for the weekend


A couple years ago, we went to the lands near Chimayo, New Mexico... one of my favorite spots on earth.
And seeing as I have been going through "older" photos this past week or so.... 
I decided to edit a couple shots from that trip for this weekend's post.

But hey, it's also the weekend... so I also have some links to share with you all:
*photographer Anna Williams
*what a great idea!... and more info here.
*another awesome idea
*delicious ideas from canned bisquits
*sounds of nature -- OWLs!
*meet Wally
*and something I was talking about the other day... the beauty of letting go.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll see you all back here on Monday.



6-5-15



One of the advantages to being in a lupus flare... is that I have no energy... (follow me here)
.... so when I do have the energy, I tend to work on things that are not requiring of alot of energy.
So for example, I have had the opportunity to look through some of my older (digital) photos... and work on a couple that I have never posted before.
These are a couple of shots from a few years ago... that were just tucked away and waiting for me to rediscover them and edit.

So today... I would encourage you to think about what talents you may have... that are just waiting for you to take them out...
... and try them on ....   >>wink<<

--see you all tomorrow for my weekend post.

6-4-15


well, I've gone and done it. ... I ordered a new camera.... which should be arriving in a week or so.
I am slowly getting some energy back... although it is definitely coming in spurts...
and I've a show to get ready for in a week.
>>sigh<<

I feel like I've missed being involved in so very much these past couple of months...
and I know that I feel way behind on everything.
It's like the days are flying by...

Good news, is that I have been able to make a few things for the Etsy shop... Jade and silver earring sets,
and several sets of envelopes with cards. And I've been working on a couple photo/ flyer things for people
... and of course, my blog photos and such.

So, I thought that I would show a few of the items here on my blog for today...
and encourage you all to keep plugging away...
even on days when you feel like you can barely keep up with the laundry.
Hang in there! ... and I'll see you all tomorrow.


6-3-15


3 years ago, I went on a day trip with a (former) friend to Taos.
We visited a wonderful ranch (Rancho la Fina) where the owner there; Patricia Quintana,
was raising heritage Churro sheep (she also had some incredible goats and a character of a lama named Santos).

So very much has changed since then.
I find these past few days, that I have been very melancholy.
I wonder about friendships lost... where people go... what happens when things end.
What causes these holes in the heart... and how to mend things that time seems to not be able to forget...

I read once, that we own our stories.
The good, the bad... and the ugly.
People often behave badly... and we still tend to only remember the good.
Human nature I suppose... but also a "womanly" trait, I think.
We want to fix things. Make them ok. Heal. Find closure... even if it's not an ideal ending.
But what happens when you can't fix things or when the conversations never happen?
Or worse, when things end on an angry or sad note? and the parties involved have no contact with each other any more?

On a certain level... I think we all have to resolve things within ourselves.
We are messy beings... and it's hard to acknowledge that.
And being vulnerable... is really a great act of courage.
We make mistakes... we grow.... we learn...
and hopefully... we are gentle with each other along the way.
Or maybe more importantly, we are gentle with ourselves.... even when others are not.

Last night was the full moon.
Full moons, in some traditions, represent purging.... releasing... the ending of cycles and letting go.
The light of the moon sheds illumination on things in our life that need to come into focus...
and so .... we must see things as they are... and allow them to be released.
And so it is.
And so it goes.

See you all tomorrow.



...all the photos for today's post, are ones I took on that trip to Taos; but edited today.

6-2-15


I suppose one of the good things about being sick... is that you get to notice and appreciate things right in your yard... right in your house... in easy view. It encourages you to see things you wouldn't normally (potentially) notice... and that is always a good thing.

This whole past month has been spent trying to rest, trying to get better... and dealing with chronic pain and health issues that I am sure lots of people can relate to. Unfortunately, it also has the effect (at least for me) of feeling left out, left behind, and out of touch. It sometimes seems as if the world is working at one (faster) pace... and getting alot done and accomplished and appreciated.... while I am left in the dust. I don't want to be identified by my illness, and yet.... some days it is what it is. It's frustrating... I would like to be able to do much more than I have been... and yet some days... the totality of what I have done is limited to keeping up with the dishes, or making my bed.
And yes, I am deeply aware that I am not the only one who feels this way... so I say to you all... it will get better.
Relish the small things. Take hold of what is getting done.
Think about what you want to do when you feel a bit better.
Give yourself some slack...
and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.


6-1-15



Well, today is my day off... but I've things to do with my mom and such... and the day looks like it's going to be busy.
But I thought I would show you a couple photos of a visitor I had yesterday;
and some links I'd found and wanted to share with you all:

*bees
*on buying less
*photographer Sofiane Samlal
*artist Cornelia Parker; and the Magna Carta
*words from the Dalai Lama

~~ see you all tomorrow.

for the weekend


Wow.. it's been a very strange week...
and there is the very pronounced feeling of change in the air.

