2-4-16

I was reading a blog last evening, and the writer of that blog was talking about the difference between wealth and riches. She had just finished reading a book by Agapi Stassinopoulos; who in turn... had touted the difference as: 'Being rich means you have a lot of money.  Being wealthy means you value the gifts you have and you develop them.  Wealth means that you have everything you need, and that you share it, too.  It means being generous with what you have, not living in fear of losing what you have, and not comparing it to what anyone else has.'

Now, I've never  read this author, but it rather makes sense. Ms Stassinopoulos goes on 'Having intelligence is wealth.  Being curious about life is wealth.  Ethics is wealth - it is the integrity you have in all your relationships.  Having friends who care for you and love you, and whom you care for and love, that is wealth.  Taking care of yourself and being healthy is wealth, and so is having respect for yourself and your fellow human beings.  Being educated, having a thirst for learning, being able to go to good schools with inspiring teachers who will help cultivate your talents, is wealth too - the most important kind, because without that, it really doesn't matter what else you have. The arts and culture are wealth.  The artists of the world are all wealthy.  They have gifts that money can never buy.'

The wording doesn't much matter, whether you refer to this as "riches" or "wealth"... as I have seen this theory used with opposite wording. The concept is what's important. So many times, we get caught up in worrying about money... and assume because we have none (or because we struggle for what we do have) that we are poor. We are not. Aside from the gratitude of having a roof and having something to eat... we have potential. We have the ability to grow, to change, to adapt, and to move on.

I was thinking of that... and was immediately reminded of the photo I chose for today's post.
I took it while briefly traveling through Aztec, New Mexico and stopping at a site of some fabulous ruins. And what I see when I look at this photo (beyond how cool the ruins are)... is the idea that you may feel like you've got nothing but brick walls all around you. Life maybe closing in. Things may seem impossible. Success/happiness/ whatever you are seeking... might seem beyond you.... but it's there. And there is always a way to it.

Hang in there, my friends... and I'll see you all tomorrow.

2-3-16

It's raining.... it's chilly... and whatever "winter effects" we had; seem to be disappearing in the wake of Phil's shadow yesterday.
It does indeed, look as though we are skipping most all of winter this year... and heading back into spring. But we'll see.
Nature may surprise us yet.

I am exhausted. It's always amazing to me how a busy day can just wipe me out... and the symptoms can linger forever; or so it seems. I am cranky, and restless.... and definitely lacking in good sleep. Brina must have been feeling it too... because she didn't let any of us sleep past 5:30 this am. (even though I had barely gotten 4hrs of sleep).
I am thinking a major nap might be in order. But first, I decided to take a walk about the yard; and the photos for today's post show some of what is happening out there today. The trio of blue jays that frequent our yard are squawking at each other... the wind is whipping up a bit here on the hill... and the coffee is on.

See you all tomorrow.

2-2-16

Today is going to be a busy day of running errands... unexpected plans that changed at the last minute. 

If I have the time and energy... as soon as I get home, I am heading to the studio. 

The daughter, however... has been awesome. 

She has been very diligent in keeping her working hours steady and on course...

and as sort of a continuation of yesterday's "maker monday" post... I thought I would show some of her recent artwork.

Carry on, my friends! ... and I will see you all tomorrow.

2-1-16

so... this weekend I made cookies.

Let me preface this, with the knowledge that I am not a baker. I love to make pies and banana bread... and the such. But for the last decade probably, when I  have made cookies... I have made either bar cookies or drop cookies. I guess I am lazy... but truth be told, and as evidenced by this weekend... frosted, cut-out cookies are not my forte.

But I did learn a few things...

-find a good recipe, or buy a pre-made mix. Life doesn't have to be complicated.
-find a cute cookie cutter... make things fun.
-always chill your dough in between batches. Your dough gets warm, and then you end up with flat, non-identifiable shaped cookies.
-there are a billion recipes for frosting. A friend told me to try small amounts of evaporated milk with powered sugar. It worked perfectly.
-if perfection is your goal... try to use piping frosting all around the inner edges of your cookies, and then fill in that design with your frosting. Mine looked like a 6yr old did them.
-never trust the timing on recipes. Check your cookies. Check them often.
-there will always be a few that are "messed up." Consider this a prime time to sample the recipe and see how good they taste.
Share with a friend.

