Category Archives: Art

Advocacy, Art, Cancer, MS, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 10

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 10

“What Do You Do?”

Let’s say I’m taking the day off, and I have nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, and no one else to take care of. What do I do?

Garden Photos_Summer2007 076I would begin my day, stretching and say:

Good morning world 🙂 Thoughts fluttering about, thinking about the day, nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, everyone I care for is being looked after, and well cared for today. What do I do?

I would do some yoga, then meditate.

I would have my drink of hot water with freshly squeezed lemon, maybe a little maple syrup if I wanted it sweetened.

On a nice  cool day, I would walk barefoot into my garden. Relax on my patio with our dog, Sadie, by my side, sitting in the shade of the grape vines growing over the pergola and under the more than 80 year pine trees enjoying the coolness they bring.

Filling the birdbaths, and basins with water. Watching the birds, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks.

Keeping a glass of water for me, to drink, by my side.

I would relax and read the paper or a magazine. Having my camera nearby, I would go for it to catch some photos of the beautiful day, the flowers, shrubs, and the animals I see in the garden today.

Returning inside, I would whip up a smoothey.

Or, maybe, cooked steel rolled oats with almonds, raisins, and a bit of honey.  A cup of tea or freshly brewed coffee.

I would gather the greens and crunchies, for preparing a lunch salad.

Making some calls, or going on-line, I would visit with family and friends.

An afternoon out, to see an early movie.

A late afternoon, stretched out, getting a massage.

A dinner of fish, baked potatoe, and vegetable, asparagus sounds wonderful to me. And a nice cup of herbal tea.

An evening of knitting, crochet, or quilting would be a delight for me.

Reflecting on the day with appreciation, heading off to sleep.

Sweet Dreams.

So let’s say you’re taking the day off, and you have nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, and no one else to take care of. What do you do?

 

Advocacy, Art, Cancer, MS, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 7

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 7

“What My Favorite Book or Movie Is, and Why”

Nature is one of the things with which I love connecting.  I’ve enjoyed learning and each year find more to learn about the birds which live in our area.  Each year I pay attention to their migration patterns.

At Horowitz Hacienda in the Pines there are birdhouses hanging on trees, the fence, shepherds hooks, and pergola.  In the garden, we also sometimes paint birdhouses for some of the birds to nest. Birdbaths and feeders have also been placed.  There’s a satisfying feeling in caring for and feeding the birds. Each day is beautiful waking to the sounds of the birds. Mourning doves cooing.  Wrens and Chick-a-dees chirping a beautiful melody. Garden Photos_Summer2007 074-1

Afternoons, relaxing on the porch, sipping iced tea or lemonade.  I watch for the birds in flight, while glancing through and reading one of my favorite books.

Sharing in this 14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 7, one of my favorite book is “Birds in Your Backyard: A Birdlovers Guide to Creating a Garden Sanctuary” by Robert Dolezal.  For bird enthusiasts (or would be bird enthusiasts) it is a comprehensive guide, richly illustrated, and provides food for thought on planning and planting with the rewarding experience of enhancing a yard into becoming garden sanctuary. There’s lots of information about identifying birds, their markings, how they behave, and what foods they like best.  At feeding time, it’s a magnificent sight watching the birds eat.  Sometimes I’ll photograph their activity. The spectacular goldfinch fluttering to and from the thistle feeder.  Various species of birds favoring certain feeder foods.  Some eat from feeders, some even from the ground. Garden Photos_Summer2007 075-1

It’s always  a sight watching the squirrels go after the bird food and hang off the feeders,too.  I make sure there is food for them at the ground to try to keep them from the feeders. “A little something for everyone!” Squirrel a Munching at The Horowitz's Nature Center_25-Dec-2007 011

The birds at play in the birdbath and shaking off the water, or taking a sandbath are lively. They like both and they can be quite amusing.

Approaching dusk, the magnificent male cardinal in the euonymous tree.  Singing his song, the last I hear, in our garden sanctuary, to say goodnight.

I’d also love to know: What is your favorite book or movie, and why?

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 6

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14 Day Blogging Challenge: Day 6

“What is most important to you?”

Most important to me is to spend quality time developing and nurturing deep and personal relationships with family, friends, and community connections.  I enjoy getting to know others, deeply, learning what they consider important, what their interests are, what  inspires and encourages them.  If anyone I know has a problem, I’ll listen and hopefully in some way contribute to problem-solving.  I also like to share about our family, pets, matters of interest and importance.  Visiting, sharing conversation, innermost thoughts and feelings, over a cup of tea or coffee, lunch, dinner, a summer barbeque together, warms my heart.