But I am finally starting to feel a bit better from my flare... and am working up to a couple hours of energy a day... which is good.
So.... I have been trying to work on things a bit at a time.

And hey... it's the weekend... which means I have some links to share with you all:
*artist Mariko Kusumoto
*this is awesome
*we have a new flag!... and it's cool.
*a great information source on the business side of art
*artist Kurt Pio
*wanna live here?
*fashion and Native American culture
*photographer Louise Lakier

and then I got to looking at rural economics in relation to art business. ..
--and I found this awesome bit
--and this incredible story
--and a group of artists that are doing this in SanFran (and here is a video on it) (and here is the website)

and then some interesting things...
*how to grow an avocado from the pit
*how to tell the differences between Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac
*neat places to go in PA
**and I'll leave you with this guy... what a great idea.... and what a wonderful service.

Hope you all have a great weekend... and I'll see you back here on Monday.

5-29-15


~~bloom where you are planted ~~

Not a unique thought; but a truism.
You have to start where you are.
Use what you have.
Grow.
Bloom.

--course, there's the whole aspect of being surrounded in fertilizer... and making the most of what could be a bad situation... (wink. wink) ... and yes, that sometimes fits too.
It still has validity.

It can also apply to those of us who recycle and upcycle.
Taking something that may not be functioning.... and making it pretty, useful, artful...
Making it bloom...

So... for today...
think about what inspires you.
What you can do with something "broken"... make it better... make it bloom.
--- see you all tomorrow.

5-28-15



I wish I could claim these photos as my own, but they are my daughter's.
So much talent in such a wonderful human being.
>>sigh<<

And so today I am going to work on a few things... and I will see you all tomorrow.
*you can see some of her work in her Etsy shop; Mulchkin.

5-27-15


...anxious... and I don't know why... just one of those days I guess.
Today is full of errands and appointments with my mom... and some planting of plants.
And fortunately, it looks like we might get some rain... which will cool things off; and cleanse things... and will be awesome.

Much love to you all; and I'll see you all tomorrow.

5-26-15


I love black and white photography... and I love a more journalistic/ street kind of approach to what I do.
With my camera dying... this has been utmost in my mind in looking for a new camera to get.
Well, that and affordability... and quality for my budget constraints.

One of the newest photographers on the scene (or at least one that is making the news this week) is Xyza Bacani.
This is the story that MSN ran this am... and the New York Times posted this (and here is a link to her website).
She has a very journalistic feel to her photos, and it reminds me of the work of Vivian Maier (whom I love).

Photography will always be my first love.
But I've also been working on some new jewelry pieces to list in the shop this week...
and I've made a couple new sets of envelopes & cards from recycled children's books...
so things are rolling along.

So what's next?
A show with the PA Wilds in mid-June... working on the home & studio... cleaning more things out of my craft stash to sell online...
trying to get my health back on track.... ordering a new camera.... and of course, making new stuff.

See you all tomorrow!

(the photo for today's post is one I took a couple weeks ago on the way to State College.
I've never seen a train on these tracks before, and we were excited to see it come rolling on down).

5-25-15



Today is my day off... and I've lots of errands and things to do...
so I will leave you with spring beauties.... one of the most delicate flowers of spring.

You can learn about them here... and here... and here.


for the weekend



It's the weekend! And it's a long weekend... with Memorial Day being on Monday.
(you can see more on the holiday here... here .... and here)
There are lots of yard sales going on this weekend...
FREE fishing on Sunday ... and a parade on Monday.
But mostly, I think it will be a great weekend to just kick back and enjoy watching the grass grow.

