Quiet Saturday

It can be done.

Baby steps.

Small reasonable goals.

Laughter.

Slow and steady.

The Hem

If we’re not supposed to dance,
Why all this music?

(Line from a Gregory Orr poem)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

sometimes we pray and meditate
sometimes we sing and dance...laugh and emote
sometimes we call out to God
surrender
swell
crack open
pour out

sometimes we forget to pay a bill
sometimes we buy shampoo...or make a phone call
sometimes we dust
sometimes we pick our noses
mundane
human
puzzling
strange

in between is wonder, awe and mystery
the threads stitching the two worlds together
hemmed
the sunlight on the leaves
quiet shadows
petals slowly revealing
clouds
ladybugs in your child's hand
hugs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am happy to live on the hem.

Photo - A painted rock in the landscaping of a elementary school yard.
I took this picture last winter.

Sail Away

Throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

-Mark Twain

The Winner

And the winner is...

Steve of The Wood Pile!

Keep your eyes out for more giveaways.

NEW FUN FREE Giveaway

NEW FUN FREE Giveaway!!

I have one CD and a coinciding coloring book to share with one of my blog followers.
This project was in collaboration with Todd Baio. He provided the music and the coloring book contains artwork from both of us.

Leave me a comment if you would like to WIN and tomorrow I will draw a name.

To see more of Todd:
MUSIC
BLOG
BLOG

Sightless Bird

My eyes were open to see the bird who couldn't.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

around the bend
is the grounded bird

over the hill
is a clearing to see

below the story
is the quiet waiting

across the desert
is the admiring yellow

be still, my friend...
the Yours is Ours
Loving all

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coloring Page - Yesterday, while shaking my rugs out over the railing of my second story balcony, I noticed a brown bird sitting on the sidewalk. When I took the trash out he was still there. It was then I noticed what kept him grounded. 'Twas his wounded eyes: abscessed, swollen and oozing...completely sightless.
It broke my heart.
I wanted to make him better but I feared touching him.
A wee bit later he made it to the grass and that was the last I saw of him.

Close Your Eyes...

...and listen...
quiet Sunday...




...then smile and enjoy ...
THE BUTTON KING! (click)
I discovered him from a TV show my daughter was watching.
I love him!

What James Did

My cousin James colored this.

I love it!!

...than Tenderness

There is nothing

stronger in the world

than tenderness.

-Han Suyin

Bride the Little Bird

The skies can't keep their secrets!
They tell it to the hills--
The hills just tell the orchards--
And they the daffodils!

A bird, by chance, that goes that way
Soft overheard the whole.
If I should bride the little bird,
Who knows but she would tell?

I think I won't, however,
It's finer not to know;
If summer were an axiom,
What sorcery had snow?

So keep your secret, Father!
I would not, If I could,
Know what the sapphire fellows do,
In your new-fashioned world!

-Emily Dickinson

Artwork - 4 x 6, water soluble oil bars & Sharpie.

Color For Beauty

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful,

for beauty is God's handwriting.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson


the beauty of Beauty
that sits away from me

heartbreaking
loving
fitting
bound by veiled threads

laughing
tangled
turning
smoothing

entwined by the Hand
in a cloth I cannot see
but feel in my soul

What Is Going On Here?

What is going on here?

Loving Kindness.

Forgiveness.

Smile Out.

Smile In.

Open.

Wee Bird

wee bird in waiting

in awe

in love

Chloe's Drawings

Yesterday I came across one of my daughter's old journals.
A notebook and a pencil could keep her amused for quite some time.

This page makes me laugh and cry.
Later, at around age 6, she gave one attempt at turning this into a diary.

Day 1 - I saw a man.

I love children's art.
Simply, it makes me happy.

Being creative is part of being human.
Everyone is creative.
Each person's creativity finds different form, that's true;
but without creativity of some kind,
I doubt that we'd get through many of the problems that life poses.

-Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers

LOVE

Well, that was easy!
The winner for the watermelon garland is NICOL!

I wanted to share my latest drawing but the photo upload button isn't working?! So, instead I will share one of my favorite songs...again. (Previously posted several months back.)

Sometimes I sing so beautiful I break my own heart.

-Jimmy Durante

Lighten UP & Garland GiveAway

I have needed to lighten up lately.
A mustache photo always seems to do the trick!!

You see I need a way to pass through the pain
Breathe it and bear it and rise up again
Take me away to the land of Christmas
Where I can receive your kiss
Feel the strength in my heart
-Carly Simon



I would love to give away this watermelon garland!
It is about 3 ft long and contains:
1 watermelon
2 water drops
2 leaves
2 circles
1 ladybug
2 gingham squares

As before, leave a comment sharing your favorite summer reading (past or present).
Tomorrow I will draw a name to see who will win the garland!
If you want to share about your summer reading but
aren't interested in the garland, feel free to leave a comment anyway
and simply note you just wanted to share.

Thank you!

Flower Play

today i don't know why
and for today i will stop asking

today i will choose to dance
away from my jagged edge
and for today i will remember
whose i am

today i will leave this old dingy, tattered hem
in the Hand of the one i Love
and for today I will step forward
with this clean hem at my feet

Collage - water soluble oil bars with paper collage.
2.5 x 3.5 inches

Sunflower Ending

My sunflower is coming to her end.
She dropped and wilted in the sun yesterday.
I cut her off and brought her inside to marvel at
a bit more before her story is over.

You will never experience the earth

with all its wonders in this time again.

Don't wait for one more last look

at the ocean, the sky, the stars, or a loved one.

Go look now.

-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler