Karen Godfrey Artist

Embracing your Golden Shadow

2010-04-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

It has been over a month since I got back from Tucson. Much has happened since I returned from my adventure. Now I am dealing with another kind of adventure . . . healing from eyelid surgery. I have to admit, it's not nearly as fun as Tucson! I knew when I got back from my trip, I would have to have this skin cancer taken off from my lower right eyelid. I just didn't know that they would end up taking 75% of my lower lid. I had been dealing with irritation in that eye for the last two years and I could see a white area inside of my lid. The eye doctor thought it was a clogged pore. I kept putting warm compresses on it and using eye bright. However, it kept bothering me. Finally, the eye doctor recommended I see an eyelid specialist. I ended up finding out that it was basal cell carcinoma two days before I left for Tucson.

After having 75% of my eyelid removed, I went to the eyelid specialist the next day for a repair. He took skin from behind my ear and did a skin graft on my lower eyelid. In order for the skin graft to take hold and live, it needs a blood supply. So, they take a flap of skin from the inside of my upper eyelid and pull it down to the skin graft. (I know, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of this either) Then they sew the upper flap to the skin graft. This means that they have to sew your eye shut so that it can heal fully. I have had my eye sewn shut now since March 17th. I will get it re-opened on the 19th of April! I can't wait. I only have over a week now.

I have been exploring this whole theme of having my eye closed. I found out that in Greek mythology, the right eye represents the sun. The left eye, which I can only use now, represents the moon. This makes a lot of sense to me, as I have been going within a lot more since I had the surgery. Only having the ability to see out of one eye, makes you rely more on your other senses and your intuition to do things. I have been a lot slower at doing things. It is even difficult for me to do my art, as it tires the one working eye and my depth of perception is way off. The moon also represents the hidden side of yourself that you don't always acknowledge. Some people call this your shadow side.

I had to ask myself, "What am I not seeing in my life?" I was asking myself this question when I was in Tucson, as I knew I had skin cancer at that time. I kept thinking that it must be something bad that I wasn't seeing about myself. (We all assume the worst about ourselves.) Little did I realize, until some time passed, that I wasn't seeing the good in myself. Having my show on display at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, helped me to see how gifted I was. People kept telling me how creative and talented I was. I was getting positive feedback about my art, which helped me to really see myself in a different light. I was touching people's lives in positive ways. I knew then that I needed to embrace my gifts and my golden aspects. This made me realize that we do have "golden shadows" as well. Our shadow side isn't always dark, more often than not, it is your beauty and light that you are holding back.

So, I have been able to complete two shadow boxes since I have had my surgery. Both of them deal with this new way of seeing myself. They also deal with listening to my own intuition and trusting my inner knowledge. It has been very healing for me to create these pieces while I am patiently waiting for the opening of my eye!

A much bettter day!

2010-03-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

Today was a nice leisurley day. I decided to take my time and to stop at as many rest areas and tourist info centers as we wanted. This really broke up the day. I still made it to Lincoln, IL tonight, so now I only have 300 miles to go tomorrow. Then I will be home! Also, tonight we found Kickapoo Creek Park. It had a lot of land with many many trails. We went on a couple of longer trails and Moon Shadow loved it. She ran a lot and seemed thrilled with the leaves and grass.

A Tiring Day

2010-03-02T17:38:00.001-08:00

I started early this morning in the dark, hoping to make as many miles as possible. I wanted to make it at least to Joplin and maybe even farther. It ended up being a very long and tiring drive. There was construction going through Tulsa and the toll roads took up time as well. Oklahoma does not have any rest areas. They only have "picnic areas" that do not have bathrooms. This means that I stopped at McDonalds along the way. Each time you got off the toll road, you had to show them your receipt and get a refund at the exit and then pay as you got back on the turnpike. Talk about a pain! Then I had to make stops for Moon Shadow that were separate from my stops. Overall, I ended up making 530 miles. I was pretty much ready to stop driving an hour before Joplin, but the area that the hotels were located at were not very good. They were basically a gas station and a hotel next to a field and dirt roads. So, I pushed on and made it to Carthage, MO. I still have about 700 miles to go. At least Missouri and Illinois have rest areas!

