Meanwhile...

OK  ...so I am neither "in Gotham City," nor am I entirely certain how to encapsulate everything that has taken place since I last visited with you, here :-\  Sufficed to say:  I am upright and mobile.  In spite (one might argue, because) of crushing losses, joyful discoveries, and having 'gone to ground' for a bit, I emerge refreshed and re-focused on tackling my 'to-do' list(s) with greater fervor!

...how true is this?
*from Urban Poetry - link below*

There is something so very humbling about remembrance...  Whether it comes from happy times shared, wisdom gained, long-lost friends rediscovered, exciting plans for a lost future, or a sudden absence following apparent improvement.  Some of my 'time away' *nay, the majority* was invested in the realizations borne of remembrance.  The World might not have stumbled due to their departure, but my world is both tangibly smaller and more richly patina'd having had to say good bye to JM, PS, JM, GM, and DF.  You are all missed!

When I find myself in need of 'unplugging' for a while, my 'go to' comfort zone is a good book *read:  a quick, cheap, and easy escape*.  I have read a seemingly incredible number of books in the past two months -- I will get the Shelfari up to date, this week!  ...just in time for you to hit the library before the long weekend -- in case 'one last hurrah!' isn't in the cards for your Memorial Day weekend.  As much as I yearn to be 'beach-bound,' I don't see that happening this year :-\  *OH, do tell me what YOU have been reading!?!*

Very cool happenings on the creativity front!  In July, I shared my fanatical research and experimentation of Homemade Alcohol Ink Spray with my friends in the CMMAG.  As is often the case with such a group, there was a palpable sense of "A-HA!" in the room -- Great interest, great questions that spurred some experimentation of their own!  My testing and documentation continues *with no apparent end in sight!*  I truly do not mean to tease you, gentle reader, but the wait will be just a tad longer for more/better photos :-?  They are coming, tho'!

The latest batch of Homemade Alcohol Inks,
ready for decanting into sprayers.

Speaking of 'the Guild Gals', we have an amazing array of cool, arty things going on in the final months of 2011, be sure to visit Creativity Rocks! for all the latest.  I am working on a project that will travel around the WORLD!  Exciting news on the teaching front is coming, too!  *OH, MY!*  Publication news is brewing!  New work in the works!  The Quest for Floor continues, and long-lost real estate is being recovered weekly!  The Girl is back in school *Go Pirates!*, and looking to repeat her appearance on the Dean's List *w00t!*  The Man is pounding code like mad, and his genius is evident daily!  We're not running around starving and 'nekkid'; despite not having reached the status of Goddess, I have been fully functional in the Domestic Dept.!  As always, there remain more 'really cool' ideas than the time in which to execute them; I keep on plugging away, tho!

As if all of this weren't enough, last week included both an earthquake (which I totally missed, as I was in the car at the time), AND a hurricane (during which we fared better than many)!

SO!  If anything, I have been 'over-stimulated' *oh, yes... that sounds SO much nicer than "a slacker" - ha!* rather than 'under-motivated' of late.  Obviously, still working on the whole 'discipline' thing...  While I may not yet have all of the balls in the air *it does seem like juggling some days...*, one can hardly bemoan living, right? 

Because that's what's been happening since you read me last...  

I've been living.

Onward & Upward!
 - pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"Life is a thing that mutates without warning,

not always in enviable ways.

All part of the improbable adventure of being alive,

of being a brainy bi-ped with giant dreams on a crazy blue planet."

                                      - Diane Ackerman

Photo Notes:  

   1st photo:  Urban Poetry - My Modern Metropolis; 2nd photo taken with Motorola DROID Vignette Demo App, set to random, vintage frames and auto flash.

Wonderful Weekend Wrap-Up

Greetings, once again, blogland!  I am rolling into this next week with a full head o' steam -- having enjoyed ALL of my favorite things in the past four days:  Friends, Art *with Friends,* and Family - in the form of a fabulous Father's Day for The Man!  I hope that you all enjoyed a most wonderful weekend, whatever it had in store!

JP, yours truly, Sally, BWM, & KS
Summer Fun w/ the B's!

