The Shift Movie

Please. I implore you. Watch this and know that a certain level known as "Critical Mass" has been reached and we are changing. Like minded people in large quantities can move mountains. Congrats to everyone.

www.theshiftmovie.com

Enjoy

Catching Up & Giving Thanks

I have illustrations coming out of my ears. Goodness gracious it feels good. Life has been moving SUPER FAST or now they say UBER fast. Whatever, my head is spinning from all of the movement.


A have a creativity/life coach now, she is fabulous. Janet Whitehead is her name and you can catch her at www.musingsandmud.com (my hyperlink thingy-ma-bob) isn't working. I am reading Nine Modern Day Muses and a Body Guard by Jill Badonsky. This is an interesting way to stay creative. I am painting. Sketching. Writing. Typing. Organizing. Photographing. And basically trying to prepare myself for 200



For those of you who love astrology and are fellow Virgos then you had one-hell-of-a-year, too. It's slated to get better, so hang in there.

In the meantime I'm loving my destiny. For now, I'm off and running to my latest venture. More later.

Summer's End

This photo was taken in one of the fields of cut-your-own flowers at my work.

Tis the last days of what most school kids call summer. Being that I'm older now, I can readily see that the best part of summer is this month. September sits well with me. Mildly warm days follwed by crisp nights, the need for another layer, seeing my breath as little puffs of steam as I watch a field hockey game. Aaaah, the sweet days of September. And, oh, how about the sweet smell of the dry leaves falling. Beautiful. It transports me.

During August I kept busy in the studio. I was busier than ever actually. I really forced myself to make it there two and sometimes three times a week. It's thrilling to have that flow of creativity.

This mixed media piece is titled "You OTTO be in pictures". My grandpuppy is a beautiful blue weimeraner who always wears the goofiest look. Acrylic and pastels on watercolor paper was a comfortable fit.

This old apple tree and I are fast friends. I sat under her so many times. I find her spellbinding, the greens in this photo really capture her beauty. I am anxious to see her change of clothes for fall. Will she go yellow, orange, red? I can only guess.

Other news I should include here:

• I ordered a new camera, it should arrive today as a matter of fact. It's a Sony DSC-H50 10 megapixel beauty. I worked hard all summer, this was a treat to myself. I can't wait to get going with this.


• Art openings galore. Last weekend I attended the opening of "Critters Revisited" at the Gallery at Chase Hill, the sister shop of the Maine Art Gallery. The entire show was, well, critters (okay, animals). I find myself attracted to the really bold art and the more unusual pieces. Dorrie Koeller and Laura Balombini really interest me, find their links at the Maine-art.com site.


• I picked up Miss Muffet from California. She's here for the next 8 weeks or so. I couldn't be happier.


• Bandaloop is rockin. This is one busy place. I highly recommend that if you ever make it to Kennebunkport you try this organic, all natural eatery. Amazing atmosphere and phenomenal food. I am one tired waitress. Apparently we got written up in Downeast Magazine and it has had a huge effect on the restaurant.
• I discovered, with the help of a kind friend, Pandora.com Design your own radio station, I am in heaven.


• I bought four new art books and am having a blast digging in to some new concepts. I am becoming a fanatic sketcher. Here is one of many...

Okay, I've decided you don't need a rundown on my day to day, I'll just stop and say to you all that Maine is a great place to be. I start school today. Happy girl going to her happy place.

Take care and be well bloggy buddies.

A Plum Dandy Adventure

Hi, Remember me? Tam I am. Oh yes, it's been an adventure, a plum dandy adventure. Head spinning. Hold on to your shorts and I'll give you a briefing:

Miss Muffet got married and graduated high school.....IN THAT ORDER. Do you see the rings on her left hand. She's the very proud wife of a U S Air Force Airman First Class. That makes me the proud mother-in-law of an Airman First Class. This pix is from her graduation party, two weeks after elopement. (Not to worry, big TO-DO style wedding next July). She looks quite happy, don't you think? Have I mentioned she moved to Orange, California?

The picture above is my brother Ron, the infamous Shy Jack and his mommy, my sweet sister-in-law Cindy-Lou-Who. Missing from the pix is brother Nick who just wouldn't sit still. This family is having a new home built and I have been trying to visit often and just keep the vibes good while they are bouncing from living space to living space.

Baseball...Summer is about baseball. I don't just mean backyard games like this one. I mean the RedSox versus the Yankees. I mean The RedSox versus the Orioles. I mean the RedSox versus..well, you get it. I love watching professional baseball and was lucky enough to score tickets to Boston for a great game that went 14 innings. I won't bore you with the details, I'll just say the Sox won with a walk off homerun.

What you don't know is that this pix of Jack is really sweet, I simply forgot to rotate the silly thing before posting. Tilt your head to the left (lay your ear on your shoulder) and enjoy a neat shot of Jack preparing to hit the ball. This kid is a cracker jack!! I tell you, you can pitch from forty feet, throw overhand and he slams the ball over your head. AHEM! He's five. The cutie patootie in the back is Nick just behaving himself and clapping each time Jack hits the ball.

