Look What Leather Lips Sees and Says

I've been so many places in my life and time...

2011-05-31T21:45:00.004-06:00

Here is a song for you...For Allegra, Andy, Stephanie, Sue and so many others who have asked...I'm fine. Don't know why I quit blogging, just did. But I'm fine...having lots of adventures... I've seen my beloved Leon twice in the course of 2 weeks! There have been trips in planes, trains and automobiles, tea parties and birthday parties. Memorials and celebrations, letting go and grabbing hold of friendships...been to the Roller Derby, saw a Neon Boneyard, hiked up to the mountain top, been to a desert very different than the one I claim as home. It's a fine life and it's my life and I'm sorry I have been remiss in sharing with you. I appreciate your concerns and checking up on me. Truly, I'm fine and did I mention that I've seen Leon twice since I've been here? Standing in front of that tour bus...I was 19 again...he is still the sexiest man alive...after 40 years and seeing tons of his concerts...I remain devoted. So see, I'm better than fine! Oh and I turned another year older and deeper in debt...wait, that's a whole other song!

Grace in small things...01-05-2011

2011-01-05T19:01:00.003-07:00

It's been a really sucky day so it seemed important to find these:
A small fingernail sliver of a moon shining outside my window
Amazing shadows everywhere I looked this morning
Knowing that a life well lived, in a small and simple way, will always be celebrated by those that love her
There is comfort in routine and pleasure in breaking those routines
and
Knowing I am loved makes sucky days less miserable

Grace in small things...01-04-2011 as the year begins...

2011-01-04T19:09:00.003-07:00

click on the pictures to see them in more detail...

in a freak snow storm today,
we had blue skies and snow flakes...
I am grateful I got to see it!

we all raced around trying to capture the magic of this weird snow...
that was melting as it fell, I am grateful for co-workers who get it

the sun came out and the snowflakes danced in front of it...for a little while...
I am grateful for the warmth!

The day started out really cold...
in fact it's been really cold for days now and believe it or not...
I am grateful for socks

and most of all this week, I am grateful I came across Brene Brown and this remarkable video...
I'd seen the link a few times before but now is when I needed it so this is when it came to me and I am thinking that my word for 2011 just might have to be...
connection

Grace in small things...12-31-10 as the year ends...

2010-12-31T22:01:00.002-07:00

there are more exciting adventures just ahead...today it was the Bodies Exhibit!

things are not always as they seem

those crows! even more come every day...my neighborhood must have that mark because they are every where...I feel so fortunate they let me close enough to photograph them

amazing sunrises...unbelievable light

flaming desserts in the company of good friends - and no, I did not eat any of those bananas... they were quickly moved to the other side of the plate!

It's been a year of extremes...
the death of one of the best people I know...the birth of a darling baby boy
really good times with my family...really bad time in the hospital
learning to appreciate an old friend in a new way...and finding out someone I thought didn't have a mean bone in their body could be incredibly cruel

I look forward to the new year as a time of
healing,
growing,
adventure,
connections,
interesting times with old friends,
enjoying new friends and
learning to live my small but deep life to the best of my ability

I wish for you
kindness,
joy,
compassion,
balance,
everything you want the year to be and
even some surprises to keep it interesting!

smooches my friends...smooches!

"Luna"tics need to come together for Allegra

2010-12-28T22:17:00.003-07:00

For my dear Allegra...http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/2010/12/a-wing-and-a-prayer.html

Grace in small things...12-24-10

2010-12-25T00:40:00.004-07:00

1. Atomic baby Jesus in a pulsating bed.

2. Time to reflect

3. A still amazing moon

4. Sharing the Christmas Eve tradition with new friends and seeing it through their eyes...New Mexico really is a cool, kitschy place to live!

5. Time spent in the company of people who care about the same things I do...and getting and giving prezzies!!

Grace in small things...12-23-10

2010-12-23T21:21:00.003-07:00

1. A murder of crows swooping in and landing all over the place.

2. Right out side my door. Lots and lots of them...

3.In the most amazing light...and dark...and light sky

4. As if this is where the party is...cawing and swooping and talking amongst themselves.

5. A good day...feeling better...an apple added to the broth/ginger ale menu.

6. There is still this smell in the air and a softness about the light that is addicting. They feel it too. I know they do, I heard them talking about it...loudly.

Grace in small things...12-22-10

2010-12-22T21:33:00.002-07:00

1. I get to work with these goof balls! Today was dress up day since nothing says holiday like flannel and bandannas...we just hoped no one got shot when they left for lunch...

2. A bit of a bug has taken up resident and so today I am grateful for ginger ale and chicken noodle soup...without the chicken...or the noodles

3. A random act of tea delivery!

4. Knowing that I have the next 4 days off...count them F O U R!!! yay time off!!

5. And the best for last....7 boxes of Polaroid film!!! I know!!! I'm a lucky girl!!! and thank god I have exclamation points so everyone will know exactly how excited I really am...

Grace in small things...12-21-10

2010-12-21T19:45:00.002-07:00

1. The morning after the eclipse was better than the eclipse...I woke up to the most marvelous pink light filling the room...I ran outside barefoot and without a coat to take these pictures before it faded.

2. 360 degrees of amazing pink, orange and actually red light..a wonderful smell in the air...almost like cookies. Remember in Michael when all the women thought he smelled like cookies baking? That's what it was like...honestly!

3. And the crows in the air above me were dancing in the air. With the grackles, they were making the most outrageous racket that made perfect sense to me. Really...it was morning and I hadn't been drinking...even coffee! It was unreal.

4. I wish I could say the rest of the day went as well, but there were absolute periods of not bad interspersed that made me smile.

5. 14,000 things to happy about by Barbara Ann Kipper.

Grace in small things...12-20-10

2010-12-20T20:12:00.005-07:00

1. A touch of spring in the air on the first day of winter
2. The lunar eclipse! and the hope that it will be visible tonight
3. The solstice...a new start and the return of light...yay light!!!
4. Candy cane Hershey kisses...I am sooooo glad they are only around once a year
5. Seeing the people who love this season with such joy in their eyes.

Grace in small things...12-19-10

2010-12-19T18:37:00.002-07:00

1. Small beings dressed up for the holidays to excited to sit still
2. Benoit Mandelbrot and fractals! My new science crush - sorry Al- no wait, he's all about fractal geometry so he can be my math crush...whew! I'm dying to go to the First Friday Fractals now
3. Learning even more about about Synesthesia- went to a great lecture at the museum today in conjunction with the exhibit Sensory Crossovers. It closes on January 2 and is one of the best they've had. Okay, so this has been my geekiest weekend...ever! PBS is my new BFF
4. Not every poinsettia in town in real...
5. The internet and being able to connect/communicate with people far away and to share their day.

Sleep...less?

2010-12-11T16:38:00.004-07:00

Last week I was trying to remember that Shakespeare quote about sleep...I know, I know there is that giant data base in the sky that I could go look for something instantly but it is more challenging to try to retrieve something from my mind that wasn't important when I learned/read it but now is of utmost importance...and then... there on Karen Michel's ETSY page, were the exact lines I was looking for... along with a gorgeous print...

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast.
~William Shakespeare, Macbeth

I am not a good sleeper...never have been. Don't know why. The descriptive phrase my daddy used for my sleep habits was piss poor. I wake up every morning at 2:22. Have for as long as I can remember. I usually go back to sleep, but when I don't, I have all these things that go through my head...did I leave something undone? Can I fix it right now? I've gotten better about letting go of things and trying to go back to sleep...I do have to be at work at 8 regardless of the amount of rest I got. But I am not always successful...

Sometimes things seem just beyond where I can retrieve them... just on the other side of the veil or hidden by a curtain that I can't quite draw. I've tried the "leaving a notebook by my bed so I can write down what I am thinking about" thing... to deal with it later but mostly in the morning it said things like "Uncle Bernie" (I don't have an Uncle Bernie) or high yellow...or something of equal importance. And really, that never helped anyway. I've tried teas, herbal remedies, lucid dreaming techniques...not quite ready for real drugs, still want to be in control I guess. I don't think it bothers me as much as it bothers others that I don't sleep much. Four hours a night is about my average and I am almost groggy all day if I get 8 hours. Just the way I am..but could the world stand it if 8 hours made me more amazing than I already am? ha!