My weekend got an early start, thanks to the Fayetteville After Five summer concert series, on Thursday.  I joined the besties, downtown, for an early evening of live music, great conversation, and a couple o' ice cold brewskies to ward off the unseasonably warm weather.  We were groovin' on the tuneage of Cafe Mars (whose line up included a SMOKIN' hot trumpeteer), and thoroughly enjoyed the *rare during-the-week* chance to play catch up! 

After a moderately busy Friday, which included the 'final touches' for my Saturday readiness, I reveled in the 2nd quarter Day of Creative Play with more Friends in the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, for a few hours of Altered Book discoveries with member Dawn Meisch.  Alas, in spite of having (A) my camera in tow, and (B) a fully charged battery in said camera I still managed to get ZERO photos :-\  I can, however, assure you that a good time was had by all - and much creativity was on display! 

Stacey, Dad, and meG
Happy Father's Day!

Today, though, surpassed them all!  The Man+The Girls+The Feast (meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, yeast rolls, and the "Extra Special Dessert" by the wee one) = PRICELESS!  The eldest Girl had to work - so was only able to be with us for a short time.  We managed to document the day before the scattering that seems to be the 'one constant'...  'Twas a most loverly afternoon!  The 'surprise dessert'?  None other than The Man's mom's own "Sex in a Pan" -- luscious layers of flaky crust, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and cocoa-laced whipped cream.  The only regret of the day was that The Girl had to make the long drive back to school after such feasting :-\

mmm, mmm, goood!
Sex in a Pan, Sin on a Plate...  call it what you will!

My mind was encamped by other fathers on this day of remembrance:  my Granddaddy, my PaPa, The Brother; and although I wasn't able to be with my mom today, Mr. Able was strongly on my mind *in both remembered and imagined conversations.*  The echos of the past are intricately woven into the fiber of our 'everyday' -- we need only be still long enough to hear them.  

There is much in the way of 'continued coolness' here in the realm!  I look forward to sharing with you the latest accomplishments with the Strathmore Visual Journal Online Workshop Series (even though I am woefully behind), some nifty new technique examples from Dawn's online class, news of some exciting new color-play discoveries, and more than a few creative secrets to soon be revealed! 

Onward & Upward!
 - pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"Fathers, like mothers, are not born.

 Men grown into fathers - and fathering

is a very important stage in their development."

                                      - David M. Gottesman

Photo Notes:  

   Taken with Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS1) - set to natural light, slow sync/red eye flash.

Bonus Shot!
The Man discovers
Flight of the Concords' "Sugar Lumps"
...laugh out loud, funny!

 

Wickedly Wacky Wednesday!

WOW...  This was just so weird, I felt compelled to share it with you all!  Please bear in mind that I was born and raised in this general geographic region; as such, I grew accustomed to seeing 'odd' things in the meat case at the grocery store.  I was amazed, at an early age, to learn that virtually EVERY portion of the pig was available for purchase - and what wasn't in the case was probably still in the back, for the asking!?!  Feet, brains, fat...  Oh, yes, all the standard cuts, too:  bacon, chops, ribs, ham, loins...  But this!?!  This is just beyond my 'raising' - ha!

YES!  It says "Chicken Paws"
...don't look at it too long - it WILL
make your head feel funny!

Now...  I read more than a few blogs, for more than a few reasons (art, books, music, etc.); early in the thoughts of my own blog-venture, I mused about doing things that I had seen done elsewhere *only natural, right?*...  One such 'regular feature' on many blogs is "Wordless Wednesday."  I was instantly and consistently intrigued by this idea -- I started 'seeing' photographs everywhere I went *oddly, I didn't TAKE any -- but I "saw" them!*

Since I have started blogging, I haven't established the discipline to regularly provide such content *yet!* - but, let's be real for a minute here:  HELLO!?!  You don't even have to know me to see (previous posts offered by way of example) that "Wordless" ANYthing would pose a nearly insurmountable challenge for me!  *...I'm just sayin'!*

SO...  what's even funnier about this particular photo is that this wasn't taken at the time of my first encounter with The Paws!  Nay, nay!  The first time I saw them, I was reaching into my purse for the DROID, and a little, bitty Asian woman came and got them *gasp!  that was the only package - yes, I looked!*  It was several foraging outings later before I re-encountered The Paws -- AND, how very handy that they are so conveniently located alongside the Stripped Back Portions ~>:-)  Who knows?  I may very well be missing out on a truly incredible epicurean delight; but I really don't see any Paws on the menu any time soon.  *...and nobody ever convinced me to eat pig brains, either!*

