flowering vines

flowering vines
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

trellis at the farm

iris

iris
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

These flowered early at the farm. My Dad always remembers them flowering on my Uncle Adolph's birthday ~ May 27.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!

flowers

flowers
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

I had fun with the clematis flowers.

On way to "Journey's"

On way to "Journey's"
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

There were so many wonderful opportunities to take photos on the weekend. I'm so happy to be able to share some of them with you.

Feelin' sad these days so needed to play a bit. I think I need lots of practice. What do you think?

enjoy!

enjoy!
Originally uploaded by julies517.

I didn't have a chance to do anything here for Mother's day so would love to pass along this gorgeous card done by jules 517. Greetings to all my friends that are mothers, grandmothers, aunties, godmothers or just wonderful friends.

Confusion, frustration, desperation or inspiration:
I am struggling with which path to take. The struggling is leading to confusion. I very much am desiring to fill my life with a more artsy career at this moment. I thought I might like to do writing but the writing in my manuscript is tough going until I get the most difficult parts done. Perhaps if I got back to it I might feel more compelled to get on with the story. But yesterday I had a setback. I had submitted a number of pieces to a publication that I felt quite confident would accept at least one of the selections. My writer's group (bless their hearts) had offered suggestions on most of the writing. They gave me the green light for submitting. Yesterday I got all of the pieces back in the mail. "The Caves" had been short listed but because there were submissions from worldwide the piece was not accepted for publication. I was advised to read more poetry of local writers. I've been told to do this before. I have tried to do it. I just cannot get a feel for the poetry. My writing is different. I suppose maybe writing is not for me at the moment. I don't even really feel like writing on this blog anymore. Only one person ever comments ~ my very dear friend. A majority of people that visit my blog do so for less than five seconds. I know. Everyone is busy with their own lives.
I have been doing much photography lately and also felt a huge desire to get into mixed media and collage. One of the main stumbling blocks right now is the need for a space to do this artwork. I have a room which I believe might work but it needs a huge amount of cleanup. Cleaning is definitely not one of my favourite things to do.
I also have been doing much searching on the flickr site and have found some absolutely stunning work ~ art and photography. I could easily think "what's the point?"
And so the confusion creeps or rushes in. I need to choose a path. I know which is the right path. I need to choose inspiration and only allow tiny peeks back at the frustration and desperation. I think I am on the right path. I went and purchased some fine clothing and artwork from the "good neighbour boutique/ gift shop". I have plans for portraits. And I did move some things around in that bedroom. Now I just need to stay on the right trail.

On bench

On bench
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

Cat. in the park

cat in park modified

cat in park modified
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

I've been playing again (with photos). I really needed it today. I'll tell you why a bit later.

Peace Sphere #2

Peace Sphere #2
Originally uploaded by annieA.

Peace ~ a wonderful vision.

La Que Vea

La Que Vea
Originally uploaded by annieA.

This mixed media piece truly speaks to me. The colours ~ gorgeous. And the remembrance ~ touching.

Optimism, laughter, and good news:

"Now I understand
It represents joy.
I work towards Joy.
I strive for it.
I strive
For more imperfection.
The striving
Is not easy."

Over the past few weeks I've again been finding the striving to be more difficult. Though I used to have patience in abundance it has diminished in quantity over the past years. I find I need to remind myself often to try to practice it. Trying to find suitable work, especially something I will enjoy, waiting to see if my writing will be accepted for publication and issues surrounding our daughter's future school years leave me reaching towards the panic button very often.
Reminding myself to practice patience, to exercise trust and to look to joy need to become higher priority. I learnt a time ago to not listen to news and to try to find more laughter in life. But how often we forget. I actually asked my husband to put http://www.inspirationpeak.com/ as our home page. I had still been finding myself reading the bad news every time I opened to the internet. I had determined ages ago to not put myself in contact with the bad news as I would choose that negative path more readily. Choosing inspiration peak for our homepage has been a wonderful choice.

