Visit with Dad

Just very quickly a quick hello to you all while my dad is visiting. I miss you and I miss blogging!! We are having a wonderful time with my dad and we are so happy he's visiting, as are Winslow and Ramses!
The weather has been gray, cold and drizzly - not too great, but alright for sightseeing and walking Winslow.
At lunch in a lovely restaurant on the Savannah River.

And here a fun little video of Winslow making his nest on our bed, a nightly ritual that I finally caught on camera:

I hope you are all doing well and am looking forward to when I'll have time to visit all of your blogs again regularly! And to all my friends in the US: "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Yarn on my mind...

Just take a look at this colorful yarn I got in the mail yesterday for a Christmas crocheting project or two. Can't wait to get started and eventually show you.
I also finished and listed a few more scarves - two in purple. The one above actually is a dark purple, which didn't show up so well in the photo.
And then this pretty lacy scarf in colors I just adore! Blues and gold - so elegant and so much fun to make!! {This one sold. Yeah!!} If any of them interest you, you can find them in my Etsy shop here.
As my dad's visit comes closer, I find myself with less time to post on my blog, being busy getting ready for his visit and Thanksgiving. And at the same time, I am getting everything prepared for our house and pet sitter, as after Thanksgiving we are all leaving for a cruise of the Western Caribbean (I can hardly wait!!).

And while I will miss you all, this is a good time for a little break from my blog as I've been feeling uninspired as of late. Not with you, but with what to write about that won't bore you. Usually, when I am away on a trip, I find myself flooded with inspiration and new ideas. So, I am hoping that I will come back with some fun projects and goodies (and photos from our travels) to share with you all!

In the meantime, don't forget me while I'm away... And for those of you in the US, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I, for one, am thankful for your friendship and your ever ready support as I continue on my creative journey! Sending you all much love!

P.S. I am keeping my Etsy shops open, but any purchase made on or after Thanksgiving won't be mailed until the week of December 7.

Another Painting...

...and this one a little different from my last paintings. I had prepared a large sheet of acrylic paper with gesso and then cut it up into several 5 x 7 pieces. This one I painted without any background texture, but added some pattern. I think Christmas is on my mind... I call it The Face of Love.

Illustration Friday - Unbalanced

When she stood still for a moment, she suddenly saw how unbalanced her life had become and she was finally able to hear her heart's whispered longing for change.

Finally, I have some art to show you!! And I decided that I'd enter her on the Illustration Friday website. This week's theme is "unbalanced."

Today, I finished two paintings, one of which I can't show you until it reaches the person I painted it for. I can hardly wait!!

And then this one. I notice that when I paint a painting with someone else in mind (like the one I can't show you yet), I put much more thinking into the process than usual. It's not that I try to anticipate if the other person will like it, but I think I am just aware that it's a special project and take much care with it.

So, after I was done with that painting, I wanted to paint one of my women fast, purely from an emotional place and I had fun! I had prepared a canvas with lots of texture (click on the photo to see it larger) and then worked with brushes, my brayer, fingers and paper towels. I looked as colorful as the canvas when I was done! I swear I am painting my soul when I do this - it's the oddest feeling.

I've been somewhat absent from my blog and yours as I am getting ready for a visit from my dad. I am hoping though to visit all of you as I find a few minutes here and there. I've missed you!!

P.S. Those of you who sent me an e-mail with your snail mail addresses - I'll mail something out very soon!! Fun, fun, fun!!!

Snail Mail

Well, dear friends, I find myself in a little bit of a slump as far as my own artwork that I can show here, so I thought I'd show some of the beautiful cards I've received in the mail lately! Our dear, creative friend in Texas, who bought my painting, used a print of it to make my thank you card. Isn't that a clever idea?! I love it!!

And here are the last two collage postcards I received from my friend Beth. We have a monthly handmade postcard exchange, which has been the most fun!
Aren't these wonderful? So fall-inspired!!
And last, but not least, I want to share with you this lovely vintage postcard of Paris I received from a dear member of the Benevolent Postcard Society, a group of creative people who send monthly postcards, handmade or store bought. I love this one!
I have to say that in this day and age of the internet and e-mail, I LOVE getting "real" mail in my mailbox. My aunt still sends me letters and every time I receive one, my heart jumps a little - letters are so dear and personal, carrying the other person's spirit in their handwriting! I still have letters my grandmother wrote to me, my mom, my dad, my sister, aunt, cousins, old friends...and once in a while I take them out to read through some of them - like traveling through time!

Do you still write snail mail? Do you love receiving letters and postcards?

P.S. If you want to get some snail mail from me, send me your address in an e-mail to powers-studio.silke@comcast.net!