And finally, cut yourself some slack. I was way too nervous about doing a good job, as the cookies were going to someone else.
But... in the end... they tasted really good... and after all, that's what really matters.
See you all tomorrow...

for the weekend

It's the weekend!

This whole month has gone by so very quickly... 

and I feel as though I have been a hermit for most all of it.... which is ok.

Some times it is a very necessary thing.

But today it is nice... the sun is out... and I hope you are all well and enjoying your day.

Here are some links to share with you all -- looks like my feed this week was full of art!

*some neat art

*artist Azumi Sakata

*artist Gerry Bergstein

*great old Victorian photographs

*the language of dogs

*photographer Amanda Jones' project

*Baroque paper wigs!

*artist Thornton Dial; and another that showcases his art

*artist Olafur Eliasson

*a very cool photo blog 

*Anna and Elena Balbusso

*and an awesome site I just discovered that has TONS of old photos on it

~~See you all on Monday for my "maker Monday" post.

1-29-16

We are very fortunate to live where we do... in town, but it doesn't feel like we are in town.
And actually, today, it rather feels like we are living in a snowglobe...

This week when I went to get groceries... there were some things on sale; so I've been doing quite a bit of cooking these past few days.
I also try to incorporate lots of the fresh veggies and such that I preserved from this summer's Farmer's Market produce.
*I made a vegan chili (shown below, with a little bit of cheese I threw on top for my lunch). Baby fingerling potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, corn, bell peppers, celery, onions, green chili peppers, a couple kinds of beans... it disappeared pretty quickly.
*I made a mix of sausage and hamburger that I seasoned and cooked, and then put in the freezer for use in future dinners.
*Yesterday I cooked up a couple pork chops with local made mustard and some spices... I put that in the freezer for a quick dinner too.
*And then last night I started the crock pot with 2 large breasts of chicken, corn, rice, peppers, carrots, leeks, and a mix of dried herbs from this summer's herb garden. I think this will be dinner for tonight...

I think sometimes we get so very busy, that we forget how important it is to have a good home-cooked meal.
Keep warm, my friends... and I will see you all tomorrow.

1-28-16

It's amazing sometimes how things happen.

I was in the grocery store the other night, doing grocery shopping for a couple of people; so I had more than a few items in my cart. Staffing at the shop was minimal, due to some call ins... and the gal working the register didn't usually perform that job... so she felt like she was going slow (she wasn't. She was doing an awesome job). Anyway. So I let several people go in line ahead of me; as they only had a few items... and I didn't want them to get stuck behind me.
One of those folks, was a gentleman whom I had never met... who I struck up a conversation with. We parted, and he went on his way.
Today, that same guy showed up to buy an item of mine off of one of the yard sale pages online.

Gobsmacked at seeing me/ recognizing me... he told me this story: He had worked late, was tired, and hadn't eaten. He was rushing about to get something to fix quickly at home for dinner. Because I let him in line ahead of me... he had a few extra minutes to spare; and decided to spend a few dollars in change that he had on a lottery ticket. That ticket won him the money he had spent on the ticket... plus a free ticket.
That free ticket,  in turn won him the exact amount of money he was using to buy my item that I had for sale. Go figure... and how cool is that?!

Hope you are having a day full of happy synchronicity... and I'll see you all tomorrow.

1-27-16

Time got away from me a bit today.

Lots of errands... stuff to do... places to go... not unusual per se.

And life can be like that. We get all caught up on the things we need to do; 

that we sometimes don't take time out to do something fun/ interesting/ creative.

That said...  today I also got my hair cut; which was fun... and creative.