But first, I have some links to share with you all:
*a 1970s kind of summer
*10 patriotic desserts
*nature!
*activities in PA for the summer
*summer vacation ideas
*dandelion wishes
*camping hacks
*s'mores!!!
*camp cooking... and more camp cooking
*need a summer reading list?
*I love the look of this house ...
*wow! art.
*free patriotic themed things to print
*great food for awesome gatherings
*some great vintage Memorial Day postcards (pinterest)

~~~ so have a great weekend; and I'll see you all back here on Monday.

5-22-15


It's a sunny day up here on the hill.
Folks are getting ready for the up-coming Memorial Day weekend...
and I can hear some hub-bub from the town echoing through the hills here.
And me? I did some special orders this week...  a couple strands of knotted pearls, a set of prayer beads... and some earrings.
Today I hope to sit a bit in the pretty outside and listen to birdsong while I make something else.
So... off for now... and here are some photos of my surroundings.

See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.



5-21-15



Stormy days... oh how I love you.

Yesterday and today I have been working on some prayer bead sets... which I will show you later on this week;
as one is being sent to a friend and I don't want to ruin the surprise.
I am slowly getting some rest that I need... and working on a few things...
and trying to help my mom... who is having some issues as well.
So for today... rest.... be well... stay safe.... and roll with those glorious storm clouds.

See you all tomorrow.

5-20-15


the familiar... and the unexplored
all await your tenderness
your gentleness
your treading softly on weightless feet
below skirts muddied with spring


Today I am thankful for the cooler temps
bright blue skies and puffy white clouds
the songs of jays building nests
and a little energy to make something creative.
These are some simple earrings I made this week.

See you all tomorrow.

5-19-15


It's been "no spoons" days ... for awhile now... which is supremely frustrating.
However. Yesterday the daughter and I took a short ride to a neighboring town to take care of our recycling. In the 6 months since we last went; we have accumulated only 1 (large) bag of actual garbage; a huge box of glass and some catalogs we got in the mail, and then about 12 kitchen size bags of plastic recycling. It's amazing, really. And I am proud of our family for doing what we can.

On the way home, we stopped to see a friend... which was awesome...
and we stopped at a couple spots to take some photos.
The photos for today's post are at one of those stops...
fields of mustard and wishes... blue skies and butterflies...
and so it goes...

See you all tomorrow.



And today is Jim and my 25th Anniversary... so Jim, THANK YOU... and I love you.

5-18-15


Sometimes you have to take a step back and breathe...
and really look.

My camera is dying.
I have taken photos ever since my dad put a Kodak/Brownie Hawkeye in my hands at the age of 6.
And I've taken (almost) daily photos as part of a personal challenge; since 2009.
But... these past couple of weeks has put a kink in that; as things are slowly but surely going bezerk on my camera.
The tragic part in all this... is that it is the only camera I have at the moment.(I have one digital SLR camera, and one lens)
I have a couple antique/ collectible cameras... but they require special film... and most don't work anyway...they just look great on a shelf. Plus, there is the whole issue of finding a place that develops film...

The daughter and I watched a movie last night; on the life and work of Sally Mann.
It was awesome. For me; it drove home the idea of just do it. 
Don't wait for acceptance; don't wait for brilliance... just do the work.
(sounds like a good friend of mine). (here is an interview she did).
I love her work... and I love her work ethic.
She was always working on her art (and still is actively working).... which I certainly understand.

So. Time to do some research.
Time to save my pennies.
Time to make some coffee...

See you all tomorrow.



(The photos for today's post were taken last week on a random drive on some back roads here.
We came across this stunningly gorgeous old general store? or so it appears to have been.
I wanted to do it in black and white... and so I have.)

for the weekend


Yay! the weekend is here... and I hope you are all out and about enjoying it.

This whole week, I've been trying to rest and recoup from a Lupus flare; and what that essentially means... is that I've done a little housework, a bit of cooking, maintenance type chores... and not much else. I have, of course, checked on my mom and run errands with her and such... but for me; artistically... not a whole lot has been going on (except for my photography... which I work on every day).
But, Jim has completed the first week at his new job.... and loves it. Which means more to me than anything. Soon there will be the figuring out of budgets, and figuring out a savings plan... things like that. But for now... it's sunny... and things are blooming like crazy all around us.

And per my usual routine here; here is a list of links for you to look at in your free time:
*a true account of the life-changing magic of tidying up
*a friend and I were talking about this the other day... the healthy use of facebook
*I've posted this in the past; but she was such an inspiration
*some great photos from 1913
*31 things people from PA have to explain to out-of-towners
*something to think about
*news for CSI fans... here... here... and here
*coloring! (I've always wanted to publish a coloring book)
*this looks cool... and it's nearby! (and more on the artist)
*sculpture! from bones!... and in shells.

So. Because I've been trying to rest more... I was able to watch some good programs on TV...
Thanks in large part, to some extra channels we were given as a preview this week.
(and a small rant on how I wish we could just pay for stations we want... instead of all this package crap).
Anyway.
One of the shows I caught was THIS. Stellar. Truly. And the episode I saw featured THIS artisan, 
Then I saw a couple recorded concerts! One featured this lady (and info here),
and another featured this band. Awesome.

Thanks for looking, and I'll see you all back here on Monday.



5-15-15


on the most troublesome of days
under cloud filled skies
i write; pen in hand
untold fables
tales of old... and new
wild-eyed wonders
through the eyes of children
in muddy boots
longing to run free
while the sun still shines