.....shade of friendship

Sue at Barton Originals has honored me with this award... I am really pleased about it...I love the meaning behind it.... I feel that this is an award that can keep on giving as I come upon blogs that have the spirit of what I believe Ces intends.... Thank you Sue!

This award was created by Ces @ Ces and her Dishes in honor of her friend Bella Sinclair. The post on Ces's blog regarding Bella and the history behind the award is here. Please visit Ces's blog to read the background as it is quite interesting and it is a very cool blog...a bit about it.....

"I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us."

"I hope that when Bella returns, this award would have already circulated in the blogs. It is my honor to give this award to the first recipients who I hope will find the same pleasure as I have in spreading its crown, giving shade and the comfort of friendship and caring and of sisterhood by sharing this award with their blog-friends and sisters!"

Ces chose the the Quercus lobata or Valley Oak to symbolize the spirit of this award...in her words. 'It is a simple and unadorned award but heavy on meaning. The Valley Oak is a large handsome tree with a stout and sturdy trunk and widely spreading branches that form a broad open crown. It can reach up to a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet, sometimes much greater. It is the largest of the western deciduous oaks and is a handsome and graceful shade tree.'

I have Grandmother Valley Oak in my yard, she overlooks my labyrinth...she is at least 6ft. in diameter and I am in awe of her and all that she has witnessed.

Today I am going to pass it on to Natalie @ Musing from the Deep , Tammie Lee@ Spirithelpers and Kathleen @ Mixed Messages...these ladies are my friends and muses...they lift me up with their words and spirit, as well as their art...there are others I want to share this with, but my blog time is running out...I'm trying a schedule..lol!

Procrastination?

I’m wondering if there is a difference between someone who works “well under pressure” and someone who procrastinates?
I’m feeling energized and overwhelmed at the same time….I see many looming deadlines. A list of things I need to do as long as my arm and that’s just the art related list.
I was commenting to myself, as I often do, about the fact that I was feeling energized about working in my studio, a kind of excited urgency. However, self commented back that, “what you’re feeling is urgency because you’ve procrastinated and now you have LOOMING DEADLINES.” I don’t really know if that‘s it or not…What I know is that I have a never ending vision of figures lined up waiting to come into form….so I don’t lack inspiration, it’s everywhere….and that does excite me so maybe I’m just a person who does work “well under pressure”. …….I have so many visions, I often have a hard time funneling them through and onto my work table… they are all whispering, “me first”. Sometimes that can take days of starting and stopping, listening….
In all of this of course are the blessings….I have a studio to work in, I have inspiration, I have places to hang my art…there is interest in my Spirit Figures...they find homes, I meet my deadlines….

Grandmother Oak

I'm certainly the lucky one in my family today, it's snowing here in the sierra foothills of central CA. It's snowing as low as 2000 feet, I'm at about 2200. It's the third time this week...a rare thing. Since snow is not part of our every day lives it stops life as we normally conduct it.

The electricity may go out...it's part of a snowy day in Coarsegold...The road between here and the larger town of Oakhurst has already closed. My husband, daughter and son-in-law are all in Oakhurst. Many calls from my daughter this morning regarding that problem. School may close early...but the buses might not run. My grandson is at school on my side of the mt. If it snows much longer I most likely won't be able to get out of my driveway. Some problem solving may be needed today.

But at the moment, I am the lucky one....I'm tucked up in my chair, posting here by the fireplace, looking out the window at the show Mother Nature is providing. It is so pretty...we have a lot of oak trees on our property... oak trees, with snow in place of leaves are just beautiful. One of the trees is a 300+ year old Great Grandmother Oak. She is so stately....and beautiful at every time of year....I love to get up next to her and smell her and touch her moss covered bark, her trunk is huge, all those layers!......She has seen so much and provided so much. I just love her!