Holiday Hope

This is the time of year when many people complain about what they don't have. They make huges lists of material 'must haves" for Santa to bring or for other people to buy because they think life will be better with them.

For others, this is a time of year when we remember the less fortunate. Those without food, shelter or warmth. Those who are battling life-threatening illnesses. Those who don't have any family members left and feel totally alone. Big TVs, Ipods, computers, diamonds or fancy cars wouldn't fill their needs or their hearts.

 

What all of us need to keep in mind in any of these situations is that people care. I still believe that good outweighs bad. So let's remember the less fortunate in this season of giving. Let's show them that hope is always on the horizon.

Wishing you all who celebrate, A Very Merry Christmas. Sharing with you week after week is one of my greatest gifts of all!

( And for those of you who don't know my secret signature, the 3 cypress trees are always in my heart. They represent the 3 cats we drove from Rhode Island to California with 18 years ago. I miss them dearly and feel blessed to have had them in my life for so many years. Merry Christmas, boys.)

( click the image to see hope on the horizon!)

This is a repost from 2007, but worthy today.

xoxo

Lo

Happy HOWL-idays to MEW!

Well, at least Emma and Bliss are ready for the holidays!

I did have every intention of printing these and mailing them to my friends but I only got as far as designing it.

Please feel free to right click, save and print and sign "Love, Lo" on it and put it on your mantle!

One of my resolutions for the new year is to find balance between life and work and to get back to blogging.

I miss everyone!

Have a wonderful Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza...whatever you celebrate, celebrate with all your heart! ♥

Love,

Lo

xoxoxo

New paintings and Bear winner!

Somehow I've managed to whip up two new small paintings for Grasmere.

This snowy lamb ...

And this Baroque-era raven.

There's shiny coppery bits on the rave's background which is hard to make out.

It felt good to paint again!

And now....drum roll please...

The winner of the cute bears is

Marion!

Congrats my friend! I know your grandkids will give them lots of love♥

How funny that you entered just in the nick of time :)

ReGift-Away

I have mixed feelings about doing this, but in my heart I think it's the best solution all around.

I opened a box from a dear distant relative (whom I've never met) and inside were these two, brand new darling bears. She and I have exchanged Christmas gifts for eleven years now. The thing is, these are different from what she normaly sends.

I don't collect anything, especialy dolls or bears or anything cute.

I'd be an art collector if I could afford it, but I can't.

So after gazing in these sweet eyes for a couple of weeks I thought the right thing to do would be to have a regift-a-way and have the winner reimburse me for the postage. You get two collectible bears for the cost of shipping and I don't have a heavy heart from shoving these cuties in a drawer when they should be proudly displayed.

They are Bearington Bears. Look at her face! Her dress is more of a Christmas green, not this dull green in the photo. They come complete with a stand with the tags still attached. 

Look at this little cutie in his cable knit sweater!

What little girl (or big girl collector) wouldn't love these?

I can't help that I'm missing that gene! :)

Think of who you have on your list who would be thrilled to open this package on Christmas day. I will draw the name of one lucky winner on Sunday, Dec 4th.

I'm only allowing those of you who already visit me to enter this.

That's my small gift to you, my loyal friends. (Whom I haven't been so loyal to these days, sorry.)

 I know how giveaways can ooze into the blogosphere and everyone comes a runnin'!

Sorry, friends only Good luck everyone!

I just want these bears to have a wonderful, loving home.

If she had sent me a puppy or kitten there would NOT be a giveaway ;)

xo

Lo ♥

Thanksgiving Grace

I don't need one particular day of the year to give thanks for all that I have in life.

I try to be thankful every day, and yes, sometimes it's hard

Like when friends and family get sick. Or when there's not enough money for bills.

But even if I'm in a weeping heap, I know how blessed I am just by being given another day to try to get it right. To make a difference even in some small way.

Here's to all of you who have made a huge difference in my life. I'm grateful to you all even though I may not say it (or visit) often enough.

I really love knowing you're there.

Really ♥

xoxo

Lo

full moon photo taken in Pacific Grove, CA.

raven photos taken at Nepenthe, Big Sur, CA

Animal Wednesday: Meditation

I had a day off today and all I asked for was to find a few moments to take a shot or two of the foliage before today's rain brings down all the leaves.

This is one of my favorite vistas. A house on the marsh looking as if it's its own island. I was thrilled to see it had visitors today as I was driving by on my way home from the market. 

Hello, Mr. and Mrs.!!

Soft rain falling in Autumn...and swans!

Thank you, Universe. ♥ 

P.S.  My nickname at work is tree hugger. And that's a bad thing?

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Sunday Thoughts

Wow, what a whirlwind couple of weeks.

A new job with intense hours. (40 hours in three and a half days.)

My dear friend and Uncle stricken with end stage pancreatic cancer even after having gone to doctor after doctor only to be diagnosed too damn late because they weren't listening to him.

My friend's daughter in law, age 32, diagnosed with bladder cancer after having been given three rounds of antibiotics and NO urinalysis tests. She had surgery to have the tumor removed, but here we are three weeks later and now she has a tumor on one of her kidneys. 