Wouldn't it be nice if a simple STOP could turn off those thoughts? Fortunately these days there are folks on line at 2:22 in the morning so conversations can be had, ideas can be tossed around and it isn't so sucky. A friend is traveling and is sometimes 8 hours ahead, sometimes 7 so it's day there and I can get a update and find out fascinating things about faraway places with strange sounding names...

I know that it sometimes just one of those hot blasts...but it does give me some reflection time...and while I've always known that control is an illusion...I'm being to believe so is sleep...

What do you do to help you sleep?

Grace in small things...

2010-11-26T08:50:00.003-07:00

Dogs in capes

5 kinds of desserts

Steven smiling

Traditions continued

Beauty on the table

Thoughtfulness

Boys who take cooking seriously

A chance to visit with family
Happy season of thanks...

Yes, I was late for work....again

2010-11-23T20:15:00.002-07:00

it was so worth it...

11-20-10 5:29 pm

2010-11-20T20:25:00.002-07:00

West

East

back to the west...

Remains of the Day...of the Dead

2010-11-09T22:25:00.002-07:00

The traditional Muertos y Marigold Parade was held a week later than usual
That made it practically perfect in every way
We had more cool nights and warm days so the fall color that I had feared would never show...showed itself over and over and over....
It was time change Sunday so the parade ended just as the sun started to set
It my favorite parade yet...low riders and bikers and skeletons...oh my!
Many more schools and horses and even one horse with a heart on it's butt
Are they called butts on horses?
Any way it was honest and truly practically perfect in every way...
great day,
great company,
and even great food to end the evening...
in a restaurant where
a traveling group of Tango dancers made their way
after visiting several other establishments.
That's entertainment!
Go here to see the photo album of a few of the shots I took:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94050&id=1313433829&l=e9c1e187eb
I guess we can move on to other holidays now...I guess...practically perfect I tell ya...

Boo! 6 Senses Halloween

2010-10-31T21:24:00.002-06:00

Smell:

Sharpies and Shrinky Dinks...so much fun!
I have several new treasures from our adventure...

Taste:

The best chicken noodle soup

Touch:

Fall leaves...and my camera...it's been a while!

Hear:
The first cranes of the season and lots of laughter!

See and feel:

This charming friend who made me laugh so hard today with her amazing costume and great sense of humor! She who is the Queen of Shrinky Dinks! Thanks for the laughs Pati!!

After a totally sucky week that included Urgent Care - Emergency Room - Hospital Stay and all the accompanying paper, dollars, intrusion, annoyance and recovery - today was delightful and wonderful with fall colors (finally!!), pumpkins, cranes, sheep, and lovely company!

What a marvelous morning for a moon dance...

2010-10-23T19:32:00.003-06:00

The moon rise this morning...some call it the Hunter's Moon

or the Kindly Moon

or the Blackberry Moon

most commonly called Harvest Moon

a few call it the Blood Moon

and from the Dakaota Sioux...Moon when quilling and beading is done...
no matter what you call it, it's a beautiful way to start the day

30 pictures aren't enough

2010-10-16T18:53:00.008-06:00

I had the opportunity to be part of a tour of outside art/murals/mosaics/graffiti on the Albuquerque Trolley with the City of Albuquerque Public Art Division...it was AWESOME!

Thomas Christopher Haag

Unknown signage

Albert Rosales and crew at Revlis Gallery

Unknown signage

Thomas Christopher Haag and the Rainbow artist (sorry can't remember his name) the guy who has been doing the rainbow drip thingys off the side of buildings... Revlis Gallery

Thomas Christopher Haag - okay I really liked his stuff...and there were lots of them!

3rd in the triptych of Thomas Christopher Haag

Chip Thomas

Pocket art...one of the first commissioned by the city

one of the triptych - Thomas Christopher Haag

Chris Strain

larger image of Chris Strain

Jaque Fragua

Jaque Fragua with Lichiban

PAZ

Albert Rosales and Friends

Not a mural but still amazing...right?

One of the first ones...using house paint...it is being restored

bigger image of the one above

still the same mural...you can see the degeneration because it is a west facing wall

unknown signage

Barelas Community Center - lead artist Francisco LeFebre

More Barelas Community Center

Full image from Barelas

Bernadette Vigil - this is a fresco

My seat mate on the trolley!

Felix y Los Gatos

2010-10-12T19:16:00.003-06:00

Two of my favorite things...an accordion and duct tape!

For the last few years these guys have been everywhere I've been and I have enjoyed their music each and every time...they now have a cd...Green Chili Gumbo...perfect name for their blend of Cajun and New Mexican...they call it Zydejano!

They had a cd release party at a
local, home owned, realio, truelio, real old fashion bookstore, Bookworks
and it was like a private concert!

Love them, love their music

Read all about them here and then go, listen, enjoy!

What I've learned about myself...

2010-09-21T19:49:00.005-06:00

In spite of several craptasitic days in a row...
and unrelenting heat...(where is fall????)
a crumbling tooth...
headaches, new meds and a new personal best in the category of whining...
trying to learn to do without sugar AND salt...and...and...and...and...and...
I have learned several things about myself...
ready for a list?

I still adore my family and friends...and

still believe that I can make a difference...
I continue to be charmed by children...

I know that forgiveness is too hard sometimes but necessary for growth...

I get to see miracles if I am paying attention...

still delight in the beginnings and endings of days...

and can hope for hope to return...
I am grateful you all stop by and check on me!

What have you learned about yourself?

And did you know that not only did Leonard Cohen release a new CD on September 14, but Eric Clapton has one coming out on September 28 AND Leon Russell and Elton John have a CD coming out October 14 called..."Union" can't wait!

But it started out so beautifully...

2010-09-09T22:58:00.003-06:00

to end so craptastically...

A Day at the Botanical Park

2010-09-06T20:35:00.004-06:00

Shiny shoes and sparkly dresses

Snarky adolescent boys taunting small siblings

Tattooed grandparents with a frilly baby girl

Families of hats

Aging plants weary of summer

Gentle breezes mitigating harsh heat

Blue haired boys holding hands

The sound of cowboy boots and high heels on sidewalks

Not a cloud in the sky

Bliss

Altered Pogo prints and...

2010-08-25T21:04:00.005-06:00

This is a triple exposure...I've been playing and playing and keep meaning to share so here goes...I just kept running this one through...no other techniques..of course the flash is from my crappy photography tonight...in the kitchen...under the light on the stove!
This is the transfer...I left it in the water too long (30 minutes) and lost the yellow layer completely...next time I'm gonna pull it out at about 20 minutes and see what I can use.
This is "just" a double exposure and while I think it is really cool...I'm more partial to the triple and more school of exposures!
I printed the photo onto a receipt from Starbucks...it was light blue and I think that is why the image is so light...the blue on the side is from hitting it with a heat gun for a couple of seconds...isn't it interesting that it is the cyan that comes through so clearly...it turns dark purple first and then when it cools...it's just the blue. hum...
Okay, every time I try to turn this the other way...it disappears so pretend you can tell it is the virgin in the tree photo...I sanded the paper in one direction a couple of times and then printed. The magenta really comes through.
And... then here is the moon this morning...what? ya thought I could go a day without a moon photo? really? have you met me?

Good Morning

2010-08-24T22:09:00.004-06:00

5:15 am

6:15 am

6:45 am

7:15 am

8:15 am

Six Senses Sunday - the New Mexico edition

2010-08-22T20:49:00.004-06:00

Taste: good food in the company of saints! This picture really cracks me up because it felt like we were eating in a dungeon...we didn't even know there was a window!

See: incredible beauty on the way to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu and this morning I happen to catch the PBS series Landscapes of Enchantment that followed 9 artists from that area and how and why they paint. It is an amazing show and worth checking out.

Feel: great joy and appreciation that I live in NM... in spite of the wind!

Hear: that incredible whirring that accompanies the swift arrival of hummingbirds
Touch: those horrible goat heads that leap and grab on with great tenacity...those suckers are hard to pull off and yesterday, they drew blood!
Smell: green chili roasting...a sure sign that it's almost fall...one of my favorite times of year.

