Inspired

Four Word Self Help

 

Last January, author Patti Digh put out a call for the submission of artwork for her newest book “Four Word Self Help – Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives”.  At the time, I was staying in a small Mexican town with very intermittent internet access and no art supplies to speak of so I pulled up this digital piece that I had done several years ago from the depths of my hard drive and sent it off.  Saying I “sent it off” sounds deceptively easy but it actually took almost a week to get both a fax and the hi-res file to the publisher.  I was not only surprised that they actually received it but happily so, that it was also accepted!

Last week I received a copy of the book in the mail and found my art paired with Patti’s essay “Live Like You’re Dying”.  It’s a beautiful little book filled with oodles of lovely creative work by many artists from around the world. It was as much a thrill to see my work here as it was to be included in her first book “Life Is a Verb'”.  

If you’ve never visited Patti’s Blog…37 days, it’s a gold mine of beautifully written gems and well worth a visit!

Whispers of Pink

I can't believe it's been a week since I was here last...life just seems to have it's own agenda at times!

This spring we planted a Mimosa tree in our back patio and although it’s still very small and delicate, it recently rewarded us with almost a dozen lovely blossoms.  They’re fairy-like, ethereal and completely other worldly.  What a sweet blessing this lovely tree will be as we sit in it’s shade in the years to come.

The summer continues to be full…I'm trying to avoid using the word busy as it seems so over used and I always feels more than just a little whiny when I do use it…so I’ll keep it at “full”.  We’re re-painting the outside of the house…a second coat, as last November’s month long rain torrential downpour put an abrupt end to the painting.  It’s a gratifying task though as it looks so much better but with all the bending, stretching and reaching, I’m finding muscles I didn’t know I had…and almost wish I hadn’t!

And in the gaps between the “fuller” parts of my life, I’m been working on another art journal.  It feels very satisfying to be back at this tactile work and all the sketching, painting, stamping, cutting and pasting has put me back in touch with this aspect of my creativity thats been packed away in boxes with all of my art supplies for the past year.

I'm also having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that that summer will be ending soon.  On the west coast we had such a crazy wet spring right up until the end of June but since then we’ve had sun, sun, and more sun and for weeks it seemed as if whole interior of the province was ablaze with forest fires.  Right now we’re at that lovely place of perfect temperatures with a slight crispness to the air in the mornings and evenings.  Perfection!

Have a beautiful Sunday dear friends, wherever you are and whatever you're doing,

August Break – 22 – Faded and Fragile

The warm weather and long days of summer, encourage us to:

do more,

move faster,

drive further

get up earlier,

stay up later and

burn the proverbial candle at both ends. 

It’s full and it’s fun, but by the end of summer (and we’re not there yet!) it can be exhausting, so remember to:

shut the door,

put your feet up,

breathe deeply,

and take the time to nurture

You.

(a lot)

 

August Break – Apples and Pears (and boys and garages)

Some quick notes on my life right now:

• Oh my…all I can say is that little boys keep you very, very busy…I was in bed by 9:00 pm last night! They’re also seriously entertaining! 
• This wasn’t the week to start an art journaling course….zero pages done so far.
• Note to self: always double check diary for commitments…especially when looking after grandson and brain is befuddled…so sorry Dawna!
• I work much better with an incentive and today…after spending 5 hours cleaning out the garage…a glass of Kings and Spies from here will do very nicely!
• It’s shaping up to be another early night.

 

Many blessings dear friends,

August Break –18 - Perfection

The pursuit of perfection then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light. 

Mathew Arnold

 

I ever there was such a thing as perfection it would have to be sharing sun ripened blackberries with a little boy on a warm summer day.  One for the bucket…one for me…two for my grandson.

Warm blessings to all,

August Break – 17 – Jewels of Light

 

We were out for an early evening walk yesterday and while the sunlight sparkled brilliantly on the water there was a definite smoky haze hanging in the mountains and drifting up the inlet.  We’ve had a lot of forest fires in the interior of BC this summer and although it’s unusual, the winds occasionally change direction and the smoke drifts westward towards the coast.

 

 

(I’m participating in August Break with Susannah this month so words may be in short supply!)

 

Blessings dear friends,

August Break – 16 – Beautiful Love

 

“The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart”

Jalal-Uddin Rumi

 

I'm taking part in Susannah's August Break and you can enjoy more photographs here

August Break – 15 – Letting Go, Holding On

Let go.

Why do you cling to pain?

There is nothing

you can do about the wrongs of yesterday.

It is not yours to judge.

Why hold on to the very thing

which keeps you from hope and love?

 

Leo Buscaglia

August Break - 14 - Being

The first question isn't, "What do we do now?"

The first question is, "Who do we become now?"

As each individual answers that question for himself,

he (or she) will know what to do.

Just work on becoming who you need to become,

and you will know both what to do and how to do it.

Marianne Williamson

(I’m joining Susannah and other August Breakers here)

This is My Now

 

This is my now

however it appears…

as heaven, as hell or

somewhere in between.

This is my now.

So I thank it, I bless it

and receive it’s

gifts…

This is my now…

 

I was inspired by the August Salon message by Carolyn Myss

(I’m joining Susannah and other August Breaker here)