Hot Topics

'In Full Bloom'
Prismacolor pencils, and ink

Hot Topics and Updates

• I'm almost finished with this piece. A little more shading and blending left to do. Can you say, "~Psychedelic, baby~"?
  
• Superman and I are headed to Florida on Tuesday for a smooch fest on Jax, our grandson, whom we're meeting for the first time!!! Can you say baby belly raspberries?????
• Opie is taking a vacation at Dylan's Summer Camp. (He's primping as I type...) Can you say, "Spoil me, Dylan."? Cuz she certainly will.
  
• Wonder Dog, our distinguished George Clooney of the dog world, is going to be laying back at his Canine Club in town. Can you say pampered pooch hotel?
• Barney, Opie's fishy, will be hanging out with a rock star (Jake) while we're tugging on Jax' adorable, chunky legs like a wishbone. Barney will probably be sporting a hawk when we pick him up. Can you say give that fish a mic?
• We just completed week one of our remodel. Knocked a wall out. Closed a door up. Pulled carpet up, and totally confused Opie and Wonder Dog. Can you say, "We liked it the way it was..." ??? Pix coming soon
  
• Superman and I are making our wedding plans. Can you say , "Fly me to the moon, Superman!"? Cuz that's where we're eloping to. No, actually it is much prettier than the moon where we're going. Announcement coming soon.

Smiling on the Inside

Today at physical therapy (yep...I'm getting some help for my back and knees--things haven't been the same since the accident) I saw a woman that had the most beautiful face I've ever seen. I try not to stare at the other clients while they are working through their program or being evaluated by the therapists but I had to peek at her. OK I found myself staring at her. She never stopped smiling even when no one was speaking to her or for that matter even looking at her. It wasn't a phony, glued on, goofy or drugged out smile. It was radiant. Try as Hollywood may, smiles like this can only come from the heart, the soul and the essence of how one lives even when no one is looking.

Her face glowed. I half expected feathers to drop behind her when she walked like they did in the movie "Michael" with John Travolta playing the angel. Yes, she looked angelic. What captivated me even more was the fact she must be in her late 70's or maybe even her 80's. She had soft, shoulder length, honey and silver colored hair pushed back by a simple white headband. I swear there were no wrinkles on her face, and no signs of plastic surgery--just the faint remains of freckles from girlhood that still dotted her high cheek bones. No makeup. Just pure angelic effervescence.

As she stood up to leave I saw her reach for two crutches. I could see a leg brace poking out below one pant leg. Slowly, and quite deliberately, she made her way to the exit doors. Smiling with each step. I could not help but wish I could have a conversation with her. Be her friend. Learn about her story. Sit at her angelic feet. Bask in her beauty for as long as possible.

My foster mom's mother-in-law, Granny J, had a face that also showed the condition of her heart. I never once remember her smiling except a smirk if she was gossiping. Years ago when I was looking at my little sister Pam's wedding pictures, I saw a shot I've never forgotten. The photographer took a shot as all the guests turned to watch the bride walk down the aisle. This is always one of the magical moments in a wedding; the first glimpse of the beautiful bride. All the guests were contorted to sneak a peek at Pam as she stood holding onto my dad's arm to join Jimmy at the alter. Each and every person beamed like God had personally selected them to be His spot light on the bride. Everyone except Granny J.

Granny J's face was twisted into a wretched frown. Lips turned downward in an upside down smile, eyes cold as her heart, scowling at my sister. No joy. No happiness. No beauty. Nothing but deep lines of hatred etching craters like canyons where smile lines should have been. How sad. How painfully revealing. No amount of Botox can correct a heart of stone.

I'm going to practice smiling. Goofy, silly, Cheshire Cat grins that make people wonder what I'm up to. What harm could happen to one if they practice making childlike faces to see if they can make the corners of their lips reach their eyebrows? I'm going to play a game to try to smile when I feel least like smiling especially when no one is looking or if I'm wearing cranky pants.