Bus Stop Logic

2010-08-19T17:34:00.002-06:00

This is the magic bus stop that I wait at each and every morning...I've learned a lot from being here bright and early every morning...but this morning...I learned about the most remarkable circular logic that is sooooo persistant at the magic bus stop...learn with me here.

Several men were sitting around under the magic sign this morning. One was doing a kind of dance between the curb, sidewalk and the bench with a few twirls, twists and turns in between...ya know what I mean? And he was talking to a gentle soul sitting there after quite the morning visit with Jim B or maybe it was with Johnny W...anyway this is the conversation as I can remember it:
Man Up: so, yeah I just got out of jail....after 2 whole years of my life...
Man Down: what were you in for?
Man Up: well, I spent 2 years for taking 3 bags of shrimp...$36 dollars...they took 2 years of my life man...2 whole years for $36 worth of shrimp.
Man Down: didn't you tell them you were starving?
Man Up: well, they said one bag would be if I were starving...3 bags was a party...I just took 3 bags of shrimp.
Man Down: so they arrested you because it was 3 bags? they would have let you have one bag if you were hungry?
Man Up: I guess, maybe? But 3 bags is a party I guess...
Man Down: So really you went to jail just because they thought you were trying to make people happy?
Man Up: Dude...that's deep...
And off he twirled and skipped...with a whole new perspective on his time in the slammer!

Urban Tide Pools

2010-08-16T20:52:00.003-06:00

Things I took pictures of this week, besides the moon

2010-08-15T19:32:00.005-06:00

Can ya stand a few more?

2010-08-13T22:31:00.002-06:00

I love my camera!

Moons, moonflowers and shrines

2010-08-12T20:37:00.004-06:00

Grace in small things:
1. Rain!
2. How quickly a virgin and a bathtub can become a shrine
3. Rain!
4. Home grown tomatoes
5. Rain!

Six Senses Sunday #5

2010-08-01T17:34:00.004-06:00

This kinda sums up my week...wonder that is a little tangled up

Taste:
these..the most amazing vine ripened current tomatoes...no I didn't eat them together, the chocolate is just for size comparison! But I did eat them like candy until my mouth broke out...no I have no self control!
Basil! basil! basil! in capri salad, on sandwiches instead of lettuce, sauteed with chard - really delish!! and I even dumped some finely chopped into ketchup with a little balsamic vinegar and discovered a new taste treat sensation!

See:
wonderful things since the rains came...this moonflower is on a bush (vine?) the size of my living room...everything is so glad to have moisture that it is leaping and jumping off the ground and blooming like crazy! I love it and I love the rain and I love seeing the rain fall down and when I am inside, the lightening in the sky.

Feel:
grateful I paid attention to recommendations and started reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog...I love it!
a longing to live someplace that the rain comes more frequently but that I wouldn't have to wear socks regularly...asking too much?
delight at connecting with an old friend and then a little hesitation knowing we had so little left in common, except our history

Hear:
the thunder and the great great booming echos of it... this has been a great week for weathermen (persons?) and not the Eldridge Cleaver kind..no wait, he was a Black Panther. Did I ever tell you that I had my picture taken with him once in Chicago?
The Beatles! my favorite was the concert at the White House for Paul McCartney's award and seeing Stevie Wonder sing along as Paul and others sang all the old favorites. Barack sang along as Paul sang Michelle...it was so sweet.

Smell:
water...rain in the air, puddles with leaves swirling, the hint of moisture and then boom! it's raining...tomato and basil on my hands from the picking...makes me miss my dad

Touch:
rain soaked earth under my feet, wet toes from walking through puddles and across wet lawns...the change in texture in my hair from the moisture...the way my sheets feel when it's moist...peach fuzz and the smooth skin of nectarines and plums...

And you...how have you been? Sorry I've been gone so long, I've missed our little talks!

My world...today

2010-07-31T19:44:00.002-06:00

Moisture!

Heart broken...

2010-06-26T21:39:00.003-06:00

This is my friend Polly, speaking at my son's memorial service. I remember every word she said. I love Polly, she is bright, articulate, tenacious, and a force to be reckoned with. Funny with a wicked sense of humor, I never come away from a conversation without learning something. She has been working for health care reform for the last 10 years or so without a break. She was the driving force behind 2 parent organizations, one at a state level that made a difference for the children with special needs in New Mexico and a national organization that made leaders out of parents who just need that push only Polly could give. One of those moms was just in the White House for the signing of the Health Care Reform. She has spoken to Congress, met with Presidents and never, ever given up. She has been married to John through thick and thin, raised 4 children, loves her grandchildren fiercely, served in the Peace Corp, wrote some of the best articles on every aspect of health care reform ever written (okay I am a little biased) and did all of this even though her child with special needs would always been taken care of. She sees the big picture in every situation and tries to help everyone else see all sides. Everyone who meets her is changed in some way. I always say that I want to be her when I grow up. She is the grown up in every single situation. Some of the best parties I ever went to were at her house. I learned how to be an adoptive mother from her. She has a style that is unmistakable and makes an impact every single day. She knew Mr Rogers and got to tell him how much I loved him before he died. That really meant a lot to me that she would take the time to do something so silly...but important! She always is the first person to call when something happens, the one to write the letters that make you feel so much better when a tragedy occurs and today, my friend, mentor and one of the best people I have ever known was killed in a tragic accident. It's too hard to say goodbye Polly...

5 minutes ago

2010-06-25T20:29:00.002-06:00

Play pretties

2010-06-23T20:54:00.002-06:00

Look what came home to me today! Made by the lovely Tricia that I work with, these lovelies showed up on my desk this morning...okay I begged but hey they are worth it...the necklace I made and the cleavage is mine but she worked hard on the play pretties...she is setting up an Etsy store as I type...I'll link to it as soon as I know the address...I'm a lucky girl!

The lady on the mountain

2010-06-22T17:36:00.003-06:00

Magdalena Mountain

The first sunset of summer

2010-06-21T20:54:00.001-06:00

this must be our reward for enduring the heat...

Last sunset of spring...

2010-06-21T06:22:00.002-06:00

On the way home...happy summer solstice!

Six Senses Sunday #4 - the purple edition

2010-04-18T21:39:00.005-06:00

See:
The most gorgeous purple every where I go
The Man Ray exhibit - very interesting but not what I expected..lots of work by his students as well as the African Art used in his work
Butterflies and robins every day now...it's really spring!
Hear:
Riding with the King...B.B. and Eric...yum
Less crow, more song birds
No more diesel tow truck in the middle of the night...the repo man moved!!! yippee skippee
Taste:
The most amazing scallop and polenta dish..with crispy cheese and a jabanero corn salsa
Blue Bell Ice Cream!!!! The best ever and only available in limited area, fell in love with it in college in TX and haven't had it since, (unless I was in TX) but my lovelies, it's here now...too bad I can't really enjoy ice cream like I use to
Yummy Cajun food from a new restaurant in town...2 blocks from where I work...we went 3 times in the first week it was open, tastes "right" ya know?
An organic tomato from Mexico that was so good and tasty, I expected to hear my daddy's voice.
Touch:
The softest shawl with beautiful swirly colors...from Target!
Pan pastels, I love how soft they are and how easily they blend
Cotton shirts and bare feet outside
Smell:
Finally, the lilacs!! Every where and so fragrant now that the wind has subsided a bit
RAIN!! and a foggy morning with that smell you know means moisture
Wisteria has a fragrance all it's own and it is soooo intoxicating. As I was taking some of the pictures I felt kinda like Wimpy after hamburgers...I would follow it anywhere. We are calling it hysteria this year instead of wisteria...
Feel:
Very excited that I have found ways to manipulate pictures from my shiny pink PoGo printer!! I KNOW!! How cool is that! Double exposures, altered with sanding, fire and acetone! Thanks to Traci Bunkers for the idea and the link!
Grateful for a break from the wind.
Disappointed in the Dia de los Muertos show yesterday...it was so junky! Nothing even remotely like the one last year that had tons of different kinds of things and real quality. I only purchased a couple of pairs of Milagros earrings and could hardly wait to get out of the building!

