* New Interface and The Old Days ...

I have no idea what's happening to my blog.  Since I posted last, the font has entirely changed and I don't like it.  Maybe it's time for a new look anyway  - just not that one.  OK, now I've complained about the new interface I can move on.

The old days ... ah yes.  It was 2001 and I joined my first art group on the web.  Exciting stuff.  I had a brand new mac, and I was a happy camper.  We swapped everything but the kitchen sink, and did round robins for Altered Books.  I had not been exposed to any of this before, but fell into it up to my neck and loved every minute of it.  Collage was Queen ... we were all gah gah over it.  Oh, you could go and buy rubber stamps, a few trinkets,  and some pretty paper, but absolutely nothing like it is today.

Today I came across one book where Carolyn Summers had been in the round robin as well.  I saved my pages and Carolyn's - the others went in the bin.  I'm going to bind what I have as a memory book.  I made some photographs of the book I called "Other Whimsey" - here are the pages I'm keeping.  You can really see the difference between 'then and now'.  It got me hooked on the web and this kind of art.  Been involved in something ever since.

I remember getting such a kick out of creating "A bad day at the house of Ylang Ylang"  Ylang being a beautiful smelling concoction which keeps everyone calm and mellow.   In this house, absolutely everything is in chaos, except for the horse with the boy on it's back sitting by the front door.  Just tickled my sense of humour and still does.

I'd spend hours looking for just the right images and place them in just the right place!  It kept me quiet anyway.  These are all single pieces placed into a collage.

These pages were Carolyn's contribution to my book.  I loved them then and I love them now.  When I looked through the books, I realized that most of the artists involved didn't have a clue what they were doing.  I didn't either, but I learned fast and enjoyed it so much, I got to be OK in a hurry.

This was the group I met Carolyn in.  She loves oriental arrangements and also did this beautiful page.

That's it for today my lovely's.  Hope you are all well and happy and creating fabulous art.  What would we do without it.  xoxo  Donna

"You get your intuition back when you make space for it, when you stop the chattering of the rational mind."

~ Anne Lamott

* Would you believe .....

I have bronchitis.  Felt a twinge Saturday afternoon, by Sunday morning I knew I was sick, and Sunday night was the night from hell.  Up all night coughing.  I couldn't believe how fast it happened.  Just add water and stir = instant sickie situation.  Dr. today.  Antibiotics this afternoon, hopefully a better sleep tonight.

In the art department of Quinta da Luz, nothing much happened.  I am catching up on some mail though.  In fact, some went into the mail today - sorry Katie - you are not one of them. :o(  I'm beginning phase II though - so you are at least next.

Have I told you about my Saturday's?   Good day, Saturday.  I get up at 7:00 am, put the coffee on, put Habibi out and crawl back into bed with a steaming cup of French roast.  I pretend I'm in Paris.  At 8:00 am, I arise from my bed, strip it and put everything in the washing machine.  Usually rummage around sniffing the wind for food and end up eating freshly picked papaya. Everything I need for arting, including my computer, is packed into a little bag.  Habibi and I go to the studio.  He goes first so we know where we are, and no one falls downstairs.  Habibi's happy, he gets to sit out on the studio terrace.  (Better views of what's going on than courtyard walls).  About 9:15 the doorbell rings.  It's the three women who clean my house.  Yes, that's right, three. Fondly known as "Upstairs/Downstairs".  These wonderful women whip into their routine that is down pat by now.  Marta comes upstairs with me.  I stay sitting at my table, trying my best to stay out of her way.  About 10:00 am the Senora de las flores rings the door bell.  By the time I answer the door she is heaving a huge tub of flowers from her shoulders down to the sidewalk.  We greet each other with great big smiles, and I say "Senoria de las flores" in an animated tone.  She giggles and I pick out the flowers.  I put them in water.

At 12:00 noon Marta (upstairs) Rosario and Stephanea bid me a warm farewell.
I come down stairs to a house that is shining, windows washed, fresh sheets. I'm a happy camper.  I turn my attention to the flowers.  "Sigh - must have flowers" I mutter to myself.  The cobalt vase comes out, gets filled with water, and I begin to arrange.  I smile.  The flowers are so fresh and beautiful.  "No, perhaps this red carnation should go right here."  My mind mutters and I putter 'til the flowers are just right.  Then they are placed where I can see them from all angles.  I smile.  How blessed am I.

