Happy Valentine's Day

For my lovelies . . . Good thing Rachel snapped this picture as this pretty pink cake was practically devoured before I even got home from work today!!  I'm so glad I picked up this heart shaped cake pan!  I love it and I know it will get lots of use!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and that you were able to spend some time with your own lovelies.  Such a sweet holiday!!

Freedom

My beautiful baby girl is 18 today.  She's been counting the days, anticipating some sort of magic that will occur and give her the golden ticket to becoming an adult as she greets the day.  It's interesting how it goes for each person as they hit that amazing number.  I am sad in a way, but also renewed.   I have had so very much fun with Rachel for so many years of her life, but I need to step back and let her fly.  So go ahead, my big little girl, follow your dreams.

W2 Stories

Today at work I had to call a couple of people whose W2's were returned.  Funny how everyone believes that their W2 will be forwarded if they move and forward their address.  W2's are not forwarded.  They are returned to the sender and they sit there until you remember to inquire about them or someone like me calls you to find out your new address.

I love people's stories.  I think that is part of the reason why I love to interview people.  I work in Human Resources and I interview nurses.  Everyone has an interesting story.  I always like to find out the motivation to become a nurse.   I ask them to share with me their good stories and their bad and it's just amazing how nurses can tell you a story on a moment's notice and it's like they are reliving that moment in time, their passion is so raw.

Each nurse I called had moved out of the State of Florida.  Being the inquisitive person I am, oh okay, the nosey person I am, I had to find out their story.  One nurse moved to Key West.  What fun is that?  Have you ever been to Key West?  I cannot ever imagine living there, but oh what fun that must be!  Think Jimmy Buffett, flip flops and shorts everyday.  She truly loves living there and is so glad she made the move.  She said she feels so much calmer and is enjoying life so much more.  I could hear it in her voice.

Another nurse moved back to New Jersey after having lived in Florida since she was 16.  She reconnected with her high school sweetheart through Facebook and they are now planning on getting married.  She absolutely loves being back on her old stomping ground, feels so content to be back home and is head over heels in love.  She sounded fantastic.

I loved hearing their stories and the excitement in their voices.  Our journey's are interesting.  While we can be so connected with someone day in and day out, one day they could be gone, off exploring new territories, never to connect again.  It's interesting how paths cross.

My Nephew

Philip and his girlfriend, Shanna, joined us for dinner tonight.  It was so very good to see them both.   We all have interesting paths to travel in our lives and Philips journey is no exception.  If you remember my sister that lived next door to me for a brief year or two about a year ago . . . Philip is my sister's son.  They used to live in Florida, about an hour north of where we are.  My brother-in-law, Philips dad, passed away in 2003 from end-stage renal disease.  Philip was 15 and his brother, Kyle, 9.  It was not a good time.  Shortly after, Philip got in trouble for making a bad choice and he paid the price for it.  Coupled with the family's heartache, a big price was paid by all.

Now, just about eight years later, Philip is amazing.  He has matured into a fine young man and my heart was clenched just listening to him talk about making it on his own.  Sometimes we need knocks along the way so we know which way to go.  And sometimes having a pretty, encouraging friend share the journey, makes our travels a bit more exciting.

It was a fun, relaxed evening.  The only way it could've been any better is if my sister still lived next door.

Powerful Words

I had a superb day.  It started with an amazing sermon at my church by John C. Maxwell.  Have you heard of him?  You must hear him.  I don't remember the last time I was so excited to hear someone speak.  I try to go to church on a regular basis, though I am not always good at it.  I've been going faithfully for the last few weeks and I was so excited last week when they announced John C. Maxwell as this weeks speaker.  The man is so eloquent, so funny, so inspiring, so real.  I sat in church this morning, so excited, waiting for everything to start and thought to myself that this was going to be good, it always is. 

He spoke about winning and habits and how, "if you develop the habits of winning, you will make winning a habit".  "Winners are passionate about what they do".  "Maturity doesn't always accompany age, sometimes age comes alone".  He said he was once approached after a leadership conference he presented and someone came up to him at the end and said, "I know what I want to do!  I want to do what you do"!  John Maxwell looked at the young man, smiled and said, "Do you want to do what I did to do what I do?"  Oh yes, it's all a process and the process itself is as important, if not more important, than the end result.

