bless my soul *[ b ]

b and me, st. louis - april 2007

i honestly don't know what i would do if b wasn't
in my life. he is my rock. and right now i need
a big rock. i am sure there are days he gets tired
of being that rock, but he sucks it up and keep
me on the right road. he is conservative and i tend
to miss the path. i am the one that leaves the
path too look at the flower in the middle of the
field, or the person walking by who i think i recognize.
i tend to get off focus, he is always focused. i live
in the creative mode, he lives in the prepare for
tomorrow mode. i love color, he could care less.
i lead with emotion - he with his practical thinking.
i cry and he looks and me and says [what on earth
are you crying about] and most days, i need that.
i am really beginning to wonder if i am going to be able

to maintain this creative path. i lost a big job

recently - i couldn't even tell bryce for 4 days. i was

embarrassed, worried and actually pissed off. pissed

off because, i did everthing i was asked to do. as far
as i am concerned, i was brought in as a buffer - and
when it didn't work, they went back to the old way.
now i know why i need contracts. i am tired of being
considered the clean up point. i am tired of being stepped
on and i am really tired of feeling second rate.

i have fallen behind, because i am constantly taking little
jobs that carry me through - but end up costing more
that what i can possibly make $$. i am the independent
designer, i have a lot to offer - but in this world of bullshiters
they go with who ever plays the part. i don't play the part.
i am not bells and whistles. i will not sell my soul to the devil.
i have been painting and finishing up my website. next i will
be photographing my originals for prints, and getting more
card designs finished for my site as well. my etsy site is waiting
too. but trying to get this all together and working on designs
jobs that pay the bills, trucking my kids all over town, cooking
dinner, helping friends, walking delilah - wow....i am pooped.

needless to say no much left over for me. and so, i need to
find the road of staying on point, and feeling good about the
blessings and talents that i have been given. today - i am not
feeling good about any of it. i am very fragile and i am going to
take a bit of time to embrace that. ignoring it hasn't worked.
so what the hell - i will try it this way - what can it hurt.

the funny this is - as much as b is my rock. i know that i am

a rock for others. and i am blessed by that. it feels good to know
that i have made a difference in others lives, that my kids learn
from me and that b loves me. so for today, i will make that enough.
if anyone has any advice or ways that you stay focused with your
creative career...i am all ears. in the meantime, i am going to make it
a goal to finish [creatively self-employed] i am sure that the stories
kristen shares will put me back on the path!

blessings....

blue

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

nothing shocking here. i know this, my family and friends know this. hence

indigo - indigosoul. i love being blue.

bryce ran the mini today - maybe i will give it a try next year.

blessing ya'll

if *[remember]

[love wide]

illustration friday topic - remember....

i traveled to new orleans november 06, i have

not forgotten the damage....love wide.

24 x 24 inches, wood panel

mixed media

acrylics, oil crayons, graphite, silver leaf
dictionary pages and katrina images.

oh....i didn't think i was going to get this one done

blessings ya'll

dancing queen

auntie lynne [circa 1954...ish]

today is big BIG BIG day in the nation. i am

so disappointed after visiting many blogs, that

not one, that's right no one mentioned the

30th birthday of abba's [dancing queen].

so happy birthday girlie....you brought this little

girl many happy days listening to the old am/fm.

my mind swirls with disco lites and dizziness from

the constant circles of the old skate corral...all skate.

yes, yes - i know i am once again dating myslelf. but

i don't care! you are the dancing queen, young and sweet,

only seventeen...uh yeah!

today 30 years later, i still turn it up loud when it comes

on the radio. its on my mp3 players. if i am in the studio

i get up and dance, cmon - you know you do too.

if your you diggin the dancing queen...dance this way

[You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life

See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen]

bless my soul *[boots]

boots

mixed media
acrylics, graphite
silver leaf, and
found papers
24x24x.25 inch deep
wood block

...where have your boots taken you.

