My Grama's Soul

Are you the kind of person who likes to always "be in the know"......no surprises...think everything is under control.  The go to person....with all the answers.  Well dear friends..I believe that state of being is IMPOSSIBLE. Today, I received an update e-mail from my dear friend who's husband has just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  She commented that they are having such a hard time with this because they like to "be in the know" and are having a huge problem with all the uncertainty.  She asked for prayers...which we are doing...but on reflecting about her comment above; I've come to this conclusion. ARE WE EVER IN THE KNOW???  I mean completely...totally...I think not. TO LIVE IS TO BE UNCERTAIN.  The only one  to "be in the know" is the being upstairs....driving the bus! LOL Oh...from time to time...he or she will give us a little respite and let us think we are controlling this whole sha-bang, but in reality; we're n

During this special time of year to Christians and several other religions I often find myself reflecting on GRACE. GRACE means different things to everyone. What does it mean to you dear friends? I would like to tell you what GRACE means to me. Grace comes from the Latin word "gratia" which means "favor".  Taking that a step further specifically....God's favor. That's it....a free and ready favor given by God to us simply because he is God. God sees the good, bad and the ugly and love's us anyway.  He wants us to return to that state of innocence and wonder we had as a very small child and to truly see the wonders of the world we have been given. That does not mean a life without sorrow and loss...to me that means taking life in stride being able to say "what is....is" and accepting the path God has chosen for you.  Often....that is not the path you would want...but it is the path God wants for you.  He is the big picture guy.....we ar

DID I GET YOUR ATTENTION!! teehee I know I've shown pictures of my backyard garden before...but it is especially lush during this short spring season here. This is my volunteer rose tree.  It is a wild rose we tried to kill.....OH WELL!!  One of my rose beds I know today I've posted a lot of pictures of my garden....but it is so lovely here right now...and I'm spending a lot of time outside. We had such a hard freeze this winter that I am amazed anything survived. And last but not least my St. Francis statue.  It was here when we bought the house over 9 years ago.  It has broken off at the waist so I simply sat it in my rose beds as is to add a special little blessing to this wonderful garden God has given me.  To all you dear ladies who are still having snow and cold weather...sending spring thoughts your way. Blessings dear friends, Jo

HUGS TO ALL.... Jo Photo:  Tumbler: A quieter storm

Come on in and join me for a cup of coffee today and I will share a small part of my previous life with you.  No....this is not a post about reincarnation. LOL My beautiful soul mate is my second husband.  My first husband was the father of my two beautiful children. We got married WAY to young...and really neither one of us knew what we were getting into. He went to school...I worked...had kids...the usual hum drum of life went on. However...inside this man's chest...beat the heart of a musician.  Oh...that wasn't his vocation, he was a teacher; but every chance he got he was writing tunes, strumming his guitar, playing small gigs here and there. Which meant, he was often not at home.  I don't think I ever spent one New Year's Eve with him in the eleven year's we were married.  The extra money he brought in with his playing was much needed, but you can only imagine all the difficulty his being gone caused.  I felt he was sort of an absentee father....even w

Today I'm joining all the other wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday. I'm a little late with this post...but I wanted to share with you a simple painting I did in art class yesterday. It is supposed to be a scene from Venice.. that has been texturized with a Mod Podge material.  First of all..it is the first time I have worked with acrylics and secondly...I haven't taken a class in years!!  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! There was no stress..no pressure...the instructor was very positive and pleasant....and you learn many new techniques. If any of you are thinking about taking a few simple classes...I highly recommend it.  You get a completely different perspective and of course what is better than spending an afternoon painting and being lost in the present moment. Please go here http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com to see all the other beautiful work being shared today. Have a wonderful weekend. Jo

