Love It

Love, Love, Love THIS....

Bowling: A Photo Essay

In crafty news I'm making valentine's to send out "from Maya." And gathering ideas for some of The List

Bridges Between Here and the Next Place

In the past two days I've crossed over the Mississippi River and back again six times to attend a visitation and funeral of a dear friend's mother. Maya brought sad people happy smiles and many came up and said, "I've heard of this baby" and played with her bare toes because she refuses to wear socks.

(Maya loves Barack, and I often hold her little soft phone up and say, "Oh, look Maya, Barack is calling you.")

After the visitation we went to Harris Pizza because it's a Quad Cities "must" and because we were quite hungry. (And Maya needed some quite time, AKA a nap.)

Yesterday, funeral day, I drove back to the Quad Cities with Allan (Maya and her Daddy stayed home this time) and on the way to the burial we saw a black squirrel (I love love love them), and as we crossed the Mississippi into the national military cemetary we saw two bald eagles. What a beautiful send off.

Time, we don't have much of it. And someTIMES it takes a sudden death to help us remember how important family and friends are, and I sooo love Jo Momma. And I called her and told her so.

Staying on Track

I'm thinkin' maybe I'll try to stay away from giving books this year for Christmas. But it's so easy to do, and I get them so damn cheap!! It's probably getting old in my family and I think they all hate me, "Oh, thanks Clare for this stupid book I'll never read." It's hard to shop for some of them, and for others it's easy.

My solution, go handmade. I've got a great idea for Maisie...and that's it...but I'll keep thinking of them. I need my sewing machine to magically appear from where it's residing in Ames so that I can work on some of the crafty ideas I've got swirling in my head.

I ran today and it felt awesome, I would have spent longer than half an hour, but I had to go buy formula before work. I got into the zone and that's hard for me to do on a treadmill. I hate treadmills.


This is Number 24. It is an inspiration box for Cori Kindred in Portland. I send her old and broken books that we throw away at work so that she can incorporate them into her work and crafts, which I love because it keeps those books alive. In return she'll send me some of her found paper wonderfulnesses, so wonderful I just can't bring myself to use them. Or, she'll send me some of her photos, which I love love love. I sent her the prairie, some tea, a candle, and an old book. Because I follow her blog, I have discovered so many other blogs, each and everyone so inspiring.
HulaSeventy
abbytryagain
sacred lotus
and last, moxiee

Ahhh, Porland. Such passionate and creative people. Must be the fancy voodoo donuts.

Winter Shadows

Cold. Negative Temperatures Iowa Cold. So cold yer breath freezes in your nose. But look at what happens when it's cold. The biggest full moon of 2009 was this week (not because it was cold, but because of how awesome the universe works), the sun casts awesome shadows on the fresh snow, and nature goes thru it's wintery course.

In other news, I have the bestest baby ever and I ran on the treadmill which helps me work on The Word.

And I completed number 24 from The List! I'll tell you about it once it's sent.

That's one down and 29 to go...

I'm working deligently on number 29.....

My Word of 2009

Healthy

• having or indicating good health in body or mind
• financially secure and functioning well
• promoting health; healthful; ("a healthy diet, clean healthy air,
healthy sleep, healthy and normal outlets for youthful energy")
• exercising or showing good judgment


The focus of the year is to just be healthy. Healthy mind, healthy spirit, healthy body, healthy thoughts, healthy relationships, healthy life.

Be open to the universe. You get what you ask for, so ask only for good things. Don't beat yourself up, it's just your ego trying to keep you down. Think healthy and you'll be healthy.



Number 24 from "the list" is coming along....


That's a Cori Kindred print in the back ground (of Nika!) you can buy one HERE

A NEW year list

A year and a half and a seven month old later....

After a very long break from my personal blog I've decided to get back on board this blog train. It's hard to find the time to keep inspired as a mom. I claim this blog in the name of all things artistic to keep myself. I mean it, to keep myself.

So, I'm incorporating a little help from somone else's inspiration..

here is my list of 30 things to do for 2009 inspired by

hulaseventy.blogspot.com



30 Things To Do Before I turn 31


1. open an etsy shop
2. take camera everywhere, one photo a day!!
3. start and finish 4 art projects
4. make something for Maya for her Birthday and Christmas
5. go to a farmer’s market
6. pick apples and/or pumpkins in the fall
7. visit a photo booth
8. go on a road trip with Brynna
9. get lost alone in order to take photos
10. frame and hang all current art that needs it
11. fill out my found paper journal
12. make and complete one scrapbook
13. take maya swimming and sledding
14. run an 8k
15. open a spare change account for Maya
16. go ask about buying a house
17. visit Chicago with Kyle and Maya
18. make 5 iron on transfer items
19. take Maya to the zoo
20. go visit The Pollack alone
21. participate in 2x2xU again
22. Help
23. have a wonderful day alone with Kyle
24. make an inspiration box for someone else
25. climb trees
26. start a photography project
27. make a list of 100 things I love about Cedar Rapids
28. read Adriana’s book
29. clean up and use my computer work space for art projects
30. go to the Highland Games in September

I am still working on picking my "word" of 2009 but I have a couple of good ones I'm pondering on. So that will come soon, here's the link and some thoughts for those who also want a their own word for the new year.
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

"A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."

"Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities."



My list has begun. My word is coming soon.
I've started my engines,vroom vroom.