why

as the tragedy at virginia tech unfolds, please remember them in your prayers, thoughts,
daily meditation. please remember those who are lost, suffering and in need of human
kindness. and as you do this - don't forget to say thank you for all of your blessings that
have been sent your way.

on a daily basis, i become agited - stressed, etc....and sometimes i forget that i have to
accept those that i love for who they are, not for who i want them to be.
and if you have any extra room in your day, here are some that i would like to be
remembered.

caroline the divine princess and her family - new healthy cells for her body
henry, baby george and the tucker family - go away bad cells, we are tired of seeing you.
rachel and linda and uncle wilber- successful cancer treatments
a healthier heart for my dad [ he loves his food and beer]
and again, for the victims at virginia tech, their families and the community.

blessings to each and everyone of you and yours

illustration friday *[fortune]

blessed [part of the girl series]

mixed media
acrylics graphite
silver leaf
and found papers
10x11x2 inches deep
wood block

{my fortune lies within the simple tokens life has
blessed me with...healthy kids, bryce, my creative
soul and our funky house.}

bless my soul *[shaun]

dreamboat shaun cassidy

someone recently asked me who shaun cassidy was.

what?! are you kidding me. da doo ron ron, #1 hit
of 1977. hello. i felt like a knife had pieced my tender heart.
1976 was a great year, every stitch of clothing i had was
the red white and blue motif, but then the best year ever....
1977 how could anyone not know who my beloved shaun is?
but then again, you weren't even born yet.
shaun cassidy first stole my heart when i was a 6th grader.
not an easy age. i spent my meesly savings on tigerbeat
and teenbeat magazine. i then meticulously extracted every
image of shaun i could find and taped them to the wall directly
behind my bed. wallah...instant headboard. and oh so convenient
when i need a kiss goodnite. shaun never talked back. never
made fun of my hair, and he could of, considering he had better
farrah hair than i.

my mother flipped when i used six of my hard earned babysitting
dollars on his album. $5.99. it was worth the 3 nites of babysitting
it took just to make the $6. she just didn't understand that our love
was a true love....hmmmmmm.

so there you go tom, young as you may be. if you want to read
more interesting facts on shaun. you can find them here...
[you always know how to make me feel old!]

have you...

happy

have you ever wanted to smack
someone's face when they ask....
"whose shaun cassidy?" bite
you tongue child.

have you ever ran into your first
love and barely be able to hold a
conversation, because after 25 years
you still want to lick their face.
[ie, "lick their face" is my
little expression i use when i think
someone is attractive]

have you ever laid in bed at nite re-hashing
a job that isn't coming together, only to realize
why. for instance, javascript not working, maybe
because you have neglected writing the backcode?
....there's your sign.

ever sit in your house, and feel blessed that
you aren't listening to your two teenagers screaming
at one another, slamming doors, begging for
whatever it is they want. i call that a mini
vacation and i got one last week and loved
every damn minute of it!

have you ever laughed so hard you peed your
pants?! okay - i haven't, but close. i do laugh
so hard that my belly cramps up and my
cheeks hurt from the huge smile on my face

have you dreamt that you have missed a college
class for a full semester only to remember the
week of finals

have you ever had a wave of euphoria when
you realize how blessed you are

ever smoked off a hookah

ever had a green river

well have you?!

lites of broadway

remember the bees gees song
[lights of broadway] . well
here are the lights of the camp!

if you want to see your name in lights...go here
sorry, but the animation was driving me nuts each time i opend my
blog. but it is fun to see it so go visit!

i found this at something to say....i dig her. she
always has the best stuff. thanks kim!