See you all tomorrow.

~~~

((the photo for today's post is one I took a few years ago (and didn't edit until today) on a day trip to Santa Fe. 

I was captivated by the architecture of some of the buildings, and these archways caught my eye))

1-26-16

I am not sure when I even took this photo.
It is film, and judging from what I remember, I think this was from the very late 70s or early 80s.
...  and I love it.
I am hoping (this year) to (finally) make the time to scan hundreds and hundreds of film photos and slides I have in plastic tubs in the studio. Some are copies of old family photos, many are ones I took on trips and travels... as well as through the years.... and some are even ones I was either gifted or bought at yard sales because they were cool. I am fascinated by these captured moments in time.

But for today... it is cold, and rainy... and my schedule is completely thrown off.
On the plus side, I made a big crock pot of vegan chili... and I think it is calling my name.
See you all tomorrow.

1-25-16

So yesterday afternoon, the daughter and I went to a painting class by local artist/ friend Theresa Welsh. I must preface this by saying that I adore painting and anyone who can do it... but that it really scares the bejesus out of me. I am intimidated, to say the least. And so it was with much trepidation that I went and tried my hand at it.  I will also admit, that I had a couple "adult beverages" to help me get through it... LOL. And, I can honestly now say, that I am not a fan of the martini. But I digress.

What is important here, I think... is that you are willing to, on occasion, step out of your comfort zone. So for today's "Maker Monday" post.... I am sharing the painting I did (upper left) and the daughter did (upper right). As awkward and uncomfortable as some things are.... growth as an artist... and new inspiration!... usually comes with a moment of stepping out of your box. Of trying something new... or experiencing something you've never tried before. It's often a scary thing to try something you've never done, and often "fear of failure" often hinders us.

The old adage "... nothing ventured, nothing gained..." rings true here. Ah, and what if we all discover something we love?!

~~~

On an aside, we also had a visit yesterday from a flock of 12 wild turkey yesterday... 

just walking through the yard. It was awesome.

See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend

...a funny thing happened last evening.
As you know, I've been going through stuff to 1. clean out and 2. to possibly sell.
With all the changes in the past month, (and really, the past several years)... you realize how less of an importance "stuff" has. When I "retired" from nursing back in 2003, one of the first things I set about doing was downsizing our stuff. And it's something I believe in strongly. Yes, I enjoy having certain things. And yes, there are certain "luxuries" that, in my opinion... are sort of necessities (like fresh flowers and good coffee). But there are also lots of things that we can do without, and have.

Since moving back to PA though, we have managed to accumulate an amount of "stuff"... mostly free things and things people were getting rid of, or things I found very affordable, that I thought we could upcycle or make fresh. So. I was taking photos of some things to sell, and I happened to list one of those items online for what I figured was a fair price. It was an antique... and not in horribly great shape.... and not knowing much about the item... I listed it for what I paid for it (many years ago). Within just a couple of minutes... the item was getting lots of "lookie-loos"... and I received an email from someone I didn't even know. Turns out, they are sort of a friend-of-a-friend. ... and they wanted me to know that I should probably look the item up... and they gave me some additional info about the piece. After another minute... (and because of the info they gave me)... I was able to find the same exact piece (albeit in a bit better shape)... for about $150. Needless to say, I was stunned. This person could have just as easily bought the item, and resold it... but instead, they decided to tell me.

When you are going through rough times, it is easy to think that everything is going wrong. That things are on a slippery slope.
That all the "good" people have left the building. I try to be, for the most part, an optimist. I tend to see the good in people.
But after awhile, even the cheeriest get discouraged.
But let me tell you... there are still really good folks out there.

And so... (and because it's the weekend)... I've got some links to share with you:
*art vending machines
*symmetry
*Julia Child's house
*some astronomy stuff... and this is cool!
*rather surreal...  and more... this is awesome
*a blog by a young girl, who draws all the things her younger brother grows in his garden
*wow.  Artist Malin Gabriella Nordin
*a force for good
*so... I've just started a book by Patti Smith... and the daughter found me this. wise words.

--I hope you all have a great weekend... and I will see you all back here on Monday for my "Maker Monday" post.

1-22-16

There is such beauty in the every day... the common place... the things we don't always see.
And it's something I try to convey here on my blog.

Today was a lovely day. 

See you all tomorrow.

1-21-16

...we are surrounded with inspiration.

I find that I berate myself daily... I feel like I don't do enough, make enough, am not productive enough. And yet, there are moments... that I realize, with deep clarity... that I am doing exactly what I need to be doing. Too often, I think we are reluctant to cut ourselves some slack when we take moments to create and make things. What, I wonder, would life be like if we all stopped creating?
Pretty dull, I would think.

It also helps that, when I get up and around... that I find things like this on my kitchen table.
My daughter, also a full-time/ self-employed artist... is constantly working... drawing... sketching... painting... and this was some of the work she created last night with some random inks I had.
.wow.

Keep creating folks... see you all tomorrow.