A little tid-bit from the "Wonderful" file:  our wee one (although not so wee, anymore) called today with the news that she had made the Dean's List for the Spring Semester!  *Woo Hoo!*  We are SO proud of her -- she worked hard for it, and has gotten some incredible feedback from her advisers with regard to her 'game plan' for the remainder of her undergraduate studies -- and some interesting thoughts about her future!  Life is GOOD!

I hope that something wacky and wonderful was a part of your Wednesday!  

Onward & Upward!
 - pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"The few wonders of the world

only exist while there are those

with the sight to see them ."

                     - Charles de Lint

Photo Notes:  

   Taken with Motorola DROID, standard camera app - auto flash.

...at long last! -- OR -- We have a Winner!

Greetings, blogland!  ...alas, it has been many sleeps since our last visit -- sometimes life happens that way, eh?  Friday evening, as I headed out for what seems to be our ritualistic 'weekend kick off' repast *take out Chinese, thanks for asking*, I saw this...  very tall shoot of grass...  right in the middle of the driveway.  It was like a "visual nudge" from the Universe:  "Excuse me...  Are you forgetting something?" 

...the ant's eye view of the
driveway inspiration

I had an immediate wrenching, and it wasn't entirely in anticipation of the epicurean delights I was heading out to retrieve  ~>:-\  So...  to further goad myself back in the general direction of my good intentions of 'responsible blogging,' I commemorated the moment to the secondary brain of my Motorola DROID...  

Realizing this lapse in attention to the task itself, it seems only prudent to point out the question that has lived with me *and a few other folks, I might add* since I embarked on this chapter of my creative journey:  "Exactly why am I *are you* doing this?"  ...to which I can only say now, as I did then, "It seems like what I need to do right now..."  Granted, as with many other creative interests, I have more 'really, cool ideas' than I can poke a stick at; and yet, I carry on -- perhaps not as 'timely' as I would like to be, but sharing and experiencing my delicious, greasy little slice of Life as I go, nonetheless!

So...  when I said, way back when, that I had a plan to allow my beloved canine shadow, Wito (pr:  Wee' toe) to choose the winner of my inaugural Blog Give-Away, there were some questions.  All I can say is that the Fates have smiled on us, today!  When I sat down, this evening, to catch up on my derelict duties as Blog Mistress to the Acre, I did not realize 'how many' 32 actually was -- until I printed you all out, and tore the lines into strips, and the strips into 'tickets', and folded the 'tickets' into quarters -- 32 is a might' fair number *whether one is considering people, or little pieces of paper*!

Thirty-two followers, ready for The Big Red Bowl!

Once the drawing had been prepared, I called for the Wonder Dog!  We went through our ration of 'tricks' so that we could get good and excited :-)  "Wito, sit....  Good sit, good Wito.  Wito, stay...  Good stay!  Wito, tell me...  tell me?..."  *at this point, the dog canNOT sit/stay/be still -- apparently "tell me" rekindles her past life as a rambling gypsy dog, who responded to this command by breathing heavily, and wagging her rear end in a frantic manner!*  That's how I know we are ready!  Into the Big Red Bowl went the 32 name 'tickets'...  Into the Big Red Bowl went the 3 dog biscuits...  I can think of no better place to quote George Peppard, in his immortal role as Lt. Col. James "Hannibal" Smith, of The A*Team fame:  "I love it when a plan comes together!"  While we did not indulge in big, fat cigars, we did clink our glasses a bit following the hound child's incredible performance ;-)  SO, without further ado - here, ladies and gentlemen, in her world wide interweb premier:  Wito the Wonder Dog!

Oh, but we were proud of 'our girl', today!  Note to self:  next time, retrieve the remaining biscuits for her - less chance of the 'extra roughage' from eating the non winning entries - ha!

Handmade and wide open for new possibilities!

