here. This is a photo of my darling furbaby Zoe, and my boy Max, Zoe is a bit of a nut and this is her under the rug, Max is fascinated :-).

I tried to get a photo of Zoe peeking out, but I was not fast enough. Happy Animal Wednesday!

xoxo

Zeus

2011-07-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

The best dog in the Galaxy passed away this evening. It was not planned. We had a normal morning, he went on a hike with me and did fine, but when I returned home from work, he could hardly stand and could not walk. I knew with no doubt that it was time to say goodbye. My heart is broken, I will miss him more than words can say, but now he is free. XOXO

New Bowls

2011-07-05T16:23:00.001-07:00

I finally have finished bowls to show you. The tip top bowl is the inside of the finished bowl from the last post and the second down is the outside of the same bowl. Then the finished vase from the last post. The rest of the bowls are done and from a few posts ago when I showed them naked and dressed, now they are fired. All of these bowls will be going to my ETSY shop soon.

If any of you would like to know more, like size and cost or if you would like me to reserve one in your name in my shop, just leave a comment here or email me (see side bar). Let me know if you like em :-). Happy Tuesday! XOXO

New Work in Process and Hodgepodge

2011-07-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a long while since I posted, but there has been a lot going on around here!

These pictures show my process in making a bowl and a vase, one step at a time. Start at the bottom and work your way up: first I wedge the clay which means I get all the bubbles out which is impossible, but you have to try :-). Then I roll out the clay just like dough. Next photo shows the clay being formed into the bowl, this take some time and a wee bit of effort to get it all even and the right thinness, then I cut away the excess clay. After it sets for a while I lift the clay out by the cheesecloth that keeps the clay from sticking to the bowl, this is the tricky part because if you do it too soon you may ruin the form. after I remove it from the bowl the real work begins, I have to smooth it out and get rid of all signs of the cheesecloth unless I am making a bowl which shows the texture, then I just smooth out the inside. I also made a vase with the coil method, the third photo shows the last coil (clay rolled up into a small cylinder shapes) being applied. The coil method is by far the slowest method, you have to attach each coil and smooth it out. The last three photos are of the pieces after I painted them with underglaze. Then I clear glazed parts of them (not shown) and they are now being fired in the kiln. I wanted to show you the finished pieces, but I won't get the fired pieces back until Tuesday and I did not want to wait that long, so this will be a two part post.

In other news: Many of you have sent me emails of concern because of the fires raging around Taos. It was touch and go when the fires were threatening Los Alamos where the government has labs that contain deadly toxic chemicals, but they have the fires under control now and I think all will be well soon. The smoke has been awful, and I am sad for the forest and all the animals, but we are still here :-).

Also update about my dog Zeus. He is amazing. His legs are getting weaker and I know we are lucky if we have the weekend, but I never know with him as he keeps rallying. Everyday is a gift and I know that.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a Happy 4Th of July. XOXO

Dream Work

2011-06-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

I seem to be doing a lot of work in my dreams lately. The other night I dreamed this little cartoon sketch except in my dream I drew the man in a suit and fedora, this time I decided to make him an artist :-). The message of the dream was loud and clear and I am taking it to heart.

Coupled with my last few dreams I posted about I know that I need to take a lot more chances with my art and my life. Anyone out there want to join me? :-). Happy Monday! XOXO

Naked Bowls, Dressed

2011-06-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Remember the naked bowls? These are the same bowls underglazed on the outside (they are clear glazed inside to be food safe). They have been fired once and will now go back in the kiln and be high fired and if they make it through unscathed they will be off to my etsy shop, but I will show them to you first.

Just thought I would share my process a bit. I had to take these photos at night, so the light is not the best. Click to enlarge if you want to see more detail. Happy Friday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-06-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is Finn, a friend's dog. I have shared Finn before. He is such a wonderful dog, can't you tell from that face? In this photo he has a toy AND a ball in his mouth at the same time and he is very proud of it :-). Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

The Trouble with Ideas...

2011-06-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday, YAY! :-)
Lately I have been having some ideas, many, many artistic ideas which you would think was a good thing and I guess it is better than not having any ideas, but what has been happening is that I go to start a painting and I can't begin because I want to do plaster, maybe abstract maybe flowers maybe a beetle bug, no, I want to do collage, or a drawing. No wait, let me make some bowls or start that tea pot I want to do so badly. Do you see the problem?
I am having a hard time focusing.
Yesterday I made bowls and vases and I believe that it helped, but when making bowls I want to do texture, no wait, a design in paint, so I made both :-).
I believe my real problem is impatience. I want to do it all, and right now!
So, I decided to start a notebook with all my ideas and then slowly, pick one and do it :-).
I am hoping that it will help.
Do any of my fellow artists struggle with this too? Please share.
And just for your information I will be taking all my pendants and wall hangings off my ETSY site in the next few days and I have reduced their Price by 20% so if you want one buy them now.
I will be FOCUSING :-), on bowls, vases and cups (because that is where my joy is right now) and likely won't be making anymore pendants or wall hangings , at least for a long while.
Have a wonderful, happy Sunday! XOXO

Dreams are Real...

2011-06-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

I picked these little flowers on my hike this morning and put them in my little vase I made for ETSY. I could hardly keep up with Zeusy on the hike and that makes me very happy :-). I had a dream this week that I found very interesting and would like some insight if you have any. I dreamed of a man who was critiquing my paintings and another woman's work as well. He told us that we both did beautiful work, but that we would be so much improved if we quit our jobs and focused all of our attention on our art.