Tourism at it's best. You know I work at a big garden center, right? What a blast. Honestly. Fun place. Beautiful flowers. Well, I also work at a great organic restaurant. Tourism is big here in Kennebunkport. To prove it I had a visit from to plum dandy ladies. We painted the Port in good shape!

Recognize these two? Being Creative Every Day is so easy! Right, Sweet pea?

These two thought they needed an Orla Keily bag. (HEY, I hope I got that spelling right). We had fun shopping and traipsing about taking photos.

Leah was so cute next to this old gas pump. That smile, that dress, that friend.

And this is my favorite shot from the entire day. Jes looks beautiful in this shot and her giant smile shows the joy we had that day. Sharing. Sisterhood. Art. *sigh* sniff, sniff.

Green. Summer in Maine. Summer everywhere is green. Meet Lewis. He belongs to my VIP, the Handsome One. Lewis has kind of consumed my weeks lately. Will he be coming over this weekend? Will he behave this weekend? Is he still shedding? Don't forget to take all the food off the kitchen counters. I'm missing a sock. This dog is high maintenance but pure LOVE. My boss adores him. My VIP adores him. I'm trying to adore him.

More green. I love the bands of color in this shot, don't you?

And here it is, me, the VIP and Lewis. Lewis couldn't stand to NOT BE IN THE PHOTO.

Last but not least the gratuitous foot shot. Clever, don't you agree?

For those of you who are saying "OMG, doesn't she do anything creative??" The answer is yes:

• Shy Jack the book I wrote is almost 50% illustrated. I say that loosely. My teacher, Wade Zahares, will be so proud of me when he sees the effort I put in. Well, I hope so anyway. It's been quite time consuming.
• I cut out a queen sized quilt and am in the process of piecing it.
• I sketch a few times a week.
• I stitched a dress.
• I put together some found object jewelry.
• I am helping with wedding plans for Miss Muffet
• I'm finally cooking at home more.
• I have a beautiful, full garden that I am now harvesting.
• I signed up for Heartwoods fall semester, two classes this time.
• I've been to two art openings and have visited approximately eight galleries in the area with more to go.
• Does drinking daiquiris at a dockside restaurant count as creative inspiration? I hope so, done that once or twice this summer.

Oh yes, it's been a plum dandy adventure.

So my knight in shining armor came for a long visit this weekend. We had such a nice time together. We went all out and enjoyed this AMAZING CONCERT at this FABULOUS EATERY. It was so intimate and the music was so emotional. We both laughed at the non-stop chatter between songs and wiped salty tears from the corners of our eyes as the song lyrics tugged our heartstrings. A grand time indeed.

So in the art world I have been making books, painting with watercolors, doing contour line drawings and making home made cards amongst other things. I have lots of things going on in my head but have not been able to get them all down on paper.

I find that cramming forty plus hours of work a week is too time consuming. It's hard to come home and feel creative at 6 pm and your stomach is growling and the dirty dishes didn't wash themselves. Balance is needed and I am searching it out in a big way. It's find balance or quit working. This will be one tough choice!Just thought I'd toss in this pix of me and my two brothers at Easter. That's my older brother Randy on the left with the silly look. This is odd because he is one serious dude. No kidding. Real serious. His blue eyes can pierce you like well, anything that pierces I suppose. Brother number 2 is on the far right. That's Ron. Soft hearted and sweet. His eyes are just plain gentle. These two are good people who I admire and respect. They both are there for me, always in the nick of time.

And hey, that's me in the middle. Repeat after me: middle child syndrome. Do I look like I'm complaining? No way.

In other news:

• Roommate is having a birthday
• My mother is having her birthday
• My father & friend are traveling home from across the US. He's now officially one of those people who leaves the state for the winter and comes home only during golf season. Bless you, Dad and Doris!!
• Dan and Hill are enjoying spring and are living life high off the hog (What does that mean, anyway?)
• I am enjoying my job at the local farm center but am brewing other things in my head....I'm just trying to roll with the punches.
• Heartwood is done for the school year.
• I have been to three amazing art openings. That has been a real blast about this area. It is filled with galleries! I'm seeing some great work, it is so inspirational.

Happy Mother's Day to all and to all a good night! ...MUAH!

Country Mouse Goes to the City

OMG! This has been such an odd spring. I moved friends. Here I am in Kennebunkport, Maine. Country mouse goes to the city. It's odd and surreal. On a brief note:

• I went without Internet service for nearly four weeks so have been VERY out of touch with blogging and emails. My apologies


• I am still attending Heartwood and the last class was today.


• I have been sewing and painting and drawing quite a lot. There is inspiration APLENTY.


• I've been to the flea market already. Got some GREAT sterling silver earrings that are absolutely hilarious.


• I have a roommate who is adorable and young, like a daughter to me except I can't send her to room if she misbehaves


• I started some lovely tomatoes and basil seedlings that are thriving


• I'm painting the living room tangerine color


• And this has kept me busy.

