Blue jay day...

It's dry and cool-ish this morning out on the lanai. 

That meant morning meditation was headed outside today.

I even opened the slider a bit so my furry friends could join me. Pumpkin, the meditation cat, settled in right away! 

The blue jays, butterflies, dragonflies, bright blue sky and the gentle breezes helped me ignore the drone of the ac units near by.

All decked out in my new feather earrings I made for myself, I started the day off right. 

Headed in to the studio for awhile. Still being totally inspired by Tracy Verdugo's Paint Mojo e course. 

This butterfly flew into being yesterday after a mono printing exercise. 

Happy bluejay morning, Beautiful Ones! 

Soul Blooming…

It’s been a quiet week.

Cool weather for Florida but still sunny.

 

Last weekend, David and I found annuals at the Home Depot

full of colors that we associate with summer up north.

 

I filled a few pots with some of my favs !

Cosmos, marigolds and geraniums.

 

Their bright color makes my back lanai even more comfy.

Love that the indoor kitties can come and share the space too.

Safe from the huge hawks that are flying around but

able to watch, listen and talk to the other birdies without putting them in danger either !

Next plant I get will be a big one that I can put in front of that doggie door before the cats figure out how to use it !

My old dog, Chica, doesn’t want to learn a new trick and use the thing,

even with cookies or cheese as a reward !

She just doesn’t like how it swings back on her at all !

I’m going to be using my own wings this weekend, and head over to Melbourne, FL

to teach my Soul Beings Collage and Paint class at Art More Place.

It felt really good to get this class ready, putting my old teacher skills together to plan things out and make it a fun and creative experience for my participants there!

Can’t wait to play!

Plus I get to hang with my dear friend, Sherri, who owns the studio.

She is a hostess with the mostest and a big huge heart.

Love spending time with her !

Off I fly !

Have a great weekend, beautiful Ones !

Big Love to you !

Sharing my Florida Life Joy

 

I am here.

 

I have to say that winter in Florida has been the best gift ever !

 

I recommend sunshine and warmth to all people who suffer with depression and seasonal mood disorders.

 

I wish I could give it as  gift to all of my loved ones who hate winter.

 

I do have a guest room to share !

 

I still have my hard days, but being in a place where it is green, warm, sunny and that has no snow

has made a huge difference in how deep I go into a funky mood.

 

 

I am working on finding friends near by to play with.

 

I have a new tribe of incredible hearts in Melbourne, FL, which is about two hours away.

 

In fact, I will be teaching eucalyptus eco-dyeing and some other mixed media classes at my new friend, Sherri's art studio, Art More Place.

 

 

But here on my western coast, I haven't really met any friends yet.

 

It is on the to do list/must have because I do have days where I am very lonely and miss my peeps a lot.

 

 

I have been rooting myself in my new studio slowly too.

 
 

 

Little altars and inspiration from gifties from friends make it feel more like home,

 

 

 

The screened in back lanai is lovely in the afternoons and into the sunset hours on warmer days.

The animals can all join me out there, even my indoor kitties !

 

That is where I stitch quite often, listening to audio books or tunes and feeling so very blessed for the place I live in.

 

 

This Florida life is a good thing for this Rock Fairy girl.

 

I am so very grateful !

Removing Obstacles, Ready for Fun !

Things have been a bit messy in the studio since my Mom left last week.

Not that Pumpkin cares.

She just lies down on top of the piles and settles in to keep me company.

There have been Rock My World orders to fulfill.

And fun stitching swap bits to stitch on.

Now it’s time to tidy things up a bit.

Ganesh emerged from a box of treasures

just in time to help me remove some obstacles.

My dear old friend Tracy,

who I have know since I was 8 years old,

and her man, Craig,

are coming to spend a few days with us.

They arrive tomorrow and David has a few days off too.

On the agenda ?

A Dolphin/Manatee watch cruise, good food, some cocktails, the beach, and lots of love and laughter!

Bring it on !

