Bounty

These are tomatoes that my dad picked for us to take home. There is a little U-Pick-It farm near where my parents live and every year we anxiously await Tomato season. Oh My Goodness! They are so good. We brought home a big paper grocery bag full and gave some away and saved the rest. The greenies are soaking up some more sun, and I am planning a homemade salsa for Taco Night tonight. Yum-Dilly-Um! They are so good on their own that I had a thick slice of one on toast for breakfast this morning. They are inspiring me to get started on my salsa garden. I really want to grow a big veggie garden out back, but I think I will start with salsa ingredients first (tomatoes, cilantro, peppers) and not go crazy and give up. Maybe some watermelons too. But that's it. And I already have sunflower seeds, so them too....but THAT IS IT!

I'm doing errands today, delivering, packing, shipping, and then I will be in the studio the rest of the day into the wee hours. Hopefully, I'll have something to show you soon!
Have a peaceful, bountiful day!

I'mmmmm Baaaaacccckkkk

I had a great time down on Sanibel. I friggin' love that place, and I had a talk with God about this love and why I am not living there. That is where I want to be. So???? Anyhoo, the art show went well. I had to say goodbye to several lovelies including the mermie above. It's called the Mermaid's Guide to Happiness and has all the good stuff written on it like, be kind and true, smile, love, etc. (which I think needs to be turned into a little book) And all of the ones from the previous post except the red-haired mermie. So that is sad....but hello money! Which is good because the mortgage is due. I met many, many fun people there as well, who I hope will call me and place orders. I feel like I will have a built in community of peeps for when the move actually does happen.

So this week will be super busy as I have a doggie art show on Sunday, and I sold a bunch of dog stuff which means I have little to show. And I have 2 commissions, one of which needs to be completed by Sunday. Oh, and not to mention the moonlighting JOB as well. And getting the house back on track. Tim did ALL of the laundry while we were gone, but there is still the grocery and meal planning for the week to be done as well as coordinating Leila's schedule. You know, just mom central type stuff. But I feel energized and ready.

Watched the Zohan last night. I watched the whole thing, which is saying something. Lately, there are a lot of movies that I don't even want to waste my time with. What the hell? Why are movies sucking so bad lately? LOVED Vicki Christina Barcelona. Funny and intriging. I usually don't like Woody, but this one deserved to be a favorite of the year. Anyway, the Zohan, first, I lOVE Adam Sandler. I just kept thinking he must have a body double, because I can't picture him moving his body like that. He is so shy in real life. For a stoopid movie, there were LOL bits which made it worth it, and the fact that I love Adam kept me watching. There were appearances by all of the usual characters as well. Nothing beats 50 First Dates for Adam's stuff, for me.

Also, I can't say enough about Adam Lambert. LOVE HIM! I can't wait to buy his album. And that is saying a lot coming from a music thief.

That's all for now. I gots shiz to handle.

Persistence

These are a few of the newbies that I'm taking with me down to the islands for the Sanibel-Captiva Art Show this weekend. I am dog tired, but wanted to post before we leave tomorrow. I still have packing to do. At least Leila is squared away, thanks to Tim! I don't know where the expression dog tired comes from, because every dog I've known sleeps most of the day. Anyhoo, you can see where my brain is at. I have been thinking about persistence lately and since the president mentioned it last night, I figured it was due to be addressed. I believe that with persistence all things are possible, just keep going. I know there is a quote about persistence over talent, I'll have to look that up in the Quotationary. Last night while watching The Biggest Loser, the girl Tara got totally bullied just because she is in the lead, with the other players putting her at a huge disadvantage for one of their challenges. So she takes the extra 257 pounds PLUS the 2,000-pound car and pulls that weight for a quarter mile beating everyone else. It was friggin' amazing. And she said all she kept thinking was, "you said you were going to do this, so do it. Just keep going." The best revenge is kicking some ass!

I couldn't find the quote, I think it's by Edison. But the Quotationary did have in regards to persistence:

Keep on truckin, Mama- Truckin song, 1930

Dogged does it- Greek saying

New Day

This is how I woke up this morning:
"I found ancient-time jewelry!!" I blink my eyes open to see my little one

thrusting a small loop of beads into my face. "Aaahh, where did you find that?" I say as I glance at the plastic baubles. "The juuunnnk drawer" she replied in a slow drawl like it was the mysterious place beneath the floorboards. Ancient-time jewelry. Just to give you an idea of the creativity that is wide awake in this child at 6:00 in the morning, see the above pic. One day she decided she wanted to be like daddy so she got dressed in this outfit and made breakfast. Notice how the milk is just about to spill out of the bowl. Ya just never know what the new day holds.

Rituals

I survived the weekend! The Baldwin Park show went great. I was busy all day and got to talk to lots of nice people and Gena and I got to hang out and catch up. Saturday started at 6:00 a.m. and didn't end until 1:30 a.m. I sat down for 20 minutes to eat during that time, and the rest was go, go, go. It has been a long time since I have been that EXHAUSTED!! But I feel great. I am surprised and proud that I still have the determination to get the job done. Whatever that job might be. Even if the job is setting up and taking down my booth by myself. I also realized that I AM that type of person. I think I kinda forgot that. Somewhere along the line I started to believe that going the extra mile wasn't a good thing. I am amazed at what is surfacing for me, during my daily walks. It is the ritual of it. Somehow it is opening up my spirit and somehow it is bringing all of the crazy down a notch. I feel like things are balancing, lining up, preparing.

I'm glad I am feeling so balanced because I have 2 more art shows in the next 3 weeks. The good thing is the ideas are flowing, which after a period of being blocked is like magic popping in the air. And I am even more inspired as several of the new pieces sold, so I feel like I'm on the right track.

