gemmashouse

Haiku My Heart

2012-01-26T20:47:00.000-08:00

True blooming faces

gathering and sending light

and love to a friend

get well soon my dearest rebecca

linked to rebecca
Haiku My Heart
recuerda mi corazon

2012-01-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

Imagine the luxury of painting like a wild woman 7 days in a row

imagine being in the presence of greatness

in the company of highly enlightened loving and kind,

accepting,

bold and brave,

true blooming hearts

imagine the most inspirational poetry, fantastic music, delicious food,

beautiful sunsets,

ancient architecture,

ginger margaritas

imagine

Thanks to God, all divine powers that be,

and

anyone else who is listening

Thank you

Thank you!

Follow My heart Paperdoll

2012-01-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

This little "follow my heart" paper doll was made for the Inspiration Avenue paper doll

challenge this week.

Saturday I am going to catch a plane with rebecca.

We are flying away to an art retreat in SanMiguel de Allende.

A place I have long considered a destination of a lifetime.

Fourteen women will meet in San Miguel to paint with

Flora Bowley

and to have fun

How's that for following my heart?

with love from me to you

Be back later with pictures

2012-01-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

Funky trellis love.

Cool eh?

2012-01-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

new 2012 journal
damask artist envelope with compete permission slips inside...
Permission to:
follow my heart
for adventure
to have a beautiful day
have fun.

linked to Inspiration Avenue "damask"

Haiku my heart

2012-01-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

Abundant Basket

emptied in January

as new growth begins

An empty basket:

has room for infinite possibilities.

reminds us of those less fortunate we are.

is capable of becoming

represents pure potentiality

As you empty your basket remember to share its bounty

linked to

Recuerda mi corazon

Haiku my heart

2012-01-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

This picture was on Alicia Keys website. Love the way Marilyn morphed into Michael. Unsure who did the art or took this photograph. It speaks volumes to me.
It's that wake up call from my inner voice passionately reminding me of my desire to paint wildly!

2012-01-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

My first postcard for the new year is also for Inspiration avenue. The theme: "Something old, something new".
On my dad's old Remington typewriter, I typed the new year greetings.
The keys and ribbon are so old that the message was faint, so I went high tech with pen and paper.

With love and best wishes for 2012.

linked to Recuerda mi corazon
postcards from paradise

2011-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

Last few hours of 2011

The ham is in the oven.
Potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and herbs are roasting.
Fresh rolls and other treats are ready.
The family will be here at 6PM.
Tonight we celebrate New Years Eve.
The children will bang pots and pans long before midnight.
We don't stay up that late around here anymore.
My bet is by 10:00 PM everyone will be on their way home.
We will wake in the morning to all the possibilities awaiting in 2012.
Happy New Year everyone.

end of year reorganization

2011-12-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

a place for paper images

Pretty vintage accordian folder found at estate sale for $1

Working full time has found me in a state of disorganization.
Wading through my mess has caused angst and inability to create.

a lot of good and some useless collage ephemera for art & inspiration

My level of frustration reached it's limit. Today I have been in my art room doing major clean up.
Boy does it feel good. Going through my paper images include stamps I have saved from far away places, magazine words and pictures that made me "feel" something, pretty papers, sparkling things, vintage bits and quotes.

A quote I found today that really resonated:
"You are one of us said the tree to the axe handle"

All in all I feel pretty good nearing the end of 2011....
especialy looking back on it from a clean space.

2011-12-26T04:53:00.000-08:00

Remembering Jamie

2011-12-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

God bless the master of your house
Likewise the mistress too
May your barns be filled with wheat and corn
and your hearts be always true.
A merry Christmas is our wish
where ever we appear
To you a well filled purse
a well filled dish
And a happy bright new year.

My Mother's stocking

2011-12-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

She made it from scraps. Midnight blue velvet, sparkling velveteen, a gold lame star and golden threads make a magi scene. She didn't make this stocking for herself, she made it for her family.
It was hung up every year. During family get-togethers,we were told to write little notes to stick in her stocking. This went on for 20 years or so. Mostly they are love notes to her and tell of thankfulness for each other. Some notes are hilarious. Often they told of births that year or sorrow when someone died. My mothers stocking holds a glimpse of our family history. She died in the year 2000. I inherited the stocking and lovingly hang it up every year. At family Christmas parties we still write notes which continue to bind us together.

linked to Recuerda mi corazon
Postcards from paradise.

2011-12-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

undergrowth treasure

hidden in the faerie realm

of my

Imagination

linked to recuerda mi corazon
Haiku My Heart

2011-12-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

Prayers are being sent to my friend Ninnie Tharpe

and family

RIP

Jamie Tharpe Chancey

she was killed in an automobile accident this morning.

