Ravens

Thought I would share these photos with all my raven sisters.

Happy Saturday. Love. XOXO

Animal Wednesday

I have not joined Animal Wednesday, but occasionally I like to participate.

The first photo is Spike and Max, middle is Mr.B and Zeus and last is My little B, he is so thin because he has been very sick, he used to weigh 19 pounds! He is on the road to recovery and is begging for food now, all the time! Spike has been sick too, but he is doing great now.

Zeus however is showing signs of confusion and bewilderment and I think it is senility as he is very old. It makes me sad, but he still lights up and becomes himself enough that it is not time

say goodbye. Max is Mr. Healthy, he is also very young, the newest kid on the block.

Happy Wednesday. XOXO ♥

Taos Mountain

I took this photo for you all yesterday on my snow run. I thought you might like to see the view .

Happy Monday. XOXO ♥

Bliss

This week I have been finding my bliss again and realized it was me who walked away from it, not the other way around. Having all the drama of the cat kids being sick and my cousin passing away and my mom falling again, I had forgotten what brought me joy, I forgot to do those things and forgot who I was for a little bit. Now that mom is home and healing, my cousin is with spirit (dancing) and my cat kids are hanging in, I could stop and remember who I am.
Why is it that when it is most important to remember we forget? At least that is true of me and I have a feeling I am not the only one.
This week I have been meditating deeply and doing art and reading and watching movies and
walking in the snow and napping, spending lots of time with my boys and saying yes to fun.
I went to a Scottish party, celebrating everything Scottish and it was such fun! I only knew two people there and it was a stretch for me to go, but I am so glad I did. Sometimes it is good to go outside your comfort zone and have new experiences, it keeps us young.
It is Sunday and I have a long work week ahead so I am taking it easy today, going for a long snow run with my sweet dog and starting the second Stieg larrson book "The Girl Who Played with Fire", glazing some porcelain and working on the big painting. It is a bliss day. May you have a bliss Sunday too. XOXO

Random Thoughts...

Okay, I finally saw Avatar. Yes, the 3-D was a bunch of fun and yes, it had some lovely things in it and I loved the dragons (They look like dragons to me), but I think for all the money they spent making the film they could have done a little better with the animals, although the forest was beautiful, the animals were a disappointment, but I guess you can't have everything :-). Am I the only one who thinks this?
A friend asked me the other night, how I can believe in God when something happens like the earthquake in Haiti. I did not have a very good answer. I think of God as an energy source that runs through every living thing and has only well being and love to give. I believe God cares about the people of Haiti, but I don't believe that God had anything to do with the earthquake.
I think that nature, mother earth does what it does and it is not personal. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, and that belief is hard to reconcile with something like the Haiti earthquake. So I end up throwing up my hands and asking why, when I see people suffering.
I do not have an answer. What do you all think? How do you answer those hard questions?
So, that's whats on my mind tonight, one topic trivial and one serious.
Happy Thursday. XOXO ♥

My Pages for the Artshine project

I wanted to share with you my pages for my Artshine book. The theme is love and I used a lot of bits and pieces I had around the house including the dream pendant I made. These were so fun to make and a challenge because I could not use my usual materials as they would have been too heavy and we have to mail these pages around, so venetian plaster on board was not going to work :-). It was fun to step outside my comfort zone.

I have also been working on my large painting, but is is months before that will be done, Very labor intensive, but I will share when I do finish it.

Today I am going to Avatar and I can't wait.

Happy Monday! XOXO

Deep Gratitude

Today I woke up feeling such gratitude. Thankful my mom is alright and that my brave boys Spike and B have bounced back and are still with me. Grateful for a roof over my head and enough work to live. I can clap my hands for glee over all my new art projects like Artshine , and a zillion other ideas I have floating around in my head. I am happy to be living in a place of such beauty and sunshine. I am most thankful for my health and for my body that carries me around without much complaint.
Today I have a wonderfully fun day planned of art. First I will be completing my page for my traveling book, something I have never done before and I am excited, then I am working on my large 48"x48" painting that has been waiting patiently for months while I played with porcelain instead. 12 hours to do nothing but art, bliss.
What are you thankful for today?
Love and hugs, XOXO ♥

Collagraphs

This is my very first collagraph I learned how to do from Sukipoet. I don't think it is very good, but okay for a first time. The last photo is the plate I made with file folder paper and cardboard and glue. It was very fun and I am looking forward to doing more (better ones).

In other news mom is going home today, she still cannot walk, but she can get in and out of her wheel chair and move around a bit, her spirits are better now that she is leaving the assisted living.

Sending many prayers out for Haiti and for my dear sweet Renee and family.

Happy Thursday. XOXO ♥

The Gift of Nothing

The photo of my cat Max and dog Zeus has nothing to do with the post, just thought it was adorable and wanted to share :-). Today is my first day off in 7 days and I am giving myself the gift of doing nothing today. I say nothing, but I will actually be playing, which means going back to bed with my book (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larson). Making myself a yummy breakfast of hot chocolate and tangerines and toast. I will also be trying out a printing technique I learned from Sukipoet, just for fun. Then later, a friend has loaned me some early Hitchcock films, I have loved Hitchcock since I was six (I was an odd child), so I am looking forward to watching them. What I will not be doing is anything on my long to do list :-). Mom is in better spirits and is walking a little. Tiny, baby steps each day. Keep those prayers coming. Thank you! May you all have a wonderful, blessed day. XOXO ♥ ♥ ♥ P.S. In keeping with my plan to create more bliss in my life, I am joining Lynn's new traveling art book. All who sign up will do a page and then send it on. If you wish to join the fun go visit Lynn's blog and leave her a comment letting her know.

Looking for Bliss

Bliss-1. Supreme happiness;utter j0y or contentment 2. heaven, paradise.
I seem to have misplaced my bliss somewhere. My joy is hiding, but I am determined to seek it and find it and live it again. I welcome this challenge. To be joyful even when things are not going well, this is my lifelong goal. To not be at the mercy of events or people. To have and hold and always keep a big vat of joy in my heart no matter what occurs. Yes, it is easier said than done, but I know it is possible and I am gonna do it :-). Things I will be doing this next week to help restore my bliss:
Going to a big party tomorrow night.
Going to see Avatar.
Working on my big painting (finally after months)
Making valentine's out of porcelain.
Running with my dog, Zeus.
Hot chocolate and maybe even cake :-).
Meditating and staying in the moment.
Blogging and hearing from my bloggy buddies.
I will be giving reports of my success's all week. Also I want to ask for continued prayers for mom, she is in assisted living, but really hates it and cannot walk and is feeling badly about it all. She needs a dose of bliss too.
Happy Friday. XOXO ♥

My First Successful Porcelain Cup

This is my first successful porcelain cup. Thought I would share. If any of you are interested it is for sale on my ETSY shop. Let me know what you think.

Mom is doing better and is starting the healing journey. Thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts. XOXO

Mom

Surgery is today. This is a good thing because then she can start to heal.
Since I am not there due to lack of money and cat kids to nurse(they are both doing very well!), I will be home, praying and staying close to the phone while making porcelain cups.
Thank you all for your prayers, good thoughts and support. XOXO
*The surgery went fine, she got out about an hour ago. All is well.*

Another SOS

Yesterday my mom had another fall. She is in the hospital and will be getting pins put in her leg in the next day or two. She is okay, but in a great deal of pain. Her recovery time from the surgery is estimated at 3 months. Please think good thoughts or pray to any God you choose, I appreciate you all so much. xoxo