After a little bite to eat I head back up to the studio, where I spend the rest of my day in pure bliss.

I haven't done much in my Book of Days lately.  I'm thinking about binding what I have and starting a third volume which would contain the rest of the years entries.  Looking back on some of the spreads made me smile.  I hope I haven't posted this before.  My little Pixy Garden Angel.  I like her.  I love her wings.

 

That's all for today folks.  The beginning of a new week during which I am hoping this bronchitis will be healed.  I won an original Natasha May painting of Frida Kahlo which made me happy. 

Hoping you are all geared up for a wonderful week.  Thanks for all your lovely comments and for those of you who drop by to have a lookie lou I adore lookie lous!

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.

Has anyone else 'fallen in love' working with the new interface Blogger has developed.  I'm not sure I totally understand it.  Somehow tonight, I pushed a now unknown button and permanently lost my list of blogs which I follow.  I know I have you all on my reading list - but geeeeesh, it's going to be a pain to establish it again. I'd love to hear what you all think about the new interface.  Thanks

* Harvest time ...

It's wonderful to see all the freshly picked fruits and vegetables arriving in my neighbourhood.  Went to my little tienda to buy fruits and there they were - a crate of Mandarin oranges - freshly plucked from the tree, the leaves still on, the skins shiny, healthy and full of juice.  Should help my cold which popped in for a visit and had the gall to stay.

Or,  how about a huge bowl of ripe, tasty, juicy mangoes.  Just ready for that first bite.

Pineapples from the fields closer to the west coast, trucks of watermelon, cantaloupe, and incredibly ripe ready to peel bananas.  There is fruit I don't recognize and vegetables I haven't seen before either.  I did recognize the guava, but a few other things are a mystery.  Came home with bananas, oranges, grapes, melon, and papaya.  Yes, you're right, I do love fruit.  Always have.  

The weekend is over!  Hope you all had a delightful one.  Thanks for dropping in.  Your comments are always appreciated.  Take care.  xoxo Donna

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.
~ Christiane Northrup

PS:  Grateful for YOU.

* A Good Week ...

It's been five months since my melt down.  The medical profession have tried five different combinations of drugs during that time.  None of them satisfactory.  Spent most of my time in a comatose state.  Last Sunday I sat down with my trusty computer and began doing research.  ( Angel energy perhaps?) What I came up with was a combination of two drugs which have the least side affects of any.  Mayo Clinic has good words to say about them. That made my heart a little lighter.

As some of you know, I'm not particularly supportive of drugs for depression and anxiety. Dr.'s hand out anti-depressants like candy.  I think the world is over medicated.  On the other hand, now I have to surrender, accept and be happy they are available.   I had spent years getting off the last combo they prescribed me twenty five years ago.  Not one Dr. ever bothered to to discontinue those prescriptions.  Drug fee at last?  It felt WONDERFUL.  I was an entirely new person.   ..... until the year from hell hit and my system just couldn't take the stress in the end.  It broke.  I fought it tooth and nail, but it was broken.

The good news is...  Attended a Dr.'s appointment on Tuesday and gave him my sales spiel.  He agreed.  I began the drugs that day.  TODAY, which is four days later, I cooked myself a meal and did a little arting.  I hauled huge bags of dirt around my terrace and managed to plant two large plants.  YEAH.  Cross your fingers and your toes, but I think we have found the answer, at least for the moment.

I'm so far behind with my mail art, it's a true miracle anyone writes to me anymore.  I have developed dear friends through this blog and the web.  One lady wanted a row house - so I made one.  The other is a business envelope size postcard I can dash a quick note off to a friend just to keep in contact.

I just love these old rhymes.

Things are definitely looking up.  Thanks for dropping by.  Love seeing your words on the page.  Hope you are looking forward to a lovely weekend.  xoxo Donna

I received a lovely email today from someone I hold dear to my heart.  This quote included. I thought it very special.