Suggestions welcome

2010-04-14T21:23:00.002-06:00

This is a wonderful little California poppy...in a New Mexico wind. Both the poppy and I were having a hard time staying upright. When I am walking I can find lots and lots of things to be grateful for..the warmth, the sun, the fact that I have 2 legs that work, I don't have to carry everything I own, I have the opportunity to buy good healthy food, wonderful friends support me, I have a great kid, no socks! But when the wind begins to blow.....ey..ey...ey... everything goes out of my head and I become a raving lunatic!
You can almost see this lovely lilac that I am sure would smell wonderful...if the wind wasn't beating the shit out of it. So if you have any suggestions about how to help me not fight the wind and yes, I know I can't win, or things that I should be grateful for when the wind blows...I'm all ears...

If I were...

2010-04-10T19:13:00.002-06:00

If I were a month I’d be May...or October

If I were a day I’d be Sunday

If I were a time of day I’d be sunset into dusk

If I were a planet I’d be the moon circling the earth in all it's phases

If I were a sea animal I’d be a leafy sea dragon

If I were a direction I’d be southwest

If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a rocking chair

If I were a liquid I’d be Earl Grey Tea

If I were a gem stone I’d be Amazonite

If I were a tree I’d be a Jacaranda

If I were a tool I’d be a camera

If I were a flower I’d be a lily of the valley

If I were an element of weather I’d be dew

If I were a musical instrument I’d be a accordion

If I were a color I'd be purple

If I were an emotion I’d be gratitude

If I were a fruit I’d be a avocado

If I were a sound I’d be a whistle

If I were an element I'd be earth

If I were a car I’d be a Willis Jeep pickup

If I were a food I’d be shrimp creole

If I were a place I’d be a mountain meadow

If I were a material I'd be lawn

If I were a taste I’d be salty

If I were a scent I’d be lilac

If I were a body part I’d be an eye

If I were a song I’d be off key

If I were a bird I'd be a mourning dove

If I were a gift I'd be the last book you talked about

If I were a city I'd be New Orleans

If I were a door I'd be one of those old wooden screen doors whose sound lets you know when someone comes in or goes out

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be discarded by the door

If I were a poem I would be Dance Me to the End of Love by Leonard Cohen

what would you be?

I saw this first when Allegra posted it and others followed, Tara and then Stephanie and so a little late but with my love of lists...

Well, since you asked..

2010-04-03T12:45:00.005-06:00

Allegra and Chris want to know

where I've been...
and what I've been doing...
the answer is ...

here...
doing nothing... well
working and walking
and dealing with the wind at work and on my walks...

these pictures are for Allegra...she loves peacocks and so do I
but I wonder

how they deal with the wind and that tail...
a friend of mine once said the wind in New Mexico

doesn't blow...it sucks
boy was he right...!
I know why the women in the old west tales
killed their husbands, children, chickens, and any stray passerbys
when the wind was blowing...it makes me crazy.
And this is spring in New Mexico...
wind...
wind...
wind!!
And when all our lovely blossoming,
pollinating, amazing flowering fruit trees
get just full of wonderfulness...
that wind takes all of our goodness to Arizona...or Texas...or Colorado
I hope they appreciate it!

Last week, my Mama Poole (she called herself my mother-in-love) turned 80. This is a card she sent me last year on the first day of spring. That's me and her years ago, under a concrete picnic table in the Rocky Mountain National Park on a spring picnic when it started the rain. Everyone else ran for the car but she and I stayed to enjoy the rain...under the table. I've known and loved her since I was 19. The first day of spring is the holiday we always celebrate together. I buy a yellow shirt and new sandals every year and she always laughs at me for doing it in the snow and asks if there is room in my closet for one more pair of shoes...see how well she knows me? She has lived through lots of hard things...loosing her son and most of her siblings most recently... but has the best attitude ever and taught me sooooo many things. "You learn more about being an adult from your children than you do your parents" she said. And she was right. "Once you give something away, let go of what happens to it." Another wise nugget that has served me well. One of my favorite lessons is that it's okay to keep art you made and love. Not everything has to be for sale or given away. For years we gardened, cooked, played, did art, traveled to craft shows and even had a store in Estes Park a couple of summers. They are a family of potters - 3 generations now. She was a teacher of first graders for years and years and let me be a part of that as well. I went to the college she did because I wanted to be like her. Now she's old - or so she says. When I spoke to her last week she told me they went to the doctor because they "thought they should" but they told him up front they didn't want any medicine. So they had the exam, took all the tests and got the results. The tests all showed they were healthy...old but healthy and so she told the doctor...they weren't coming back. I still want to be her when I grow up.

Grace in small things
1. a brief respite from the wind when the sun was shining - warmth!!! lovely, lovely New Mexico
2. the most amazing paintings and cloth made from those paintings done by a blind man! I'll find the link and post it some day but he is amazing!! If you're local - stop by and see the show...
3. beautiful light in the mornings as I walk to the bus, the slow dawning of the day
4. mourning doves - it's mating season and they don't ever shut up! The cooing goes on and on...I love that sound
5. finally finishing my taxes!!! yippee skippee!! and so I can finish my plans for my trip to CO to see my niece get married...I get to be the one to marry them...isn't that a hoot!

Welcome Spring

2010-03-21T20:36:00.003-06:00

He is having a grand time this spring and lets me know every morning

It was warm for 2 days and every tree in town busted out in bloom,
I am surprised that there aren't little trusses on all the branches from the effort

And how typical of New Mexico spring is this? Again this Saturday morning we woke to the traditional first day of spring blizzard, giant snowflakes and by noon, it was reduced to this...

Grace in small things:
1. Not even a jacket today!
2. A brand spanking new supply of PoGo paper for my shiny pink PoGo printer...I've been out of paper for 2 weeks! I bought all I could find on line...
3. Free pastry day at Starbucks tomorrow...chocolate donut here I come!
4. Friends willing to go to the movies at the same time but see different movies
5. A softness to the light and the air that can only mean spring. I am a happy girl!

March 11, 2010

2010-03-11T18:30:00.005-07:00

7:00 on my way to work...

then

12:00 at my office...

then...

4:30 on my way home...

gotta love spring in New Mexico...but I tell ya they have just one week to get this sorted out because I am packing up those socks on the first day of Spring and that's that. I do expect one more snow around Easter, but it better start warming up and that sun better get shining...I moved to the desert for a reason!

Grace in small things:
1. Warmth in the wind
2. Beets, yes I love them, shredded raw or cooked or pickled. They brightened my day today.
3. My shiny new purple Blackberry phone...and I would love it more if I could figure it all out, but I did figure out to hook up the shiny pink PoGo printer so when I learn how to take good pictures, I will be able to print them wireless-ly!!! I know!!! I'm cool, that's right, cool...
4. One smiling happy face that never fails to make me smile and look at things differently.
5. Freebies all over the web. Last week I was home sick and when I was awake, I was cruising for embroidery patterns, vintage ones, funky ones, hand made ones and I found so many amazing sites that share so freely. Yeah, I'm set, just as soon as I get something to embroider on, and learn how to transfer patterns, and where the thread is...I'm gonna be an embroidering fool!

Slaying Dragons

2010-03-08T20:13:00.003-07:00

takes all my energy and compared to what my friends are going through...

mine are more like lizards, but I'll be back soon.
And is it my imagination or does Albuquerque have lots and lots of dragons?

Post 200, Let's get ready to ramble...

2010-02-21T21:22:00.008-07:00

Can you believe it? 200? Not good at long term commitment so this is a big deal. Ya know what else is a big deal? I am now the parent of a 29 year old man. How can that be?
We celebrated with the best Shrimp Creole I made for Fat Tuesday. I made it from the same recipe I always use but somehow, this was the best. And these fabulous fruit tarts from the favorite desert place. And then with eggs Benedict and then... well you get the picture...
Wasn't this the most perfect sliver of a moon? We have had such a gray and cloudy sky all week long and I was delighted to have one long walk on the one clear almost perfect night and have this as my companion.
All of the holidays were celebrated...went to the Chinese Cultural Center to ring in the new year, these lovelies came to me on Valentine's day, I made yummy Shrimp Creole on Mardi Gras and for President's day, well, I shared their pictures all over town. Does that count as a celebration?
I've been collecting signs since last we spoke, love this old one but my very favorite was one that I was not allowed to photograph. It was behind the counter at a restaurant...in hand made letters it said: "Margret's 17th birthday is on February 21...that's right... 17...it still means 10-20 years" Apparently Margret's too grown up for her own good!
There's lots more to tell of what happened while I was breaking but it will have to wait...as will 6 senses Sunday...but I'm back in the online world and I've missed you all but have to tell you, I got an embarrassing number of things checked off that to-do list while not on line so now I am striving for what's the word??? Oh yeah, b a l a n c e... wish me luck!