Of Scarves and Apple Crisp

Hi all! It's been a cold and blustery day today - I love those! - and I've spent it outside on a long, long walk with Winslow and then inside doing various projects around the house and knitting! I just listed another curly crocheted scarf in the above red/orange color - so luxurious! And I a knitted scarf in this brown/gold/blue/teal color - warm and cuddly! You can find both of them in my little shop here, as well as numerous other scarves, knitted, crocheted, cuddly warm or elegantly lacy.

Yesterday, I found a delicious crock pot apple crisp recipe here and now the house has been smelling deliciously of cinnamon for two days in a row (yes, I had to make it again today - half recipes both times) and our bellies have been very, very happy! (I should mention that I altered the recipe by using whole wheat flour instead of white flour, a little less sugar, half quick oats and half rolled oats, and I added some walnuts for extra crunch!)

I am working on several paintings, but one of them is a gift and I can't show it until it has reached its destination. And the others aren't quite ready to be shown yet. But soon...soon...

Wordless Wednesday

Odds and Ends and an Award!

(click on any of my pictures to enlarge them)

Well, all your good advice yesterday helped immensely and I ended up having a productive, yet relaxed day and feel back on track today!! Thanks to all of you!!!

So, today, I have some odds and ends for you. First up are my new greeting and business cards, which I won in two fantastic giveaways from UPrinting over at Melissa's blog Januarywish. I won 250 custom greeting cards and 500 business cards. The quality is fantastic and the whole process was easy and painless! Make sure you check out Melissa's blog - it's not only beautiful, but she's got the best giveaways. Daniel designed my business cards for me - aren't they fun?!?
Then, I saw this wonderful New England cookbook from 1956 in my friend Beth's Etsy shop, Maine Coast Vintage, and I'm so glad I bought it before someone else found it.
It has some great recipes, but just look at those illustrations!
I just love them!
I thought I'd better give you some proof that I'm actually working on another painting. Here a small piece of it. You'll get to see the whole painting (there's much more to it!) when it's finally done...
And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank the talented Lisa Holtzman for passing on this award to me. She is not only a warm and kind friend, but a talented artist and the most brilliant calligrapher! Make sure you check out her blog. You'll be amazed!!
Thank you, Lisa!

Later today, I hope to visit some of your lovely blogs. You are always an inspiration to me as I try to live the creative life...

How do you...

...make sure you take time to smell the flowers? How do you stay balanced in everything you do? I really want to know!

I have a hard time with this - there's so much I want to do, so much I am interested in that I could split myself into four people and still be busy with everything. I find that it's difficult for me to do a little bit of everything every day. You know, that old dilemma of breadth vs. depth...

That means that I'll have a knitting and crocheting phase, when I don't do much else. Then I start painting again and that will take up my time. Last weekend, for example, I finally picked up a book again (first time in weeks) and did a lot of reading. It was wonderful. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and loved it! But, while we did much outside and took advantage of the beautiful weather...I did no knitting, no blogging, no e-mail even, didn't talk with friends or family, painted a little bit, but not much, didn't visit any of your blogs, etc.

You get the picture, right? The problem is that I love it all, but each interest could be a full-time endeavor. And I didn't even talk about cooking, entertaining, housework, walking Winslow, etc.

As we get into my most favorite fall and winter seasons, I want to make sure that I savor life, that I enjoy all I do, that I have time to tune in to shorter days, cooler temperatures and the quiet strength of winter. I want to get that feeling of introspection and stillness that is so different from the feeling of hectic panic so often experienced the closer with get to the holidays!

So, my question to you is this: How do YOU do it? How do you stay balanced? How you do make sure you have time for everything that's important to you and for yourself? How do stay healthy and happy during this time? I'd really love to know!!

P.S. One tip I have for you readers out there who find themselves short on reading time - audio books! I always have one on my MP3 player and love it! And that's what I'm going take advantage of now -- listen to The Thrall's Tale by Judith Lindbergh and travel to Greenland in my mind while getting the house in order!

P.P.S. Some of you are asking about the audio books - I find the best source for them to be our public library! They have them as tapes, CD's and even MP3 downloads. A huge selection of both fiction and non-fiction!

UPDATE

(today's harvest from our little garden)

Well, I've gotten some wonderful comments from you all that have been incredibly helpful! Most of you were telling me to just do what strikes my fancy, what's right in front of me, enjoy doing that and then go on to the next thing. That's exactly what I did today - I just took care of stuff, one after the other, and pretty soon I had lots done, the pressure lifted and then I had time to relax and knit for a while.

I also realized that this isn't really a problem at all - because my dilemma is a very positive one. My dad wrote an e-mail to me saying that he still feels that way - never enough time in the day to do all the wonderful things we want to do. And how important it is to just enjoy what we are doing in the moment and not think about all the other things that are waiting to be explored, to be done, to be created. Let's hope life stays that full for all of us for a very long time!!

