Water Blossoms

"Take a Peek..."

2012-01-21T21:24:00.000-08:00

..at my latest W.I.P...Work In Progress.

I have joined in on another Moleskine Exchange

but this time it is at Illustrated ATCs.

It will be an 8 way artist exchange of

the small Japanese fold Moleskine sketchbooks.

Each book will have its own theme chosen by

each individual artist.

The theme I have chosen is

"El Dia de los Muertos"...

more commonly known in English as

The Day of the Dead...a Mexican folk festival celebrated

the first couple of days of November.

My book will honor the spirit of the lives of those

who have gone before me

and will include many of the traditional Mexican

artifacts and symbols

(such as sugar skulls, calavera catrinas, and offerendas)

associated with this

unique fall celebration.

My due date for mailing is February 1st...

so if I am not around blogland for the next week or so

you know exactly what I am doing.

I am really excited to share the progress of this

art exchange with you throughout the coming year.

I should have my own book back

by mid October...just in time

to celebrate this festive Mexican holiday.

A Forest of Tree ATCs...

2012-01-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

..."Faerie Dusted"...
..."Ancient Arms"...

..."Fuji Sentinel"...

and ..."Misted Mountain Moonlight"...

All painted and ready to mail to Canada for

the February ATC Tree Swap

at Illustrated ATCs.

"I frequently tramped eight or ten miles

through the deepest snow

to keep an appointment

with a beech-tree,

a yellow birch,

an old acquaintance among the pines."

~Henry David Thoreau

"Nothing Much..."

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

...beats a night time walk

under a full moon in the Arizona desert...

especially in January.

Ahhhhhhh!

And...

BTW...Have a happy "Cactus Monday" all!

"The night

walked down the sky with the moon

in her hand."
~Frederic Lawrence Knowles

Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant [1 of 3]

2012-01-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Although she talks really fast...this is TOTALLY fascinating...:)

"Yesterday..."

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

...was the day all the

"Lights went out in Georgia"

...um...

I mean Surprise, Arizona, that is.

Sad, but true...Christmas festivities are but

a mere memory now...

especially

with the unseasonably warm

"spring break" like temps in the upper 70's

we are having.

All the outdoor lights have now been

carefully packed away.

Time for the pool!

Ahhh...Winter in the desert...what a treat!

"Fresh and Frosty..."

2012-01-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

...a card from my "Winter Heart" ATC series

entitled

"Winter Berries and Snow Flower"

as my first post of 2012.

♥

And...

I am STILL working up my 2012 resolutions...go figure!

"How soon 'not now' becomes 'never'."
~Martin Luther

"At the Stroke of Midnight..."

2011-12-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

... I wish you

the beginning of year filled with beauty...

peace...and serenity.

Farewell, 2011.

"The object of a new year

is not that we should have a new year.

It is that we should have

a new soul.”
~ G. K. Chesterton

"Some Desert Moonglow..."

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

...for my mom on her birthday...today! ♥

With love from...

Susan, David, Joya, & Jillian...

Jack, Sharon,

Vanessa, Lauren, Steve, & Myles...

Mark, Katie,

Christopher, Courtney, & Corey...

and

Scott & me.

“God could not be everywhere,

and therefore

he made mothers.”
~Rudyard Kipling

HAPPIEST of BIRTHDAY wishes

to you, too, JAN...

my dear, dear friend! ♥

"Let the Trading Begin..."

2011-12-28T00:57:00.000-08:00

Well...

I am off and running

in another Illustrated ATC swap adventure

which will go for the next 5 days!

Whew!

I really don't know though if I can give this one away...

she is on of my "faves" thus far.

I call her

"Tree of Life: Swirled Starlight"...

my touchstone to the cosmic universe.

*sigh*

"When your heart is filled with love...

you will experience

the Divine

in the entire cosmos.”
~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

"Merry Christmas..."

2011-12-25T23:34:00.000-08:00

...from my family...to yours.

♥

“Other things may change us...

but we start and end

with family.”
~Anthony Brandt

"This Magical Eve..."

2011-12-24T00:27:00.000-08:00

...may your day be sprinkled with spiritual joy...

and nestled in moments of

serenity and peace.

I wish each of you a happy heart...

a joyful soul...

and

memories softly twinkling with smiles.

"Christmas

waves a magic wand over this world,

and behold,

everything is softer and more

beautiful."

~Norman Vincent Peale

Tree Rings...

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

...and starlit snowy branches,

a hearty, yet magical, winter solstice combination.

"Winter

is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and

for a talk beside the fire...

it is the time for

home."

~Edith Sitwell

"The State of the Weather..."

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

in Arizona:

soaking rains here in the desert valley...

and SNOW

in the higher mountainous elevations

around Flagstaff and along the Mogollon rim

with

24+ inch accumulation totals

predicted from just yesterday and today.

Winter is definitely here!

Brrr!

How To Be Alone

2011-12-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

I found this on my friend Lisa's Facebook page. It is simply delightful and full of love. Enjoy! :)

There Always Seems To Be..."

2011-12-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

...something around to draw...

while sitting around waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

for "this or that"!

The fire extinguisher was drawn lead free...

ink straight in...

(which explains the wonkiness of it)

at the gate.

The swirls and botanical bits were drawn

in flight...

after awakening from a long snooze.

(Note departure time...yawn!)

Color was added back in Arizona.

"A new idea is delicate.

It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn;

it can be stabbed to death by a joke

worried to death

by a frown on the right person's brow."

~Charles Brower

"Sending Some Desert Love..."

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

...your way.

May your artistic Muse be energized...

and

your heart sparkle with thanks.

Have a most rewarding Thanksgiving Day!

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart."

~Seneca

"Being Thankful.."

2011-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

for those "little" things in life.

I found this on a friend's post on Facebook.

It is filled with exquisite, breathtaking photography...

and worth every second of viewing.

So grab a cuppa,

turn up the sound, then sit back and enjoy.

Thanks, Caroline...

♥

"I would maintain

that thanks are the highest form of thought,

and

that gratitude is happiness doubled

by wonder."
~G. K. Chesterton

"I Love Rust..."