Some of my favorite time is when my sister Francine and I sit together in our home art studio, which often becomes the kitchen, where we play with art, we talk, we sometimes sing.  Another one of our art studios is a room we have for crafting, and sometimes Francine’s room is our art studio, where we’ll sit and have a coffee while making potholders. FGF 073014 Art - Coaster for Dori During spring, summer, and fall our garden also becomes our art studio, a wonderful place where we can spend time outside together connecting with nature.

Throughout our years together, some of my favorite time with my husband Norman is when we spend time gardening together, and evenings taking a garden stroll, then sitting on our swing for two, and talking with eachother.  Sometimes, there’s such a wonderful feeling just snuggling, watching television together, and having the pets want to snuggle with us.

In addition, getting to know folks and connecting through social media has become a wonderful part of my life.  It’s such a blessing to make friends through social media and then get to meet eachother, socialize,  and sometimes also even collaborate together.

I, furthermore, love seeing and hearing how and what others share, and do to encourage and inspire. It’s helped me in becoming courageous in more publicly sharing about our lives and I am enjoying sharing our art through photographing and posting to my social media sites.  I’m filled with gratitude and joy to be connecting and sharing, inspiring, encouraging, and sharing love.

So, what is most important to you?

Art, Health Advocacy, Multiple Scerosis, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 4

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 4

“One Thing About Myself”

What is voice?   Cambridge Dictionary Online expresses the English definition of voice is the sounds that are made when people speak or sing .  Voice can be [the right to] an expression of opinion.  Voice can be an important quality or opinion that someone expressed, or the person who is able to express it.  To voice is to say what you think about a particular subject.

One thing about myself, I hear a voice from within, saying, “Let me out” and I’ve been discovering ways creatively to do just that.  When I was a youngster, around the age that children are, when exploring and learning to speak on telephones, I, and probably like many others, would want to answer the phone.  My parents didn’t have a problem with my answering the phone; however, once when having received a call, the person who called had a problem with my having answered the phone.  A statement was made that “children should be seen and not heard”.  I have often thought of that voice and statement, especially when I’ve refrained from expressing myself.

I would describe myself as having a tendancy toward being introverted.  I found the definition expressed on URban Dictionary interesting to read.  I do tend to be found at home.  I’ve often spent time in libraries and quite places.  I do like to think, and at times, when I’ll say that I’m thinking, my husband will sometimes then say, “Oh boy we’re in for trouble.” I also enjoy spending time by myself.

Furthermore, I delight in socializing and I love talking to my family and friends. In addition, I love communicating and socializing through social media.  So, maybe, I’m not so introverted after all.

While I worked in corporate settings, as a bookkeeper and accounting manager, I mostly worked independently.  I have since discovered, and am grateful, that no longer working in a corporate setting, I have the opportunities to “Let my voice be heard” through my writing and the arts in which I am passionately engaged.

What is one thing you’ll share about yourself?

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 3

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 3
“My Power Words”
Believe
Courage
Hope
Trust
Honor
Encourage
Inspire
Survivor
Caregiver
Carepartner
Patient
Patience
Sensitivity
Empathy
Connecting
Read
Write
Quiet
Nature
Mountains
Valleys
Heat
Cold
Fire
Ice
Water
Fiber
Thread
Yarn
Fabric
Needles
Quilting
Knitting
Crocheting
Beads
Wire
Tools
Art
Creative
Beauty
Electricity
Energy
Poetry
Narrative
Storytelling
Meditation
Breathe
Mother Earth
Sacred Space
 My question for you: “What are your power words?
Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 2

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 2

“My Greater Purpose and Mission”

 

My greater purpose and mission is to help others through sharing in a love of living life creatively and continuing to learn, no matter whether one is in health or being the survivor of illness.

Please ask yourself: “What is your greater purpose and mission?”

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 1

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14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 1

“What I Would Like to be Known For”

My journey begins on this 14-Day Blogging Challenge. Here I am, on Day 1, commitment made.

I am being asked, “What do you want to be known for?

I want to be known as a good Wife, Sister (SibSis), Carepartner, Friend, and Health Advocate.

I want to be known as a writer of narratives and poetry, fiber artist, and author.

I want to be known as a great positive, playful creative force extraordinaire, encouraging and inspiring others to celebrate life.

I want to be known as a good storyteller and tell stories through my photography, quilting, knitting, crochet, beading, and as a creator of art.

Might you also like to share, “What would you like to be known for?”