You might think I am negligent for not keeping up with current affairs. So be it. I believe if it is something terribly important or of interest to me I will find out about it in some way or another. For instance I am aware there was a small tsunami just a few days ago. My dear husband told me of it.

But I think we should try to laugh much more. I find little opportunity to have a heartfelt belly laugh. I had read or heard about the practice of someone placing their head on top of someone's tummy and so on. The person at the bottom of the heap starts to laugh and then the others cannot help but laugh also. This is something else I wish I would think of more often and take time to do. Or I could try to remember to go to http://www.healingwithhumor.com/ and click on "need a laugh right now". Another good plan is to check out http://www.snoopy.com for an occasional laugh or two. I've just decided we should put their screensaver up so that I can see the gang playing ball instead of a lot of little squares on a green background whenever I might NOT be sitting at the computer and happen to walk by.

Finally about the news - if you absolutely must get some news regularly, why not bookmark http://www.happynews.com which I read about in the May issue of Real Simple (http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/homepage/flash/0,23022,,00.shtml)?

Keep laughing.

Reading on the table

Cat. now - reading
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

Cat did agree to pose though it's not the same as when she was little.

Cat. now

Cat. now
Originally uploaded by Windy Angels.

Our daughter - I still think she could be a model. She did a tiny bit when she was very small but the opportunities were not extensive. And then she decided she didn't want to have her photos taken at all. Her greatest joy now would be to have someone straighten her hair - every day or as required. She, uh, dislikes the curls (to put it mildly). I suppose if she were a model she could have someone do the straightening regularly.

Eating Crackers on the Swing 2

Eating Crackers on the Swing 2
Originally uploaded by *Clairity*.

As you will have noticed on my flickr photos, I love kids. This is just one of the photos from around flickr that I have chosen as one of my favorites.

The Kiss of God

The Kiss of God
Originally uploaded by aquastar694.

Just one of the photos I have listed as a favorite on flickr. I thought this was so cool.

"The Puddle" set. These photos have received attention on my flickr sight (my photos). I even got one listed as a favorite. I never expected that considering all the marvellous photos one can find on flickr. "Clairity" seems to be a very kind person.

Playing with photos ~ playing with colours: If you've been following my posts over the last weeks you'll know that I like to play. Most recently I've been playing with photos. Catch more modified photos on the "my photo" link. This is relections from a keychain.

My favourite blues: I have much difficulty resisiting anything blue.

Some first flowers in my garden: I love the colour blue. I think I always have. I found these "beauts" in wonderful contrast to the numerous greens. And they want to surprise me. I can't quite remember planting their bulbs.

Garden Angel: She and her small winged friend got tired of sitting around in the kitchen. They decided to see what was happening in the garden.

What a cat ~ a copy cat that is!
I'd never really stopped to think why the expression "copy cat." At first I didn't make much of it. After our other cat was gone we noticed Kit doing things very much as Doby had done. She'd started scratching one piece of food at a time out of her dish and then eating it. Recently we've noticed her taking big, long stretchs after she starts to move when she wakens. It's another "copy cat" action. This one she picked up from the dog. He takes great humungous stretchs when he wakens but he also stretchs huge when he is excited - about being taken for a walk or some other fun pooch activity. You guessed it. He gets attention noticed for it. We refer to it as his bow.

Copy cat - that she is. Who wouldn't copy if you could get a scrap of attention.

The Castle:
For the past couple of years I have been in a time where I am trying to find my place. I am very fortunate to have a family that is so patience as I struggle to find something I really enjoy doing and want to do. Ah, the life of a poor struggling artist.

The Castle
The image blurs, again.
I can see it.
Sometimes it is near,
Sometimes it is far.
I can see the bridge is down,
Has been for a time,
Quite some time.
But why will my feet
Not take me in?

