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

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♥

Missing Suki

Yesterday was a disappointment as we had to make a decision whether to drive in pouring rain for 4 hours to see Suki or to stay home.

For safety and sanity's sake we chose not to drive.

All three of us were sad, but even Suki agreed that she would not have made the drive if she were coming to us.

Later that evening the storm clouds parted.

Robin and I took Emma for a walk down the street to Cove Haven Marina.

The  post storm clouds with the glow of the afternoon light were magical.

This is my neighborhood. I wish I had a house on the water like this but at least it's right down the street.

Doesn't this look like a jigsaw puzzle?

Suki, you were with us as we took these photos and walked along the shore.

Next time, my friend.

Rhode Island is calling you.

xo

Love,

Lo and Robin ♥

Healing Friends

Most of you know this has been a tough couple of weeks at our house.

Hubby and I have been crying "UNCLE!" for two weeks now because of a nasty virus that has chosen us as hosts. Today I finally feel like a human being and he is close behind me.

That didn't come out quite right!

 

And our dear kitty Bliss sent us on a spin to the emergency vets for the past six days when she became covered head to toe in blood as she was grooming. She was severely anemic with a chance she wouldn't pull through. She barely escaped transfusions because she stayed borderline critical. She has been poked, prodded, ultrasounded and xrayed to the max and we still can't find a single reason for the bleeding. Unfortunately we were finding other things of concern which had us going back.

Long story short, miraculously, as soon as we got home from the hospital last night she turned the corner to wellness! I personally think St. Francis hitched a ride with us and I'm not a particularly religious person (in the traditional sense.)

Every leg is shaved in a different pattern but vain as she is, Bliss could care less.

She's happy to be home in the studio listening to Debussy and watching the rainbow maker dance across the room. And Mom is very happy ;)

Thank you all for your prayers and love for her recovery. Let's hope we're home free.

Now here are some other reasons why we're all getting better in this house.

The love ♥ of friends!
 

This wonderful orange polka-dotted box was on my front stoop this morning.

That Mim!! She emailed me and told me she was sending a little something my way, "kind of a Jewish mother thing" she said.

Look at this!

A wonderful container of homemade chicken soup, a big cup-shaped bowl filled with an assortment of mini brownies, a big thing of hot cocoa mix and a chocolate/espresso cake!

And oh, a chicken cookie complete with a little chickie.

How sweet and caring is this??

Thank you Mim! I'm looking forward to all of it. I feel so much better already!

This is definately chicken soup for the soul♥



More love arrived in the form of friends buying from other friends to send to friends!

Marianne bought this wonderful coffee cozy from Lori and asked her to include this note.

I love that she chose the Bonsai for me.

Lori wrote the note and tag on recycled cardboard which makes it extra special.

Thank you ladies!!

BUT how did you know my friend needed a ...

New sweater?????

xoxoxo!

So here we sit in the studio, candles lit, Debussy and rain playing~me, Bliss and Emma. So nice.

And this beautiful pomegranate cloth was given to me from Marianne when she visited me.

She saw me ogling it in a gift shop and the next thing you know it's mine.

That's how she operates!

I found white tulips at Whole Foods to complete the calmness I feel right now.

Thank you, everyone. I hope to catch up soon!

xoxo

Lolo♥



Thankful Thursday: Tinker's Talent

I have a dear friend in California who is an amazing artist and jeweler. For years she has spoiled me with many gifts on my birthday, this year being no exception.

Besides all the other things she sent, I just want to showcase what she made for me.

This beautiful necklace with a bluebird pendant delicately crafted with the softest colored green stones and fresh water pearls. My photography doesn't do it justice. Please click the photos to enlarge them.

The amazingly delicate acorn earrings were made by her but given to me by another dear friend that I miss, Gloria♥

I wore everything as a set yesterday and I felt special!

I really miss my California girls! ♥

Catherine also sent me this bird dish made by her talented friend, Sandy Kreyer. Maybe some of you are already lucky enough to have some of her things in a collection.

