Lynnie Penny Popcorn

I made this piece this past summer, but noticed it wasn't up on my blog, soooo...

"Meet 

Lynnie Penny Popcorn

She lays golden eggs.

And when her eggs all hatch

Her chicks have golden legs."

I made this piece thinking of my mom and my aunt, both who died to soon.  But this is a joyous piece, celebrating their humorous loving sides.  

I learned that my aunts and uncles called my mom "Lynnie Penny Popcorn" when she was little.  Something to do with the fact that she was a majorette-baton-tw

irling-gal who got them to all the parades in town.

With the holidays just passing and the new year arriving I have been thinking of my mom.  She was great.  Not to say she didn't have her stuff - because she did - maybe even more then her fair share.  

She was funny.  I loved her wacky sense of humor.  She was so beautiful.  Her heart was so big.  She had space for all my friends.  Many of whom called her "mom-two" - meaning their second mom.  The kids of the neighborhood - we all hung out on our front porch, my mom feeding us all and putting up with all our teen drama.

I keep a photo of her next to my art space.  She was an artist too.  I show her what I am doing, and smile at her image.

I love you Lynnie Penny Popcorn - mom

Thanks for my golden legs 

Tis the season to be jolly...

Peace on Earth

Joy to the World

Three Sunflowers Once in a Blue Moon

Harvest Moon

When I think of this piece I remember warm autumn days gone by.  Where the shadows are longer and a crispness begins to fill the air in the late afternoon. 

The smells are of drying grasses and apples that drop to the ground.  

Warm aromas drift out from homes in the neighborhood.

   

Lights within come on earlier and radiate a comforting glow.

The rustle of leaves already fallen fill my ears.  

The moon too seems bigger.  The big orange moon we always called the harvest moon.

Magic Under a Rock

She found her magic

under a rock in the garden.

When had she lost it

she wondered?

She cried for the time spent

without her magic.

and then she laughed

   for the tears had reminded her

   she never really lost her magic.

But she had carefully wrapped it

and placed it under the rock

for her future self  to find

   knowing she would need

   a release of tears

   and to be reminded that magic

   is everywhere, everyday.

And she smiled

and filled her heart

with the song of her life.

Flowers and Houses - Metaphors for Self Exploration

The full moon bloomed once a month

from the moon flowers 

she carefully tended in her garden.

She had no idea that when she planted her seed of Joy,

it would bloom so wonderfully.  

Sword of Light - Meteor Stars

We are entering the Michaelmas season.  While I am not a traditionally religious person, I am a spiritual person and I love to take the metaphorical meaning of the old stories to heart.

During this time of year we are reminded to take the light of the summer (Michael's golden sword/truth) into our selves to tame or slay our inner dragons or the darkness of the winter.

The following is a description of Michaelmas from my son's kindergarden teacher (for the parents).  The children hear stories of Michael and his golden sword of light and how he slays the dragon and protects the village.  They have also been busy dying silk capes with walnuts (makes yellow) and carving out little swords of oak.  It is so exciting to be a kindergardener.  Sometimes I wish I could go back to that simple nurturing time.

 

"The heavenly iron (stars/meteors) sent to earth by the sword of the Arch Angel Michael is an image that says-While the physical world (the dragon) is a necessary stage for the human being the spiritual qualities of courage and responsibility are essential to lift humanity from self centered egoism, exploitation of the earth and others, and materialistic thinking.  It is the spiritual iron (stars/meteors) of Michael that gives us courage and strength to develop selflessness and service to  do what is right by our world and our neighbor."

Green Gulch Zen Center

The journey of transformation isn't always easy.  Maybe it never is.  We get comfortable in our life.  We know what to expect.  Then we feel the wind tug at our heart, "come, this is the way".  There is a great gratitude for this tug, but sometimes it is difficult to have the faith that this whisper will guide us to a higher place.

and so the wind called to my heart this fall.  "Come...this is the way"  

Ahead I see a fork in the path.  I know, even before arriving at the fork that my path will lead to the right.  But I feel  a longing, a sadness for not taking the left road.  The left road is my past, my younger self.  

I am not sure I want to leave this path.  As exciting as it is to journey and explore, the right path holds the unknown.  

Where my higher self, my universal self knows this path leads to the garden of my heart, my human self wants to hold on to the worn and comfortable trail. 

And so I take the first steps towards the unknown.  I try to walk with grace, but I stumble...  and the wind caresses, she whispers, "it's OK - we all stumble".  The wind reminds me to open my eyes, open my heart, let go of the fear - I am not alone.  

and indeed when I open my eyes I see I am surrounded by a community of women - some who have traveled this way, others who traveled yet another path, but they are all there to remind me I am not alone.  

And so I found myself at Green Gulch Zen Center.  A class I signed up for 6 months ago, not knowing how perfectly timed it would be.

The class was called The Art of Pilgrimage.  It was a meditative hike in the Marin Headlands and through the Green Gulch Farm.  The photos are all from the gardens at the center.  

The wisdom I received from this experience was to open my heart and body to the journey - to be present to the feelings washing over and through me.  

I was reminded of the births of my two beautiful babies.  Both of my children were born at home.  My first labor was hard.  I was scared and I held my body very tight and closed, hence the labor was tight and closed. Not much room to expand into what was happening and allow by body to open naturally and let my little one flow out.  Instead it was a little more like pushing her out - holding her in - pushing her out - holding her in...

My second birth I did a lot of prep work.  I wanted to be fully present and to be open to the pain.  Feel the pain, feel my body open.  I had much more faith, because I had done this before.  I thought of myself and all the mothers before me who had done this.  I felt my whole body open.  I actually remember that feeling of opening and following my bodies rhythm.  I allowed myself to unfold.

So I take that same metaphor into this next phase of my life.  To trust in the natural rhythms of life and to open my heart and body.  I am learning again to allow the feelings to wash over and through me and to be present with this journey.  I don't want to wake up some day realizing I spent my life as seaweed - yes, gently flowing in and out with the rhythm of the tide, but having no direction of my own choosing.  Instead I strive to be more like the turtle who also lives within the natural rhythm of the sea, but she can propel her own direction within the flow of the sea. 

The pilgrimage was amazing and I hope to do it again next year.  I encourage any who may have an interest to check out the leader web site.  He is an amazing person, and had so much to share about the sacredness of pilgrimage.  

http://www.stevenkharper.com/

Sacred Tree

I spent the week end at Green Gulch Zen Center
It was a weekend of reflection on self, family and community.  I also got to spend it with my dear friend Andrea.  I have lots to tell, but I see it is time to pick up my little on from kindergarden.  

I'll be back.

The Wall Street Two-Step?

Ouch... Spent Saturday in Napa for the annual "Napa Wine and Crafts Faire".  I think I was on Wall Street, while the other artisans were on "Yipee-Skippy" Street.  

It has me thinking of how I sell my art.  I love doing this and I really want to make this work for myself and family.  There was a wonderful leather artist (Jessica Zoutendijk) next to me who had some good insight - about weathering through these economic times, because the larger market for hand-crafted, quality items is on the upswing.

I think I also have noticed that people want to buy arts and crafts, but with these tough times are choosing  functional arts and crafts pieces.  My pieces, though I love them, aren't real functional.  

I must say it has me a little nervous about my upcoming shows in October, November and December.  Not sure my ego can take another hit like Napa.  As it was, my hubby had to send me out of the house for a time-out.  At least the movie "Mamma Mia" was still playing and I got to have my time-out in Greece. 

So off to the Studio to figure out just how I am going to pay for our Italian farm house.  (actually I'm off to pick up my little guy from Kindergarden)

Ciao Bellas