Desert Hunting

Well, we are hunting for the elusive antelope jackrabbit....and hunting, and hunting! So I finally decided to draw one from a combination of photos that I had on hand...a rendering. We did chance upon the rogue roadrunner and his mistress. He was gently cooing to her, quite romantic I must say. It seems that all the birds are in love (or just frisky) right now. The vermillion flycatcher is hovering in midair, like a mad hatter, over his lady friend. She is quite unfazed as she stares at us instead. The doves strut themselves around as if on parade. The hummers, well they drive Enya crazy as they fly up to her nose and stare at her. Romance is in the air. Some amazing sites for you as a full-fledged royal sunset left us with a rainbow over the Santa Rita mtns.....ahhh  lovely. 

International Womens Day (and to the feminine side of our men )

I decided to write tonight as tomorrow will be a day of honoring art and the feminine side of life that surrounds us. I have been taking art classes with Roy Purcell...a wonderful spirit full of metaphors, wise words, and a playful spirit. A humble man who has been through much in his lifetime. He came through a brutal world of childhood autism and loneliness. He found comfort in drawing, painting and writing. I stumbled upon his book "Wayfarer" by chance at the local bookstore and was thrilled to take a class. Roy honors the feminine spirit and talks of our intuitive nature that lies hidden in the recesses of our minds. Allowing our unconscious spirit room to create will produce wonders on the canvas....
We chose large scale canvases (2x3') and painted with palette knives (which I love...release!) 

A group of kindred souls releasing wild energy through large bold strokes on the canvas! I included the piece that I finished. Absolutely loved the release of feminine and male spirit. The subject matter is Trace and Enya...soaking up the afternoon sun, breathing in life and allowing troubles room to vanish in the warm stucco.....
It is a moment of quiet vulnerability...a moment of love. 
To all the feminine spirits in my life (whether female or male) thank you for your gifts, your love, your talents and your charms. The world is a better place because of you. I have included shots of the warm Arizona sun to brighten your days. And finally a shot of Roy pushing paint around revealing bold pure magical fun. The joy of learning, for we are never too old. 

Some Humor

Ok, some giggle moments! As I heard the sound of the gila woodpecker out our front deck I began to watch to see what the rascal was up to...
They are extremely shy so he began ducking behind a post from which hung the hummingbird feeder. I became a cement statue and as I watched he began to sneak drinks from... you guessed it the hummingbird feeder. How hilarious. 
I caught a quick picture below. 

A bright note of success today. 

I was asked to show my work at Beads of Tubac/School of Art. I am thrilled and excited to be represented by Margaret Rose's Gallery. I have also been given the chance to teach batik and watercolor dyes on fabric and yupo paper next spring as well! Very exciting. 

I look forward to getting home to the bitterroot and sharing ideas. I have included two of the acrylic/oils that will be

in the gallery. Forgive the photography, for it was taken by mewah. 

A Fine Welcome

Well we have made it to the lovely Tubac, Arizona with 70 degrees shining upon us and a bright vermillion flycatcher flitting in front of us from bush to trees and back again. I could hear him sing, "paint me, dear Annie!". oh the joy of sunshine and bird songs...
So far I have spotted the black crested titmouse, the white-winged doves, the black chinned humming bird, the white crowned sparrow...the list goes on and on.  My family will giggle for I am learning the names and listening to their songs as well. Ah love nature. Trace had the delightful encounter of the javelina below our bedroom window ah yes, the hilarious get away of the infamous spiky creature. Another great thing I learned today about the bright green clumps growing on the water oak trees.. (Sam will be proud of me)  it's ... mistletoe, which is parasitic... hmm. 
The high desert holds many great finds and secrets and stirs my sense of creativity. I had my grand kids on my mind most of the morning with the youngest turning one and the oldest beginning basketball and growing up so dang fast. All three of them bursting with sunshine, giggles and a good dose of life coursing through their veins. You know life, such as energetic bounds of pulsing life! I began painting this morning and just smiled thinking of the beauty of it all...and then there lies

the written word...spilling forth from my heart, my guts... onto a white surface. 
Unbounded love for all living entities tonight... 
I'm remembering that words empower us, enlighten us, give equality to us and even bring some dignity when needed.... simple words. 


