"So many of us think success happens to other people, different people, gleaming people, people of a favored species or gene pool. But everyone starts off human. Two feet. Two hands. One gorgeous heart of infinite power and promise."
~This Time I Dance by Tama J Kieves
feeling very quiet lately
not quite sure what to say
about why
maybe it's the holidays
maybe it's the tossing and turning
around in my head
maybe I miss the midwest
maybe I want to do more
maybe I want to stop
wondering all the time
maybe I just need
to cry
maybe I want to take
a day
to be alone
with
myself
maybe I want to be with
a room full of my
lovelies and laugh
until I cry
maybe I want to roll
down a grassy hill
or build a snowman
or snuggle with
my wee ones
maybe i need
to be quiet
I seem to always go over and over in my head about not having the time
well why not make time
even if it's 5 or 10 min
if it's that important you will make time
you will
so I'm challenging myself and others out there
to schedule the 5 min to do what you really want to do
and hey, if you really want to do it, it might end up getting scheduled
for more next time
and if it's something you "think" you should be doing
and you don't really want to
than get rid of the idea
go ahead trash it
and move on
life is way to short
to keep running around in your head
it's tiring you know
When your sun rises it rises for me too
When your sun sets it sets for me too
When you look up and see the great white moon
I look up and see it too
It's these everyday moments that make
the miles between us
feel less
****
the winner of the gratitude giveaway is:
~ Kelly who wrote "I am grateful for my simple love filled life."
email me your deets so I can send you your book and block print.
Thanks to everyone who shared their gratitude ~ very inspiring!
Feeling grateful to the many who have supported me and given me praise for my work so to thank you I will be giving away one of "my journey" books and 6x6 block print.
All you have you to do is tell me 1 thing you are grateful for today.
I'll draw a winner on Thursday night ~ good luck!
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
— Maya Angelou
To all the Bay Area peeps ~ there is going to be a totally fabulous Craft/Trunk show in Alameda tomorrow. Please come out and bring the wallet ~ so many great artists are going to be there selling their wares. AND yours truly will be selling my books too. Come by and say Hi........
Wagner Family Fires Presents: Trunk Show 2009
Please come to the most rockin holiday trunk show we've ever had.
jewelry, hand bags, ceramics, knitted wearables and felted objects
Superhero Designs
Amy MacClain Jewels
Loulen Handbags
Rae Dunn Ceramics
Bonjourteaspoon
Papaver Vert
and others....
We'll light the fire in the yard, pull the couches under the trees, turn up the music and heat up the soup.
Date: November 15th, 2009, 10am
Address: 27 Powers Ct. Alameda, CA. 94501
****ps.
if you can't be there in person you can check everyone's websites to purchase holiday items for all your loved ones! Support artists!
She watches her feet and how her toes curl into the sand with each step
All the while wondering how many other footprints have pressed into this beach before her...
The warmth of the sun warms her as the cool crisp air kisses her face
The waves crash in her ears while the faint sound of the saxophone can
still be heard
she sat in the chair humming and swaying back and forth
thoughts of being somewhere else entered and then left
thoughts of being right where she was entered and then left
the act of knowing what you should do but not doing it
is that not following your path?
the act of not knowing how to go about your path
is that being stupid?
the act of not trusting that voice in your head
is that thinking too much?
who is keeping score she wonders
who is winning this race and who is really losing
is that someone who breaks the ribbon going to be awarded
the world?
is that someone who doesn't going to be awarded
nothing?
why run around this hamster wheel over and over again
for what?
for what?
