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

Intuitive Friends

There are certain people that come into our lives whom, I'm convinced, at first meeting already know us at the deepest, most personal level.

I am lucky to have encountered a few such friends already where some people wait a lifetime for just one. Your eyes and your heart must be wide open to notice them and let them in.

The friend I'm talking about today has just graced me with her presence for four unforgettable days. As a bonus she brought along her youngest son, Felix, A future Dalai Lama for sure. What an enlightened, delightful young man at the tender age of twelve.

Marianne has always been generous in heart and thoughtfulness. My mailbox has overflowed many times with cards and packages from her (and many other wonderful friends!) I'm very grateful.

The first night she arrived we sat in my studio sharing wine and she started handing me gold-wrapped gifts from a large bag. Oh my!!

  

These silk boxes hold something extraordinary because she had NO idea I was about to try a new art meduim brought to my attention by my most impressive artist friend and fellow Canadian, Neil Ornstein.

He was delighted when he stumbled upon this woman's wonderful etegami blog and shared the link with me. We both decided we must try this and agreed to exchange postcards one day. 

I went out and bought the sumi ink, the watercolor postcards and two basic sumi brushes.

No one at the art store knew what "special red" I was talking about and I had no idea how I was going to carve a signature stamp.

Here comes the magic part!

 

The longest silk box held three of the most beautiful sumi brushes with blue and white china handles. There is a dragon motif pot for holding the brushes, a blue and white bracelet with wonderful charms, a round blue and white pot that holds something, but what? And a little rectangle box, very curious.

I would have never, ever guessed in a million years that the round jar held that very special red or that the small rectangle box would be my very own hand-carved signature "Lolo" in both English and Chinese.

And remember, she had NO idea I was going to try etegami or that I was looking for these things. As I said, magic. Intuition. Knowing me as well as I know myself perhaps?

And last but not least is the blue spiral painting she did for me (up top) which now hangs in our bathroom (at her suggestion because it is sea-themed.) 

The circle of life, the knowing, the ebb and flow and the connection to everything.

Whew! Thank you Marianne, dear friend. I ask myself daily what I have done to have such special people enter my life.

You know who you are. My California girls, my blogging family, old friends who waited for me to come back home and new friends who have helped me feel safe. Thank you, all of you.

And thanks for hanging in for such a long post! 

But it was magical, no?

xoxo

Lolo 

Thankful Thursday: Full Plate

A couple of weeks ago (I'm so behind) my good friend Joss sent me this inspirational magnet.

She knew I was trying to find more time to be creative. She always tunes into me:)

Thanks, dear friend. I look at this every day!♥

A new friend Martha passed this award along to me. Thanks Martha!

Please check out her blog to see her wonderful drawings and paintings. She's also an animal lover and a dog trainer at Petco!

For those of you who have given me awards in the past you know what I'm going to say.

Please help yourselves to this one!! You are all beautiful bloggers to me ;)♥

Teri sent me a sweet card with my ABC/atc "U is for Undies"  in it as well as this extra atc of sweet pink flowers. The front of the pop-up card says "You're Special!"

Thanks Teri! So are you :)♥

Please check out our abc blog here. It's fun to see how our minds work!

This very pretty postcard arrived from our traveling friend, Marianne. What delicate orchids.

It's nice to be thought of no matter where we are. Thank you Marianne! ♥

I have a new friend in the Netherlands now, Marja, introduced to me by Marianne!

Marja lives part of the time in a beautiful part of France. Check out her blog for stunning photos of her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Beaudor as well as shots of her homes.

She recently posted that she was going to Edinburgh for a short trip with her husband. I mentioned my Grandfather was born there and the next thing you know I got these gifts in the mail from her yesterday along with a beautiful card.

There is a small book of Favourite Scottish Recipes. Most of them are bizarre, but some of them sound intriguing and I remember my mother making versions of them.

Here's one I chose for my sweet-toothed pals!

And then there's this HILARIOUS book from 1913 titled "Don'ts For Wives."

You just KNOW Renee is howling over this!

Here's a snippet....

"Don't grudge your husband his little luxuries~his cigarettes, or his pipes or his books.

Who has a better right to them than the man who earns them?"

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I told you this is hilarious!

And look at the little wine bottle kimono she bought in Hong Kong with Marianne!

Beaudor (her dog) was hoping it would fit Emma so she could model for him :P

Thank you Marja!! These are very thoughtful gifts. ♥

Remember when I painted a mural for my friend while she was in Arizona?

She brought back this wonderful original painting on home made paper. I just love it!

And last but not least, this wonderful book was in today's mail from Suki with a sweet little note sending me blessings as I continue getting settled in . She said if I read nothing else, at least read the chapter on the raven.

I can't wait to begin it and read the entire book. I love nature writing, especially if it's an area I'm familiar with. I have a feeling this will remind me of "The Gift From The Sea."

Thank you Suki, that was so thoughtful of you. ♥

Whew, that's a lot to be thankful for!

Love and blessings to all of you. xoxo

Finding Beauty in My Mailbox

My niece was supposed to arrive today for a 5 day visit but sadly had to change plans at the last minute. I know she'll be out to see me another time, or perhaps we'll meet up when I move back to her coast.

It's amazing how a knock on the door from the postal carrier can change your frown to a smile!

A few days ago I got a lovely note and a CD of Anne Murray's Duets from a new and dear blogging friend, Renee. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada and thought perhaps I was missing some good old Canadian "noise!" ( I was born in Canada and I lived in Winnipeg as a baby.) I love our connection. She's quite special!

Another couple of days went by and I got a stunning bookmark and card from Margaret at Waterblossoms. It's the one I wanted! I'll be sure to place it in a favorite book so I can see it often. Check out her blog and take a peek at her stunning sketchbooks and zentangles!

Thanks so much Margaret!!

As you know I had an envelope giveaway a few weeks ago. It was a raven. I drew Brian Blankenship's name and mailed it off to him with a couple of my printed cards. I was blown away when I opened a package from him and it was this original drawing! Wow, all for a little envelope. Thanks, Brian! You rock!

It will be framed and admired for years to come.

Another blogging friend whose work I admire is Neil Ornstein. Whenever he comments on one of my posts, I bow to the computer and say "I'm not worthy!!" He reminds me of my favorite professor. I always have a feeling which pieces he'll like and which ones he'll stay away from. He also liked the raven envelope and offered to do a trade. I just wanted to draw another one for him, which I did but he insisted that I pick out a print. It arrived today and it's amazing! Look!

I'm not worthy!! Thank you Neil. I will frame and treasure this always.

A dear friend who does the most amazing mandalas sent me one of my favorites, the purple spiral! Marianne is also working on my birth mandala. I can't wait!

Thank you Marianne!

My friend Soulbrush (who spoils me rotten) gives me many awards, letters and gifts. My most recent gift is a tea towel from her trip back home to South Africa. She's an amazing woman and dear friend with a heart as big as all outdoors.

Bless you dear one, and thanks always.

Finally, my sweet friend Mim surprised me with my very own copy of her book "Miss Em's Adventures." I was grinning from ear to ear because I've been following Miss Em on Mim's blog. My name was supposed to go into a hat for a drawing, but Mim was touched by a painting I did of her long-ago dog, Sampson. It was my pleasure. Thank you Mim! I love love love the book!

A little knock on the door, some cards and gifts of art from new friends.

Today is a good day! Beauty found me.

A Chanukah Blessing

For my dear friends of Jewish faith...

Let there be infinite blessings

Goodness in all things

Health and happiness

Love and light.

Happy Chanukah!

(and happy winter solstice!)