"Today may there be peace within.  May you trust that you exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.  May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content with yourself just the way you are.  Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."

Angel messages come to us in many different ways.  It just happened to be delivered very special.

* Experimenting

Angels in my Studio just had a video demonstration showing us how to use product and saran wrap to create a painting with an ethereal feel.  Interesting.  I didn't have the proper supplies, however I improvised and this is what happened.

Oh I do love it when you drop by.  Thanks for all your wonderful comments since I've returned to my blog.  Hope you have a lovely day.  CREATE something!  xoxo  Donna

Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe.  ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

* Dressing up the driveway

I just decided to dress up the driveway.  Not possible to finish the large jardin at the back, so I need some beauty around me off the little covered terrace.  These are the 'before' photographs.  It will take me a little while to get everything together as I need holes drilled in the walls, some more plant pots, blah blah blah.  The covered terrace is sort of where I want it - not much more to do -- the driveway ... well, I need to play out there and make a little jungle.  It's coming.  When I'm finished, I'll post again.

Covered terrace

View from covered terrace.

Driveway leading to Jardin

 

 

Nice to see you here today.  Thanks for stopping by.  xoxo Donna

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.--Mohandas Gandhi

* My Experience of Greeting the Angels

My experience with the arrival of the Angels. Approximately two hours before their arrival I began to notice a difference in my own energy. I was absolutely bursting with not only excitement and anticipation, but some other stronger form of good energy which filled every cell of my being. It honestly felt like I might burst or pop. I couldn't settle to do anything to take my mind off of it, so I decided to have a long hot shower, just sitting on the bench quietly letting the hot water flow over my body. While engaging my senses is that experience I received the following message: "We were with you when you were born and we will be with you when you leave this earthly plane. We have met many times before."

 I felt my energy change to a very calm state about 15 minutes before they arrived.  I could feel their energy preceding them - it felt like BIG energy. At the appointed time, I opened the door to the terrace. I welcomed them with open arms like I would welcome someone I have known for a lifetime and loved very much. I felt their energy move me back - I literally stepped back to let their energies pass. All the time I'm talking about how honoured I was to have them with me. I closed the door and realized there was one Angel still outside. I opened the door and let them in. The room felt 'full'. I felt like I was being embraced by one and then another and another while I gave the welcome. I put my arms out to embrace in return, but couldn't feel anything. Odd feeling to have no structure to put your arms around. It took about twenty minutes for the energy in the house to become totally calm and beautiful. They dispersed and the room no longer felt 'packed'. I felt very very settled and more than that the house felt like it was filled with love and pure peace. After I received the first message I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it down. Today I will begin a journal to record my experiences. It feels like these angels are my 'personal' angels, not Archangels. Perhaps I will know more as time passes this week. I have asked them to talk to me while they are here and give me what they feel is necessary knowledge. We will see what happens. I hope Arlene Holtz and Sarah Cooper will share their experiences with all of you today. Another interesting thing, after they arrived I was typing on the computer --- it had slowed down to a crawl. I was at least a sentence ahead before the words showed up on the screen. I t also typed one sentence twice that I had only typed in once. I'll have to go back and find the words - it was something about trust ... and never to doubt your intuition. I'll find it and post it. 

My experience last night with the angels. In the post I just wrote I talked about a sentence I typed into the computer once and when I looked at the screen it was there twice. I was talking about intuition and how sometimes I can doubt it. The next sentence I typed was "never doubt - you are always correct". I only typed that sentence once.  It appeared twice! Very interesting don't you think?

 Even if you don't believe - you have to admit this is cool - or you could consider me a 'nut', whichever you prefer.  Thanks for dropping by.  It's pouring rain in San Miguel - absolutely beautiful.  xoxo Donna

 Angels are students in Heaven and teachers on Earth.

* Angels in my Studio

I'm hosting Angels in my home for five days.  They arrive here tonight at 10:30 pm.  Ever heard of it?  No, me either.  Well, lots of people are doing it.  I'll keep you posted.