Illustration Friday *[green]

greener pastures

mixed media
acrylics, graphic, silver leaf
and found papers
10x11 in, wood block

i posted this before, but it was appropriate
for illustration friday . now go check them out!

happy weekend!

warm butts and easter

easter egg hunt circa 1967

do you have heated car seats? have you

ever had the pleasure of riding with a warm

butt. i was in my pal becky's car today and

had the pleasure of warmed seats. ahhhhhh.

now back to easter...as you can see by the

vintage photo - an era gone by.....we hunted

only for hardboiled eggs. with a rare peep

jelly beans and a foiled wrapped chocolate egg.

no frilly hats or lace dresses. above i model

my ma and pa kettle farm look - black boots,

leggins, gingham check nightie and my brothers

hand me down winter coat. and the cherry on

top! the hoodie.

happy easter! now i am off to cvs to get some

peeps.

blessings ya'll

bless my soul *[happy]

....seeing old friends at campbells
....sitting with a group of older democrat women
....riding on the back of denny's harley [WEE!]
....delilah and the gentleleader
....g making the golf team
....margarita at little mexico
....slowly catching up
....kim's phone message and hearing her voice, it was just as i thought
....christine's new chickies
....new jobs coming in
....homemade meals
....blue sunny skies
....mati sharing her "eat pray love" but, straight from san francisco

happy friday ya'll

have you....

have you ever bought a pile of
paper at a craft store, get it home
and realized what you thought would
be full of funky vintage style paper, is
only full of ugly crappy paper...ugh.
$4 wasted.


have you ever rented videos, forgotten
to take them back then found out that
you owe a hefty late fee....so late that
you make you kids swear not to tell you
husband.

have you ever stopped traffic on the way
to a concert, to run across to the nearest
corn field to pee, because the 4 beers you
have drank on the hour ride to the pavilion
have finally caught up with you

have you kissed a shaun cassidy poster

have you ever not answered the phone all
day, just because you didn't want to talk to
anyone and that's okay

have you ever thought about packing up
all your belongings and just moving in
the middle of the nite

have you ever wondered why i write this
silly stuff...

well have you?

sick and tired

sick and tired,
sick and tired....something has
latched onto my lungs and won't
let go.

i am so wiped and with that comes
rushing to get jobs finished, a shear
panic has surfaced from my weary
soul.

ugh...please lord, send me some health.

but even in the dark - comes some light.
c was home for spring break last
week and made sure i had warm tea, fuzzy
socks and best of all she left me alone to
rest. she is the best. she is also preparing
to sail the seas to london and rightfully so -
so excited.

i have an opportunity to do several designs
for a greeting card submission. make note
to kelly - find some damn time! right now
i am working on several logos, two websites,
and quite a few itty bitty jobs that always
seem to bring a bit of change.

i took my pops to lunch today and watching
his face beam when discussing c's trip was
almost too much.

if anyone out there has some extra time
or energy, please send it my way. this
tired chickadee says thanks ahead of time

happy wednesday ya'll

the girl in the middle

in the middle of a painting......

wow...two weeks of not posting. i have been
a busy busy girl. i am thankful for the numerous
jobs that have been sent my way. but with that
comes less time for painting. the above image
is a painting i have been working on for about
3weeks. hoping to finish soon. it is a bit different
from the girl series, yet it should be familiar. its
a large piece 24x24 and i can't wait to finish her.
today, marisa haedike was kind enough to give
me a little shot out on her podcast....can i get
an amen! i dig her podcast. it was one of the
few reasons i made myself dig in and paint. todays
topic is time management. so slip over here
for a little peace and listen.

so with that, here are where my happiness is today....
cheri's acceptance to the study abroad program, look out london!
a quick trip to arvey paper
my new exciting logo design job
the many primed boards sitting behind me
my three healthy spirited kiddos
blonder hair
our new spunky car
and of course, the many creative souls who bless my world
each day

...and since today is a day of shout outs. i would love to give
a shout out to sir henry tucker. for those of you who don't
know henry. he is a young chap right here in middle indiana.
he is working really hard to fight cancer and just went through
bone marrow transplant. so stop by and visit his blog. i told
him you were all really nice. say some prayers, send zen and
many happy thoughts. he is one of my heroes.
happy thursday, ya'll!

studio friday *[quoted]

camp indigo...happy messy studio


{ as long as habit and routine
dictate the patterns of living, new
dimensions of the soul will
not emerge. } ~ henry van dyke

quoted?!
journey here....

bless my soul *[fins]

g's on his way to the state meet as an alternate
this weekend. i am so proud of his accomplishments
many seconds of dropped times, a new place
to exist. watching him walk out to the car with
bryce this am, big fat smile on his face....proud
of himself, of his teammates. and momma couldn't
be prouder too...not because he is going to state,
but for the hours he put in when he was sore
and tired. all the 5am mornings, the long weekends,
and the smile on his face when he spotted the
his time on the board, when he passed those who
have been passing him for 3 seasons and because
he always looks for me in the crowd.

swim boys swim.....