Well, of course this is my wish to be able to do just that, but rent has to get paid, right? Perhaps if I could trust enough to just jump 100% in and not worry about how the money would come I would have been much further along by now. I am going to take a tip from this dream and work less jobs, say no more often and make more time for the work that really means something to me. That is a start. Do any of you out there make a living from your art? If you do, any advice is most welcome. I get to go paint now. Yay! Happy Sunday! XOXO

Naked Bowls

2011-06-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

These photos are not the best, but it is raining outside and I get bad photos when I take them inside. These are my new porcelain bowls freshly made, not fired or glazed yet. Just wanted to share. Happy Wednesday! XOXO

P.S. I just took 20% off all my pendants and wall hangings in my ETSY site. I will only be making them at Christmas time from now on and want to move them, so go check them out while they are still around :-).

Animal Wednesday and Hodgepodge

2011-05-31T18:16:00.001-07:00

This tip top image is my first sighting of a horn toad this Summer. I love them and always try to get an image when I see one. The other images are the cute earrings that my sister in law M made, she sent them to me to see if any of you may want to buy a pair. They are 15 dollars each pair plus a 1.50 shipping in the US. They won't be in my ETSY shop as I did not make them, so if you want a pair just email me and indicate which pair, I can do check or paypal. First come first serve :-).

In other news: My dog Zeus is doing very well, he is even running a bit. Part of his problem has been my slippery floors and this week a friend is giving me some carpet to put around the house which I think will help. He only falls when standing still on the hard wood floors or trying to climb a hill. He had a really good week, so I am happy to say I may have jumped the gun a bit. His passing is inevitable and it will likely be this Summer, but he has surprised me, so we will just have to have a wait and see attitude. Continued prayers and good thoughts are much appreciated :-). I will keep you posted.

This weekend I planted flowers and made 3 bowls which I will share after I take some photos, I want to show the process as it goes. I also went to see Jane Eyre with a friend and I loved it!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Happy Animal Wednesday!XOXO

ABC

2011-05-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

I got this from KJ and Jos. I thought I could use a little fun and lighten up a bit, so here goes:

A is for age: 55, though inside I feel 25, my body does feel pretty much 55 :-).

B is for beer of choice: I don't like beer, the one I least hate is a dark ale, champagne is my drink of choice, but I rarely drink liqueur.

C is for career: Can you call something you make very little money at a career? I am an artist and I do a whole list of things that I am self employed doing, Managing, cleaning, cooking, running errands, shipping and packing.

E is for Essential item(s) you use everyday: Furbabies, Ok, I don't "use" them, but they are essential, tooth brush, hair brush, paint brush :-), pencils & Paper, my espresso maker.

F is for Favorite song at the moment: Anything by Sting, actually I don't listen to much music or anything, these days I prefer silence.

H is for How About Whatever Favorite I Choose: Favorite TV show: Fringe. I don't have cable or satellite, but I rent dvds and have a friend tape them off his computer, so I am always up to date. I LOVE this show almost as much as I loved LOST.

G is for favorite Game: Chess, I am not very good and I rarely play, but it is the only board game I like, My favorite real game is hide and seek :-).

I is for Instruments played:When I was young I played piano and in my teens I taught myself to play "Court and Spark" on the guitar, I have forgotten how to do both at this point.

J is for favorite Juice: cranberry

K is for Kids: I have no children, but I currently have 3 furbabies, Zeus, Max and Zoe, and one little sweetie of a great Nephew named P.

L is for last kiss: I can't even remember the last real kiss, likely 3 or 4 years ago cause that is how long I have been boyfriendless, but I kiss all my friends.

M is for marriage: Never been. I have met "The One", but it did not work out, so I will most likely never marry and I am fine with that, never been lonely a day in my life.

N is for full Name: I will never tell :-).

O is for Overnight hospital stays: one at age 6 when my tonsils were removed, that's it!

P is for phobias: Just 2, doctors and public speaking.

Q is for quote: What you resist persists.

R is for biggest Regret: That it did not work out with the man I love.

S is for sports: Running and tennis.

Time you wake up: varies: usually by 7:00 am, sometimes 8 on weekends, occasionally 5 or 6 am, which is my favorite time of all.Kj we have the exact same wake up schedule :-).

U is for color underwear: most often black. And they don't ever match. Lately I bought multi colored underwear and I love it.

V is for Vegetable you love: Asparagus

W is for Worst Habit: impatience

X is for X-rays you’ve had: dental, that's it.

Y is for Yummy food you make: Chocolate cupcakes

Z is for Zodiac sign: Pisces, what else could I be?

Whew, that took a while. Happy Weekend! XOXO

Zeus Update

2011-05-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for your heartfelt comments and emails, I appreciate you all so much.
Zeus is still with me, he has had a few good days, so I will see how it is going on Tuesday next week, I would like to have the weekend with him to say a proper good bye at least. As long as the good days out weigh the bad he will stay. All I can do it revisit this everyday and see where we are. I know he will tell me the exact time is right. Mr.B and Spike did, so I trust that Zeusy will too. I will let you know when the time comes. Every day is such a gift.
Love you all. XOXO

Zeus (Animal Wednesday)

2011-05-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

This is my sweet dog Zeus (with my late little B in the last photo). The best dog in the Galaxy. I am doing his tribute now because in a few days he will be gone and I won't have the strength. Losing him at all is hard, but losing him so soon after B and Spike and G is just to much for my poor heart. Too much death and sickness and old age. He is now falling more than standing and while he can still do his walks and he loves his food, I feel the time is nearing when I have to take him and have him put down. I think Thursday or Friday evening will be as long as we can hold out, he could surprise me, but I really feel this is it. I rescued Zeus 9 years ago and he was 7 then, so he has lived a long and good 16 years. He is the sweetest, kindest most loving dog you would ever meet, he loves all people, animals and me, he loves me more than any human has. Zeus is a miracle of a dog and has never been sick a day. He just has bad hips and is very old. Time to go and run free again in the fields. In my meditation I heard the words, "You are not alone with this" and I know I am not, I know spirit is with me and will help me get through this.