Las Cruces to Vega, Texas

2010-03-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

I made it to Vega, Texas today. It was about a 400 mile drive. I drove on US 54, which goes through the valley of many different mountains. It was very scenic. I had a hard time finding places to stop, as the towns were very small and far between. They didn't have much in the way of parks, etc. I think Moon Shadow is feeling confined in the car, as she sits up and looks at me like "when are we going to stop?" She doesn't sleep at all when we are driving. I know she will be happy when we finally get back to our home where things are familar and where she can go to all of the parks she ever wanted to.

Also, today I had to go through another border patrol inspection. Brent and I went through one coming from Tubac, AZ. Some times they just set them up on the highway. The one I went through today was a permanent one. Yesterday I saw 4 border patrol trucks that pulled over a car on the side of the highway.

I am posting some of the images from yesterday's blog of the crows flying into the wind. I heard this morning on local news that there were actually gusts of 50 mph yesterday. It definately felt that way!

A Blustery Goodbye

2010-02-28T17:47:00.000-08:00

I headed for home today after dropping Brent off at the airport. I left in the pouring rain. Little did I know I was going to be in for sleet, snow, then rain, then 40 mph winds! As I drove through Texas Canyon (in Arizona), the elevation increased and the temperature dropped from 48 degrees to 32 degrees. Then came the sleet and snow. It also was real foggy and mysterious driving past these huge boulders covered in snow. As I drove out of the snow, I stopped at a rest area. When I got out of the car, I couldn't believe the wind. I didn't feel it in the car, as it was blowing directly behind me. I found out later on there were gusts of 40 mph. With the wind, came the dark dramatic skies and the tumble weeds blowing across the highway. I never had such an entertaining drive! I decided to stop in Las Cruces, NM. When I took Moon Shadow for a walk at their State Park, there were crows flying everywhere. They would perch on the side of this dirt mound that ran along the road and then almost jump into the air to glide in the wind. After a while they would come back down to rest and then do it all over again. They looked like they were having such a good time.

Sabino Canyon

2010-02-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Brent and I went for a 4 mile hike at Sabino Canyon. It was a beautiful warm day. The water was high from all of the rain. The most exciting part was at the end of the hike. We had to cross a river that was up to our knees in some parts. I had to roll up my pants and of course our hiking boots got soaked! The water was very cold!

Today we are packing things up, cleaning our little rental house, and doing laundry. Brent flies home tomorrow and I start for home. We had a great time on this journey.

The Desert Museum and the Historic Downtown Walk

2010-02-23T18:54:00.000-08:00

We had a very full day today. We went to the Desert Museum near the Saguaro National Park. It was a beautiful sunny day. They have live Predator Bird Demonstrations every day. We were able to see a raven, hawks, and a road runner fly above us and perched on trees. They fly back and forth to their keepers because of the easy food. They truly are amazing creatures.

Then I had an appointment at the Old Pueblo Frameworks and Gallery in Tucson. I met with the owner, Kathi. She ended up taking 6 of my shadow boxes. It felt so good being the artist having a gallery owner take my artwork, instead of the other way around, which I was very familiar with when I had my gallery. I really felt good about having my artwork in her beautiful gallery. Her website can be viewed at http://www.oldpueblogallery.com/

Then after this, Brent and I went for a walk with Moon Shadow along the old historic route in downtown Tucson. We saw some really amazing adobe buildings, St. Augustine Cathedral, old courthouses, etc. One really beautiful place was The Wishing Shrine. Many people come to burn candles and pray, asking for help with their problems. They say if you light a candle and it doesn't burn out over night, your wish will come true. Of course Brent and I each made a wish!

