More Arty photos from the Winter Olympics

Thought I'd share some of the more artistic fun aspects of the Olympics. It was a plethora of diverse art, sport, music, which pretty much sums up the Canadian spirit. I had no desire to fight the crowds with my bad knee. But I sure enjoyed the photos my daughter took. I was able to watch the events on television while our floor was being installed! Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did...I'm sure the cost to  dismantle everything is exorbitant.  I'm hoping they at least keep a few things as a reminder of that fantastic event!

Experimenting with color, and Four year blog anniversary!

                 Not much of a fan of beige or brown I went out of my comfort zone to                                            experiment  with colors I'm not  that fond of!


I've always loved color and pattern. So today on my fourth anniversary of blogging I have been experimenting with color from  a pattern I created some time ago. Which one do you prefer?

Who knew that blogging would open a whole new exciting world of creativity to me, not to mention draw such a nice group of friends. I'm hoping once all the house renos are completed I will be a more consistent blogger again. I miss the routine of it, and have at least three or four incomplete drafts never posted. They were time sensitive too.... as the anniversary of my dads death passed on the 17th of this month, I have many fun  Olympic photos, that's now over, and a couple of Sunday scribblings I missed.....Plus my new floor hasn't been posted, and my stairs still need staining... there is a long line of to do's before I can think of blogging regularly. Today I just had to pop in to say hi and tell you I miss you, and thank you for being such a big part of my life!     Love Giggles

Sunday Scribblings " Demands"

Sunday Scribblings prompt this week is "Demands so they  ask " if you were a mega ridiculous superstar on tour - what would your demands be?"

Not  exactly a  demanding person, but one who enjoys  peace and takes pride in my family and friends. I would hire all my goddesses to stave off the  unpleasantness of paparazzi and such.  Also have them around for  their loyalty, support, wise words, great company and  amazing humour!  I would assure they come with me by offering them a great wage package including  pension and generous  perks. 

My girls usually know  my needs and can be  counted on  to either make great cuisine or find a place that serves it! 

Included in my demands would be  wireless internet, plus access to  television with documentaries and news worthy talk shows. My kids would have to be there too or near by. When all was said and done, they'd get loads  of time to explore  whatever cities we landed in. Some days we'd  see plays together, shop, lunch, hot tub, hit the beach and giggle until we cried. But  we'd also have time with self,  because we know there is no place like OM!

   This is a birthday card  made for my friend who really needs

to schedule down time to pursue more creative endeavours!

 

Sunday Scribblings "The book that changed everything"

 Sunday Scribblings this week asks for a book that changed everything

I wrote my deepest thoughts on paper. Purging sadness to the page, knowing it would never be read. My angst, the angry outburst, his critical demeanor and grumpy ways sat before me in ink.  Injustices sprawled on paper threaded together word by word. A morning ritual spawned from reading the Artists Way. Page after page placed daily in sealed envelopes, hidden between books in my library. A place I knew he'd never go.

Summer came, the ritual stopped. A year went by. I revisited the pages, carefully peeling open the envelopes. Nothing had changed, my sadness deeper than ever, my loneliness overwhelming living with a mean stranger of twenty one years. I wanted out.

My soul was dying, things were getting uglier. It would take a year to figure out the logistics. If only it would have been easy and amicable. In the end it was hard, ugly, unpredictable and messy. On my own the loneliness lifted, peace was acquired; creative abundance flowed in, followed by a solace never felt. Now I surround myself with loving energy, kind creative loving people, and beauty

  “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron encourages you to write morning pages eradicating the daily minutia that plagues creativity.You never know what may be discovered.

 

Face it two

Revised Digital piece I did for a mug that my daughter wanted

International Womans Day 2010

I’ve spent many hours contemplating this picture sitting above my bathtub.  Loving the rich colors  yet frustrated by the placement of small silver hearts. I considered painting them out., but I enjoy the depth the polka dots produce. Still these hearts seem displaced, they just don’t fit.

Saturday a rare visit to my childhood home town I  observed the frenetic bustle of people with new eyes. People of all ages groomed to the max.  Funky expensive hair styles, tailored coats , majority of  women grocery shopping in high heels exiting BMW’s, Cadillac’s, Mercedes  even a white Rolls Royce owned by a very spiffy old couple. I felt like a foreigner, sitting in my 18 year old renegade, wearing comfortable cushion style Merrel clogs, and fat lady jeans.  Realizing I don’t fit in now and NEVER did. Not with my mom, not with  my cousins, and often not with expectations placed upon me.