2011-12-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

Madonna at San Xavier del Bac

Today is the last day of posting a virgin a day. My posting is late on this,the 12th day, but not without mindfulness and intention.I have kept Mary in my heart throughout this entire celebration.Not being a religious person, I hesitated to participate in this at all. Then I found out that it wasn't about religion it was about sharing.

Mary has not been a part of my life as I was raised in a patriarch based faith and was never taught much about Mary. Then lost my religion a number of years ago. However I do seek to follow grace. Mary is the perfect representation of grace and LOVE. She will forever be in my heart.
Thank you for this beautiful experience dearest rebecca.
And thanks to all of my friends here.
My love to you.
gemma

linked to rebecca @ recuerda mi corazon

a virgin a day

2011-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

“In your light I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you,

but sometimes I do,

and that sight becomes this art.”

~ Rumi

Mary Queen of Heaven

linked to

Recuerda mi corazon

A Virgin a Day

Day 11

2011-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Last week, while shopping, I found la Rosa de Guadalupe

in the Latina Musica section.

Musica devoted to Mary:

Linked to recuerda mi corazon

a virgin a day

2011-12-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

around the corner
we find Mary full of grace
on a casa wall

linked to recuerda mi corazon
a virgin a day

A virgin a day

2011-12-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Here is another neighborhood shrine.
It is up all year.
Recently added Poinsettas and lights.
Rosaries are draped around her neck.

linked to
recuerda mi corazon
a virgin a day

virgin a day

2011-12-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Arizona Guadalupe Frida

Yesterday I wasn't able to post my virgin.
Today I'll post two of them.
Both are murals on 16th street in Phoenix.
That street has miles of murals on buildings and in alleyways between Thomas and McDowell Rd.

Absolutely awesome.

Not to mention the variety of great Mexican food places along the way.
A perfect day for me is a photo safari and a stop in for the best taco's in town.

Madonna

The murals are an on going community project.
I often post about that street art here.
In fact the Madonna above was
in a Haiku My Heart post done recently.
She is so beautiful I want to share her here again.

linked to
recuerda mi corazon
a virgin a day

2011-12-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

Shrine to Mary in front of a humble home

Working in a "barrio" community, I see many shrines dedicated to Mary in the front yards of the homes. Most of the shrines are up all year.

Sharing a virgin a day is a perfect chance for me to show them to you.

This one has recently added lights and candles for the season. One day last week, I watched as an elderly gentleman worked sprucing up this shrine.

linked to
Recuerda mi corazon
a virgin a day

A virgin a day #4

2011-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

In my hour of darkness

Mother Mary comes to me

speaking words of wisdom

"Let it be"

linked to

recureda mi corazon

a virgin a day

A virgin a day #3

2011-12-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Praises sound through space and time

in everlasting, glorious rhyme:

Ave Maria.

linked to Recuerda mi corazon
A virgin a day

A virgin a day #2

2011-12-02T15:40:00.000-08:00

in a back alley

Mary appears on a fence

she is needed there

linked to

Recuerda mi corazon

A virgin a day

Haiku my heart

Our Lady of the Desert Garden: virgin a day #1

2011-12-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Our lady of the desert garden

made by my friend

Lisa Oceandreamer.

She stands on a shelf overlooking my art table.

Please visit a virgin a day

Recuerda Mi Corazon

Dec 1-12 2011

postcards from paradise

2011-11-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

My postcards this week come from a book called Grace by Phillip Yancy.
It sits on my side table and reminds me whenever I forget.

linked to recuerda mi corazon
postcards from paradise

2011-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Today Rebecca wrote her haiku about sweet grace and the holy now.

In the moment we are all connected.

As usual she is an inspiration.

driven by our hearts

gently breathing in the now
mindful all the while

linked to rebecca
recuerda mi corazon

Haiku my heart

How to make chocolate leaves

2011-11-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

~Go outside
~find some leaves
~bring them in and wash them
~gently melt some chocolate chips
~paint the leaves with melted chocolate
~put them in the refrigerator
~when chocolate has hardened
~carefully pull the leaves off of the chocolate
~viola
~the chocolate has leaf veins and shape
~decorate a pie or other dish with the chocolate leaves.

They really are beautiful and worth the effort.

enjoy

2011-11-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

My heart blooms with gratitude~there is beauty all around

we can dance~ be free spirits~wiggle wiggle

enjoy our moments~be gentle~ be who we are

make what we want~take baby steps if we need to

forget about the perfect offering~love leonard cohen

open our hearts~ fly to Mexico

love one another ~be happy~ be helpful

~follow our thankful heart ~

linked to Recuerda mi corazon

Postcards from paradise

Prayer circle

2011-11-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

Joining a circle of friends to send well wishes to Spadoman.
May there be power in our prayers for a speedy recovery for him.

