Moving Forward in 2011

well its almost 2011 I am really looking forward to a new year.  I am going to try and put 2010 behind me and just move on.  This picture was shot in my friends Gayles amazing garden.  I met Gayle through the blog can you believe it and see lives in the same city as me, she is amazing and we are developing a great friendship. That was one good thing that happened in 2010, another was the shopper moved to her and er boyfriends new condo and they are so happy starting their life together.  That makes a mother happy, she is my only one, and I want her to have a happy life. She did not move to far away and comes home and calls me all the time, she is a great daughter, I could not ask for more.  As a result of my mothers death my sister and I have become closer than ever.  She was the youngest I was the middle and my older sister who passed away was the oldest.  She was 12 years younger, so most of her years growing up I was not home. She lives in another province, but we talk to each other every day.

I don't make resolution's because I never keep them, but I do set small goals, my number one goal for 2011 is be happy in my life.  I plan on accomplishing that one.  I will keep you updated on that one.

I am sitting here watching top chief they have been on all day.  I am having a new years drink and here is a toast to all you blogger and friends who follow this blog to matter what.  I say thank you and wish you all a happy 2011.  See you next year.

She got Bette Davis Eyes

and bot ox lips now that I look at the way I did her lips

First I would like to thank everyone who commented on my last post.  I was touched and made me feel better about spilling my guts.  Today I took a positive step toward being fearless, so I am going in the right direction.  This  drawing I used charcoal, and yellow crayon, and a mixed media background.  She is suppose to be me Fearless, I always thought Bette Davis was fearless, she was her own woman..  I am waiting for January 1 because I am taking the free sketching class if you don't know about it here is the link, and here is another link to another free class from strathmore,

http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/

http://www.strathmoreartiststudio.com/

hope you all join in...

and again thanks for being there for me, I promise to try not to be a crybaby to often

lee

FEARLESS"

watching Private chefs of Beverly hills, with a glass of wine and my pjs
thinking about my life and what I am what to do and accomplish for 2011
thinking about having a turkey sandwich on caraway bread with cranberries delish
thought long and hard about my word for the 2011 it is     fearless

i want to be fearless in my life
fearless in my art
fearless in my relationships

this year has taught me alot - I looked after my mom for a year, and now I feel berfet like a big chunk of my life is goine, and I am just floating around.  Because I was so busy looking after my mom I let other parts of my life slip away or just ignored for the sake of my sanity..i let things go on in my life that had I been on it, wouldnt have happened.  So this year I am ready to tackle my  life.  I still feel fragile and unsteady and wonder If  i am strong enough to tackle something head on.  But truthfully I am ready I have put up with shit to long.

I was not going to say anything, I didn't tell you the issue, I am not that open in the cyber world just  knowing that I said something is a step for me. So this is all you will hear about this from me. 
Issues in my life affect me and my art, they tire me out and consequently making art has not been a big priority in life lately.  But I have been missing it and feel ready to do something creative anything with my hands to make me happy.

I have been like Julia Roberts, in EAT PRAY LOVE  I have been trying to mediate its not coming easy for me, my head wont stop and be still, but I am determined and keep trying.

Well this pity party is over for today, hope I did not scare you away with all this heavy stuff.  I promise to try and be more upbeat from now on

Lee


                   

Things I like

This is the chair tht the shopper bought for her new place, I love red dont you

things I like most of the time 

i like blue skies
i like not using capitals when keyboarding
i like old school things, like watching  A summer place last night on tv and crying through it
i like seeing the moon eclipse tonight becuase i wont see it in my lifetime again get up at 12:40am to see
i like the shopper is coming home tonight from Las Vegas because I have been a crybaby lately and need my family around me
i like that devil dog is going for a bath tommorow and wont smell like popcorn anymore
i like that hubby is off work till after the holidays  starting tomorrow afternoon
i like that I am having a Christmas lunch out with one of my friends tomorrow
i like that I am wearing my new coat that I got in Arizona and getting lots of nice comments when in it
i like blogging when I have nothing to say and you still read it
i like take online classes because I can do it in my pj's
i like being retired because life is short and there still is so much to do
i like visiting sites and seeing new and amazing art
i like my blog buddies that I have met online
i like that my facebook page I met a good friend from 40 years ago amazing amazing
i like the housewives of new york (okay I just like all the bitching)
i like that the shopper is happy with her new job and her life and that she loves me as much as I love her
and I love that you read this till the end

so what to you like

Weekend Madness

another page from my 2008 christmas journal.  Its always fun to look back over the years and see what you have created.

