Wednesday Morning Mindfulness

Counseling and administration were never my primary passions.  I dared to attempt to do these things by learning from the people God put in my path.  Art has always been my passion, from the time I was little.  I remember sitting at my special desk, with crayons and papers and coloring books, happily creating away.  But after the early encouragement, I later got the message that I needed to earn a living, and art wouldn’t do that.  I heard, too, that I wasn’t ‘talented enough’.

So I began watching and following other people’s careers.  There were Vivian Golub and Mike Lunine at Kent State; Rick Pogue, Jan Hanson and Jim Schuerger at Cleveland State; Mary Sarosy and Vince Pinto at WRCS; and many others who inspired me to learn counseling.  And I did good things—for the battered women’s coalition, for Lake Geauga Center, for Luceille Fleming and ODADAS, for Mitch Carlisle and Lorain ADAS.  Some doors were closed and my direction changed often.   

I now realize that the end result was that for all those served wherever I went, living in recovery was introduced and sometimes flourished in their hearts.   My path has made a difference!

Yesterday I went to a wonderful, amazing Quilt Show at Lake Metroparks Farmpark with some friends.  As we "oohed" and "aaaahed"  over the amazing creations, Gayle and Rachel told me that I noticed things they never saw in the quilts.  And that made me realize that I do, in fact, see things differently than many people.  I love seeing in the way that I do; expressing what I observe is something I am compelled to do.  And that is joyous!

I am so grateful for the opportunities and gifts I have been given.  For the things that have been taken away (strife, struggles, roadblocks in the paths no longer useful to me).  And for what has been left:  time to be mindful of who and where I am, the people I am surrounded by, and the ability to express the gifts which God has given to me.

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Meditation :  EACH DAY A NEW BEGINNING

“When I slow down long enough to smell the roses, I usually see the beauty and all else that is ours to share.”       --MORGAN JENNINGS

"We overlook so many joys, so many hidden treasures, when we hurry from place to place, person to person, experience to experience, with little attention anywhere. All that matters passes before us now, at this moment. And assuredly, we will not pass this way again.

It has been said the greatest gift we can give one another is rapt attention; additionally, living life fully attentive to the breezes, the colors, the sorrows and the thrills as well, is the most prayerful response any of us can make in this life. Nothing more is asked of us. Nothing less is expected.

We have just this one life to live, and each day is a blessing. Even the trials we shall understand as blessings in the months, the years ahead, as we can see now how the painful moments of the past played their part. Our attitude toward the lessons life has offered makes all the difference in the world.

I WILL LOOK CLOSELY AT EVERYTHING IN MY PATH TODAY.  THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THE TREES AND SQUIRRELS, THE SILENT NEIGHBORS.  I WILL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN AS I SEE THEM TODAY. I WILL BE AT ATTENTION."

When will our legislators LEGISLATE?

This is a political statement; I will get on to the business of creating for the rest of today.  But my outrage at actions of 47 United States Senators who felt compelled to sign a "Letter to Iraq" and speak for us, the 99%, has left me wondering just what our Congress things we elected it to do. 

The following is the e-mail I sent to Ohio Senator Rob Portman.  Just had to express my right as a citizen to inform our elected official how "we the people" want him to carry our his duties.



Dear Senator Portman:

Please re-read your history books and the purpose of the United States Senate.  It was created, I believe, as part of the LEGISLATIVE branch of government.  Not Executive, not Judicial.  Elementary.

Your presumptuous arrogance in speaking to a foreign nation on behalf of our country is not what you were elected to do.  Forty-seven senators does not constitute a majority; neither are you folks empowered to speak on the behalf of this nation.

Get down to the business of working on the behalf of we who elected you.  Attend to our health care, protect our environment, assure that all who live and breathe our air can live without fear of each other, can trust one another, can get the best education possible regardless of our incomes, assure that all who work can earn a living wage, take measures to stop rampant taxation inequities, decrease the violence and crime which burden us with the moral and financial cost of incarceration.  In short, right our internal inequities and attend to the 99%, not the 1%.