1-20-16

Up early... (for me)... and working, but I am exhausted.
It is one of those soul-wrenching/ need a week of sleep/ can't get warm kind of days.
I remember when my doctor told me that I most likely had fibromyalgia (along with the Lupus), I just didn't think it possible to have both. Today, I am not so sure. Not that I don't trust doctors, but it seemed overwhelming at the time, and I just sort of pushed it to the back of my mind.
Life has a way of doing that.
You get overwhelmed, and things just get put to the side...

One of the things that helps me feel better, is to try to stay organized.
This time of year, there are many folks who take time to organize their 'stuff'... and I am no exception. So I was looking for organizing "tricks" online. Some of them were simple:
-get rid of duplicates
-stop the clutter (hints like going through the mail as soon as you get it so it doesn't clutter your desk)
-weeding out your clothing every 6 months
-write things down/ keep a calendar

I also found these helpful sites, and thought I would share:
*feasible ways to organize your whole home
*brilliant ideas for organizing your home
*ways to organize your whole home in a month

Hope you all have a great day, and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.

((photos for today's post -top photo- one of my house plants. I recently trimmed/ watered/ nurtured all my house plants for the midwinter. 

And -bottom photo- one of the ways I organize some of my collections of little things, is to display them in jars.))

1-19-16

It's cold out there!
but the coffee is fresh and warm...

Winter is always a good time (for me at least)... to stay inside. I am like a bear, I suppose...
hibernating with a good book or movie... sleeping late... swaddled in several blankets or layers of flannel. With the hubby finding temp work... the daughter and I have been trying to go through our "excess" stuff and listing things for sale. Of course, we are easily sidetracked... with ooohs and aaahs over things we had forgotten we had, that have been stashed away. We've culled some of the books... and have been going through some of the movies we have on hand. Which of course, leads to watching a few... as well as watching some recent Netflix deliveries.

The other night we watched "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", starring Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. It was excellent.... and I must confess, I watched it twice in a row. It was that good. We also watched a documentary on style icon Iris Apfel, who is such an interesting and amazing lady. And... we watched a documentary on Henri Cartier-Bresson. You can see more of his work here. As a photographer, I was familiar with Mr. Bresson's work... but I did not know that he was also a fabulous painter. Who knew?!

I think as artists... it's always hard to pick a single medium to work in. I know when I was part of the art community in New Mexico, I had several art acquaintances who encouraged (read=hollered at) me to "just pick one thing" to concentrate on art-wise. For me, it was impossible. I could no sooner shut off my love for photography, or the desire to make jewelry, or to make things from recycled goods... than to cut off my leg. And I find that many artists are like that as well. Oh, some focus their efforts on one main thing... but still work on others in their "down time" ... and so it goes.

Keep trudging on!!!
And I'll see you all tomorrow.

((this photo is one I took on the last trip down to State College a couple weeks ago... 

with a "painterly" effect applied to it))

1-18-16

Well, today is "maker monday"... but to be honest, I haven't made anything for the shop this week.
I have made several "artful" looking meals... and planted a couple plants in pots... organized and redecorated a bit around the house... after all, decorating your home is part of making your home beautiful.... and always important to the soul.
Of course, I have continued to take photos most every day... which I also consider making art...
including the photos for today's post. The bloom in the photos is off of a Christmas Cactus plant.
I had bought the "mother" plant from a church craft sale when I was in 3rd grade; paying 25cents for a tiny little snip of a plant in Styrofoam cup... and gifting it to my mom for Mother's Day.
Years later, that main plant has been divided and replanted a couple of times. When we first moved back here, my mom had a couple little snippets that had broken off in a jar by her sink... and so I planted them in a small pot once they established roots.
This year, it had gotten big enough to put in a somewhat larger pot... and this is the first bloom it's had. There are more looking to come... but this first one is certainly looking gorgeous.

And so it is with making... I believe.
Things make start out as small or little seeming changes... but after awhile... it can all add up to something beautiful.

Stay making my friends.
See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend

---thank goodness it's a long weekend.

For this weekend's post; I decided to share some photos "out of the vaults"... so to speak.
These shots are ones I took at a park right near our old house in Albuquerque. Known as the "Three Sisters"... the park features these dormant volcanoes and the mesas surrounding. It is amazing.
My daughter and I would would occasionally go up there to take photos... and just bask in the quiet.
And now that it's mid-winter here in PA.... I thought this would be something completely different to show.