Saguaro National Park and DeGrazia's Studio

2010-02-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Brent and I went through Ted DeGrazia's Museum of artwork. He had quite an impressive array of work. My favorites were his paintings of myths from Arizona. We also saw the paintings he did while studying with Diego Rivera. These paintings were in oil and were much heavier than his later pieces. He also worked in clay, bronze, watercolor and built his own gallery and studio. He was quite a man. I took one photo of his studio.

Today Brent and I were able to go out to Saguaro National Park. We went to both the East side and West side. We were more impressed with the views of the West side. They also have a little hiking trail on the West side that takes you to the petroglyphs. You can actually get close to them. The Saguaros are amazing. They grow all the way up the sides of mountains. How they hang on, I will never know. Native American Indians tell a creation story of how people came from Sagauros. They say that at dusk and dawn, the Saguaros look very similar to people. We had a great day, even though it rained on and off and was only in the 50's.

Savoring the last day

2010-02-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my last day at the Little Gallery. It was a beautiful sunny day. Brent went hiking at Finger Rock, while I stayed at the gallery. I savored the day and relished all that I accomplished. At the very end of the day, I sold my Shield of Abundance piece. I thought that was my best piece of the show. The couple that bought it, really liked its message and said they might not have bought it without having read the artist statement. The meaning behind it really spoke to them. Then I also sold my last book. I had to give people my card so that they could order it online. After 4pm, Brent and I took down the show. It only took us a couple hours. We had to go back today to pick up the few remaining things that didn't fit into the car.
I am very happy with the show and with all of the people I met. Now I am ready to relax a little and take the sights in. This is a really nice way to reflect on the last month and let it soak in. Tomorrow we are going back to DeGrazia in the Sun, so that I can actually see his museum of works. I wasn't able to do that while I was working at the Little Gallery.

Reflecting on the last two weeks

2010-02-19T00:53:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow is my last full day at the Little Gallery. I feel so grateful for all of my experiences and all of the people I met. I sold three of my Shadow Boxes and they all seemed to go to just the right owner. One couple who bought one of my Dia de los Muertos boxes, were living in their camper trailer. They were in the process of selling their home so they could travel around the United States. They were very fun and lively. You could tell they were on an adventure. Come to find out, they would be traveling to Michigan in the summer to work on Mackinac Island. They wanted a smaller piece that would add a nice touch to their new traveling home. I gave them a little extra putty so that it wouldn't fall off the wall when they went over bumps!

Brent also arrived today. I think he was very impressed with DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, even though he had seen my pictures. Moon Shadow and I had fun showing him around and taking him to Moon Shadow's favorite parks. It is nice having someone to share my adventures with.

I am posting some images from DeGrazia's front altar in their little church. This is my way of showing gratitude for everything. Also, the photo of the couple is Paul and Candy who are traveling around the U.S.

Artwork in the Sun

2010-02-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

It was a little slower today at the Gallery. Between visitors, I would take my art outside to photograph them. I thought they looked so good in a desert setting. They looked like they grew right out of the ground.

Wedding at DeGrazia's Chapel

2010-02-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Today was an exciting day at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun. They had a wedding at the chapel. How appropriate for Valentines Day. It was a beautiful sunny day for a wedding. I had fun watching them all wait for the arrival of the bride. It looked like it was her mother that walked her down the aisle and they had a woman minister. Here are some photos of the event!

Grateful

2010-02-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

It has been a real satisfying experience having my work on display at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun. It gives me a lot of opportunity to share my story and to hear other people's stories. I never would have been able to have this many visitors or this kind of exposure in Grand Rapids. I am very thankful.

Yesterday I had a flurry of activity. Three tour buses came in at the same time. A whole group of people came in and were looking over everything. People started buying my cards and books. I was signing books, collecting money, and trying to put through a credit card transaction when a man came up to me and wanted to purchase one of my shadow boxes. The energy in the room was alive! Then as soon as it all came together, it was all over. It happened so fast. It was great fun while it lasted.

Today I went to this African Village that is set up for the Gem Show. I went immediately after I got out of the gallery, as it only lasts until 6pm. Because it is towards their final days, they had lowered their prices. I bought a lot of wonderful things for future shadow boxes. And my most prized possession was this amazing beaded African Headress that came from the Yoruba tribe. I love it! It must weigh ten pounds or more. This one is for me and is not going in a box!