We know not what lies before us but as doctor Seuss says "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."  
I believe in you 

Thankful for all of you and the land that surrounds us

Oh how thankful I am, for you who are reading this, for you who goes out into the world each day striving to better yourself, for you whose emotions fluctuate with the random act of daily living, for you who reaches out to others with gratitude knowing that each act of kindness makes a huge difference for others and in the life you live....thankful and blessed. 
E E Cummings wrote, "We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that something deep inside of us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit." 

To my grandchildren Jae, Triston, & Layla your tender hearts and playful spirits bring out the best in not only your parents but your grandparents. You remind us of the gentle nature that surrounds us, you bring about laughter and wonder to adults who get way to wrapped up in the common mundane workday, you reveal the miracle of life when we view the world through your eyes. To all young living entities thank you.
To my children thank you for calling me mom, thank you for the laughter and tears that provided growth and harmony in my life, thank you for hours of play or moments of visiting when small miracles occurred. Thank you to the good lord for entrusting me with your welfare... I am honored and very proud of you both. 
To my blood family, to my loved ones, to my friends thank you for making me feel valued, for listening through ups and downs, for your human touch when nothing more could be said or given. 
In completion thank you to the land, the water, the air, the foundation upon which I stand...thank you sweet earth. As my dear significant other would say, "It is good to be alive and above ground"
Love and blessings to all of you 

Enya Says...

Today is the first time Annie has given me liberty to express myself in print on this trip. It’s been a long time coming but it usually takes her awhile before she’s settled in enough before she lets me use her laptop. 

For starters, I like it here. I thought there were a lot of my kind in Missoula, but let me tell you, it’s nothing like here at the Port. Furthermore, there’s much more diversity here if you get my bark. All of us seem to get along when we’re walking the beach except for that one day when another Bostie named George was following me. In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a adolescent male. However, manners are generally good with no excessive sniffing, and the people my friends have in tow seem to be content. I know because content gives off a really good odor and I can smell it. Sometimes when we’re on the beach, there are entire clouds of contentment.  More humans should come here.

Annie says my breath smells like the ocean. I don’t know how this is possible since I don’t drink the water. Maybe the basic stuff of the ocean seeps up through my paws?  Not important to me as it’s just the way I am.

I’m learning new vocabulary here in the Port. I don’t want to show off my gift for language, but I know the scientific words for “turtle,” “dolphin,” and “stumbling people on the beach.” I like learning new words and when I get back to the Bitterroot I’m going to share some of my new words with my friends. Hopefully, it will help them understand the new and wonderful places on our earth.

It’s time for me to “load er up,” which means we’re going for a ride to someplace new…yay, er, ruff ruff. I’ll  write again when I’m not so busy.

Be happy and keep your sniffer going.

Enya.

Bostie Terrierj

 

Gratitudes and Blessings

These are a few of my favorite things..

Gratitude, blessings, kisses, love, hugs ...laughter, tears, sunshine, animals... the list goes on and on

Little things like the grass that tickles our feet as we walk barefoot, snow that tickles our faces as it falls, a sea green turtles eyes looking upon me with gentleness.  We were reminded so many times of the blessings that surround us on this trip. My writings have been a delicate balance between emotions and experiences. The last three weeks have been a bit of a blur. For those of you who don't know Trace ended up in the hospital for seven days. We kept it quiet and he is now doing quite well after the first initial scare. So let's see... I haven't been myself, but we are beginning to explore and discover once again. Yes each day we wake up in new bodies, each day we count our blessings, and each day I am ever so grateful for all of you in my life. 

This morning we stopped at a bakery for freshly made cranberry muffins and a breve....scrumptious. The chef came out from the back, young and exuberant, to ask what we thought and was ever so grateful. She gave great credit to her own mama for her skills and abilities. What a blessing our mom's are!

Roasted provided an opportunity to show gratitude each and everyday when people entered. It began to be an experiment of joy...who could I lift, who could I touch through caring words, how could I make a difference by just being kind (perhaps they would even pay it forward).

To my mom,to best friends, to children young and old, to partners, to those hard working people who make huge differences in people's lives, to care-givers (such as nurses and doctors), to people who make a difference each and everyday....thank you