ARTFUL GATHERINGS

Life

New painting... where would I be without the ability to create? Today has been one of those days where I wish I could have been in my studio painting and drawing all day.... because I am shocked by the ridiculous demands and lack of understanding of other people. Yes I am tired and crabby ...... a silly old fool irritated by life at the moment.

Two Boys

I have spent a great deal of time today on pictures for this blog and as I started to write this post I got sidetracked because my boys let me photograph them..... I was thrilled. No I am blessed. Thank you God/Goddess/the Divine/ for giving me these two boys. 

Us Two, A.A.Milne         

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
"Let's go together," says Pooh.

"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few-
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.  
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.

"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.
"That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.
"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you."

So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,  
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two,
Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. 
"That's how it is," says Pooh.

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Mom and Me Road Trip!

This past week has been my road trip adventure with  Mom.  No Thelma and Louis escapades but a twenty plus hour road trip. Last Saturday I arrived (by plane) to Ocean Reef Florida to help Mom pack up her winter stuff and head North for the spring and summer. It took a couple of days to get her organized before she could  even begin packing. Finally On Tuesday morning I told her time was up and I started packing her car. Mom was slightly disgruntled but finally we were driving, heading for Melbourne Florida to spend the night with my in-laws.    

                          After Melbourne we headed for Savannah and stayed in a lovely hotel, The Marshal House. But the picture of this bed has just jolted my brain into the reality of my exhaustion. So I am going to climb into bed and write more about my road trip adventure with Mom tomorrow.

Sun

Yesterday I needed sun so I hopped on a plane and landed  here.....

This morning I had coffee here....

This afternoon I swam laps here....

This evening I followed this path to the bar....

Now I am tired and am going to bed. More sunny areas to explore tomorrow.

Journal

I am not sure if I should be writing tonight but sleep is out of the question. Please do not hold me accountable for any  errors as I seem to be experiencing an Abuterol high (from an inhaler). Yes I broke down and went to the Doctor today. I have a sinus infection and my upper chest was tight and I was starting to weeze. When I cough I sound exactly like a kid with croup. 

I have been sorting through journals...trying to make sense of an idea swirling around in my head. 

Almost finished this journal

Portrait.....

1. A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face, that is created by a painter or photographer, for example.
2. A verbal picture or description, especially of a person.

I am following Misty's lead and unofficially participating in self-portrait Wednesday. Not my best image but I am fighting some miserable cold germ that is reeking havoc on my throat. I thought for a second I could steal this image of Megan I found on my computer. Noo I cannot pass for this beautiful fourteen year old even if she is my daughter.

Maybe tomorrow or next Wednesday I will attempt this glamorous black & white portrait.

I love this...Justin has now turned into a marsupial. Can you find the bunny nose?

A closer view...

Moments

Today I have been observing, trying to identify moments of synchronicity in my daily life. While I was searching for a definition of the word synchronicity that I could use for this blog I stumbled upon this quote from Joseph Campbell....

Nietzche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called "the love of your fate." Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, "This is what I need." It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment — not discouragement — you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

So be grateful for all the moments of your day. Bring love to these moments especially the difficult ones.

                              A Secret Wish

Our own worst enemy cannot harm us as much as our unwise thoughts. No one can 

help us as much as our own compassionate thoughts." Jack Kornfield

 At this very moment I am supposed to be outside participating with  spring clean up but I have missed blogging and decided to quickly write something, anything and then I will help tackle the yard debris. Maybe if I procrastinate a little longer there will not be much left to do......ha..ha that is an extreme wish. So I will believe my yard is a wonderland and ignore the dull reality it is at this moment....

So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality--the grass would be only rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the reeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep- bells, and the Queen's shrill cries  to the voice of the shepherd boy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and all thy other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the confused clamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's heavy sobs. Alice adventures in Wonderland by Lewis carroll

Simple

There really is not much you cannot find on the web. Having trouble wishing, well check out wish-on-a-star. It is a simple but accurate definition. My wish for tonight which I hope will bleed into tomorrow is for a less chaotic life. But I am worried that I will never attract simple, uncomplicated, effortless, painless, uncluttered.................

My makeshift office today.....

The weather is absolutely gorgeous, stunning and extremely windy. I want to go hiking but may just walk around the park in town.