[look closely. the beautiful may be small] ~ emmanuel kant

studio friday *[drawing a blank]

happy 2nd birthday - studio friday!

7 blocks, ready to finish! seven!....8 months

ago, one canvas sat on my table, begging for

a bit of love. talk about drawing a blank. i finally

made myself finish her. there is something about

a canvas ready to finish. it exudes the possiblity.

for me - i rarely know how i will finish it. what

lies ahead. today - i am happy in orange, pink

and a bit of sunshine. sunshine, that is of a bit

of yellow peaking through. no sun outside today...

we are under a fresh blanket of snow.

to see who else is drawing a blank...walk this way!

oh and tell tine bravo, while you are at it.

blessing ya'll

bless my soul *[hands on]

lower 9th ward [nola]

today cbs - guidinglight shared footage of the

shows actors trip, to the gulf coast. 18 months

after katrina and those south, STILL looks like

the above image. common! we live in america

and this is all we've got?

november 2006, i traveled with a group from

st. bernards to st. gabriel of the archangel,

in new orleans. the devastation is wide, the

pain and suffering is deep.

as i watched the guiding light special, tears

ran down my face. i cry for the ones i had

to leave behind, still trying to gain control

of their lives, i cry for the new friends i met,

for the children who attended st. benedict

of the moor, on st. gabriels campus and i cry

because i yearn to go back.

if you are looking for something to do, something

that will forever change your life....please go

here. the hands on network is a great place to

start! they partnered with guiding light.

the girl series *[the girl bloomed]

the girl series one - the girl bloomed

mixed media 5.5x12 inches
acrylics, oil crayons,ink, silver leaf and papers
1 inch deep wrapped canvas
black finished sides
signed and ready to hang

the snow if falling rapidly here today in middle indiana.
i have spent the day downloaded files for a new
design job, cleaned our very dusty downstairs,
ate a warm bowl of chili, lots of candy and viewed
all of the warm and happy photos from the girly

show.

bryce and the kids are home today. central indiana
is basically shut down. i grew up here and i am
very used to this. but as always i am wrapped in
a new fleece blanket, sitting infront of the monitor
loving life.

more boards sit behind me, gessoed and ready for
new life. i can't tell you the happy buzz that fills
me as i paint. amen for nudges!

blessings ya'll!!!!

messy happy studio

happy messy unorganized creative space

don't forget this saturday....one night only

the girly show!

if you are in the LA area go say hello to these

creative chickadees.....

christine mason miller

penelope dullaghan

mati rose
kelly rae roberts
marisa haedike
outi harma

the girl series *[green pastures]

the girl series one - green pastures

mixed media 10x11 inches
acrylics, oil crayons,charcoal,
silver leaf and papers
1.5 inch deep woodblock
black finished sides

signed and ready to hang

the girl series *[ahead]

the girl series one - ahead

mixed media 10x11 inches
acrylics, oil crayons,charcoal,
silver leaf and papers
1.5 inch deep woodblock
black finished sides

signed and ready to hang

illustration friday *[red]

[sacred heart]

illustration friday - [red]

trying to practice more and paint daily.
to see more red....click here!

studio friday *[look who i found!]

look who i found!.....if you click the postcard
it will take you to 6 really sweet chicks. i have
followed 5 of the ladies for over a year, met two
of them and bent their ears. and have been
blessed by the art that each on puts her soul
into. they are some happy girlys......

if you are in L.A. the 10th of february, go to
the show for me.