Thank you for being my friends!!!

A Perfect Walk...

As promised, some photos from our walk yesterday. Right now, the weather is perfect here in Savannah - crisp, clear, cool and sunny! I couldn't help myself on our walk along the river yesterday and had to take many, many photos. Here just a few to share with you!
I love the patterns I see everywhere...




Can you find me in this picture? I found a car mirror stuck in a palm tree and tried to take a self portrait...
The light was just amazing...


...and the colors - wonderful!!
Beautiful butterfly (or is it a moth?)...
Just look at that sky!



On another note, today is my mother's birthday. She would have been 71! I have to say it's hard for me to imagine her at that age. She passed away suddenly when she was only 48 and in my mind, she'll always be that age.
This photo is one I had not seen before today - some time ago my dad had all our old family slides converted to digital files and this one of my mom and me was one of them.

I love this scene - so happy, peaceful and wholesome!

Can You Tell...

...what happened here?!?
Even though Winslow needed a long shower after his impromptu mud bath, we had a wonderful walk by the Savannah River in the most perfect weather this afternoon! I took some great photos and will share them tomorrow...

I've been visiting many of your blogs today and am so happy to get caught up on your lives, your creations and all that's been happening! I hope to visit more of you tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday - Curious Crab

Color and Texture

It's so interesting how each season I crave the colors associated with that time of the year. This fall is no exception - I am decorating with oranges, reds, golds and greens and while I keep my decorations light, I still feel the richness of this harvest time! (Can you see our ornamental pear through the window - still completely green!)
I've had fun hanging little treasures from the gorgeous driftwood branch, Daniel found at the beach and hung over our dining room window.
Even a couple of birds love it and decided to perch in it...

The painting tucked away in the corner was painted by a family friend of the little village in the Black Forest my parents lived in when I was born.
Aside from the fall colors, I also really get into warm, nubby and soft textures when the weather gets colder. Here's a scarf I knitted - that yarn has the richest colors - browns, teals, purples and greens! And the texture makes me want to bury my face in it!!
And just take a look at the sumptuous yarn I am crocheting into yet another curly scarf (did I tell you I am addicted to making those?!). Those colors are simply stunning!
Can't wait for it to be done so I can show you!
Here are two finished beauties which you can find in my Etsy shop here...
and here!
I've also been painting and I am hoping that the piece I am working on will be ready for show and tell tomorrow! It's going somewhat slowly...

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday! And, in case I don't say it often enough, thank you so much for the loving comments you leave on my various posts! They mean the world to me!!

Fall Colors and a Favorite Recipe

Here, in Savannah, we sometimes have to look extra hard to see evidence of fall, but this morning I took the camera on my walk with Winslow and found these gorgeous leaves on an ornamental pear tree. The one in our front yard is still completely green...
This morning, we realized that Winslow had dug a nice nest for himself ... luckily it's in spot under the bird feeder where we don't have any plants. Maybe he was waiting for a fresh meal to fly into his mouth...
Yesterday, I made one of our favorite appetizers from an old Bon Appetit magazine to take to a dinner party. We love it so much and have made is on so many occasions that I thought I'd share the recipe with you.

Baked Goat Cheese with Roasted Garlic & Caramelized Onion

6 elephant garlic cloves or 12 large garlic cloves peeled
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 medium size red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon (packed) golden brown sugar
10 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
baguette slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange garlic cloves in glass baking dish. Drizzle with vegetable oil. Cover and bake until garlic is very tender about 40 minutes for elephant garlic or 30 minutes for regular garlic. Transfer garlic to rack and cool.

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until tender and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Add brown sugar, stir until melted. Remove fro heat and cool. Arrange onion mixture on bottom of 8x8 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over. Arrange roasted garlic atop cheese. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead, cover and chill.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake garlic until cheese melts but mixture is not bubbling about 25 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar, stir until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Sprinkle with basil. Serve warm or at room temperature with baguette slices.

Enjoy! (By the way, I was going to take a picture of the appetizer before I wrapped it up to take to our friends' house, but completely forgot...)
Remember the scarves above? And then there's the new one below. They are now available in my Etsy knitting shop here.
I hope you all had a fantastic and spooky Halloween! I hope to make it by your blogs tonight and to show you another painting tomorrow or Tuesday - very excited about this one!!

