snowbirds

a selection of misc. work that never made it to the shop~ instead they went straight on to my glorious summer collectors. i thank you all.

gratitude.
appreciation.
live well.

unpacking. or not.

i believe it is going to take the next 20 years to unpack everything. so after watching the change of two seasons, i have decided to take things a box at a time, and just spend the next several months rooting and trying to remember where things are. i am not quite embracing this new philosophy. that is to say that while my A.D.D. is loving this new idea- the obsessive compulsive side of my nature is throwing quite a tantrum. full on stomping tantrum to be precise. The shear volume of the studio itself has led to this madness (we are going to ignore the house and the attic and the garage for the moment). It is a good thing the need to create (and, let us be honest, to add coin to the coffers) outweighs the OCD and sends it sniveling to it's room. in the basement. to hide behind the furnace.

Besides... look around.

Its snowing!!

there are places to explore, things to discover and everything is so beautiful when it is topped with a bit of white. everything is more defined. clearer. quieter. 

it is a time when you whisper to the birds for fear of disturbing the silence.

live well.

love each other.

Finding Treasure

As many of you know by now- I am a rock hound. I am always scavenging and collecting for rocks.

Heart rocks - imparticular. Although- when I go to look for them (the heart rocks, that is) I never seem to find them. When I am not looking for them is when they appear.

As is the case with this. Not just the coolest rock I have ever found. Not just the coolest heart rock I have ever found (or maybe it found me..) but the end all of end all- coolest thing I have ever found. period.

Combing the lake shores one afternoon- not paying particular attention to anything. Lost completely in thought. Was it the intense love of my surroundings? The momentary pause on a particular individual, of whom I tend to get lost in at times? The complete feeling of peace? I don't know what Karmic occurrence lined up for me to be on that beach at that moment, for the wave to crash and for me to look down at the precise second for this to appear in the waters at my feet - but I'm very glad that they did. I found the treasure. Thank you. I am listening.

Treasures, Blessings and Crazy Bird Love

I came home from work on Friday, just being happy that it was Friday. Small blessing for those with 9 to 5'ers. Happy to turn down the drive, to be welcomed by the tall trees and the mountain greening all around. I took a deep breath as I got out of the car, thinking how blessed I really was. I turned down the walk and stopped with a gasp. The peonies I have been waiting to bloom had burst open in my absence! And this is what was displayed before me! Finally, after weeks of waiting, anticipating and worrying whether the blooms would last the rains- there they were in all of their glory- and I thought to my self- this day can get no better than this. Boy was I wrong!

I walked into the house with the usual "I'm home!" -for anyone that may have been in earshot. Delighted further that my son was home from school/work (and in a good mood- teenagers! lol) He yells from the top floor " Hey mom! You have a package!" A package? I don't remember ordering anything... I wonder what it is. Dropping my parcels on the table, I began my search. You see- my son thinks it is hysterical to hide my packages. He relates it back to my hiding his presents on various holidays, and finds it perfectly acceptable for him to hide anything that comes in the post for me. A treasure hunt, and who can get angry over a treasure hunt? I found the box, acrossed the room, behind the couch, under a pile of art mags. Not so tough. YEAH! It was from Sonia! Dear, crazy, super-friend Sonia! But it was such a big box! what on earth?

I couldn't believe my eyes!! are you ready? wanna see? Look! Look what that amazing woman sent me!

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OMG! She is sooooo! cute! Look at that face! And those toes! With nail polish! I can't believe it!

And she is wearing .....

SHOES! HAHAHAHHA!

And vintage jewels!

Isn't she just AWESOME!

Check out those tailfeathers! This little girl has some serious attitude!

Oh- but that is not all!!

One of the things that Sonia and I share- is our demented love for..... rocks. yup. rocks. pick 'em up, put em in your pocket and carry them from state to state to state. The best of the best... heart rocks! They are everywhere, if you just look for them. Little reminders that love is everywhere, in all shapes and forms...Well. I don't have to look very much further! With that sweet crazy bird lady- came an altered box. Another one of my loves. Boxes. They always seem to hold something mysterious, something historical, or just something loved. WELL. Not only is this a very special wooden box, altered with delightful penny knobs and a heart rock (including lock and key)- on no. This is SONIA we are talking about.... it has to have that special touch, that extra, that little thing that makes it ones own.... ready> I'm gonna open the box now....

DUDE! It's PINK with Polka dots and Skulls!!!!

Filled with rose petals no less!

My three favorite things! All in one box!

WOW. Leaping lizards! I am one lucky girl! And I just thought that today was going to be just another Friday. A Friday that was a blessing just because it was that day.

And off I go in a tangent of what special treasures I will put in my heart rock box... maybe my collection of small heart rocks... who knows.. think think think... (what is that noise?)

It seems that in my excitement of my new gifts, I turned my back on the little girl- which - by the way- when she got out of the box, and fluffed her feathers- she announced in a rather loud voice that her name was Lulu Loli- "NOT as in Lolita but as in Lollipop!" can you imagine! Lulu Loli. - alrighty then! Lulu it shall be! but I digress.....

I turned my head, to see a blurrrrr flitting down the stairs.. It seems that I was not the only one to be excited about our new arrivals....

Peckerhead (as the gals at MMMM lovingly refer to him) heard the commotion and flew out of his room- He looks as though he has a crush! Though Lulu was not at all receptive of this new found attention at first.... A little put off as it were- I told Peckerhead to give her some room- to adjust to her new home - but he wouldn't have it!

It took her a while, but she eventually warmed up to him, (not that she had much of a choice- Peckerhead is seriously smitten!)

So I went on about my business of the night: dinner and some light house cleaning - preparing for the evening thunderstorms....

I went back to check on them several hours later...........I think there may be some nesting going on....

Hmmmm. a budding new romance at the Noll! Well - it's about time! HAHAHA!

Sonia- THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have once again added smiles, blessings and inspiration to my world!

For those of you that have not yet become acquainted with the wonder that is Sonia- please visit the Dark Ravens Nest- and get to know this wonderful human being and fabulous artist! And make sure you stop by and visit her new Etsy Shop! You too can have one of her wonderful creations.... just not these... these are mine. mine - ALLL mine!!!!

Muuuuuwaaaaahaaa ahaaaaa haaaaaa!

I'll be back soon with more news and new creations and thanks for all of the amazing blogger awards I have received these past weeks....

Bright Blessings: