Change for a dollar

A friend of mine shared this video with me, and it was so touching, I thought I'd share it with you.

I love things like this.  Sometimes we give and go on with our lives, and have no idea the good it does.  Sometimes we don't give, because we only  have change, and it's not enough.  Or we don't want to engage, or to slow down a minute to hunt for said change.  Or because it's uncomfortable to look someone wretched in the eyes.  It is a firm belief of mine that in actuality we are all wretched, some of us are just better at hiding it.

Life is energy.  As I said in my last post I have been giving a lot of thought lately as to how I spend my time. I also think about how and where I spend my money.  Money, is interesting.  There never seems to be enough.  We trade our life for money.  An exchange of energies.  As time goes by I find I have less and less energy.  And more and more places I would like to use it.  From time to time I think about things like what exactly is 'enough'.  Why are peoples 'enoughs' so different?  If I did have 'enough' what would I do with the extra?

It's Christmas and the shopping season is in full swing.  Everywhere I look there are advertisers screaming look here, look what we've got.  You know you want it...   do I?  Maybe.  But do I need it?  Does anyone need any of this stuff??  How has life become so complicated, so full of stuff, so much expectation.  Do I really want to use my energy to add to the coffers of the people for whom there is never 'enough'?  To trade my life for a few baubles, or things someone else tells me I need?   No.  This country was  founded on that.  And I for one will play along no more.  I will buy this bill of goods no longer.  Subscribe to someone elses idea of what life should look like no more.  Look where that's gotten us so far...

I have precious little energy left in this life.  How do I really want to use it?

11 Ways

I found this graphic interesting.  I just recently learned how men and women express depression differently.  With men it can be really hard to tell they are depressed.  And who even knew they too could suffer from Post Partum Depression...

If you are depressed, or know someone who is please get help.  Depression can and does kill.  There is hope...

Here is the link to the above graphic if you cannot see it well enough

The Butterfly Project

There  have been a lot of things taking my time recently.  I think I'm having some renewed clarity about life and what exactly I spend my time on.  It's an interesting thought.  


It has long been my hope and intention to serve people in some manner.  I think giving of oneself is the best way to keep ones life real.   It's strange how easy it is to get wrapped up in oneself , plus the holidays remind me of how much I detest consumerism and greed.   I know it's my black and white thinking, but if I think about things I believe all problems can be traced back to greed.   It's an ugly thought, which I don't wish to discuss right now- so let's move on, shall we?


I have been taking photos here and there thinking I wanted to share them with you.  But when it comes down to it I have a hard time deciding what to share, and what is just random.  If you know me well, you know that I despise what I call 'idle chit chat' and prefer to use my words in a wiser fashion. 


That said I will try to make this brief and get on to what I really want to share today.


The holidays are often busy with ballet lately.  This year even moreso.  Besides the usual Nutcracker rehearsals, regular classes, and helper classes this year my ballerina was asked to do some extra performances.  All week long she's been performing 'The Sugarplum Fairy' for a bunch of classes before their holiday break.  Today I managed to get some photos taken.  


Here is an example.  I found this really cool archway and took a bunch of photos of my girl- they came out great.   There are even better pics than this but I love the background here.

Here are a pair of the four pairs of ballet shoes I ended up helping to stitch this past week.  Notice I said helping.   This ballerina is going to have to stitch her own pointe shoes one day, so I am only helping now.


Now here's what I wanted to share.  I finally got my butterflies in the mail.  We are one shy, as my oldest son is procrastinating.  He'll have to mail his own.  Ours have been floating around for months and I keep losing them, then finding them, but never all in the same spot.  I finally wrangled them all and got them in the mail.  

I know I shared this with those of you who know me on facebook.  Here is a video about this project put on by the Houston Holocaust Museum.  (this is a link to their website)

I think this a different video than the one I saw.  I couldn't find it anymore.   The first one they had made me cry.  My kids were moved by it as well to do their own butterflies.

Can you believe that?  I was shocked when I heard this number.   I cannot even imagine this number.  And I love the idea of them displaying that many butterflies.  Each one different.  Each one telling a story.  The whole thing together is going to be quite moving to see.  Like seeing those giant memorial walls in DC and realizing how many people we lost.  Or the giant pieces of wreckage from 9/11 and all the names...   


