Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Buffy Point


This picture from the other day was taken very near a place where a young local girl died in the river resulting from a car wreck. I didn't know the little girl personally although my son did. The picture preceeding reflects a brighter perspective but this morning I was feeling a little more grief for Buffy and her family and friends. There are always little commemorative things along the highway but it just seems so little can be said or done at times to signify the loss of someone so young and full of promise. I picture a mother and father's heart breaking. I imagine the grief of losing a daughter would only seem magnified by a loss of the enjoyment of the river as sanctuary and repose. (It's been mine for so long and I suspect many others around here.) I have a friend that was also involved in a sniper shooting at a river north of here. The river had always been her sanctuary but after that she just didn't feel safe. Horribly tragic since she is one that had turned to, and found, great solace in the river for so many years until then. It grieves me to this day for her.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

River of Dreams




Taken yesterday about 10 minutes away from home. This picture is shot from the bridge just past Buffy point. (May she rest in peace.) Love this spot and about a million others along the way up Cow Creek. We've been spending so much time in the pool we thought it was high time we took Pearl to the river!


Thursday, July 23, 2009

Removing labels...

Anyone identify with label removal? Writing the latest set of instructions for Krylon right now and as I was reviewing some of the pictures for references I came across this picture. There just comes a time when removing labels is necessary. If we want to paint a masterpiece we've got to start off clean and begin to add the brush strokes of our lives.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Watershed moments


After posting these pictures may just have to head back out there! And, we got the pool up!!! YAY!! I'm now nursing a sunburn but it's all good and I don't have a single complaint. Life is good. I told someone the other day that I felt like I was on drugs; my body was so light and my legs were so rubbery. weird. This was simply because I was so relieved that June (well june and a half) were over. It was just too much. It's good to think about what's realistic to take on and get real with my schedule.

Monday, July 13, 2009

What I'm dreaming of. . .


I'm dreaming of being in the water right now, can hardly wait to dip my toes then fully immerse myself in the river. I've made a vow to myself that I'd do that this week. When I was a kid, like so many others around here, we'd spend so much time outside fondly holding leaves and branches in our hands. We'd drag them behind us making tracks in the dust. We'd pull moss from trees and catch little frogs or bugs for the wonder of their tiny little worlds. I'm missing those slow uncomplicated moments. I'm also reminded of how dirty we were at the end of each day convinced that most of our dirt was a tan until mom proved otherwise. I remember being barefooted so much that the skin between my toes would crack and that I could run on rocks and hot pavement and not feel the heat too much or the sharp points from the rocks. I do remember, however, getting stone bruises- those were no good.
ahhhh. the good ole summertime. The river takes me back, as though I'd never left.


this is from my book-a project called "A walk along the Oregon Coast vacationscape"

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Grandma's sweet little June bugs!

Gabe celebrated his first birthday June 26th. (Hazel was born on the 5th, & we'll be doing this next year with her!) Gabe's little cake was so cute with little bees trailing all over it in the Winnie the Pooh theme. Our local Rays made them both but Gabe's little cake was made with less sugar and with a banana filling. They also dialed down the sugar in the frosting with real whipped cream. Thought that was so neat since he eats only blended fresh fruits and veggies that Ty and Amanda prepare. I wanted to share that new option with others here.

Hazel has no idea how much she is being protected here!!!...Ted is holding Gabe back from climbing right in there to investigate his first little cousin, this little person of interest! Gabe loves to grasp and squeeze things right now- not good for Hazel! ^g^

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Analogy of a butterfly

Undaunted by the party: Granddaughter Hazel.
And look- she already has the remote. She's a true George.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A new day. . .

Marianne Williamson: Lean into your future. Allow the parts of you that need to die, to die. An actual discontinuity, an actual phase shift occurs when a butterfly breaks free of it's cocoon. Become "that you" that you are capable of becoming. Out of our imaginal selves- the caterpillar dies, the butterfly is born. We used to cling to the earth, and now we will FLYYYY throughout the skies. We are moving from good to great.The universe is infinitely merciful, infinitely forgiving, is infinitely ready at any given moment to begin again."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."
-Marianne Williamson

Channeling Grace

I hope this will be the next book I read:
Channeling Grace: Invoking the Power of the Divine by Carolyn Myss

"Grace is the breath of God - an invisible essence beyond intellect that moves swiftly amongst us," teaches Caroline Myss. Is it possible to become a living conduit of this powerful force? "Not only is it possible," suggests this bestselling author, "but grace is immediately accessible to you and the courage to follow divine guidance." Ascend to what Myss calls the "altitude of the mystics" and invoke this expansive energy in your life."

Myss explains how to recognize grace in your life by describing some of the countless ways we experience it - both internally as a sudden insightful voice, and externally as synchronicity in the world. In Session 2, she offers a full set of specific invocations to contact grace directly, navigate your path in times of chaos, gain clarity and direction in your life, and heal yourself or others."Grace is as real and tangible as sparkling sand on the beach," teaches Myss. "It's ready to dramatically transform your life at any time - if you are willing to acknowledge and embrace it."

Anniversary and Changes


Well today marks mine and Ted's anniversary. We've both been so swamped I don't know that we'll really get to see each other much and that's why we had dinner out together last night...
A nice dinner, quiet.

Create & Decorate Picture (link below)

6/19 post
If I could paint one word
I'd paint for the Rose
all I've been taught
while watching you grow
Me and you
I'd do it for two
I'd do it for me and the Rose

Just found out that a Vintage Collage design has been published in August Create & Decorate. Here's a link to the picture. span>
http://www.createanddecorate.com/issues/2009/august/paper.shtml