The Joy Diet - Chapter 6 - Treats

Well, today my copy of The Joy Diet by Martha Beck was due back at the public library and that coincided perfectly with my feeling of being finished with it, even though there are few more chapters left.
As I was reading about rewarding ourselves with treats for risks we take and just because we are who we are, I thought that I am way ahead of that. I thought that about the last chapter when I couldn't reconcile her view of taking risks with what I know works for me, and reading this chapter, I realized that I had figured this all out for myself years ago - I just look at it slightly differently.
Here are a few of the things I've learned (for myself) in the last fifteen years or so (and these are not in any particular order):

1. True happiness has to be cultivated from the inside out - it cannot be made dependent on outside circumstances.
2. How I feel is always my own decision - nobody can ever make me feel a certain way.
3. In every situation, I have a choice - not what others should or shouldn't be doing, but: how will I respond to this situation. Will respond from love or fear?
4. As soon as I make others' behavior responsible for my happiness, I'm in trouble.
   
5. Life will continue to bring what it does, but I know that if I have a bad day, it will pass. And I've experienced enough real tragedy in my life that I know I can weather any storm.
   
6. When I'm experiencing a difficult situation, I try to find just one good thought (about the situation or totally unrelated). And then another. And another. And before I know it, I'm feeling much better and often the difficult situation resolves itself.
7. Sometimes letting go and relaxing into life is as important if not more so than working hard and trying to make something happen.
   
8. Kindness is a must - toward others and myself!
9. At the end of my life nothing will matter to me except how fully I've lived, how happy I have been, and how much happiness and joy I have spread to others.
   
10. There's probably more, but that looks pretty good for now...
    

How do I know that this works for me? I've been practicing these things every day for years, really cultivating an attitude of finding the good in everything and everyone, and find that I am now living a joyful life, where my dreams continue to come true. What used to take much discipline has become a way of life and it's changed my life.

I am very aware though that not two of us are alike, and I am sure that this list of wisdom gained from life is different for each of us. As it should be! I like to be inspired in my life and I found that The Joy Diet was more motivational than inspirational, and for me that doesn't work very well. For others this might be the book that changes their lives. Isn't the variety life offers wonderful?!

So, farewell Joy Diet - I've gained some wonderful insights and am happy I participated in this discussion hosted by the lovely Jamie Ridler. Wishing you all continued joy with this book! I am off on my own joyful journey once again...

P.S. I'll have more art to show soon!!

Illustration Friday - Fast

I painted her yesterday, and I painted her FAST, which is why I thought it appropriate to enter her into this week's Illustration Friday challenge.

Painting her was very different and tactile! Even the molding paste, I applied with my fingers, as well as some of the paint. The face just happened very fast and by the joy I was feeling as she emerged, I could tell that I was painting her from deep inside.

That's what I love about painting, not when I plan something out to the smallest detail, not when it looks perfect in the end, not when others like it, but when it expresses that creative part deep within. She's gritty, she's asymmetrical, she's almost a little scary and I LOVE her!

A New Idea Taking Shape...

Here's what's been happening... Lately, I've been busy but feeling entirely uninspired. Yet, by now I know that this usually is a phase when I hatch a new idea. My problem is that I am not very patient, so I decided to fill this in-between time with knitting and crocheting.
I found some ribbon yarn in new colors and finished three scarves already - white with a silver thread (so pretty and festive!), burgundy and copper (luscious!), and light blues and aquas (cool and fresh!). I also crocheted another curly scarf, this time in bright red! I'll let you know if and when I list them in my shop.
Knitting and crocheting is very rhythmic and with easy patterns like these, perfect to let my mind wander on it's own mysterious path.

And then, yesterday, BINGO! An idea started forming and I could hardly contain my excitement! Something new with my art, something fun, something unpredictable and with endless possibilities!
Remember these two ladies? I always had a feeling they weren't finished and now I know why! I won't go into the details of it all just yet (too much to sort out still), but wanted to let you know that these two are about to go on a journey! Let's wish them Bon Voyage...
And when they come back to me, I sincerely hope that they won't be the same, that their journey will have left it's mark.

There's much more to write, but this will have to be enough for now...it's all still unfinished, swirling ideas in my mind.

In the meantime, I hope your week is progressing with wonder and excitement! I promise I will be by to visit your blogs! And I thank you for continuing to visit mine and to leave your much appreciated comments. You brighten my days!!

P.S. I am also working on another painting I hope to show you soon. It's looking quite different!

Speaking of Joy...

I didn't actually see the kick-off party for Oprah's new season, but I've since watched this dance video to I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas and every time I watch it, I can feel the joy and energy coming from this crowd. It gives me goosebumps!


Looking at all these people, most of whom probably didn't know each other, but together they created something so beautiful and joyful -- that's how I feel about this blogging experience. I have never met the vast majority of you, yet even though we each choreograph the steps to our own lives, we still dance together, support each other and create joy that circles the earth and changes everything! I thank you for that!

Now, crank up the speakers and dance!!

Today's gonna be a good day!

