37 years of friendship

Today we have known each other for 37 years!  We met back in college when we were in our early 20's, in a class called something like "A workshop in the Creative Process", and were fast friends from the start.  Evie moved away to San Diego for 18 years, and we maintained our friendship through tomes of letter writing, and a visit back and forth over the years.  When Evie's mom was dying in 1996, she came back her to be with her, and has since stayed in New York.  She lives right across the hall from me now, and we see each other all the time.  I am blessed to have such a friendship all my life.  Please visit evie at her blog: http://www.evietirado.blogspot.com/.

Me and my friend, Evie..... back then....

(on the back of a truck, heading into Tiajuana, Mexico)

And today...

coffee and sunrise

This morning I woke at 4am.  Then I saw my best friend, evie, come online at 5am.  She suggested we have coffee and watch the sunrise.  She lives across the hall from me, so she has an East view, whereas I get the sunset with the West view.  Evies windows don't open right now because she had to put a stick in the top to keep it from falling down.  We have pitiful windows in this apartment house.  They are double-paned, and not air-tight, so condensation builds inside of them, and the windows always look dirty.
I took this photo through one of evie's better windows.  Mind you, it is taken behind 2 panes of glass and a screen, so that's why it's not too clear.  So, for a change, here's today's sunrise.

~click pics to view larger images~

Hope you have a sunny day.

Patria Solvania

Patria Solvania is a character in my novel. She is a gypsy/shaman type woman, who runs a little shop in the mountains of Colorado. In the shop she sells coffee beans, teas, and various herbs. My friend, evie tirado was kind enough to portray Patria in one of her paintings.

Patria and her cat, Samson

(click to view larger image)

hawk inspired art

evie tirado, my best friend of 34 years, took that walk with me around the lake at Bear Mountain the other day. The hawks were the inspiration for the day, and they appeared to us 4 times. Here is a link to evie's inspired piece, hawks overhead. The painting has an amazing textural aspect that is hard to see in a picture, but click on the pic to see a larger version. Do pay her a visit.

an award for me!

Thank you so much to Melissa Haren for giving me for this award! I am so touched by her! Melissa does the most wonderful stuff with fabric and mixed media, so please give her a visit! I really enjoy her blog.

This Renee award was created by Bella and Ces in honor of their friend Renee. About the award, Bella says: this is a brand new award, and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds its way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns…"



Thank you again, Melissa!

I would like to send the award along to Stephanie, who has been very supportive of my blogging. Stephanie does beautiful photography, and makes the most wonderful sewing/artist tool rolls.

I would also like to give the award to my best friend, evie, who is a constant source of nurturing to my creativity, and who does the most amazing art!

Please give these folks a visit, you won't be sorry!

cold sunday morning

Good early morning to you.

It's cold outside, just 18°F/-8°C. Cozy in the apartment; luckily there is a good amount of heat coming up. The radiators hiss.

I woke up a couple of hours ago, feeling a little sick in my stomach, and after getting some water, I naturally sat down here for a while. So here I am. I did a bit of internet surfing, checked for new messages at the groups and forums I belong to, and then watched a bit of morning news on television.

It's Sunday, and a good day to stay inside and make things. I can't seem to conjure up much inspiration for making Valentine stuff, but the boutique is having a sale at the hospital on the 12th of February. Unless I get pierced with cupid's bow, I doubt I'll make anything special.

Last night evie brought over blank greeting cards of good watercolor paper, and we painted a couple of those for Valentines. Maybe we'll do some more of them today. I could make a few heart pendants covered in some bedazzles. They'd be easy enough to knock out.

As you can probably tell, this Valentine stuff doesn't thrill me too much. Not that I'd turn down a box of chocolates if one would come my way. :-) I'd rather concentrate on creations that come from inside; true inspiration and imagination.