2011-11-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

...and things with

coppery green patinas and creaky handles.

Things that are so loving worn

and filled to the brim with silent storied lives

touch my heart.

Hmmm...wait a minute...

I could very well be describing myself!

♥
“A determined soul

will do more with a rusty monkey wrench

than a loafer

will accomplish with all the tools

in a machine shop.”
~Robert Hughes

Remembering...

2011-11-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

...my Uncle Al...

who passed away over 50 years ago..

this day.

Some days, I feel he has never left me.

“May you never forget what is worth remembering,

nor

ever remember what is best

forgotten.”
~Irish Blessing

"Seasonal Fabric Design..."

2011-11-15T23:49:00.000-08:00

...inspired from an ad I saw

this summer in Chicago magazine.

Drawn ink straight in...

and flipped into the negative format with

Microsoft Digital Editor.

Looks like a snowy branch...doesn't it?

Hmmm...

a rather an appropriate flip

(if I do say so myself)

as it is almost the winter season

and

I am just now posting

this quirky little summer drawing...

LOL :)

"To be interested in the changing seasons

is a happier state of mind

than to be hopelessly in love

with spring."
~George Santayana

Drawn Lead Free...

2011-11-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

...without glasses on...

while waiting in a doctor's office this summer.

And, yes, it's another

from my "backtracking" vault of illustrated memories.

“The supreme accomplishment

is to blur the line between work and play.”
~Arnold Toynbee

"Backtracking..."

2011-11-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

...in an attempt to catch up...

with all my summer journal drawings

I am ready for new art

for the holidays!

This was drawn "ink straight in"...lead free...

while awaiting an

optometry appointment this summer back in Illinois.

This was my view

from where I was seated in the waiting room.

I actually added watercolor just about a week later...

then

flipped it into the "negative" with Microsoft Digital Editor

a few seconds ago

and finally posted it just now...

almost 4 months

later.

Backtracking...at its finest!

"Never forget

the power of silence,

that massively disconcerting pause

which

goes on and on

and may at last induce an opponent

to babble and backtrack

nervously."
~Lance Morrow

"Yeeuup...Some More..."

2011-11-03T22:33:00.001-07:00

A "Cosmic Offerenda" (altar)...
...a tribute to "Pink Warrior" women...

..."Hera"...

..."Persephone"...

...and, finally, "Bones, Braids, and Bling"

...Dia De Los Muertos art.

I made and traded 25 such themed cards

last weekend

during Illustrated ATCs online

Halloween artathon.

(If you like...you can check them out

by simply clicking on the pomegranate heart

graphic on my side bar.)

My Muse has a serious addiction to these...

but...

I seriously think it's about time

to move on. :)

"Just cause you got the monkey off your back

doesn't mean the circus

has left town."
~George Carlin

"In Celebration..."

2011-11-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

...of loved ones who have gone before us.

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos)

is a Mexican holiday

celebrated throughout Mexico

and around the world in many cultures.

Here in the desert southwest United States

it is a very popular holiday indeed.

The holiday focuses

on gatherings of family and friends

to pray for

and remember loved ones

who have died.

In Mexico it is like a national holiday.

The celebration takes place on November 1–2,

in connection with

the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1)

and All Souls' Day (November 2).

Traditions connected with this holiday

include building private altars

honoring the deceased using sugar skulls,

marigolds,

and the favorite foods and beverages.

It also includes

visiting the graves of the departed

with these as gifts.

♥

During the next several days I will be sharing

with you some of my own

Dia De Los Muertos art cards

as well as some photos of offerendas (altars)

made by professional artists

as part of a Dia de Los Muertos

celebration at the Desert Botanical Gardens

in Phoenix.

They were so beautiful and soulful...

they actually took my breath

away.

"Woo Hoooo!...50 Years...!"

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Wishing all our friends, neighbors, and family

a super fantastic time

at the

50th Anniversary celebration

of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival this weekend

in the beautiful (used to be) small town of

Sycamore, Illinois.

(Festival photos can be viewed here.)

Be sure to

enjoy every single second...every minute of the parade,

every pork chop sandwich,

slice of pumpkin pie, and cup of hot chocolate too!

Mmmm...life is indeed good!

Wish we could be there to party with you. :)

♥

“The nice part about living in a small town

is that when you don't know what you're doing...

someone else does.”

~Author unknown

"On The Road Again..."

2011-10-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

...in my sketchbook...

but this time back in Arizona

travelling between Wickenburg to Wikieup...

en route to Las Vegas Nevada.

(...flipped here just cuz I haven't done it in a long time! )

Lots of boulders, Joshua trees,
and beautiful, bold iron-red buttes decorated

our asphalt passage northwest!

Whew!

Do I have a lot of catching up to do!

“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”
~Chinese Proverb

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."

~Jeff Candido and Jason Hoff

...advertising slogan

written for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

2002

In Memoriam...

2011-10-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

"Your time is limited,

so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma-

which is living with the results of other people's

thinking.

Don't let the noise of other's opinions

drown out your own inner voice.

And most important,

have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They

somehow already know

what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary."
~Steve Jobs

1955-2011

"Oh, Happy Day..."

2011-10-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

October 2nd, 1945

they were wed at Alameda Naval Air Station

just outside San Francisco.

Tonight we celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary

complete with cream puffs...(it's a long story)

We love you Mom and Dad...:)

Oh happy day, indeed!

"Our wedding was many years ago.

The celebration continues to this day."

~Gene Perret

"Happy October..."

2011-10-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

...my most favorite month of the year! :)

"There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir,

We must rise and follow her;

When from every hill of flame,

She calls and calls each vagabond by name.”
~William Bliss Carman

"Heading Back Home..."

2011-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

"There is nothing like
returning to a place that remains unchanged...
to find the ways
in which you yourself have altered.”
~Nelson Mandela

"Happy Sunday..."

2011-09-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

from me to you. :)

It's an overcast, rainy, 57 degree Sunday here in

Sycamore, Illinois.

Some may consider it dreary...but...

to this Arizona girl it is a

perfect prelude to the coming of fall.

It is

a day for warm cozy fireplaces, baking oatmeal cookies,

and having good one-on one time

with my artistic Muse.

