Tom and Boomer

Raising the Flag

Do You Believe in Angels?

I had an interesting experience today at a car wash. I was waiting outside along with a few others as the car wash guys were vacuuming and finishing up and I struck up a conversation with an elderly woman standing next to me. I was commenting on the cost of getting your car washed these days and she shared with me that she was 81 and, of course, she certainly had seen the price escalate in her long life. While I was standing there, I had been trying to guess which cars belonged to which people...could I match the cars to the "personality" of the owners? Well....the snazzy red Subaru belonged to the elderly woman! We had a short discussion about it....she said she bought it last year and that she was blessed....I figured she must have gotten a good deal! She said there are angels among us. Her car was ready and we wished each other a pleasant weekend and she went over to her car. Then she came back, as I was sitting on the bench waiting for my car, and she said, "I have to give you this" and I looked at my hand into which she had placed a very small angel that was wrapped in a cellophane wrapper....and as she turned to walk away, I thanked her. I watched her as she climbed into her snazzy, red coupe and she gave me a slight wave and I waved back. I can't stop thinking about her.

My Flag Tree

Free & Brave

Memorial Day means a lot to me.
I sat down to think & journal about Memorial Day and about the men and women who put their lives on the line for us. (US ) They give so much.
So...Memorial Day is still over a week away, but I'm posting this now because....these people should be remembered... everyday... in our prayers for what they do for US.

Tom is off to boot camp in a little over a week and he is so excited to be going. He's looked forward to this day....since he was a little kid. The day he came home after enlisting in the Marine Corp Reserves, he gave me a decal to put on my car....."Proud Parent of a United States Marine.
I am proud.

Tree with Blue Leaves

These pages are from my Simply Blue journal. I took it out last night...I haven't looked through it in awhile. And I came across these two pages and was thinking about how I often paint a solitary tree....and I think...maybe that tree is me. I painted a couple of pages for Memorial Day which I haven't posted yet....and that tree is there...again. I like painting "the tree." I think the tree is strong. Most of the time....I feel strong....at least a lot stronger than many people I know. Who knew.

Art of the Universe

This painting by Kathleen Karlsen, Hubble's Legacy, is inspired by images from the Hubble Telescope. The Hubble is in dire need of repair. You can see more of Kathleen's paintings, inspired by the immense space and incredible drama of the universe by visiting http://www.kathleenkarlsenart.com/.

Springtime in CT

This is a photo from Spring 2008....the tree is just getting ready to blossom in my yard. I've been out planting Lily of the Valley on this gorgeous day.

Field of Daffodils

I wanted to take a photo of this beautiful field of Daffodils in my town but just haven't had the chance. I look forward to driving past it every Spring. It was planted by a local, retired high school teacher in the field adjacent to his home. His house is painted yellow too! This photo appeared in our local, weekly newspaper, The Redding Pilot. Thank you, Thomas!

Inspired

Sometimes I have to "journal" when I am "in the moment." Even if you've never been to church or are not a spiritual person, I think everyone at some time in their life has heard the 23rd Psalm...."The Lord is my shepherd..." and that was the theme of today's sermon at church. Life and death. What's next? Not sure I'm done with these pages but that's part of the fun of journaling. Sorry the photos aren't better!

Bleeding Heart

I took this photo in my backyard. This plant is growing in a bed of pachysandra...it is absolutely thriving and I didn't even plant it...(maybe that's why it's thriving...). I've read a little bit about these plants...some people think they are a nuisance in their yard. As you can see from the photo....they do have a perfectly shaped heart in their blossom, perfectly crafted by Mother Nature. But about the "bleeding" part...did that really have to be part of the name? That doesn't really have a pleasant connotation to me. This flower deserves a "happier" name....like "Heart of Hearts" or "Heartstrings"....

The Workforce

I could write a ton about why I am calling this journal page "the workforce"...but I'll leave the title and subject open to everyone's personal interpretation. This was done in watercolor pencils and ink. It's fun to color the picture and then "move it all around" with a brush & some water.

My form of relaxation....

I suppose I should be doing yard work instead of painting nature...but it's a great distraction and a welcome one...I love forsythia when it's left to grow wild....blowin' in the wind...

Oh my God!

