Portland Is Mossy

The Rains Grow The Moss

Yes. It is true. This time of year, Portland, Oregon is really mossy. I think I even have a bit of moss growing behind my ears. I must admit, the move here to the great Pacific Northwest has been a challenge for this sun loving girl. I have been having a really hard time fitting in and finding friends. Not one. I have not found one friend in three years. Something is wrong. Or maybe we came here for My Great Hibernation? Who knows, but I am tired of being so sad about it. I am tired of mourning my life in Los Angeles and the loss of so many relationships I thought would last my lifetime. Yes, I am glad I am not friends with people who did mean things. Of course I am. It does not change how lonely I  have been or how the low, thick, grey clouds want me to scream at the sky, "Back the hell off, you low, thick grey sky. Just back off." I do say it sometimes when I am driving on one of the twelve bridges in this town, you are elevated, thus closer to said low hanging clouds!

I even abandoned this spot after it brought me so much love and encouragement. It was tainted. Lawyers were reading this blog for three years. They would print out pages and pages of this blog and bring them to court, trying to prove I was fine. That getting hurt on the job, then shunned by an entire school and community and left without any career prospects would leave me just fine. I wasn't fine. I am trying to be fine now, but it has been a long time of NOT fine. Recently, I have been approached by some serious health scares, you know, the kind that end in a really scary way? Well, those kind of health scares. So I have been very quiet. 

But it is time. Time to take my awesomeness back. I was kind of amazing back in the day, productive, busy, inspired, full of life forces. So without further ado, this space is now declared as the place where I show all of the awesome things I am able to do!

Here are two things I am doing...

Alberta Art Classes

 I started painting full time, here is what I am up to on Etsy!

Alberta Hen House

Be well, friends and do good work.

I Am Back

Coconut Pouchong and Grimm's Fairy Tales

I was trying many new types of blog sites and although I have a new blog for my business...I have fond feelings for this space. So I think I will stay.

I have been avoiding this space because it was built from trauma. Now, as I find a place for that hurt, I can come back with new eyes and full heart.

Welcome back, me...and you.

Here, There and Soon, Somewhere New

My love and I had the fortune to stay in this lovely stone cottage on Padilla Bay. It was a needed retreat from the regular days of living. We spent our days reading, eating local treats and napping. I spent hours simply gazing out over the sweet bay. I painted some, but mostly just soaked up the colors and breezes and moon rises and sun sets.

We are home now and changes are afoot. I will be combining my artwork with this blog that has given me so much strength. All will remain simple here, just more focused on creating and sharing the work with all of you. Xo.

Heading South via Sisters

Road Trip!

Then on to Cali, oh how I have missed you. Earthquakes and all.

Joni has always had my best interest at heart.

Another year Around the Sun

I turn 45 tomorrow. Wow. It happened, just like that...What an amazing miracle, this life on earth.

Leave the familiar for a while.

Let your senses and bodies stretch out

Like a welcomed season

Onto the meadows and shores and hills.

Open up to the Roof.

Make a new water-mark on your excitement

And love.

Like a blooming night flower,

Bestow your vital fragrance of happiness

And giving

Upon our intimate assembly.

Change rooms in your mind for a day.

All the hemispheres in existence

Lie beside an equator

In your heart.

Greet Yourself

In your thousand other forms

As you mount the hidden tide and travel

Back home.

All the hemispheres in heaven

Are sitting around a fire

Chatting

While stitching themselves together

Into the Great Circle inside of

You.

~ Hafiz ~

Hot, Hot, Hot

It has been sweet as bees knees weather-wise here in Portland, that is until the day I had to make a wedding cake with buttercream frosting. This day, it was 102 degrees. I have no air conditioning, well, because it is Portland and most of the year it is freezing and raining. So piece by piece, bit by bit, I made this lovely cake for a very lovely girl and her new husband. It only melted a little sitting out in the hot sun. Cake decorating is like a three dimensional painting, color, composition, layering...except of course when it is 102 degrees outside, then it is just super duper challenging.

Srimati Radharani

A work in progress, I am just so happy to be painting. And painting, and painting. I am learning so much in doing. Duh. I am working on a series of eight Gopis. I will be sharing the progress here. When each is finished, I will post a bit about their qualities. Stay tuned. Xo.