Your prayers and good thoughts are appreciated.XOXO

Flowers and Vase

2011-05-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

This is my new painting, 20"x 16" Venetian plaster, acrylic and pigment on board. This is the first vase and flowers I have ever painted and of course they came from my imagination, because I just find that more interesting then copying from what I see. If you click on any of the photos it will enlarge them and you can see much more detail. My paintings are all about detail and layers and if you don't enlarge you will miss a lot. This piece took me two full weekends and many evenings to finish. I think this is one of 3 paintings I will enter for the jury for the Taos Fall Arts show. These were rushed photos, and they are a little off, some colors are more intense and some are less. I will be taking much better photos for the jury and will share those when I get them done. Please let me know what you think, I don't know if it is good or bad at this point, but I think I like it :-). I also have not decided to leave it as is or varnish it. Oh, and I have no title yet! Happy Monday! XOXO

Hodgepodge (Life Lessons)

2011-05-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

For over two years I have been visiting a woman in a nursing home once a week, a friend asked me to visit her and then over time G and I became friends, she was 93 when we met. The last 6 months have been really rough, her mind so full of the fear of death. her struggles ended Tuesday night. As luck would have it I went to visit her that day which was not my usual day, but I felt an urgent pull, I am so glad I did and that I was able to say goodbye to her. She is now free and it is a blessing.

Also some of you know I lost my special heart rock that I recently found on the beach in Oregon. I lost it on a hike, it was in my pocket and then when I returned home it was not there. As I slipped it into my pocket that morning, my little voice said "Don't carry that rock in your pocket, you will lose it", I did not listen and I lost it an hour later. Well, yesterday while hiking, against all odds I found my rock again! I have been blessed with it twice! It now has pride of place in front of my Buddha.

This is a tale of paying attention to that small voice inside, LISTEN! It is important. But also TRUST! Everything is a miracle.

In my comments for my last post my bloggy friend Melanie left this as her life list, I wanted to share it as it is stunning! And so very complete:

To be: content.

To do: everything I attempt.

To have: what I need when I need it.

I think I will put this on my mirror and make it my mantra, Thank you dear Melanie.

I am off to have yogurt and fruit and hot chocolate with agave, then I will paint on my still life, it is slow going, but I hope to finish this week. Happy Happy Saturday! XOXO

Life Lists

2011-05-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Photo found here
My mind is all a buzz, so to quiet it I thought I would make a few lists for your viewing pleasure, please leave a list of your own in the comments. Happy Monday! xoxo
What I want to be:
Kind
Loving
Brave
Strong
Giving
Successful Artist
Fun loving
Carefree
A list of what I want to do:
Paint a zillion paintings
Make a zillion bowls
Go to France
Italy
Africa
Berlin
Just to name a few.
Buy a house and paint it all the colors I love, build a fireplace with all my favorite rocks and shells.
Live near the sea
and also have a house in New Mexico
Have a large garden of my own design
Learn to cook more than the hand full of things I cook well.
Learn to knit
Learn to sew
Learn to speak French
Learn something new every year until I die.
What I want to have:
More love
More money
More animals
More time to do what I love.
More hugs
A house of my own
Okay, that about covers it :-).
What I have that I am very grateful for:
My family,
My furbabies
My friends
My blogging buddies
My talent
My sweet Subaru
My little rented house
My clients
My health
My thin body (Yay, for learning to eat healthy foods while still eating foods I love and enjoying life!) Finally! What took me so long?
Taos, New Mexico
Sunshine...
A list of things I wish I could do:
Have enough money to start a no kill animal shelter here in Taos
Save the Dolphins!
Stop hate and cruelty.
Had the power to make everyone I know happy :-).

A Tale of Two Dreams

2011-05-14T12:29:00.001-07:00

I took this photo on my recent trip to Oregon.

I know other people's dreams are boring, so I won't go into detail, just a brief telling, it is the end of the two dreams that really count anyway. A few days before I left on my trip to Oregon I dreamed I was in an office and a doctor gave me some drugs, these drugs were for accessing my subconscious, I lay on a sofa waiting, the question I was asking was, what was my greatest fear.

Nothing came at first, but then I sat up and told the doctor my greatest fear was of being successful! Imagine that. I wrote the dream down knowing I needed to give it some deep thought, but quickly forgot about it as I was busy on my trip. Then a few days after returning from my trip I had this dream: I dreamed I was at my wedding where I was to marry Jeff bridges :-), I was waiting to go down the aisle and I told a friend "It really does not matter if this marriage works out or not. I am not afraid of making mistakes anymore!" Imagine that.

I then remembered my first dream and I think of these two dreams as sister dreams.

Imagine a person with these two fears working behind the scenes, you would not get very far or accomplish a great deal! No wonder I feel stuck a lot of the time. I don't know if these two insights will change things, but I have a feeling they will and I think of these dreams as a huge leap and as miracles given to me by spirit. Accessing important information. I just thought I would share. Happy Saturday! XOXO

More New Stuff

2011-05-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

This is the last of my vases and also a plate. Plates are hard if you are doing porcelain, they warp when they get fired, this one is the third try and it did pretty good except the red underglaze bubbled, so I will be using this plate and not selling it, but I thought I would show it to you anyway. The vase and plate are a part of my "Circus Series" I am sure after I paint paintings for a while, I will return to making these. The vase is small at 2"x 1 1/2".

