beautiful color in nature.......

We went to San francisco last week and while at the aquarium we saw jelly fish that were so beautiful in color and shape I had to take several photos of them. Of course we did many touristy things but found an apartment by Golden gate park to live like a local, it was great! We walked  and walked all over the city and ate myself sick with yummy food. My favorite things we saw and did were the academy of sciences-very cool planetarium and butterfly santuary, the exploratorium(don't go if you don't like children) wonderful scientific experiments you can try, the redwoods in Muir woods outside of San fran-I better say the Giants game my husband had to see-they did win so that was fun too. Of course I LOVE all the architecture of the victorian houses. I could have spent my entire time walking each neighborhood and taking pics of my favorite house. I have an obsession for houses!!
We found Alamo square and took our photo of the famous row of victorians there. There are some amazing streets to browse through like a native instead of downtown which is packed.
Most important why you go to San fran is the food-we did not go to 5 star places but good food for a decent price-schroeders german food-HUGE portions and so good, hard knox cafe-great fried chicken mac and cheese and corn muffins like cake!!!! We also had great japanese ramen off Geary and 4th-cheap for all they gave you....

cloth paper scissors challenge

Well I summed up the courage to enter a challenge from cloth paper scissors on felted wonders and I was not chosen as a finalist. I am disappointed but I am not going to give up. I heard somewhere that if you never try you can't ever win so try, try, try again!!! I really enjoyed the process of making this.
It took Many hours with many different components-needle felted tree top background to the watercolor paper edge of the journal cover sewn on and all the hand sewn bits and pieces. I love my little owl with his earring jewlery bit for his wing to the cardboard tree trunk. So NEVER give up you may be closer than you think to success!

be creative

I am taking a couple days off from the normal hectic pace of life to slow down and notice what is around me. My daughter is getting married in twelve days and it has been a whirlwind of lists, errands to run and every day chores to still get too. It is an exciting time for me. She is my oldest and I am excited for her and her new adventure in marraige. They are so perfect for each other I couldn't have picked a better guy for her!
So back to relaxation. We took off for the nearby mountains of beautiful Park City and I am reading, sleeping and doing Yoga to de -stress. I also brought my sketch book to doodle in. The sun is outside just rising up from the mountains, my favorite scene in the morning. Sunshine makes me happy. I can't think of a better medicine to get in a great mood. As I take Flora's class I realize how unrelaxed I have become. It is hard to go and play, to sleep at night like I used too and just take it easy!
I know that is why I love to draw and paint as much as I do-it is like an alter personality for me to be whimsical, fun, colorful, vibrant and no boundaries. I LOVE it. I am usually a very organised, planned out kind of person but in my creative process I throw that all out and try to let go.
Am I the only split personality out there?

attitude

I have been thinking a lot about what I tell myself I can and can't do in my life. I was busy raising children, I was busy volunteering at my school and church, I was busy taking care of the yard, the house, the dog and so on.......I was too busy to take some time for my dreams and aspirations. I told myself that I had other things that made a bigger difference than me taking a class or studying a new skill. I felt myself going through motions each day not looking forward to something.
I realized that ATTITUDE was a huge part of my problem. I wanted a balance in my life to fit everything in  and be content and happy each day. I read this quote today and found it so profound for me:
 "Attitude, to me is more important than the past......than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. I t will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day." by Charles Swindoll

I realize that all those small details in life were adding up to my discontentment. I want to show my girls how to be happy when you had only 4 hours of sleep or had to go on a field trip with 120 4th graders for 6 hours in the pouring rain or sewing up halloween costumes the day of halloween. I want to embrace my life, my circumstances and show joy each day and gratitude for where I live and the free time I do have to do what I love. When I share my abilities to others it feels so good! I know I can't spend 24 hours a day creating art but I can find an hour here and there and that is okay.
Try, try, try......