Being selfish isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it's all I can be,
because I'm so tired and feeling kicked-around that I don't have
anything left to give to anyone else. Can't muster up the desire to
care about anyone or anything, because all I can do is find the
emotional strength to be kind to myself. When I'm in the midst of
one of life's emotional depletions, I ponder about how I got into
the situation.

It would be nice if I could blame somebody else (and it's true that
somebody else is most likely involved), but when it all shakes out,
I am responsible for what happens to me. I made choices along the
way to say, "yes," or "no." There may be plenty of reasons why I was
pushed in one direction or the other, but in the end, I am
responsible for my own happiness. If my emotional tank is on empty,
it's because somewhere along the way I chose to give my happiness
away. I chose to go along with things, most likely to keep the
peace, or because someone put up such a fuss that I can't stand the
drama, and I just want it to end. So I folded--against my wishes and
better judgment. But the decision, that in my heart I know is wrong,
only gives me temporary relief, and soon I find myself right back
where I started.

Just found a new blogsite that is really terrific.  There are so many that take your breath away but I couln't help telling you about this one.  Wish I knew how to get it to open up just by your clicking on it but I can't seem to get all this technology thru my soft noggin.  http://brush-paper-water.blogspot.com/

Here you will find adventures in painting. . . . Victories, absolute defeats, frustrations, highs, lows, lessons learned, commentary and thoughts from me and comments from others. As a mixed media , do everything type artist, I don't wish to hide the fact that I crash and burn often. I will always be learning. So, it all gets shown here . . .good and bad. Every painting and project we do counts in the learning and experience process. The failures actually are much better teachers than successes. Every piece made is a teacher. That's the fun of it: the challenge to learn. I have started a chambered nautilus picture. It's sort of a fantasy thing but it's coming along.

I finially finished, so you deserve to see the finished product!

Now I've started....solid purple with varigated trim. These are shorter to slip on this summer.

I can't believe that I am crocheting a pair of socks.  It always looked so complicated and I know people have been knitting socks for years but I like to crochet better than knit.  So found some patterns and with my daughter's help on some places that I didn't understand....here is what I've started.  I'll show more when they're finished but it actually fits.  Can't believe it...it sure didn't look like anything when I first started.

The Journey 

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
...kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

The holidays are a fun and magical time, but they're also filled with memories. Family and friends who aren't
with me any longer and friends who are fighting cancer right now,
these thoughts are all mixed in with visions of sugar plums dancing
in my head.
I guess I'm mentioning this because yesterday when I interacted with
an obviously very angry man in the aisle of the supermarket, at
first I was feeling pretty upset with the guy, even caught myself
thinking, 'What's his problem? Why is he being such a nasty person,
especially around the holidays?'

But then I reminded myself that life is complicated, especially this
time of year. Life goes on like any other day, people lose their
jobs, families are split apart, folks are feeling lonely because
this is the first Christmas since their spouse passed away, and
others are worried their parents might not be around to celebrate.

I had a good cry--and now I feel much better. I sure hope
the man I met in the supermarket gives himself that gift, too.


Can't help remembering when my grown-up children looked like this. They probably don't even remember.

 

Just wanted to share some of the Christmas around our house.  
"Joy to the World" and "Joy in my heart"

With all the storms out there and people traveling and clogged up in airports......there sure isn't much peace in the air.  I'm so glad we stayed home where it is tranquil and quiet.

I'm spending my time baking and knitting.

Here is a bag I hope to finish.

The SPA Paletteers met Wed. Dec 15 at Corkhill Palms at 9:30 am. We exchanged these beautiful Christmas cards that we had painted.  

Here are a few for you to see.

 We also painted Christmas tree balls. 

 

Aren't they delightful?  We had such a jolly good time!  We missed the ones who couldn't make it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

Coachella Oasis Preserve

Went for a walk today out in 1000 Palms Canyon.  Coachella Valley  Preserve it's called....there is some water and ponds, lotz of palms and sand.  It was hot on the hike about 85 degrees.  We walked a mile out...around the pond and back to the parking lot.  Blue skies smiling on our backs.

Several years ago hiked there with Lynda & Seth.

I would like to come here to do some plein air painting sometime.
 

December Plein Air

I had such a good time at Las Casuelas Mexican Restrauant on Dec 8th.  Six of us met at 9:30 am and walked around choosing what we would like to paint.  It was difficult choosing as there is so many beautiful things to choose from.  Lotz of structure and statues, etc. 

I was intrigued by the brick around an outside fountain...

 Then of course we all ordered our salads and enchilades, etc.  We sat on a sun-dappled patio and painted to our hearts content.  So-o-o-o much fun to paint and chat with friends in new places.

I’m Tired of Being a Christian

I’m Tired of Being a Christian

Boy is it windy today

Poor little birdy can hardly hang on......

 Hummingbirds have a hard time zeroing in

wind blows the door carpet all askew

 can't get the door open

trees blowing







Golfers can't get their balls to go straight down the fairway.
But after the storm the sun comes out beautifully.

So here I am in the present...right here in Thousand Palms. It's not Paris.  It's not Morocco.  It is not even Oregon or New Mexico.  It's windy ol' Thousand Palms...and I love it.  The sun is shinning and the sky is blue and all the clouds are fluffy and have silver linings.  Wish you were here with me.

Artists roam the earth with wide eyes, cultivating artistic inspiration as they amass found objects and other materials for their artwork.
I have a huge bullitin board my husband mounted for me in my hobby room. On it go all sorts of found objects & art.

Most of us do not need much for inspiration to begin blossoming ---

fallen leaves 

sound of the ocean

Children laughing

and even the rusting objects found on parking lot floors.  All this is enough to send an artist back to their studio for hours.

Today is Pretty

Today is so pretty....I want to look for yellow things.  Yellow is such a happy color,  I can't believe how many things I found just around the house......

Goldstar Bush at the corner of patio.

 Little miniture rose

Yellow fallen leaf

Some lemons to squeeze

My center piece on the patio table

Some sunflowers

A collage of stuff on my kitchen counter

Dandylion

Quilted daffodills

Threads in my sewing kit

Rickrack in a jar

Snowwhite and 7 dwarfs music boxes

Box of Glad bags

Cup in my cupboard

Pull cord on lamp

Pillow where I like to nap
on the patio







Sometimes life is so darn pretty I just have to write a post or snap a photo in order to prolong it and give myself the time to look at that moment long and from all sides.  Hope you can take a quick peek or stay a little while relishing in the pretty moments too.