---no finished art to share so i snapped a pic of my last doodle from a little sketchpad i keep in my purse---

When I was Olivia’s age I didn’t get to go many places. My sister and I got days at Fairystone Park (of which I have many fond memories), visits with relatives (my favorite was mom’s Aunt Ruby), and sometimes we went camping for the weekend at Peaks of Otter. But my favorite was when we piled into the backseat of the boat-like Ford Elite and after a solid hour of driving wound up at Hills where I would spend my pocket money on Nancy Drew books. Although thinking about that drive makes me think of how Mom would pay me NOT to sing. Really she did. My dad did too. I guess that’s how I had the money to buy the books. I remember belting out “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit and putting all my heart into it. I still sing like that even though I now know I can’t carry a tune. It’s ok cause singing feels so good and it’s just too hard to hold that goodness in.
I didn’t mean to ramble on about all that. I wanted to share the cool thing Olivia is doing today. She is at the Taubman Museum of Art this morning, taking a class with the creative Katherine Devine (I can’t say enough nice things about this beautiful soul and I bet I’m not the only one. She’s just this gifted person whose capacity for kindness is unlimited. We are blessed to have her in our life.) and learning about the work of installation artist, Marc Jenkins. They are going to be making a piece of their own, taking it all the way from idea, to drawing, to construction and if Olivia will let me I will share a picture of her finished work. “I’m planning on a ballerina in arabesque position,” she said.
And if you are a local, have you been to the museum yet? What did you think?

One Wednesday night each month I get together with a lively bunch of women writers. I say lively cause you never know what's going to happen or where the conversation will go and there's always laughing involved. There could also be tears depending on the piece being read but we always find our way back to the laughter. When I'm with them I feel like I am not a day older than 24, maybe even younger than that. A bouncy nineteen even. There's also trust and comfort. And acceptance. It's a good thing and I am grateful.
I shared with them the above "found poem" (my fave of all my found poems) I put together earlier in the day and I wanted to also share it here.
I had planned to share more news/things but blogger isn't letting me load anymore pics or create links...hmmm...i will save it all for another day real soon.
blessings,

The Prince and Princess Aurora--Vadim Slatvisky and Shanna Gayer

During the past week if I dared even so much as a glance over at the computer Olivia would raise her eyebrows, giving me the look of scolding child, telling me without words that I had promised hadn’t I, no computer for one week. I did manage brief, very brief, checking of emails but that was all. Sometimes I sneak (sad to admit this) after a promise like that but this time I didn’t and I didn’t mainly because I felt poorly for most of the time away. Everyone in my family says I am trying to do too much and it caught up with me. Maybe they're right. I had to spend much of the last few days in bed, but it wasn’t so bad. Olivia and I cuddled and read. We wrote. We emroidered. Other than the feeling yucky part it was wonderful actually. I am reading several books right now that I am enjoying immensely. The first is by Neil Gaiman, titled Smoke and Mirrors. Oh my. I. love. him. My only exposure to him in the past was Coraline as a read aloud when my stepdaughter was twelve-ish. (we have not seen the movie but it's out on dvd next month I think) Olivia has me reading a book she finished a few months ago and enjoyed, The Name of This Book is Secret. I was hesitant but it's turning out to be a fun suspenseful read. A good way to pass the time. So, loads of cuddling and there has been lots of clouds and rain to go along with it all and add to the coziness.
No paintings were started or completed during the week, but lots of writing and some sketching, things that I could do in bed. I figured out some plot puzzles in the novel and wrote some scenes that I am proud of but I have also gotten stumped more than once or twice. Like I have told several people, I am not sure I even have what it takes to write a book, but as long as it stays fun I will continue to go along for the ride.
Some things I plan to research this weekend: the difference between crows and ravens, castles in America, hot springs/healing, and spiritualism.

Also, another promise-I promised some of you I'd share pics from Sleeping Beauty on Sunday. I was at both shows, the afternoon and evening, took 375 pics and would have taken more but I forgot the second memory card. Here are a few--I will post more later.
Here's my sweet Olivia as musician:
and as maiden:

dancing here with Keiran Wigglesworth and Rebekah Wellons.

"Love your children while they are small. Spend time with them now. Don't put it off for a single moment." ---Vimala McClure, "The Tao of Motherhood"

I will be absent from the blogworld til next Friday. Be well and be creative!

I was going through some of the pics I took in California. There aren't many and most were taken from the car or as I sat up in the hotel bed. The image below represents a good day for me. I was back in the hotel after days in the hospital; I was able to move my arm enough to cut words from an old book page I had brought with me, tucked into a Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. It was my first creative act in months and I remember the way I felt more healed after the poem than before. I remember the look of happiness on Kelly's face when he saw me moving the tiny paper words around like puzzle pieces, searching for the right fit. And it was the same day that Olivia, "Mimi, you are sounding like your old self again."

And this was taken my first evening in California. It was getting dark but I just had to see the Pacific Ocean even if it was only a glimpse. This was near Imperial Beach and it was like a big affirmation to me, saying yes, yes, you are going to heal and make art again.

"To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions." -Deepak Chopra

I encourage you to carve out a bit of alone time for yourself today; I know I am going to try. Olivia is rehearsing long hours for the big annual ballet with Virginia Ballet Academy. The show is this Sunday. More rehearsal time for her means I am gifted with a few hours to do with what I will. Yesterday I met my friend, J. for dinner and laughs at Panera. She's a friend with a busy busy life so we don't get to see one another very often. It was nice to catch up and the time flew.
Tonight I have plans to listen to crafty podcasts and clean the house. The laundry piles quick around here. I am going to try my best to ignore the gessoed wood blocks waiting for paint and the pretty pink squares wanting to be stitched...maybe.
blessings,

I really want to learn how to draw better; I want to learn about shading and proportion, so I have been carrying my sketch pad, pencils and stretchy eraser around everywhere. The truth is that I have discovered that I LOVE to draw and even if I never improve I will keep on loving it and doing it. It's the same with writing. I may always be in Work-In-Progress mode but again, it's ok. After all, our very lives are nothing but works in progress, right?

The piece above is my latest drawing+inspiration from the characters in the fictional WIP+an old photograph of trees that I found in my stepfather's things+another photo taken over the winter of a bare tree branch+vintage image of a bird in flight=a piece that tells a snippet of a story, the part in the book where the main character leaves the mountains, the trees, her home. I won't say any more just now. I find I am a bit superstitious about sharing too much of the story and having it's energy drain away with my telling. I read a quote once where a writer gave that warning and it stuck with me. But I will say that combining the painting and the writing is making me silly spinning happy-just like when I picked up my first Somerset Studio magazine and discovered altered art. **deep contented sigh**