i'm wrapping myself up in cashmere and not going to think about it
red, green, yellow, brown, black
purple of course
the swish of my scarf makes when i step out of the car
the snuggle i give to myself when i walk outside, the crisp cool air kissing my cheeks
the sweet pucker i give to my lips when i'm about to take that first sip of chai on the way to work and how i wait for that one specific moment before i do that
the way i look down after saying hello to you on the street when you say good morning hon
the sniff i take of her sweet hair while she snores on my shoulder
the many many starts to the story i've been meaning to write going over and over in my head
the deep deep breath i take before walking into that office every morning
the weekend was fabulous ~ crisp fall air
a drive down to the coast and a stop at a farm for the kids to enjoy
just what we all needed
now back to the mondays....and I don't have any words to say so I'll leave you with a few photos until the words come tumbling out
it's funny how they seem to all tumble when i'm just about to fall into a deep sleep
note to self: keep a pen and paper close at hand at all times
A sunny crisp autumn day filled with a walk to the farmer's market
~fresh organic strawberries
~samples of yummy apples
~samples of sorbet
~kettle corn
a stop at a local cafe
running around in the yard
dancing in the living room
making music with all kinds of toys
a much needed nap
some laughter mixed in with some photos
and a dinner adventure that started off sketchy but
ended with smiles and songs
the end of a very long week and I want to take a very long deep breath
I've been on the verge of tears the past few days and i'm not one to cry;
well unless it's "Grey's Anatomy" or "Brothers and Sisters" on TV.
I've been in a few situations I haven't been able to deal with very well
and I'm not sure what to do but ....
to take a very long deep breath
But like all things...they pass
It's Friday and I'm looking forward to a weekend home with my family
Where I can breath deep
Take some long walks with my camera
Work on some projects
Snuggle up with my girls
Bake some cookies maybe
Get messy with paints...
what do you say...how about we all take a long deep breath and have
a peaceful loving weekend.
these cheeks and these little noses and lips
the crunch of the fall leaves under foot or in your hand
the roughness of farm fresh carrots and the crunch you can feel in your teeth
the different kinds of texture ~ silk, leather, beads, chains
the different kinds of fabric ~ can't you "feel" these just by looking..
the wet paint on your smock and fingers
digging your hands into this box of tiny little heads
taking something in your hand, so delicate, or so rubbery, the touch of your fingers, your glove, your rings
~ more favorites ~
- the touch of her cheek on yours
- the touch of her silky hair
- the touch of his chest
- fresh sheets
- jeans right out of the dryer
- cashmere
- silky pj's
- woolly socks
- paper
- my camera in my hand
- their tiny hands in mine
- my hand in his
- the warmth of his hand on my back
- the light touch on my face
- the breath on my neck
- the warm water from the shower on my face
- the way a worn out cotton t-shirt feels against your skin
- worn out and soft......
the list could go on and on...
what are yours?
This photo is what I call the "after party"
It was taken of Kadison after her halloween costume was taken off
and when she and her best friend Sophie took to her room to dress up
and have a good time
It says so much more than what you can really "see"
It's got the cool factor
It's got the color and the girlie necklaces
It's got the ring
You see the spider tattoo she got for halloween
Her hair in a ponytail and all wispy
You see the beach t-shirt and cotton pants she practically lives in
You see her on a bit of a mission to somewhere??
what you don't see is the love I have for this little one and all that she is ...and isn't
I didn't want to officially say I was going to do NaBloPoMo
just in case I fell off the wagon... but why not... If I do, I do.
Trying to keep the words and photos flowing is a bit hard, so tonight, I leave you with some inspiration and eye candy!
Lori's illustrations and crafts make me really want to learn to sew
Rachael's photography makes me swoon
I met Darlene
at Squam this year and I wish I would of had more time to get to know her ~ her words and photographs put a smile on my face and the fact that her blog stands for "hug"...well nothing else needs to be said.
I'm dancing
I'm leaping
I'm skipping about
I gallop
I grin
I giggle
I shout
I'm Earth's many colors
I'm morning and night
I'm honey on toast
I'm funny
I'm bright
I'm swinging
I'm singing
I wiggle
I run
I'm a piece of the sky
in a circle of sun.
~Rebecca Kai Dotlich (Here's a Little Poem)
weary from the night before, a bit of hangover for all of us ~ whether it was too much wine, beer or sugar
the day after where we "get an extra hour" but you wake up too early anyway
the day after where you feel a bit of guilt taking "more" time for yourself where you treat yourself to a day of writing with the amazing Laurie and the lovely Ellen Bass
the day after where you take it all in, you listen, you learn and you listen more
the day after where you write about an unfinished conversation
the day after where you think about the next and then the next...