But hey... it's also the weekend... which means I have a listing of some links I've gathered to share with you all:

*found in the junk shop
*free photos to use in art!
*ancient Inca Mystery
*raw birthstone crystals
*I love this
*vintage photos! --Paris, 100 years ago, photos from 1909, and Naples Italy before 1900
*11 must-see movies rejected by the Oscars
*antique shows from across the country
*stitched leaves... this is awesome.
*glowing castles made from ice
*where the photos for today's post were taken
*something really stellar

I hope you are all having a great weekend... and I will see you all back here tomorrow for my "maker monday" post ...

1-15-16

.life can be hard.
Living paycheck to pay check... if you are lucky. So many folks out there are just struggling to have food to eat and shelter when they sleep. I was talking with my daughter the other night... and we were reflecting on all the major changes we've experienced these past 5yrs or so. It's been amazing when you really think on it. Life... death... legal battles... depression... abuse... drug use... divorce... loss of work... new work... moving... selling a home/ buying a home...bills/debt... serious illness... becoming caregivers... so many growth-making events in our families and immediate friends' lives. It can be heart-wrenching... but it can also be a positive thing.

So often, I think we are quick to berate ourselves for the woulda-coulda-shouldas.
We should have known.... we should have done this... you can always second guess the situation after the fact. We need to cut ourselves some slack. We need to understand that this is life. Sometimes things just happen... whether we planned for it or not... whether things we did caused the event or not... sometimes things just get thrown our way. Life is not fair. Good people have bad things happen to them. Not so nice people sometimes win.
I have to believe that there are lessons in there... and that there can be a positive "take-away" from even the worst case scenarios.
Even if it's to say... let's not do that again.

Anxiety and stress can wreck you. It can eat you up inside.
Sometimes you just have to let it all go...

See you all tomorrow.

((the photo for today's post is one I just finished. I took the base shot yesterday at twilight, and loved how the snow just dusted the trees in our yard. To it, I've added a couple texture layers... which are other photos I've taken layered on top. I also added some vintage Spirograph designs... just because it's fun))

1-14-16

Oddly, I awoke early this am (after only a couple of hours of sleep) to the sound of fire whistles in the air

... and a bit of restlessness; as the hubby had just left for a day of work.

So... having done a lot of the work on my computer for the day...

having read the news

made and eaten breakfast

watered the plants

taken some photos to share with you all

and gotten the mail

made sure the birds had food

started dinner in the crock pot

and washed the dishes and picked up the house a bit

then taken a step outside to breathe the fresh, crisp air

and listen to the birds

... I am going to take a nap.

See you all tomorrow.

1-13-16

There are times when I am not horribly productive.
I try to be... and aim to get more done... but somehow, just can't accomplish as much as I need to or want to. I am sure this is true for everyone... and that my experience is not unusual.
These past few weeks have been fraught with anxiety and change... sleep deprivation & worry... so much so, that I feel like I am sort of
(just now) coming to grips with it.

One of the things I have been working on; is going through all the "extra stuff" we have... some of which are things we haven't unpacked since moving back to PA. Books, art we don't have room for, tchotchkes, extra dishes.... things I've picked up at sales and such.... things people were getting rid of... projects that need finished.... you get the idea. It's time to clear out; so that new work can be done. And, if it helps our income ... that is awesome.  I've been compiling a list of the stuff as I go through it, ... and then in the evenings, I try to look some of it up and see if it has any monetary value. So far, I also have gathered up some music and doctoral thesis of a friend that will be gifted to music lovers in the area, some of the first booklets of the Woodsmen's Carnival here in Potter County that will be going to the Pennsyvania Lumber Museum, and I discovered another bound doctoral dissertation... and when I looked it up; discovered that the author/ now professor works at Stanford. I was able to find an address, and wrote to him; and will be mailing it out to him this week. He was thrilled! Especially so, as there was a letter tucked in the book that was meant for him; but never delivered. I feel as though there is an element of "finishing up" going on... and that is good.

Sometimes you just have to take a step back, reevaluate, and go from there.

Late last night, I wandered out in the snow and took some photos of the trees. I then decided to add a texture photo layer,
and some artwork to the shot.... hence.... the altered photoArt for today's post.
See you all tomorrow.