The Girly Show - One Night Only
February 10th - 4-11pm

the girlys......
christine mason miller
penelope dullaghan
mati rose
outi
marisa haedike
kelly rae roberts

i must

[i must]

mixed media 5.5x12 inches
acrylics, oil crayons, ink,

swarvorski crystals, silver leaf and papers
on 1 min deep canvas
black finished sides

signed and ready to hang

she blooms

[she blooms]

mixed media
8x24 inches
acrylics, oil crayons, silver leaf and papers
on 1.5in deep canvas.
black finished sides

signed and ready to hang

i have found a really sweet site through my girl
christine miller. i am amazed at the talent and
pure happiness that i have come upon through
other sites. marisa haedike is one of those
sweet chicks. she allows you to not only
view her art, but she provides so many artisitc
outlets.

i have been catching up on her podcasts the
last couple of weeks. tonight i finished a painting
that has been sitting in the studio for eight months.
simply because of fear, fear of not being accepted,
good enough or no one "getting it".

thanks marisa for the gently shove down the
hill....please visit her here.

while i am passing out kudos. she will be part of
this.....the girly show!. six amazing artists
Saturday, February 10th - One Night Only.

bless my soul *[2006]

oh....sweet 2006.
well maybe not so sweet, some bitter too.

sweet of o6'

meeting up with two of my most favorite artists....
christine and penelope

eating under twinkle lites in sunny california
with bryce listening to bing crosby singing
[white christmas]

watching gabe excel his freshman year, splashing
through the water and showing his huge comical relief

actually painting a few canvas'

annual buffett fest

getting to witness miz campbell's birth

my new green buddha bank...i dig him

my pooch delilahblue....the spunky airedale

marc broussard at the vogue, g-love too - but bad bad
crowd for his set.

watching cheri work through college and getting to attend
a lot of her design classes, just by drinking in all of her
knowledge

discovering appleton estates - yummie jamaica rum, man

another year of freelancing

clancy's growing up....hope we both make it out alive!

finishing up my website....even if it is a month late

great meal and quiet new years eve with bryce

my colorful home and getting rid of the money pit of a saab

and as much as we all drive it other nuts sometimes, my
big extended circle family and friends


blessings...ya'll

blessings

today my pop's lays in the the care center
in carmel. he was taken in yesterday and
today the performed a heart cath on him.
they found blockage and did the good old
balloon treatments.

4 years ago this march - he suffered a massive
heart attack and again found himself at the
care center. there they put in two stints. he
had 98% blockage.

in the last couple of months i confronted him
on his health and told my mom, something
wasn't right. he reassured me he was feeling
great and i told him i didn't believe him. i hope
he listens to me next time. i now feel like his
keeper.

his best friend retired today and dad was supposed
to be the master of ceremonies at the roast. i fear
he is very down because he had to miss it.

they are two of the best men i know. loyal, faithfilled
and hard working family men.

my blessings are...

...more time with my dad

...seeing easy ed one last time driving through
town in the neal tire truck, sporting a santa hat.

...dedicated siblings

...laughing with steph and casey. i don't know anyone
more dark or demented.

....our family of friends -brother and sisters at heart
the labbes.

blessings ya'll

bless you charles schultz

main street usa....christmas 2006

Charlie Brown: (shouting in desperation) isn't
there anyone out there who can tell me what
Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: sure, charlie brown, I can tell
you. Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]

LinusVan Pelt: "and there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping
watch over their flocks by night. and lo, the
angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the lord shone round about them, and
they were so afraid. and the angel said unto them,
Fear not, for behold, i bring unto you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people. for unto
you this day is born in the city of bethlehem, a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord. and this shall
be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a
manger. and suddenly there was with the angel,
a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God,
and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men'". that's what
Christmas is all about, charlie brown.

merry christmas to all and to all a good night!

clancy's idea....


my execution....

what a day! i whipped out wedding stationary
samples, raced them to lafayette so that they
can be carried by the mother to her daughter
in sunny california! another job! and from so
far away, makes me feel rather wordly, ol' chum!