Just go about the business of making this a better nation in which we can ALL safely grow and prosper.  SHAME ON YOU, MR. PORTMAN.

By the way, please do not plague me with justifications or unwanted emails, newsletters, or other communications.  Your legislative behavior will speak for itself.

Sunny Saturday: Weekend Wandering

After another week of frigid, bone-chilling, huddle-up-indoors-and-stay-warm weather, the last day of February dawned sunny and bright.  As the morning air temps slowly edged out of the teens, my crazy kitchen thermometer picked up the heat of the sun on the glass like this:

Maybe that window glass captures some ancient sun-wisdom that our winter-weary bodies cannot yet perceive?  Funny how we react to this little dollar-store thing:  it beckons us.  It orders:  "Get out and explore the world around you!"

The Lakota Sioux call the Sun "Wiyo ate" and say "The light of the sun enlightens the entire universe, and as the flames of the sun come to us in the morning, so comes the grace of Wakan Tanka, by which all creatures are enlightened. It is because of this that the four-leggeds and the wingeds always rejoice at the coming of the light. We can all see in the day, and this seeing is sacred for it represents the sight of that real world which we may have through the eye of the heart." Black Elk   [There are lots of animal tracks in the snow, and my feeders and pine trees are alive with singing birds these days!]


The beauty of local farm and nursery fields under the cloudless, electric blue winter sky is  too vast to memorialize on camera.  And parking behind the big piles where plows have been blocks the view of this sketcher and the patience of my hubby.  So we drive on, in silent awe and appreciation of the scenes around us, bathed in beauty and light.  

Locally though, the old stone lion at Broadfield Manor (a country-house-turned-nursing home complex) seemed to be roaring to life.
 

[How about the glow of that stained glass at the front door?!] 

The big stone finials marking the drive were giving up their heavy caps of blizzard-borne snow to the sun as well.  I'm going to try and paint the blue of that sky for today's sketch (as taught by Prashant Miranda) -- it is absolutely breath-taking!

Meanwhile, across County Line Road, a local guy created this ice-castle and its resident monster in brilliant color.   Clearly, he likes to have BIG FUN and amuse his neighbors!

Creation has many interpretations!  What a study in contrasts, from the ancient peoples' understanding of the universe, to the historic structures and stone monuments, to one man's energetic efforts to use the cold, dark winter to amuse himself and us as we pass by.

End-of-Winter Muse Blues

Brutal cold and snow continue here on the northeast Ohio coast of frozen Lake Erie.  NOT news.

Nevertheless; it has been a week of overcoming the 'cabin fever' that I experience every year about this time.  Especially when there has been no relief in the weather.  So - stay in and think about better weather to come, and tackle some spring cleaning, right?!  Sort thru, pitch old/used up Christmas decorations, and repack them into the store room.   Wash, dust, and rearrange everything!   Great feeling on Friday to get that out of the way!

Store room 'before'

Hall gather of Christmas 'stuff'

'After'

Next, bundle up and mush out into a growing blizzard on Saturday, to honor an obligation.  From Madison, driving south thru Thompson on the way to Hambden.  Yep.  This is what we fondly refer to as the "snow belt." 

The scenery was beautiful, even tho the road was slippery, snow-covered, and disappearing before our eyes.  Good friends and fellowship, worsening roads on the way home, and that was enough adventure for one day!

On Sunday, had to dig ourselves out again, but the temps got up near 30 degrees.  We were able to clean all the snow and ice off the cars, drive and walks.  Restocked bird feeders and took care of outdoor clean-up things.  Who needs the gym when snow-shoveling cardio fitness exercising is available on a 'warm' day?!




 

Ending the day with long-overdue, delicious Mardi Gras Jambalaya and fresh-baked French bread while watching the Oscars.  I'm not big on sitting still for movies or following the "stars", but once in awhile it's amusing.

Back to the deep freeze overnight.  This morning, the weather service reports temps near zero; but the thermometer outside my east-facing kitchen window was enjoying the sun (YES!  SUN!) reflecting off the glass.  Crystals hanging in the window filled my kitchen with rainbows and light.  So, I'm going to enjoy that illusion of warmth and head off to my studio to do some creating while the sun shines!