Love is....

2011-11-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

in every stitch.

linked to Inspiration Avenue

A cup of tea with me

2011-11-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

This morning it's cinnamon stick with stevia, steeped to deliciousness.
My way of gentlely nudging myself into a new day.

Tea cup to my lips
Enjoying each sip of warm
possibility

Taste of cinnamon,
deep breath of its aroma
nurturing my soul

Tea ceremony
to get in touch with my core
and beautiful day

linked to recurda mi corazon
Haiku My heart
Please join us there.

Postcards from Paradise

2011-11-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

A Place of miracles

An open gate

Postcards from Chimayo New Mexico where I visited recently. Many people make pilgrimages to the little church in Chimayo for healing.

Looking beyond the threshold

Little adobe church built in a farmers field

Miracles happen here

Upon leaving Chimayo there is a room with hundreds of crutches and wheelchairs that the healed left behind.

linked to

Recureda mi corazon

Postcards from paradise

gratitude lillies

2011-11-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

Lillies from a neighbor grace my table. Love and gratitude shared.

A candle burns in my heart like a star

2011-11-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

To honor loved ones who have departed, my grand daughter Atilla and I
made a procession through the house to our ofrenda.

She carried flowers, I carried the candle which was used to light the other candles.

She had a song she wanted to sing for the dead.
It was short and sweet and very sincere.

She placed flowers around the ofrenda.
Shown here are my Dad's Railroad hat sitting on a glittery laughing skull. Many photographs of dearly departed as well as one of my beloved cat. A celtic cross to honor my family roots.
My mothers philodendran, poetry and 3 beans.

Corn bread is in the oven
A pot of beans are on the stove.
Some more family are coming by later to share stories.

Linked to recureda mi corazon
dia de los muertos

Haiku My Heart

2011-10-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

enhanced by sunlight

day of the dead marigolds

celebrate moments

linked to recureda mi corazon

Haiku My heart

Remembering

2011-10-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

A man is sick and dying

These murals were painted on an old funeral home,
in the barrio on 16th street in Phoenix.
The Mercer mortuary is no longer in business but the murals remain. Details here.

His family grieves for him

Peeling paint reveals his corpse

Love lasts paint fades

Linked to rebecca @ recureda mi corazon
"Remembering"
Dia de los muertos celebration

2011-10-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

2011-10-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

Remembering

My grandparents Henry and Maryfrank Sanders on their wedding day.
They were parents to eleven children.
He was a race car driver and a bootlegger.
She came from a wealthy family that disowned her for awhile.
They were poor, living off of the land in the mountains of New Mexico.
She grew vegetables and sold them at a roadside stand.

When my mother was a little girl she found a gold nugget in a creek bed.

It helped her family a lot that year.

Momma also has a story about making a pie.
She had all of the ingredients except for an egg. She went to the chicken coop
and sat and waited and waited for a chicken to lay an egg.
Then she finished her pie.

Eventually after the great Depression my grandfather got a job working for the Forest Service.
They lived a long life together near the banks of the Rio Grande river, in Alburquerque New Mexico,
on a street called Tobacco road.

Linked to
art of remembering
dia de los muertos

Haiku My heart

2011-10-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Skeleton faced bull

near Georgia O'Keeffe country

in New Mexico

Could not resist.

:-)

linked to recureda mi corazon

Haiku my heart

please join us there.

remembering the beans

2011-10-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

My little brother was an adventerous onery child. I remember him always carrying a BB gun out and about.

One day he was playing with matches on the hill near where we lived in Flagstaff. He ended up setting
Mt. Elden on fire. That's a memory! whew! Luckily no one was injured and the fire was put out.

When Tim was about ten years old, my mother was cooking a pot of beans in a pressure cooker. He came into the kitchen, and took the lid off the beans to taste them. Needless to say the pressurized pot exploded.
Beans blew up in his face. He was left with a very obvious scar in the middle of his forehead shaped like a bean. Throughout his life in later years we always joked with him about "the beans".
"Bean head"...."beaned in the bean with a bean."

A few days after he died in October 2006, I stopped into a store to pick up a few items and to buy myself some flowers. When I got to the register the cashier said "It's raining beans in here" and "Look there is another one." A pinto bean appeared on her counter. I told her perhaps the last customer had bought some beans and the bag broke. She said "No one has bought any beans here all day." She was really excited about it.
Later when I got home and unwrapped the flowers, there tucked deep inside the flower stems were 3 dry pinto beans.
a message from Tim.
I still have those beans.
They are going on my ofrenda shrine.

Linked to rebecca @ dia de los muertos.