Well last weekend before Christmas, have you got it all done.At my house its as good as its going to get.  Though today I just need a few more little things, but am not going near the malls.  Just a few speciality stores, and then done.  Okay still the tree is not decorated, but tonight for sure.  Its hubby birthday today, I did the most practical thing for him bought him a new toque to wear while shovelling the snow.  After so many years of marriage you just have what you want or you get it.  Its very hard to buy things.  Now me I could tell you a thousand things I would like but just am to cheap to buy.
We just went out this week and had to buy a new computer, so went and bought it, a new 21 inch screen, feels like I am in the movies when I am on it.  Still getting used to the new keyboard, and the wireless mouse which is nice.  So I guess that was our big present to each other.  I did buy him a few things when I was on the trip, and he got me a few things while I was away.  But the majority of the presents under the tree are the shoppers. 

The only thing that asked for was an e-reader , the amazon one I couldn't get, they did not have any when I was looking, so I did a comparison of that one and the Kobe one in Canada, the Kobe one would suit me fine, now we wait to see if he bought it.  Is there anything that you would really want, tell me I want to know.

Friday mish mash

.I am recyling images,  I made this album about 2 years ago.  The album I am making this year, is a work in progress, that means its laying on the work table  in the studio not being worked on.  You will see it next year.

Today is a go day for me.I have a lot of running around to do and its not pleasant driving the roads after  a major snowfall and the roads are not cleaned yet.  I went to the doctor about this rash I have had now for 3 weeks, not really a rash more like chicken pox marks all over my body.  She said have \i had a sore thoart lately, I mentioned I had a little bit of a cold before I went to Arizona.  So this is what I have usually 10-35 year old get this viral infection after having a sore throat, usually if your immune system is run down. The name is really weird, but it goes away after 8 weeks, it usually will cover most of your body, except your face but not always.  \ok if this thing gets on my face, nobody will see me.  Because at the moment it is everywhere and itchy as hell.  She gave me a prescription for cortisone cream which I get today.

Number 2 tradition in my family is:   I buy an ornament every year since the shopper was born and give it to her as a Christmas present, so she can take these ornaments to her home and know that these are special ornaments that came from her family.  I would hope she will then start that tradition with her family when she gets one.

Question of the day:  Every year I have made something for Christmas, it might be a wreath, or an ornament but something.  Do you make anything for Christmas?

A tradition continues

This is a tradition that my family carried out each year, and my family carries on this tradition.  We have a receipt envelope set up and put in the kitchen cupboard.  And everytime some  one buys a gift they put the receipt in the envelope.  Then when all the unwrapping is done, and the presents re looked at and you don't really like it because its not your taste (the shopper) or it does not fit (the mother), or something is wrong with it.  You can just go to the Christmas return envelope and find the bill and not stress over where you put that bill.  The rule of the house is nobody looks in the envelope when putting there receipts in there.  Tell me one of your traditions.

Has the christmas bug hit you yet

This is an old but goodie that i did back in 2008.  I have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  I am done,
presents are bought and wrapped. Tree is up lights on (I bought a new tree with lights on already) still not decorated but soon.  Baking bought, no I did not bake this christmas, to much stuff has happened in the last two months and my heart was not in it.  So i bought it and froze it.  House is a clean as it is going to get.  The stockings are hung by the chimmeny with care and waiting for Santa to come.

We are in the midst of a winter storm here, the snow is coming down and the wind has picked up and the roads are a mess.  We were just out shovelling the driveway in hopes hubby can get out of the garage in the
morning.

My friends and I are going out for a pedicure, lunch and a movie on Thursday for a little holiday treat.  So do you have any holiday plans.

Mish Mash Friday

• tree up
• tree decorated
• presents bought
• presents wrapped
• presents to sister mailed
• cards done
• baking done
• outside lights up
• cleaned house
•  

working on my list and checking it twice

Whats on your list today?

I am back

I am back, and I am glad, to be back to the familiar, the love of family who missed me.  But I am not glad to be back for the weather.  Now if only you could transport the weather to my house, I would be content.  I am a nice weather gal, I hate cold weather, snow, ice.  But I am back, left Arizona on a beautiful sunny hot day, and arrived to minus 23.  Oh well, I had a great time with friends and got 90 percent of my Christmas shopping done.

I got back on Monday night, but it takes time to get back into the rhythm of your daily life.  I did some sketching last night, full of ideas I had to get done on paper.  So you will see those in the next few days.  I have a some things I need to get finished.  I came home with no Christmas spirit, so I went out and bought a new Christmas tree, one with lights on it already.  I put it up, but have not the energy yet to put on Christmas decorations.  I have presents that need to be mailed, sitting here with wrapping which I need to go out and get some.  But I am back and so the life continues.

Fun in the sun

This is the only way to christmas shop, no boots, no jacket, no mitts.  Sandals, sunglasses and capris.

Have got alot of shopping done. Having a great time with girls, lots of laughing, catching up.  See lots of sights and just enjoying myself.  CAtch you later