Never fear shadows......

"Never fear shadows,

They simply mean

there's a light

shining near by"

 Anonymous

Got back from my annual spiritual journey to the Life O Riley Farm and

Valley Ridge Art Studio where I spent a wonderful three days in a workshop with Michelle Ward.

Needless to say, a great time was had by all!

This workshop, which I will be posting about over the next few days, was titled, "Raise the Bar."

"It's a small step from Brave to Bravo" -- Michelle Ward

More art work tomorrow. Flying back from Wisconsin I managed to catch what I call the "airplane" cold - big time. OK, I did get a flu shot the week before and I knew it wouldn't kick in for about two - three weeks, but as I got in my car today, whining to do no one but myself, I realized it is all in your perspective of life. A common cold/flu on one hand - no big deal.

So as I feed the cold (?) with chicken soup and my fav V8, I will be taking photos of the art work I created at this workshop - I was blown away, stretched, shamed into a painting, laughing out loud, playing my painted drum sticks to the music of "Little Drummer Boy" - yes we had a great time. Harley was also along for the ride in his pink bandanna!

Rock on you little honeysuckle peeps....... it is a glorious day seen through sneezing and coughing. xoxo

 

Surprise, I'm back peeps.... for today anyway!

Hello, peeps, how are you doing? I've missed you and was still  involved with purging after my windows were put in. As I was cleaning, I ran across some cross stitching that was started but not completed. I found the wonderful sunflower purchased years ago and am planning on using it as part of the 6 x6 artist swap (mentioned in a previous post, I believe, LOL). I am thinking it will be the "cover" of the "book" I put together with all of the sunflowers created by incredible artists.

Found a  cross stitch pattern and materials in for a book mark I found in London in 2005.  Hmmm, 'tis now 2011, just completed. Yes, peeps, you can just call me "speedy" ---  Love the lavender!

Still working on my Women of Salem. Clipping images and playing with background papers.

And last but not least, my Alphabet ATCs, only a few letters left (and did you think I forgot?).

C = Cherish

D = Diva

E = Eye Candy

The eyes always have it, don't they......

In closing, I want to tell you that I started to post yesterday on the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 and had I been able to cut and paste my post from last year, I would have. But an anniversary like yesterday takes a lot out of all of us as we reflect on the last ten years since the events from that horrendous day. If you would like to revisit that post, here is the link:

http://honeysucklebreeze.blogspot.com/2010/09/september-11th-rewind.html

And in closing my peepers..... sleep tight tonight and may angels wrap their wings around you. Hugs!

What I Doing on My Long Holiday Weekend

Dateline: September 1, 2011
Topic: US Open Tennis
Where: Flushing Meadows, NY
How: Bus Ride

Yup, on Thursday, September 1, 2011 I did my annual one-day visit to the US Open on a bus ride. Hmmm, better bus than last year. But the butt was still sore coming home because one sits on bleachers and hard seats the whole day. Would I do it again? You betcha.

Up at 4:00am in order to head out of Reston at 5:45am. Arrived at the US Open around 12:15pm and I missed the singles match I really wanted to see:  Francesa Schiavone in Arther Ashe Stadium. I got into my seat as she literally won the match and it was over.

But not all was lost. Got to see Serena Willliams,

Roger Federer for the second time,

and young US player,Melanie Oudin, playing doubles. She has not had a good year but fun to watch.

And then I noticed on the schedule that Francesa was playing doubles. Woot Woot. And so over to the court I headed and was not disappointed.

She and her partner did win the match.

Then at 6:30pm we headed home - yes, after a day of watching tennis and crowds, you are ready to head homeward bound. The traffic getting out of NYC never disappoints you.

Don't know how I managed this photo but it is one of my favorites. Made it to my condo at 12:30am and then hit the bed.

And today - just hanging out and yes, Dianne, I am still cleaning. Dianne was so funny in the previous post mentioning that it always seemed when she came to visit I was either cleaning or purging. Little does she know (OK, dirty little secret time) I do nothing all week when it comes to home caring. After work I am either working out with my trainer or trying to play tennis or just lazing around. The only time I manage to carve out for any cleaning or purging is on the weekend when you all drop by.