2011-10-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

strong silent sentry

magnificent protector

familiar friends

linked to Haiku my heart
@ recuerda me corazon

gathering keepsakes for remembering

2011-10-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

When my mother died eleven years ago, she had a beautiful Philodendran plant.
A cutting from that still living Philodendran is the first thing
I chose to put into my dia de los muertos shrine.

She canned many fruits and vegetables through the years.
The plant is put into a ball jar to represent that wonderful home making ability she had.
She collected owls. One of her owl necklaces is wrapped around the jar.

Thus my dia de los muertos shrine has begun.

Linked to dia de los muertos

Thank you rebecca and Stephanie.

Urban wildlife

2011-09-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

Backyard habitat
Ruby throated hummingbird
perching near feeder
~
Most afternoons this precious little bird finds relief from the sun in the bottom branches
of an old Juniper tree here at gemmashouse.
Just a quick flutter up is the sweet nectar. Smart bird that one.

linked to rebecca
@recureda mi corazon
Hailu my <3

2011-09-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Divine arrangement

order in the universe

autumn equinox

haiku my heart

@ recureda mi corazon

photo safari street art

2011-09-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

We desert dwellers welcome the cooler weather that allows us to open our doors and let fresh air into our homes. We also love the weather for the ability to get out there and explore all of the new things going on.
Such is the case when I ventured out to see some street art on 16th street.

building after building

Camera in hand I headed across town to see the Mexican American art that is blossoming on the streets and in the alleys of that neighborhood. About a full mile of buildings are painted.

even some gutters

Absolutely fantastic. My camera card is full of fabulous pictures I plan to show here during the coming months. Some of the work is political, much of it is spiritual. It is full of both joy and angst....

covered in paint

During my photo safari I found an awesome authentic taco stand. I had a portabello mushroom taco with cilantro,Jalisco cheese,and red onions, stopped off at the completely stocked salsa bar to add chipotle. YUM

Roasted Hatch green chile

2011-09-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Our chile's being roasted over white hot flames

My grandson Tommy and I went to the Hatch Green Chile Festival a few days ago. The chile's are grown in Hatch New Mexico and are some of the best tasting in the world. They range from mild to XXX hot.
LOVE it. Our family is honestly addicted to chile.
We bought a gunny sack full. (about 35 lbs) They roasted them for us. All we had to do was bring them home,bag them and freeze them. We will share these bags with friends and family.

Forget-me-nots

2011-09-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Remembering September 11, 2001

balancing

2011-09-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

Balancing Chakras
physical vs spiritual
Moment by moment

for more Haiki visit
recureda mi corazon
Haiku my heart

Postcards from Paradise

2011-09-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Staying in during our recent heatwave, I read two books by Anais Nin.
Her words speak deeply to me,excite me,shake me up.
This is my postcard from paradise.

The reason I am here at Postcards from Paradise each week
is because of our beloved rebecca.
recuerda mi corazon.
She is another whose words and heart thrill me completely.

Haiku My heart

2011-09-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Artful friendship pledge
She paused before the painting
Knowing it was true

edit note:
I changed a word from Praying to Knowing.
Our political climate isn't stable
but I know I pledge my friendship.

Please join us in haiku at Recureda Mi Corazon

Postcards from Paradise

2011-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

A wheelbarrow full of cactus
hot and sticky
117 degrees this past week
cooling down to 110 by Tuesday

Yes Paradise is HOT
Counting blessings and
Waving at you from the shade
Love
gma

linked to rebecca's postcards from paradise @
recureda mi corazon
Have a good safe week.

2011-08-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

A little baby chicken squash

2011-08-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

One way it was a little baby chicken
Turn it around and it was ready to quack like a duck.
Another flip it became a rabbit with long yellow ears.
doesn't matter now.
What was it really?
What did it become?
Amanda's homegrown crunchy lunch.

She was so proud of this little guy that she brought it over to show it off.
Her squash plants were babied all season and only produced 2 little ones.
8-)
So cute for a vegetable.

Quail family

2011-08-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

Out for a morning walk

Young ones are almost full grown

Love those sprouting top-notches

Bells of Arcosanti

2011-07-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Gemmashouse is going to be quiet for awhile.

It's time to turn to other matters...Meanwhile I leave you with a photo taken earlier this summer. It's one of my favorite places.

It's a pond tucked in the shade at Arcosanti. Beyond the pond is the Arizona high desert.
Also, please enjoy the beautiful sounds of the bells made at Arcosanti:

with love to all who enter here.

Namaste

Pink Postcards

2011-07-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Paint your toes pink to show support for BREAST CANCER AWARENESS!!

This isn't an actual EVENT that you need to worry about going to... this is just a week where you have PINK TOE NAILS... in celebration and support of those currently fighting Breast Cancer... and in memory of those women AND men who have lost that battle.