Add some take out Chinese sesame chicken for dinner

and the day is complete.

Our past week here has been filled with

visiting apple orchards, walking through pumpkin patches,

playing in corn mazes

and even strolling through a Christmas tree farm.

Fresh apple cider and apple cinnamon donuts have

topped off almost every trip.

I absolutely LOVE this time of year to pieces...

fall is my most favorite season of all.

I feel blessed

to be able to experience even this small slice of it

midwest style...

before heading back to desert and her beauty

by the end of the month.

Our time in Illinois whooshed by so quickly this year.

It has really taken me by surprise...

as I left Arizona dragging my heels...dreading the blast of

humidity I knew was inevitable here.

I sit and marvel at the fact

that I now feel I may be dragging my heels going back to Arizona!

Funny, isn't it?

My blog posts have been few and far between this trip...

sorry 'bout that.

I suppose that is normal when

changing and readjusting one's daily habits occurs.

I thank those of you

who still come back for visits either daily...

or every now and then.

I have lots of art to share...and I promise I will do so...

soon...:)

“Shut the door...
not that it lets in the cold...but that it lets out
the coziness.”
~Mark Twain

"Sweet Serenity..."

2011-09-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

...the last of my "Sensitive Floral" series of this summer.

Happy Blooming Tuesday...

and

Happy Belated Birthday to my niece Courtney!!

Love you! XO

“Boredom is the feeling
that everything is a waste of time;
serenity,
that nothing is.”
~Thomas S. Szasz

"Reflections...A Repost..."

2011-09-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

like so many others,

remember exactly everything

about that fateful September morning in 2001

when

all of our "knowns" became "unknowns".

September 11th, 2001

started as routinely as any regular school day.

My lesson plan for social studies that day was to

introduce the concepts of

"Fact...Opinion...and Rumor..."

as part of understanding current events.

That is the absolute, unbelieveable, undeniable TRUTH!!!

I still get chills every time I think about it.

Needless to say,

during those seconds, and minutes, and hours

of that teaching day

and

throughout the infinite lessons and journal entries

and broken hearts, and tears, and the thousands of questions

of those days that followed ...

undeniably was one of the most powerfully moving and

spiritually inspiring

moments of my entire teaching career.

I remember that day as if it were yesterday...

it is crystal clear in my heart.

My personal memories of it are wrenching and raw

yet paradoxically serene and filled with hope.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is very special.

I was a privilege that day to be a teacher.

I dedicate this post to the memory of those souls lost that day...

and

to the junior high students who were in my classes then...

and

to Matt, my team teaching partner,

who "held my hand" throughout it all.

I wish you peace...

Remember...Every day REALLY does matter.

"Back To My Moleskine..."

2011-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

...after spending an exhilarating, and also exhausting,

Labor Day weekend

making & swapping 25 artist trading cards

at Illustrated ATCs.

So...now I guess it's time that I had better

"SNAP" to...cuz my Muse is really a "DRAGGIN' ".

Get it? Snap...draggin'???)

Hehheheh hahahah! :)

Yeah...I know...that was totally lame...:)

“Through humor,

you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers.

And once you find laughter,

no matter how painful your situation might be,

you can survive it.”
~Bill Cosby

"The Gathering..."

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

...posted today in honor of the large gathering of artists

at Illustrated ATCs this weekend

for the 3 day 2011 Labor Day Weekend Artathon!

Pop over for a peek in our gallery!

Just click here!

Wheeeeeeee!

"True wisdom
lies in gathering the precious things out of each day
as it goes by.”
~Author unknown

My Entries...

2011-09-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

...for the 2011 "I Love Japan" swap at Illustrated ATCs.

First, a Gion Matsuri Festival Lantern...
...followed by a "Cherry Blossom Geisha"...
then, an "Uchiwa Flat Fan"...

and finally, an "Uchiwa Folded Fan"..."

“Do not follow the ideas of others,
but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.
Your body and mind will become clear
and
you will realize the unity of all things.”
~Dogen
Japanese Buddhist monk and philosopher
1200-1253

"Curtain Call..."

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

...for the last Blooming Tuesday post of this August.

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others.
We are all children of chance
and none can say why some fields will blossom
while others
lay brown beneath the August sun.
Care for those around you.
Look past your differences.
Their dreams are no less than yours,
their choices
no more easily made.
And give,
give in any way you can, of whatever you possess.
To give is to love.
To withhold is to wither.
Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared
and
your life will have meaning
and
your heart will have peace.”
~Kent Nerburn

"A Zen Batik..."

2011-08-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

...painted with Daniel Smith's magical iridescent sapphire

watercolor.

Tilt it one way and it reads a soft blueish violet

with a rich satiny sheen.

Tilt it the other way...

and it takes on a glowing, sparkling-rich, deep sapphire color.

When digitally scanned

the magic vaporizes and the color become flat and stormy gray.

Such is life, sometimes.

I wish my family and friends on the eastern seaboard

a speedy recovery from any damage

suffered from Irene.

May the palette of your skies and coastlines return to

the sparkly sapphire of summer.

“Never cut a tree down in the wintertime.
Never make a negative decision in the low time.
Never make your most important decisions
when you are in your worst moods.
Wait.
Be patient.
The storm will pass.
The spring will come.”
~Robert H. Schuller

"A Sky Visitor..."

2011-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

...back for a second blog visit.

What???

Another repeat, you ask??? Why???

Well...

I have been making art like crazy...and have lots to share....

BUT...(here come the excuses)

my nemesis, lately, has been my Illinois scanner

and now, a current bout with

a bit of the lazy summertime blues, blahs, and blehs.

Kids

are back to school today in Sycamore...

Hobby Lobby

has Christmas stuff on display...

and

I feel like I fell through a time warp...

What in the world has happpened to August???

Maybe

that sky visitor had something to do with it!

That's my story...I'm stickin' to it.

“Ninety-nine percent of the failures
come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”
~George Washington

"Sensational..."

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

...another card in my whimsical "sensitive floral" series...:)

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

The simplification of anything is always sensational.”
~G. K. Chesterton

"Some Subtle, Soft..."