I'm coming back to life, slowly but surely. It has been a rough ride and of all things my mother-in-law that I adored suffered a heart attack and passed. My heart is aching.

I promise to post art and pix soon and I promise to come back to my laughing silly self. Hang in there with me, will you?

Oddly Enough

This is where I've been at. Please, only if you dare, CLICK HERE.

And then smile and be happy for us. Bookmark it and keep tabs.

Smile & Breathe

Smile because your heart knows a secret. And because your soul knows what that secret is. Smile at that. Smile a lot. It will cure what ails you.

Breathe. Breathe long and deep. Slowly and gently. Breathe in the soft, sweet nothingness of life, so full of energy, so full of love. It's God's love you are breathing. Breathe deeply and you can feel it. Breathe very, very deeply and the love will make you cry. For joy.

...taken from Conversations With God, Book 3 by Neale Donald Walsch

I'm off to school and to feel the energy of my new surroundings. I'm off smiling and breathing.

The Green Man Cometh with Chuck Close

This is a picture of me when I woke up this morning, beore I had coffee. I was lost in thought and trying to decide to wear my pink panties or my boring white ones.

There is always a lot going on and there are so many posts that I don't write that I should write. There is so much that I leave out that I want to share. Tonight as American Idol decides who's getting cut I am going to tell you What's on my mind...

• The sale of the restaurant and hotel, tomorrow it's official. This means more breathing room in my life



• Green Man...the male equivalent to Mother Earth. I feel some art coming up around this and I can't wait to see how it turns out. I think thoughts of Spring are creeping up on me and I seem to hear him whispering...



• Chuck Close, the artist. I am blown away by his self portraits and can't stop looking at the volume lent me by my artist/teacher. Please take a moment to Google this man and see what you get, I couldn't decide which of the sites had the best information on him. His work is fascinating. Gridding and painting.



• Moving...I have found new digs and am working out the kinks. I can't wait to relocate to a place where I can truly spread my wings and start anew. The one year anniversary of my big D (and I don't mean Dallas) has somehow freed me.



• Painting...finding my groove. This isn't easy. Fine art at school is different than the mixed media approach that I love. I am being challenged and ultimately that is good. I am enjoying the process even though it has been excruciating at times. I feel willing to make mistakes in order to learn and can I say this: I AM MAKING MISTAKES. Teacher says that if you like one in ten paintings or if one in ten paintings really work then you've done well. So there! See, I didn't know that. I thought they would all just fall together. Uh-uh. NO! I kind of struggle with embarrassment because in my circles I am the artistic "go-to" girl and now...well, I'm just secondary. I am learning to be okay with secondary because I know it is temporary. I am still trying to figure out my style. Bear with me, because it could get really ugly! (No pity, friends, I am okay with all of this. I think it is helping my personal growth quite a lot).



• Personal growth...I am reading "Conversations With God....Book 3" by Neale Donald Walsh. I am moved to tears with hope. Even if you don't believe that God came and spoke through NDW every word you read is beautiful and uplifting. There are times in this book that I have had to put the book down and laugh out loud. God is hilarious.



• Love...the slow but sure mending of my inner world...the constant and reassuring love of my baby brother, mother, father, former in-laws, children and friends old and new has brought me a feeling of support and community. This was much needed.



• Happiness...it's inevitable. I write A LOT. I draw and paint A LOT. I think A LOT. I pray A LOT. I believe & it's all good.

Ride the wave, friends. Just ride the wave.

P.S. That isn't really me in the photo above.

The Dog Ate My Shoes and Other Lousy Excuses

Remember the dog from the earlier post? He did eat my shoes, honest. Luckily I picked up these fabulous ones to replace the chewed ones.

Did I mention 15 paintings in three weeks? Rooftops. Here's just one of the many pictures I am working from.

Wrestling matches galore. The Handsome One's kid is on the wrestling team so off we go each weekend from one end of the state to the other watching all 104 pounds of him get tied in knots.
School is wonderful. Scanner is broken, can't post art until it's fixed. I found a new home and am working out the kinks, will report on that in detail later. I am waist deep in snow bankings due to our old fashioned Maine winter this year. I'm a cooking, painting, traveling fool. Or maybe it's just that I'm a fool. HA! (only time will tell).

Oh, I can't end this post without telling you about the amazing house concert I went to on Saturday. I'm telling you I am one fortunate fool. Scott King and his friends Steve Jones, Erik Glockler and Ginger ?? played together at a mutual friends house. Can I just say....WOW! Ginger drums for Nashville musicians like Bonnie Raitt. Steve Jones is a master guitarist and the vocals of Eric Glockler, well, ...huh! Musical genius ensued. Think Johnny Cash, the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and originals. I was mesmerized. I feel so lucky to know these people. And how about the fabulous hosts who opened their doors for this party. Amazing.

I've Been Holding Out on You

Being happy, being healthy, being wiser. That's me.