Taking a little break...

2010-02-12T14:09:00.001-07:00

from all things electronic...means Six Senses Sunday will be Six Senses Wednesday...oh well, never was good at directions...see ya

Six Senses Sunday #3

2010-02-07T18:04:00.003-07:00

See:
* Signs of Spring!!! I was so excited to find this Winter Jasmine today. It definitely means that it will warm up soon and there will be sun again...I am just sure of it....right? You think so don't you? I will if you will...Spring has to be here soon...
* The sweet faces of friends from long ago that I don't see often enough
* The Winter part of the NOW exhibit at the Museum...really good, not as wonderful as the first part but still good. An amazing piece done by Patrick Ryoichi Nagatani done on masking tape...you gotta see it, nice piece by Kristen Diener and a gorgeous panoramic image of the Albuquerque Rail yards by Bill Tondreau. But my favorite was an installation by Jennifer Vasher called "the past is never dead and buried"...long ropes draped floor to ceiling over a fainting couch, garland after garland draped from floor to ceiling, garland after garland of...wait for it...aspirin and Tylenol!!! Threaded on waxed thread! It was so cool because it was such a surprise...
*AND!!! this!!! my very early birthday present!!! A Cynthia Cook original!! Isn't it fabulous? Photo by Elaine Russell
Hear:
* Water dripping...it sounded so fresh and I need fresh!
* An amazing harp concert just for us. One of my classmates in the Cynthia Cook class brought her harp on the last night and played for us. She even played the Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen that has been my theme song for days and days now... along with Here Comes the Sun...we are all desperate for sunshine these days
Taste:
* Delish turkey, dressing, peas and salad at my friends home...followed by lava muffins! Have you ever tasted lava muffins? They are gooey and chocolaty and warm and yummy!
* Dulce de leche candy

Feel:
* Delighted to have met and had a class with the wonderful Cynthia Cook.
* Frustrated and SAD that it has been gloomy and gray here for a month or more. I need the sun and sunshine and blue skies and typical New Mexico weather...

Touch:
* Snow, rain, umbrellas, gloves, scarfs....I'm done already!
* Handmade paper that I am sorting out for a new project at work
* Glass, metal and sandpaper in class preparing to begin something...finally!

Smell:
* Clothes strait out of the dryer
* Chocolate lava muffins!
* Turkey cooking

I love lists, I love making lists and I love sharing lists...hope you have a great week...make a list of what made it great and share it!

How I spent my evening...

2010-02-01T21:35:00.003-07:00

I had this great post ready about my shiny new pink pogo printer to replace my old perfectly fine black pogo printer and how much more fun it is to print with the shiny pink pogo printer (yes I do have to say it just like that every time I say it...) but then....

Six Senses Sunday #2

2010-01-31T18:19:00.005-07:00

See:
* My name through the trees! It's on a U-Haul van that was used to move really obnoxious neighbors out so I was pleased to see that van for 2 reasons. As you can imagine, I rarely see my name in New Mexico...Canada, Paris, even at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas but never in New Mexico!
*The most amazing sunrises and sunsets walking to and from the bus stop most days.
* Old photos that I've taken in January past. Only the one above was taken this year, but all of these were taken in a January.

Hear:
*Many more birds in the trees, Grackles singing me to the bus stop in spite of the gray sky every single morning lately, beautiful sunrise, gray sky...
* Random bits of Eric Clapton on some commercial. I finally saw it today and I love it!
* Vague songs in the background in restaurants...and then I have to figure out what it is and then it stays in my head for the rest of the day...why do I do that? Makes me crazy!

Touch:
* The feel of paper in an old book. I read the same book every year in the fall and this year I got distracted and just finished it this week. My copy was published in 1958 and has a whole different feeling than the new books I check out from the library.
* The sun on my face for the few minutes it was out today. As soon as it shone through the window, I was outside. I've missed it so much this week!
*The difference in tissues, some of the cheap ones are more like #2 sandpaper! Can you tell my allergies are out of control...again...

Taste:
* The first asparagus of the season! I try hard to eat seasonally but come on...it was $1.99 at Sunflower...and it's spring somewhere right? It was so delish and such a change from cabbage, cauliflower and frozen stuff...that seasonal/local eating is important to me...except for salmon and mangos and ... okay I'm a firm believer in the 80/20 theory of eating
* A new kind of apple to me...Jazz. It's no Honeycrisp but it's not bad
* The comfort of Earl Grey and not even minding that it is decaf...
* An especially wonderful bruschetta with blue cheese and spinach...who knew?

Feel:
* Frustration at not being able to control a medical condition. I should be able to do that right? I mean it is my body so I should have control over it!!!
* Delight in knowing I get to go to class one more time and sad that it is ending. I have really had a good time with Cynthia Cook and what a great teacher she is. She does a little talking, gives a demo of something, lets us try it and work on our own and is available to answer any questions. And then she does more talking or another demo to answer the questions. She learns from us as well and it has been a great experience.

Smell:
* Freshly ground nutmeg in my oatmeal
* Leaves that are rotting, getting ready for spring
* The powdery perfume someone wears at work that sets off my allergies...
* Really beautiful lilies in the grocery store, smelled like summer somehow.

Thanks to Melanie I have been enjoying doing these six senses. It feels like an expansion of Christina's simple things activities and my grace in small things. I like it!

No matter what it's called...

2010-01-30T21:31:00.002-07:00

Winter...holiday...cold...cooking...moon of the terrible...quite...wolf...ice or rainbow fish moon...
it makes me happy

Simply Happy

2010-01-27T20:51:00.004-07:00

My soulful friend, Christina, over at Soul Aperture is blogging about the simple things. And inviting us to join in. Her lovely family will donate money for each blogger that joins in to aid Haiti. How could I not join the party! So here is my list...for today anyway!

Like the picture, the promise of spring, even when the sky is still gray...

A class! Where I learn a new skill! That requires power tools!

The morning greeting: "how you be?"

White chocolate, covered in white chocolate, surrounded by white chocolate.

Avocados and rice cakes for supper.

Hair ribbons...

Making Valentines.

Finding the next book in a series.

Crows directing sky traffic every morning with out fail...

The hawks returning to the park.

Jasmine tea

Wearing my favorite earrings

Leonard Cohen, sorry I had to include him again...

Baby aspirin

Plans to look forward to...

and comments from my friends!

Good morning!!

2010-01-26T19:55:00.003-07:00

How can it be anything but good when you are greeted by this...

And this....he's back!!

I love my camera!!

Six Senses Sunday

2010-01-24T22:12:00.006-07:00

I've wanted to do 5 senses Friday for sometime and when Melanie figured out that there needed to be an addition of the 6th sense...I decided to jump right in...2 weeks later...and when she changed it to Sunday...I liked it even better. So here is my list, after a great weekend in the mountains!
See:
* Sandhill Cranes!! Flying in, landing and eating in the Bosque del Apache
* Geraniums in the winter sunshine
* A small love note taped to the window by a loving granddaughter

Touch:
* My favorite flannel shirt
* Warm blankets, just the perfect weight to keep me warm but not feel smothered
* Glue on my fingers, glitter and paper stuck to me because of it

Taste:
* Home made maple walnut scones
* Green chili , beans and warmed tortillas
* Strawberry sushi with wasabi and pickled ginger! Really good...

Hear:
* Leonard Cohen Live from London, yes again... okay still... and always
* The cranes flying over head
* Friends laughter

Feel:
* Astonishment at the perfect timing of looking over just as a petal fell off a bloom
* Annoyance at one of my favorite authors for such an unsatisfying ending to a good book
* The pleasure of my friends' company

Smell:
* Bacon cooking
* A touch of spring in the rain
* The way the heater smells in a car when it is really cold and it comes on...

I had such a lovely weekend with my friends and even got to help with a fund raiser for a Performing Arts Series that brings great entertainment opportunities to a small town. It also gave me the chance to sit and do art for 3 hours! Hope your weekend was lovely too!