So, needless to say I am very grateful. I feel like I have been very blessed. Here are some photos of the chapel on the grounds, of Moon Shadow laying among the shadows, and of the really awesome headress I bought.

Art is Healing

2010-02-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

I have met a lot of wonderful people at the gallery. There are so many like-minded people. It amazes me. I have had a lot of people comment on my artist statements. It really doesn't take much to start a conversation with them. It seems that the art some how gives them permission to share their own personal stories as well. Yesterday an older gentleman shared with me that his daughter, "who was larger than life," died in the Twin Towers. She was a police officer and was rescuing people when the second tower collapsed. He loved his daughter so much. He said he still is hearing stories from people of how she changed their life. I think that a lot of us do not realize how we are making a difference in other people's lives. Another woman named Loretta shared with me her mystical experiences over the years. She was a teacher in New Jersey and lives in Tucson in the winter months. She seemed like a long lost friend to me. All of these experiences make this exhibit at DeGrazia Gallery so rich and rewarding.

The photo of the woman by the church is Loretta. I took the photo of the rainbow today. This was taken at a local park. It had rained most of the day and then as the sun was setting, it came out from under the clouds. A perfect way to end the day!

The Swan

2010-02-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

As I was driving to DeGrazia Gallery this morning, I was thinking how interesting it is that DeGrazia's address is 6300 Swan. I really liked that name for a street. Then it dawned on me that I really feel like a swan here, as opposed to an ugly duckling. Many people that visit the gallery and see my work say, "Your work doesn't look like you're from Michigan. It looks like you live here." Then another woman said, "The South West must be your spiritual home." Everyone understands and appreciates my work here. I don't have to explain what Day of the Dead is and I don't have to tell them who Guadalupe is. So it almost feels like a homecoming. I have found my swans. Even though I would not want to move here permanently, it always is a spiritual journey for me when I visit Arizona or New Mexico. It is what inspires me and nourishes my soul.

I am hoping to find a gallery that fits for me and one that I can trust. I have really put a lot of faith in myself and in my work to take this risk. There is always the risk that I won't sell anything but greeting cards, that I won't find a gallery that will accept my work, and that people will not like my work. However, I have already overcome the last risk. People do like my work and do give me compliments. That has been such a blessing to me.

The photograph that I am posting today is the outside of the Little Gallery where I am exhibiting my work. I am the "Guest Artist" as it is posted on the door as you go into the gallery.

Opening Reception at the Little Gallery on DeGrazia's Property

2010-02-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my opening day at DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun. My work is displayed in his adobe building called the Little Gallery. It took me 8 hours to hang my show on Saturday and then the reception was yesterday. My very first visitors were a bus load of people from Michigan! I couldn't believe it when I asked them where they were traveling from and they said Grand Rapids, Michigan. They thought it was very funny that I was from Grand Rapids. Word spread around to the others and everyone kept coming in asking where the artist from Michigan was. They were traveling with Shrine Tours. I sold 20 cards to that group. Very fun!

So, I am posting the photos I took from inside the Little Gallery. It also has a wonderful little fireplace. I had a very fun and successful day!

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun

2010-02-05T16:46:00.000-08:00

I went back to DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun today. I wanted to explore the land a little more to see how dog friendly it is. (Meaning, how many cacti are there on the land) Well, there are a lot of cacti on the property. However, there are some trails that are clear of prickers and cactus. I think we should be ok. I also took some pictures to show you back home what it looks like.

My humble Abode in Tucson

2010-02-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

Well, I am settling into my new little house and into Tucson. I like the feel of Tucson. They have a lot of palm trees and it is surrounded by mountains. It was a beautiful sunny day today. I did some exploring of the Downtown area and 4th Avenue that has a lot of funky shops.

