Happy Valentine's Day

I promised that I would share with you the card I made for Keith, and here it is, at left. It features Beckham and Jimmy Boo, watching the moon.


It didn't scan as well as I hoped, but you get the idea. It's been a bittersweet Valentine's, but I've always kind of liked bittersweet over sickly sweet, anyway. I regret that I haven't spent any time making handmade truffles, or baking some real chocolate brownies, like I would have liked. There just wasn't time this year, due to work and running around. I miss the Blogosphere a lot. I've been trying to stay in touch, but I feel out of the loop, really. I DID actually follow through on a project for Valentine's Day that I had seen and been inspired by on Lillian's lovely blog, Unstitched. Mine wasn't as pretty, but the memories that I wrote down for K made him happy as he reminisced with me... and the last envelope had a gift card in it for a ninety-minute massage at the center I work at! A full-priced one, too, so that when he schedules, he won't get bumped for another client, ha ha!


K has been consumed with family matters, obviously. That's where he needs to be right now. And yet, he brought me home some chocolate covered strawberries last night, and a bar of dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee.... mmmm..... :-) 


Ah well. My studio table is covered, once again making it difficult to work properly, although I recently did a deep cleaning of my room. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I forgot about the Sketchbook Project, and though my book is half-filled, I never sent it in for submission. I missed the date! This year has started out as The Year I Didn't... (fill in the blank.) I need to change that dynamic. 


Okay, it's a work day, so I have to go get ready for the Valentine's Day "Last Minute Rush" which will inevitably happen at a place like where I work. All the guys (and some girls) rushing in to buy gift certificates when they can't get onto the schedule for Couple's Massages. Yesterday was crazy already... and today will likely be more of the same!


Many thanks to those of you who pop by and comment (thus making me feel very happy and connected again) and to those who just check out my blog but don't comment, because it somehow makes the world feel a little nicer and a little smaller... I hope that you continue to visit me. I will continue to try and stay in touch when I can. Maybe share some photos or a thought I have. It's all the creativity I have these days, anyway: photography and musings.


Blessings to you... xox

Valentine's Day Cards

Day Dream Kitty

I like to make my own Valentine's Day cards for the people who are closest to me. This year my theme was "Love Cats" inspired by The Cure's 80's classic hit. Well, it was a hit with ME, even if it maybe wasn't a world wide hit. Ha ha. I've really been into 80's music lately, in a nostalgic sort of way. It's what I listened to in high school, and it brings me wayyyy back! 


I made my cards out of watercolor paper, with watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils, as well as drawing pencils.


I already sent two of the cards out without scanning them to share with you, which I'm sorry about. They turned out really well, as they were modeled after cats that I know.


The other card I made is for K, so I can't share it until after he gets it. (He reads my blog, so it would be a spoiler if I posted it now!) The card here I just mailed out to my good friend, Debbie. I have a couple more to make today...


I hope that everyone is doing well, and enjoying their lives. We have our ups and downs here, but are learning to really appreciate the ups as much as possible! We had a particularly nice evening out at the local pub, just talking and munching, and realizing how lucky we are to have each other. I'm grateful every day! 


xox

Some Photographic Drama

Stop and take a picture

Lately, I have been using my iPhone camera more and more. You know I love it anyway, but with my other actual camera acting unreliably, I have counted more and more on my phone's camera. It's not even the newest iPhone, and I love it... especially in conjunction with the app called "Hipstamatic" which allows you to choose various Lo-Mo film types and lenses. It's a lot of fun without the costly film and development! So here are some pictures I took when K and I went on an afternoon road trip in his new car...

This is my favorite photo.

Hundreds of geese flying in formation

I also took some photos without the use of the app, just using my phone... that was mostly when we spotted the hundreds of geese flying above. There were so many that it was mind-boggling....

If you click on this photo, you'll see it larger and can pick out the geese. 

More geese flying...

And the last photo was of the sun going down behind some dramatic clouds. It's nice to get outside sometimes, even when the temperature is so cold. The winds were crazy that day, too, so that every time I got out of the car to take a picture, I'd practically freeze my fingers to my phone. But it was worth it. Of course, you can see that most of the photos were taken while K was driving... I just couldn't help it, though. My mind wants to capture the scenes of interest and beauty, even while my eyes are taking them in.

I hope you enjoyed checking out the photos from that day. It really was a breath of fresh air to get out and see the countryside. We've been lucky this winter... so far, only the one weekend of snow (besides the freak storm in October) which is all melted now, mostly. It's been in the 40's, "warm" enough to get outside. The idea that temps in the 40's means I can go outside are crazy for this transplanted Californian! I do appreciate the contrast. I don't think it's nuts now to see a guy in shorts and t-shirt when the sun is out and it's 45. It makes a kind of sense... but you won't catch ME in shorts until at least May. Maybe. We'll see. You will definitely find me outside, though.... clicking away and enjoying the bits of winter sun.

xox

Winter Time

A few days ago, we woke up to a winter wonderland...


It has since mostly melted away. I admit that I'm kind of glad for this. My tires weren't made for winter weather, and it wasn't warm enough to walk to work for a couple days. On top of that, I've been sick, so it's better that we're back up to the 40's. Strange to think that in California, a day that topped at 45 would have kept me indoors! Now it feels warm!