"Explore your mind, discover yourself, then give the best that is in you to your age and to your world. there are heroic possibilities waiting to be discovered in every person." Wilfred Peterson

And then the sun shone in...

2010-01-09T10:22:00.003-07:00

I ride the bus. Every day. And so I have many, many opportunities to learn interesting life lessons. I used to ride a bus that went by 2 methadone clinics and the people I rode with gave me a whole new perspective. Now I ride a bus that goes by 4 different agencies that serve people who are homeless. My fellow passengers now are mostly men, mostly down on their luck, shabby, gentle souls who are polite, respectful and thoughtful. It's like riding with a congregation of the Dharma Bums that Jack Kerouac wrote about. For the most part, I enjoy their company.
Yesterday, on a very cold, gloomy morning the bus station was jam packed with folks trying to stay out of the cold at 7 in the morning so I choose to wait outside. Another person who chose to wait in the cold was a man in a wheelchair that I ride with often. He is always polite, always helpful, a genuine pleasure to be around and homeless. And there was a woman who complained incessantly...incessantly. He tried to redirect each and every complaint. The driver arrived and was going to let us get in out of the cold. She announced that she had no bus pass and intended to ride. The driver just looked at her. The man spoke to her quietly and she asked if she could ride to the homeless shelter..please. The driver let her on. As we waited for the time of departure, she continued her rant and the man who could have complained about everything, continued to try to redirect her. She began to bitterly complain about the cold...incessantly. And suddenly, a bus moved and the sun shone in...so brightly it filled the bus with light. It felt a little miraculous, okay... a lot miraculous. She began to shriek because it was in her eyes...shriek. My fellow passenger gently said to her..."you would curse the cure for your bitter complaint because it surprised you?" Lesson learned...

Be an explorer...read, surf the internet, visit customers, enjoy arts,watch children play...do anything to prevent yourself from becoming a prisoner of your knowledge, experrience and current view of the world." Charles Thompson

Grace in small things:
1. I don't have to carry everything I own with me.
2. I am warm 90% of the time.
3. When I am cold, I can get warm.
4. I have the opportunity to learn, explore, grow and change based on what I find out.
5. The sun does shine about 360 days of the year in New Mexico.

Two days in a row...

2010-01-03T21:06:00.002-07:00

For a year that started out so well, I could only sustain it for 2 days in a row. This morning I made a series of bad choices that built up and turned into mistakes that delayed me and made my friend wait for me and that frustrated me no end. Just as I was about to loose it, I heard a sound that touches my heart. I was in the right place at the right time to hear Sand Hill cranes fly over head. Aaaaaahhhhhh. The rest of the day was lovely and even included a nap.

"After all these years, I am still involved in the process of self-discovery. It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues ones pays for a full life." Sophia Loren

Grace in small things:
1. Clear crisp days that warm up.
2. Excellent vanilla soy lattes
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox... of course George Clooney could read a phone book and I would be happy
4. The anticipation of a new class and assembling tools!
5. Sand Hill cranes, the way they sound, they way they look flying, the peace they bring to me

Off to a good start

2010-01-01T09:42:00.005-07:00

Happy New Year!
How could it not be a great year when it starts out like this?
My word for 2010 is explore.

Any ideas?

The most important thing I learned on my road trip

2009-12-28T21:07:00.004-07:00

of more than 1,100 miles;

in 2 states;

over 4 days;

including visits with old friends, new kids, and a really, really old dog;

and several family gatherings;

in snow and wind, bitter cold and clear skies and sun;

when the windshield was clean and dirty;

over really good food in homes and restaurants;

in small towns and giant cities:

when other drivers acted stupid and tried to become hood ornaments for the the truck;

and we could see for miles and miles;

and heard great music;

the most important lesson I learned my Christmas road trip with my son to visit family in Colorado, was:
ALWAYS WEAR SOCKS AND SHOES
OF EQUAL THICKNESS
AS THE PERSON CONTROLLING THE

H E A T

IN THE TRUCK.

Solstice greetings

2009-12-20T21:00:00.006-07:00

"I believe that everything happens for a reason.

People change so that you can learn to let go,

things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right,

you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes
good things fall apart
so better things can fall together." Marilyn Monroe
And thanks to Allegra...this!

December ...so far

2009-12-17T05:58:00.003-07:00

How I spent my Thanksgiving vacation...

2009-12-02T21:13:00.004-07:00

I got on one of these

left this

and flew over this

to get to here

to see this from my childhood memories

went back for a closer look

couldn't resist shooting this again and again

more memories

something new, new memories made

ate and drank here with some of my favorite people

and left from here to return to the Land of Enchantment.
How did you spend your Thanksgiving vacation?

Abundance

2009-11-25T20:28:00.002-07:00

Giving thanks for abundance
is sweeter
than the
abundance itself..
Rumi

Go! Now! Look! Be Amazed

2009-11-06T20:38:00.001-07:00

http://v1kram.posterous.com/liu-bolinthe-invisible-man/

The last one is really, really amazing...

On my way home

2009-11-02T22:16:00.001-07:00

Trying to make it to the other side...

2009-11-02T06:37:00.003-07:00

No, not that "other side"... just the other side of not feeling good. More later.

It's begining to look a lot like...

2009-10-27T23:15:00.003-06:00

Dia de los Muertos!!

This is my piece in the South Broadway Cultural Center show this weekend...watch this space for many more posts on my favorite holiday!

Falling

2009-10-26T21:20:00.004-06:00

Sign Sunday

2009-10-25T19:14:00.003-06:00

Grace in small things:
1. Being surrounded by loveliness every morning as I walk to the bus, gorgeous sunrises and reflections in the clouds in the west.
2. Seeing people treated with dignity and respect.
3. Time with friends, old and new. The comfort in knowing things about old friends and learning about new friends and how much we all have in common.
4. The most amazing sunsets this fall.
5. A fabulously successful first show for an emerging artist..and the fact that it's over and I can go back to my life!

Harvest Moon, Stress Relief and a Tale of Salt

2009-10-04T14:43:00.006-06:00

I decided that cooking would provide the stress relief I needed after a very hectic week. I had a couple of recipes that I had bookmarked a while back that seemed like just the ticket. Lots of steps, mixing, chopping, and not so much measuring. I am not much of a baker 'cuz I really don't like measuring, and really, what is a pinch or smidge? I like the kind of cooking that involves music playing, dancing around the kitchen and not so much attention to detail. How much? Oh this looks like it could be that much! Ya know that kind of cooking? Any way, recipes are more suggestions to me so off I go and get all the things that are listed on my "suggestions" and some things that are not but might be good! I like to cook, like to make mistakes cooking and like to think that I am a good cook. But my son is fond of telling folks that my moistureless chicken breasts were legendary...so maybe I am only a good cook in my own mind!

And so I made Roast Pumpkin Cheese "Fondue" and boys and girls it is GOOD!!! I made it in 2 small sugar pumpkins instead of one 7 lb (!!) one. The first one I took to work and had my co-workers be my taste testers. Some liked it, some didn't (not pumpkin people..isn't there an island they can live on?) and so I made the second one for a birthday. The first one was really good, but the pumpkin lacked...something...I couldn't decide what, but something. Now I am not a big salt girl, it's okay but I don't really add it when I am cooking except in very small amounts. I am always scared of too much salt. The recipe said to salt the inside of the pumpkin and I sorta did but for the second version, I rubbed the inside with one of those blends of many herbs without salt and it made a world of difference...just to the pumpkin. It's hard to improve on cheese and cream! (okay, I used half and half...)