Welcoming Angel Alter

”We all have angels guiding us…They look after us. They heal us, touch us, comfort us with invisible warm hands…What will bring their help? Asking. Giving thanks.”Sophy Burnham

* Pocco a Pocco (Little by Little)

Didn't have much time to work on this piece today, errands and napping seemed to take priority.

It's sort of an exhausting piece in a way (or possibly it's because I'm still not up to par), but it just seems to go on and on and on.  Just when I think I might be finished, I spot something else I would like to do.  Here is where I'm at today.  I must say I am amazed at how it's turning out though.  SURPRISE!

A New Kind of Love

Thanks for stopping by ... next time don't be in such a hurry, the sangria is on!  Take care and enjoy what you are doing.  xoxo  Donna

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. ~ Unknown

* A New Kind of Love

I've decided that the name of this piece will be "A New Kind of Love", since love itself seems to be pouring out the teapot.  It's been fun today - playing around with this piece.  Perhaps one more day to finish.

A New Kind of Love

That's it for today my Lovelies.  I'm pretty sure most of you are having fun, from what I see on your blogs.  A special hello and my thoughts go out to Carolyn -- Take care my dear friend.  Thinking of you.  xoxoDonna

A good woman doubles the length of her existence, to have lived so as to look back with pleasure on our past life is to live twice.

* And now for something completely different ....

Back to my basic, very basic, intuitive painting.  Needed some play time today.  Yes, you are right, my studio did not get cleaned.  I need a magic wand please and a faery God Mother if you can spare her.  I'm to the point where I can't find anything!  There are piles of paper and ephemera everywhere.  The question is, do I want to play or do I want to clean.  I keep asking myself that and always come up with the same answer - thus the mess remains.  It is getting serious though .... frustration is setting in.  That's when I absolutely know something must be done and soon.

Today was not the day however.  I splashed some paint on a smaller canvas I had and kept looking for shapes.  Like playing hide and seek!  I spent the entire day doing this .. well, in between napping.  I would throw some paint at the canvas - stand back and see what I could see.  Interesting study.  Here's what's happened so far.  Tomorrow is another day .....

Hope your week got off to a great start and you enjoyed your weekend.  Take care and thanks for dropping round for a lookie loo.  xoxo  Donna

The more and more each is impelled by that which is intuitive, or the relying upon the soul force within, the greater, the farther, the deeper, the broader, the more constructive may be the result." - Edgar Cayce

PS:   The comment sent in Russian translates as follows: 

Hey. I am writing from Ukraine. Very good angels, as the real thing. You - a talent! I wish you continued success in the work.  There was a name attached, but can't remember what it was now.  Anyway, thanks for the comment  -  all the way from the Ukraine!

* The Gathering

I completed "The Gathering" last night.  For those of you who haven't been around, the painting came to me from a guided Angel meditation.  I think the expressions on their faces are priceless.  I have not had experience painting small faces before - they are all different and some very funny I think.  My inclination when I paint it always to put in too much detail --- well --- how much detail can you cram into less than a square inch.

The Gathering

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Mid August already!  Where is the year going.  Thanks for dropping by and leaving your wonderful comments.  xoxo  Donna

A house call from an angel can heal a broken heart.

* The Adventure Continues

Had some time today to continue working with my Angel painting.  I did their faces.  Having never painted small faces before, it's been a day of mostly laughing as their expressions emerge with no help from me!  A lot of detail work still to do.  This should make you smile.

"The Gathering"

Closer up so you can see their expressions.  The little one on the right looks like he's never been exposed to anything like this before.  I love his 'scared' expression.

 

That's it for today.  Take care of yourselves and your families.  LOVE, and this moment - that's all we've got.  Cherish it.  xoxo Donna

“Except to heaven, she is nought; Except for angels, lone; Except to some wide-wandering bee, A flower superfluous blown; Except for winds, provincial; Except by butterflies, Unnoticed as a single dew That on the acre lies”

* Book of Days

Went shopping with a friend today to a large town about an hour away.  Big Box Store City.  ha ha  Anyway, I did manage to snag a ceiling fan, track lights for over a mirror and a ceiling light - all for my studio upstairs.  Now I just need some hallway lights and that takes care of the lighting.  It seems never ending what one needs to finish a house.