Get your little piggies ready to Kick Cancer's @SS!!

All this week I will wear pink toenails especially for my beautiful friend Ninnie.
Please Click on the One Heart badge on my sidebar.
It will go to a site that gives free mammograms for every click.

Linked with love to Rebecca's
Postcards from Paradise
@ Recuerda Mi Corazon
Won't you join us?

Reaching upward

2011-07-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sculpted expression

In the realm of aesthetics

Reaching joyfully

Linked to Rebecca

Haiku my Heart

Recuerda mi corazon

edited to note: the above sculptures

were done by John Waddell

and

are located at the Herberger Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona

Garden abundance

2011-07-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

pomegranate

figs

various herbs in square foot garden plots

These photos were taken recently in a local organic garden.
This garden grows food for use in several local restaurants.
So much to be thankful for.

Linked to Meri's garden joy.

old cupboard

2011-07-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

Who knows what has been hidden away
behind this little old cupboard door?

Did it hold linens and lace?
Had beautifully stacked colorful quilts waited for winter here?
Were pots and crockery stowed inside?
A snug a fit however, perhaps it was a hiding place for a child.
Do ya ever wonder about the history of certain objects?
Maybe it was a bin for old manuscripts and other family secrets.
Perhaps a chest held a hammer,cans of nails, and other tools.
It could've been just a place to hide the dirty laundry,
although I rather fancy it had a more whimsical use.

Maybe in a new life it will be a place to put garden diggers and potting gloves.

What would you put there?

Haiku my heart

2011-07-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

Vegetable still life

Enticing all our senses

a sumptuous feast

Fridays Haiku my heart is always delicious

at Rebecca's

Recurda Mi Corazon

Please join us.

Postcards from Paradise

2011-07-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Early in the morning is the only sensible time to take a walk here in this

vast and hot Southwestern desert.

Actually it is better to tiptoe quietly so you can see and not disturb wildlife.

In spite of my whispering feet this little rabbit camouflaged itself among the cacti.

Can you find the hidden rabbit?

It is right in front with shining eyes.
Also lately I have found many heart shapes in the cacti.
Do you see any?
~
A little later another bunny hopped by. I stopped to get it's picture .
That's when it struck a pose for me.

Backwards facing rabbit

These are my postcards from Paradise this week.

Paradise here is actually a flaming inferno...so hot and so dry.
Doing a rain dance and praying for the monsoons to start.

Please join us with postcards from paradise wherever you are.
Link to Rebecca @ Recuerda Mi Corazon .

Gratitude haiku my heart

2011-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

White hot sky shines in
Tipi poles sacred symbols
gratitude my heart

The Poles Represent:

1. Obedience	6. Faith	10. Sharing
2. Respect	7. Kinship	11. Strength
3. Humility	8. Cleanliness	12. Good Child Rearing
4. Happiness	9. Thankfulness	13. Hope
5. Love

Linked with LOVE to Rebecca @

Recuerda mi Corazon

Haiku My heart

From my kitchen

2011-07-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Yam, Black Bean, and Green Chile Hash

Inspired by my daughter who is on a gluten free diet,
I made a delicious yam, black bean and green chile hash.

Here is the recipe:
Olive oil to coat cast iron skillet
1 white onion diced
1 large Yam diced
1 can organic black beans
1 whole Ortega green chile diced
Garlic salt.
small amt of water as needed.
Cilantro if desired

Start by carmelizing onions in olive oil.
Add the diced yam to mixture.
add a little water as needed
After that has cooked together
add the can of black beans and diced green chile.
Cover and steam as needed until tender.
Approx 10 minutes

Garnish with cilantro if desired.
yum
xx

Haiku my heart

2011-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Whispering cactus
ripe with elegant secrets
waiting to be told.

Linked to Haiku my heart @ Recuerda mi Corazon

Livin' the dream

2011-06-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the Discovery Lounge at the Boulders the other day,
my sister wanted to know why I painted my toenails black.
"Why don't you paint them a pretty color like pink or orange"? She asked.
"I like them black." I said.

We were at the Boulders for our annual girls in the family reunion.What joy! We treated ourselves to the spa,sat in the sauna, steam room,and luxuriated in the Japanese soaking tub. We deserved it!!!

Linked to Meria and more JOY.

Haiku My Heart

2011-06-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Organically grown
waiting to share succulence
grapes green on the vine

Linked to Haiku my heart @ recuerda Mi Corazon.

Celebrating one year of Haiku My Heart
with more beautiful haiku.
Please join us.

Solstice joy

2011-06-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Strawberries and blackberries waiting to be devoured
or made into a smoothie....

