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Hmmmmm....
What's it gonna be.................
Stamps, camera, ACTION!
Just thinking about all the wonderful toys in my art room and which way the day is going to take me.
Hope that you are feeling that creativity today and everyday!
Hugs from the Bugs!
Laura Anne and Bella Boo
August - the Dog Daze of Summer...too hot to cook, too hot to clean, too hot to trot.
The brain and my senses are dulled by the weight of the humidity and sometimes senseless acts by humanity.
Good thing Bella knows how to color. She keeps me on my toes as we take our daily walks - or what I call our "meet and greets".
The best part of being a dog owner is that you meet others who love animals and almost always acknowledge your pet with a smile, "beautiful day" or dog comment. Sometimes they even stop and tell you their story. I never really know what prompts them to stop and start a conversation with us, but Bella and I graciously listen and learn the lesson(s) that we somehow need to hear from that person who needs to talk.
A few years back we met a man on our daily walk who was busy going about his day but wished to share a pet and hug with Bella. He also shared his story. His wife was and is very ill and maybe, just maybe, he needed the comfort of all our ears that day. Either way, it was a hear-warming story.
*His parents were immigrants who were proud to call themselves "Americans".
*He was orphaned as a pre-teen.
*His much older sister and her husband took him in. The husband was physically and verbally abusive to him and this soft spoken man stated that he had no use, then or now for his brother-in-law. No anger or hate in his voice, just matter-of-factly.
*He became an emancipated young adult and joined the military at 16 years old.
*He served in Vietnam at 16.5 yrs old when others were in high school, dating, driving cars and drinking milkshakes at the drive-ins. Left the service when he was 21.
*He was determined to make a better life for himself and not become the victim of his loss or abuse.
* He married. Has 2 daughters of whom he is extremely proud of and now a granddaughter who is the apple of his eye.
*Built his own business and did very well for himself and in all our conversations has never really spoken of his financial success and good fortune, but because of the area and the housing in that area, I know this to be true.
*He says it is his "duty" to give back to the military from which he took so much from.
"The military opened their doors to a homeless boy and then became my family and raised me to become the man I am today," is how he so eloquently states it.
*He volunteers 2x a week for the USO at one of the largest airports in the nation, he counsels young military men who are struggling and he gives them his undivided attention during their stay at the nearby military base. He also volunteers at a naval museum close to his home.
*He does this with a very ill wife and no regrets about his life choices. Most of all, he speaks quietly with a profound joy that shines in his eyes..
Everytime we see him, he smiles. Stops to chat. Pets Bella Boo and wishes us a kind day.
So today, after a weekend of angst and sorrow caused by inconsiderateness, I saw him, we spoke of the day ahead, the warm sun and we both reflected on what was truly important in life and then we went on our way. Only this time, I forgave myself and those who continue to hurt me and found an inner peace for being so lucky to have stopped and listened to this man's story.
I am truly blessed.
"Hope I grow up to be like him, yeah ... I wanna be like him..." (Cats in the Cradle)
Make your day count... sing, dance, play, paint...whatever it takes to keep your spirit "full" on a hot summer's day that drains you.
Laura Anne and Bella Boo
Where are you going?
Where is your creativity going?
Where is your artwork going?
Are you going solo or with a friend?
Are you happy?
Are you tired?
Are you frustrated?
Are you true to yourself?
Great questions to ask on a spring day that keeps peeking in and out of the clouds and the raindrops!
Over the years my artwork has grown into more than I ever dreamed...still, I try new techniques and find myself frustrated by the feeble attempts of ink to paper, needle to fabric, or strums to ukulele.
"KEEP TRYING!" I tell myself. This is what going for the "gold" is all about
Travel down the road less taken, the pencil less used, the paint brush of fear, the blank papered wide eyed stare down and pack your creative self into a chair of discovery!
That is where I am going today...to all of the above places with none of the guilt, calories, or self deprecation - only kind words today as I pull out my stamps, my journal and finally my ukulele.
Spring is here. New beginnings. New ideas. New energy! New! New! New!
Bunny Blessings to all this holiday season!
You are the carrots to my cake and the jelly to my beans!
Laura Anne and Bella Boo
Here I be's...strummin away the days, stamping away the nights...dancing through the leaves, walking Bella and painting walls, cabinets, doors, windows....whatever...
It is sunny with a chance of Pizza in my life today.
It will be sunny with an even better chance of painting the kitchen cabinets tomorrow...
Wondering where I ever found the time to run a business...
Strumming my uke with my fingers, wondering whatever happened to the diet...
Laughing away the days with the "3 Amigos and 1 Little Lady...
Wishing I could make Paris whole again...
Life has changed drastically these past 20 years...let's hope our World Leaders put away their private interests, Wall Street puts some integrity into their investments so our economy can grow again and that Kindness becomes a fashion statement.
I am all over the board today...and that's OK. My friend finally received her transplant. My family is healthy. My bills are paid. My puppy is as sweet as ever, what more could I ask for?
Be creative today.. Feel blessed. Color everything bright. Have some Pizza.
Bugs and kisses!
Laura Anne and the ever present, Bella the Boo
Yep. This is where I am ... again....
In two days I will be 61 years old and still feel like I have made no progress in my life. And at this age, I am beyond worrying about it.
I understand. I appreciate. I love. I give. I give again. I give more. Maybe I give too much. I am tired everyday. Somedays I give up but I never give in.
This is the song of my life.
So, no offense but I am going to celebrate my day regardless of whether or not anyone else can find the time to because I am glad I am alive to smell the rain, walk the dog, babysit the grandchildren, paint the house (inside and out), clean the toilets, wash the floors, play my ukulele, laugh, cry or do whatever I can to make the sun shine on my insides.
Regardless of my weight, I AM going to buy my own birthday cake and have a piece of joy and find the sweetness in my day.
If you are anything like me, and find yourself wondering - just know that you are worth more than you ever dreamed of and that happiness is on the inside, disappointment is a part of life and that the choice in how you handle it is all up to you.
So, excuse me, but I need to go and put my party panties on and blow my out my candles. Time to celebrate!
Happy Birthday to me!
Laura Anne and Bella Boo
