Beautiful

On Sunday morning the sky was the most incredible shade of blue. It was spectacular. There was still a trace of pink from the dawn. Even tho my to-do list was long in preparation for the upcoming brunch just hours away, I kept returning to the window for another look. The air was crisp and a bit of frost clung to all the trees. Our new snow (and there is a lot of it!) was sparkling like glitter. The previously green landscaping was filled with interesting snow sculptures.

All of this makes me feel very peaceful and grateful for the beauty that I enjoy every day. I am also grateful for family and friends who bless my life and are as beautiful to me as the sky and snowscapes I got to enjoy yesterday morning. Peace.

The Joy of Creating Art

My cousin, Karen, lives in Eden Prairie. I visited her home today while her husband, Bernie worked on my car. While I waited for my daughter to pick me up, I sat in Karen's "outdoor studio". There was a cute little metal table with two chairs and all the equipment she needed...brushes, paint, water, a paper plate for a palette, paper towels and her raw materials...smooth stones. Karen had all she needed to create her wonderful, whimsical pet rocks. She gifts these little creatures to her "children" on the bus route she drives at the end of the year. The kids have even started bringing pictures of themselves and their pets in hopes that Karen will make them a special portrait. Her little creatures grace her garden; peaking from knots in driftwood, perched on rocks and a school of fish swims in front of a pot of pansies. They are really cute.

Today was a good reminder about the spontaneous joy of making art. I have been in the midst of preparing for shows and trying to launch products and I have forgotten to have fun in my studio. I have been busy trying to second guess myself as to what products will be most profitable and writing a business plan. Even tho these things are important, I think I need to do more creating for creating sake. Get the ideas out of my head not because I think they would sell well but because these ideas need to be free to become the art they are to be. I love the quote, "Do what you love, continue to do it and it will take you where you need to go."

In Karen's "studio" today there was a peacefulness. The birds were singing, someone was mowing their lawn, the smell of flowers was in the air. There was a simple joy. It was a good reminder. Next week I think I'll take my sketch book outside to my beautiful gardens and enjoy creating something alfresco.

Thanks Karen for a nice visit, for the tour of your studio and for the reminder of the joy of creating.

Friendship & Love

The baby herbs were a big hit at the wedding shower. I got pretty caught up in my little garden growing in my studio. It was surprising to me how much humidity those little guys kicked out! I will be happy to have my red desk lamp back on my desk instead of in the incubator. I kept one of each of the varieties I grew, basil, sage, oregano, cilantro and chives. I'll bring them out of my studio and introduce them to their new home on my kitchen windowsill now. I'm not sure how long it will take before I can harvest. Any opinions about this? I am a rookie gardener.

The herbs were the theme of the shower, "Sage Advice". But it was the friendship and celebration that was the heart of the day. It was a pleasure to plan and host a shower for long-time family friends. Jana is the bride to be. My daughter and Jana have been friends since they were in, I think, 9th grade. I met Patty at a gift shop in Elk River that was housed in Steve's Nursery out on Hwy 10. We just hit it off. We realized we attended the same church. As we talked it seemed our husbands shared common interests. Could it be nearly 20 years ago? Probably. Time flies and seems to be picking up speed. Our families enjoy getting together for our annual Christmas Eve Brunch, alternating between homes. Our guys love classic cars. Years ago they both had green Camaros, so the ERGCC was formed (The Elk River Green Camaro Club) which had membership cards, t-shirts...the works! Now they each have white convertibles! We have enjoyed many cruises together, great picnics on the road and at car shows. Our families have vacationed together. The VandenHoek's are from California and since they didn't have family around, we invited them to join ours on numerous occasions over the years. They have become like family and I am grateful for their friendship, love and presence. We don't see each other as often as we used to, but that doesn't really matter. We slip back into great conversation and a deep realization that we matter to each other.

I love having my girlfriends over to relax, enjoy some good food and probably beer or wine, but mostly just to revel in our friendship. I love bringing out my pretty dishes, my Mom's old Fiesta ware, her snack trays, Grandma's punch bowl, vases collected form past occasions and the green dishes from the cabin. I love to create a beautiful environment and be surrounded by friends. In our busy lives, too often the time that we neglect is our own sanity, taking time to relax and nurture the friendships that sustain us. I feel blessed by the friendships I have and today, salute each and every one of you.

To Jana...wishing you a wonderful life. May your marriage be strong and your friends be many.

And then it hit me...

Yesterday I returned from Silver Bay, MN, my home-town, where I was helping my Mom get back her strength after two separate hospital stays and a bronchial infection that just won't let go.

For the past years I have gone to Mom's a day here and a day there, usually accompanied by my husband. Our times were generally filled with visits from numerous assorted relatives, my Mom scurrying around feeding us and waiting on us hand and foot, as is her style. This time was different. I found my Mom still struggling to breathe, eyes sunken and face drawn. It was startling! She admitted she had really felt like she was not going to make it. My Mom is only 76, young by my standards, and has always been active and adventurous. Certainly not close to leaving this earth!

I stayed with Mom for five days. Most of the time it was just the two of us. We had great talks, talks about feelings and dreams. We laughed. I wanted to help her recover. I fed her healthy food. I wanted to care for her home and do her laundry. In past tho, Mom would have none of it. I finally put myself in her shoes and had one of those ah-ha moments. My Mom never wants to put anyone out with her needs. I had to assure her that my goal was to serve her needs so all her energy could go toward healing. I tried to ask her questions to find out how I could best serve her in a way that she would not be offended.

I think in the past I was busy trying to show her that I COULD do it, that I knew just as much (or more) as her, that I was a very capable adult, separate from her, my own person. What I came to realize is how much she and I are alike. I tried to think of how I would feel if someone had to come and care for me. Once I started thinking like that, I was able to ask her questions about her needs. Why should I assume she wants her laundry done just like I do it. Just because I clean my house a certain way, doesn't mean that is what she wants. I put aside my ego so I really COULD serve my Mom's needs. I am certain what I have written will not make sense to some and may seem like a corny post to others.

We had a wonderful time together. I opened up my heart and my mind to my Mom and our relationship was taken to a new level. It's actually a hard emotion to put into words. I always loved my Mom, but after the last five days, I LOVE my Mom and treasure the person she is like I haven't done since I was a child and needed her for my very existence. I ask God for her healing and protection so me, my sisters, relatives and friends enjoy more time with this wonderful lady.