I have been searching my soul A LOT. I have been unhappy with my circumstances. Things needed to change and God Bless the Internet so I could do my research. See:


In December I was losing my mind. No kidding. I was driving myself insane working at this restaurant a couple of towns over. Busting my tail serving customers isn't such a bad thing, I enjoy working hard, but this day when the customer had a $28.86 tab and left me $30 and then left me standing there as they said "Merry Christmas, keep the change," I blew a gasket. That tip was $1.14!! I am worth so much more than $1.14!


I gave my notice that day. Not smart for a woman on her own who's going to school part time.


All's well. Synchronicity played it's part. Following T Harv Eker's instructions on how to make a living doing what you love I had made my list of top ten things I am good at. My top three things: creative endeavors, writing, health & wellness. Shortly after I made this list it happened. The wellness thing came into play, and long-story- short, I am now an Herbalife Independent Distributor.


I did my homework on this. It's not just about weight loss, it's about good nutrition and complete wellness. The company is 27 years old. There is Nobel prize scientists and doctors researching and in turn producing the products. The products are all-natural (another HUGE point in my life, because I don't believe in synthetic drugs).


People who know me locally have long commented on my interest in wellness, my need to be fit and my deep interest in nutrition, particularly organic or all-natural versions. So I'm fussy!!



Here I am, I am a product of the products. I take the multi-vitamin shake and a few of the other supplements and my energy level has flown through the roof. No more mid-afternoon sluggishness. I feel I can take on the world! And, I say this gently, I know I'm no heavyweight, but the last ugly 5 pounds I wanted to lose is melting from my frame. My quick metabolism is BACK!



Herbalife offers weightloss and weight mangement...& (I am so excited)...targeted nutrition for your various needs (women's issues, eye health, kids supplements, sports & fitness drinks, etc)


SO, dear readers...

Yes, I will occassionally discuss these products here.


Yes, I will put up a permanent link to my herbal nutrition webs site and


yes, I feel rejuvenated and renewed at a cellular level and will joyfully share this with you.



I can't wait to apply my new energy to the other projects I have coming up for 2008 which I will discuss with you as soon as I can. Wishing you a happy, healthy new year.



This is an open invitation to those of you who want to feel better, contact me any time at all.

Out With the Old..goodbye 2007

Last year Jill Badonsky sent out her newsletter with a great way to end the year. I took to it like peanut butter takes to jelly. I offer it up again this year, and this time I am posting it for all to see. It's all in good fun and forces you to think back a bit which is something I'm not so good at. I generally can't remember what I ate for breakfast today. For that matter I can't remember where I put the instructions to Jill's writing prompt. Off the cuff it goes like this, answer each of the following prompts:

man of the year-Danny. My son. I watched in full and complete angst as he would stumble and fall, stumble and fall, stumble and fall. I cried when he did. I smiled as he was able to smile. I prayed and begged for him to be whole again. Unfortunately, it consumed my year. But what do you do when you madly love that which you cared for all of his 19 years. You love and support and cry on their behalf. He will be my man of the year for 2008, too, but in a whole new context. This year, like the baby robin first taking flight he will leap, I will cover my eyes and turn away, and much to both of our suprise, his beautiful wings will catch the breath of God and he will be on his way.

woman of the year- Rhonda. This is a woman who at one point when I barely knew her, held me in her arms as I wept like a baby over my impending divorce. She is now a regular in my daily thoughts. She lifts me up, she laughs and cries when appropriate and more than anything she helps me care for my Spirit. We have big work to do together.

poignant moment of the year-January 11, 2007, 11:00. "You are now divorced. " How on Earth the Universe arranged for it to be just Martin and I and a judge in a huge courtroom with him on his side of the aisle and me on mine, not another soul to witness the dissolution of marriage, I will never know. Poignant, painful beyond words. It was done. His beautiful sad face, the river of tears that was heaving my chest and this perky little blonde judge who doesn't know us from Adam declared it done. It will stay with me forever, the day I divorced that man. The significance of the date and time indicate New Beginnings, it didn't feel it at the time but as I approach a new January 11 I can see my growth, and his. New beginnings, indeed.

movie-This is hard because I don't love movies so I will go with the one that has affected the entire world: The Secret. I have long been a believer in the law of attraction. I have known its power. The makers of this movie have done many people a great service in teaching the power of your personal thoughts.

book of the year-Two choices: Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker...excellent for changing the way you handle your money thoughts and money actions. Fascinating and powerful, it affects every day now. Secondly, and I still have about 50 pages to read: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I know, I know, I was a little slow getting on the band wagon for this one and now that I have it in hand I stand ON TOP of the band wagon singing the praises for this book. See, I AM Liz Gilbert. She nailed it in the introduction when she discusses her marriage. From that point I was hooked. She nailed it when she discusses her views on religion/spirituality. She nailed ME when she was not letting go of her control issues. Se nailed me when she describes her miserable failings at meditation and how frustrated she became with it. And oh, when she described the pizza in Naples, well, that's just too personal to discuss here.

dining experience of the year-The Old Post Office Cafe, Mt. Vernon, Maine. A tiny converted postoffice on the shore of a serene lake. The specials are posted on the huge blackboard behind the counter. Grab a breakfast burrito, Carpe Diem coffee and sit on the screened-in porch while you mingle with the townies. Heaven in a wheat wrap.