Yesterday I checked out the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun where I will be having my show. It truly is a beautiful setting. The litte adobe buildings were made by Ted DeGrazia and his helpers. There is also a little sanctuary where many people have gotten married. I met the current artist in residence and she said she did really well in sales. She said there has been many visitors. It is starting to sink in that I am really going to be showing my work there!

So, I only have one more day until I hang my show. I will be able to start hanging the show on Saturday at 10am!

The photos on this post are of my little house, a mural in my neighborhood, and of the courtyard at the Old Artistans Gallery in Downtown Tucson. The red fence is what surrounds my little house. I call it the funky fort because you can't see from the road that there is a house behind the fence. It looks a little strange.

A walk along the Rio Grande

2010-02-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

When visiting my friends in Albuquerque, we went for a walk at Open Space. This is a preserved area for wildlife. It was along the Rio Grade. Very beautiful! Moon Shadow enjoyed going for the long walk. We saw an eagle from a distance and a few hawks.

Madrid, NM

2010-02-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Lindsay's home

Here are some photos from Sunday and Monday. On Sunday I met and artist named Lindsay Farber. My friend, Cat Hyde introduced me to her. The photos of the paintings are Lindsay's and she took us to her home to show us her art.

Cat also does papier mache women. Cat's art hangs in Lindsay's gallery in Madrid, NM.

A hike at Cerillos's Hill State Park

2010-02-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Sunday, I met up with my friend Catherine. She took me on a hike at Cerillo's State Park. It was up a ways and had a great view of the mountains surrounding us. Moon Shadow loved getting some exercise and exploring new territory. Parts of the ways I carried her to avoid cactus plants along the trails. She still doesn't know what they are, even after her encounter with cholla. Catherine also introduced me to her friend, Lindsay. She is an artist that was originally from Nebraska but now lives in Madrid, NM. She showed us her house and artwork. She does incredible paintings of dark yet beautiful images. Some of them are very haunting. She uses many bones in her work and has a lot of organic shapes in them. All of her work has a story behind it. I felt very priviledged to meet her and to hear the meaning of each painting.

Later on in the afternoon I then drove to Albuquerque. I am staying with some old neighbors of ours. They just moved this past fall. Moon Shadow was excited to see her dog friend, Shadow. However, she is a little jealous when I give Shadow attention. She is used to being the only child. Today we will go hiking and then I meet with an artist named Meinrad Craighead. She is an artist that I admire. I have a couple of her books. She does these amazing paintings.

When I have more time I will post photos from our hiking trip at Cerillos'

Santa Fe Bargains

2010-01-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Marca and I found a consignment shop on the plaza. We couldn't believe the prices. The owner of the shop had racks of jeans for $5, dresses for $15, coats for $30 and one rack of clothing for $1. We had fun trying on different things and hunting for good finds. I found these leather cowboy boots that were my size for $30. We just had looked at a store with boots that were selling for $500 and up. The boots fit me and were in great shape, so I decided they were mine. Then I couldn't resist this great soft leather jacket for only $30. Marca found a really fun hat that looked perfect on her. Overall we did really well.

Later on we found a great little French Pastry shop at the LaFonda Inn. We had to each split a chocolate croissant and a strawberry crepe. The sun was out and it was a lot warmer than the day before. We enjoyed just strolling around and going into galleries.

In an earlier blog, I had mentioned that we had an afternoon of making art. I am attaching a photo of the painting that Marca created while here in Santa Fe. I thought it turned out great.

Today I am going for a hike with my friend that lives in Santa Fe. Then I will be off to Albuquerque. Marca went back to Colorado this morning. We had a great time catching up.

Santa Fe Walk

2010-01-29T12:48:00.000-08:00

This morning Marca and I decided to walk to the square and take photos of the snow. We ended up at a cute little restaurant called Cafe Pasqual. It was very festive and colorful inside. They had papel picados (paper cutouts) hanging from their ceiling. I had a wonderful yogurt parfait with pistachios, hazel nut granola, pomegranate seeds, and honey. I also had a pineapple ginger juice. It was yummy!

