* A few details

... are beginning to appear on Searching for Peace.  I have spent most of the day with her.

Here's a little of the details close up.

Thanks for dropping by.  It's been fun visiting all of you and seeing what you've been up to.  Valerie, if you are tuned in -- get well soon.  I know I don't speak just for myself when I say you are missed.  Take care, have some fun.  xoxo  Donna

“We don't realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

* Progress ...

Spent most of the day with 'Searching for Peace'.  She has a heavy heart at the moment.  We did make some progress ..

Hope this day finds you all well and happy.  Thanks for stopping by.  xoxo  Donna

“any fool can be happy. It takes a woman with real heart to make beauty out of the stuff that makes us weep.”
― Clive Barker, Days of Magic, Nights of War

* Searching ....

A new painting came on to the canvas today, much to my surprise.  She is only just blocked in.  When I asked her what her name was, she told me 'Searching'.  When I asked her, 'What are you searching for', she said 'Searching for Peace'.  I hope she finds it.  I hope we all find it.

"Searching for Peace"

Thanks so much for coming for a visit.  Sending love to each of you.  Thanks for all your beautiful comments.  xoxo Donna

“Peace is the number one beautiful ornament you can wear, I really believe that. They say you should always wear a smile, but I don't believe that you should "always" wear a smile, seriously, you're going to look stupid! But peace, you should always carry peace within you, its the most beautifying thing you could ever have or do. Peace makes your heart beautiful and it makes you look beautiful, too. You want to have perfect physical posture when you stand, sit, and walk, and peace is the perfect posture of the soul, really. Try perfect posture outside as well as inside. Peace creates grace and grace gives peace.”
― C. JoyBell C.

* Freedom is off the Easel

I thought Freedom was complete last night.  I brought her downstairs and put her on the mantle.  She wasn't finished.  I've spent all morning and half the afternoon on details.  They all want details. :o) For some reason I find her so different than the rest.  Perhaps because she looks so young to me.  She did say that Freedom was a fairly new concept in the world - so she was in fact young.  Also told me I take Freedom for granted as I was born to it.  Not everyone is so fortunate.  True. 

It's quite difficult to get a good photograph because of all the gold metallic I use - so I've made you some detail shots below.

Since one of the birds was offering her a heart (symbol of love), because they were so happy not to be in a cage.  Since 'love was in the air' I couldn't resist putting small hearts in the sky to take the place of stars.

It's that 'time inbetween' again.  Time when I am restless and I don't know what's coming next.  I'll be happy when something surfaces.

So my sweets, thanks so much for coming over.  Too bad I couldn't offer you a virtual Sangria.  It's a gorgeous sunny day here, 73 degrees F. at the moment.  A tall cool one on the terrace would be perfect.  I've really enjoyed my day so far.  Hope you are having a good one too.  xoxo Donna

Run without a destination, and you'll finally see, what freedom can be.

* A Day with Freedom ...

Spent just about the entire day working with Freedom.  She's nearly ready to come off the easel ....

Thanks for stopping in.  Hope all is well in your world.  Take care.  xoxo Donna

Break the rules. Find your freedom. Live your life.

* Back at the Easel

I think Freedom was becoming quite bored just sitting on the easel doing nothing.  Tonight she is looking and feeling a little better.  :o)

I spoke with the eye specialist today.  He is quite baffled as my tests are all very good - no plaque or calcium or lack of flow in my arteries.  Blood work all normal.  He wants to meet with another specialist over the weekend to go over my case.  I won't have a final prognosis until Monday night.  I'm so grateful there is nothing major wrong to cause this, oddly enough I'm almost doing the happy dance.  I can see enough to paint, and I think my eyes will adjust.  I'm working with my naturopath with herbs and acupuncture - so who knows?  Other people heal from strokes - why not me.  In the meantime, I am so happy happy happy nothing else is wrong!

That being said -- here is a peek at my latest work on Freedom.

Still lots to do, however, she's coming along.

Thanks for dropping in my Lovely's.  I've been very busy with appointments so haven't been to visit you lately - - I will get there hopefully this weekend.  Take care, be happy - life is short, so have some fun.  One never knows what's going to happen next.  

I'm alive. Breathing on my own. With the ability to hear, speak, taste, touch, see and think clearly... all on my own. I am sane and in good health with lovely caring friends. And I fix to my lips to complain about...what?! A little loss of vision?????  I'm changing my perspective to one of gratitude on a more regular basis.  I'm going back to my gratitude journal.  More Thank You's, less Bitching.  I am.  Yes, I am.

* So what have I been up to, you may ask???

So, besides going blind in one eye (my sick sense of humour), I have been playing in my studio.  I feel a bit cross eyed and get a headache, but what the hell, I just have to keep going.

I am taking a class called "Soul Temple" which has just begun.  It's all about letting go of the issues that are causing you pain.  Well, I still have a couple of those.  The difference being, at this moment in time, I know exactly what they are.  Now that I'm clear, I think it will be much easier to let go of - so wish me luck.  I so want to be pain free!