vacation of the year-VAY-CAY-SHUN, heard of it before. Haven't done it in years however I did take a lovely day trip to Belfast which I posted about.

learning experience of the year-Letting Go seemed to be the theme for 2007. Can I just say I failed miserably?! I think I will take it on again for like, say, three months. I have released some things on the earthly level but my spirit has been gripping these same things with white knuckles saying "NOOOOOOOO, don't leave me" therefore keeping this heavy baggage shackled to my life. It is being whispered in my ear continuously, "Let go". And damn, I am trying!

acknowledge people I met-This is easier. Jes Berry, Leah, Heidi, Melba, Mindy, Angela, Tori, Lauri Gilcrest, Debba, Kat Logan, Jim, Heartwood College students (too numerous to mention, all wonderful people)

people I released-Have we discussed this already? Not good at this. How about if I say I did release at least a handful of people, I won't tell you their significance, I will just say their names so that it is written out of my soul: Sheri, Roland, Carrie, Denise, Reynald...

when joy seemed prevalent-each and every time I drive/drove to Kennebunk to my school. My Happy Place. It washed over me like a thick, sweet honey. My whole being just relaxed and all of my "issues", as I will politely call them, sat in the back seat of my car strapped in with duct tape over their mouths. No problems, no worries, no nothing until I was done my day of art school. Without fail as I got in my car I could see him. Issues. There he was, wriggling and wrangling himself out of his carseat and peeling the duct tape off his big mouth, ready and eager to invade my thoughts. "DAMN YOU!" I protested right out loud, "next time you're riding in the trunk."

Okay, there it is. Now you do it. There is more to this writing prompt and I will offer it up next week. Go ahead and link to my post if you end up deciding to try this.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, beautiful 2008. Dance, my friends, just dance.

Be Authentic...

This is a series titled Authenticity. Watercolor paper as my canvas. Acrylic, chalk, effy stuff, you know, mixed media. Two things happened that made me think about being authentic. It went like this.



I was thinking of how to gift my young teenage friends at Heartwood College of Art. There are four of them and they have made such an impression on my heart. I am den mother. That's what they call me. They ask my opinion. We have deep discussions, I buy them chocolate.



"What could I do" I kept asking myself "They are all so different." Take Anna for example. Her hair is pink, purple, green, blue and maybe even brown. I don't know what color her real hair is, she loves to add spark to her hair. She loves the movie the Labryinth and loves to swear.



JoAnna has hair that reaches her bum. She has huge brown eyes and a beautiful smile. She attends church faithfully, speaks softly and carefully. She's gentle and focused and accepts everyone.



Nathaniel is a spark! He's done every drug known to man and is a walking pharmacologist. He admits to his downfalls and he is stressed out a LOT for someone his age. He is convinced of his short time here on earth and he is a DOLL!! He won my heart almost in the first hour I met him. His pain reminds me of someone close to me. And I can't forget that he's a poet, too.



Desaraie is just so sweet, the face of a little fairy. "I'm not gonna lie" she said on the first day "I can't draw." She is going to school for photography but her heart is with her many pets. The dog, the fish, the cat. Oh her tender heart and her lazy boyfriend have taught me tons.



See, they're different these kids, and I want them to know that different is good. I want them to stay different, keep their qualities even when the world says they shouldn't. It's hard sometimes because you just want to fit in but really now, how do you put a square peg in a round hole? I wish someone had told me how to keep my authenticity. I am just now returning to myself.



In honor of my friends in color and design. I love you.

11 x 14...different is good.

The next two came to be in this way:

I've had a few days off now and am still absorbing the new energy from my spiritual retreat. Yesterday I spent a little bit of time on the net checking my horoscope etc. I went to check Celia Fenn's monthly report of the energies for this month as well. She had a message about the request to be authentic. It was a detailed account of how good it is for your soul and how to go about it. The words touched me. It was what I needed to hear.

Living in small town America can really squelch a persons growth. When people glance at you sideways and then lift their hand to cover their whispers it cuts deep and steals from you. I have always felt different and finally when I decided to just be me the whispering began. It's a struggle that I want to win.

Below are two paintings based on the information from the message of Celia Fenn.

Don't Resist the Flow, 10" x 10", mixed media

You Don't Need to Fit In, 10" x 10", mixed media

Then it was on to fimo fun. I made covered bobby pins, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and MORE! Now I just have to package them.

And then....
Okay, so I don't generally end my entries with a giNORMOUS picture of my face, but here I am in all my authentic glory. Heh heh. I woke up happy and willing to just go with the flow.

I slipped out of my pink polka dot jammies (did you have any doubt about my bed attire?) into some jeans a smart black t-shirt and my favorite denim-go-to-studio overshirt. I donned the new earrings I made and embellished the overshirt with a pink fimo pin. The hair, she called for ponytails and I was thrilled to discover my hair has gr0wn enough to comply.

