Secrets

We all have secrets, pain, challenges that we prefer to remain hidden but May is Lupus Awareness Month. These pictures are all of me this past month, all embarrassing and all painful. But most of all this is a  REAL face of Lupus. Hope one day they will find a cure.

Wear purple.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Whispers and Little Red Cabins..

My boyfriend of twenty years and I escaped to the mountains of Idaho. We were actually celebrating 20 years of marriage. It was beautiful, snowy and cold. Inside the little cabin is everything a person could ever want or need. A very old stove to keep us warm, a bed piled high with warm blankets and the words, thoughts and memories hanging in the air from grandma.

You could hear her, almost. You could feel her, nearly. If you sat still you could almost see her go to the window and to call  "Dean ..your lunch is getting cold!" I listened to her as I swept. As I moved all the chairs, shook the little carpet pieces in the widows and dusted the high corners. It was her breathy whisper that made me check the stove a zillion times before we dare leave, and her smile we felt as the snow tucked us in at night and the deer greeted us in the morning.

We miss her.

Rosie and Sailing Away!!!

My take on Rosie the Riveter! Worst part is, my hair is nearly to my waist.  So pulling it all up is fine, but taking it down is another matter.

I love small art. This little piece I did is on the back of a playing card. It is an Artist Trading Card or ATC. Sailing Away is its title. The little ship is 3-D  and the tiny red flags move.The size of the circles are similar to a dime just so you can get the scale.  I am pleased with the way it turned out. I used colored pencils and ink. Speaking of sailing away......I am off to celebrate my 20th Wedding Anniversary. We are going to the Bartschi Cabin in Idaho. We will ride with the wind and the rain at our backs all the way there.

xoxoxoxoxxo

Flat Cats and Seeds!

My cat, my big fat hairy orange kitty, sleeps in the strangest position. He flattens himself out completely over the back of our couch. Proudly displaying himself in front of the huge front-room window. Does not even look comfortable! Pancake cat. So weird!!!

It is seed starting time at our house. We have 24 flats of plants, veggies and flowers reaching towards the lights. The plants listen to music every day. Today was Bjork, yesterday was Muse, tomorrow is Yes. They thrive with music, all types. Everyday a different genre. Spoiled damn plants! This year we bought a timer for the lights. It is awesome. I am dreaming of tomatoes already.

xoxoxoxxo

I am here...

I am here... been here all the time. Just quiet. I liked being still and watching. Now I feel ready to continue my words.

My husband took these photos yesterday to remind me I am beautiful. I am holding one of hens in one of the pics. Yay for Spring!!!

The Seasons End

My days have been full of canning. Pickles, apple butter, raspberry jalapeno jelly, stewed tomatoes, salsa and pickled jalapenos. I know when it is fall when I move form jellies and jams into tomatoes. Later today we are canning pickled eggs. Can't wait for those it will be our first time.We have pulled and stored all of of garlic and onions and are getting ready to replant in a couple of days. The season is ending and my gourds are heavy and are ready to be dried. Time to harvest t he last of the herbs and gather any seeds for replanting in the spring. I do love fall.

Thunder Vests and Sports Bras

Did I mention I have a BIG dog? A BIG DUMB but sweet dog? He is scared to death of thunder. If he gets out during a storm he will leap over a 6 foot high fence and RUN until it stops raining. It is sad and funny. He shivers, paces, cowers and cries at the first sign of thunder. Even if a neighbors door slams too loudly and he thinks it is thunder the panic attack starts. We were told to give him Benadryl to help calm him, but all it does is make him foam at the mouth. Poor thing. I looked into getting him a Thunder Vest (if you don't know what that is Google image it and have a nice laugh) but I am not willing to buy a $50 vest for my dog when my own coat only cost me $20! So I improvised. A small child's shirt helped a little but he needed something tighter. One night last week when my husband was at work and the dog was scared of the rain storm, I became exhausted trying all sorts of things to calm him down. He kept trying to get onto my bed, (which would mean pushing me off as he is as big as me) and pacing and crying. It was so sad. It was late and had been going on for so long, I grabbed an article of clothing that was next to my bed and put it on him. (I leave my workout clothes next to my bed.) So my dog finished out the storm in my sports bra. Really, a 125 lb. red furry dog, foaming at the mouth at 3:00 AM was wearing my sports bra!!!! I laughed so hard I didn't fall back to sleep, but the dog did. Between the Benadryl and the humiliation of wearing womens underwear he feel asleep (or maybe he disassociated). Problem solved, but now I am short a running bra...

(Reenactment)

Room Makeover

Dark and cozy. I painted a tree on my wall. With a hubby who sleeps during the day we need to keep the room nice, cold and dark. I love it. There is a tiny bird in the upper right corner. I do love my birds.

My baby sister painting the little bird. I now have a nest!!!

xoxoxoxox

Summer is Over

Back to work I go. My summer is over.

We have had many bbq's...these are my kids with their boyfriend and girlfriend in our back yard.

I cut "Betty" bangs.

  

Made a mermaid garden.

 

Got some new chickens.

 

Colored on rocks.

 

Meditated.

 

Made pendants.

 

Started a Junk Journal.

 Camped a lot.

Canned EVERYTHING!!!

Made my own hand soap, dish washer soap, and washing machine detergent.

I have pulled 1000 weeds, read 4 books and sat up to see every full moon. I have laughed with my red man, and cried with my sister, dreamed with my books, and flew with my art. I have stood barefoot in the garden, in a stream, and on cool grass. I have smelled fresh bread, stained my fingers with raspberries, and kissed a smiling mouth.  My soul is full and I am happy. My life is full of love and now during the next school year I get to share it with all of my sweet students.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

"If you are busy judging someone, then you have no time to love them." ~Mother Teresa

Graduation

She's all done. My daughter graduated.

xoxoxoxoxox

Camping

Just got back. It was beautiful. Kinda wish I could have stayed.

Spring

Pictures from around my yard.