Are you passionate about what you do?  Passion fills one with energy and is the catalyst of self-discipline.  Want power precedes wil power.

Thank you John Maxwell for starting my week with a bang.  I knew you would and it was so good.

Beautiful Words

My Symphony

To live content with small means.... To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.... To be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich.... To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly.... To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart.... To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.... In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common....

...........this is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing 

On a recent blog hop, I visited Laura at 52 Flea and was instantly touched by "My Symphony" on her sidebar.  I asked Laura if I could quote this poem on my blog and she was thrilled that it held special meaning to me also.  Laura said she found this poem in her Nana's attic when she was a teenager in an old frame with watercolor morning glories painted on the frame.  Hearing this little story makes me love this poem all the more.

Rita Coolidge once sang to Kris Kristofferson, "words are all I have to take your heart away".  I always loved that line.  I love words.  I love to use them.  I love to write them.  I love when I find pieces that brand themselves upon me.  May beautiful words be music to your ears. 

Exploration

Happy 2012!!!  Exploration is my word for 2012.  I love it!  I want to explore as much as I can, whether it be art, books, friends, healthy living or life in general.  I am looking forward to a big, bright, beautiful year and I hope it is the same for you!

Tom and I have been snapping some pictures the past few days, on my exploration journey.  Here are some shots from the Arthur G. Marshall Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida.

This next photo was taken in the equestrian part of my town.  I love going just a few minutes away, yet you feel as if you are miles from home.

I am so excited about all of the possibilities a new year holds.  I love the feeling of newness.  I love the feeling of optimism.  Yes, I'm making resolutions.  I love to make resolutions.  Exploration is on the top of my list!  Happy New Year!!

Christmas 2011

A beautiful day was had by all . . .

 Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night . . .

Christmas Art

I've been having such a fun time catching up on all the art I need to make for various swaps and groups I'm in.  Here is a "stocking full of goodies", without the goodies, for my Yahoo group, Art for the Creative Mind.

A Christmas tag for the same Yahoo group.

ATC's for the local ATC Club I belong to.

The altered book for the local group I belong to.  This was probably my least favorite theme - Op Art.  I love working with black and white, but optical art is not my style.  It is good to step out of our comfort zone, though, and I made this "my own" and I like it.

Two more tags to make, a postcard and a couple of journal pages.  Thank goodness my shopping, decorating and baking is done!  I love the hustle and bustle of this time of year!!

Christmas Banner

Finished my banner for a swap I'm in with my Yahoo group, Art for the Creative Mind.  I love it and am in the process of making one for myself because I think it is just the cutest.

What do you think?

Our Tree

The tree is up!  Yay!   

What's that you say - no tree skirt?  Hmmm.  I'm thinking I got rid of my tree skirt last year.   Must go find another.  This is my first tree at home with white lights.  I've been wanting white lights for years but my kids always wanted multi-colored lights.  Fortunately I needed a new tree this year and chose what I like.  What a novel idea!!   Now on to the rest of the house!!

Ornaments

I had to make two ornaments for a swap I joined with my Yahoo group, "Art for the Creative Mind".  I was so late in getting these ornaments sent because I just could not come up with anything that looked good.  Sometimes I have such a mental block with art - very frustrating!!  Here is what I finally came up with.

Have you seen the tags Tim Holtz is presenting on his blog?  They are divine.  My scrapbooking store replicates tags in their own fashion and prepares little kits that we can purchase to make our own tags.  Here is the tag for Day 1.  I love just about anything Tim Holtz creates, so this is such incredible fun.  Now I want to go make my own version.

Pretty much finished with my shopping, which is unusual for me.  Now I have to decorate and bake.  That was the plan for tonight but teenage daughters sometimes have a way of trashing best laid plans.  This too shall pass, right?

Me and My Muse

Great theme for an art journal, don't you think?  This was my latest challenge with my Yahoo group, "Art for the Creative Mind".  I just love making these journal pages.  This one is one I'd like to keep for myself.  I do hope the recipient likes it also.  We all have a different taste and style in art journalling and I find that I must do what I like, not what I think someone else will like, especially when I do not even know the person it's being made for.  I'm finding that the more art I make, the more comfortable I am with what I make.  My daughter gets so angry with me when I doubt what I make.  She's given me enough of a push to boost my confidence and not worry about if someone else will like it as I do.  It's so much more fun to just let it flow.  Here is what I came up with for "Me and My Muse".