I had a long and busy day, so that's it for now. Happy Wednesday! XOXO

Hodge Podge

2011-05-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

This is another new small, bud, feather or incense holder, 3 in one :-). Porcelain 2 1/4" x 3 1/4".

It will make it's way to my ETSY shop in the next day or two.

I told you I would elaborate more on all my thoughts and projects of late, so here I go elaborating :-).

First, I am working on a project in porcelain, I am making a book/sculpture and I have the first two pages done,I will share with you soon. Yesterday, I started a new painting project and it is really different for me, I am working on a painting of a vase with flowers! I believe it has come to me out of my love for making the porcelain vases, plus it is Spring :-). I have never painted a vase with flowers in my whole life as an artist. If it turns out I will take photos for you. This painting will be for a show I may or may not get into. Every year Taos has a Fall Arts show, very big in town. They have what they call the "Open" and anyone with money can enter, you pay to hang a painting in a big room. They always hung my paintings by the bathroom or too high and I always felt disgusted by the show and 4 years ago decided I would never put another painting there, and I have stuck to that decision. In another big room, they hang what they call the select and the masters, these artists are invited and have to be juried in. One of the board members has invited me to submit a painting. They don't like abstract paintings in Taos as a general rule, and so I thought since this new piece I am working on is actually a painting of something recognizable I might have a shot at getting in the show :-). We will see. I won't know for a few months, but I will keep you posted.

In other very boring news, I am cleaning and purging my house :-). It feels so good. I worked 11 hours on Saturday and I have much to do, it will be an on going project, when done I plan on having a yard sale and to paint the inside of my house, that is if I can find the time and energy!

And then there is all the thinking I do, I have been thinking a lot about death and old age, and sadness and fear and pain, I know, not very happy thoughts. There is a lot of pain and grief around me these days and I have decided that no matter what I have to embrace all of life and be happy. I really do believe that for the most part happiness is a choice, but I also believe that we have to embrace everything in life including sadness. In my life, at this moment I am turning a page and I am embracing life, finding joy everywhere and inspiration in the air. Today, I am off to hike with my very ailing and old dog, Zeus, not sure how much longer he will carry on, but he loves his hikes and today we have time for a long one. Then after work, I get to paint and for that I am more grateful than I can say. Happy Monday! xoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

Mom, I hope you don't mind I scanned an old photo, as you won't let me show any new photos even though you are still beautiful :-).
Even if we do not always see eye to eye we always love one another and that counts for a lot, it counts for everything. Happy Mother's Day, mom, I love you.
All you moms out there have a wonderful Day!
Even if you are not a mom, have a wonderful day!
XOXO

New Bowl

2011-05-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

This is a new 2 1/2" x 4" bowl I made from porcelain, underglazed on the outside and clear glazed the inside.

I love it, but it will be going to my ETSY shop as I decided to keep my little quirky white and red vase for myself :-). And I can't keep everything!

Much is going on here, I am full of ideas and projects, I want to purge and paint and renew.

I want change and sparkle and joy.

Life is too short for one more depressing or fearful thought!

I am rambling and I have no time to ramble. I will elaborate on these thoughts more later :-).

Happy Friday! XOXO

Vase Love and a Thank You!

2011-05-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

I just got some new porcelain pieces out of the kiln and instead of showing them all a once I decided to show you one at time. This little 2 1/2" x 2" vase is my favorite and I am debating rather I want to put it in my ETSY shop or keep it :-).

When I returned home from my trip and opened my PO box I had a lovely surprise from Lori, she sent me 3 of her wonderful photo cards and these beautiful feathers for my feather vases. Thank you Lori, you are a darling doll.

Happy Thursday! XOXO

P.S. Blogger just decided to space this post weirdly (is that a word? It is now :-).

My Trip in Pictures

2011-05-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my trip. I am playing major catch up and on overwhelm, so I will keep this post short. I had a lovely trip and it was wonderful to see my family. I took many photos, but these are the best ones. No family members as I have to respect their privacy. Well, there is one family member, my little great nephew P, but I don't think he will mind that I put his photo on my blog :-). I spent one day at the beach and took these photos, found this blessing of a rock with a heart carved out in the center. On the way home we saw about 6 rainbows! I tried to capture one from a moving car. And then I could not resist taking photos of clouds on the way home over Albuquerque. I hope you all had a lovely week. I will be coming by to visit you all soon.

Happy Tuesday! XOXO

Hodge Podge(Goodbyes, Thank you's, New Work and Animal Wednesday)

2011-04-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is my last post for a couple of weeks as I am leaving town this weekend and will likely be too busy to post while on my trip.

I have been struggling with painting for a few weeks, I knew something new wanted to come.

I had to give it space, take walks, meditate, read and finally this weekend it came. The tip top photo is my brand new painting and also a close up. Please let me know what you think, even those of you who do not like abstract. You can click on it to make it larger

The next three photos down are Zoe my new girl, Finn, a friend's wonderful dog, and then two love bird Ravens.

Yesterday I received this beautiful moleskine journal from my sweet friend in the UK, Joss, not only did she send this, but it is the second one as the first one got eaten by the post office, she remembered that I said I wanted one in a post once.

Last Week I received a wonderful surprise from another friend in the UK, Melanie, she had gone to Amsterdam for her birthday and bought me these sweet little China clogs, so dear of her to think of me. Thank you Joss and Melanie for always being there for me. I love you both.

I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks, I will miss you! XOXO

ART LOVE

2011-04-17T08:08:00.001-07:00

Painting by Mark Bradford,Photo taken from here

As you all know by now if you have been coming to my blog very often, I am obsessed with art.