Yesterday I discovered a delicious drink:
Fresh squeezed lime juice
Fresh sliced Strawberries
sprig of basil
splash of Agave nectar or liquid stevia
Blend until smooth ....
chill
garnish with more basil.

It is my new favorite
discovered on Summer solstice!

More pure JOY @ Meri's

Cairns in the harbour

2011-06-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

While we were in San Diego this past weekend, we watched as an Asian man stacked these rocks. He rubbed his hands together, held the rocks for a moment or two then placed them on top of each other...
amazing and beautiful.

Remembering Daisy

2011-06-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

In memory of Daisy Lupin

2011-06-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

Present moment awareness

This photograph was taken last week by my friend Mother Henna.
We were in the vortex at Sheep's Crossing/Crescent Moon Ranch in Sedona. The sounds of the water, the gentle breeze, and the tranquil background playfulness of others nearby only served to enhance our peaceful experience.
It was the first time I 'd met Mother Henna. She is wonderful soul. We spoke of the Dalai Lama and his
vision of peace that starts with the individual.
“inner disarmament"
"World peace must come through inner peace.”
- Dalai Lama

Postcards from the side of the road

2011-06-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

               Out here in the desert foothills the sun beats down
               and weathers what ever you've left outside.

               You may forget that.

               Then one day your old broken down useless stuff becomes art.
               Rusty pink tractor is museum ready.

               Flora amid rusty iron tub with a hint of Star Jasmine nearby.
                                                                        ~
               Today is the final day of the Shrine Auction for
               Street Children of Oaxaca grassroots.
               Auction is open today until 6:00 PM
               Pacific Standard Time.
               If you were unable to bid on an art piece
               you can make a donation to this cause. Thank you so much to
               all of you who helped these children.
   ~
             Visit recuerda mi Corazon to view more postcards from paradise.
             Or why not join us with a postcard from where you are?

Heading for the hills

2011-06-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

I'm a gettin' outta Dodge...heading for the Arizona back roads.

Map of my world

Plan to:
Have coffee with Mother Henna in Sedona.
Converse with the Ravens...
Sit on Amanda's front porch in Rimrock and enjoy the view of Wet Beaver Creek.
Stop in at a few wineries in Page Springs.
Hike around Montezuma Castle, Lake and Well, explore the ruins.
Hit some little town thrift stores....
Ya never know what you might find there.
I REALLY need this.
Be back in a few days.

Shrine Auction OPEN for bids

2011-06-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Come to My Heart
This shrine is my offering.

For the street children in Oaxaca grassroots.

An old rusted cookie tin was cut and made into a roof on this shrine. Also added nails, screws, bolts and bits.A cellophane rose and some paper marigolds are in the attic of the shrine.
The box was painted and sanded several times to get the desired patina.

I found a 10 inch nail.
Wired together with a copper tube to form a cross.
~
The fused glass heart
was
an old seldom worn pendant.
~
The virgen Guadalupe was painted with metallic paint behind the cross.
She glows.
~

On the back of the shrine
is
the
following poem
by Sufi poet
Rumi
~

come, come

whoever you are.

wanderer, worshiper

lover of leaving-

it doesn't matter.

ours is not

a caravan of despair;

even if you have broken your vows

one hundred times,

a thousand times.

come

come again

come.

The shrine auction will be open from June 5th, 2011 @ Noon Pacific Daylight time
until
June 12th,2011 @ Noon Pacific Daylight time

Starting bid for this shrine $35.00
visit
Gallery of Hope

Haiki My Heart

2011-06-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

O cactus flower
alone on a hill you bloom
where no can see you.

Hot sun, no water
fragile yet bold in the wind
How do you flourish?

Teach me how to live
Giving my gifts to the world
without a witness.

Linked to Haiku My Heart @ Recuerda Mi Corazon

JOY

2011-06-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

June 2011

My friend Gina sent me this photograph
~
It's a new moon
an auspicious time to start a new project
~
School is out
free time
Hallelujah
~
I've been cleaning my my filing cabinets,
found some old papers and poems that had been saved.
Reading through this and that.
~
There is much I want to do this season.
Mostly I plan to
ENJOY!
~
What are you doing?
Wishing you Joy!
~

Visit Meri for more Joy

2011-06-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Oaxaca street children grassroots shrine auction opens today!

welcome to our

gallery of hope

(click to follow link)

open for viewing and registration june 1-4

access with firefox/mozilla or google chrome

Mozilla/Firefox are alternative BROWSERS to Internet Explorer.

for windows use this link

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/

for apple use

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/mozillafirefox.html

imagine a virtual gallery

teaming with

love, compassion, inspiration, kindness and joy.

a gallery where each offering was created

with the intention of

making a bright difference in the lives of others.

please join our efforts

and help us transform hope into reality

for children in need.

bidding

june 5-june 12

help us make this invitation go viral!!

please place this banner on your blog today and help announce the

the opening of the shrine gallery with a link back to this post.

tweet, blog, facebook, send a flurry of personal

emails to family and friends...

then leave a comment here on your ideas to

help this invitation go

VIRAL

in appreciation for sharing our invitation

i will randomly choose one name from the comments section

to receive a hand tooled sacred heart

from san miguel de allende

in honor of supporting this years

contributing artists.