It is sad and hard to remember.  But we must.  We must remember these awful things so as not to allow them to be repeated, ever again.  Ever.  


So here is the info from the Houston Holocaust Museum's website   if you'd like to participate.  They have extended the deadline for receiving the butterflies.   Oh and they can be in any media, anything.   Maybe you poets and wordy people can write something in the shape of a butterfly, or fabric, paper, anything.  They even have butterflies that can be printed out and colored in at their website.    How about a journal page cut into a butterfly shape?

Please forgive the crazy white text boxes here.  I have tried everything and cannot get them to go away.    I know this will bother the perfectionist in you, but really, it's ok.   If I can live with it, so can you...   

In an effort to remember them, Holocaust Museum Houston is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies. The butterflies will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition, currently scheduled for Spring 2014, for all to remember. The Museum has already collected an estimated 900,000 butterflies. Please facilitate the “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” activity and create as many handmade arts-and-crafts butterflies as possible. This project may be completed by all ages as individuals or groups. Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.  Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred. Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used. Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used. If possible, e-mail a photograph of your butterflies, to butterflyproject@hmh.org. Please send or bring your          butterflies to the Museum

information included:

• Your name,
• Your organization or school,
• Your address,
• Your e-mail address, and
• The total number of butterflies sent.

Mail or bring your butterflies to:             Holocaust Museum Houston
            Butterfly Project
            Education Department 
            5401 Caroline St.
            Houston, TX 77004 
            USA 

The deadline for butterflies to be received at the museum has now been established as June 30, 2012
For questions or additional information, please e-mail butterflyproject@hmh.org.

   

Dia De Los Muertos

 Last year on All Saints Day I was inspired and moved by Dia De Los Muertos and all the lovely shrines.  I looked into them and really appreciated what I found.  A couple of days to remember and be grateful for those who have gone on before us.

I had hoped to get their names on the top.  You can
 see where I started one, but was unsuccessful.  Will
have toget back to that.

So a couple of the days I had no computer to blog on was Dia De Los Muertos and All Saints Day.  I had hoped to be able to share this experience with you.

One of my girls sewed a little tiny "stuffy" for one
 of them.

There are those whose loss I mourn, and sadly have not been able to fully grieve.  So this year I decided to honor them on All Saints Day and Dia De Los Muertos.

Here you can see most of the contents.  A teeny
 blanket,some trinkets, a heart and we put a teeny
dried flowerin each of them.  I meant to add more
 butwill add as time goes by.

Making these little shrines and their contents was a melancholy experience for me.   I wept as I remembered and added all the little details I would have loved to have given these four in this life.

It was a good melancholy though.  A melancholy I needed.  A time I needed to spend healing a little bit with this.  These were the only four I was able to complete.  There are a few more I intend to do in the future.  I found it a good way of remembering those we love who are no longer here.  I believe the kids enjoyed it too.

Their names on the inside.  I have dates and other info
to add,but will get to that next year.

Now, a happy thing.  Finished my 'Happy Grid' and thought I'd let you see it.

 and some close-ups

The healing nature of art...   try it, it really works...

Wow it's been over a month since my last post.  It's amazing how rapidly life can change.  The Pearls' maiden voyage was fun, but we've been ever so busy with life since that trip.  There is nothing new on the Pearl front.   I had been hoping to share some amazing, super fun news with you all by now, but that has been postponed.

My tower done for a Suzi Class
this is still not finished (have to fix my aunts face)
but I'm starting to doubt I'll ever get back to it.  

The reason for my hiatus is that my computer battery died and we had to figure that out, then order a new one, and honestly we take forever to do things.  It really is amazing that anything gets done in our world.  There is just so much to do.  Take blogging.  Over the last month I have had so many ideas and days I have wanted to share with you all.  But you know how it is, I just couldn't seem to write from a borrowed laptop.  Some things I just get really hung up on, like that.  Not having my laptop with my pics and my leisure to use it.  It just never happened.  Maybe I can slowly catch you all up.

There hasn't been much going on in the studio lately.  I am in a "down" time right now dealing with a lot of my lifelong issues.  I have much grieving to do, and I just feel like I need comfort.   Because of this any painting, or drawing, or knitting, anything really that can't be done from  my bed or my corner of the couch just does not get done.  Sure I miss my studio, and I miss painting and blogging very much, but once I stay away too long from something it is usually gone.  It becomes a huge overwhelming thing especially when I'm in need of comfort.