Making it, looking at it, reading about it, and thinking about. I know a few people who I love very much, who do not care at all about art and I am always amazed by this, I could not live without it! I thought I would share with you my number one favorite contemporary artist: Mark Bradford, also go here to see more paintings. Mark works very large and uses all manner of things to make his collage/paintings with, his paintings always inspire me and move me beyond words to describe. His story also inspires me as he was once poor and worked at his mom's beauty salon doing hair. Now his paintings fetch up to 250,000! It could not have happened to a more lovely artist. I hope you enjoy and are moved as much as I am by his work. Happy Sunday! I am off to hike and work on my own humble painting. XOXO

Mother's Day Sale

2011-04-16T10:18:00.001-07:00

I am having a weekend, 15% off sale in my ETSY shop. Attempting to make a little spending money for my trip home. I can only run it 2 days as I want to have plenty of time to pack and ship before I leave town. To get your 15% off just type in mother when the coupon code window appears at check out. I hope you all have a wonderful Weekend! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-04-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

This guy came to my bird feeder the last couple of days, I have never seen these bird here before. I love his iridescent greenish head, though you can't see it too well in the photographs. Can any of you out there identify him? Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

The World is Singing

2011-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Nothing More (remix)

If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it:

the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can.

& there is nothing more to it than that.

-Storypeople

This is exactly how I feel today. Everything is singing. Happy Sunday! XOXO

Hodge Podge and Some Good News

2011-04-09T12:16:00.001-07:00

It is Saturday and after a windy, but lovely long hike with my sweet old dog Zeus I have decided to give myself a free day, which means I can do anything I want and that would include reading wonderful books called "Ladder of Years" by Anne Tyler and "Still Here" by Ram Dass. I also intend to do a little painting on some porcelain as tomorrow I am actually going to start painting paintings again! But not today, today I play. I have some news, I have been wanting to go home to Oregon and see my mom and my family and the beautiful sea, and my mom has made it possible for me to do so, I am leaving in two weeks. I am so looking forward to it! Also I have not updated my weight loss, life style changes for a while, still making mostly the right choices every day, one meal at a time. My rules I try to stick by are, if it is a whole food (not been messed with) and organic, I can eat it and if it isn't I go for the best choice I can. Once in a while I eat cake just for fun :-). I feel so much better being off sugar, though it is sometimes hard. I also walk or run everyday. I almost have the body I have always dreamed of, not perfect, but lean. Not totally lean yet, but getting close :-). And the best part is I am doing this for only me and how I feel, nobody else. Also thought I might update my Busting Loose progress, still doing the process, still believe in it and know that I will bust loose! I will leave you with a couple quotes that called to me this week: "But screw your courage to the sticking place and it will not fail"-Shakespeare "You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." Martin Luther King Happy Saturday! XOXO

Dreams are Real

2011-04-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Actually I think dreams are more real than life. Most of you know that I think that the world is a hologram (goggle it and you will see that I am not the only one :-), and if that is true and I believe it with my whole heart, then dreams are where we do the real spiritual stuff of living our real lives. It is just a theory. I have been asking Spike to come see me in a dream and to let me know that he is okay (you can think I am crazy, I don't care) and he finally came and it was a wonderful dream. He came and I kept telling everyone in my dream that "See, Spike is still alive, not dead at all" And this is indeed the real truth. I can't see him, but he is still very much alive and well and somewhere lovely, I am sure. I miss him so much, and I am still sad and still cry, but it feels ever so much better knowing he is happy. XOXO

My Week in Pictures

2011-04-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

I went looking for joy this week. You can't be sad 24 hours a day And Spike would not want me to be, so I went looking and I found me some. The two tip top photos are of my good friend B and her baby L, what dolls they both are :-). Lots of joy there. Then there is a photo of a friend's dog, Finn, joy abounds there with tennis balls :-). Then a photo of new baby cow life, plenty of joy there. And last, a photo of a new bud vase, no end to the joy in making these. Which I am off to make more of this very day. Thank you for your prayers and love. I miss Spike like you would not believe, but I won't quit seeking joy, no never, and I won't quit finding it. XOXO

Spike 1998-2011 The BEST Cat in the World

2011-03-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

I did the hardest thing I have ever done this morning. I said goodbye to the very best cat in the world. I love all my animals, but Spike was special and he knew it and so did everyone who knew him. The vet said I did all I could do and that yes, it was time to let go. I gave him an hour out in the yard, which he loved so much. It is all brown and shady, but he did not care, he perked up for a few minutes, it was the best I could do for the last morning of his life.

I have many stories of Spike, but I will tell you a few. Once I had a peeping tom and it was back when I only had Spike and Mr. B his brother (who passed six months ago). Spike was on the window sill and he was going crazy. Yowling and carrying on, I went and looked out and saw a man in a ski mask and called the police. Spikee my watch cat.

The first time I ever let him out in my yard he literally jumped up and clicked his back heels in joy. I will never forget that, the image is forever in my mind.

Spike liked to cuddle with me at night, he was my snuggle bunny and I will miss that more than I can say. He also liked to get up on my chest, right in my face and give me what I called kitty massages. I don't know what I will do with out him, I really don't.

Spike was a super smart, loving, friendly cat, he was my love and I will never forget him.