2011-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

...Summer-Sunday Zen.

These branches are part of a much larger imaginary

"Tree of Life"

which magically sprouted in my Muse's mind

the beginning of this month.

I think she may have had a bit of an autumnal

breath or two in her spirit as well.

I know I most certainly do...
I am totally ready!

"I like trees because
they seem more resigned to the way they have to live
than other things do."
~Willa Cather, 1913

"Visiting My Brother..."

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

...today for my annual dental checkup.

This illo was drawn ink straight in..."lead free"

in my Illinois sketchbook just about three years ago

and posted on my blog

shortly thereafter.

I thought she deserved a repost today.

Guess we'll have to wait and see how my artistic Muse

actually interprets today's visit.

Maybe another illo might be in the works...:)

"Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable
than a diamond."
~Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

"An Ivy Geranium..."

2011-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

...a perfect bit of a virtual house warming gift

for my dear friend Jan.

Can't wait to see your new place and hear all your stories!

Soon...it must be soon! :)

"The ornaments of your house
will be the guests who frequent it."
~Author Unknown

"Nothing Beats..."

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

...a golden full moon piercing the darkness

of a late summer's night.

She glows in my eyes and dances in my heart...

quite enchanting, indeed! :)

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset
or the beauty of the moon,
my soul expands in worship of the Creator.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

"Awaiting Dr. Chen..."

2011-08-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

...and viewing an eye chart from a whole new perspective.

“Language shapes the way we think,
and determines
what we can think about.”
~Benjamin Lee Whorf

"A Post From the Past...'

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

...with a potent and important application for me...today!

I MUST get busy

painting in my Illinois sketchbook...real soon.

Time spent here this summer

seems to be flying by at "break neck" speed.

At long last, yesterday, the humidity took a nose dive

and the weather became so

delightful and breezy we were able to open windows

and breathe in some yummy fresh air.

Hopefully,

this dry Canadian air mass will stick around for the

next few days...just

long enough for me to do some on site sketching.

Fingers and toes crossed!

“I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately,
extremely abstract.
No brush, no paint, no canvas...

I just think about it.”
~Stephen Wright

"For Anita..."

2011-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

...in love and friendship.

I hold you close in my thoughts and prayers.

I wish you peace.

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings
in heaven
where the love of our lost ones pours through
and
shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”
~Eskimo Proverb

"Line Dancing..."

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

...all throughout the day and all through the night...

in Summer Sunday Zen style!

“While I dance I cannot judge,

I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life.
I can only be joyful and whole.
That is why I dance.”
~Hans Bos

"Salvation Happened Today..."

2011-08-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

...with the unshackling of my purple coneflowers from their
smothering floral imprisonment!

This feat of strength was accomplished by Scott...
powered by his affinity for garden work
and fueled by
some tedious, labor-intensive work

digging up yards upon yards of overgrown and resistant
lily of the valley.
He was indeed a garden warrior!

For the last few years the lilies have assumed

the reigning monarchy

of my Illinois perennial garden

running rampant over almost anything in their way...

including the lawn,

the coneflowers,
the day lilies,
and the black eyed Susan's!

Today they have indeed met their match in Scott!

The drawing above

reappears here as a revival...all refreshed and renewed...

plucked from the sketchbook garden of
my previously posted art.

I thought it was fitting...especially today...

that she, too,

would once again stand with her real life sister...
free...unencumbered...and
all on her own. :)

“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
~Buddha

"Whew! I Have Decided..."

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

...that my Arizona lungs do not mix well with with this
soggy, supersaturated Midwest humidity.

Yesterday started off muggy...

I knew that immediately when I awakened

to find the outside windows

dripping wet

and fogged over. Geesch!

Then by 3:00 in the afternoon

the air temperature here in Sycamore, Illinois was

90 degrees...

the dewpoint was 81 degrees...

making the THI (Temperature Humidity Index)

feel like it was 108 degrees!

Say WHAAAAAT????? UGH!
We then ended the day
with a tornado warning and fast moving thunderstorms.

The temps have dropped a bit...but

it's still not time

to open the windows for fresh air.
All is now quiet...and somewhat settled

except

for the classical chatter of crickets

and

the drone of our faithful air conditioner.
Thanks,

but, NO THANKS!!!

This is not

what I expected of August in Illinois.

As of this writing

desert heat is by far more preferable to me.

My Muse decided to

drew her impression of my "sweltering lovliness"

as we were both held captive indoors...the entire day...

again!!!

Whewwwwwwww!!!

Just Sayin'! :)

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”
~Mark Twain

"An Encore View..."

2011-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

...to delight your Muse...reappearing here today as a bit of

Summer Sunday Zen.

“Nature has neither kernel nor shell;
she is everything at once.”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Meet Serendipity..."

2011-07-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

...another whimsical artist trading card from my

sensitive floral series.

When I started to draw her I had no idea or plan

of what she would look like.

Stroke after stroke...she simply appeared.

Such fun!

“Serendipity.

Look for something, find something else,

and realize that what you've found

is more suited to your needs

than what you thought you were looking for.”
~Lawrence Block

"Botanical Bits..."

2011-07-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

in my large moleskine sketchbook.

This summer,

inspired by the rich floral beauty of July in the midwest,

I have been practicing "drawing large"

in my "big girl" moleskine.

It is so freeing to sit and illustrate this way,

especially,

after all the ATC work with which I have involved myself

recently.

These illos are actually the groundwork for

a floral project I have envisioned in a beautifully hand made

Japanese fold sketchbook

I won from the multi-talented Caroline Soer

so many moons ago.

I am very exhilarated by this project.

Soon I will make my first inked mark in that

beautiful little book

and be off and running!

Stay tuned...:)

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

“The picture of a flower in a botanical book

is information;

its mission ends with our knowledge.

But in pure art it is a personal communication.

And therefore

until it finds its harmony in the depth of our personality

it misses the mark. ."

~Rabindranath Tagore

"The Art of Waiting..."

2011-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

...is the art of "cooling it."...the skill of dilly-dallying...

the choice of sticking around with a purpose.

The art of waiting

is the art of consciously pausing time

without knowing whatsoever what will happen next.