DeAnn Acton*Caya Papaya

Christine Alvarado*Du Buh Du Designs

Mita Barter*Mitabee

Natty Moss Bond*Original Art by Natty Moss Bond

Rebecca Brooks*Recuerda mi Corazon

Jan Bush-Wood*Lucy's Baby

Daisy Coba*Daisys Art Shop

Georgina Diaz*La Llorona Arts

Lisa Dinunzio*Priti Studio

Dawn Elliott*Alter Ego Mexicana

Adriana Esqueda*La Llorona Studio

Jenny Fillius*Ladybug Circus

Tina Forster*TAODA

Gemma*Gemmahouse

Dee Dee Hampton*Dee Dee Hampton

Stephanie Hilvitz*Mango Studio

Lisa Jonesmoore*La Vida Artistica

Yoli Manzo*Yoli's Sacred Journey

Fran Meneley*Fran Meneley

Abi Monroe*Abi Monroe

LK Moonwood*My Muse

Constance Muller*Rochambeau

Karin Otto-Burfict*August Moon Studio

Adrienne Patrick*Regenerations

Paula Scott*Molokai Girl

Deb Taylor*Deb Did It

Sarah Wallis*circles of rain

2011-05-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Only now and again a sadness fell upon me,

and I started up from my dream and felt a sweet

trace of a strange fragrance in the south wind.

That vague sweetness made my heart ache with

longing and it seemed to me that it was the eager

breath of the summer seeking for its completion.

I knew not then that it was so near, that it was mine,

and that this perfect sweetness had blossomed

in the depth of my own heart.

-Gitanjali, translated from original Bengali by Tagore

Electric Blue love that's true

2011-05-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

He said he wanted attention...

He had mine the minute I laid eyes on him 12 years ago.

BTW his Dad had my attention from day 1 as well.

Linked to recuerda mi corazon Postcards

Haiku My Heart

2011-05-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Learn, grow, serve others,
helping the life of a child
impacts the future.
~

Announcing the auction to benefit the street children of Oaxaca grassroots

June 1: Gallery of Hope will open to public preview and comments.

Auction dates:

OPEN to bids Sunday June 5, 12 noon pacific standard time

CLOSES Sunday June 12, 6 p.m. pacific standard time

the bidding will close at exactly this time, the last bid placed will have the winning bid.

linked to rebecca @
Haiku my heart

2011-05-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Purple and Green

Inspiration Avenue challenge Purple and Green
inspired this color pencil drawing of a Peruvian Shipibo tribal woman. Shipibo women have a matriarchal society. They spin cotton, weave cloth, make clay pottery, necklaces and nose rings.

Sunday morning postcards

2011-05-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Inspiration Avenue had an art auction to benefit Angel Faces.
There were some lovely pieces in the auction.

Luckily I placed the highest bid on a painting called Pink 2 by Lisa Wright.
On the back she painted some awesome eyes...

Aren't they cool?
The eyes have it!

Also I won this lovely photograph by Tammy:

Absolutely awesome!
All of this art will proudly hang in gemmashouse.

Speaking of auctions the shrine auction to benefit the street children of Oaxaca
is coming June 1st. More about the shrine auction and for more Postcards from paradise visit
recuerda mi corazon.

Haiku My Heart

2011-05-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

Montezuma's well

Screaming hawks and eagles fly

giant turtles bask

spirit on the wind

knowingly comforts my soul

All is as should be

common miracles

2011-05-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Joining Ginger Blue today with my list of common miracles:

~Sunlight and gentle breeze played through the trees this morning
making lacy delicate shadows and light.
~ Breathing in one nostril and out the other nostril is becoming easier
and a way to slip into meditation.
~Managed to get necessary chores done in a timely manner.
~Free time this evening
~barefooted

Postcards from Paradise

2011-05-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

Haiku my heart

towering beauty
delicate and dangerous
untouchable one

linked to Postcards from Paradise @
Recuerda mi corazon

Sacred symbolic Mandela

2011-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

In my heart:
Native Sun face symbol represents light inside me
Celtic Cross reflects Christian influence
Eastern thought represented in circle/zen aspects.
Crow totem sits on my heart
Tree shows love of natural world
Sky Swirl and all directions represent
relationship with universe.

made for Inspiration Avenue

Mostly Joy

2011-05-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

OH JOY
The Artichokes are coming up.
The way I like them is:
Cook until almost tender,
let them cool,
cut in half,
clean them,
put on the grill,
grill until they get a little char on them.
Yummy smoky flavor.
Serve with garlic butter.

linked to Meri and more Joy

Postcards from gemmashouse

2011-05-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

A moment in time

Nuts don't fall too far from the tree

Happy Mother's Day!

