Across the big pond, part 4

My camera really did not do it's usual fine job -- maybe it is time for a new one soon. I didn't get very many good pictures.
I visited my very favorite aunt Christa. She has the most beautiful, calming place. I called it "Oasis Christa". And it is. Peaceful, tranquil, regenerating. I always enjoy my visits there tremendously. Here is the view from her balcony:

Across the big pond, part 3

Here you can see the Bergmannskapelle give it their all for their annual Christmas concert. They had a blast, and so did the audience. Unfortunately, I had trouble with my camera, but you get the idea. Hurray for music in all it's forms and efforts!! :)

Across the big pond, part 2

We spend a wonderful afternoon at the Christmas Market in Freiburg. The sights and sounds and smells spelled only one thing: Weihnachten!


This is a detail of a life size, hand carved wooden nativity scene.


And here you can see ol' Santa taking a spin on the Merry-Go-Round.

Across the big pond

Papa asked me to spend Christmas with him. Well, when your Papa asks -- what else can you say but yes?
I left on December 18th from Knoxville at 11:00 in the morning and arrived the next day at 11:00am in Germany. I kept telling friends that I had to take a plane, a train, a bus and a donkey to get to my home town. Most people here said wide eyed: "Really?" and believed the part about the donkey, much to my amusement. Little did I know that I was not that far from the truth. Papa met me in Frankfurt at the airport, with tickets for the bullet train in hand. We had a little time before the train left, so we had a bite to eat. Ahhhh -- German Wienerle! Beats hot dogs hands down any time. Anyhow, we got on the train, I've forgotten how pleasant riding the rail system can be, made it to Freiburg in a couple of hours, where we had to wait for the regional train. Of course we had a beer while we waited. I had been traveling for a long while by then and was pretty tired and punchy. We got on the regional train, when Papa remarked "I left my bicycle at the train station!" Oh-oh.
I knew what that meant! There would be no bus ride home. We would have to walk with my hefty suit case, back pack and bicycle from the train station to home. It's a good mile and a half. So we arrived in my home town, Papa hefts my 50 Kilo suit case onto his bicycle and proceeds to push the bike (aka the steel donkey!) along. The weight gave him momentum and he clips along at a pretty good pace, me in tow with my back pack on wheels, and an ever widening gap between him and me. And it was bitter cold, and I was not exactly dressed for a trek like that. We arrived about a half hour later at Papa's place, me huffing and puffing, and shaking my head. That's my Papa! Heavens forbid he would ask someone for a ride!
But when we got there, there was a nice hot cup of tea for me and a "chraettimann" waiting. Papa had not forgotten how much I liked this local Christmas treat, a slightly sweet bread that you can only get at Christmastime. Made me smile all over. My Papa!

My magic wand from Ollivanders'

Wood type: holly Length: 11½ inches Core: Unicorn Hair get your own wand!

Swish and flick!

Weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6e3xow3iqk

15 heart pages

15 heart pages created for a chunky book collaboration, based on a poem by e.e. cummings.
Hosted by Nicci Mechler. I enjoyed this challenge and look forward to the returns.
Watercolor and stamped backgrounds, lace doily paper, ribbon and one of a kind polymer clay heart. On the back there is contact information and a secret pocket with a tiny painted wooden heart.

Rainbow Bridge Poem - Another Version
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, they go to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. Author unknown

For Sadie and Sarah (aka Cyd) Sadie is ill, and it looks like she may have to leave Sarah. She will be waiting at the bridge for you, dear friend.

Klimt 9 pieces

This is my interpretation of a Klimt painting, it was cut into nine artist trading cards for swapping. A project over at nervousness.org. I juxtaposed a Scherenschnitt watercolored tree over Klimt's tree. Puzzy work, but I like the outcome. It didn't help that I was sick and tried to work on it, I almost cut it to ribbons! It was nice of the swap hostess to give me a little extra time. Thanks Sirius.
Scherenschnitt pattern by Jenn Minnis

Forget Everything
By John Squadra

If someone says, “To be enlightened you must
fast and pray all night,”
Have dinner and go to bed.
If you see a sign, “This way to salvation,”
run the other way.
If someone says, “This book is the truth,
you can buy it from me,”
Take your money and buy grapes and roses.
If someone says, “He’s talking tonight,
thousands will be saved.”

Go for a walk…listen to the birds
and watch the clouds, and leave
your backpack, your Bible and your Buddha
under a tree and hope
they will be gone when you return.
Where we are going you can’t carry anything,
not even your name.
If there is logic in the above,
be afraid, it’s a lie.

But if you feel something in your chest
as beautiful as the grass beneath your feet,
be grateful…open your arms
and forget everything
you ever thought you knew.