It is both the anticipation of a question and

the expectation of its answer.

It is a pregnant pause...

a lingering...

a wondering...a biding of time.

We can do this waiting, artfully, in silence...still and pensive...

or we can be more animated

and fidget...

or tap...or pace...or doodle...or wring our hands

with nervous energy.

We might just wait a minute...wait for hours...

or wait forever.

Sometimes we even "wait and see"...

or we wait

until we feel like we really can't wait one second longer!

We can hang around, hang out, hover over,

put on hold,

hold our horses...hold the phone...

hold on...

or, believe it or not,

often choose to hold absolutely everything!
Super humanly, we keep our shirt on, mark time, sit tight

while we simutaneously

lie in wait, lie low, and look forward to.

We might wait for...or wait on...

or wait until.

We might wait alone, or we can wait in a crowd...

or we might wait alone in a crowd.

We can wait at a bus stop...or wait for the mail...or wait by the phone.

We often wait until the second shoe falls...

or until the cows come home.

Some think they can wait until hell freezes over.

The art of waiting

can potentially paint away the painfulness of predicaments

and create a canvas of peace.

So...

may whatever it is you that might wait for today...

bring you

the answers you are looking for

or simply the

serenity you just might need.

“The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension

waiting to be struck.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Sunday Summer Zen...Regrowth..."

2011-07-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves;
otherwise we harden.”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"It's Still So Flippin' HOT..."

2011-07-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

...that I thought I would cool things down a bit with

a revisit of a digital flip...

flipped!

Now, how's that for double dippin' ! ;)

Stay cool my friends...

stay coooool!

“If you can't take the heat,
don't

tickle the dragon.”
~Anonymous

"The China Pattern..."

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

...on my bread plate

at the historic El Tovar Lodge

seductively enticed me to capture her in my Zen journal.

The El Tovar, opened in 1905, as a Harvey House

and

is picturesquely situated just a mere

twenty feet from south rim of the Grand Canyon.

The hotel is one of only a handful of Harvey House facilities

that are still in operation,

and

it is an wonderful example of

National Park Service Rustic architecture.

Our table, dressed in crisp white linens, was fireside.

(Ahhh...so romantic!)

Crystal glasses, white china, and silver flatware

sparkled in the sunlight.

It was like stepping back in time.

The room was quietly bustling with activity.

It was elegant, yet, familiar.

Lyrical sounds of various foreign languages

could be softly heard here and there.

Our table instantly became

a welcome, warm and cozy respite from

our hiking along the rim.

It was a

a place to linger...and imagine...and wonder...

about the stories of the travellers

who, decades before us,

sat in our very same places...and, like us,

came here to

enjoy the majesty and inspiration of the canyon beyond.

It was an amazing experience.

We wanted to stay and continue to soak it all in.

I just had to have something

to take back home with me as a remembrance.

Hence, this simple drawing.

She was drawn "ink straight in" (a bit wonky in places)

during our wonderful little lunch and,

by the date,

you can tell that it was made

last fall when we visited the Canyon.

I cannot believe it is just now that this piece

is seeing the light of day!

November seems like eons ago...

funny, how this drawing brings back memories

that feel like

they happened only yesterday!

Time certainly has her way with us!

"Faith is trust

in what the spirit learned
eons ago."
~B.H. Roberts

"Getting Emotional..."

2011-07-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing..."Sensitive"...

card #1 in my new whimsical floral ATC series.

I feel

I am just like her these days...

super sensitive and frail...suffering from

oppressive humidity, heat, swarms of bugs, and other

inevitable Midwest summertime penances.

They are sucking the life

out of my energy...

and are holding me captive in my own home!

At the present time, mid morning, here in corn country,

it is 88 degrees with a sultry dew point

of 81...Amazon jungle levels...

making it feel like a soggy wet 105!!!

Personally, if I am going to be hot and uncomfortable...

I prefer the arid heat and the

dusty brown

powerful haboobs of the desert southwest...

to this rainforest-like mugginess.

Unlike me...

my Muse is having a great time...being held captive inside

she is drawing up a storm of her own!

“We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure
without
being more sensitive to pain.”
~Alan Watts

"Wall Art..."

2011-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

..."Cactus Monday" style...

on display in the beautiful general reception area of the

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Upbeat and hopeful...is this

artistic expression of comfort, joy, and wellness.

These are

my wishes for each of you this day. :)

Click on any image to enlarge...:)

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake.”
~French Proverb

Some More "Sunday Summer Zen"...

2011-07-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

"The way is not in the sky.
The way
is in the heart.”

~Buddha

"From Start...To Finish..."

2011-07-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

My Moleskine in the Zentangle Moly_X_ 11 exchange...:)

A blank book...full pens...and an inspired Muse
awaiting their rendezvous with destiny.

My sign in pages...

My pages 1 and 2...

followed by my pages 3 and 4...:)
The medallion lifts in three layers and reads:
If...
"A dot is a line that went for a walk..."
(~Paul Klee)
then...
"A zentangle
is a garden of lines blooming in the mind's eye..."
a magical place where your Muse can
dance, glide and flourish
with delight!"
(~Me)

Following then,
are Cindy Michele's pages 5 and 6...

and Cindy's pages 7 and 8.

Next,
are Sandra's pages 9 and 10...

and Sandra's pages 11 and 12...

which, in turn
are followed by Jella's pages 13 and 14...

and Jella's pages 15 and 16.

Everything is beautifully interwoven.

Rounding out my book
are Lisa Rene's pages 17 and 18...

and Lisa's pages 19 and 20.

I have not yet determined if I will add additional pages

to my book.

Sadly, for unforeseen and unknown reasons

my book, thus far, it the only one

which

has completed the exchange and has returned home.

This is truly bittersweet.
Of grave concern is the whereabouts

and completion levels

of Sandra, Jella, and Lisa's books.

They have not made it past the second rotation.

We each hope and pray that

Cindy is well and that the books will once again fly free.

We have tried endlessly to make contact and resolve this dilemma.
Until then,
My Muse and I hold Cindy's book in safekeeping.