Am planning on playing singles tennis tomorrow morning with my bud BJ. Let's see how bad he beats me tomorrow. Two weekends ago it was h o rr i ble...... literally.  Yes, you may be seeing me again tomorrow with some kind of creation.  Stayed Tuned....

Earthquakes, Hurricane, New Windows, Hello Peeps

And how was your week..... Mine went like this:  Last Tuesday we had a 5.8 earthquake here in Northern Virginia. Hmmmm, never knew they were that noisy.  Here on this coast (east) earthquakes don't happen and the first thing I thought of was there was an explosion somewhere. Or in the back regions of the mine - a terrorist attack? Nope, we don't have earthquakes.  But we did. Rather interesting, I sometimes over think things and see things in amazement.

 A freaking 5.8 earthquake - yes I did pick up the few pieces that were knocked off shelves in condo.

By Thursday our thoughts got over the earthquake and we were now focused on a hurricane called Irene. Well, Irene did do damage but here in my humble abode, wasn't that bad in Sterling, VA. I was not complaining.

However, the greatest event of the week was my new windows. Now, although I live in a condo, the cost of the windows are mine, not sure how the association got that one through while we were all sleeping, but they did. So since we got a new roof, new siding, why not go on and get the windows.

It was a production. Little did I know I would have men hanging out my windows. (I am on the third and fourth floor - what a show.) Had photos of the men hanging on my FaceBook post for those who friend me there.

Since all furniture had to be moved away from the windows, all curtains taken down, why not start washing and cleaning everything.

 I swear I worked from dawn till dusk on Friday just cleaning and cleaning. Got most back to normal:  bedroom,

dining room,

 kitchen, a n d -- the living room almost. Yes, I am purging. How many tacky glue's can a girl have?

Made one trip to Goodwill and still working away on old magazines. I, can honestly tell you I am grateful for the show Hoarders. While purging I run the questions thru my mind;  1) trash; 2) give away; or 3) keep. I started giving some of my cross-stitch kits away - they have just been sitting. Let someone else have the joy of sewing them.

I am breathing in and out slowly. Listening again to Wayne Dyer's "The Shift" as I drive to and from work. It does my soul good to listen to him and his positive way of life and thinking. I have not created any art work and was, once again, thinking of walking away from the blog for a while. AND then before I put the Summer 2009 Artful Blogging  magazine (a Stampington & Company publication) in the Goodwill basket, I read:

"When you blog, you are opening up your heart, your studio, your art, and/or your home. In many ways you bare a part of your soul. People begin to know you well and care about you and what you are writing about. An artful blog that is created by you with your words and photos and insights is a special gift that only you can give. It's always worth the work to give the gift of yourself."

So, after the year we have shared together with my breast cancer and the comfort, care, prayers, and love you all gave me, hey, I will hang in while I get this purging done and go through my dry spell. My muse is off on vacation but I know she will be back shortly. And, I still have a few more alpha ATC cards to share with you. The news for this week is that I will be going to the US Open Tennis Tourney in NYC on Thursday and will have some photos for you.  If you would like to "friend" me on FaceBook, please feel free to do so. I have been posting there more recently than the blog - why, because I do it from my little "crackerberry" - LOL.

Meet the Covens

Not really all that happy with this fourth ATC card in the Women of Salem. But will keep it right now. Originally it was going to be called "behind closed doors" but I wasn't happy with that and kept adding stuff to the card then came up with the title, "meet the covens" - hmmmmm  I did write some more titles down so I can do a few more of these. Not done with it yet.

Well, to update you, I did get my "wood" floor in my office and spent all last week moving selected items back in. Still tossing at the office and at home.

This past week I learned that my condo neighbors had a scare with their pug who had to have surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.  Poor Divot was still spunky as I delivered a care bag to her which included a toy, "chef Michael" puppy moist foot, and some doggy ice cream, Frosty Paws.

I received an adorable thank you card featuring Divot herself. Had a left over Frosty Paws box and you know the "rest of the story" - LOL

Gathered papers together and stamped and "dressed them all up" for a special pup.

Made the little grocery store notebook and gave to Divot's Mom.

The inside pages were aimed at Divot's mother who is an assistant principal at an elementary school.

The ribbons on this little book was kept to a minimum.

Need to still get some things done. My new windows are going to be put in the condo on Friday. You all have an awesome week!