We need a writing journal and an art journal for class.  I have been working on both.  The art journal was made from scratch.  The writing journal is an old moleskin, half used up from 2008.  Oddly enough, the first pages I wrote on said "In Search of Donna" with a dictionary definition of Soul and Soul searching.  I left those in - with the date on it.

Front cover of my writing journal for the "Soul Temple" class

First two pages - pocket containing book mark on the right.

The page which was already in the book from 2008.  "In Search of Donna" --- well, I'm still lookin'.

I entitled it "Everything is going to be OK, Don't Give up".  I need to know that right now, and I need a constant reminder - so this should do it.

First two pages of my Art Journal for "Soul Temple"

I've taken up chanting again.  I find it so calming.  I don't have any mala beads (Hindu prayer beads) so I made some.  I love holding them in my hand and moving one bead up after every chant of the mantra.

Painting has been put on the back burner.  Really want to get back to "Freedom" who is sitting on my easel looking a  little disgruntled.

Well, my lovely's, thank you so much for dropping by.  Thank you for all your support and your beautiful words of encouragement.  They touch my heart.  xoxo Donna

“Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel 

* Update on the Eye Situation

A little update for you all.  First, let me thank you for your comments of encouragement and support, all the emails, and the love you have been sending my way.  I appreciate you so much.

The news isn't great - although it could be worse.  I have had the very rare occurrance of a stroke in my left eye.  The main artery into the eye is damaged.  The damage is permanent.  Yes, it was a shock.  I have batteries of testing to go through before I return to the specialist next Wednesday.  At that time he will take more photographs of the eye, send me to the hospital for more testing, and when he gets all the results together, he will make an informed prognosis.  There is a possibility lazer or injections may be able to improve my sight somewhat.  We will see, and I will keep you posted.

Asking for your prayers, your loving thoughts for healing in whatever way you communicate with the Universe.  There is nothing more to be done.  It is what it is.  I know in time my other eye will compensate, 'cause that's how nature works.   In the meantime, I simply have to relax, surrender and accept.  That may take me a few days ... ha ha.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope your autumn days are wonderful ones.  xoxo Donna

“One thing: you have to walk, and create the way by your walking; you will not find a ready-made path. It is not so cheap, to reach to the ultimate realization of truth. You will have to create the path by walking yourself; the path is not ready-made, lying there and waiting for you. It is just like the sky: the birds fly, but they don't leave any footprints. You cannot follow them; there are no footprints left behind.”
― Osho

* Brown Eyes Down

Just a quick post to let you know I won't be posting for a little while, yet again!  I must say, I am tiring of these seemingly never ending chain of events.  I woke up yesterday morning unable to see much out of my left eye.  A big white/dark, solid blob in the middle of my left eye.  Oh, you can't see it from the outside, however it certainly impairs my vision from the inside.  I have an appointment with a wonderful eye specialist about one hour away -- that's not until Thursday. 

Until then, I'm pretty much on hold.  What does one do when one cannot see?  A huge and very scary question. 

Hope all is well with you.  Thanks for dropping in.  xoxo Donna

* A Day in the Country ...

* S I G H*.  Learned a lot about myself this last little while.  I've been missing nature so much.  Yesterday, when we went for a drive in the country, out to the Organic Farm to buy vegetables, I found out the answer.  You can take the girl out of the Country, but you can't take the Country out of the girl.  Oh yes, I've lived in some big cities in my young days - that was wonderfully exciting.  However, I grew up in the country and after I was married we always lived on acreages.  Yesterday, after being out for a day - I honestly felt like I'd been on a holiday.  It was soul food.  I took so many photographs, it's hard to know which ones to share.  Hope I don't bore you silly.

Big Houses on beautiful developments just outside of town.

This small estate had it's own stables.

"sigh"

Moorish windows going into a new house.

Like this one too.

At the entrance to one development.  The detail absolutely incredible.

View from the front.

Here we are.  The organic farm awaits.

A window in the brick wall.

Growing herbs, flowers and just out of sight, drying pumpkin seeds on screens.

 Wendy and Sal choosing their produce.

Still ploughing the fields the old way.

The donkey cart.

Wendy and Sal wandering down the lane to look at the crops

A crop of paddle cactus - very common every day food

With a huge enclosed field for the chickens, she is still able to strut her stuff.  I talked to them in their language for ages!  They all understood and came over for a visit.

On the way home - cows wandering through the village.

Isn't the baby beautiful?

'SIGH'

Tonight I am eating cooked beets with butter, accompanied by a plate full of beet greens.  In the markets here, beets are sold with no tops.  They don't like them.  Tonight I have a little slice of heaven on my plate.  :o)

Thanks for dropping by.  I've been without internet for three days - I'll get caught up with you in the next couple of days.  Take care.  xoxo Donna

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."
Hans Christian Anderson