Wouldn't it be grand if everyone wanted to ask you, "What are you smiling about?"

And we could simply shrug our shoulders and say, "Nothing." Grinning the entire time.

I'm Marrying Superman

Yes... It's true. I'm marrying Superman. On September 25. How could I say no to someone who has loved me as deeply, as sincerely, as sweetly, and as completely has he has loved me? I cannot. My family and friends will agree I'm making a wonderful choice. He is a Super Hero to all who meet him.

In preparation for the BiG event we've been doing some remodeling at The Fortress. (Superman's abode) The first thing we did was to redo his beautiful sun room and turn it into my studio. I'm sitting here now watching the sun's last wisps of warmth settle into the west through some gigantic windows. The view is relaxing, lush, private and serene. This is a dream come true in every way. [before and after pics coming soon]

I have Wonder Dog sleeping at my feet and Opie Taylor (errrrr I meant to say Opie Wan Kenobe) is watching the last few birds eating from the Fortress bird feeder. With that sweet note... I'll say, "Goodnight, dear ones..."

Fleas on my Dog aka Feliz Favidad

Fleazzzzz on my dog.... lalalala
Fleazzzzz on my dog.... lalalala

Oh wait we don't have a dog.

OK then....
Feliz Navidad...
Feliz Navidad...
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas...
Happy Holidays....
Happy Hanuka.....
Happy Saturday....
Or anything else important you celebrate
And may your New Year be merry and bright.

Smoke Free One Year Anniversary

I did it! It's been a full year. No cigarettes. No coughing when I laugh. No smelly clothes, breath, hair, car, house, fingers, furniture, drapes.... I can hold my grandson knowing he will not have any 3rd hand smoke from my clothes touching his sweet face. I can kiss Superman without going through the de-stink ritual. I don't have to stand out in the frigid winter air outside a restaurant to puff. I don't have to run out at 11:00 pm to get a pack just in case the 3 cigarettes I have left may not get me through the night.

I have saved a ton of money. Average pack is $5.oo. I was smoking 1.5-2 packs a day. That's roughly $275-350 a month.

My reward [besides better health] will be getting my teeth whitened.

Yeah, baby! I totally deserve it!

A Herd of Honey Bees

Look at this herd of honey bees! These bees are clustered so tightly on the yellow light, you can't see an inch of color or light. It's interesting they chose only the yellow light to perch on, don't you think? Why? I don't know. I just know I was mesmerized by the sleepy, docile bees that morning in mid July when I took this shot in downtown Pittsburgh. This picture reminds me that life is full of choices. I'm relieved, and ecstatic, about the choice I was given yesterday regarding the situation with my health.

I had hoped to get great results but you know how fear can rob you of any peace when you're waiting for results to come back from medical tests. [gakkk!!!] It's the waiting that is truly the hardest. I know many of you out there understand 2000% exactly how this feels.

All the medical tests I had done came back far better than I expected!! There is no scar tissue or adhesion's inside my "pipes". The doctor said they are all on the outside [technically inside my abdomen wall] which means there's no blockage in my digestive track. This is a fabulous diagnosis! Furthermore, he has left it up to me to decide when I want to have him go in and remove the nasty rubber band-like tissues from my abdomen. This can be done with a laparoscopy procedure which is not too invasive. So there is NO immediate surgery in my future!!! Happy Sassy Sah-Weet Monkey Pants!

I look at the picture of the bees as a symbolic measure of how to proceed from here. The caution light is totally covered in a herd of happy, busy bees. The bees are not worried about tomorrow or yesterday. They are in the moment, living as zealously as they possibly can. Yesterday I was given the freedom to stop or go. I choose to step off the curb, and walk toward my future. I choose to approach 2010 with as much peacefulness about my life, and choices, as those bees were covering the yellow light.