I do not believe in death, I think the spirit moves on and no one will ever convince me otherwise, but Spike is gone from me, from here and that is what I grieve. I am so grateful that I had him 1 year and 4 months past his expiration date (the day he had kidney failure) due to the subQ fluids I gave him and changing his food. To all of you out there with cats, please feed them mostly wet, grain free, preferably organic food with no by products, it could save their lives, this is something I did not know. I believe the reason my two cats died early was because I fed them all dry non organic food. Yes, the wet does cost a small fortune, but if I can do it anyone can. Don't say you were not educated about it, because now you are :-), there is much on the web about this just google it. I owe it to the memory of Spike to pass on this information.

I am closing with a prayer for grace, that I won't be sad forever.

Spike and I both thank you for your many prayers over the past two years.

Love and hugs. XOXO

Prayers for Spikee

2011-03-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Spike actually came out from under the bed this afternoon and sat on the sofa in the sun, I took this photo. I am thinking I may not have the chance to take many more. I do believe in miracles though and I have decided to do all I can this weekend to save his life. One day he seems better the next day not, so I am giving him another week maybe a little less or more and then I will be taking him to the vet and he will likely be put out of his misery. If he cannot have any joy in his life then I can't keep him alive just so I won't miss him. I won't let him suffer for months until he goes on his own by starving. I know what is going on is his kidneys and I know we have already done all we can do. By giving him fluids I have prolonged his life by 1 year and 4 months and I am so grateful for that. I have been thinking a lot about letting go and about getting old and dying. Finding a way to come to peace about it all. I am at peace what ever I need to do for Spike, we are taking it one day, one minute at a time. Today was a pretty good day. I appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts, please continue :-). I will fight for my little guy, but I also want to know in my heart when to give up that fight and let him go. Love. XOXO

Book Love and an Early Animal Wednesday

2011-03-22T15:20:00.001-07:00

Kj, sent the book she wrote to Lori, lovely Lori sent it to me. I loved it! It is a must read for all romantics. Soulful and beautifully written about a married woman with kids who falls in love with another woman and also gets cancer. It is sad, but has it's happy moments too. To me it is about listening to your heart and being true to yourself no matter what. I will be passing it on to Becky, who will pass it on as well...If you would like to buy Kj's book, go HERE.

This is Zoe, my new cat. She has become a real member of the family and she is a doll baby :-).

Thank you everyone for prayers and good thoughts for Spike, he seems a tiny bit better and at least is not getting worse. Keep saying those prayers.

And just a reminder, my 15% off Spring sale in my ETSY shop is over in 3 days! Just type chick in the coupon window at check out to get the 15% off all items. Happy Week!! XOXO

Hodge Podge and a Winner of the Give Away

2011-03-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me :-). These are my newest feather/bud vases, all small about 2" to 3", but I had to re clear gloss them, so they are going back to the kiln. poop.

The winner of my give away is (drum roll please) the wonderful and talented Lynn. I will pick out something specially for you dear heart.

In other totally unrelated news, I had a dream and in my dream an older very famous artist (no one real, this was a character made up in my dream by me) told me that I needed to blog less and do art more. I am taking this to heart. I have already slowed down my blogging, and posting but I will be slowing down even more, so if I don't visit as much please forgive me. What with working full time, my four animals and life in general there seems to be so little time to do what I love most, so blogging will have take a back seat.

And last but not least, please pray for my little Spike, he is hardly eating and hiding under the bed, he is the cat with the kidney problems, the one I give subQ fluids to. I have been giving him fluids daily and he seemed to get better, but now seems to be getting worse. I know in the sea of misery that is Japan and the world this seems small, but he is the love of my life and it would mean the world to me if you could just send up a small prayer or good thought for him. Thank you.

And don't forget 15% off all items in my ETSY shop for one more week, just type in chick when the coupon window pops up at check out.

Happy Saint Paddy's! XOXO

News About Town

2011-03-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of the wonderful flowers that my beautiful and talented friend Becky brought to me yesterday as an early birthday gift. She also brought other goodies and took me to lunch. We had a lovely day hiking, eating and looking in shops. One sad thing is that a dream died yesterday. There is a gallery here that I have always wanted to show in and one that I came very close to showing in, but then the world turned upside down and the owner had some personal issues come up and I feel that is why it did not come to fruition, though I will never know for sure exactly why it never came to be. Anyway I have never given up, but yesterday I discovered that the gallery owner has moved into a tiny space and has dropped his artists except for two. I know this has everything to do with what is going on in the world. I have to let this dream die now.

In another way it helps me to trust in my gut as this is the very same gallery I was offered a job in as director and due to my lack of enthusiasm and desire for the job, it was given to another. I would now be out of a job had I got it, so even though many thought I was a bit nuts at the time, I am happy I was honest with the gallery owner. It all worked out just the way it should. SO I have to trust that there is a bigger, better place out there for my art.

Also I have decided as a special love offering for my bloggy friends I am offering an extra 5% off all things in my ETSY shop, for a total of 15% off. Just type in chick in the coupon window at check out. And don't forget to enter my giveaway by leaving a comment on the post below.