I have been away, too long.
I have been helping others,
To cross their own bridges,
To see their own castles.

Yes,
I have been inside this castle.
I have felt its' warmth.
I have felt its' safety.
I have known its' beauty.
I have searched its' nooks and crannies.

Why,
Now,
Will my feet
Not take me in?

I have spent time in the gardens,
And time in the barns.
I have been in the studios
And the music halls.
As a child
I danced
Quite freely,
Quite with abandon
As no one watched.

I have soaked up knowledge
In its' libraries
And study halls.


I have found many places
Of worship
In this wondrous castle.

The places to nurture
Have been nearly infinite.

Why,
Now,
Will my feet
Not take me in?

Why,
Now,
Is the vision blurred?

Why,
Now,
Will my thoughts,
My heart,
Not let me find
A place to exist
In my very own Castle?

I stumble forward.
I look up.
Ah,
The castle
Is much more clear.
And the bridge.
Yes!
It is still down.

From my greenhouse shelf: On this sunny May 4 morning I choose to tell you about my greenhouse shelf. I was planning to go outdoors early to take a couple of garden photos - only two flowers in my garden to this point in time. When I looked out I first saw the bright sunshine but when I looked down my hopes were dashed. There was a sprinkling of snow - so much for taking garden photos.
Instead I will tell you about the shelf. We've been kind of slow with getting the greenhouse up this year. There have been other priorities - work and farming and work and farming. Oh well. That's priorities. I think today we can get the plants into it.
Really there are not so many plants to put on the greenhouse shelves. I'm not certain what happened this past winter with the plants we typically over winter in the basement with grow lights. Beasties seem to have taken over. The hugest loss was all of my ivy. Only one tiny stem remains. I had huge, near ancient plants with which I have done so much. I've had a heart shaped topiary and a globe shaped topiary. I've had a tomato stand up turned with numerous ivy spreading over to make it look it look like a tree. Last year I had ivy in a twig stand. It was so "sweet". I guess this will be the eulogy. I am sad. I must remember how beautiful they were and move on to other lovely things.
Before I put acatual plants on the shelves I decided to do some still life photos. Some of my creations are on the shelf. They help bring back happy memories.
Please see "my photos" link.
p.s. If you know of someone close by that I can get ivy cuttings from I would be so happy.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes: Thanks Beth and Belle for all that you've done for the Walk.

JDRF Walk to cure Diabetes: By special request. Thanks A, I mean Beth.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes:
April 30, 2006
See following 11 posts.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes:
Ambassador Curtis handing out stickers to all participants. YES!

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes:
Cat with a couple of HPS teachers and friend as they pose by the flag prior to the walk.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes:
My team as they await the start. I'm so pleased they were able to participate and that we raised over $600 ourselves in just two weeks. Considering that I've had diabetes for 45 years I believe this is an extremely important cause. I've been fortunate. I have no complications yet even though my diabetes has always been very difficult to control. I've many stories to tell. Major adavances have occured. I'm presently on 4-5 injections of insulin/day (Humalog and Levemir). I've tried a pump but did not appreciate the added body part though I understand they are very tiny now and very effective. I'm anxiously awaiting the cure. It will be found!
p.s. I decided not to walk because I was performing in a concert last night. Next year.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes:

Group picture. You may not be able to make out faces specifically but the important point is the number of people. In only its second year this Walk had 50 participants raising $10, 400. WOW!

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Start of the walk with piper

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Start of the walk

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (postwalk):
Ambassador Curtis says a few words.

JDRF: Walk to Cure Diabetes (postwalk):

Emma's girls.
Thanks to Emma, all the girls, and her Dad too.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (postwalk):
Face painting

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (postwalk):
Joel's J walkers

It's OK Joel - you're looking at the camera. Couldn't possibly ask your little sister to pose for another picture. Love ya Monique (ah the memories).
Thanks J walkers.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (Post walk)

Joel and Cat:
We love you too :o)