I cherish my book to pieces...she is a special irreplaceable treasure.
To Cindy, Sandra, Jella, and Lisa...
I am deeply grateful for the staggering beauty of your
intertwined artistic expressions
and
the countless hours of time spent by each of you
while you danced and glided and flourished with your artistic Muses
in my Moly.
You gals are the best!

“Life is inherently risky.
There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs,
and that is the risk of doing
nothing.”
~Denis Waitley

"Happy Birthday..."

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

...to my brother Mark and my sister Susan...born on this day

exactly two years apart...:)

May each of your days be decorated with joy

and be packed to the brim

with special moments that make your heart smile.

Love you both...Lots!

"To the outside world
we all grow old...
But not to brothers and sisters.
We know each other as we always were.
We know each other's hearts.
We share private family jokes.
We remember family feuds and secrets,

family griefs and joys.
We live outside the touch of time."
~Clara Ortega

"Thistles and Spikes..."

2011-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

This bit of a botanical illo began
in the upper left quadrant of my moleskine page

as a migraine doodle
fraught with pain

and...in time...

bloomed into something quite soothingly

unexpected.

Happy Blooming Tuesday...:)

“All my life
I have tried to pluck a thistle
and plant a flower
wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.”
~Abraham Lincoln

"Finding Inspiration..."

2011-07-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

...in the art and the architecture on the grounds of

Frank Lloyd Wright's

Taliesin West...in Scottsdale Arizona.

This art deco styled mandala was drawn "ink straight in"

and graces the pages of my Zen journal.

Hopefully, this summer I will be able to visit several

of the amazing homes he designed here

in the midwest...

and leave with a sketchbook filled with his spirit.

May you find beauty and inspiration where ever YOU look

today.

Happy Cactus Monday all...:)
(Click on images to enlarge if you like)

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.
If you foolishly ignore beauty,
you will soon find yourself without it.
Your life will be impoverished.
But if you invest in beauty,
it will remain with you all the days of your life.”
~Frank Lloyd Wright

"Summer Sunday Zen..."

2011-07-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

...a healing mandala...from my zen journal.

"A gem is not polished without rubbing...

nor a man perfected without

trials."

~Chinese Proverb

"A Bunch of Bees..."

2011-07-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

...buzzin' by for a summertime blog encore.

Funny how many

Midwest bugs, bees, wasps, and other insect critters

I have forgotten about.

I think I am missing Arizona in this catagory...:)

"When the bee comes to your house,
let her have beer;
you may want to visit the bee's house some day."
~Congo Proverb

"A Funky Fly Trap..."

2011-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

...with a smidge of zentangling for an edgy, exotic look...:)

Something different...for sure!

Have a funky and happy "Bloomin' Tuesday" all!

Celebrate

the unique world of art blossoming all around you.

"The artist is not a different kind of person...

but every person

is a different kind of artist."

~Eric Gill

"Happy Fourth of July!..."

2011-07-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

A happy little Cotyledon Secunda...drawn this morning

in my large moleskine

and quickly uploaded this afternoon.

(I am still getting used to scanning on the road...the colors IRL

are much more vibrant and celebratory.)

BTW...

Happy Cactus Monday, too!

"Everything that is really great and inspiring

is created by an individual who can

labor in freedom."

~Albert Einstein

"Some Peace Filled Sunday Zen..."

2011-07-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

...here at the farm...Lee County...Illinois...

where there are

more shades of lush green than one's Muse can imagine!

Ahhh!

“Better than a thousand hollow words,

is one word that brings

peace.”

~Buddha

"Inspired by Hokusai..."

2011-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

...are my entries for the Illustrated ATCs 2011 summer

"Choose A Theme" (C.A.T) Swap

Group #3...Landscapes.

First, " Fuji...Winter Serenity"...
next, "Fuji ...Through the Pines"...
next, "Fuji...Mountain Pass Springtime"...
then, "Fuji Reflected: Lake Kawaguchi"...

and finally, "Fuji and Sakura Blossoms".
Above is a group photo of the girls right before they were

set free and mailed out from

Sycamore, Illinois

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

yesterday morning.

Indeed,

time spent researching the striking art of

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

including his famous wood cut block prints

of Mt Fuji...

along with his not quite so famous 100 Illustrated

Views of Fuji

allowed my Muse and I to a travel into a wonderland

old world Japanese beauty and serenity.

Painting these tiny cards

linked me to his Muse...and to the soulfulness of Japan.

'Twas quite a wonderful experience...
for sure!

“When you are inspired by some great purpose,
some extraordinary project,
all your thoughts break their bonds:
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.
Dormant forces,
faculties and talents become alive,
and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far
than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
~Patanjali

" I Got Hooked up...!"

2011-06-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

...yesterday...many times...and in many ways!!!

Starting...

with a new Verizon "MiFi" Internet connection...

following...with a double visit

to Sweet Dreams for homemade chicken and biscuits...

(BTW...Where were you today, JGL???? LOL)

then...following that we topped off our meals

with the purchase of

a boatload of cookies and the

registering for a frequent buyer card...Geesch!

Then came the arrival of my

art supplies from Arizona

abundant enough to make any Muse dance with delight...

and finally...

a summer explosion of art ideas galore

from my newly invigorated

Muse

is flooding my mind!

We are ready to rock and roll folks!

Yippeeeeeee!

Ooops... I almost forgot to mention...2 THINGS...

We stopped by Kohl's...with our special 30% off coupon

and

found it was Kohl's dollar days too...WooHoo!

And lastly, seriously,

we can now get

Magnum ice cream bars

here "across the pond" in the good ole USA!

OMG...

These are "bestest" yummiest hook ups of all times!

Wheeeee!

"Stuck...!!!"

2011-06-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

...in Sycamore, Illinois with sporadic internet connections!

Boy, am I ever one spoiled blogger or what???

Fingers and toes crossed that

things will be smoothed out soooon...

Until then,

I hope you will "Stand by"...:)

There REALLY is a lot more to come!

Happy Blooming Tuesday from the lush green midwest!

BTW, yesterday...

Phoenix 116...Sycamore 76...degrees, that is...
Just sayin...! :)

"Some Summer Zen...Ahhh!..."