Happy Wednesday, Beautiful Ones !

Share the Joy Thursday - Lanai Weather

It is only 70 degrees here this morning! And mostly dry! 

I had to move myself outside on to the lanai and take advantage of the weather.

I've got my journal, some bits of arty things I'm working on and my coffee cup.

And here I sit, comfortably outside in our outdoor space ! 

Chica is joining me for the sweet morning bird song. I think I like this Florida fall.

Have a joyful Thursday! 

For more joy sharing visit Meri at http://meriak.blogspot.com/ each Thursday. 

A sweet Gathering…

I got my brave on and contacted some Digh-Hard friends from my area of Florida and asked them to meet up for lunch today.

I made some gifts to tell them how excited I was to have them close by.

I drove off this morning, heading from Apollo Beach to Pass-a-grille,

looking at these…

But by the time I got to the beautiful strip of land jutting into the Gulf of Mexico,

The clouds were a little less ominous.

And just perfect for an afternoon of hanging out.

A delicious lunch at Sea Critters and a glass of Sangria

were the icing on the cake of a sweet gathering.

Lynne, Maria, Frankie and I felt like new friends who had known each other for a long time.

Doesn’t make sense but that’s how it felt.

Really comfortable and fun !

We had the waitress take this pic wishing Patti a happy birthday today!

She is the one who brought us all together !

A visit to a local gallery,

and some key lime pie on the upper deck of the Brass Monkey

kept us sheltered from the spitting rain

and let us have some more girl talk.

Being Brave makes for some pretty pictures!

Even our feet look good together when we posed for this “Looking Down” prompt shot for August Break!

Thanks, Ladies, for my sweet welcome to Florida outing.

The first of many sweet gatherings, I hope !

 

 

Hosted by Susannah Conway

Local Flora

Getting to know the local flora and fauna.

Big learning curve after a whole life spent living in the North East.

Loved finding that the indoor plant I used to love up there, the Crown of Thorns, or Maddy as I called her (thorny plant with little red round flowers in the bottom of the shot), grows joyfully outside here in FL, as well as in Madagascar.

Never been to Madagascar. That’s what the plant care label said on the plant I had up North.

Maddy also grows really well in my Mom’s front window.

I know this because my mom still has the plant I bought about twenty years ago and gave to her when I moved to NH 14 years ago.

It’s huge and very healthy.

That’s how I knew she would take good care of my cat Boo, when he needed a new home too.

Hee !

Happy to report that my beautiful Mom and the sweet black Boo are living happily ever after in Montreal.

Boo says he loves his new Momma very much

and only misses the white dog a little bit.

Happy Thursday, Beautiful Ones !

 

August Break – Hosted by Susannah Conway

Ibis on your lawn

(Happy and Free Circle card by Deb Taylor)

Haiku My Heart–Home Making…

 

 

Flotsam and jetsam

Of life gathered in altars

Saying I am here.

 

(Mini-zombie doll by artist Linda Willis)

 

(Painted rocks by the Rock Fairy)

(Star by me, Scarred heart by Alisa Burke)

 

(Mermaid from a Playa del Carmen souvenir shop, Henrietta bobbin doll by Sam Johnson, felted Rock Being by me)

 

(Stitched squares by me, yoyos by my grandmother)

 

Yesterday, while continuing the unpacking process, I finally reached the point where my real stuff, the stuff I love, that I have chosen, that I have gathered along the way,

was emerging from the piles of paper

and

finding new homes in my new home.

I recognized the feeling of placing my stuff just so,

creating little altars everywhere,

of marking the spot

with my very own hand, eye, and heart.

Made me feel like I am here now.

Made me feel at home.

Interesting to acknowledge, appreciate and in fact love,

the fact that

the creation of a home that reflects bits of who I am,

where I have come from,

what I love,

is

Art

from my Heart.

 

Happy Friday, Beautiful Ones!

 

for more beautiful hearts gathering in word and image, visit recuerda mi corazon .