Camera Play...Pink

Audrey had a great set of pictures with a theme this morning - I though I would join her. I went with a color theme purely by accident, these were all taken in the last 24 hours. So here are a few "Pink" shots.

Mental Duck to Mental Swan Award

A week or so back I shared my creation Mental Duck to Mental Swan. It was suggested that it might make a nice award. I think so too. I would like to share with you how this little piece came to be.

When I was young, I had to repeat 2nd grade – it seemed to be a permanent label as my parents viewed me as the ”not so smart one” in the family. Even when I graduated from high school with honors – they still didn’t get it. It was never overt thing just lots of little things that made their opinion clear. It was not until my 40’s that I began to get a clue – I wasn’t the stupid one in the family, I had gifts and talents and a few brains to share!!!! I guess it came as a surprise to me!!
Renee has been a constant supporter of me and has a keen eye for truth in people’s gifts and talents – even when we do not see them in ourselves. So…if Renee tells you something LISTEN!!! Renee gave me direction and encouragement to try things I had only dreamed about doing – like writing and putting it out there. She gave me the courage to go from as she put it….Mental Duck to Mental Swan. I was so struck by this image, it had a huge impact on me!! I was becoming a mental swan – I felt empowered and strong!! I am a Mental Swan!! Thank you Renee, you really have changed my life!!

So… to the award…hee hee I’m excited. Ces suggested that I might do it like her Ninja award – one I give out at certain times, not one that is passed from person to person. I like this idea, but would like to give it out more often than once a year! So I will surprise a few special folks every now and again!

The Mental Duck to Mental Swan Award is given to two amazing groups of bloggers;

1. To Bloggers who encourage and nurture others bloggers to explore and grow in their creative, spiritual or mental lives.
2. To Bloggers who are blooming and growing creatively, spiritually or mentally in their lives & sharing it on their blogs .

So..... I would like to offer the very first awards to folks who have encouraged me and some time very soon I will offer it to a few folks who are blooming. There are so many I could list here but I am going to limit it to seven at a time..

I have watched these women consistently offer not only amazing support to me but many others across the blogs - yup I have been watching.

Renee of coarse will be given my very first award!! She has been a guiding light in so many ways and I adore her.

Audrey, who never fails to amaze me with her spirit and support of me. She is my cheer leader and I adore her too!!

Sherry, a dear friend, amazing artist and she says "My biggest fan"! Thank you Sherry for blessing me with your friendship!

Holly, a newer friend, but so amazing. If you have not visited Holly's blog you are missing one of the most delicious blogs on the block! I have been blessed with Holly's friendship,support and advice - she's good folks!!

Sonia, Hey my ducky partner - you really are a swan ya know!! Another person who has made my time here on the blogs a joy, full of her encouragement and support!

Gail, She is not only an amazing artist & dear Friend but she has been an unending source of support and encouragement to me long before I started blogging and has continued to be that graceful woman here too!

Tabitha, of I choose bliss - no list like this would be complete with out her & her amazing spirit of giving! Girl you are a shining light!!

I'm So Touched and Delighted!!

Well.... I was in tears again... you guys are gonna think thats all I do I swear - am not a teary girl - well at least I didn't used to be!! I guess there have been lots of good reasons to tear up of late. I do love awards... because... despite doing lots of stuff in my life till now... this is really the first time that people have said - hey I really like what you do or what you create. So.. I guess it still always shocks me when someone offers me up one of these sweet little treats - I'm doing a happy dance everytime!!

So... my first sweet treat came from Audrey. Audrey is one of those mazing women that I have been blessed with knowing here on the blogs. If you haven't been to her blog - you really must - I insist!! She is wicked funny - you know that dry Canadian funny - kinda like Brit funny. She recently did a post about her darling nieces visit to her house - yup more morning coffe shot out of the nose(sorry) but honestly the woman cracks me up!! She has such an amazing spirit - so strong and beautiful - you know Xena strong!! Forget the rock star Audrey - I would much rather be Xena!! I guess that strenth crosses over to her life before cancer - wow girl I wanna travel like you, bold and fearless travel! Now that she has been battling cancer.. she is still bold an fearless, facing down Dr.'s and crowds of med students - pushing her ideas - amazing ones by the way about what the medical industry need to know about what patients really need!! But.. for me Audrey is a dear friend and I adore her. She has unfailingly supported up not only me but my artwork! Thank you hon - I am honored & touched that you offered me this special award!! I was over the moon when I saw that you gave it to me!! See me dancin'.......