So with that said.... I'll spend the rest of today in my studio finishing Lisa's [contest winner] painting, and will make some plans to decorate for Christmas this next week. I held off doing any decorating because I didn't know if I was going to need surgery or not. But now I have a herd of happy honey bees in my britches! That ought to give me a sassified bounce in my walk--don't you think??? Oh baby!

Plus, I will continue to plot my course in eating healthy. I'll be posting my weight loss tomorrow night. And you know what else?????? I didn't need my night light for the last 3 days! I was the night light! Thanks to the Barium cocktails!

*hums "You light up my life.."
as she scurries upstairs to the studio*

Thaw T Full Things

Dear Friends, and Family,

I'm genuinely thankful for each one of you. I started my blog a little over 7 months ago, and I'm amazed at how much has happened in such a small measure of time. I've learned blogging is way more fun and educational than TV. Far more dramatic than soap operas, and far funnier than sitcoms. I had no idea such a wonderful world existed until I met all of you. Thank you for opening my eyes to such a wonderful world at my fingertips. I'm thankful, and grateful, for each one of you.

• Be safe.
  
• Hug your family and your friends.
  
• Feed your faces, and watch some football.
  
• Tell someone you are thankful to have them in your life.
• Wear some comfy cloths on Thursday.
• If the pie crust gets too burnt... it's not the end of the world.
• Take a moment to remember how fortunate you are to be alive.
• Pull out the Christmas lights, and trim the tree.
• Be respectful others who do not celebrate the same holidays in the same way you do.
• If you've lost your gusto for the holidays, try to see it through the eyes of a child. Borrow one if you don't have one, and make some precious memories together.
• Take a nap if you want to on Thursday. Or take two.
  
• Don't feel guilty if you are not up to fighting the masses on Black Friday unless you really enjoy it.
  
• Be thankful you can shop without ever leaving the comforts of your home.
• Make something homemade to give this season.
  
• Say yes to whipped cream. YES, yes, Yes!
  
• Say thank you when the left turn lane is long, and moving slow. It could be a blessing disguised as a delay.
• Send all your unwanted fruitcakes to me. I actually love them.
• Take your unused coats to a homeless shelter or church.
  
• This is one way the pilgrims used pumpkins. BIG YUM
  
• Be thankful you were not the person who received the call at the Butterball Turkey Hotline from a woman wondering if it was OK to bathe her kids at the same time in the tub with the turkey thawing... true story.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

~Contest Reminder~

The house sits atop a lush green hill in a quiet valley.
The sky is bluer than a robin's egg,
and clouds dance in the heavens as if no one's watching...
Apples hang on the trees waiting for a hand
to pluck their ripeness from a branch.
At night the moon crawls past my windows
and I can hear the old man laughing.
Welcome home, dear one, welcome home.

Hosta in bloom


The Red Bench

Woodstock Lily Yard Art

Here are the names people have entered as the new name for my new digs. It's not too late to enter another suggestion.

~Lily Pad~
suggested and supported by;
Lily @ Blahwg!, Life on the farm
lovelyprism @ Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,
Rachael @ Rachael's Carrma
priti.lisa @ priti studio
Lisa @ Eco Yogini
Jean @ Pondering...

~Star Gazer~
by Allen @ Allen's Adventures

~Apple Cottage~
~Eden~
by Lily @ Blahwg!, Life on the farm,

~Smoke Free Peace Place~
by Mark @ The Walking Man

~No Smoking~
by Rick @ One Big Love

~Angelic Hill~
~House of Bliss~
~Bliss~
by Tina @ "Yes, that's my child screaming"