Next I took on Olive Oil Granola which was an odd choice for me since I don't really eat granola. I don't do wheat germ in any form, size, shape or recipe so granola has pretty much been off my list since the ole hippie days when we lived on it in some form or another for days on end. My other gripe with most granola is that it is too sweet. I know, I know and yes I am afraid of foods that are too sweet too, like fudge...yuck!! I guess I need an island too. But back to the granola...
The recipe calls for coconut chips, but I don't do coconut for any reason either... it is a major allergy and I do like to live through meals so no coconut for me. I think I can come up with something to substitute and so onward to granola land. I pretty much stuck to the recipe except that I substituted slivered almonds and sunflower kernels for the coconut and added flax seeds. But the mistake I made this time was all about the salt. I didn't add what the recipe called for since some of the nuts I used were not raw and were dry roasted and lightly salted. I also forgot that my crappy oven heats higher than it says and so the first batch of this was a little toastier than I think it should have been - read burnt here! Another thing my son remembers from childhood, I was good at burning things. We had new neighbors that had chickens and one day I sent him over to see if they wanted the burnt biscuits I produced. Our neighbor said that the chickens loved burnt stuff and Dave replied, "they are gonna love living next door to us!" But... batch number 2 was just fine, but it coulda used a little salt...
I used Greek honey yogurt and spiced apples instead of ricotta and berries...yum!

Warning! Heavy on pictures, light on words

2009-09-26T15:07:00.005-06:00

Click on any of them to see them up close and personal. If you see anything you like (and how could you not!!!) let me know and I'll connect you with the artist!

Popping by

2009-09-23T08:28:00.001-06:00

Just to share this...
“No mirror ever became iron again;
No bread ever became wheat;
No ripened grape ever became sour fruit.
Mature yourself and be secure from a change for the worse.
Become the light.” Rumi

In and out

2009-09-08T20:14:00.004-06:00

And now for something entirely different! The show opens tomorrow, runs for 3 nights and I start a part time job on Saturday...I know, I know, when it rains jobs it pours!

And so like this busy bee in these fabulous morning glories, I will be darting in and out of bloglandia for a while.

I will be sure to post pics of the show, each and every piece from each artist is just lovely and they all go so well together.

I know you'll want to see them all and I will do my best but in the mean time...

I will be in and out.

Three, two, one!

2009-09-06T17:58:00.002-06:00

Five, four...

2009-09-05T14:16:00.001-06:00

Six

2009-09-04T21:27:00.004-06:00

Grace in small things:
1. The second crow sighting of the season
2. A morning cool enough to think about wearing something with sleeves but not cool enough to consider socks
3. The first scent, sip and swallow of a Pumpkin Spice Latte with soy
4. Being awakened by moonlight so bright shining in my window that I thought it was morning
5. A three day weekend!!

Do yourself a favor and go over to Allegra's blog and watch the most amazing video and I am not one of those "ahh, isn't that sweet? cute animal videos!!!" kinda girl but you NEED to see this one!

Seven

2009-09-03T21:07:00.001-06:00

Eight

2009-09-02T19:53:00.001-06:00

Nine

2009-09-01T20:02:00.001-06:00

Almost here

2009-08-29T19:24:00.002-06:00

Hope to see you there,

folks are doing some amazing things
and it's gonna be fun,
I tell ya,
FUN!!

Brand new second hand thoughts

2009-08-27T20:48:00.003-06:00

“One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”

—Maya Angelou
(b. 1928); poet

Grace in small things:

1. The generosity of friends

2. A new old sewing machine courtesy of a generous friend!!

3. The smell of chili roasting and knowing fall is coming

4. Gloomy, rainy mornings and evenings

5. A pink morning walk with moisture

6. The perfect sliver of a moon through the clouds

7. Another finished piece for the show

8. 6 whole weeks at the job

9. Thinking of things to celebrate at the end of the month

10. People keep coming back to read my blog!

The Universe and randomness

2009-08-20T20:10:00.004-06:00

Dawn is married to my nephew Andy and here she is with 2 of her 3 guys on a recent trip down here. My first boy friend's mother called herself my "mother-in-love" since we were so close and so I call Dawn my "niece-in-love" for the same reason. So much better than that whole in-law thing, right? She is also my random number generator 'cause I like talking to her way better than doing that online thingy. I called Dawn tonight to have her do her thing and she picked the numbers and we chatted and hung up.

I counted down the comments and found that Gwen was the lucky winner. I popped over to her blog to let her know and the title of it is Helen Louise Thompson. Which kinda gave me a start...since my mother's name was Helen Louise. Nothing random here folks, the Universe knows what it is doing...eh? And what a great picture of her mother! Gwen, you can send me any photo and your address at leau_phillips at yahoo dot com

The next winner of a stencil is Paula Snyder, my new friend and glass grave yard buddy who works down the street from my new job...randomness? You decide and check out the links she has posted for some really great inspiration from some New Mexican artists and a couple of guys from other places that are pretty amazing as well. So send me a picture sugar, and then you can come by to pick up your stencil!

And finally my darling Dawn picked Allegra's comment. My colorful, thoughtful friend who makes violet cocktails! How perfect is that! I know!! We must be related. My "friend-in-love"?...well, maybe not since the law has nothing to do with why Allegra and I are friends! Allegra, send me the photo you want me to make a stencil of and your address I'll get it off to you.

Keep watching here for glances into the upcoming Number 9, Number 9, Number 9 show!

PS: when I called Dawn back to tell her the whole Helen Louise connection, she told me that the "volunteer" okra plant is back in her yard this year. It popped up last year...it was my sister's favorite veggie...my sister died in April of last year. Random? I think not!

I'm the luckiest girl in the whole USA

2009-08-13T19:05:00.003-06:00

That's me, wanky hair and all and let me tell you I think I am the luckest girl in the whole USA!! That might be a song and I would go look for it but I think it is sung by one of those twangy girls and I really couldn't stand that so I'll just keep saying it...I'm a lucky girl!!
First I won a raffle at the PowWow Days in April.
Then, I won a play pretty over at Tara's and
got a job and
insurance (how's that for luck!!).
Next came an offer to teach,
root beer floats for supper and
today I found out I won a prize on Nina's blog!!
I know!!
See I told you, luckiest girl in the whole USA!
So it's time I do that whole pay it forward thingy.
Right?
Gotta keep this going. So, here's the deal, leave a comment and I'll use my human random number generator (Hi Dawn!!) and have her pick 3 numbers.
Then, those lucky three will get to send me a picture of anyone they want.
For the first picked person, I'll make a piece of art, similar to the one above (only finished!!), with the stencil made from your picture...and I'll send you the stencil as well so you can use it in any art any way you want.
For the other lucky "pickees", I'll make stencils of the pictures for your spraying pleasure!
So are you in?
I'll leave it open until next Thursday 'cause Dawn is off cruising somewhere in the Caribbean and can't pick numbers 'till she gets back...
Jump on in, you too could be the luckiest girl (or boy) in the whole USA! I'm off to see if that knocking at my door is a man in a shiny suit with a big white horse...it could happen!

Summer nights

2009-08-11T19:56:00.003-06:00

and the summer of eating beautifully ends in a sizzle...of hot oil. Yes, those are battered fried green beans...and sweet potato fries, but they are still vegetables!!

I believe I've mentioned before that I ride the bus. And the bus stop conversations crack me up. Tonight's went like this: " Move lady (me) I am really drunk and I need to sit down." I didn't move. "Lady either move or give me the $4 I need to get another 4 pack (I didn't even know they made 4 packs) of beer and I'll leave you alone." since I don't respond well to blackmail, threats or any conversations along these lines, I sat there, reading my book. He moved to the person sitting next to me and said the VERY same thing!

Grace in small things:
1. Leonard Cohen, Live in London
2. Levon Helms, Ramble at the Reiman Auditorium
3. Books by Elizabeth Berg
4. Iced coffee, even if it is decaf
5. Root beer floats and peanuts for supper

Getting Ready

2009-08-09T08:49:00.003-06:00

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9
is coming
and
I am almost ready...

Why I had to buy a crappy fast food breakfast on my way to work...

2009-08-06T19:53:00.005-06:00

I could not quit taking pictures of this...

Robert wrote about it here...

And Elizabeth here...

The moon is round as round can be
I see the moon and moon sees me

I once put a lace tablecloth over my head and said to my friend's father, "Look I'm a luna moth." And he said: "no, you're a lunatic"
Still true...

Decryption #1

2009-08-05T19:13:00.004-06:00

'member this?

You didn't read it?

Well, go now...... I'll wait.....
...... ....... ....... ....... ........ (finger drumming)

Wanna know what that was all about?

Go here!

Or here!

Or even here!

And you'll need to know about this too...it's the RailRunner station in Santa Fe. You can get on the train at the airport in the Duke City and off in the City Different. Hope to see you there!! And just because I love those exclamation points!!!!!! I'm excited, can ya tell?

