This years Christmas Charity

Because our family is so blessed, we have tried to focus on less fortunate families for the last few Christmas seasons. Typically, we adopt a family and provide food and gifts for them. This year we are doing something different and I invite you to join us. Please go to the Heifer International website for more information.

http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/

Just a thought

I found this quote this morning from one of my favorite shaman/authors Ross Bishop , that I just love.

“Life is not about becoming something different than you already are. Life is about finding out that it’s safe to let go of what you’re not - of all the protective things you cling to that hold you back. You are already the magnificent being you are ‘becoming.’ The evolution is in your consciousness. Your learning the truth is the crux of the transformational process called enlightenment. “

Blessings to you all.

July word of the Month

The July word is WAIT.
The next time you feel pressured to choose, act or react - WAIT.Wait before speaking.Wait before choosing.Wait until the mud settles and your answer is clear.Let THEM wait.Let's face it, things happen when they happen. IT'S not up to US. So wait.

While you're waiting, realize that waiting doesn't prevent you from being IN the moment. On the contrary. Waiting is being where you are as IT IS. Waiting is not fretting, planning or negotiating. Waiting is what IS.

Wait with patience - avoiding tapping your finger or toes.

Wait with hope - overshadowing you fear.

Wait with breath - not exaggerated sighs.

Wait in calm - knowing All Shall be Well (honest!).

So the next time you hear someone calling for a WAITER - let it be you.

Father's Day

Oh how I hate this holiday. I just feel sad all day. I am reminded of the dad I had who is gone and the one that is still here but I dont really have. This holiday always manages to show me my broken places. It just sucks.

Vegetarian

Well it is official........I am a vegetarian. I have been identifying myself as vegetarianish for a while because I couldnt quite let go of bacon or pepperoni but I have finally done it. I have decided that I will no longer eat things that have been killed so that I can eat them. This wasnt all that hard since I think most meat is disgusting anyway but I have never attached a principle to my eating habits before. I guess I am whats called a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I will drink milk and eat cheese and occasionally choke down an egg if I must, but no more dead animal flesh. I am a vegetarian-I like how that sounds. :)

Long time since I've posted

Whew! Its been a long time since I've posted. Lots has happened-I have reopened PAISLEY HOUSE and my coffeehouse is back in full swing along with the gift shop. Dont ask how it all happened ....too long of a story.

I have refocused on my art and self discovery. I have found that my art is deeply tied to my spirituality and that I MUST create in order to be happy. Happy....such a silly word, maybe a more appropriate word is "whole". I create so that I can feel whole or as close as I can get to whole.

I had an assignment recently for a class I was taking that was really thought provoking. I had to draw my personal symbols-pretty easy for me, mine is the spiral (life force energy) and I had to list my personal words-this required a little more thought-the easy one.....RELEASE (my favorite word-sometimes easier said than done) GRACE (have always loved this word) GRATITUDE (trying to always be in this state) REDEMPTION (love the definition) . There are a few others. What are your words and symbols?

Have also been thinking about what it means to be a FRIEND. To me a friend is someone who gets you-good bad and ugly parts. Someone who always has your back, that you can count on, who is always your cheerleader but tells you the truth. AM I crazy? Where are these people? Unfortunately based on my description-I dont have any friends. Given the number of "friends" who have betrayed me since I have been in Alpine, I think I'll pass if another one shows up.

Anyway, just some ramblings. Nothing important. H.

Status of the Alien

Ok so the Alien is scheduled for departure on Wed 2nd at 1:45pm. He will be removed under general anesthesia and sent to pathology for identification and then hopefully sent on to his own planet. I am hoping he is only a lipoma pressing on some nerves and that we will both live happily ever after when this is over.

I have to admit I am nervous about the whole anesthesia/asthma situation but I guess I have to just trust the surgery staff, since they wont let me stay awake to direct the surgery or manage my own airway.

I will check in again after surgery. Love you all.

April Word of the Month

The April word is RECREATE.

If you've created something that's no longer working or just not working for you - recreate it.

Recreate your crowded schedule that no longer allows time for what's really important to you into one that does.

Recreate how you make choices. As I'm often reminded, we humans make choices for of one of two reasons - love or fear.
Recreate your life - choose love.
If the fear is still there, try recreating it. Turn it into a small immature(albeit sometimes LOUD) passenger who's strapped into the backseat of your car - not driving it.