The Joy Diet - Chapter 5 - Risk

Well, this week of "Risk" in the exploration of The Joy Diet by Martha Beck, hosted by wonderful Jamie Ridler, has been the hardest for me so far - not the actual risk-taking, but because I disagree with the concept of doing something that frightens me every day that will lead to the fulfillment of my dreams.
I don't believe in "feeling the fear and doing it anyway." I know that if I still feel fear when I am to launch into action, I either haven't don't enough inner work to calm my fears or the action is plain wrong for me.
Even when I went kayaking a few weeks ago (you can read about it here) and had to confront one of my biggest fears, by the time I was ready to start the lesson, I was ready. I may have been a little nervous, but I had faced my fears internally first and discovered how irrational they were before I started the lesson. And I KNEW that when I was done with the capsizing, I would thoroughly enjoy the rest of the lesson.
I believe in going with the flow of life and when I renamed that chapter "Opportunities," Martha Beck and I were on the same page again.
Let's face it, everything in life involves risk - even getting out of bed in the morning!
But how do I know that I am moving toward the achievements of my small and big dreams?

(All photos were taken by Daniel on a beautiful three-mile stretch along the Savannah River.)

If at the end of the day I have happily taken advantage of all the opportunities that have presented themselves, trusting that going with the flow of life MUST lead to the fulfillment of all my dreams!

Risky? You bet!

Worth it? Absolutely!

Not only that, but it's fun and surprising and will lead to places yet unexplored, joys ready to be discovered, friends waiting to be met and dreams manifesting in front of my eyes...

Seven months ago, I followed the opportunities, went with the flow of life even though it seemed to be going in a new direction altogether, and now I find myself painting, blogging and exchanging ideas with all of you. That's all the proof I need!

Digital Housekeeping and more...

While Daniel took Winslow for a walk......and a little swim...
...in the beautiful area around the Savannah River...
...I finished two curly crocheted scarves in beautiful colors.
I am addicted to crocheting these...
I have also (finally) separate my knitting/crocheting and painting into two separate Etsy stores. You can find my paintings here and my other creations here.

Oh, and before I forget, two of Daniel's beautiful illustrations from an Irish story in Cricket Magazine found a new home in Missouri:
It's always so bittersweet to see them go!I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I am looking forward to visiting your blogs sometime this weekend!!

Movie Excitement in Savannah - Robert Redford's "The Conspirator"

Well, for some time now, Robert Redford has been filming his latest film The Conspirator in Savannah, a movie about Mary Surratt, who was the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. Daniel's students have been keeping him informed about the filming, and tonight we decided to take Winslow for a walk to the set.
You have to excuse the photos, which are not that great as we had to stay a certain distance from the set. While we didn't get any pictures of famous actors, we did get some shots of extras in costumes.
The streets have been covered with dirt, palm trees with "real" bark, horses and carriages have been brought in and everything looked like "old" Savannah. Tonight they were filming the assassination of Lincoln. And it seems that fog is always a requirement for these scenes.
They had set up the fog machine right by the spectators - maybe they wanted us to move...




I love this last shot...
...for a moment we were transported to a different time and place...aside from the giant lights of course!

Art and Awards

(Click on the painting to see more detail)

Finally, I am getting to show you more art! I don't know how some of you do it - you work full-time, you create new art every day, you post about it every day AND you leave comments on other blogs. I admire you!!

I recently bought a Baroque Artist Panel to experiment with. I really loved the wood grain on the panel and decided to mix a lot of glazing medium with my acrylic paints to work more transparently. The result is a very different look. Much more muted, this girl looks quite demure. I think had I sealed the wooden surface before painting, the colors would be a little more vibrant, but I have to say I like how this worked out. In fact, I like her so much, I am offering her in my Etsy shop.

And now two awards I was given recently. This first one I received from the very talented Mary Wadsworth, who is not only an amazing painter and sculptor (she makes the most wonderful creations out of paper clay!), but a dear and kind friend, always ready with an encouraging word!
The rules of this award state that I need to mention seven facts about myself. So, here it goes:

1. I am a recluse at heart, perfectly happy in our own little world, but only because I know I can connect with my dear friends any time I so choose (how lucky am I?!).
2. I can get up in the morning and be chatty immediately. Because Daniel is not a morning person, I talk to the dog and cat!
3. I also talk to myself quite frequently.
4. I have at least three or four very vivid dreams every night - never a nightmare! It's like my own personal movie theater!
5. Some of my dreams have been predictive in nature - nothing grand, but enough to make me pay attention.
6. When I met Daniel when I was 19, I couldn't cook anything, but I could bake the most complicated recipes! Growing up, my mom was the (most excellent) cook in our family, but she didn't like to bake, so that was my job. I learned baking from my grandmother and still, today, even though I've learned to cook, more than anything I love to bake! Especially the old family recipes.
7. I put waaaay too much thought into lists like this...but I want to give you something to read that is somewhat worthwhile!
And now another award from my tireless, amazing, talented, wonderful, thoughtful, kind and beautiful sisterfriend Ces. This one she created in honor of Arija and this is some of what you can find on Ces' blog about Arija and this award:

I am blessed to call Arija my sisterfriend and it is my great honor to design this award to recognize her: A thinking, seeing, feeling, loving person who celebrates life every day. She is an artist, a photographer, a fascinating woman with great sense of humor, wise and thoughtful blogger and a loving and caring friend.