Take Action

I am in a bit of a flurry as I am getting ready for the Baldwin Park Arts Festival this Saturday. Although I have been making strides in overcoming my procrastination issues, I am not fully recovered as of yet. So, once again, I am trying to do a million things at once and time is passing so quickly. I am taking the time to breathe and regroup so I don't go crazy, and sometime on Friday I will let it all go and be okay with what is done is done and make promises to myself to get it all together beforehand next time. "Next time" being exactly 2 weeks away for the Sanibel show, so let's just see if I mean what I say. I do know that it makes me happy to see the little jelly above. He is calming me down with his supercute vibes. He'll be there along with other jellies and mermies at the show to keep me company.

Inspirational thought for today: Think BIG! Thank you, Universe!

Walking on Sunshine

This has been a walking week and it is not escaping me the symbolism in that. I have had the wonderful opportunity to connect with two of my best girlfriends after a period of estrangement. (I am fascinated by this word and I don't know why). There was a period of time when we were all like sisters, so close and connected. And now I am so happy to be taking the first fledgling steps towards that magical bond again. I look back over the past few weeks and all the changes that have happened and am amazed at the complexity, at all the coincidences and synchronicity that occurred to bring me to this point. So, yes, I am walking on sunshine, things are looking up and I feel on the edge of something. I don't know what, but it feels good.

I'd like to say Thanks to my friend Shannon, who was the catylast that made everything click. Thanks for bugging me to get in touch on Facebook. Love ya! You rock!

Inspiration for the day!: START NOW. It is never too late to try.

Believe in Possibility

I am going through a phase of clarifying and defining what kind of life I want to create from here forward. Yes, of course, I want to be HAPPY!! I generally AM happy now, but what do I really want my life to look like. What do I want to experience on a day-to-day basis. So, after I get clear on what, then the hard part begins. Believing. Believing in myself enough to allow what I truly want to come into my life. Believing that I am good enough. Believing that I can create the life of my dreams. Believing that it is possible. It's much easier said that done. I have bursts of knowing, when it all just clicks and feels right. And also the sneaky moments of doubt that creep in and can set you back a day, or a week. I guess it all boils down to faith. I know that my deepest desires didn't appear in my heart only to stay there unfulfilled. I know that a desire fulfilled simply adds joy to the world. And we all know the world needs more joy. Believe. Have Faith. Dreams Do Come True.

Daily Constitutional

I've recently begun taking the dogs for a walk in the morning and I am amazed at how it has affected my whole being. It is a long walk as I take them individually for about a 1/2 hour each. It is just nicer this way, they don't pull, they don't compete. My neighborhood is filled with trees and usually pretty quiet in the morning, so there is plenty of nature to observe. Birds conversing, squirrels doing their twitchy squirrel things, and a handful of other walkers, most with dogs. It is nice to exchange "good mornings" with your neighbors and occasionally stop to catch up on the happenings in the hood.

This morning was chilly but sunny, one of the best kind of walking days, with lots of fluttery little leaves falling all around, Florida's version of snow flurries. Since Java didn't go first, he was the lucky one to get to go visit the lake. It was a little bit choppy, so you could hear the waves lapping under the dock, enough to cause fluffy lakefoam to line the shore. I like to stand at the edge, look out at the water and say Thank you. Thank you God for letting me have mornings like this. Java jumped up and put his 2 front paws on the railing, looked out standing right beside me like something on a Hallmark card, then he grabbed the leash in his mouth and proceeded to pull me back up the dock. Mr. Persnickety, indeed! Enough thanking, let's git to walking!

The walks are a way to clear my head, to cultivate ideas, to think and plan, to connect. The consistency of the walks is just another affirmation to myself. It's about follow through, sticking with it, breathing, refreshing, and most importantly giving thanks. Not to mention, the jeans are fitting nicer, and when the jeans fit nice, everyone's HAPPY! What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for the ability to reconnect, appreciate, and love a long-lost friend. And I'm thankful to Laini, for writing the right thing at the right time.

Quote of the day: "In the effort to unfold our thought to a friend, we make it clearer to ourselves." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Metamorphosis

I've been thinking about my blog lately. Specifically, why I didn't stick with it the first time I got it going. Yes, I'm busy...I'm always busy. But I do enjoy writing and love visiting other blogs and I love the connection and inspiration that comes along with blogging. I finally came to the conclusion that I was trying to make my blog into something that I thought a blog SHOULD be. Does that make sense? I guess the phrase that keeps coming into my head is one that every writer is familiar with....Write what you know. So, originally I was writing about my day and occasionally complaining about mundane things. But it never felt comfortable. I never got into a groove. I was sharing stuff that I really didn't want to share. I don't think the world needs another rant about waiting in traffic or a rude exchange with a stressed out person.

So, I thought about it and what I know is INSPIRATION. I am in love with discovering new ways of inspiring myself. I am open to all forms of it, whether it be words or pictures or people or events. So, I've decided since I'm remaking the blog, I'm also going to redefine what it will be about. It will be snippets of inspiration that I find along the way. I will add good things that make me feel good. Like a really good recipe or a picture of a flower or something funny that Leila does. Or just the dogs being dogs. I'll include exercises or tips on how to lift a mood or brighten your day. I'll definitely include ART, whether it be a work in progress, a cool craft idea for the kids, or maybe even just a photo of my studio when it's all clean and pretty. Also, when I find a great quote I'll include it here. Plus, I won't forget those sweet moments of synchronicity, those moments that would make you cock your head to the side if you were a dog, that make you stop and take note, that let you know that you are on the right path. Simple enough. Enjoy.

So, to kick this thing off. Here's a great quote I found:

"I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream."

-Vincent van Gogh