My next art journal theme is "Asian".  I bought some great additions for that page!  Next I'll be starting a Round Robin Art Journal Exchange.  I need to get my book started before we send it off in January.  I'm really looking forward to this!!

Productivity is a Good Thing

I had a very productive day today.  I was up at the crack of dawn, out to Home Depot when they opened, bought red and white impatiens and some yellow marigolds, as well as some red mulch.  Came home, planted and mulched.  Once I recovered from that, I hand washed my car.  Did about three loads of laundry, put Halloween decorations away, "winterized" my bathroom with my taupe and red accessories, put rope lights on my palm tree and am now getting ready to make art.  I'm beat, but feeling good.  How was your Saturday?

Happy Halloween!!

Such a fun day!  We dressed up at work, had a fun lunch together and I'll be welcoming trick or treaters tonight if the rain lets up, which is the forecast.  Today is my brother's 60th birthday.  Can't believe I have a brother that's 60 - wasn't it just a couple years ago that he teased me incessantly?  Hope everyone enjoys the magic of the day!

Fun Sunday

I went to my company picnic today and had such a nice time.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous and it was such fun to spend a few hours enjoying the glorious day.  They had an artist there doing portraits of interested attendees.  I've never done anything like that before and I was anxious to see me through her eyes.  I don't quite think it looks like me, but I like the way it turned out.

My Rachel started her first job Friday night.  She's a hostess at "On The Border".  She wasn't too happy when she came home her first night, certain she was not going to like this job at all and "I just cannot believe everything a hostess has to do"!  Where's the violin?  Her second night proved to be a better night.   She came home happy and bubbly, loving the job and confident that she smiled a lot, kept the cooks informed, was fair to the servers and ensured all the menu's sparkled.  When I was a teenager, I could not wait to get a job.  Rachel was perfectly content to let me continue to meet all of her financial needs - imagine that!  Here's a picture of her on her first day, "Oh Mom"!!!

Ah the seasons of our life!

Art Journal

I am participating in an art journal swap with my Yahoo group, "Art for the Creative Mind".  There are nine participants in this group, who have each selected a theme for their journal.  We use watercolor paper, 5x7, front and back in the designated theme to be mailed at specific intervals.  My first page was Alice in Wonderland, which I shared back a post or two.  My second page was "Art Quotes" and I foolishly forgot to take a picture before mailing.  Ugh!  My third page was "Magick".  I had such a difficult time being inspired with this theme that I was unprepared at mailing time as I still had a blank page.  The pressure was on and since I do work well under pressure, my muse kicked in and the following is the result.

 

On to the next journal page, "Me and My Muse".  Gotta go put my thinking cap on and see what I come up with!

Amazing Tribute

Each year on September 11th,  the Fire Chief's Association of Palm Beach County, Florida presents a tribute to those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and to honor those that risked their lives on that fateful day.  The ceremony this year was in my town and I was so touched by the day's events.  Every Fire Department and Police Department throughout Palm Beach County was represented.  Each unit had fire trucks parked along the main road in.  A parade was held ending at our Ampitheatre where a beautiful ceremony was held.  Here are some photo's to capture the day.
                                                           

                                                                         

A plaque on the front of one of the trucks reads, "Look Busy Until We Get There"

The Flyover

                                        A Flag That Was In The World Trade Center, Framed

Our Town's Memorial - steel from between the 69th and 71st floors of Tower 2 and the Fountain with an Eternal Flame.  There is also a wall with the names of each person that perished etched in glass.

It was a typically hot, hot, hot Florida day, yet the Firefighters from throughout the County were gathered together to honor their own.  They stood in the blazing hot sun, in full uniform, never showing any discomfort.  As we were standing behind a group of Firefighters, I noticed that every 15 minutes or so, the person in the front of the line who was standing in the direct sun, would move to the back of the line where there was shade so each had a turn in the sun.  Amazing. 

 After the ceremony was over, we were speaking with one of the Firefighters crediting him for withstanding the heat in full uniform.  He commented that they were well hydrated, that they train for "conditions" like this and with a twinkle in his eye said, "even if we were dying, we'd never let you know it"!  Not everyone could fill those shoes.  Thank God for those that do!

An amazing day.  The emotions are overflowing.  I remember what I was doing ten years ago today.  We all do. It was the day life changed forever.