2011-06-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Introducing...

my new "Sundays of Summer" zen feature...

right here...on my blog...every Summer Sunday...:)
Ahhh! :)

This is Sunrise Buddha.

At his back is the dawn of a new desert day

filled with the seasonal sizzling,
and the stressful, scorching summerness

of the desert southwest.

To instill much needed inner balance he turns away

from this bright threshold...

as he
allows his spirit to fly free and soar...

to dance high above the clouds so to eventually
emerge bliss filled,

serenely calm,

and refreshingly cooled.

His eyes peer ahead as he imagines great

possibilities.

Hmmm...he smiles...

"I wonder what surprises this day will bring?"

Stay tuned...:)

“All that we are

is the result of what we have thought.

The mind is everything.

What we think...

we become.”
~Buddha

"To Our One and Only..."

2011-06-22T01:11:00.000-07:00

Happiest of birthdays to you...

"Johnny", "Dad", "Grandpa", "Papa", "Great Grandpa"

"JW" and "Big Brown Bear"!

We wish

you a wonderful year of clear skies...smooth flying...

and soft landings.

Sent with oodles of love...from

your loving co-pilot

Mom,

and your ever grateful ground crew:

Susan, David, Joya & Jillian...

Jack, Sharon, Vanessa, Lauren, Steve & Myles...

Mark, Katie, Christopher, Courtney & Corey...

and...Peg and Scott! :)

Thanks for showing us how to navigate life

with a happy heart

and a twinkle in our eye.

Soar high above the clouds as you celebrate

the first day of your 90th

flight around the sun!

You are now cleared for "take off"...:)

"It is not the cry,

but the flight of the wild duck

that leads the flock to fly and follow.”
~Chinese Proverb

"The very existence of aviation is proof that man,

given the will,

has the capacity to accomplish deeds

that seem impossible."

~Eddie Rickenbacker

"Happy Summer..."

2011-06-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

...from the red-hot Arizona desert southwest.

Temperatures today are predicted to reach 108.

And, for tomorrow, you might ask?

How does 113 sound???

Pretty dang bloomin' hot I'd say!!! :{

Grrrrr!

I best settle myself down now...and wish you

a most refreshing and happy

Blooming Tuesday...

where ever it is you may all home.

"Holding on to anger

is like grasping a hot coal with the intent

of throwing it at someone else;

you are the one who gets

burned.”
~Buddha

"Happy Father's Day, Dad..."

2011-06-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

...with love from Peg, Mark, Susan, and Jack...:)

We love you tremendously...♥

"Other things may change us,

but we start...and end...with family.”
~Anthony Brandt

...PSST!

It's not only Father's Day...it's also my 900th post!

Simply magical! ♥

"Under the Shade of an Elm..."

2011-06-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

...sitting among the iris, just sketching the day away...

is where my Muse wants to be.

The desert is heating up somewhat fiercely...

105-107 degree range lately...

shrinking her energy and artistic endeavors

to minimal levels.

Thoughts

of the midwest keep flooding her mind...

and making her anxious.

She constantly questions me begging for change.

"Soon", I kindly tell her..."soon"!

"You cannot do a kindness too soon,

for you never know

how soon it will be too late.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Form Vs. Function..."

2011-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

...my newest tree of life-illustrated in my Zen Journal...

drawn "ink straight in" and digitally flipped.

The inspiration for her

came from a wonky week of days spent dealing with

kidney stones, migraines, CT scans

and

and medical appointments.

I think
things are on the mend...I have a follow up

appointment today...

guess I will have to wait and see (hear)

what the good doc has to say.

Definitely not in blogging mode...funny how

quickly I can get thrown off my

game.

"The art of medicine

consists in amusing the patient

while nature cures

the disease."

~Voltaire

"Seven Years Ago...Today..."

2011-06-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

...we officially closed on our house here in Arizona

and began adapting our

midwest state of minds into desert dwelling

"aficionados."

I reposted this drawing today to celebrate.

7 years!!!!!

Life is certainly good!

“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.”
~James Taylor

Old Cactus Garden Balboa Park

2011-06-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is a fabulous video I just found on Jane LaFazio's facebook page...:) Here's to all our fellow sketchers out there...enjoying the artistic "good life" and sharing their art! Woo Hoo!

"Colored Memories..."

2011-05-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here she is...

"Seeds, Sprouts, Stems, and Swirls"

all blinged up with color just as you all suggested!

The original B/W illo can be seen here...:)

♥

I am posting this here specially today

in memory of my

Uncle Al...my mom's brother...who passed away

when I was only 10.

Today would have been his 85th birthday!

I find this fact VERY hard to to wrap my head around.

I remember him as a really cool young man...

an adventursome favorite uncle,

filled with wanderlust...

who had an avid love of trains, music,

and

the romance of the old west.

He was someone who trusted me

to play with his phenomenal model train set

all by myself

when

I was just a very little girl.

And, of course, he spoiled me like no other. :)

I remember taking a special train trip,

just he and I,

on the Milwaukee Road train Hiawatha route

to Milwaukee.

We sat in the domed train car,
had lunch in the "fancy smanchy" dining car,

and took pictures from

the special curved glass club car

at the end of the train.

What an adventure for my young imagination.

Now, as I reflect back I simply wonder

in astonishment...

where have all those years gone?

They have passed by in a blur...like colorful scenery

viewed out of an old train window...

unstoppable,

and, yet forever impressed in one's memory.

So...today

let's celebrate those favorite family members,

those unforgettable experiences,

those bright, colorful impressions of our youth,

and

even those flips in our perspectives.

May these kinds of experiences

continue to enhance the chapters of our lives

and help our spirits bloom.

Happy Blooming Tuesday All! :)

♥

"Remembering..."

2011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

...with love, honor...and gratitude...

those brave souls who have

fought courageously

guarding the rights and freedoms of

the men, women, and children of our country

for generation upon generation.

♥
"Honor

is the inner garment of the Soul;

the first thing put on by it with the flesh,

and

the last it layeth down

at its separation

from it."
~Akhenaton quotes

(King of Egypt, 14th century BC)

"Seeds, Sprouts..."