There we have it, Debbie Altman is our very first Blog Give-Away winner!  ...and here is the *as aforementioned, designed and made by me* prize:  a one of kind, long-stitch, canvas-wrapped journal!  The signatures are composed of Canson Multi-Media paper, and bound in double-primed canvas with 4-ply waxed linen thread.  Measuring 4.5 in x 4.5 in., it is perfectly sized to serve as a portable journal, mini scrapbook, or a photo album.  This was originally designed as a class sample, but more are on the way!

  

Dated and signed - ready for delivery!

Congratulations, Debbie!

Loads more groovy goodness, of late:  online journal workshop happiness *replete with a new discovery for colorful fun*, altered book play incorporating said colorful discoveries, big fun on the horizon with my creative friends in the CMMAG, and plenty o' ideas brewing for new fun...  But, as the hour is late, gentle readers, I will leave you to wonder at what is yet to come -- for now, it is time to ready ourselves for another week o' busy-ness!  Until next time,

Onward & Upward!
 - pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"We derive immeasurable good, uncounted pleasures,

enormous security, and many

critical lessons about life by owning dogs."

                     - Roger Caras

Photo Notes:  

   Driveway snap taken with Motorola DROID Vignette Demo App, set to random, vintage frames and auto flash.  Remaining photos taken using Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS1) - set to natural light, slow sync/red eye flash.

   Video:  RCA Small Wonder (EZ1000R) - set to WebQ

A (not so) Funny Thing Happened On the Way...

...to the idyllic Birthday Beach Getaway (my gift from The Man)!  Namely, the day before our departure, I managed to injure myself - AGAIN!  *grrr!*  SO...  long story, short:  (a) I have some of THE most awesome friends in the Universe *many thanks: DA, MDP, BWM, KJ, and JP* , (b) I am apparently, actually, "growing UP" - as evidenced by a voluntary visit to the most awesome Lakeview Urgent Care, and (c)  I had an absolutely splendid time, in spite of only leaving the room only twice in four days - HA!

So...  when last we met, I had issued a wacky proclamation *h3ll, i'm not selling anything!  {yet?}  ...it shouldn't/doesn't really matter HOW many people read my odd ramblings, right?*  I am rather pleased to announce that, although we did not reach the "followers = age the day before b-day" mass that we thought we needed, we DID manage to welcome an impressive number *w00t!  13 - another FAVE!* of new friends!  BIENVENUE!  ...glad to have you ;-)  ANYway...  I figure it does a body good to give, so in that spirit, I will have a most loverly treat for one lucky winner in my next post *i KNOW, i know...  such a tease -- i really do need to 'catch up with myself', tho!*  Just think of it as something cool and mysterious to look forward to, 'k?  It's not everyday that one is given that particular option to mull about, now is it?

...he ain't heavy - he's my bootie!

AYE!  ...so, an unfortunate misstep has left me with a major sprain (not to mention the Uber P.I.T.A. of having more meds, more physical discomfort, and more limitations)  *lovely...  juuust lovely!*  If nothing else, 2011 has (thus far) been the 'year of appreciation for various and sundry medical practitioners' -  lol!  Now, it's two weeks down, 1 or 2 more to go, in every fashionista's DREAM footwear:  da' BOOT!

Before I leave you, I wanted to share a glimpse at our fanTABulous retreat to the beach!  We headed out into a beautiful, sunny mid-afternoon on Friday...  A quick stop at the grocery store, on the way in to round out our stores; and we were checked in by 4:00 *sweet!*  First stop?  ...directly to the deck, and the view that makes my heart SING.  I have had the great fortune to witness this view in every season, and it never ceases to amaze!

The shadows of the late afternoon stretch toward the sea

One of the two times I emerged from my haven, we went to a new gallery *thanks, JS!*  It was great to meet Christine, Janet and Mo.  There were many treasures to be had!  However, there is a surprise for The Girl among them; you'll have to wait until after her b-day *ahh!  the enticements continue! - hee, hee* mayhap the most memorable - due to the approaching weather - was the incredible clanging of the hand-forged wind chimes along the store-front side walk!  The wind was really blowing.  The weather forecast had called for scattered thunderstorms through the day, but we had enjoyed clear, sunny skies all day ~>:-?  Little did we know what all that wind meant elsewhere!  History was made on my birthday; not the 'good' kind, though :-\  After returning to our lovely environs by the sea, we caught the approach of the rain...  There was booming thunder and crackling lightning - accompanied by sheets of rain.  Dusk came early with roiling clouds filling the sky!  A very impressive storm; not at ALL what was taking place back home!  *i believe the final count on the tornado touch-downs of 04/16/11 was 62 throughout a swath of eastern NC!?!*