This award was developed by Tessa in honor of Dr Maithri Goonetilleke's birthday. Tessa was inspired by the way Dr Goonetileke reaches out to others and, with his humanity as her guide, she created this award "to acknowledge the depth and breadth of the warm open-heartedness from bloggers all over the world who reach out and touch their readers with their words."

Tessa goes on to quote Dr Goonetilleke: "It has been my experience that whenever one human being reaches out to another in compassion, a bridge is built. A bridge which leads out of despair, into the light of hope and the possibility that tomorrow will hold a few less tears than yesterday."

I love that - how amazing and how true - how blessed I am that someone out there thinks I offer this up! Thank you Audrey!! You are a blessing to me!!
So... now the hard part... three folks to send it off too.

Renee... who despite everything she is going through never ever fails to support me up and reach out to so many with this kind of grace! Her sprirt amazes me on a daily basis and her pluck - giggle snort...you rock girl!!

Sherry... another amazing woman in my circle who I adore and although you all may not know it spreads her grace in so many places - we tend to follow each other around the web. She too has been there for me so many times and is one of my biggest fans artwise. Which honestly amazes me because she and her husband have more talent in their little fingers than I do!!

Sonia.... Who reaches out to me with a regular "quack" and a hug for me. She never fails to jump in and support up others and I am deeply blessed that I am one of them. Her artwork - omg she makes the cutest sheep - I am the proud owner of one of them!! Hee hee looove him and her too. She is just one of those people who sets the standard for this award.



I was also tagged by....JuneMoonToon, the "Your a Ten". If you have not been to this wonderful woman's blog - goooooooooo nowww!! She is often short and sweet and to the point - a very clear one!! She - unlike me manages to share her thoughts in short wonderful, poemfilled, photo filled ways - I'm not sure how she does it - it is a gift. Beyond this - she is really a wonderful friend - thanks for taggin' me hon!!!

The tag is to offer up 6 things you love...I have done a few of these now so I'm going to add a twist - here are 6 things I love about one thing..

My bed....
1.How amazing it feels when the sheets are clean and I climb in after a bath.
2.How wonderful lavender smells on the sheets.
3.How delicious it feels to crawl into cool sheets after a day at the beach.
4.My quilt from Goodwill - gorgeous - I adore a heavy old quilt.
5.The window at the head of my be where the cool air flows through all summer.
6.All the night sounds and early morning bird's singing first thing in the morning!

I will pass this fun tag onto....
Becky - who's photo blog - is so very much more - she is wonderful too - go visit!
My sis Anne
BohoMom - You will love her blog... so much fun and she is amazing!!

Wishcast Wednesday

The amazing Jamie has asked a seemingly simple question today - What do you Wish for June? Hmmmmm - I think I will wish for a temperate, not to hot not too cool calm month. Filled with blowing bubbles, camp crafts, watermelon, Otter Pops(I know but they are a treat), sunscreen, beach combing at the lake & a few delicious Summer reads.

My vacation for this year... a heavenly 9 days starts the end of the month through the 5th of July.... so maybe a bit of nice weather and good attitudes at home. I have not had more than 4 days off at a stretch in about 5 years - soooooo am looking forward to doing alot of nothing for a few days and then more nothing with a little artwork thrown in. So this is my June wish I hope you June is delicious too!! Namaste, Sarah

Wow I'm featured!!!!!!

Really I am over the moon!! Must be a full one!! I am a featured artist in Ye Olde Witches Brew Magazine!! FEATURED!!!

When Jen asked me for a few pieces of artwork - I thought they would show up somewhere - but I never expected her to do a write up on me for the first year anniversary issue!!! AND... with such amazing company, I am humbled and deeply touched that she choose me and her words well I am honored!! Thank you so very much Jen!!!