Happy Sunday!! XOXO

An Almost Spring Give Away and Sale

2011-03-09T17:49:00.001-08:00

I am not giving away this vase, I just like it :-), but I am giving away something ceramic and I like it to be a surprise. I feel like with Spring coming I want to have a sale and make room for the new stuff that I am making, so from now until march 23rd I will be giving 10% off all items in my ETSY shop. All you have to do is type in Spring in the coupon code window at check out. To win the surprise give away just leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner next Thursday March 17Th which just happens to be my birthday :-). Happy Wednesday! XOXO

New Vases

2011-03-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

These are the porcelain vases I showed you a while back, all fired and ready to go to my ETSY site. These are small to tiny. If you should want one or need a price, just email me. I will start putting them on my ETSY site in the next few days. Happy Monday! XOXO

For the Love of Words

2011-03-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about words a lot because of my new art project and I made a list of some of my favorites, I love them because of the way they roll off my tongue and some for how they make me feel. I would love it if you gave me a list of some of yours too!
Stunning
Ecstasy
askew
bliss
adventure
wonder
abound
smitten
glitter
quirky
eccentric
joy
dream
goat
jazz
cloudbursts
fluffy
button
tinker
yes
whimsy
rocket
bemused
poet
grace
dazzle
sparkle
kiss
wander
I almost forgot, Bohemian!
I am going to stop now, because I could go on a long, long time. Happy Sunday!!! xoxo

Adventures in Hiking

2011-03-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

You may remember I told you all I had to find a new hiking/running spot and I have. The above photos are of my views as I hike, thought you might enjoy. I snuck in a photo of my hiking buddy, Zeus and also a photo of my reward for an hour and a half hike, hot chocolate with chili.

Today, I am beginning a huge art project and I won't say what it is yet, but I will show you as it goes. I am so excited I can't sleep for thinking about it. I will give a hint, it is porcelain sculpture and it involves words. And Mim you inspired it. Happy Saturday! XOXO

P.S. I took these photos with my new Canon point and shoot!

Animal Wednesday (Zoe's Great Adventure)

2011-03-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

I just got back from dropping Zoe off at the vet's, she is getting spayed today. She has turned out to be a very sweet little girl. Not real friends with the boys yet, but that may change after today.

Spike does not care a fig about her, but Max is in love and is very upset that she is gone today. It is so cute to see him swoon over her :-). I am not sure Zeus even knows she is alive as he has loss of hearing and can not see too well either!

In other news, I will stop whining and get on with it. It seems I will be getting a camera for my upcoming birthday :-). Thanks mom. I will be shopping for it today. Thank you all for your kind words and kJ thank you for your words on my account :-). Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

Monday's Suck

2011-02-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

I hate to be on a downer, really I do. This is not at all the post I had planned. In fact I went on a lovely hike with my dog this morning and took all sorts of wonderful photos of our new running spot, but I just discovered that my beloved tried and true point and shot is broken. All the beautiful photos have lines running through them. I could not see this due to the sunlight when I took them. I need my camera for my ETSY shop and for my blog, so I will have to scrape together some money and go buy another, and given my money situation, a new camera really was not in the plan. Other things were broken today and keys were lost and here it is almost 4PM on my one day off and no art has been done. I want to look on the bright side, at least I am healthy and I have a few hours left to paint, but really I hate to pick up my brush given my mood right now, so perhaps I will go meditate first. In the meantime here is a photo of my new, making her self right at home, kitty, Zoe. I hope you all are having a better day and soon, I promise the bright and happy Annie will return. XOXO

Grace Abounds

2011-02-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.- wendell berry

This came to me today, I needed it so and it came. Thank you all for your wise and insightful comments on yesterday's post. I love you. Today I am off to put my hands in porcelain clay and forget my troubles. Have a wonderful Sunday! XOXO

Circling Around Trust

2011-02-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

This photo has nothing to do with the post, I just think it's pretty :-). Life lately has been tough. There are a lot of things that happen that I choose to not write about here. Family issues, money issues and health issues are not things I really want to share, though sometimes I do. Lately I choose to keep them to myself or close friends. Many things have been weighing heavily of late and I have been having trouble sleeping. I worry, then I circle back round to trust. It always comes back to trust. Trusting what you may ask? Trusting myself and my intuition, trusting that I know or will know the right course of action. Trust in spirit, that I will be given all I need to move to the next step. Then I wake up and worry again, do my "Process", worry, process, but I always end up right back at trust. My goal is to just go to trust and leave all the worry in the trash where it belongs :-). Any thoughts on trust are welcome. Happy Saturday! XOXO

The Winner of my OWOH Doorprize is...

2011-02-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

The winner of my doorprize for the One World One Heart event is the talented Halle.

She won the above porcelain pendant and it will be winging it's way to her tomorrow. This was a wonderful event, I think I made a few long lasting connections and I still have many blogs to visit. There just has not been enough time to visit everyone yet. Thank you Lisa for all your hard work putting this together. Love and Blessings. XOXO

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

2011-02-13T15:57:00.001-08:00

See Spike's heart, isn't he cute. I am off to Santa Fe on a beautiful Winter's day with a friend, which to me right now is ever so much better than a boy friend. I have no Valentine, but then I decided that the world was my Valentine :-) Have a wonderful one. Love. XOXO

Sneak preview, Thank you, and What's been going on...

2011-02-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

The top photos are new vases I made, under glazed and bisque fired, they will look very different after I clear glaze them and have them fired again, they will look like porcelain. I wanted you to see them though as I really love them and had so much fun making them. I made them weeks ago and have not done art since, so TODAY I am making more, finally I have a bit of time.

The photos of the bag are a lovely present that the very talented Melanie made for me, this is the second bag she has made and they are a big hit at the grocery store. She also tucked a lovely lavender sachet she made inside, sorry I did not get a photo of that. Thank you Melanie, I love it and I love you dear girl.

As for other news, Zoe is getting on well enough with Max, she and Spike had some hissing going on and Spike is a bit afraid of her, but I think it will be fine in a few days after they get more used to each other. It went much better than I thought it would. I actually think that there may be a bit of romance between Max and Zoe :-).