What a difference a few days make in one's life. In a recent post I mentioned about catching up with dear friends from Montana.  We were able to meet them in Palm Springs for a little catch up session. Well.....yesterday.....we learned that our gentleman friend has just been diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer.  It came completely out of the blue....and to make matters worse.... this dear friend's brother-in-law...was diagnosed with THE SAME KIND OF CANCER last August.  Can hardly get my brain around this. Please, please add this wonderful family to your prayer list.  I know miracles still happen and I pray one will be performed here! Have a gentle day, Jo

I think it really is just this simple..... Today is a gorgeous day....let's go give somebody a HUG!!! Jo Sign:  Courtesy Laurie Ann's Vintage Home

Is this not the cleverest???? Received this little WRITTEN NOTE in the mail today....from my dearest friend. We will be traveling with this couple in the fall..they have been  our cruise mates on many an outing. THIS particular friend is extremely talented and clever....she always thinks a little outside the box....which OF COURSE I love.....and I also love it that she took the time to actually WRITE A NOTE....instead of texting or sending me an e-mail....Ah...maybe the OLD TIMES ARE STILL IN EXISTENCE FOR QUITE A FEW OF US.  HOORAY FOR THAT!!!!! Have a smiley day, Jo

I am almost ashamed to admit...I have never eaten a PEEP.  In fact...I didn't even know they existed until a few years ago when my husband's sister made such a big deal about letting them sit out until they got hard....because they were better that way.  LOL .... WHO KNEW?? I also cannot believe they come in so many colors...you can find a PEEP to match your decor...how great is that!! Gads....when I was a kid I was lucky if we got dyed Easter Eggs....and I never got Easter candy.  I obviously need to make up for lost time.... (O: (O: PEEPS don't really ring my bell ...but See's Candy does.  I'll let you know how I do once I get my pound of dark chocolate covered almond clusters...Oh....be still my heart!! BTW.....you can find the wonderful PEEP artist here. orianakacicek.blogspot.com She also paints some other AMAZING THINGS....I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY HER. Hugs, Jo

I try to support women artists when possible.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to make a living selling your art.   With the internet it probably has gotten a little easier for your work to be seen...but there are so many creative, wonderful artists out there....that the competition is incredible. This is an artist I love and support....Maria Pace Wynters.  She is an artist out of Canada and I fell in love with her colors and her creativity. I own two of her pieces...on is larger than the other...but I enjoy both of them. I have always loved putting contemporary pieces in ornate frames.  This piece was a little to big for the frame....so....I simply attached it to the front....like a shadow box in reverse.   She always picks a wonderful name for each piece...and I simply love the dream like quality she portrays.  By the way...someone told me if you own three pieces of one artists....you are a collector....who knew?? LOL Please stop by to see her work....you will find h

Well...we are home at last.  Had such a wonderful time catching up with old friends...but Dorothy said it best "there is no place like home." It has turned quite warm here for the last few days....so my gardens have exploded.  More Iris than I know what to do with and ROSES pouring out my ears.  LOL LOL Now mind you...I'm not complaining...I appreciate each and everything that I am given in this life. However.....If I was really honest.....I wish I lived here...... Could you just imagine waking up to all this beauty....each and every day....and the aroma....oh it must be heavenly. I wouldn't even mind the bees....... So please join me in my magic field of lavender....and sit with me a while. I would love to have a nice chat....and catch up.....then we would go pick lavender till our  baskets were full. Sending springtime wishes to each and everyone of you. Hugs, Jo

O.K......just checking in....we are staying in Palm Springs for a few days.  Visiting friends from the San Juan Islands, Montana, and California.  It is quite nice that all of them are here at the same time so we can catch up. For those of you who have not been in this part of our beautiful country....just sharing a few shots around the area.   The flowers here are magnificent this time of year....and of course it is Golf Course Mecca!! It is about the same weather wise as AZ...only it can be a little hotter in the summer. Each time we come here...I am always amazed by all this green right in the middle of a desert. And...of course.....there are water features EVERYWHERE.  I've been told that Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Indio....etc.. are sitting over a huge lake ...... so apparently...water will never be a problem. Here is a shot of the surrounding area in the desert.  There are huge patches of desert between all the golf course communities and little