HERE I AM WORLD! Authentically me. Silly. Quirky. Unusually happy (considering). Still sporting blue eyes and adding crows feet and laugh lines daily.



Tam I am. Huh, whooda thunk it?



Learn your place in the dance of life and go with the flow. Be authentic.

Fluffy Stuff-just for funsies!

For you my bloggy friends. Isn't this hand and paintbrush image so cool? I was about to use it this morning when I thought of you. Maybe she'd like one of these, says I. I answered myself, Yes, she would. So have at it. Use this wherever your lil' heart desires. Click. Copy. Paste. Glue. Glitter.

Think of me when this you see. He he he.





This is the front of my 2008 datebook. No more expensive datebooks for me. I took a freebie at the bank, covered its logo with my stickers, added pretty scrapbooking tabs to divide it to my liking and VOILA (btw~that's French for voila)....my 2008 life in a book.

The next pix is the back of the book, a gentle reminder: Life Life. If Kelly Rae can put her life schedule on big yellow posterboard then so can I!! If Mindy and Leah can design their own journal/datebook/lifebinder then so can I!!

I'm feeling kind of silly today. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and man-oh-man it is amazing!! When life clicks, the cogs match up, the steam starts pouring out and life takes a sharp right turn that sets you off in a new direction suddenly the air seems fresher, the colors seem brighter and oddly enough even my coffee tastes better (impossible!)

Blogging is good.

Group hug now.

Muah!

I'm off to school.

Off to see the wizard...

It popped into my head so I entered it as a title. I'm off tomorrow to hang with Jes, Leah, Mindy, Heidi and maybe Susan. I think it will be so wonderful! In the meantime great gratitudes to the Beautiful Mystery for the following wonders in my life:

• my 19 year old son and his new found wings, please join me in blessing his virgin flight into the real world... go danny go.
• my sweet 17 year olds first month at a new school during her last year of public education...shake on, miss muffet.
• a dear friend who has become my rock, how lucky for me, heavy for her that she is a counselor and is able to help me through some truly difficult times and still we find for laughing and learning...bless you, rhonda!!
• R...delicious smelling, handsome, kind & gentle & understanding, and deep voice that makes my tummy flip when I hear it
• Art...madness ensues and always there is the creative spark to soothe me, calm me, & help me lose myself in "the process", some great pieces have developed.
• my bed...always i am amazed at the comfort i feel as i fall into the loft of my mattress. i am never too proud to shout "I LOVE BED!" The days are long and the nights are short, so in my house you'd hear this quite a lot.

All is well and all is well, and all in time will be well.

*sigh*

And oh, Heartwood College of Art begins Tuesday...art history, color I and jewelry making.

A Little Spark of Madness

We are given only a little spark of madness. We musn't lose it.
Robin Williams




Words to live by, don't you think? If only people understood me more. Does anyone else out there struggle with the fact that you stand in your own power? That your spark of madness, your ache to be who you know you are inside of yourself, is too much for the rest of the world to take...


I always thought that saying less was saying more. You probably don't think so after my last really long post, but for me, the excitement of last weekend overtook me and I wanted, nay, NEEDED to share the love. Today I learned that by not sharing personal information regarding a painful experience I had that people who were closest to me have made judgements against me. I thought by sparing people of the gory details, my side of the story, they would appreciate my desire to keep my personal business personal. Not so. It's disheartening but doesn't tear me apart.


I am loving people from a distance, in my heart, without speaking I am asking them for forgiveness. I am recognizing that anything I experience, no matter how ugly, is mine to own. Madness? Maybe. I believe in the goodness of humans. We falter. We all just do.


I am a renegade dreamer, full of power. Artist extrodinairre. Ex-wife. Mother. Friend. Teacher. Blogger.

**The picture is from my restaurant in the 1940's or 1950's. Feel free to print and use it in your art. I am fortunate to have many people drop off old pictures of this place. The three ladies photographed were some orginal waitstaff members.

Riding High with Jewelry, Belfast and Music

I have been riding high on life. So much good is going on that I may actually be glowing. I will recap the last few days so you can have a taste of the sweetness.

• Thursday night, 7/12 good friend Scott King, an amazing musician, came to play a couple of sets at the cafe. He brought his folksy/bluesy music to a head playing some of my favorite tunes that he wrote himself. He stayed late as we laughed and shared beers. (Yes, beers, there can't be any shame in that.)
• Friday the 13th...I ate a lovely breakfast at the restaurant, read some blogs and then hit the road for Whitefield, Maine's own Plenty to Do Farm aka Jes Berry's house. Jes had e-mailed directions re-routing me because of road construction. We were so amazed to discover we are a mere 50 minutes away from one another. WOOO HOOO.

I unloaded my pathetic supply of jewelery making thingy ma bobs, a couple of my own art pieces to share, my LifeWater (pomegrante and cherry, mmmmmm), and the cell unit. After a brief tour of her adorable 1800's farmhouse we sat in the newly added sunroom and got busy.