Recreate your impression of shouldas, oughtas, gottas and must haves. These are whin-o's words. Recreate your status as a whin-o.

Recreate your relationship with What Is. Go for coffee with her - make friends even. If you discern that What Is isn't It for you, recreate It or recreate Its place of importance in your life.

During this season of vacations and recreation for many - recreate your recreation time. While you're planning and scheduling your vacation time to make the most of it - schedule yourself some time for REcreation.

This weeks Art Cards

All but one have their cloths on-how unusual. I love the vintage nudies. They are so sassy!

Poo Poo Day-WARNING UNPLEASANT CONTENT!

So, I'm having a pretty tough day. Very tearful and I feel like I am teedering on the edge of "the black hole". I hate it there. I guess the enormity of the hostile takeover of my shop/betrayal of my best friend, the crazy man who has homicidal thoughts about me, and the alien in my back has all caught up to me- finally. I knew this was coming sooner or later. So here I sit looking over the edge into the black hole, wondering if it feels better if you jump in and lay on the bottom.

I am also smack dab in the middle of my midlife crisis-as evidenced by my resent tattoo aquisition and the purchase of lacy underwear (which by the way, do not make you feel any more sexy than your cotton ones when you cough and wet your pants). For the longest time, I have felt like the best part of my life was coming-I've been waiting for the part that isnt so damn painful all of the time. I have been waiting for the blissful, joyful, blah, blah, blah part for as long as I can remember. I have come to realize that this is probably all there is for me, it is as good as its ever gonna be. Dont quite know what to do with that realization-hence the crisis. At the moment, the only thing I have to look forward to are the little artist trading cards that I get in the mail from other artists that I trade with-that's it.

As an "intuitive" in training, I know I pick up a lot of other peoples crap and carry it around as if it were my own. And I guess as an artist, I am suppose to be a tormented soul or something but geeze! it would be nice if people would keep their crap to themselves and if the universe could just get off of my back for a while . I am so tired of being the healer for everyone else. When do I get to heal damn it! When do I get some relief.

You would think that by age 44, I would have a clue as to what my purpose is on this planet. I DON'T and I have come to the conclusion, that I was not assigned one by whoever does that. I used to want to be someone important that did something meaningful, now I would just settle for something that makes sense. For my birthday, I am giving myself permission to stop trying to figure it out and just BE without a purpose.

I could probably ramble on for hours exploring things like betrayal, global warning, a husband who acts like he is 12, or why my flat butt and big boobs are so disporportionate but I must go and take my dog for a walk. No need to freak out-I am just venting today.


I love you all!

New Art Pieces

Here are a few new Artist Trading Cards I have made this week-some are a little darker than usual. Hope you like them, if you don't-I hope you can appreciate them.

Some New Artist Trading Cards I've done

The Alien

So I have had this lump in my back for a while that I affectionately call "the alien". I finally went to the doctor because my backpain had become unbearable and my heating pad had become an outfit accessory-not cute.

Turns out "the alien" is actually a tumor that has grown across my spine (at T11 for you medical people). Major bummer. A little scary-ok a lot scary. I see a Thoracic Surgeon on the 24th to figure out what to do.

I will keep you posted on the fate of "the alien".

Courage

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says "I will try again tomorrow".

This is a quote from one of my favorite author/artist Maryanne Rudmacker She has just published her first book called Lean Forward Into Your Life. Love, love, love this book!

12 Principles of Life

1. Deep within each of us is a Knowing.
2. People are doing the best they can with the resources they have available at the time.
3. Stay in the possibilities-there is "Magic" in all things.
4. Accept the person, change the behavior.
5. Energy follows thought-when you believe it, then you will see it.
6. Once committed-the entire Universe will support you.
7. There are no accidents, only lessons.
8. It's not about the story, it's about your response to the story.
9. It's not about you, it's about honoring and supporting those you are called to serve.
10. All judgements are self-judgements.
11. We recreate until we resolve.
12. All problems stem from seperation, the solution comes from connection.

My new blog!

Seems I have lots to say but nobody to say it to, up on this mountain. So I will say it here to anyone who wants to read it. I am planning to showcase some of my art pieces and post some of my favorite quotes, stories, etc. Enjoy!