Bella Sinclair had this to say about Arija: "I was reading just a little bit about oaks yesterday. Such a strong wood that it is prized for its strength and density. It refused to be felled for centuries (until the invention of iron tools). That, truly, is Arija, she who offers support and shade, who twinkles in the sunshine and sways with the breeze, and who refuses to be felled."

I feel so honored to have received both of these awards and am passing them on to all of you! After selecting names for the last award, I decided that I cannot do that again. The worry about forgetting someone and that person feeling bad about being left out, is just too much for me. And the fact is that you are ALL wonderful and special to me!

So, if you feel so inspired, copy the awards, post them on your blogs and pass them on. Let's spread the love!!

St. Augustine, Florida - Part 2

I tried to post this yesterday, but I was unable to upload photos to blogger. But today it works, so here are the last few pictures from St. Augustine!
We loved some of the old buildings and how everything was so lush in this warm and moist climate!
If you look at the photo below, the white building in the back reminds me of some of the German barns from my childhood.



This was a church that was built by Henry Flagler in memory of his daughter.
It's amazing how different the architecture is just three hours south of where we live. It was spectacular!!
Here the former Ponce de Leon Hotel for the very rich, also built by Henry Flagler, which is now Flagler College. A magnificent campus!








The beautiful Casa Monica Hotel in the background.
A glimpse at the former Alcazar Hotel, also built by Henry Flagler. It now houses a museum and City Hall. The courtyard was very tranquil.
Later that afternoon, the heavens opened and we waited out the storms at The Bunnery. By the time we remembered to take a picture, my giant chocolate cookie was already almost gone...
After the storm, we walked back by the water and the fort.

The next day, the temperature had dropped into the 50's and it was heavenly outside! We decided to have a delicious breakfast of French Toast (see my profile picture) at The Bunnery, walk through the historic town again. Below a picture of an old school house - it was a little creepy in that there were mannequins in the windows that would talk to you. It really startled me at first...

We then paid a visit to the Living History Museum where we had the most fascinating conversations with some of the people working there. Strangely enough, the most interesting chat we had with the wood worker (who was from England) about Norse mythology!

One more trip to the beach (picture taken with our new snaking tripod) before heading home...
And here a toast to all of you!!
Thanks for traveling with us!

St. Augustine, Florida - Part 1

Come with us on our recent trip to St. Augustine in Florida!
I thought I'd better divide the photos into two posts or you'll be on overload... We found St. Augustine to be a beautiful little old town with interesting and friendly people. It was a little more commercial than we had expected, but the number of good restaurants truly surprised us!

It was also the weekend of the annual Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach and we saw beautiful, gleaming motorcycles and their proud owners everywhere! Many of them were escaping the cold and even snow in their home states for one more trip into summer!
And summer it was - our first two days in St. Augustine were so humid that I felt like I was melting every time I stepped outside. If I were one of those southern women who simply glows beautifully in hot and humid weather, I wouldn't mind. No, I sweat! And not particularly ladylike!
We arrived toward evening and took a stroll through the main streets of the historic town to find the Alehouse where we were going to have dinner. On the way, we saw some gorgeous houses and gardens, among them this community garden with an old well.
Look at this beautiful old wooden house.



At the Alehouse, a microbrewery, we had to sample all of their beers, which were quite good. I guess that's where I am a German at heart. Most women seem to prefer a glass of wine, whereas I'd always go for a good beer...
The birthday boy!
Daniel's oldest sister had given him this very cool tripod for his birthday. You can set it on flat surfaces, but also wrap it around things, which makes it perfect for traveling. We have a series of self-portraits going, where we hold out the camera at arms length and take a picture of ourselves, and this tripod will certainly help with that! Of course, Daniel couldn't resist goofing around with it...
Here one of our "traditional" self-portraits.
The next morning, we had delicious breakfast and went to the beach afterward. What a beach it was - the sand was white and fine like powdered sugar and it looked like we could walk on forever. The fun part was that you drive right onto the beach to park your car. I think it's the first time our little car has seen the ocean...
Big storms approaching from the west.
We then paid a visit to the lighthouse. The surrounding area was filled with the most gorgeous live oaks.