Now when I say amazing artists I mean it...Sherry,whom I adore and has been a constant support and her amazing hubby Ron Byrum, their lovely art graces the cover. Heather another dear friend & who has encouraged and supported me, Sabrina the Ink Witch, another amazing artist, I love her ink work, Carol Ochs, beautiful whimsical artwork & Carrie Hawkes who's darling work is just makes me smile!! What amazing company to be placed with!! What an honor!! Whoo hoo!! Doing happy dance under the moon!!!
Namaste, Sarah

Quilting Bee of Folks #11

Isn't that beautiful!!!!

Good morning all!! I've been away for a few days - recovering from an unhappy tooth. I think I'm back functioning and feeling human today!! So.... I have laid out some lovely apple strudel this morning and scones filled with berries or raisins. There is also yogurt and granola if you would prefer. Some lovely fruit and herbal teas, yummmmm, and as always some delicious coffee - Kona today.
I have racked a quilt full of grace today, one that requires many hands. Thank you for gracing us with your wonderful self today. Please pull up a chair.

I was pondering the word grace this weekend, a word with so many meanings, yet so very powerful! Here is the dictionary meaning...
grace (grs)n.
1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
3. A sense of fitness or propriety.
4.
a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
b. Mercy; clemency.
5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

Well....I guess to me the most powerful part of this is number 5..although I'm not referring to the type that would be seen as indulgence so very much. But need. The types of things that are recognised by someone and filled for no other reason than being led to do so.

I think we often think of grace as something someone is genetically, you either are or you are not.. someone is graceful, full of grace, ballerinas are graceful. You know... not clumsy. But, the kind of grace I find the most amazing is the grace from the heart. I have been very blessed with grace over the last several years, sometimes it was just a little drip of honey, a hug, a small unexpected gift, sometimes, just that someone remembered me unexpectedly. Sometimes I have been given buckets full of the wonderful amber liquid!! Like when we were offered this house!!

I learned grace at some wonderful knees!! I am going to reprint this from an older post - as I think it is worth sharing again. Hope you don't mind.

I learned grace from Ola Mae. She came to our home in Tennessee twice a week to clean for my mother. I came along late in life for my parents, my Mom , although wonderful was in her early 50’s during these years and (I get it now) starting to do things in her life that fed her own soul. She was very busy. In the early 70’s in the South, being black was not an easy thing. There was still deep separation. Being from New York I was not prepared for this, nor did I understand why Ola Mae lived literally on the other side of the tracks in a shanty town. I was very fortunate to have been brought up in a very well off family. I have also experienced several years of deep poverty after my divorce. Knowing how it feels to be deeply poor & busy trying just to get by, her tolerance for me was amazing. I adored Ola Mae and it seems she felt the same about me. How she put up with this rich girl following her about the house, sometimes for hours, chatting her ear off is beyond me. But she spoke to me as though I was one of her own well loved children. She passed on her wisdom and soft words like gifts to me. My Mom and I went to her tiny home several times. My Mom took her eggs, garden produce and bags of clothing that no longer fit me. I seem to recall Christmas gifts for her children also. From the view point of someone with money and a good heart it seems like a good thing to do – and it is. But, what I did not learn until years later, how very hard it is to accept charity, no matter how well meaning the giver is. Again this woman of amazing grace, never let on if any of this was hard for her. What she gave me all those years ago was my guide through poverty. She never said it, but her grace as she offered us tea in her tiny humble kitchen taught me volumes.

I think in this busy world we forget just how very powerful a little grace is. As I read through the blogs everyday, I frequently see this word in action. Over and over again people who don't need to, maybe can't really afford to, have no real reason to... offer up grace to others who so dearly need it! Little drips of honey or big buckets! Lots of hands make quick work. Lots of worker bees here!!

So... my question for you today is....where do you offer up grace my bees? Would you like to share? What touches your soul, reaches out and asks your heart to offer up grace?

So... I'm off for some strudel and coffee - yummmmmmmmy. Thank you for being here today and offering me such wonderful grace with each and every comment! I do love my bees!! Namaste, Sarah