My Grama's Soul

I am always tickled when I see yet another post in social media about collecting plants....as though THAT was a new thing!   I have always had plants once I had my own home.  In fact...in my early twenties and thirties I had as many as 150 of the little friends living with me and my family. I do admit that number became little over-whelming as I had my children and life became more complicated....but I never disposed of my friends...I just became more selective in which ones I was willing to nurture.  Actually, that is kind of like life....you only keep friends you REALLY VALUE.     Anyway...my plants have been with me through thick and thin...in fact they used to travel with us when we would leave AZ for the summer. But...due to time and age factors (both mine and my plants) I have cut my numbers significantly....(the plants..NOT my age)  haha.....  My next several posts will be about amusi...

Hi dear friends.  This is a photo of me on my 70th birthday.  It was taken at a dinner in celebration of same.  I'll soon be 71 and of course should have spoken out about this little issue earlier.   Why is it that in today's society that once you are past 60 or 65 you suddenly become invisible.  Your opinion seem to no longer matter, your visibility all but goes into a closet and any  thing of new  interest always seems to be about the young.  I know.....we have had our "time in the sun" so to speak...but we still have ideas and comments to contribute to the world. I follow a number of different media sources and rarely are the older folks even mentioned.  We are still here and we still are interested in design, beauty, art, culture, reading, making a living, cooking, people, travel.....just to name a few things...and the list could go on and on.  Oh.....didn't even MENTION politics!!! Often times...even...

"O.K. God--you take care of the quality.  I will take care of the quantity." Julia Cameron At this point in my life.....I am just stuck!  There, I have said it...and am going to have to do something about it. I don't like being in this spot.  This last year of my life has been so very unsettling, with my huge move and downsize, Brad's serious surgery, and my son's death; it seems as though true JOY is just out of reach.   This isn't a case of the "blues or depression"....I'm still getting on about the business of life.  The passion is gone.  Things I once loved doing, blogging, painting, making jewelry just being creative in some manner have all fallen aside and piled up behind my wall of "being stuck". Friends tell me that this will pass since I have certainly had a lot going on...but I DON'T LIKE BEING STUCK.  Since I believe there is a direct connection between spirituality and creativity...in fact they ...

Today is our anniversary.......34 years and counting...... We have been through a lot together and hopefully we will have many, many more years together. He sends me red roses EVERY year.  This year I told him not to because they are so very expensive....but his comment to me was "as long as my heart beats along with yours, you will receive red roses on our anniversary." Oh my........be still my heart!! Have a beautiful day, Jo

I know that much of the country is digging itself out of snowdrifts of varying heights....here in AZ we are cold....but.....NO SNOW.....at least where we are. Just wanted to send a little springtime to all of you....these tulips were at my local greengrocers and couldn't pass them up.  I love it when tulips drape themselves lazily over their vase.  Perfect gift for myself (and the house) for the upcoming holiday. This year my beautiful soul mate and myself are going to a musical downtown in celebration of the holiday. Songs that we remember...although a few of you might not.  (O: Our dearest friends are going with...and we plan on a romantic dinner before the show.  Ahhhh..romance.....so important to keep it alive and well!! I  know  Valentine's Day is fast approaching....so from our house to yours.....Happy Valentine's Day! hugs, Jo

Been messing around with "junk" again. What do you think? Beads from old necklaces taken apart and reused in new ways..parts of an old earring and bracelet.  The silver piece is not one I made..but I liked how it looked so I added it. We will be leaving for warmer weather soon...on a little trip...this necklace should fit right in!! Hugs, Jo

RED is the most popular of all the colors.....especially for women.  However, it is a very assertive color, therefore making it one of the least popular for making garments. What do you think when you see a woman dressed in red?  I, for one, always look....and love seeing a beautiful woman in red.  It is said that human metabolism rises when red in viewed. It is associated with passion, energy, courage, vividness, leadership, celebration and good cheer. Whatever kind of energy a red dress conveys....it ALWAYS says look at me.....here I am.....YOU cannot ignore me! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day sweet friends.....go put on that red dress and strut your stuff!!  LOL LOL LOL Beezoo..smooches...to all. Jo p.s. I hope that French term is correctly used....(O:(O: Photos courtesy Blue Lantern Studio

  "THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER WHERE YOU WATER IT." Unknown All of us are creative in some way.....yes, each and everyone of us. How many times have you said to yourself....oh...I'm not creative at all?   The above pictures were taken several years ago at the Dale Chihuly exibit at our Desert Botanical Gardens.  Do you think Chihuly ever said to himself....oh...I'm not creative...even when he was making all these weird pieces of glass....Of course he didn't. Since the beginning of mankind...man has been creating art...in caves and beyond....each time this creative process happens everyone of us is touching that soul source...our connection with the divine... Myth and ancient stories came from this connection...trying to figure out why we are here...and what life is about. We are never to old to start this creative journey....living an artistic life... So let's...all of us....make time.....make art....of some kind...

"Art enables us to find ourselves~and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton Unfortunately, I brought very few art supplies with me on our trip this year.  This piece was painted with some broken watercolor crayons and pentel marking pencils.  I have only one tiny tipped watercolor brush with me and I'm using a basting brush when I want to cover a lot of paper. No....it is not the one I use when baking a chicken.    LOL ....LOL   This was done on Canton ll0lb. cold pressed paper....I usually use l30lb. arches. This rose wasn't even  done on watercolor paper it was done on sketch paper....using the water color supplies mentioned above. Sometimes the urge to paint just becomes overwhelming and I go with the flow. This is truly a case of "necessity is the mother of invention" with my art supplies. Had a fun afternoon.....though!! Hugs, Jo

I hope you agree!!!! Have a beautiful Monday, JO Sign courtesy....Laurie Ann's  Vintage Home

I think I do.......I hope  I do~~ No, not necessarily this kind of passion....although, this could be part of it. I really hope I'm not "just whistling in the dark ~~ thinking I lead a full life" as Matthew Perry so aptly stated. Real passion was not always a major part of my life when I was younger.  Sometimes, I would barely be able to hold on to it and other times it completely left the building. But...as life's adversity, sorrow and pain would ebb and flow through my life; it seems I could always hold onto that tiny thread of passion that seemed to hide inside. Passion~~just like any growth....always comes from the inside out....not the other way around. Passion fuels creativity and  beauty ~~ or does creativity and beauty fuel passion? I'm not sure I know the answer to that.....but one thing I am sure of is what my passion is.  My passion is CREATING BEAUTY wherever and whenever I can....no matter what my station in life. Dear friends ~~ what are...