Now just a little comment on my last post about the Joy Diet. Several of you commented on how serious it is. It really isn't, especially for me. I think it would be much more serious and maybe distressing if I weren't already living my dream life. Anything else wonderful that happens for me is simply icing on the cake...

Plus, the book offers much more than I cover and is really quite fun. Most of what she talks about isn't new to me, so I focus in on the parts that give me something to think about. If you read the book, you'd probably focus on something completely different... I'm already having fun with this week's topic of taking risks!

OK, check back in tomorrow for the rest of the St. Augustine photos and then on Wednesday for more art and an award!!

The Joy Diet - Chapter 4 - Creativity

And we continue on the journey through The Joy Diet, hosted by Jamie Ridler...
When I first read the heading to this chapter, I thought: "Easy! I do creative things every day. I paint, I knit, I cook..." Well, after I read the chapter, I was at a loss as to what to say about it. It's less about being creative and more about finding one creative idea every day that will help us realize our desires.
I have to admit that I didn't work with it much this last week as my week was super full and we were out of town for a few days, but now I am ready to go with chapters 4 and 5 this week. They sort of go hand-in-hand anyway.
What I found most intriguing about chapter 4 was the part where we obsess on the people or groups we dislike the most and see how we can incorporate the traits we dislike into our repertoire to reach our goals.
Now that brought up some interesting stuff for me. What I really dislike in others, for example, is judgment without compassion, loud and obnoxious behavior, constant talking. Ok, none of those are behaviors I want to start cultivating in myself, but they revealed something about me that I've been aware of, but not really as an obstacle in reaching my goals.
I realized that I am often way too concerned about what others are thinking and how others are feeling. Where I don't like a lack of compassion, I sometimes have too much and I often feel responsible for others' emotional responses, forgetting that how we feel is always our own choice.
I also tend to be overly quiet and polite (as opposed to the loud and obnoxious behavior I dislike). It's the people pleaser in me. And my overly empathic side. There is much that even those close to me don't know because it's more peaceful for me to be the person I know they will be most comfortable with. Do you know what I mean?
It's easier being the person most know and are comfortable with, but if I am to realize one of the big dreams in my life (one I will tell you about eventually as it begins to unfold), that will no longer be possible.
Starting to paint this year and writing this blog were similar steps in allowing more of my true self to shine - and not just shine but do so in a public forum. The response was more than I could have ever dreamed of.
And then there's the constant talking that I don't like in others...well, sometimes I have an opportunity to speak and really say something that I know is important and can give a different perspective, but I keep quiet.
Most of the time because what I would have to say would disagree with what the other person is proclaiming. And there's the people pleaser again and my overly empathic self not wanting to upset the apple cart.
Add to that my discomfort with conflict, learned early on in my life, and I'd rather keep the peace, even though I have much to say that is of importance and sometimes even profound.
In a way I love that there's always more territory to uncover and become familiar with. We are never done learning about ourselves, are we?
This week we get to take risks in some action steps toward fulfilling our desires.

(All photos were taken on our weekend trip to St. Augustine, FL - more to come this week)

And even though I am quite the scaredy-cat, I will try to live this week with the heart of a lion - I am a leo after all...

Painting...

Well, for Daniel's birthday, I wanted to create a painting of us that actually looked like us - sort of. I think it turned out alright. It's definitely different trying to paint someone from "real life" rather than one of the women that just flow from my imagination. Daniel said he really liked it (isn't he sweet!?)! What do you think?

We did have a really good laugh about the attire I painted us in. We both thought we looked like we were playing doctor and nurse! Nothing wrong with that...

In the meantime, we are having a fantastic time in St. Augustine - just wait until you see some of the photos. Such a beautiful place!

Hope you are all doing well. I look forward to having time to visit all of your blogs later this weekend!!

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

Today is Daniel's birthday!
Can you believe that this handsome, young man is turning 50 today?! Neither one of us can...
So, today, this amazing man and I are going on a little trip to St. Augustine in Florida! We'll be back Saturday! Have a wonderful few days!!

Inspiration

When she got really still, she could feel the inspiration all around her.

First of all, thank you so much for all your heartfelt comments! I so appreciate your encouragement and friendship!!

Well, here's another portrait (I wonder if I'll ever feel "done" with women portraits) I painted on a new coarse molding gel I had not previously worked with. It has a lot of grit and is interesting to paint on. I love the way it feels under my fingers. I also worked on an art board that is pretty new (this was a sample I had gotten), which was great to work on. It's thin and firm and doesn't buckle or warp at all.

As you can see (click on the photo to see her bigger), I didn't only get into a LOT of texture, but also patterning. This resulted in a pretty busy painting, and I like the sense of serenity she still has about her with all this texture going on in the background...