2011-05-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

...Stems and Swirls...drawn "ink straight in"...

lead free,

classic in black and white.

Now..."to color?"...or..."not to color?"...

That is the question! :)

Any thoughts?

"Drawing is feeling.

Color is an act of reason. "

~Pierre Bonnard

"We are all Energy..."

2011-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

...my school girl style notes and doodles...flipped digitally

(for a chalkboard style effect)

from the final Oprah show which aired yesterday.

Did you happen to watch?

What was the idea
that seemed to strike home with you the most?

Among other things

I loved the phrase "listen to the whispers of your life..."

What a career!

As always, you can click on image to enlarge...:)

"We all have a calling...

It lights you up and let's you know

that

you are doing what you were meant to do..."

~Oprah Winfrey

"Stickin' it to my Moleskine..."

2011-05-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

I just love doing this...but, if asked "Why???"...

I haven't a clue! :)

“The more you reason the less you create.”
~Raymond Chandler

"More Blooming Hearts..."

2011-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

...in both Daylight...
...and Midnight hour versions...:)

"We need society,
and we need solitude also,
as we need summer and winter,
day and night,
exercise and rest.”
~Philip Gilbert Hamerton

"Southwest Serenity..."

2011-05-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Monument Valley...prickly pear guardian...:)

Happy Cactus Monday!
♥

“These things

I warmly wish for you...

Someone to love, some work to do,

A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer,

And a guardian angel

always near.”
~Irish Blessings

"Spring Fragrances..."

2011-05-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I breathe them all in...
deeply.

Blossom-laden orchard boughs,

sweet and fluttery yet strong and rich with

promise...

Old fashioned flower gardens,

palettes now popping awake with cheeriness and

hues of hope...

Endless acreages of country fields,

freshly plowed,

moist clumps of bountiful blackness

greeting each sunrise...

Each of these

is pure aromatherapy for my spirit.

A potpourri of these memories will remain
safely bottled away forever

in my Midwest heart of hearts.

Ahhh!

“A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare.

For the most part

we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought;

as if

we could be satisfied

with the dews of the morning or evening

without their colors,

the heavens without their azure.”
~Henry David Thoreau

"Some Midwest Musing..."

2011-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about springtime in Illinois

and

remembering how I once planted my Jonquil bulbs

upside down. :)

It was such a long, long time ago...

in a place which now seems

so very far, far away.

It still

makes me chuckle each time I think about it...:)

Yesterday in the desert

we had rain,

cloudy skies, and temps in the mid seventies...

and, we even landed

a couple of inches of snow up in Flagstaff.

Go figure...It's May!!!

Weather is "off kilter" everywhere it seems!

So, in like form...

I felt like flipping my image today...

no reason...

just must be the season!

“In the Spring,

I have counted 136 different kinds of weather

inside of 24 hours.”
~Mark Twain

"Delightful Doubles..."

2011-05-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

"All who would win joy, must share it;

happiness was born a twin.”
~Lord Byron

"Sakura Blossoms..."

2011-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

...my ATC size take on a springtime view of

Mt. Fuji

is now residing in Germany with Nadine.

Living here in the desert

I really miss

my cherry trees back in Illinois.

There was something magical in their lacy petals

that made my spirits dance.

For now...

I will have to rely on my watercolors and brush

to record memories of

their fluttery light blossoms...mmmm...:)

So...

regardless of whatever spring delight

you might choose to view today

I hope you enjoy a

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

“Nature will bear the closest inspection.

She invites us

to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf,

and take an insect view

of its plain.”
~Henry David Thoreau

"Seriously, Cereus..."

2011-05-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

...night blooming in all their glory

these 8+ inch diameter blossoms decorate our

front garden...

blooming on slender cactus arms they stretch 9 feet

into the star studded velvety desert sky.

The next day they vanish...

living on only in digital format patiently awaiting

an artistic transformation

into some watercolored brush strokes

by my ever present Muse.

Ahhh!

"The Thought Process..."

2011-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

...as scribbled

in my Artful Musings journal/sketchbook.

Click on images to enlarge...:)

"An artist

is a sketchbook with a person attached."

~Irwin Greenberg

"Currents of Starlight..."

2011-05-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

..."Sargasso Sea"...
..."Polynesian Reef"...
...and lastly, "Oceania Pacifica"...:)
A new series of
cards made and traded during Artapalooza
at Illustrated ATCs last week.

“On matters of style, swim with the current,

on matters of principle,

stand like a rock.”
~Thomas Jefferson

"Neighborhood Bling..."

2011-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

...a few Joshua Trees in full bloom!

Mother Nature

surely knows how to decorate the 'hood

in right fine style!!

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

"Bloomin' Beauty..."

2011-05-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

Gentle giants

with lush white flower bouquets in hand

stand tall and proud and gallant....

steadfastly guarding their wild desert kingdoms

with a rugged type of kindness

providing perches

and safe havens for those in need.

Sentinels of the sand

they remind us that even in the most austere

moments of life

we can find beauty blossoming.

Happy Cactus Monday!

Click on any image to enlarge...:)

Happy Mother's Day...Mom! ♥

2011-05-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

...with love from

Susan, Dave, Joya and Jillian...

Mark, Katie,

Christopher, Courtney and Corey...

Jack, Sharon,

Vanessa, Lauren, Steve and Myles...

and

Peg and Scott!
We love you!

♥
"A mother is a person
who seeing there are only four pieces of pie
for five people,
promptly announces

she never did care for pie. "
~Tenneva Jordan

(Thanks JGL for quote...:)

"From the Vault..."

2011-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

...My favorite silver cactus charm bracelet makes

an encore this Cactus Monday.

“In two decades

I've lost a total of 789 pounds.

I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.”

~Erma Bombeck

Happy May Day!

2011-05-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

May your May baskets be filled with all the things

that make your spirit bloom!

"The world's favorite season is the spring.

All things seem possible in May."

~Edwin Way Teale

"A Royal Iris..."

2011-04-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

...to celebrate a Royal Wedding...Cheers!

Can't wait to see her dress!

“There is only one royal road for the spiritual journey...

Love.”
~Sri Sathya Sai Baba