while in rainy gray and gloomy lafayette, i ran
over to the saturn dealership and hopped in
a midnight blue vue and took her for a spin.
loved it - hated the manual transmission.
the saab is manual and i feel like someone
kicked the shit out of me after every long
trip. she drives like a tank, i am ready for
an automatic, not ready for 2k more on the
sticker price. we also drove a caliber and
a jeep compass. caliber was at the top of
my list and compass last. compass is now
at the top, with vue running a close second
could move to first if i can find a automatic
in our price range.

clancy came to me with a vision and together
we got it done. i have been making notepads.
in the last month i have probably popped out
over 65 of them. i sold over 44!

i love that my kids are proud of me and want
to give my goods as gifts.....

create

mixed media
4x4 inches
acrylics, oil crayons and papers
on wood block

home

laguna beach, california december 2006

california was grand. b and i had a great time
doing nothing much of anything. oh we had
a few moments here and there. visiting jim
and dru on their home turf was fun. walking
the shops and gallerys at laguna beach and
sitting out at las brias watching the sunset
was simply peaceful.

palm trees, twinkle lites and christmas tunes....

driving down the ca-1 seeing all the beaches....

sleeping, sleeping sleeping.....

seeing the grand canyon and all its glory from the plane window....

sitting across the table from this chick on a sunny santa monica day....
[she is as sweet, funny, and kind as i imagined she would be...swoon!]

returning home on a long flight, no food eight hours, really cranky -
finding dad and miz c looking for us in baggage claim, then home.

i am grateful for the trip and b all to myself
- meeting someone i truly admire
- returning home safely

go here to see more of sunny california

jet lag

california was just what we needed. so much
fun and a lot of down time. pictures and stories
to follow. in the meantime, i need to get some
stationary printed for xmas and catch up
with the kids and sleep.

back home in middle indiana....there's no place like
home, there's no place like home. damn where did
i put those ruby slippers!

tomorrow bryce and i head out to california.
brite and early in the morn. i pulled an all-niter
last nite, just so i could go. christmas orders,
design jobs, laundry. yep, only 2 hours of sleep
in the last 36 hours. iam beat. my muscles tingle
from sleep deprivation. and really last nite
in the quiet of my studio....i could understand
why some people work best in the quiet. but
my body and mind can't run on little sleep.

i am a little nervous about L.A. i am not L.A.
material, but just getting away with b for 5 days
will be worth it, visit bryce's college roomate
and his family in irvine and then [fingers crossed]
wednesday - i am lunching with a chick that i have
admired so. so being surrounded by a bunch of jocks
for 5days [national athletic directors convention]
will be worth it on wednesday.

.....here's to the sun beating down on my face
and warming my soul.

{once in a while it really hits people that they
don't have to experience the world in the way
they have been told to. ~alan keightley}

blessings ya'll

dear james....

{life is a promise, fulfill it....mother teresa}

this morning while watching the national news,
i of course, heard for the first time, that they
had found james kim's body. the ulitmate hero
in his families eyes and in mine. sometimes it
is overwhelming watching the news. we are
constantly given images of celebrities who have
forgotten their panties, athletes who can't behave
themselves and refuse to leave their guns at
home...thank you steven jackson - you make
indiana so proud. and yet on mornings like today,
it hits me of the importance of what is real. dads
who go beyond the norm to save their children.
mom's who take the time to be mom's, not superheros.
people who work to make our world a better place.

advent is a time to give, slow down and relish
the blessings that have been given to our
family. i received an email to day from marilyn
she talked about the need for help in new orleans
and while i visited her blog, i noticed an icon
for darfur awareness....please remember the
those in need during this advent season.

victims of darfur

our troops overseas and their families

the firefighters who are braving the cold

the sick, lonely and hungry

our families who need us to be present

the kim family and other families who have lost
loved ones

children who live daily in abusive environments

victims of katrina and other natural disasters

the ones who volunteer and make it a mission to
make our world a better place.

my blessings are true and many. my familiy, friends
my creative spirit. today my thoughts are with
the kim's and others who need happy thoughts and
prayers.

wanna join me?