And now another friend facing her own challenges and waiting to confirm a cancer diagnosis after months of being ill. Let's hope it's a false alarm and her battle can be won.

What's happening here? Aren't we in a time where diagnoses are easier to form?

I'm exhausted and sad today.

All I can do is send out prayers and stay true to myself by being authentic.

I miss you all and love you. Once I get adjusted to all of these changes and life challenges I will be better at visiting.

Life is good still, but overwhelming at times, no?

xoxo

Lo♥

Oh Joy!!!!

I had the day off today. Oh Joy!

I spent time cleaning my messy studio. Oh joy!

And then I made myself take a little time to paint.

Little painting for Grasmere.

BIG joy in my heart to make art again.

5" x 5" for my new "Teasers" series.

xoxo

Lo♥

Illustration Friday: Stripes

Cats will do anything to find a sunny spot.

This is a painting of my old cat Biff who graced my life for nearly seventeen years.

He had malnutrition and pneumonia and weighed 5 pounds when I adopted (stole) him from his neglectful owners.

He showed his gratitude for life every single day.

Meanwhile, I started my new job at the veterinary hospital on Tuesday. I have put in nearly 30 hours in 3 days which is why I've been so scarce, yet again.

It will take some time to get acclimated to these hours, but so far it's going well.

Everyone is nice and helpful, but best of all I get to hold puppies again and greet so many new fur friends!

Oh, and getting a paycheck again? Priceless!

I hope to visit you all soon. It looks like I've missed a million posts!

xo

Lo♥

It's Birthday Time!

From one Princess to another!

Have a super birthday, dear LS :)

Love, Lo, Bri, Princess Bliss and Emma♥

Animal Wednesday: Mystery Box

Well what do you think is in this big box that came from Robin?

The lilac tissue is SO her :)

WOW!!! Look at the size of this guy! He's tired after flying all the way from San Francisco.

Well, he sort of flew :)

Emma took off like a shot and hid under the pillow!

It could be that she remembers the story about her daddy (Brian) getting attacked by ravens in Bodega Bay at the same place where "The Birds" was filmed. See the schoolhouse? She just KNOWS Alfred Hitchcock sent this damn bird!

It's true, they showed no mercy.

Bliss is a lot tougher than Emma, believe it or not.

Here she is checking him out near one of her beds.

There'd better not be bird poop in there, hairy guy!

Nope. Good thing for you! I'll be watching you though.

But I love him and he apparantly loves our Rhode Island Red Rooster.

Aww, he'll find a place in Em's heart soon. And Bliss will lighten up too.

Meanwhile, guess what I named him?

Really.....guess!

He's a bit more hairy looking than feathery, probably because he's still young and downish.

Ready?

Hairy CAWnick Jr. !!

Happy Animal Wednesday, my dear friends.

Thank you Robin! I love him. Can I keep him, huh, can I?

xo

Lo♥

Illustration Friday: Fuel

methane!!

Hey, I didn't want to be a poop and not participate this week :)

And yes, those are HOT AIR balloons on the cow.

Happy Weekend everyone!

xo

Lo♥

For other illustration Friday entries, click here.

Illustration Friday: Scattered

Scattered leaves like confetti on the shallow pond.

The Koi feel celebrated by Autumn.  

For Illustration Friday

acrylic paint, colored pencils and patterned paper, 10 minutes

Animal Wednesday: Chick with attitude!

This is one of the resident chickens at Coggeshall Farm when Robin visited.

She came out to greet us....

...turned and stepped through the gate when I got too close,

And then told me to go home! hahahaha!

Could she have been more clear?

And I thought I'd throw this is seeing as I haven't posted much art lately.

I painted this chicken a few years back and sold it in California.

It's one of my best selling notecards on Etsy.

Happy Animal Wednesday, my friends!

Sunday Snippet

Today my leg felt good enough to take myself on a walk.

Mother Nature is giving us little hints of what's to come.

Personally, I can't wait for the full spectrum glow!

Back to work tomorrow, slowly but surely.

Happy Sunday, my friends.♥

Animal Wednesday with Robin

What a wonderful week Robin and I spent together getting to know one another in person. She was a delightful guest! I just took her to the airport where she'll be getting back to her life in San Francisco. Just like when Marianne left, I miss her already.

Here I am photographing her photographing a seagull!

She was fascinated by everything here, even the ordinary.

This photo was taken at Colt State Park in Bristol.

We strolled through the gardens and arboretum at Blithewold and I discovered a pond which I had never seen before. It was fun sharing something new with her.

These koi were coy! They just wanted to stay beneath the surface although the sun was calling them.

We had a wonderful lunch here in Newport.

Most of the shops have water and treats for doggies that pass by!

Lions and griffons on my favorite planter at Blithewold.

And this sweet little Viceroy we saw on the Cliff Walk.

And here's the gang at Coggeshall Farm. One burro, one horse, and an entire family of heirloom cattle. They are massive and gorgeous!

Lilac Robin is scouting for more wildlife.

Looking for shells...

The adventurer!

Marco!!! Polo!!!!! Marco??? Lolo????

And so she continues to sleuth along the water's edge.

I'm told she loves it here.

I'm sure she'll be back ;)

xo

lo♥