Let me say that Jes's home is lovely. Very comfy and welcoming. She has a lovely sense of style and a knack for hostessing. I felt very at home not only because of her personality but because her color schemes are exactly what I live(d) in. Mustard, sage, painted wood....ahhhhhhhh. And as I was perusing the place I spotted an original Kelly Rae piece. Art envy ensued. But I digress...

• Jes generously and patiently showed me some of the ins and outs of Diamond Glaze, wire wrapping and jump ring making. I, in return, showered her living room with clippings of wire thrown by my cheesy wire cutters. It was hilarious and a tad dangerous.
• Rudy her lovely aging dog, drooled and teased me all day with an empty water bottle. I think she felt my love of animals. Dakota, Rudy's buddy lay quietly in the corner whilst the kitty, I forget her name rolled around the living space.
• I managed to make this necklace called Laugh. It's heavy and a bit itchy but it was my first and I am proud of it. Thank you so much, Jes!! I headed home at 3:30.

Saturday morning was a beauty so a special friend who I'll call R thought we ought to hit the coast. So off we went to Belfast a beautiful diverse town rated one of the top ten in the country for its culteral options. We first crossed the big bridge into Searsport where we went to Moose Point State Park to walk the trails and beach, then attended a small used book store where I picked up a French and Danish encyclopedia for a friend who is having surgery this week. Odd gift, I know, don't ask (he loved it). Because we didn't have the kids with us we bypassed the famous Perry's Nut House knowing we'd be back another time with them in tow. When we got hungry we pulled into Main Street, Belfast and chose to eat al fresco at Dockside's Restaurant. A nice, family oriented, award winning restaurant with great views of town and the ocean. It was getting late so we headed home so I could help with the dinner rush and close the cafe.

Sunday the 15th...The morning was a little dull. I had a mongo thick feeling in my head from lack of sleep (new moon problem for me) so I took a nap from 1:-3:30. It was deliciously naughty and a total treat to sleep in the midafternoon. Anyway. When I arose I made a yummy potato & asparagus salad with honey-mustard dressing for the evenings festivities.

My chariot arrived at 5:30 with R at the reigns. We were invited to a private house concert. The headliner? Pierce Pettis. Neither of us brought directions. Since R has a way of losing information I carefully removed the written directions from his care two weeks ago. Lo and behold I lost the directions...he he he OOPS. Anyway, Spirit was watching because as we were looking rather foolish on the side of the road wondering which way to go R suggested we just start taking each of the side roads until we found the right house. First road on the left and *BLING* (is that the sound of that magic makes?) there we are, front and center, at the address we needed. JOY!!

The home of the couple sponsoring the concert was so stunning. 100' from the most beautiful lake water stood a massive yet tasteful home. What a blessing. The sausages were grilling, I donated my potato and asparagus salad and cracked open a beer. R and I sunk into being ourselves, no masks, just us at our best.

We took second row seats set for a group of 40 people. Scott King opened with a four song set. As you know, I hear Scott sing alot, but this day he was at the top of his game. I was so happy and proud of him. His wife Shauna was there to share in his glory, too. Scott, who had helped arrange the Pierce Pettis concert then introduced Pierce and the party began.

Picture this: a skinny, nerdy looking guy with glasses and curly salt and pepper hair wearing a Guiness Beer t-shirt under a plaid short sleeved button up with jeans and sneaks. EEEE GADS...can this man reallyl be the magical musical genious I've been told of???? Holy Hannah~when this man started playing his guitar and using his vocalsI could have burst into tears. His story-telling folksy/bluesy style completely knocked my socks off. I found myself swaying to the music, tapping my feet and knocking my fingers around. I couldn't sit still. The beautiful part was the spirituality that seeps into his lyrics. After his first set I looked at R and asked for the money to buy a CD, but he already had his wallet out and was headed to the table.

In between drinking tons of water Pierce enthralled the audience with stories about the songs and their history. He spoke of his Alabama childhood and his current life on the road. He sand a song he wrote for Garth Brooks titled "You Move Me" and there are several other big names that have sung his lyrics that I can't even remember.

The second set of tunes was melancholy. I found myself wanting to sob. He sand "Black Sheep Boy" and images of my 19 year old son went through my head as he warbled "i pray each night for your protection, my black sheep boy." Had Pierce Pettis met my son? And damn him if he didn't go on to sing "My Little Girl" singing how"You dance and twirl and twirl, always remember you are my little girl". I was choking back the tears, today as I remember the words to the songs I can cry, there is no R to watch and wonder.

I said to myself AMEN as Pierce finished the set with an old fast paced blues number that was once done on Bob Dylan's World Gone Wrong album. Pierce was completely taken over by the music. His body shook, his guitar was laughing and bouncing with giddiness and I was nearly taken over with the excitement of the song.

When it was all said and done and Pierce had done two standing ovations I was honored to share my thanks and praise of his music. I aquired an autograph and left the party grinning. During the music I saw a whole collaged piece go through my head, the setting, the music, the scent of the place all done on one big canvas. I hope it comes out as I sketched it in my journal. I will call it Pierce.

