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Mountain Moments

Laying down in the soft green
spring grass of the back yard
side by side
blue sky
white clouds
we played
with my little eye I spy
we talked about the birds
plants growing in the yard
clouds became creatures
we became quiet
just looking at the sky
for a five year old
quiet is a major event
for me
it was taking time to breath

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Do you know about Earth Hour?

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Getting ready for my second year at ArtFest! All my little charms and moo cards are in their bags, my metal objects are ready to go for Michael DeMeng's class, and I've got book boards and ephemera for L K Ludwig and Nina Bagley's classes. At some point the excitement becomes dizzying. Distractions rise up so I start packing and collecting what I need and then I have to finish something else (like the pink crown for 14 Secrets)and of course the cats want to help with everything but most especially with fluffy pink stuff and Edward whats to know about my bookkeeping practices right now (HA!), my photoshop upgrade to CS3, and so I need to stop and take a breath. "Just be with your breath," says Eckhart Tolle. "Am I still breathing?" I ask myself. "Give your mind a break!" says Eckhart. And my mind eases up.

Here's a suggestion from Eckhart, to help with the spinning, dizzying monkey mind activity (like when you are trying to pack for ArtFest while thinking about sixty other things you need to do all at once):

Try this outside in a quiet, natural setting. Sit with a rock, or watch some clouds, or watch water running over a stream bed. Ask yourself: Am I still breathing? What are the sounds around me? What do I see? What do I hear? What do I smell? What can I touch? Isn't that lovely? He says it can work with a flower or houseplant too. And Oprah described sitting under some trees with a quiet mind, just feeling the presence of the trees and herself with the trees.

Did I mention the distraction of the pink crown? Here it is and I promise it goes in the mail tomorrow:
Did I mention the distraction of Photoshop CS3? Here's the beginnings of a collage. I'll continue to play with layers and textures with this image and see what happens.

Adela, the one who has instigated my trip into all things flickr, photoshoped, layered, and textured, sent this wonderful poem from Sana Kaur.

A flickr inspired wish by Sana Kaur, Brampton, CANADA:

May the wondering never die
May I always marvel at the vastness of the sky
May the bewilderment always remain
Let the heart joy at every droplet of rain
May amazement keep its thrill forever
Let me have the zest to never pass an endeavour
To celebrate the plain joys of life
To smile and laugh with rife
May I never cease to admire
And never quit this passionate fire
Of inquiring into the complexity of the simply beautiful things
Let everything in this world inspire
Me to be ever so new to this world
Let this earth, its people leave me beguiled
May I always have the eyes of a child.

Thank you Adela! I am beguiled!

I couldn't find any Easter eggs on our walk this morning so I had to make one. Happy Easter! It's a beautiful but very cold day in Prospect.

Hi I went on spring break to the Outer Banks, NC, with the girls and Forrest, made fairy houses on the beach, and took this shot at dawn this morning. Fairy circle of sticks and shells in foreground.

Gioia Chilton, MA, ATR-BC
http://potomacarttherapyassociation.blogspot.com

Mountain Moments

Take thirteen children
four adults
dozens of hardboiled eggs
Saturday before Easter
combine with dyes and creativity
There were polka dotted,
sponge tie dye, beet, onion, cabbage, grape juice, tumeric dyed
oil based glittered eyes, food coloring
little circular colors put into plastic cups with one tablesoon vinegar and one half cup warm water
puff paints, fern and tansy leaf prints
white crayons, rubber bands,
water based markers which bleed in dye
dipping the egg in several colors
tomorrow there will be three dozen deviled eggs
made from eggs not dyed
at the annual Easter coffee hour
more like an adult Easter Basket food feast
The children over ten hide plastic eggs
Children under ten find eggs
My fingers wear dye rather well this time of year

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Mountain Moments

Golden bodies gleaming
in the afternoon sunlight
dipping into the copper bird bath
bobbing up and down
into the circular bath
flying to a nearby redbud branch
beginning to leaf out
wild ginger spreading
jays and sparrows leaving
enough bird seed on the ground
to feed a flock of morning doves
I counted nine of them in the oak tree
reminded me of a rubber stamp
I bought at Random Arts
the outline of a tree
speckled with birds
With each day
the goldfinches are growing
brighter
must be due to the heavy feeding
from the three thistle seed feeders
Spring a glorious awakening of all things
grackles on the roof
starlings coming to call
slugs and snails hiding under decaying leaves
columbine unfolding
sticky sweet smells of blue, white, and pink
hyacinths fill the air
Come to the mountains, dear friends.

