"My Day With Dad...

...last Friday began predawn when Scott and I

left Surprise

and headed for mom and dad's

arriving

bright and early at 7:00 am.

Scott stayed with mom...taking down outside

Christmas lights

and running some errands

as

Dad and I then headed into Scottsdale

for a day of pre-admission

medical routines he had to undergo prior

to his surgery this Wednesday.

We spent a lot of time

in a lot of different waiting rooms.

We talked and waited...and laughed and waited...

and "people watched" and waited...

and

then...waited some more.

Dad dozed a bit and I drew a lot.

I even got asked at one point if I was an artist

or maybe an illustrator...

Hmmm, go figure.

I guess

it was the open sketchbook in my lap

that gave me away...LOL:)

It was a long day...and absolutely not the

most comfortable of circumstances

for my dad...

but I wouldn't trade our "together time" away for

a million dollars.

Spending time with my dad trumps all!

(This was drawn...lead free...in my Zen Journal...

healing mandala and all.

Click on image, if you like, to enlarge.)

“Time is at once

the most valuable and the most perishable

of all our possessions.”
~John Randolph

"My Sincerest ...

Thanks

to each of you...from the very bottom of my heart.

Each and every Day...

and each and every Night...
your thoughtful good wishes for my mom's
speedy recovery
reach my computer and lodge themselves snuggly in my blog.
They are a major energy boost
and
a refreshing way to end these hectic days.
We are off again in just a bit
back across the valley to the hospital
I expect the next few days will be much the same.

The heart above is a paper strip collage
of oriental calligraphy
I wove into a heart shape..."Day"
and then digitally flipped to show "Night."
This weekend
there is a huge Chinese New Year celebration
at the Chinese Cultural center in Phoenix
with lots of art, food, music, dragons
and ceremonial dancing...
OOOH MY!
What a great sketchbook page that would have made!
For now though...
I have just a paper heart sent with thanks to you
from me. :)

"The greatest treasures
are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart."
~ Author Unknown

"Postmarked: UK..."

Early last week

a special little envelope arrived in my mailbox

postmarked from far, far away

in England.

Inside was a beautiful note card from Ely Cathedral

with a lovely handwritten note from

Anita Davies.

Oooooh! MY!!!! What a treat it was to receive!!!

I am sure you can imagine! :)

(BTW...in case you didn't know...

Anita has drawn a series of sketches from Ely.

What a charming and historic area!

You can check out her Ely sketch series here...

They are simply an artistic feast!)

So,

to celebrate receiving such fun overseas mail ...

I decided to post a montage of images of Ely Cathedral

drawn in my Moly.

The tower is known as the "Octagon"...

The colorful patterns in the lower left corner of the spread

are part of the flooring near the

shrine of Etheldreda..."Saint and Queen".

The patterns on the right side of the spread are

drawn from a medieval glass window.

(There is such rich and interesting

history here...

a visit to the website is highly recommended...gorgeous photos!)

Lastly, the simple candle

and it's "flame of friendship" was the central photograph

and main theme of the note card itself.

Anita...

you are the best ever!

Like this candle...

YOU have shined your artistic light on so many of us

and kindled our imaginations.

It was a serendipitous delight that our paths crossed.

What an honor and a pleasure

it is to have you as my

friend.

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases

by being shared."
~Buddha

"The Big Sale..."

...at Bath & Body Works...

50-75% off my favorites due to new designs in packaging!

What a deal!

I purchased my goodies the day I fell and am just now

unpacking them today...one week later.

FYI...
This sketch was drawn lead free...on the shopping bag from the store,

and from start to finish...ink to scanner...

it took me just over 45 minutes

to complete. :)

Also...

As an aside to this post...I want to send

my deepest and sincerest thanks out to each and every one...

...for your cheerful and concerned get well comments

left here and on Flickr.

My hand is feeling so much better...especially with the new splint.

What a wonderful, supportive on line community we have.

You all continue to rock my world each day!

"Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both together,

Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better,

Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,

Put the lime in the coconut,

and call me in the moooooorning..."

~Harry Nilsson, lyrics

"This song is driving me nuts!

I can't get it out of my head...been singing it all mooorning...

...Cuz...you put the lime in the coconut and..."

~Me

"Fractured Art..."

Yep! That's my hand indeed...

In a split second...on a gorgeous Arizona day...I was on the ground...

right there on the asphalt

in the Super Target parking lot on Lake Pleasant Road.

Dang! I had no idea one could trip on sunshine!

Geesch!

My left hand caught the trauma of the event

and swelled up immediately.

After cleaning out the abrasion and getting ice to reduce the swelling

we headed straight for the ER.

The rest is journaled above...the sketches done while waiting

and the info added later at home.

From start to finish this escapade took 4 hours plus...

not my idea of a fun sketch crawl!

And...as I write this post...yes...it hurts...

local pharmacies were closed by the time I was released...

so I hope Tylenol arthritis does the trick

until we can get the "good stuff".

"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."
~Kenji Miyazawa

"Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours."
~ Eric Idle

"I'm in the Process..."

...of trying to solve a mystery

involving a rascally annoying message box which

absolutely refuses to allow me

to download

any of the AWESOME photos I took today

at the Chihuly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

And,

OOOOOH, was the day ever a treat for the artistic spirit!

Our little purple wrist bands witnessed eye candy EVERYWHERE!

So...

I head to Target first in the morning, digital card in hand,

to get the photos transferred to a CD.

There are over 200 of them...need I say any more!

Hang with me for a bit,

it will be worth the wait...Promise! LOL:)

"The temptation

to form premature theories upon insufficient data

is the bane of our profession."
~Sherlock Holmes

"Geesch!"

~Me

"One World, One Dream..."

08.08.08

This day...is considered very powerful by some...

and,

I tend to totally agree.

...Today

my MIND feasted

on a banquet of color, and rhythm, and precision, and imagination.

...Today

my HEART became re-energized

with childlike wonder, and sparkle, and anticipation.

...Today

my SPIRIT was strengthened

by observing the simplest and smallest acts

contributing to the greatness of the whole,

and

...Today my little "WORLD"

became truly magical

intrinsically decorated by the beauty of

ART

and the possibilities and promise of the all that is around me.

"One World...One Dream"

Beijing 2008

"What Did YOU Do Yesterday?..."

...Three guesses were I was...?!!

New brakes, new brake rotors, replace two motor mounts,

and an oil light computer sensor :(

EDM# 60...Draw an automobile...or part of one...

Whew!