She's available in my Etsy store if you really like her!

In other news, it's finally a little cooler here today and we are starting to feel the first inklings of fall! Not a moment too soon...

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! I plan to visit many of your blogs this evening..."see" you then!

Illustration Friday - Flying

Every day she does what is expected of her, but at night she dreams of flying.

I thought I'd enter this very put together woman in this week's Illustration Friday topic of "flying." I painted her on an 8 x 10 canvas that I textured very heavily with light molding paste. I love the tactile quality of some of my paintings!

What's not very well visible on the scan are all the metallic colors I used, especially in the patterned background - gold, silver, bronze and pearly white. Really gives it a great shimmer.

I've been painting quite a bit and am looking forward to sharing more of my my creations with you this week!

If this dreaming woman speaks to you, she's available in my Etsy shop!

A Special Award

Yesterday, the amazing Ces honored me with a very special award she created in honor of our dear friend Deborah of Midlife Poet. Honestly, I don't know how I ended up in this group of amazing women, but I gladly accept the award and pass it on!

Please visit Ces' blog to be see the incredible beauty of her artwork and read her inspiring posts. Below is part of what she had to say.

“So today I am planting another tree. The Quercus shumardii or Shumard Oak. It is a handsome large tree with straight axis and broad, rounded open crown. It withstands strong hurricane winds, extreme heat, is tall and straight and just plain beautiful. I have more trees to plant but rest assured those who have virtual trees and acorns planted and distributed in their honor have one common virtue, they are loyal friends regardless of race, creed, political affiliations and geography. Here, I honor womanhood and friendship and there is nothing more wondrous a blessing for anyone than for a friend who came and never left your side.”

Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest,

but who came and never left your side.

Here's to a sampling of my sisterfriends in my blog world!

Angela Recada

Lorrie of Lilylovekin Tails

Julie Haymaker Thompson

Beth of Beth's Take on Life

Lori of Elvie Studio

Dorthe of Den Lille Lade

Bobbie of The Bead Goes On

Amy of Such a Wondrous Place this Faerytale Space

Dolores of True Blue Canadian

Char of We Blog Artists

Beth of Beth Anderson Pulls the Wool

Mary of Mary Wadsworth's Blooming Ideas

Julie-Ann of Heavenleigh Art

Sarah of TheOtherMousie

Lady P of Madly Creative

There are some that are missing on my list because they were already awarded by Ces. And others just because the list was getting too long or they have expressed a wish not to receive awards. I've also limited my selection to blogs written in English.

Now, I know that you might be very busy right now and some of you are dealing with serious health issues, so if you can't find the time to pass this award on, simply accept it knowing that I appreciate your friendship! But if you feel like it, pass this along to your sisterfriends!

Thank you, Ces for creating this award and Deborah for inspiring it!

The Joy Diet - Chapter 3 - Desire

As many of you already know, I've been participating in The Next Chapter: The Joy Diet, hosted by the wonderful Jamie Ridler. This week's chapter dealt with a doozie - desire!
All week long I had this topic in the back of my mind, trying to figure out what to write about it and, more importantly, how to write about it. I don't like to write long epistles, and this chapter could easily inspire one! The author, Martha Beck, talks about how many of us learn to deny what we truly desire so we won't be disappointed in life, to please those around us, and to fit into society. This was certainly true for me.
In my life, I had many examples of people who were living their dreams, but even more of those who will insist on living a life that denies their desires in at least one important area of their lives. As I have watched their spirits struggle to shine through and seemingly diminish over the years, I have felt more strongly than ever to find what makes me truly happy!
I am a people pleaser by nature, and finding my own way has had its ups and downs. I am still sorting out my true desires and shedding those I have taken on that are really other people's (well-meaning) dreams for me. Do you know what I mean?
I know that me starting to paint and to blog about it was the direct result of identifying my very deep desire to live a creative life, to spread beauty, to express my true spirit and to communicate it with the world fearlessly.
I also am very aware as I look at my loved ones lives, and see how much better their lives could be if they just allowed themselves to follow their bliss, that I must not impose my desires for them on their lives. When their own desires call to them loudly enough, they will listen. And as soon as their desires are stronger than their fears, they will act on them. And I will be there to cheer them on!
In the meantime, I love tuning in to myself and expressing my true nature! And maybe, in the process, I get to be an inspiration to some in the same way so many of my family and friends (and that includes all of you) are an inspiration to me.

(All photos were taken in the marsh area around Wilmington and Tybee Islands)

As I was pondering this topic of desire, I realized that I still have many desires I can't wait to see manifest, and some that are so dear to me and so important that I keep them very close to my heart. You can be sure, though, as they unfold (and I know that they will) I will share them with you!

And now I leave you with my fervent wish that all your dearest desires come true!!