I'm not really sure how we could celebrate "Earth Day" this past week....since it appears we are destroying our planet. This picture depicts just a tiny portion of a very large area in the Pacific Ocean, from the coast of California all of the way to Japan....and it is twice the size of Texas and in some areas....90 feet deep....and it's all that we throw away...primarily plastic. It's polluting our waters and killing our marine life. We can't survive without water. I don't buy bottled water anymore. But so many things come in plastic these days....how can we turn back to the days of glass containers....remember when milk came in glass bottles? Or an ice, cold Coke. Even baby bottles. It always goes back to how much things cost. We're going to pay a heavy price....or really, we're passing it on to our children and grandchildren. Think about what you're throwing away.

Gotta Love It!

Happy Earth Day!

Labradoodle Cake

Boomer Update

Boomer has grown and I've now had to replace his puppy collar (he's not even 5 mos old yet!) LL Bean has a great mesh collar that you can have the name and your phone number embroidered on it. He is the most fun, smart, lovable pup. I've been trying to brush him this morning which is always a challenge. I couldn't have found the more perfect pet for me. Had to share how cute he's looking this morning.

April Creative Every Day: Color

Color is, of course, a great theme for those of us who love to play with color, be it with paints and brushes, colored pencils or even with camera in hand to capture it all. When I was trying to decide what I wanted to journal about, a word popped into my head that just embodied the theme of color and that word is CONFETTI! Confetti is colorful, it's fun, it suggests a celebration. Mother Nature creates her own confetti in the Springtime. When the blossoms on all of her flowering trees are spent....and a breeze is in the air....what do you end up with?? Blossoms of confetti.

CONFETTI !

Easter Sunday

Thank God for a sunny day!

Sweet Tweets

Adorable

Ireland - from outer space

What is it about Ireland and the Irish that is so celebrated? The newscasters are already talking about the St. Patrick's Day parades, the "wearing of the green". Everyone wants to have a wee bit of Irish in them on March 17. You don't hear that about other nationalities as much. Having some Irish blood on my father's side...have to say I've always liked celebrating in some small way....wearing the green. I used to have a button that I wore that said "Kiss me, I'm Irish"....so where did that come from? You won't find the answer here because I don't know...maybe I'll google it when I finish this post. As a former Catholic...it used to be a day you went to church. An excuse for getting intoxicated is also tied into the day...unfortunately. That aside, look at this photo. The landscape of Ireland is so ...beautiful. When I decided I wanted to post something in honor of St. Patty's day, I started looking for an Irish artist/painting to feature since I love art. And I realized....no Irish artist comes to mind nor did I find a painting to post. Darn!
I think I've mentioned in a previous post the names of some of the dogs we had growing up...they had a "play" on our name, Shea, but were spelled differently....and the dogs were French...poodles to be exact. Touche, Ricochet, Sachet....maybe we should have spelled them Toushea, Ricoshea and Sashea!
I'm proud of my Irish roots and my Cuban roots and my English roots and my Swedish roots.....and everyday I am proud to be an American....because isn't that what we all are? A wonderful blend of cultures. And now that I look at the photo....it would make a great painting!

Tom's Birthday Journal

As Tom's birthday approached, I knew I had to get cracking and make his card...I make him a card every month just because I like to do it. But this wasn't just any card. So, as I sat down at the computer and started looking at photos for inspiration, one thing led to another and his "card" became a 30 page journal....and even that wasn't enough. Tom's birthday journal is really about a wonderful young man following his dream and his dream is to serve in the Marine Corp. A little over a week ago....he took the oath and is now in the Marine Corp Reserves. He will go for training this summer and then complete his senior year of college and then on to OCS. This picture from the journal is that of a pumpkin that I stopped to capture on a stone wall in Easton, Ct last October. And, as you can see, the message is simple and from the heart.

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY!

At 8 pm on March 9, 1988, I checked into Norwalk Hospital to have this wonderful boy. But he held out until March 10 at 2:07 pm. I remember on the drive there realizing it would be the last time I would be part of a "couple" because when we left there....we would have a son. He finally made his appearance as La Bamba was playing on the sound system in the delivery room.
On Saturday, we went to a local restaurant to celebrate this milestone birthday of 21....I could write a dissertation on how proud I am to call him my son but lest I embarrass him too much I just want to wish him a happy life and a very happy birthday.