Ohio in February

A stunning sapphire sky, driving South up the ridges into Thompson this morning in search of winter beauty.   Yes, I have CABIN FEVER! 

Definitely needed the Ray-Bans today.  Treetops, vinyards, and endless white, snow-drifted farm fields all covered in icy goodness, sparkling in the brilliant sun.   I roamed around and snapped a lot of stunning fotos; however they got lost in the download from camera to PC.  Oh well.  This one from Hogback Ridge Metropark in Lake County is one of the few that survived.  But it just can't capture the breath-taking beauty of the icy treetops. Nailed that sky, tho!
 

Iced trees at Hogback Ridge Metropark

 

Had a nice breakfast outing with my very talented, crafty friend, Rachel.  She made this card for me to give to my hubby tomorrow:

Thank you, Rachel! 

Now I'm back home,  bundled up in my cozy sweats with a hot cup of ginger-lemon herb tea, to compose a suitable verse for the card.  It just has to be tender, funny, and romantic:  just like Tim! 

Happy Valentine's day!  Share the love....

Art Jewelry Elements --January Component of the Month -- Use your stash!

The end of January?!  How does that happen?

The snow continues, everything is covered in ice from freezing rain yesterday.  I was looking at blogs--posts from other artists mostly--and debating whether to brave the weather.  Then, I found the reminder that tomorrow is the reveal date!  

Thanks for making my decision for me!  Back to my studio in a hurry.  It was all clear, since I finished a sketching/painting project just yesterday.

So there's plenty of room for me to frantically plow thru my stash . . . opening the baggies, boxes, envelopes of GREAT STUFF!  Sorting into little 'idea bins':  exotic combinations of beads, metals, and stringing materials.

OH!  I found a pair of treasured bronze mental clay earring charms from Lesley Watt!  They are reminiscent of the sea -- what could be better on a wintery, cold day in January?!   And then, I found their perfect match:  a pair of lampwork beads from Daneal Hansel.  I found these while spending a wonderful afternoon with my girlfriends just after Christmas.  She and her husband have a wonderful shop in Burton, Ohio, right next to Quintealia's Tea Parlor.

Quintealia's Tea Parlor

Without further ado, here are a few hasty photos of the earrings I created:

Bubbles, shells, light, and a bit of metallic leather cord to tie it all together.  Thanks for the challenge!    (Now, do I go back and play with the other wonderful stuff I unearthed, or make dinner?  Choices, choices!)

While I decide, please follow this link to the list of other participants in this challenge:

The Gossiping Goddess -- AJE Blog Hop 

Snow dayz (again)

My morning awareness:   it is a healthy thing to call a halt and say "no" to some things. 

There are mountains of snow around the yard, the result of my neighbor plowing the wet, melty-on-the-bottom, unmanageable snow that fell all day yesterday.   I shoveled little paths to the bird feeders and refilled the treats.  I listed to the hairy woodpecker chatter at me that he had plucked all good the nuts from the suet cake, and wanted a fresh one.  So I complied.  I mushed out thru it all, slogging thru slippery parking lots filled with deep slush to take care of a business appointment.  At least the temps were above freezing!

But today, I will watch the big, fat flakes from inside the house.  The temps have plummeted (12 degrees, -11 windchill) and it has been snowing again this morning.  Cleveland weather folks just don't get that Madison Township in Lake County, Ohio usually has much different weather than they predict for the 'big city'. 

So I say "no."  I won't bundle up, get wet boots and soggy gloves from going out and fighting with the snow.  I'll just crank up the space heater, hang out in my bright studio packed with all sorts of stuff to create with, listen to some get-up-and-dance music, and stay relaxed and warm. 

Choosing to enjoy myself and pursue simple pleasures is my only job today.   I'm brewing a fresh cup of coffee and heading back to my room now.  I'll check again later, when I surface to cook up a pot of jambalaya for dinner this afternoon.  Maybe I'll feel more like going out then.  Maybe not.