Patti Edmon committed a wild act of bravery! Hooray! Wish her luck. Oh, and I'd love to post more wild acts of artistic bravery here so please send!

I took my button flowers, angels, magnets, journals, and other pcs. to an eclectic coffee house and boutique, with a huge vintage store Terri recently opened. She wants 6 vases of flowers and a half-dozen magnets, journals and an Altoid tin or two to start...

It isn't going to bring in a lot of money but it sure does validate the (passion) time and money I invest! 14 Secrets is such a golden, supportive, resourceful and life-enhancing world for me.

Wish me luck!
Patti

Adela is a great pal to have! She sent me on an amazing visual adventure! So here's the little slide show results, just the beginning of playing with layers and textures. If you look at her images "textures for layers" you will see one called gauze. Now I'd imagined that wouldn't be too hard to create with my own color preferences and shapes... Un-huh! I've been playing for days now and I can't do it, yet. However I've been exploring flickr's wonderful groups of images. I got totally lost. So here are a few links for you to get lost in for a little while. Better set a timer!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/textures4layers/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/texturewhores/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/house_of_labyrinthian_layers_/
http://www.flickriver.com/groups/34052640@N00/pool/interesting/
SURPRISE AND DELIGHT YOURSELF, Adela says!
Oh my word, I say!

During a trip to the gulf coast of Mississippi after Katrina, I met a physician who had lost everything in the hurricane. Katrina had destroyed all his possessions, his home, cars, community - everything. I asked him how he survived. He was reading Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” at the time and he felt that it saved his life, teaching him that this loss of everything he thought he was (all his stuff) was really a radical new kind of freedom. He felt Tolle really helped him to understand that the ego’s clinging to stuff is really quite unnecessary. I’d heard of Tolle but only started reading his work after meeting with this physician. And he’s right. There’s a very real possibility to touch this freedom if you read the book.

Now Oprah’s “A New Earth” class is amazing. You can watch it live, while Oprah and Eckhart discuss the book in terms of real life questions that from class participants and from Oprah. Eckhart answers them all so easily. It’s like having the book come to life! Although I can’t stay up that late AND think at the same time, I find the watching the class the day after to be excellent.

If you are interested in joining the class,don’t worry don’t worry about what you missed, all the classes are kept on line so feel free to sign up today.

Here’s a clip for you from the first class.



On Oprah's website in the section for this class, you can meet Kim Eng who is Eckhart's partner. She's got a blog there that she writes after every class which is a delightful bonus.

Another amazing aspect to the class is the workbook concept. There are very thoughtful questions that appear each week for each chapter, so as you go along, reading your chapters and reading your questions, you can think about the material all week. Very helpful.

There is also a section of exercises to practice while you are taking this class and I'm assuming they will be helpful long after I've put the book down.

Join me over at Opra's if you can make it!

Mountain Moments

I had just come home from teaching an art class to three children. Ray noticed something in the corner of the room.
It was this butterfly. Newly hatched from a chrysalis on a houseplant. He held the butterfly gently in his hand lifting it off the floor.
I thought, take a picture. Grabbing the camera, we both took pictures of the black swallowtail newly hatched.While I went grocery shopping, he gently placed the butterfly into a bag taking it outside. The butterfly basked in the sunshine. Got out of the bag and flew away.

On a warm March afternoon
a butterfly broke away from a chrysalis
black wings on a wooden floor
still with wings unfurled
crawling without regard for human hands
posing for pictures
basking in the sunlight
warmth pulsating on black velvet wings
wind blowing
she flew
pirouetting on the breeze


My husband, the photographer, did his photoshop magic.

Carol created a list of activities for March in her blog which I thought might be a good idea to post here as well. I posted her February ideas previously.

Well, we have all been wishing and praying and doing many activities trying to hurry us out of winter and into Spring. So I thought another monthly calendar of daily art activities might help. Here are my ideas for March!

1. E.E. Cummings (whoever he is) said " the most wasted of all days is the one without laughter." I say it is the one with out doing something with art. We should "art" someway, something, everyday.

2. Look over your plans for the month. Do they always include art in some way for each day?

3. Select a graphic, and explain in writing, perhaps your art journal, what you think it illustrates, just to get you thinking about ideas to include in your artwork.

4. Look for important words, sentences, paragraphs, writings and readings, that deal with art. Words are very powerful when included in our art.