THE SUBJECT IS "WORDS"

The theme for February for Creative Every Day....is words. I could have put down all of those words that express....feelings....but I decided to take another route....one that I've always been curious about and that is.....where do paint companies come up with the names they give their paints/paint chips??? And are we influenced by those names when we choose our colors or are we beyond that...focused on the color we really want to select whether it's called "chocolate mink" or "lavender lipstick"? Speaking of lipsticks...there is a similarity there as well...I can remember my mother...back in the '50's and her favorite color was...Persian Melon. What color does that suggest to you? My den, where I spend a lot of time....is chili pepper red....and I love it! So....next time you head for the paint store....what's it going to be....how about "banana split!"

Tom & Boomer

Tom came home for a quick visit on Thursday to see the pup and bring his laundry home from school...but he actually did his laundry and I made him a huge pot of chili to take back to share with his roommates. He seems to have less "fur" on the top of his head since I last saw him!

JUST A DOG

My friend, Jan, sent this to me recently. The author is unknown, but I would like to know the person who wrote this and just what their dog or dogs were like. There are those of us who like dogs and those that like cats....not that I don't like cats....but to me, a dog has it "all over a cat". They definitely are a little more work, but they're worth it. I told myself that at 4:11 am today when my puppy was up and ready to eat and play....so here is what the unknown author wrote....it certainly speaks to me.

JUST A DOG

"From time to time, people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for "Just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "Just a dog." Many hours have passed with my only company being "Just a dog," and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by "Just a dog." In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "Just a dog" provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it"s "Just a dog," you will probably understand phrases like "Just a friend,"Just a sunrise" or "Just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of "Just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it's not "Just a dog." It's an embodiment of all of the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it's not "Just a dog." It's the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or a woman."

So, the next time you hear the phrase "Just a dog," smile, because they "Just Don't Understand." ~

(Thanks to dogs I've known in my life: Buttons, Ricochet, Touche, Sachet, Gigi, Sam, Charlie Chan, Adolf, Max and my new pal, Boomer).

Thanks for sharing, Jan!

Boomer....

Another photo....
by popular demand!

Valentines

I created these Valentine postcards for my sisters and my son. Doing small projects like this keep the "creative juices" flowing and are so much nicer than a store bought card. The card for Tom includes a photo of a heart shaped box which he made in kindergarten 16 years ago....it was a class project that I did with another Mom. The kids made the boxes out of papier mache and then painted them and glued buttons and glitter and sequins, etc. on the boxes. It was a messy project! The box is very special and I keep it in my art space.

BOOMER - Week 1

Boomer has been here one week today. He is the cutest. We've been to Agway for food....and a toy....can't ever leave Agway without a new toy and we went to the car wash....a big trip for a little pup, but getting him used to riding in the car. Today we went to Petco so I could get a large pen so when I'm not home, he doesn't have to be in his crate...has more room to play. I think he grew 2 inches in one week! You'll be seeing his picture a lot here!

Meet "Boomer," (Boomerang)

This is the latest addition to our household...."Boomer", short for Boomerang. He's an Australian Labradoodle and he is 9 weeks old. I think this name suits him. His birthday is November 30, 2008.

He's really a good boy and so much fun.

After spending at least 6 months looking at all kinds of breeds online, I found "Boomer"right here in CT and it was meant to be. Listen to The Puppy Song...#1 on My Music.

He's home.

Breathtaking

Tom took this photo up at Stowe in VT a couple of years ago. He was in VT skiing this weekend...which made me think of this photo and I thought I would share it. Even though we often get tired of winter and the cold and snow....you have to admit....the beauty of it can take your breath away.

COLOR!

So, it's Friday night and after a long work day....there won't be any creating going on here but this photo is my reminder that I better DO SOMETHING this weekend. I haven't done Tom's January postcard and Valentine's Day is just around the corner. But at least I'm thinking of being....creative. Don't you love the smell of newly sharpened pencils?

The Sycamore Tree

I've driven past this tree so many times....you can see the incredible size of it....I had to stand quite far away to get the whole tree in the picture. This has been quite the winter thus far and I wanted to make sure I had taken a photo of this tree....in case anything happens to it as it's quite old. It sits right at an intersection and in the fall when it's ready to drop leaves....they land all over the intersection! This tree has stood the test of time so I hope I remember to take its' picture when the leaves are on it. Somehow, though, the true beauty of a tree is revealed when you can see it's skeleton. That's my creative activity for today!