Each piece, every flower, leaf and color is handpainted on her potter's wheel!

I have four things made by her now, three of them given to me from Catherine, The Tinker's Daughter.

Here are the links to their Etsy shops. Stop by and feast your eyes and say hello!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinkerBelleDesign

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SandyKreyer

I'm grateful for friends, near and far, young and old.

And I'm grateful to have so many things made and given with love.♥

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 

Animal Wednesday: Missing Felix

When Marianne and Felix came to visit, Emma immediately chose Felix as her new best friend.

We had never had her around children before because the SPCA had a feeling she wouldn't be good with them. I've always felt quite the opposite because she lights up when she hears kids voices and tends to pull towards them. Still, when asked if a kid can pet her I stay on the safe side and say it's not a good idea.

Seeing her interact with Felix and play with him daily really warmed my heart! I knew she'd have withdrawl after he left because he gave her so much attention and he was so gentle with her.

Here she is this morning curled up with her squirrel toy Felix bought for her.

She loves her squirrely!!!

I saw this card in a shop in Provincetown and I bought it to send to Felix from Emma. When I got it home I decided to make it look like Emma by adding a bit of paint here and there, and as you can see I also drew in her squirrely!

So here you have it, a plumper version of Emma but the sentiment was surely there.

She squashes her ears down like this when she's troubled :(

Thank you Marianne for scanning it because I forgot to!

Felix...Emma sends her love!!♥

HAW to all of my friends! I'm catching up slowly but surely.

Thankful Thursday: Catching up with gratitude

I have a huge list this week because I've fallen behind. Stay with me, it's worth it!

This smiling face is a hand drawn card from Mim with a little note about the collage below, saying she thought of me and had to send it to me! You know I love this raven collage!! I'll have to let the artist know how much I 'adore' it!

Thank you Mim!!! xoxo

Up next is this happy yellow ginham bag adorned with a sparkly butterfly in a brown package from the Netherlands.

It was filled with goodies from Marianne and her friend Marja's  from their trip to Hong Kong.

It has a wonderful smelling sachet and a lovely silken drawstring bag with butterflies... 

And this gorgeous pashmina from Marja which matches my eyes! You should see the pattern. Click to enlarge it! The photographs don't do it justice because I took them in terrible lighting.

I gasped when I opened the gift!

And did you see this card they had made for me at the Chinese New Year celebration?

They had it made while they waited. See the artist creating it on this video on Marianne's blog!

The dragon is for power, the fish is for prosperity, the butterfly is for beauty, the bird is for happiness and the heart is for love ;)

Thank you so much M & M!!!

Happy Chinese New Year to you too!

(This is the fun card they sent with a note!)

This is a wonderful bookmark sent to me by Lisa. What a wonderful quote by Van Gogh!

I need to silence that voice more often ;)

Thanks so much Lisa!!

These wonderful cards came from Joss! I love her drawing of the 4 cacti, one of my faves!

Inside was this adorable vintage postcard asking if I'd like kissing lessons from a dandy teacher!

What a hoot!

These wonderful, exotic atc's were inside too! "Mask" and "Market Day." Thank you dear friend. We're all in love with your African style art! xoxo

Is this not one of the prettiest cards you've ever seen? I love the layers of cut paper and the color combos.

It's from my dear friend KJ who now lives just over to hours away from me!

Inside was a little pocket with a tag for a secret message.

It says "Happy Spring, my terrific friend!"

Thank you KJ. Ditto! xoxo

Heartfelt thanks to all of you. Wow, how does this happen?

My gratitude is bursting forth!

Thankful Thursday: Picking up the pieces

I have received so many loving gifts in the past few weeks. They've come in the form of atc's, cards, letters, art supplies and phone calls all from my wonderful blogging friends who know I've been down and who have all tried to buoy me up.

I don't have time to scan all of these wonderful things and post them individually because I'm still in the middle of the latest giant mess. (Cleaning up raw sewage in my kitchen and bathroom from a freak plumbing incident while we were sleeping!)