And now for something completely different, I never said anything about it, but a month ago I started a weight reducing program, no sugar, no bad carbs and I have lost 12 pounds! I really only wanted to get back to where I was 4 years ago, after gaining about 8 of the 30 I lost back then, but I am really liking this life style change and I plan on staying on it forever. However, I think life is to be lived, so I do allow myself little treats on the weekend or when I go out to eat, but I won't buy bread or pasta for a long while, also no chips, I eat nuts instead, lots of veggies and fruit. I feel ever so much better and this time I am doing it for me, no one else! Really I don't need to lose any more, but I want my body to be lean, not skinny and I think it will just level out soon. I just wanted to share.

I am off to play with clay, have a WONDERFUL weekend. XOXO

Animal Wednesday (It's a Girl!)

2011-02-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

Zoe is a female, like I thought. She is healthy, YAY! She had her vet visit this morning and in 3 weeks she gets spayed and has the rest of her shots. She took it all like a trooper, a little growling and hissing, but really she was very good. So tonight I sequestered my big boy kitties in the bedroom for a couple hours and she explored the rest of the house and met Zeus my wonderful dog. She growled at him, but it all went without incident. I will do the same for the next two evenings, then Saturday I will introduce her to the big boys , one at a time and keep my spray bottle handy in case a fight breaks out. I am so grateful for the feral cat friends who paid for the vet bill. I will get a better photo of her soon, she does not like the camera, but she will get used to it :-). Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO

Trust Has its Rewards

2011-02-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, now we are talking, today things started falling in place. First I called a woman here in Taos who takes care of feral cats, the same one who would not take Zoe, but what she will do is to pay for her tests, shots and to be spayed! So Wednesday she will go for her day at the vets and then we can begin the work of either integrating her into my world or finding her a good home. I am really in love with her, so she will likely stay if my boys and her all get along.
Then, THEN, the gas boys came and turned on all my heat and my hot water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life can get back to normal and I can get back to work tomorrow. Also I made 3 lovely sales on my ETSY site, one by my sweet sister L. Thanks sweetie. Looks like this is going to be a good week. I hope for all of you too. Thank you for all of your sweet words and thoughts. Happy Monday! XOXO

Update on The No Heat Situation

2011-02-05T18:36:00.001-08:00

Still alive here, though still very cold. They say we won't have our heat back until Monday or Tuesday earliest and that with another cold front coming in tomorrow, not that 26 is warm, but better than -17. I also learned that it is not about Texas and the Super Bowl, I was only repeating what I had heard all over town, but today I got the real story or at least the story they are telling. Because Texas got cold and turned on all their heaters, they had an electrical blackout, which effected the oil pumps which then got air in them (this is all Greek to me) which is what has caused all the problem, not lack of oil. So now they have to turn off all the heaters to fix them and then turn them all back on which is taking a long while.I have never heard of this happening and a friend told me tonight that he finds it very odd and is not sure if he believes this story. I don't know, I just want my heat on. Many people here are fine as they have wood burning stoves and fire places and many of the rich people in town run on propane, so it is only some of us who are dealing with this. One thing I know for sure is that I have good friends who have offered me to stay with them, but my furbabies need me and I have too many to drag around. We are making do. It is strange how something like this makes you realize how easy we have it most of the time. I have no heat and no hot water, that means no shower, that means heating water up to do dishes, it is surprising how long it takes to do my dinner dishes now. You have much less time for anything other than survival needs to be met. I would never have time to make art if I had to live like this all the time. Mostly I want to just be under my covers. Mornings are the worst because these little heaters are not safe to leave on when you are sleeping, so it is freezing when I get up, which makes you not want to get up :-). But get up I must. I am still healthy and safe and so blessed to have a roof over my head. I really think about the homeless people and animals that have to live out in this cold. I don't know how they do it.
All in all I am doing okay, stressed, but okay. I am trying to get around to some blogs everyday, but it is hard to work in the time, so forgive me if I seem to be absent. Happy weekend. XOXO

Yes, It can get Worse!

2011-02-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well, that is what I get for complaining, now things are way worse. Yesterday morning Taos lost all it's oil for natural gas heaters and my heat and stove run on the stuff. When I got up it was -17, so as you can imagine there was a run on space heaters. I was not able to buy one. I have one tiny space heater, but thankfully my clients had many and loaned me two and a microwave oven. As miserable as it all is, I feel very blessed by this. Work got cancelled today, so after a run I will be indeed huddling under my flannel sheets. The house is still freezing, but not as bad as it would be without the heaters. On top of all this, the electric company is having rolling blackouts, so I will not be around on the computer much, it takes too much energy up. Hopefully we will have everything back to normal by tomorrow, I still have a black cat in my bathroom :-). Happy Friday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

2011-02-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

Meet Zoe or Milo, depends on what sex she turns out to be, but I think it's a she, I have not turned her upside down yet to find out for sure. She is sequestered in my bathroom at the moment. It got to -19 last night, and she is a homeless cat that has been hanging out in my yard. I could not let her freeze. Our shelter is NOT a no kill shelter and the feral cat lady would not take her, so I had to do something. At the moment I am looking for a home for her, if you live in Taos or Santa Fe and want a kitty, this one is a gem. Sweet and loving, very special. I have fallen in love with her myself, but I fear my other cats don't want her here, so I must find her a home.

Other news around here, it has been a very rough week. I have car issues and it cleaned out my little savings, now I need a bunch more to fix the rest of it, but I have to wait for a miracle as there is no more money to be had. I am driving on a wing and a prayer. In Taos, especially in Winter you have to have a car! Also the place I run, have run with my dog for 9 years, has now put up a sign that trespassers will be prosecuted, so we have to find a new running spot. And then there is the cat issue. Right now it is -6 and I have to go to work, I really want to just cozy back into bed. I know things will get better, I know that these are small issues in the Scheme of things, I know that life is good. Have a wonderful Animal Wednesday! XOXO