I wore quirky hats from an early age, fashionable or not I always loved them.  I crocheted  a red hat with stars when I was fifteen, wearing it proudly with a red corduroy dress  over my black pants as a makeshift coat. In my twenties I walked into a Bowling alley with patterned leggings that’s nearly threw my mother off her feet in shock. The disdain on her face along with her words were biting. An unwelcome greeting for the daughter she’d rarely spent time with in previous months. I’d embarrassed her too many times to mention. 

So as I looked up at the my painting on the wall, those silver hearts gained new meaning trying to fit amongst the rich, larger than life swirls. Like me they don’t fit, yet in the scheme of things they appear to have more depth. And on this International Woman’s day I’m proud to finally say……..”it’s okay not to fit in, it okay to be me!” 

I guess sometimes art really does imitate life!!


Posted yearly is this poem I wrote 2006 specifically for this day!

My International Woman's Day poem written in 2006 for ALL Women

 

Mother, daughter, Sister, Lover

I am a woman, and I cry when no one can hear
I have huge dreams, I never share
I have fantasies, I dare not reveal
I have unrequited love, that is never recognized

I am the white noise in the home
Persistently preparing, repairing and doing at all times
I love deeply, with vision, constant hope, pride and joy
I have a relentless faith, in life, in god, in family, in future

I carry the burdens and secrets of others
Hold guilt to my heart, where empathy,
Forgiveness and optimism obstinately reside
Often suppressing passion, and creativity

I do my duties without fail, or resentment
I stand alone in my failures and regrets
I give, even when there is but a pittance
I get less, expect less, and take less, feeling like I am less

I am taken for granted, heard with rare acceptance
I am courageous, beyond my expectations
I am the unpaid teacher, waitress, homemaker, and psychologist
I am the solver of problems, and scarcely put first

I have thoughts, I feel ashamed to share
I have wants, I will never reveal
I have needs that no one will heed
I have a lonely soul, which I can not seem to feed

I am a woman, and I cry alone, about what isn’t
What will never be, what is lost, forgotten, not forgiven
Not recognized, or realized, or capitalized, I cry about
Poverty, and love forlorn, for loved ones, and love forgotten

I am a woman, resilient in majestic proportions,
I am a woman, of maternal magnificence
I am a woman, with imperial abilities
I am a unique woman, the queen of my family
And heart of my home!

Strong Woman, Strong World"

Empowered Woman secure a brighter future for everyone!

Thirteen things I practiced while parenting my daughter

Thirteen things I practiced while parenting my daughter

1) Never spanked her
2) Spent quality intimate time with her
3) Spoke kindly, laughed tons and made her giggle,  
4) Picked my battles wisely, correcting bad behavior rather than disciplining.
5)Expected good behavior setting boundaries, and giving second chances
6) Followed through on my word,   
7) Never made promises I couldn’t keep
8) Listened to her feelings,  making changes if need be
9) Complimented and encouraged her, holding  back  any negative opinions
10) Taught her to have fun without drugs or alcohol by
Playing games ,cards, going to festivals, swimming, skating
Camping , concerts, acting silly, celebration life, dressing in fun outfits,  being proud, Enjoying life without  worrying what others may think
11) Having a special weekly family date night , either watching television, going to a movie, dinner, A special event, renting a movie, playing cards at the beach by candle light. Cuddling, laughing, eating  junk food
12) Tried not to embarrass her, although my own antics on occasion did
13)  Most important, I was Completely honest with her  except, at Christmas, Easter, and  about the tooth fairy!

My ultimate goal was to raise a healthy, happy well adjusted child, correcting bad behavior along the way. For the most part it worked, although nothing in life is ever perfect, she is independent, strong, compassionate, loving person able to function in society.  

A Thank you from Brian

 Sorry I have been MIA our wood floor are being done, and the main pc with all the photos is not connected to internet....and may not be for a few days as we're doing some rearranging and spiffing up!! In the meantime here is an email forwarded to me that I loved  and wanted to share! Thanks Chris, this is the  very reason we are best friends with the United States!!!

 Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor

After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week.  Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.

Thank you, Canada:

For being such good hosts.

For your unfailing courtesy.

For your (mostly) beautiful weather.

For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.

For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents.

For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Hortons -- which made us laugh and cry.

For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.

For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.

For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.

For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.

For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.

For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.

For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.

For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.

For always saying nice things about the United States...when you know we're listening.

For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.

For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.

Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.