5. Keep engaged with art. We can't just switch in and out of art, if we want to live a happy artists life.

6. Stretch you limitsin your art work just a bit each day.

7. Do you have difficulties in regards to your art? Talk it over with a creative friend.

8. Always exhibit ways of showing how much you value art. Time, effort, display, writing, are just a few ways. Find your way.

9. Browse your art books and art books at a library or book store or used book store to help build your artist life.

10. Practice good time management. Break large tasks into smaller chunks. Use small time allotments to rejuvenate. Art at every opportunity.

11. Always practice safe art when arting.

12. Find something really cool from a previous piece of art, incorporate it into a new piece of art.

13. It is okay to "clown" around with your art. Sometimes these turn into something very special.

14. Make/ use multiples in your art today. Repeating themes and pictures are very powerful when used in art.

15. Try something creative you've never done...use a new media, method, etc. just for fun.

16. Develop your 'art vocabulary". It makes it easier to discuss and make art.

17. Do a green piece of art in honor of St. Patricks day.

18. Do some cartoon art that teaches an idea. Why not?

19. Invite another artist to "tea" or lunch.

20. Recall and list the most awe inspiring pieces of art you have made, and tell why they impress you.

21. Call an artsy friend just to say "hello, what are you arting?"

22. Remember to stay fit. We make better art when we are fit and feeling great. It is not impossible, but very hard to be creative when we are not at our best physically and mentally.

23. Go on a hike. Anywhere will do. Enjoy the spring like weather...whatever it is.

24. Do some body stretches before you start to art. The five minutes will help you art better.

25. Make some pre-art brainstorming in your art journal. and make a list of projects you want to do soon.

26. Laugh at your self and your art. Life and art can be fun!

27. Keep a bottle of drinking water on your art table. You will find that a swig now and then is good for you, (And besides, you might need to thin some paint or glue with a drop or two.)

28. Complete this thought: "This month has been good for my art because.,......"

29. Try to clear your life of problems. Less problems-more time for art.

30. Art belongs to those who see possibilities......everywhere!

31. Look for possibilities............

# 59 When I came down stairs this morning I found a sacred pile of healing dolls, all in their boxes I noticed that an address had been switched on 2 so I guess the dolls knew where they needed to go after all. I had listened close I thought but at the last moment 2 felt they had to switch.

#61 With their loyal playmate and protector they headed out the door for their journey home.
Please let us know when they land. Oh and I have tracking numbers if you need them.
We will be posting the photos the photographer took once they are all home.
Thank you again for a most inspiring swap.
With Healing Intentions, Lore

Mountain Moments

Spring forward
Fall backward
Celtic harp music playing
as I move the clocks forward
A sparrow flys over the red roof
Frozen earth covered lightly with snow
Snowflakes gathered on the roof
Soft blue sky with random cloud puff
Crisp cold winter day

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Sometimes if you're feeling blue, there's only one thing that helps and that's a few good tunes. This one is for all of us.


This one is for Lois.


And this one is for Lucia.

Lore sent me "On Children"
from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, “Speak to us of Children.”
And he said:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

This must be true for parents too, their souls dwell elsewhere, we cannot visit...
Thank you Lore!

A question and a request:
What do you do when you find it hard to be happy?
Can someone say something nice, happy, wise, &/or good?
The answer:
Yes we can!

From Gioia:

At Yiye Temple

I play with stones and sit beside the stream,
I search for flowers and walk around the temple.
Sometimes I listen to the songs of birds;
The sounds of spring are everywhere.

Bia Juyi

From Lani:

You are awesome!
Look at all you do, have done and are about to do!
And check out the SuziBlueTube video!
"Let other's have Joy"

From Christine:

Here's something nice: I LOVE the ginger cake that you sent me in the
tea box! Yummy! Thanks a lot!

From Maria:

You are an inspiration to us all, and especially me! You started me out on altered books... I love your sense of humor and whimsy; you are a great inspiration to be around. Thanks for being you girl...

From Barbara:

You are such a warm and kind person. One of the very first to
greet me on 14 Secrets and to encourage me forward. I took the
liberty of choosing a card from the Abraham deck for you: "Your true
work--in this perfectly balanced Universe--is to weigh, continually,
your new stimulation of thought against the existing beliefs within
you, thereby deciding what you NOW want." "I make MANY decisions.
(And then I make them right.)" The angel deck card is "flexibility".
Hope this helps.

From Ana

... choose to be happy...