Source: This Ecstasy

I found this over at Kirbanita's blog... so true.
Unfortunatly, blogger won't let me upload pictures today. Maybe later.

The color purple!

What color is your soul painted? Purple Your soul is painted the color purple, which embodies the characteristics of sensuality, spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility, mystery, enlightenment, arrogance, gaudiness, mourning, confusion, pride, delicacy, power, meditation, religion, and ambition. Purple falls under the element of Earth, and was once a European symbol of royalty; today it symbolizes the divine. Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

someones' little nest

I found this under the pine tree in the yard today.

The girls

These are my other two canine friends (besides my beloved Fiona!)
The brown one is named Ashley, and has sort of a home -- she is outside all the time, and runs loose, but she gets fed regularly, has her shots and is spayed. She visits with lots of people in the neighborhood.
She is a sweet heart and Fiona's best friend.
The little chihuahua is named "Diamond" and belongs next door. But she is not so well taken care of. She is skinny and has a bad leg that's not been seen to, she often seems hungry and just wants to be a lap dog and be loved. When I put Fiona out in the morning to do her business and play a little before I go to work, Diamond takes the opportunity to scamper inside, give me a lick, swat the cat, and hide under the couch. She sooo wants to be a part of our family. We have asked to buy her from the neighbor, but she was not very receptable, and thinks that she takes good care of the dog. Breaks my heart. Now I just wait -- I guess if we are meant to have her, the neighbor will come to her senses.
Meanwhile, I get lots of doggie hugs and kisses. When I turn into the drive way after work, I usually see two little sets of ears peaking out of the grass, and when they realize it's me, they come running for ear rubs and belly scratching, and the occasional treat.
Give your pets some extra lovies today!

thought memory

"you will dive back down into the dark deep of the water. You might be at the surface playing for a while with the light, but you belong in the deep were people like us dwell."
Someone said to me once, about depression and relationship.
Oh, I so want the light...

If I was a tarot card...

You Are The Lovers

You represent ideal love: innocence, trust, exhilaration and joy. You demonstrate the harmony of opposites, two sides coming together. At times, you also represent the struggle between what is right and what is tempting. Control is an issue for you, especially when you don't know your reasons for choosing something. Your fortune: You have an important choice you need to make about love, and it will be a difficult choice to make. You are likely struggling between the love you crave and the love that is right. In the end, you will choose what you crave, even if it's bad for you. Because without what you crave, you will feel empty and incomplete.

What Tarot Card Are You?

K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

Some things -- sounds, words, sights, I guess whatever strikes you -- reach deep down inside your soul and touch you. I feel quite touched by this song -- I know it's chord, so to speak...
I can't tell you which one I like better... what a voice. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the deathly hallows

I just finished reading the final Harry Potter book in a marathon reading frenzy this weekend. I love reading so totally immersed that this world fades for a while, and another is created in my minds eye by the authors' words. I don't get to immerse myself into a book like that very often anymore. I greatly enjoyed myself just reading, reading, hanging on to every word, turning the pages faster and faster. But I don't want to be a spoiler for anyone that hasn't read it yet.
Let me just say: YAAAAYYYYYYYY, HOGWARTS!

Some of my art work from this weekend

A little greeting in deco form for a sick friend




Handmade art papers for a swap


"Night tree at Hungry Mother" - a journal page contribution for beehive22

Thank you all that came to visit here and were wondering where I am. I tend to hide and get quiet when things change in my life.
More on that later, perhaps. Some things are just too private to put out onto the web.
At least that's what I feel right now.
But, on the bright side of life: I got to spend a wonderful three days at Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia with some very nice folks. It's so blissful there! You can rent cabins , and there is a lake to fish in, or swim if the weather allows. Good company, good meals and conversation together, a fire in the fire place, and I did as much art as I wanted too. These are a few of my artistic musings that I made while enjoying the peaceful, sweet energy at this place.

And for a bit of very good news: I found work! Starting tomorrow at a local daycare as teacher.

If I would take my paints out and color my world, it would be blue. Deepest darkest blue.

Or maybe it would be green -- deepest darkest green, like some old forest that no one ever sets foot in. Or maybe it would be black as space, with no colors at all, or so you'd think, until you find the first star, or a colorful nebula. I feel shadowy and strange. I didn't create anything today.

Except for altering this picture of me. Time to rest, I think.

G'night.

Volunteering is a good thing!

Sweetie got volunteered to be the Easter Bunny at the local Moose Lodge's kids Easter party. Here is the costume try out. I laughed so much, I had tears streaming down my face. I am so glad I'm the artsy one, not the funny one. All I need to do is put an Easter basket together and make corsages for the Ladies.
Sweetie, you ARE a good sport! You ought to make Moose of the month for that!