So I've been at the beach....  a lot....

Not friends

This is my attempt at reconnecting.  I have had so many things to share with you.  Now I'm not sure where to begin.  There are about a million thoughts rattling around in my head.  Some pics I had wanted to share with you were the end of the art journal I had been working on then.  Of course by now I have a new one.  Here are half of them.  Wouldn't want to overwhelm you.

Let go of the cloak of victimization

and finally here is what I am working on today.  Well the start of it.  This is a grid I am doing with a Suzi Blu class.  I did two.  A dark grid and a happy grid.  Life feels like that right now.  I just couldn't do the happy grid without acknowledging the dark parts.  This is just the beginning.  There is more to be done.  I'll hopefully remember to show it again when it's finished.  

Dark Grid

It felt great to paint today.  I hadn't painted for some time. We had a leak and had to remove half of the downstairs flooring, so my home has been a wreck.  Unable to face it I did everything from bed.  Nice coping skills, right?!    Yesterday my husband restored the living room furniture at least, so I could once again paint at my couch spot which I rearranged all in a tight grouping so it's nice and cozy up to the fireplace.   Today he and my eldest son re-floored the dining room and entry way and I worked on my Art Journal.

Happy Grid

The funny thing is I can do dark.  I had to do the dark one in order to do the light one.  Now that I'm a ways along I'm getting happier with it.  It still needs lots of work, but it's not so intimidating since I'm pretty happy with the dark one.  

The Tale of the Maiden Voyage

Since I know you're all waiting to hear about the Pink Pearl's maiden voyage I took lots of pics and thought I'd blog about it today.  Besides it's always better with pics, right?

As the crew makes ready for our voyage. Have you ever seen someone go camping in a fancy dress and tights?  Some of my crew are a little, well let's say eccentric....

 Here a sampling of  the crew poses for a picture.

 I have to give credit to my mini photographer.  I must admit that though I would have loved to I did not take all of the pics you see here.  My mini photographers have a way of making off with me camera and taking some good pics.

a self portrait

 packed and ready to shove off

 Sobe worrying that we would leave her behind pulled some of the clothes out of her girls bag and was trying to nest in it.  This is as far as she got.  She patiently waited here by the door while we readied the Pearl and when we moved the bag to the car and put her in she resumed her spot on top of her girls bag in the back of the truck.

Here she is looking over the back seat
wondering where her girl is.

 Hooking her up

 and away we go, setting sail for our adventure.

 Here is the view as we approach Crystal Cove.  As  you can imagine the excitement builds at this point in a journey.

 In the campground we spied an airstream and later
 another canned ham. 

Here's where the trip gets interesting...   When we arrive we find that we mistakenly booked the wrong campsite.  We booked a site in the tents campground, which was confusing because the online booking agent let us book it, and even asked the length of the trailer.  Something about in the fine print somewhere it says no hard sided trailers allowed in the tent spaces and well to make a long story short we waited around for the better part of two hours first deciding what to do, then waiting for the lottery for the one space available.

I told you we were bad at this camping thing.  I think our camping trips could make a good Family Vacation movie.  You should hear some of our stories.  I think you'd agree...

We did manage to have a good time in our two hours at the camprgound.  We snacked a bit on our snacks, played some games and napped in the Pearl (still parked next to the check in kiosk).  Since we have no curtains yet it must have been a sight to see.  Took the dog and a few kids for a walk;  A few walks actually; Chatted with the rangers;  And enjoyed the view.  We didn't get to use the Pearls accomodations much, but it was pleasant resting with the family while we waited.

Here we are, a few hours later returning to port.  Never being accustomed to being kept down by 'the man' and his ridiculous rules nor being the sort who miss chance for an adventure, we quickly made ready and were off to more welcoming ports.

camping geenies lamp studio style

We enjoyed the beautiful night sky, some snacks and our very large screen movie.

Abduction

aye, it sounds a sad tale of a maiden voyage.  It was definitely an adventure and a day worth remembering.  We held true to our record of camping trips gone awry.  In the end we saw True Steel and Abduction at the Mission Tiki Drive In.  We even saw a shooting star.

Photo credit: toplessrobot.com article on
 The 10 nerdiestroadtrip destinations in America.

Life is what you make of it right?  Well ours is definitely and adventure!