From Cyn

You are the best, a ray of sunshine in a dreary day! Be of good cheer...

From Lore:

All I can say is may happiness and joy touch each and every one of us today and each day to come!

From Jodie

You are a wonderful person, and a great artist!~!

From Brenda

Don't let the little people get you down!! You know you are an awesome artist and have an incredible heart! ...--art it out sister--it will feel good!

From Mary:

Just remember what you really came here for. That is the most
important lesson for us all. I think we get lost in the little things
and those slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that are always
connected to the ego.
Take a step back my dear and do something kind for yourself, remember
to breathe, and look at that tiny bright light of love and
inspiriation that gives you strength and courage to create your life
and enhance the lives of others every single day.
You are magnificent:
and it is your life-force that people want and are scared of at the
same time.

From Nell

I recently received an absolutely flaming hot e-mail from a swap partner (not 14 Secrets, of course) who was angry about the art item she received from me. While the e-mail was quite inappropriate considering the "friendship" theme of the project and the etiquette estalished for the group, I still sent her an apology
saying I was sorry my project did not meet her expectations. One of my
I-turned-50 life lessons is that apologies don't cost anything and I
should be more generous in extending them. I have not heard back from
her, which includes no angry follow-up e-mails. My apology to her
resolved my uncomfortable feelings about her e-mail, and may have done
something to defuse her anger, as well.

From Maria

Great Advice! I love the humbling side of your response and find that taking the "one-down" position is empowering without threatening the other person. Bravo!

From Carol

I have been reading the posts about providing support when a person... needed support. Now, that is happiness.

Our little town has experienced a dreadful storm coming through the
mountains and ripping trees that are over a hundred years old up from
the roots and destroying homes. Through the aftermath, there has been
an outpouring of neighbors helping neighbors. Neighboring communities
sending rescue squads and red cross groups. I heard pictures were
even on the weather channel.
Happiness is to know that whether it is a group like 14 secrets or a
small town, folks are there to help.

We are after all a small community gathered together to create art.

For all you quiet folks dealing with whatever life throws your way,
create, sign up for Brenda's healing crown swap.
Think about hosting your own swap.. well, read the guidelines first...

From Lani

This is beautiful Carol and so on target. Prospect has had two hurricanes since I've lived here and the helping hands the day after are really the best. You feel good either helping or being helped in fact it seems to be one and the same really. Funny... but true.

From Gena

True. It goes to show you that "giving is receiving" and all quite magical, all things considered.

From Patti

I hope you are recovering - the photo I saw of you... left an impression of a person who is truly full of joy. So, please have a wonderful, new, creative day and know someone else has been there:)

From Lore
For SARK'S latest newsletter on how to hug and love yourself better click here!

Because we are sad tonight... Remembering our father, Theodore Fonda Cole, 1923-2008.
Thank you, Ellen, for the angel and Lore for this Irish Blessing which I altered slightly:

My wish for us is:
that we might be brave in times of trial,
when others lay crosses upon our shoulders
when mountains must be climbed
and chasms are to be crossed
when hope scarce can shine through
that every gift God gave us
might grow along with us
And let us give the gift of joy
to all who care for us
that we may always have a friend
who is worth that name
whom we can trust
and who helps us in times of sadness
who will defy the storms of daily life at our side
One more wish I have for us:
That in every hour of joy and pain we may feel God close to us.



Sweet dreams, love you all!
Lani

Mountain Moments

Traveling behind three cars in the rain
A grey heron flew over
Long legs dangling from outspread wings
Flying out of town
Talking to a friend on the cordless phone
The rain started coming down in sheets
The wind started thrashing
Limbs were being whirled around
Bouncing on the roof
The phone went dead
The electricity went out
Rain continued pelting the earth
When it stopped, we went outside
Limbs lay everywhere
The magnolia tree was split in half
A neighbors shutter was in our yard
A few minutes later
Sirens were heard
Black smoke billowed in the air
Looking down the street a large old tree lay across the road
The neighbors gathered in the street
A storm cell came to Big Stone Gap last night
destroying homes
uprooting large trees
The rescue squad came to our house
wanting to know if we were alright
Asking our names
The high school became a shelter
Red Cross and rescue squads came from neighboring communities
Streets are still blocked off
The sky turned yellow orange after the storm

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

I just love SuziBlutube's little encouraging video's. In fact I would have loved to have her for an art teacher in primary school! Well maybe it's not too late to get some of that basic education, in fact it's probably a great idea! Love those puppets!