By the time we got home I didn't get any more painting done, so I will share a spread from my book of days.

She looks like she might have had a little too much vodka --- ah well --- hope she had a good time!

It hasn't rained today, but looks like it might.  I bought a fig (Ficus) tree today with the trunk already braided and a gardenia, so I'm excited to get them into pots tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping in - always a pleasure to know you were hear and read your lovely comments.   Blogland is a magic place.  Take care.  xoxo  Donna

As we become purer channels for Universal light, we develop an appetite for the sweetness that is possible in this world. A miracle worker is not geared toward fighting the world that is, but toward creating the world that could be.
Marianne Williamson

* A little adventure ...

I have always been connected to my angels and guides in some way.  During some parts of my life it has been stronger and or course sometimes it all gets lost in the chaos I allow.

An interesting course became available for an unbelievable price so I signed up.  "Angels in my Studio" with Sheri Ann Ponzi.  I signed up half way through, so am still getting caught up.  Yesterday I did my first guided meditation to connect with the angels.  Being a hypnotherapist myself it didn't take me long to go into a very deep level of consciousness and when I came out of it at the end, I really didn't remember much.

Last night (in the middle of) an image came to me for a painting.  (Painting is part of the course).  I began working on it today.  The image I saw went like this ... I am walking in the forest and come upon a door.  The light is so bright, even though the door is closed, the light filters through the cracks in the old door and allows beautiful shafts to escape into the trees.

I open the door.  Inside the bright room stand huge angels.  They are the archangels, which I am not that familiar with.  When I entered they approached me slowly and with great love, embracing me with their wings.  I felt very small.  They were dressed in bright clothing which was embroidered like the native dress of Mexico further south.  I had the distinct impression they had done this to honour me, as they knew I loved it.

The story will continue as it happens.  Today, I began the painting as I envisioned it.

You can hardly see the heads - just sketched in.

So good to be back blogging, even if it's not every day.  I'm loving this painting so much - it has a feel about it.  I guess because in a way 'I was there'.  

Thanks for dropping in and for all your kind and loving support.  What would I do without you.  xoxo  Donna

“When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts.”

* Row Housing ...

In book of days, we've been making houses and more houses for swaps.  We now all have Sister "Hoods".  They became quite addictive, easy to make and a nice quiet way to spend some time when I was feeling not so great.  Thought you might like to see some of them.  I don't have photos of them all.   I'll show you the ones I received when I get them organized and take some photos.

Thanks for dropping by and having a lookie-loo.  Hope you are having a great weekend.

 Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself - Harvey Fierstein. 

* It was one of those days .....

.... one of those days when, you know, you just can't lift yourself up with any sense of integrity.  So I had to lie.  I decided to use the old saying 'fake it 'til you make it'.  This is a spread from my Book of Days.

Thanks for dropping over.  It's Sa Turd ay!  (Did you know there was a turd in Saturday (OH MY!)  Have a great weekend.  

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.

~ Nora Roberts

* It's me! Don't be too shocked.

Hi everyone!  Hope this finds you all well and enjoying your summer.  It's been beautiful here.  Even though it's the rainy season, we are having just the right amount of beautiful drops for a couple of hours a day and the rest of the time it's glorious.  My surroundings are green and the dam we use for water is filling quickly, both of which make me happy.

I've been restless.  They say that's a sign of healing.  Hope so.  Nothing was coming on to the canvas in the "Spiritual Women" department, so I decided to try something a little different.  The canvas is large, and once I had begun I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

While renovating a turn of the century house, many things turned up as we took down walls and lifted boards, basically gutting the inside.  Some of the objects were interesting and were kept in a box.  Now some of them are on the canvas.  I'm not sure what to think - you can be honest and let me know what is going through your mind.  (Is this story true or false.  You choose)

 

Top close up

Bottom close up

Thanks so much for dropping in.  Hoping I'll be posting a little more often, however no promises.  Take care.  xoxo  Donna

I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.  Oprah Winfrey

That is an amazingly difficult attribute to learn!