So there it is. Life is good. Music. R. Belfast. Jewelry making. There is so much I left out of this post that I can't even put to words about the past weekend I will leave the rest to your own imaginations. I hope I haven't over-shared and at the same time I hope I have inspired you enough to look into the music of Piece Pettis and Scott King, the jewelery making and teaching talents of Jes Berry and the cultural action of Belfast, Maine.

I sit here knowing I've been blessed.

I'm reading and writing and working and doing the art thing. Life is good and full right now. I'm blessed beyond words to feel so inspired. Hmmm, inspired...good word...inspiration is Divine's way of speaking to us. When we are inspired things fall into place, everything is right where it should be and all the right things happen, you just know it is 'meant to be'.



For me right now this means the right book that makes perfect sense, the conversation that happened at exactly the right time, the piece of mail with the right message. On and on I see the beauty of what the Universe is offering me, if only I accept and say Yes.



This past week I said yes to a book. Zero Limits by Joe Vitale and Dr. Hew Len speaks to me at all levels. Accepting total responsibility for EVERYTHING that appears in my life and then working to heal it makes my heart feel better. I want to heal. I want to be a leader and a teacher of healing. In order to do this I must set the example. Ho'oponopono is a Hawaiin method of healing that brings our souls back to a clean slate. It is a simple method and is deeply profound. I remain moved to tears at the depth of this learning.



This past week I said yes to healing. Divorce has left me weary. Myself, (ex)husband and children are hurting, but finally I see a light at the end of the tunnel. A shift has occurred in all of us and I can see that better days are ahead.



This past week I said yes to my future. I registered for my first three classes at college. I signed up for an all day conference on a subject that interests me. I have begun to look at moving to a new area of Maine.



The past week I said yes to me because if I don't love me then how can I expect you to love me?



ARTSY NOTE: I'm working on some fun stuff...two great little mixed media canvases and the darn necklaces are just about done.

And they laughed...

Okay, so I am not into Flickr yet. I don't own a decent camera. There I went...off to the Wish Studio event with a pathetic disposable thingy. Jes laughed shamelessly and told me to put it away, but not before I managed to get in a few shots...
I offer the following:


This is Leah, Melanie, Me and Jes outside the Red Brick building that Mindy has the Wish Studio space in. I think the brick arch is great! Thank you to the young gentleman wearing black who took our photo using my disposable camera!


Would you really let these two be alone in TJ Maxx?

BELOW: the one and only Miss Muffett goes to Prom...HEY, doesn't that sound like a Muppet movie title? And by the way that is the view I get at work every day from the cafe.

She's SOOOOOO purty! A Grecian Goddess.

Since I don't know how to move these pictures around you will have to bear with this. The photo below is of the mantel at my rental house. It holds three pieces of art I did recently. I posted it to prove to you that I really actually do work in my makeshift studio.

The picture below this one is of Miss Muffet and her Blue Weimeraner, Otto. Isn't he gorgeous. I meant SHE, isn't she gorgeous. NO, WAIT! I mean THEM. "THEM" ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Oh, that was fun...sharing. *sigh* I will be out for a bit and won't be posting till next week sometime unless I turn agressive and do the meme I was tagged for by Leah. I may do that on Friday, we'll see. Till then my friends, stay tuned in , tapped in, turned on. And...

... listen to the breeze at dawn, it has secrets to tell, do NOT go back to sleep.

Just So You Know...

I'm going to keep things short and sweet for a little while so I can catch my breath. Summertime is so busy with the cafe plus my own mini-vacation coming up. I've been cranking out some art, hanging loose a bit and a mish mash of other things. Here's a synopsis:

• Evan Almighty...worth seeing! In certain parts I couldn't stop giggling. Real fun.
• The Jazz Singer...okay not THE jazz singer but A jazz singer came to the cafe on Friday and man did she belt out some beautiful tunes. She had the entire cafe in the palm of her hands, what a joy to watch (and listen to).
• Necklaces...I finished up a bunch of the necklaces from the previous post.
• Freeport...I took a side trip to Freeport on Saturday to go to the bead shop for a little tammy time. I got some gorgeous rose luster chezk glass beads for some future something or other. I selected some lovely pale green vintage glass beads for Miss Muffet. They will match her eyes perfectly.
• Paola Nutini's Last Request...the newest song I can't hear enough of.
• Simplified Kabala by Ted Andrews...I'm open to reading anything and everything. I should have been a theology major. This book is a primer for the heavier stuff. I am really wanting to know more on Kabala and will take a class on it soon.
• Gritty McDuff's in a cold glass...need I say more?
• The Red Sox...whilst wearing an Ortiz t-shirt.

Maybe that doesn't sound like a lot but add work and painting in there and you have a full day.

TONIGHT...Spaghetti and Meat Squares. Who said meatballs have to be round? It is the family joke that I never masterd meatBALLS and now I make a pan of meatloaf, cut it up and they are meat SQUARES, add some marinara and 'sketti....delish. Company is coming, gotta get out my best paper napkins. Anyone wanna join?