The welcoming entrance of Artful Living Group

It was what happened when it stopped raining that made this storm so truly awesome!  As the storm clouds moved away from the coast, they appeared to become a wall of lightning -- with brilliant streaks coursing through the mass of churning clouds.  At times, the moon (2 days short of full) would glow from between the shifting, thick clouds.  We watched this incredible show for over half an hour before it occurred to either of us that there was NO thunder!?!  At roughly the time it ceased pouring down rain; the thunder became more sparse, and quit altogether...  Later still, the cloud bank retreated further out over the ocean, and it was even more visually curious to see a clear, moon-lit, starry sky ABOVE the still-crackling wall of clouds on the water -- and the only sound was the steady rolling of waves onto the shore -- almost eerie...  I did manage to get a half-decent video with my camera before the battery died :-?  It went on for over 4 HOURS.  We were still marveling over it Sunday morning; when Kevin spoke to our Inn Keeper, who declared that he had lived on the east coast most of his life and never seen anything like it.  I somehow felt more justified in my slack-jawed amazement *the video does not do it justice!  ...and it get better just after the middle - not proficient at editing, just yet ;-) *

Sunday was markedly different in the weather department!  The ocean, which had been fairly choppy since our arrival, looked more like a LAKE than the sea!?!  The sky was a crystalline blue, with n'ary a cloud to be seen.  Still quite windy, and much cooler *and this was the first time i can remember leaving home w/o a denim shirt in my truck - derp!*  

The near-full moon rising o'er a peaceful sea.

This was the first time we have gone here that I didn't walk on the beach, or out to the end of the pier :-\  And while I had packed them 'just in case,' we didn't fly kites this trip either.  On the other hand, it was a most incredibly relaxing weekend -- tended to like a Queen, I was ;-)  We read (check the Shelfari book case for the latest!), we enjoyed great music and good food, and we spent a few *very rare!* days with minimal intrusion via phone/fax/e-mail/etc...  All around a wonderful trip.  I am quite the lucky girl!  I was gifted with birthday greetings from near and far, and capped off the evening with a totally decadent desert!  Ahhh, as I say *quite regularly* Life IS Good!

Mmm, mmm - chocolate cake & red wine!

I hope that you all enjoyed a revitalizing Easter, and I leave you now with the warmest of wishes for all of your days!

Onward & Upaward,

  pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"As every thread of gold is valuable,

so is every minute of time."

                                             - Mason

   Photo Notes:

   Gallery photo and Video taken with my trusty Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS1) - Remaining Photos taken with the Motorola DROID using the Vignette Demo App, set to random frames and auto flash.

Light-Bu'b Moment!

Greetings, Blog Land!

I logged in, today, only to discover a pretty cool thing!  I currently have 21 followers *w00t!*  Here's why this is so cool:  IF *...and I know it might be a stretch* I reach 42 followers by next Friday (04/15), I will have a number of 'followers' equaling my age!

On Saturday, April 16th, 2011 I will become 43 (interestingly enough, 4+3=7 - a prime number -- not to mention, my FAV-O-RITE one!) -- Sooo, I thought we might have our 1st ever, Happy Birthday Give-Away!  Here's how it would work:  If you are already a 'follower,' just invite a friend to follow along on our meandering journey through the Swiss Cheese that is my thought process; and leave a comment that you have added a new artistic adventurer.  If you are not yet a 'follower,' just sign on and leave a comment that you have joined us!  if we reach 42 by Friday, I will put together a suitable item to 'gift' the lucky follower, next Monday (winner to be selected by Wito the Wonderdog).  I have an extremely cool thing in mind; but might very well come up with something even better by then - ya' never know?!?

SO...  if you feel so inclined, bring a friend; and we will continue our artful journey together!  Someone will win a groovy, cool treat to help me celebrate my b-day; and we will forge on -- new discoveries to mine, and visual treats to unveil!