Haiku My Heart

2011-05-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

breathe slowly in, out

listen to nature humming

experience now

Please join us at Recuerda mi corazon for more Haiku My heart.

Postcards from Paradise

2011-05-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

Watch desert views from the kitchen sink.

See the light change from the patio

Lounge around awhile.

The Southwest was settled by amazing folks.
This place was built by Boyce Gulley, who abandoned his wife and daughter in 1930 after finding he had tuberculosis. He traveled to Arizona and started building a "castle" as a gift for the little girl he'd left behind. Mary Lou Gulley was a toddler when her father unexpectedly left and never returned.
She found out about the castle after he died. She then moved in and finished the castle as a gift to him.

linked to

Postcards from Paradise

Recuerda mi corazon

Haiku My Heart

2011-04-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Using different words
this Haiku
always means the same.

broken in pieces

separately together

it's a paradox

Linked to

Haiku My Heart

Recuerda mi corazon

How would you say it?

sculpture at Glendale Public Library

JOY

2011-04-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Pure JOY to see and be in the presence of fabulous art. These pieces were created by elementary school 3rd grade students. They were shown at our school art show last night.

Several pieces were chosen to be purchased by a VIP who was there.

The art shown here are not the official winners but equally as JOYFUL don't you think?
Share Joy with Meri

Paloverde Gold dust

2011-04-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Postcards from Paradise

ahhhh

Yesterday while walking among Paloverde trees,
a little bunny rabbit leaped out and hopped
away swiftly. I sat and pondered my love of these trees,
of the earth, this season of renewal,
all things great and small.
My heart is full.
It soars with love.
May you all enjoy this season
in whatever way your spirits need.
xx
linked to rebecca @ Postcards from Paradise

Haiku my heart

2011-04-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Vintage laundromat
holds little petunia patch
heart earth in a tub

Remember every day is Earth day.

for Haiku my heart
@ Recuerda mi corazon

Shrine for the children of Oaxaca

2011-04-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Come, Come,

whoever you are.

Wanderer and worshiper

Lovers of leaving

it doesn't matter

Ours is not a caravan of despair

come

Even if you have broken your vows

a hundred times,

a thousand times

Come, come again, come ~Rumi~

This shrine will be in the auction for the children of Oaxaca.
In a box, nails,copper tubing, wire and a fused glass heart make a cross. Inside the virgin Guadalupe glows with metallic paint. There is diamond dust embossed at her feet. In the attic there are Marigolds,and a paper rose with leaves trailing down the shrine.There is a tin roof with nails,nuts and and bolts and rusted bits. On the back are the words of the Sufi poet Rumi.

It is an honor to participate in this shrine auction.
Being a novice shrine maker I have watched and wondered in awe at the beautiful shrines being made.
Please visit the gallery of hope to see them. This auction has been set up and is watched over by our dear rebecca @ recureda mi corazon. Her dedication to this project and these children is awe inspiring.
Please watch for more auction announcements soon.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Soap and water

elbow grease

vim and vinegar

Cleaning out the rabbit warren

whew

dusty bunnies

Mom used to say that a cluttered house is a sign of a cluttered mind.

So after all the scrubbing and tossing out

stuff

I will also

clear the clutter from my mind.

Things like

~shoulda

~woulda

~coulda

been a better person

~and know I am OK

as is.

Haiku my heart

2011-04-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Waiting for a bus
camouflaged by vivid hues
colors of her world.

Can you see her standing there?

Haiku my heart @ Recuerda mi corazon

One heart

2011-04-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight my heart is soaring.
recuerda_mi_corazon rebecca has shared her beautiful winged heart with me and with the world.
What would you do if you won this generous heart?
~Admire it's beauty and the love it promotes
~Use it to continue doing good things to help those in need...
~make sure it is displayed prominently to continue it's path of generosity.
~Sit with gratitude for those in our human family who care for each other.

I am doing all of those things.

Local color

2011-04-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

every season the colors remain the same ...

rust,

sand, maize, gold,

pink, peach, orange,

cerulean,

inside and outside the lime green,

muted beautiful colors of a desert garden.

We don't get seasonal color changes

but that's OK with me.