[get together - chet powers]
C'mon people, now smile on your brother,
ev'ry-body get together,
try to love one another right now.

bless my soul *[finished]

{ stretch your mind and fly ~african proverb}

i just finished a really big order and i am
happy. happy that i accomplished it, happy
that i took it on and happy of what i have
learned. i had hoped to have my website
live by this time. i am so close. but i have
been blessed with new design jobs and
holiday orders. and well i am the only
employee in the studio. so the shop will
be opened january one!

the shop will feature paperware, notepads,
some eclectic finds and my artwork as
it comes to me. so please visit and
spread the word.

coming soon....camp indigo soul

bless my soul *[miz alison]

tis the season for giving,
the season of advent is
upon us. advent is a reminder
of the gifts we have received,
the arrival of christ' birth and
the ability to celebrate our
life we have been given. my
blessings are pure and true.
some days we forget what true
blessings have been bestowed
upon us.

if you are looking for something
to give to, during the season
of advent you may want to start
here. Penelope Dullaghan - is
looking for you. her sweet sweet
sister in law, Alison is in the fight
of her life. she is fighting cancer.
a fund has been set up to help out
alison and her husband tom.

so if you are looking to share a smile
with an extra someone, please start
here. and while you visit toms site
or alison, please take the time to read
through their blog entrys. the have
a simple, loving relationship that is
inspiring.

prays, zen and positive thoughts
are very much needed as well. so
if that is the gift you can give...
please do so.

peace.....

white stripe

oh....i have yet another new doo. not so much
in the cut, just trying to grow my hair out.
but the color - i LOVE it. i have really fine,
thin hair. i work really hard to get it to look
like it isn't so fine and thin. so brandy, put
in deep brown low lites, some dark blonde
and a sassy little white stripe in the front.

i may never go blonde again! i have always
stayed blonde because i fear i look like my
mom if my hair is darker. don't get me wrong.
mom is very cute, however as a daughter, i
don't want to be my mom. but i like the dark.

happy wednesday!

bless my soul *[happy feet]

if you haven't already...go catch happy feet.
sweet sweet story and bitchin music.
elvis, stevie wonder, queen....and pink's
rendition of [tell me something good!]

go see it - it doesn't make just your
feet happy.

oh...and don't eat yellow snow.

nola on my mind

bourbon street~new orleans, la november 2006

it has been 2 weeks since i got back from my
working vacation in new orleans. and a vacation
it was. i haven't worked or laughed so hard in
so long. this simple journey re-lit my wick. 14 months
have gone by since katrina's force devasted
southern states.

14 months after katrina~9th ward new orleans, la

the lives of many will never
be the same, they have years of reconstruction.
years of looking for old friends, records, family
and self worth.

we worked through st. gabriels of the archangel.
we worked with several parish family's needing help.
miz lula - braving breast cancer on a 5 year treatment
plan. pete and sonia - a retired couple who now have
had to start all over. frieda - a single mom of three
teenage boys. we gutted her house. so paralyzed
by the storm. she hadn't even gone in the house
to look for posessions. when we entered the house
it was left as the water and storm had left it. furniture
piercing the walls. old fish tanks still holding flood
water and memories flowing throughout. as we
walked through our labor, house stripped down to the
bare studs, mildew creeping up the wires and wood. a
back closet held what we saved for frieda to look
through. precious memories left equaled 2 small boxes.

2 small boxes.~9th ward new orleans, la

i don't want to preach or get on my horse about our
government. but what i do want to express the need
for help. need for assistance. need for hands.
they need hands, hands that will lift, move, hang,
sweep and hold. they need hands to hug, hands
to extend towards them.

you want to help. contact the red cross, contact
a local church. its not just new orleans, its the south.
if you can help, please take the time to do it.


lower9th along the levee~new orleans, la
what worldly posessions would you put in 2 small boxes?

[great things are done by a series of small things
brought together. ~vincent van gogh]