What I will do is this. I will refuse to keep my tail between my legs and whimper any longer. I'll dig deep into my reserves and find my sense of humor and the lesson in all this madness. I will not let the actions of one psychotic landlady to break my spirit. I will remember that by nature I'm a kind and loving person but shit happens to good people too.

Today I'm saying enough is enough. I'm digging through my boxes and taking out my art supplies and dammit I'm going to make some art!

So please forgive my lack of posts and comments on your blogs. Know that I treasure every good thought and gift you've sent my way. Little by little I'll get on track and show up like I used to. Hang in there with me.

When I count my blessings, (and there are many) my faithful blog friends are among them. You know who you are ;)

Okay then. Back to life as I knew it!

xoxoxo

Skywatch Friday: Provincetown Magic

This shot was taken this week on the last evening three new friends got together in Provincetown. The magic feeling of the sky gives the slightest hint of how special the week was. For those of you who were missing, this is for you.

For other lovely skies around the globe, please visit Skywatch Friday!

And remember to look up so you can feel the magic ;)

Thankful Thursday: Across the miles

This week I'm thankful for the chance to buy a wonderful painting from my (our) friend Soulbrush in London who finally opened an Etsy shop! When I get enough money together I'm going to frame this regally and hang it in a place of honor. I love it! It's a baobob tree inspired by her South African roots. (No pun intended!) Keep at it Jossie! xoxo

Dearest Marianne sent me my Quan Yin card in a pink sparkly bag. I just love her! And she also surprised me with this wonderful blue hydrangea ATC with a special message and drawing on the back. It was a perfect get-well message when I needed it. Thank you Marianne! Your heart is huge.

Marianne also included this wonderful postcard and sweet note. This image is so soothing to me.

And it all came in this beautiful Buddha card. It's an image I will look at often.

You sure do know me Marianne! Bless you for these gifts of the heart.

Then I was pleasantly surprised by our friend in Malaysia, Yoon See! She sent a whole assortment of goodies:a bookmark, prints and cards, a commemorative stamp in a fancy presentation, and 3 of her prints below.

Thank you ladies. I'll always treasure these gifts from afar, but mostly I'll treasure what your friendship has come to mean to me.

Blessings and love,

Lolo

Thankful Thursday: Double Happiness

Another week and another pile of gifts in my mailbox from my blogger girlfriends. Wow you guys, really, I'm so spoiled by you!!

Here's the show and tell part.

This is a wonderful postcard from KJ telling us our new home is ready. It was just the smile I needed in this hectic week.

And I could totally live in this bohemian place. I love it!(That's my old address, no worries.)

These fabulous photo cards were also sent to me from KJ in case I wanted to write letters from the road.

I took these shots of them just now and it's not showing how wonderful her images are. I'm just short on time to scan each of them!

Thanks, dear friend. xxoo!

Soulbrush struck again and sent me 2 gorgeous atc's that I adore. I love the 3 people soaring together. They look great with the firebirds in the other one!

Thank you dearest. You know how special you are to me!

Lynn totally surprised me with one of her latest felted atc's!

That woman is amazing, always trying something new and each new thing is a success in my opinion! Thanks Lynn, I love this!!

Margaret over at waterblossoms gifted me with these 2 wonderful ATC zentangle blossoms on linen paper. The blues and browns are just stunning together! Is it any wonder she's one of my favorite artists?

Thanks so much my friend! Your generosity knows no bounds.

And finally this card from a dear friend of mine who is trying to understand why I spend so much time blogging, and how on earth I could ever make 'real' friendships here. She realized the way she had gone about her questioning had hurt my feelings. The next day I got this wonderful card from her that said "This card says it all." I now realize she's just having a hard time saying goodbye to me, and quite honestly she may be feeling a little abandoned.

I may be moving away, but I'm not leaving friends. You'll always be with me.

I hope I didn't leave anyone out this week. My desk is a mess and I'm too stressed to tidy up. The next step is packing it all up.

Thanks one and all. Friends are just the best medicine! xoxo