Both of my cats are doing very well now, though I'm watching them closely. I appreciate everyone's good wishes!

K's dad is mostly in his own world now, it seems like. Last Sunday, though, he and K shared a really special moment that lifted our spirits and filled us with love... They had sustained eye-contact for several minutes, and K felt him on the other end of the gaze. K called it a Soul Gaze, which is something he and I have done several times and which bonds us together more tightly. If you knew how rare a thing it is to connect with someone whose brain is now riddled with cancer, you'd understand how very big this moment was for all of us... We've all missed his dad, though he is right in front of us. His mom especially has missed the love of her life. We all silently ask ourselves how much awareness his dad has, and hope for a sign every day, that he's still THERE. On Sunday, we got that sign. It was really a blessed gift, and we were all so thankful!





Right now we'll take anything, of course. But a real soul gaze... Who could hope for something that tangible and rich in love and awareness? It was pretty awesome.

I hope you're having a blessed week, month, year. ❤

XoX

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Brief "Hello"

Hi Friends! I'm still alive, haha. It's been a tough couple of weeks with a few different trials and tribulations for me to overcome. K's dad hasn't been doing too well. Having never really been this close to cancer before, it has been a humbling experience. K's mom has been so strong, and the family friends have been so supportive, that there's a brightness around the darkness. It's the silver lining on the cloud, I suppose... seeing all this love first hand. It has been hard watching someone who was once so vital and cheerful and strong be hit by cancer. It's sometimes hard to know where to allow your thoughts to go. I feel at times overwhelmed, and my sympathy and empathy go into full swing for K and his family... and other times I want to think of other things and to forget that all this is going on.


And then, as if the Universe were testing me, both of my cats had to go to the vet, for different things that were equally perplexing, and Jimmy Boo nearly died. That was when I knew that I had to step things up and start feeling more positive, as there is always something more to lose. Keeping your eye on the ball is important. The Ball, being your loved ones, whether human or animal. Everyone is now okay, if a little lighter and without all their gorgeous fur, ha ha! Both Beckham and Jimmy have patches of shaved areas due to getting blood drawn, and poor Jimmy has had his forearms shaved for IV drips, which make him look like he's wearing gloves!


So, life has been challenging me. I don't know how well I did, but I'm here, and I'm okay. There's more to come, of course, and I will try to stay strong and to be there for those I care about. It's all I can do. I hope that you and yours are doing well and are healthy and happy. Remember the gratitude... it's so important to cherish all those small wonders of life. You really never know when you will no longer have them.


xox love and blessings

There's Still Green Out There...

It's definitely getting colder, though no more snow has fallen. The apartment seems always to be a little chilly, and the windows frosted. However, when I'm out and about, I still see bits of greenery, whether in some moss, or an evergreen tree. It's not yet a white and wintry wonderland out here. 


Today I made a pot of vegan split-pea soup. It's one of my favorite soups that I make, with the fresh marjoram that I pick from what's left of our herb garden giving it just the perfect flavor. I can't wait to have some tonight!


I'm halfway through my Christmas shopping, too! I made a promise to myself to buy all American gifts this year, to help out our economy in my own small way. I have to cut spending a bit, though, since I'm only working part time now, and I have groceries to buy, and bills to pay. BUT Christmas is about giving and sharing, and it's my favorite part of the holiday.... I love surprising people with goodies, and it's the one time a year (other than birthdays) when you can give and no one feels weird about it! Some gifts will be hand-crafted by me, and other gifts will be hand-crafted by other local artisans... or made in an American factory. It can't hurt, right?


I have faith that our economy will improve and things will boom for us again. We're a nation of optimists and dreamers.... we see opportunities in everything. That's one of our strengths! I've got no doubt that we'll get back on our feet, maybe as early as next year, with everyone here pulling their weight as best they can. If EACH of us just TRIES to do our part, that's a huge amount of energy going towards something positive and good, right? I know we can do it. Yes, we can.


xox

Getting Ready for Christmas

Right after Thanksgiving, K and I started getting ready for Christmas. The city of Bethlehem kind of cherishes this holiday over all others, since it's known as "The Christmas City"! At every corner of historic Bethlehem, there is a lighted Christmas tree suspended above, secured to the light posts & telephone posts. 

The downtown area has Christmas music playing over loudspeakers, telling Christmas stories and adding to the festive feeling all around. So it's no wonder that we were anxious to get set up at home!

Our tree has a decidedly "nature-inspired" theme to it. There are many bird ornaments that I bought last year at Chriskindlmarkt in Bethlehem. I also have tiny shiny pinecone, acorn and walnut ornaments that I bought years ago from Martha Stewart's website. Of course, this attracts our little creatures...

Jimmy Boo is especially attracted to the tree, because he has discovered that if he crouches below it, Beckham can't get to him without causing a huge uproar from K & I. The entire tree jingles and shakes when those two get to clowning around! (Stinkers...) I had also featured my needle-felted Beckham ornament tucked inside the tree, but J Boo kept fishing it out and playing with it! Please note on top of the tree, though... the owl that sits on top. K made that for me! It's a needle-felted baby owl. So cute!

I hope that you are feeling festive and joyful, whatever your traditions are. Life is too short to be a Scrooge! (Or a Grinch, for that matter!) 


Blessings to you... xox