Afterwards we went to some shops and galleries. Now we are cozied up in our casita working on some art. Moon Shadow likes hanging out with her bohemian girl friends. ;-)

Catch up day

2010-01-29T05:25:00.000-08:00

I guess I have a little catching up to do with my blog. Since I wrote on Wednesday, many things have happened. All good things I might add! On Wednesday I drove from Tucumcari, NM and through Madrid, NM on my way to Santa Fe. Madrid is an old mining town along the Turqoise Trail in the mountains. I was happy to arrive before the snow storm developed that everyone had been talking about. Madrid has these old buildings that are turned into art galleries and coffee shops. I wandered around with Moon Shadow and they were very dog friendly. We spent about 3 hours there. The photo here is from Madrid.

Then I met my friend, Catherine Hyde, who used to live in Grand Rapids. She took me to a great little restaurant in Santa Fe called Maria's Mexican Kitchen. They are known for great food and a thousand varieties of margaritas. We both had enchiladas with the Christmas chile sauce (red and green chiles). It was excellent! I also had a mango margarita. Very good. After catching up, Catherine gave me great directions to my casita that I was staying at. She also told me the "must do's" while staying here in Santa Fe. Hopefully I will be seeing her again while on this trip.

Then came the snow! The next day the snow started coming down. It was the biggest fluffiest snow I had seen in a while. It was beautiful but I was also concerned because my dear friend since I was in kindergarden was coming down from Colorado to visit me. Luckily she did not run into any bad weather until she got into Santa Fe. We had a great time catching up on things and ended up eating some soup by our fire place. Then we sat in the hot tub that comes with this casita. It was wonderful!

So, today we will get out and explore a little more. I will take some photos of the winter wonderland here in New Mexico. It is beautiful on the trees and the adobe homes.

Tucumcari Photos

2010-01-27T19:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some images from my earlier posting. The Blue Swallow Motel is the one I stayed at in Tucumcari. The photos of an empty lot is an actual park in Tucumcari. And the other photos are of cool cars in Tucumcari.

Excitement in Tucumcari

2010-01-27T18:37:00.000-08:00

After blogging about arriving safely in Tucumcari yesterday, I didn't realize I was in for an adventure. I asked the lady at our hotel about any local parks where I could walk Moon Shadow. She said there was a park just a half a mile down the road. I drove up and down looking for it and could not find it. There were some open lots that looked barren and deserted, so I didn't think that could be a park. I ended up taking Moon Shadow for a walk on the property of the hotel. This too was very dry and barren. Little did I know there were these small round prickly balls that blended in with the dirt and straw for grass. Moon Shadow stepped on one with her front leg. I picked her up and tried to get them off but they were like needles and stuck to you. I carried her back to the hotel room to get my tweezers. By that time she tried to bite them off which made them stick to her face and it cut her tongue. I finally got them all off of her, except for this one needle that was stuck in her paw pad. I kept trying to get it out, but it was stuck in there good. I fought with her for over a half hour. We both were exhausted and out of breath. I knew I needed help. So, I put her in the car and looked for a vet. Luckily I found one just in time before they closed. We finally got that bugger out. It was a half inch long. We both were so happy to get that out of her paw that we fell asleep by 7pm. What an introduction to the South West!

On the road again

2010-01-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it to Tucumcari New Mexico today. It was a 430 mile drive. I had great weather. It started out at 22 degrees this morning in Oklahoma and now it is 58 degrees here in New Mexico. Driving through Texas was pretty barren, except for the cops. I saw at least 10 of them. 5 people were pulled over. So I made sure to go the speed limit.

I am staying at the Blue Swallow Inn on Route 66. It is famous. It has been around since those days. I will try to load up pictures from my camera when I have more time. Tonight I dont have internet access at my hotel, so I am sitting in a parking lot of a place that does!

Windy Day

2010-01-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it to Stroud Oklahoma today. Just got settled in to the hotel. It was really windy on the highway today. It made me really happy that I was not driving my Jeep. I decided at the last minute to take Brent's car. He has much better aerodynamics than my Jeep does.