Visual Journal Workshop #1 - C'est Finis!

Happy Weekend, Blog friends!

I am happy to report that my work(s) in the Strathmore Visual Journal Online Workshop #1 ("Recycled Journal Pages" with Pam Carriker) is finished! *w00t!*  Not only are the spreads I created for this class done; but I also managed to work in an ALL NEW spread -- beautifully tangled with some of my favorite Zentangle patterns!  Life is GOOD!  This whole experience has been great fun; and like any new experience, has added even more ideas to the grist-mill of my mind!

Week #4 * - Spread 1 of 3
"B-ing Me"
* technically, this one was done @ Week #3

We'll begin again where we started last time, looking at the 'hows and whys' of the developmental changes in following along with an online instructor...  The first spread in this series completed in this Workshop was really 'finished' after week #3.  This one was borne of itself, and seemed to take form without a whole lot of thinking on my part ~>:-?  I love it when things fall together this way; but it is one of those totally unpredictable things...  Life would be EVEN better if everything advanced as smoothly as this particular piece of work!

Week #4 * - Spread 2 of 3
"Bloom Where You're Planted"

The second piece has been an 'on again - off again' love from the beginning...  The base image inspired it all; and the security envelope additions really added to the 'feel.'  I scared myself with the addition of the initial pastel layer; but was relieved to see the vast improvement following the 1st gesso wash.  Week 3 drove me to the edge, again!  But it seems like it all smoothed out with some more tweaking...  I love the finish -- I used the suggested paint pens to write over the previous pastel/gesso treatments; and (although I probably won't do a whole lot of it) enjoyed trying out Pam's lettering style for the over-writing.  The first three letters of "planted" were outlined with a copper metallic paint pen as highlighting, as they are my initials.  Overall, I am happy with this :-)

Week #4 * - Spread 3 of 3
"This Bird has Flown" - OR - "Pieces of the Sky"

My third spread was a 'late comer' to the game; but it actually gave me the proper stance in relation to the techniques presented in the class (i.e. reworking an existing piece of work to tell another story).  I really took that task to hand with this spread; and LOVE the final outcome!  This is the first time I have ever done anything 'in memory' of someone...  It is hard to lose someone, regardless of their role in your life; but to lose one of your own 'brood' (?) words fail me!  Still wrestling with the title, here -- vacillating between "This Bird has Flown" and "Pieces of the Sky".  Both have their righteous claims; but it may be that this is a conversation best resolved internally - knowwhatimean?

Bonus Entry
"Art is Good for Your Heart!"

Last, but most certainly not least, is this sweet 'jewel-baby' *ooh, I am channelling the Uber Brother!*...  The initial image here was a snippet from Remedy magazine *and NO, I don't know why I get it -- it just shows up* featuring an EKG line issuing from a syringe.  Odd?  Sure...  Inspiring?  You betcha!  I knew, when I first laid it down on an angle (and extended the EKG line with a blue Sharpie), that it wanted to be 'tangled!'  I have done some smaller, "real Zentangles" (defined as: black ink on a 3.5 x 3.5 in. 'tile') as simple, relaxation exercises for the past couple of evenings -- it really is a neat way to decompress!  I love how this came together.  Several of these patterns I had never executed before this journal spread.  Using Zentangle is like playing with an amazing jigsaw puzzle (with over 250 'pieces,' and counting) that you can put together a bazillion different ways, and it looks different EVERY time!

 I am already looking forward to jumping into the 2nd Strathmore Workshop:  Linda Blinn's "Start Where You Are" -- although, it seems to me that that would have been the one to 'start' with :-\  *oops, there I go -- thinking, again!?!*  That should give us more to consider and enjoy :-)  It's not too late to play along!  If you want an 'invite' to the Online Workshops at Strathmore's Online Workshops, give me a shout -- I don't know why one has to be 'invited'; but I am happy to help, if you decide to flex your creative muscles with some new ideas and techniques.

Until next time, I wish you happiness and sunshine!

Onward & Upaward,

  pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"Love is a canvas furnished by nature

and embroidered by imagination."

                                             - Voltaire

   Photo Notes:

   All photos taken with my trusty Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS1) - set to natural light, with slow sync/red eye flash.