The honey, TheFlu

Well I'll be damned if I didn't go get the flu. Small tickling in throat yesterday turned in to horrible cough, by this morning I was feverish, chills... the whole nine yards... Went to Doc because I just came back from Mexico, albeit far, far from Mexico City, so I wasn't very worried, but erring on the side of caution, otherwise i probably would have stayed home and rode this out. However, the scary thing, the frustrating thing for the doc was they did not have the free swabs to check for the Swine Flu (hello? we are on the border of Mex.!)-- I have no med. insurance, so an expensive, out of pocket pay Lab test was out of the question, and since the cases in the US aren't life-threatening, so to speak, we decided to just treat it like your garden variety flu. Okay, no swabs -- I don't really care for my use personally, just thought it was my civic duty to show up and wait a hour and half when I could have been lieing in bed forcing liquids! --and it does seem kind of weird when we, the U.S., are supposed to be in this state readiness for a pandemic -- good grief it's all over the news...anyhow, it gets worse. When we go to the pharmacy to get the script filled for the 'Relenza?', I think, the other one than the Tamaflu -- the pharmacy doesn't have it, neither does the one down the block from them. The closest pharmacy carring the drug is 25 miles away! Okkkkkkk this is the state of readiness????? 2 days for water to Katrina victims --

Personally, I think this whole flu thing is blown waaaay out of proportion and I even have the flu, but I was also at a crowded movie theater Sat. night which would be the 48 hour incubation time & hadn't been near a soul in Mexico since Friday night.

The story takes a horrible twist at this point. My honey had been having chest pains from the night before, but didn't say anything because I was getting sick (&*^%$#)! He goes to the ER this morning after dropping me off at home and I can't go with him because I'm contaminated. I'm freaked. Shortening the story:He just called and they are releasing him, but he needs to see a cardiaologist.

I'm tired, my skin feels weird, but I'm grateful my husband is coming home. That is the bottom line.

First Things First

Well, shoot I've got so many opening lines I don't know where to begin -- mm, 1rst I'm miffed because I can't find the cord connector thingy that hooks my cybershot to the computer. I moved it before Easter to a much "safer place" so as not to lose it, and now I'm losing it! So can't show you the pictures of the cute little eggs from the white leghorns (I'm assuming because usually the others don't lay so soon,) a 1/2 dozen I came home to.

Came home from Mexico and my wonderful condo, which is on the market -- and not selling in this wonderful economy and such reassuring news from Mexico of late. yikes... so no pictures of the horses on the beach either -- yet -- that chord as to show up sooner or later.

But! While gone I took a book, well several books; I take a library when I go somewhere, damn inconvenient, but worth it, "Exploring Color" by Nita Leland and I realized I've been going about this art thing all wrong. Not the SoulCollage®, that is different. Studying color theory made me think of Julie Andrews singing "if you start at the very beginning, it's a very fine place to start..." the Do, Re, Mi song in "Sound of Music." Well, first it is very intimidating, but at the same time so facinating I can feel the cogs in my brain turn and juices running amuck with excitement -- this could take a lifetime, I thought, followed by 'great! I want something to be passionate about for the rest of my life!' So it's off to the races, my teeth have bitten a new bit, and any other horse analogy you can think of. So I'll start posting my experimentations with color and that will be fun. I'll still futs with the different techniques for mixed media, but not knowing color has made me very frustrated. I mean there is intuition, which is reflected in my SoulCollage, but there as to be a certain education to actual art-- at least for me.

god, I love my time in Mexico, it's only a 4 hour drive & I always come home with such a positive perspective. I will miss listening to waves and long walks on the beach when it sells, (say prayers, we need it sold soon.) Then again there is always something new or different to enjoy & explore in life around the corner.

Well, besides getting some exercise, visiting my Gram, and getting some groceries my first priority is reading my friends blogs and catching up.

mucho love to you all

Easter Parade & What Next?

Well, back in business, worked on some art last week playing with the techniques found in Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD "Acrylics: Textures, Layer and Metallics."
This work in progress, which I call Easter Parade, thinking of the movie with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, (I wish Easter hats were still a big deal for women!) --any way I digress -- halted suddenly after the stenciling some molding paste (not painted yet). I think that one jagged piece of molding paste on the right stops the eye, need to scrape it off. Not sure what to do next though. Wanting to stay organic, text seems wrong... and image of flowers transferred may be a possibility. Seems awful busy, like I tried to do too much in one piece..don't know how to tone it down or if I should. And not sure if I want to put titan buff with lighter colors or darken it with, maybe Payne's Grey with that bluish feeling. I've got a 3D straw hat for a doll...mmmm--- Suggestions? I'll take them! {I do really like the cheesecloth strings, the tissue paper and the aluminum -- very cool that I got to finally work with GAC 200- just sounds fun, like a chemistry project :)}

I cooked yesterday for my boys. I think their favorite is the Tres Leches cake I make from scratch. Lordie, I don't have a sweet tooth, but it is hard for me to lay off of that rum & milk saturated fluffy stuff from the gods. So after much indulgence yesterday healthy food shopping sounds fun today -- if I get past being semi-lazy and in this reading mood.

Happy spring day to you whatever you are celebrating. I feel so much better! I do not recover well from General Anesthesia, but all is well and the nasty staples are out. Yea!
It actually rained here yesterday and the desert smells wonderful. Wet 'creosote' smell is as good as sap from a pine tree smell.

in love & light

Convalescing

Wee bit of excitement around here and a few unexpected complications from an Appendicitis on Thurs.-- Convalescing for awhile. Thanks for your sweet comments on my little corner of a studio.

Hope to be back with some art soon.

Love and grace to all, always.

Studio Tour

My Lucky Ladybug that greets me upon walking in hanging from the Light.
Twiggy, my fairy that brings magic to my work room.
Cleaned up yesterday, ready for all the new ideas after a fallow 3 months.
Marty and Melvin who remind me not take my art and self too seriously!

An original beauty of a painting, a glimpse of my relaxing and reading couch and camera tripod.
A Goddess of Compassion made by artist Caroline Hinman and little green lizard.
Music, light a poem of hope and Frida! An Artist inspiration.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!!