My new reality...

2009-08-02T08:23:00.004-06:00

for 2 whole weeks now...

this where I get off the bus ...

and this is the front of the building I work in now...

every day I get to see beauty like this...

this is what is next door...

Can you see how happy I am?

And as of yesterday, I am now a fully insured person again...yep health, dental and vision. I feel like a grown up again...http://www.vsartsnm.org/

Wanna be me?

2009-07-31T06:13:00.002-06:00

Apparently someone does...
and apparently you can buy enormous amounts of stuff in Australia using numbers that don't belong you...
and even though on the same day, things are being purchased in Albuquerque (where all of the previous transactions have taken place) the bank thinks that it's okay to allow those Australian purchases...
even though they are many, many more dollars than have ever been available attached to those numbers!!!
AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!
And there was a fraud alert attached to those numbers for the last month...more drama that I would rather not deal with must be dealt with...do you think all those "A" confused the bank? What a way to start the weekend!

Thank you for listening...
love the drama queen... trying desperately to give back that particular crown

Love Thursday

2009-07-30T06:30:00.002-06:00

Love Thursday...the food edition!

The summer of eating beautifully...

2009-07-28T20:04:00.003-06:00

This is a typical dinner for me.

Rosy tomatoes, cool pale green cucumbers, green grapes, Rainier cherries, cold white corn on the cob and a good, rustic bread spread with pimento cheese.

And I seem to repeat those exact colors in every meal.

Do you have to be Southern to eat pimento cheese sandwiches?

Mango, strawberry and green grape salad...

Every night I seem to make something that pleases me even more.

Cucumber and avocado salad with lime juice and mint...

Tonight's yummy delight was a cheese omelet and lovely salad with added basil and peaches.

Made a wonderful vinaigrette with honey mustard instead of Dijon...

I seem to want to make something more beautiful than the day before, like some sort of summer delight competition!

Roasted green beans, yellow peppers and mushrooms...

At times, I think I should be applauding the summer bounty that gives me such great delight.

Cottage cheese with tomatoes, green pepper and those green olives stuffed with pimentos in a jar...

Okay, I'm weird but it's a good weird right?

And since I am sharing, I will tell that my very favorite meal -until this summer of beauty- has always been avocados and rice cakes, partly because how beautiful the contrast is.

What are your favorite summer combos? Do you ever "cook" for the color effect? Share, no judging here...

Synchronicity, yowsers!!!

2009-07-26T20:13:00.006-06:00

Synchronicity... keep reading...
I know, I know I've been gone a long time and I do have tales to tell of adventures, good food, small graces, a dead computer and so many things I've missed with all of you. Those tales will be told and illustrated but today things aligned in such a way and it is so damn cool that I have giggled all day long!
Grab something cold to drink, plop yourself down in front of the swamp cooler and join me in my delightful tale.
In amongst the computer woes, Internet troubles and going back to work in a real job, I have had some interesting correspondence from afar. Could I be any more cryptic? Well, I suppose I could but anyway, a couple exciting opportunities are in the air for next April here in the land of enchantment and I have been thinking about them. Last night I was talking to a dear friend and asking her if she had ever heard of a book called You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination. It had been mentioned last week in conjunction with one of those cryptic opportunities. I hadn't heard of it or read much about it until last night. We thought it sounded delightful and looked forward to checking it out.
Today I visited the Albuquerque Museum as I usually do a couple of times a month. I hadn't been since Father's Day and because of the aforementioned computer/Internet problems, didn't know much about the new exhibits, except one was about some New Mexico photographs. The main exhibit was a wonderful traveling exhibit and I was delighted to find out it was about geography, maps and other wonderfulness like rocks. It's called Experimental Geography and it's fabulous. It "revels new and different perspectives of the interface between human and environment." There was an interesting piece called "Deconstructed Camouflage". The artist, Ellen Rothenberg, had taken apart all kinds of garments made of camouflage (and you know how I love me some camo...) and used the seams, pockets and other sewn parts to reconstruct a map of the world. It was wonderful. A film called "The Making of Lima" showed what 500 volunteers could do to move a dune just outside of Lima Peru. Amazing!! And on the table of books related to the exhibit...You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination! Giggling yet? And among the other books, Land Arts of the American West which included the VLA and lots of places in New Mexico. I loved the whole thing and plan to go back but ya gotta love the synchronicity. It gets better...
The photography exhibit was by Craig Varjabedian and was a many year anthology of photos of Ghost Ranch, a place I love and haven't been for a long time...and the location of the other cryptic opportunity! Can you hear the theme from Twilight Zone?
I've giggled all day, so delighted to be right in the middle of such delightful synchronicity...is there a theme song for that?
I leave you with not a list of small graces but a quote from the exhibit I am loving more each time I read it:

"Of all the things I wondered about on this land I wondered the hardest about the seduction of certain geographies that feel like home - not by story or blood but merely by their forms and colors. How our perceptions are our only internal map of the world, how there are places that claim you and places that warn you away. How you can fall in love with light." Ellen Meloy from the Anthropology of Turquoise

Finally!

2009-07-07T10:59:00.003-06:00

I know, 2 in one day is way too much but I HAD to share this wonderful video of the lovely Laura in Santa Fe that supplies so many of us with really good junk! She has no web site, uses no computers and so this may be your only chance to see the wonderfulness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alwqmjdH9fM

Mandalas farm style

2009-07-07T07:11:00.002-06:00

Hollyhock season

2009-07-05T11:46:00.002-06:00

Recycle.. City Different Style

2009-07-02T19:30:00.003-06:00

All you need is an old Dodge Van, a few slabs of lumber and one of those metal ripper things and suddenly...you have a sightseeing van! And the best thing is...you have to climb over all of the first seats to get to the back ones and then climb back over to get to the only available exit...the passenger seat!

Fun, fun, fun!

2009-06-28T16:21:00.004-06:00

You can do this

and this

from this
if you go here! http://www.befunky.com/photoApps.php#
How fun is that?

Random images I haven't been able to post

2009-06-23T10:13:00.004-06:00

Soul soothing simple things

2009-06-10T12:53:00.002-06:00

The lovely and ever soulful Christina wants us to talk about simple things that soothe our souls today...so without pictures (still on borrowed time/machine) here is the list that I have been keeping since I heard about today...and it is lots more than 5!
1. silly signs that make me smile (Texas Watermelon -Blessed by Jesus, Dust Free Path, Butterfly crossing)
2. a yellow dragonfly that landed on the sidewalk at a bus stop amongst dried up orange peels
3. extra cherries in my cherry limeade
4. a butterfly landing on my shoulder and staying there as I walked around the butterfly pavilion
5. a baby's laughter on a swing
6. the sound of rain!!! in the desert!!!
7. a new place to watch stencil videos and a new stencil master to watch create magic
8. laughing with the friend who has known me the longest about how ridiculously connected we are
9. hearing from someone else what a good adult my son is
10. opportunities and options for the summer
11. celebrating the birthday of my far away twin nieces in my heart and in words, mine and theirs, they are good adults too!
12. whimsy in gardens that are filled with life (you'll love this picture!)
13. a really, really good book from an author that I love and hate, Elizabeth Berg. She sucks me in every time and then some of her endings just break my heart and I think I will never read her again and then A Year of Simple Pleasures -aahh... makes me want to read it again and again and I just finished it
14. knowing that bright and shiny things await
15. the Factory of 5th is reopening! it's a studio/gallery that has been closed to public gatherings for a while and now will have a show in July! yippee-ki-yea, back in the saddle again
16. catching the moon through the clouds...I know! clouds in the desert... that actually produced moisture...who'd a thunk it!
17. my asparagus fern bloomed this amazing white feathery flower, I had forgotten they did that
18. hearing/seeing what other people find wonderful today
19. a library that has computers and Internet
20. the connections made through time and space and knowing that my tribe really is out there, gathering up simple things to share!

Pictures will follow when I can (especially signs!! You gotta see the blessed watermelons)

Quick check in

2009-06-09T11:48:00.001-06:00

At the library, borrowed time and computer, hope to be back in time for Simple Wednesday over at Christina's place. If I'm not...check it out!