SURRENDER

This morning I read SHARECARE, an email that comes in from time to time and I often erase without reading.  Today I was moved to read it.  It basically says that our jobs, homes, etc are not really what bring us joy-but the little things that keep our mind and our hands busy.

Looking back, this has saved me in times of confusion and often even despair.  In the early eighties, when my marriage was breaking up, an opportunity came along to coach girls softball.  I found such happiness being outdoors with all that positive female energy!

Not long after, I went back to college to finish my art degree.  It was often so exhausting that I had to set an alarm at 3 am, to study for exams and then go back to sleep for a bit.  I had fun, busy kiddoes to take care of, a job as an interior designer, but it worked and in hind sight, it kept me sane.  Almost!

Even my many summers with the park service put me in a glorious place to play in my time off.  Trails to walk, mountains to explore, estate sales to attend with dear friends.

I see clearly that my mind, my hands and my heart must be engaged to be fully and joyfully me.

Namaste.

BONJOUR

Another fun weekend in Sarah Schuffler's garden. 

 Annette and I visited with old friends and new.

 I took a page from my good friend Dusty of The Cajun Picasso's advice book and made some small "festival type art" and it sold great. The bigs and the littles!

 

There is nothing like unloading only half of what one brings to a art show, after you get home.  Feels like more artmaking!!

Namaste.

SURRENDER

Yesterday I returned home from a three day woman's retreat near the Louisiana coastline.  I learned a lot about surrender.  The crabs weren't biting, but neither were the mosquitoes.  We were under a wind alert and finally the lights went off.  We shared wonderful food and stories and played games on the big screened in porch over the water.  And we slept.

I came home wanting to cook in my own kitchen again.  I saw a recipe on line and decided to try it out.  I browned four chicken thighs in olive oil to which I added a teaspoon of sugar, my Nanny's secret. As I turned the chicken, I seasoned both sides with no-salt Greek seasoning and cayenne pepper.

After the chicken was golden brown I added 1/4 cup of white vinegar because I didn't have the red wine vinegar that the original recipe called for.  Since some of my family is allergic to onions, I added a can of Rotel tomatoes with green chili peppers which makes a great substitute for onion.  I then stirred and simmered until the chicken was done.  I added a tablespoon of Tony Chachere's Creole brown gravy mix which thickened the gravy to Cajun requirements.

We ate it over rice and my honey said that he hadn't had such good chicken SAUCE PICANTE since the 1970s at his Uncle Mim's house. I didn't know I could make sauce piqante.  That man knows how to keep me cooking!

If I win the Lottery, will I hire a cook???

Namaste.

JOY

There's no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.  By being happy we sow anonymous benefit upon the world-Robert Louis  Stevenson

We had a lovely Easter weekend with family.  It included antique sales, plant purchasing and of course lots of eating!

My favorite part was seeing Ben and Amy's twins eating the yummy feast.  Astrid picked up chunks of my Momma's potato salad and chewed on them.  Gunnar loved Nanna Kim's rice dressing and as he shoved it into his mouth with his hands, his brother Malachi called him "a Cajun."

That reminds me of our Ross-man as a young child saying, "I'm a Cajun boy."  I loved hearing that!

This week I re-enter my studio rested and inspired.  It's time to make art again.

And I am grateful.
Namaste.

JOY

"Art must go on!"
The Art Doll Cronicles, page108

My recent attempt to teach art classes in my studio leaves me dumbfounded.  I had a kicking class of 5 women and then one by one they dropped out. It fizzled!  It's hard not to take this pesonally. 

Also as an artist, it's hard to understand why anyone would not want to do art, busty loves aside.  Woops I mean busy(!)

I KNOW I must do art every day,  It brings me joy and release.  It is healing.  Weither the product is suitable for framing or not!

I will continue my solo journey until some one or ones of you want to join me.

MUCH love and Namaste.

JOY

"Feeling the joy of creating something fun by dreaming big will raise your vibrational frequency and when this occurs the energy field around you expands."
LeeAnn Wehr

It seems that everywhere I look this week I am invited to open to new possibilities, higher frequencies, through my innocence and vulnerability.  I have recently realized that I must be vulnerable, which is not weak or powerless, but open and willing to see and do things differently.

In LeeAnn's weekly reminder of a world wide reiki sharing that she is facilitating, I sat again this morning with a clear mind and an open heart. I asked for release for my loved ones and friends.  I asked for hope. I received the gift of loving with all my heart and sharing that love with everyone around me. Perhaps even strangers.

I know when I compliment a check out person at the grocery store, or the mail lady, whose blue eyes are to die for!, I am gifted by a smile, a laugh, or even disbelief!  But I am never treated to apathy. I have changed the energy field of everyone around me, and my own.

I ask and I receive.  And so do you.

Namaste.

BLUES MUSE

"The art muse waits for no one when the artist hears the call."
Angela Cartwright-Transparent Art

For some time now I have been gathering blue things in the hope of putting more blue into my art. I recently began to spread many hues, shades and objects of this luscious color across my art tables and painting many things blue, including faces. 

This morning I opened a book I purchased in 2007 on transparencies, published by Stampington and beginning with the above quote.

The timing is delicious.

In Angela's introduction to the artists in the book, she deems Sarah Fishburn as "the Queen of transparencies"! A few summers ago I had the privilege of meeting Sarah, a friend of Jean McBride's, who is the mom-in-law of my daughter Wendy and a prolific artist, photographer, and writer herself. Pant, pant.

We picked up fun salads at the deli and convened over Sarah's kitchen table, as she was too busy doing art to go out to eat!  That was my first BIG lesson in being an artist. Stay home and do it!!
These two beautiful women, long time dear friends, were so much fun.  I left with a signed copy of one of the books Sarah had published and much hope for my artist future.

This morning the art muse struck again!  Things are humming along in my studio and due to their publications and creative influence, I am side be side with my own life muses.  Jean mcBride publishes her blog, Two Old Horses and Me, that I have forwarded to you from time to time.

I shall continue to create my own version of personal muses, which may turn out to be angels, fairies, divas, dames, goddesses and or many other manifestations.



I wish you art.
Namaste.