~Big Sky Cottage~
~Night Sky Cottage~
~Starry Sky Cottage~
by Stoneweaver

~Paradise Found~
by Anne and Sassy Sasha

~Heavenly Hill~
by Joanna Jenkins @ The Fifty Factor

~Observatory~
by Robert @ Barefoot Navigation

~Junior Acre~
by The Gaffer Girls

~Hill House~
by Snowbrush

~Sky View~
~Star View~
by Nina P's Thoughts and Musings

~Dream House~
~Sketch Pad~
by Jake @ Scattered Rhythms

~Lily's TLC, "Tranquility, Love, and Contentment"~
by Mother Moon's Message

~This Side of Heaven Manor~
~Blissful~
by the Jodi @ Creager Studios

~Faraway Cottage~
by The Water Cats

~Lily Hill~
by the Squirrel Queen

~Home~
by the Frog Queen

~Avalon Cottage~
Avalon is a type of apple
by TMC @ Return to Rural

If I've missed someone please speak up! I'd hate to think I missed anyone. This is so exciting. There are some great name suggestions.

Official Rules CLICK here

I'll be closing the contest on Sunday October 11 and announcing the winner on Tuesday October 13 my birthday! [send cake... send balloons... send hugz... send ice cream... send licorice jelly beans.... send spice gumdrops.... send love...send smiles.. did I say send cake??... carrot cake....yum...]

In the meantime....

~Opie's waiting patiently to announce the new home name~

Learn a Second Language Here

Superman and I went out exploring the new hood after sitting on the front porch eating popcorn, and watching the clouds dance across the sky. Here's some country sights and sounds.

Popcorn munching IS a country sound---isn't it???



Goatage????? That's a word---right? It most certainly is! Looky over there >>>> to the right on the side bar. It's the unabridged Lilyputian Dictionary. And that's what we speak around here in this part of the country.

Lilyputian

Just think... in a few short weeks of following this blog, you will be able to speak another language. And who knew learning a second language could be soooooooo much fun? And easy? See you're already ready for lesson two.....

Keep checking the sidebar for new words to add to your vocabulary. People will want to be you after they hear all the clever new words popping out of your mouth as free as a bird.

Now get out there and find some goatage... Oh look!!! A goat sighting right here!

Nanny Goats in Panties...CLICK HERE

Oh yeah! Now HERE's some goatage. Go check out the goatage, and tell her you speak Lilyputian. You'll get an extra bag of goatage snacks to feed the herds while you're there.

The Owl and the Sassy Pants

I dreamed about the Tree House all night long. In the midst of the confusion and chaos in the dream, a baby owl landed on my arm. I could literally feel its soft feathers, and sensed it trusted me. It had a harness on, and was missing one wing.

Superman was in my dream, too, and I told him, "Look it's a baby owl! Remember when I told you I'd wrote down I wanted a baby owl to visit me? It happened just like I requested! See!! Writing it down does make things happen!"

I have the power within me to create my heaven or hell..... Even in my dreams I know when my Higher Power speaks the truth. I believe my inner wisdom was telling me to trust my instincts, and acknowledged the safe place is always within me--just a whisper away. All I have to do is ask for it. I left the chaos behind, and have a new place to build my nest. The injured owl reminded me I could fly free, and unencumbered, if I let go of the past, the anger, the hurt and trust in myself. I can rebuild what I felt had been taken from me. Simple as that.....

Last night I pushed through to higher ground, spiritually [and physically] by moving on, willingly, to the next phase in my journey called life. I choose to create a heavenly life.

OK I admit in the dream I did say a few things I'd bottled up to the people (woman) who moved in below me. Pfffttttt... I spit the ugly thoughts out like an angry three year old. And I have to admit.... it didn't feel as good as one would think it might. The negative words sounded trite, and childish, and my final words rolled off her back as if they had no Velcro to stick to. As in real life, some things are best left unsaid. They only poison you in the end. But if you're going to let loose of some venom, a dream is a safe place to get the toxins out. So is a private journal that no one reads but you.

Now, I'm off and running, to build my new nest. I have my sassy pants on now, friends!!!!!

And look how lonnnnggggggg my sassy pants are.

Oh yeah, baby!
I've been sassified!

Picture of one of the flower beds at the new nest I'm going to
"Woodstock Lily-fie"