We went 400 miles today. I am trying to make it to Madrid, NM early on Wednesday, as a snow storm is supposed to be coming in later that day. I am farther along then I thought I would be.

I stopped in Joplin, MO today. It has changed a lot since I lived there over 20 years ago. The main road is jammed full of hotels and restaurants. It didn't look like the Joplin I knew. Some of the buildings where I lived and worked didn't even exist anymore. Shows you what happens as time goes by.

This trip seems nostalgic to me as I reflect on where I was 20 years ago and see where I am today. I never would have dreamed that I would be traveling down to Arizona with my artwork for an art exhibit. It makes me very grateful.

Brent took this photo the day we left. All for now!

My first day on the road

2010-01-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I left this morning in some drizzle and waved goodbye to my hubby of 13 years. He took a picture of Moon Shadow and I as we were getting ready to leave. I told him I would miss him and that it made me happy we could trust each other enough to allow one another to have our own adventures. It felt like he was really honoring my soul. The car was packed solid. I have just enough room in the rear window to see the traffic behind me.

As I was heading towards S. Haven a group of crows flew in circles and then one crow dove down in front of my car. I was wondering if I was going to hit it. Then it veered off to the right, as if it were sending me off.

The drive was pretty good actually. I didn't encounter much rain. I made it 500 miles today and am staying in St. Clair Missouri.

Time to get some dinner!

Reception at the Lowell Area Arts Council

2009-10-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from my Opening Reception at the Lowell Area Arts Council titled, "Art and Transformation: Healing Traditions Around the World." It was a great day to have my reception, as I found out the next day that there was a Full Moon in Aries. I have been working on my North Node in Aries. This means I am supposed to be taking care of my needs first, before worrying about what other people think or need. This seemed to fit perfectly, as I had the support from my friends and family who were allowing me to fully take in my accomplishments. Thank you to eveyone who came out that day! It was a great time.

New improved art studio

2009-08-31T17:26:00.000-07:00

Ever since I closed my art gallery in February of 2008, I have been working out of a small room that I made into my art studio. Because it was not big enough to do my heavy duty assemblages, I began using the laundry room, as it had a tool bench in it. When I would work on my assemblage pieces, I always ended up in the windowless room working on top of the washer and dryer at times.

After taking a feng shui class, I realized that a room in our basement with the fireplace was actually the "relationship room" on the bagua map. My husband and I didn't use the room very often. Most of the time we just walked through it, as if it were a hallway. My husband is a musician and writes his own songs. He was working out of a small room as well. I decided to make the fireplace room our art and music studio. My husband liked the idea.

Now that it is finished, I can't believe we didn't think of it before! We both are enjoying it so much already. It is enhancing our relationship, because now we are creating new art and music together. I can only imagine how nice it will be in the winter when we can use the fireplace!

Homeopathy

2009-04-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I first was introduced to homeopathy 4 years ago. I learned about it through an unfortunate accident that happened to my dog, Moon Shadow. Moon Shadow jumped out of our car, (while we were still driving), which caused her to paralyze her front leg. We took her to an alternative vet, which is how we eventually started using homeopathy. You can read more about Moon Shadow by looking at the June 2008 blog.

Homeopathy is a way of treating symptoms in an ill person with a homeopathic medicine that causes similar symptoms in a healthy person. This is based on what the homeopaths call "The Law of Similars" where like cures like. This is very similar to the way that a vaccination works. With the vaccine, the goal is to aid and stimulate the body's own defense and immune system. With homeopathic medicines, the goal is to stimulate the body's own healing life force by clearing away the poison / pathology with the "like" substance. Homeopathic substances come from a variety of plants, animal materials and minerals. These medicines are prescribed to fit each individual's needs, given in much smaller and less toxic doses than traditional medications, and are used for both prevention and treatment.

I used homeopathy on and off for the last four years for colds, pains, and injuries. I was surprised at how well it actually worked and relieved my symptoms. Then at the Great Lakes Retreat of 2008, I learned about a homeopath named Moshe Daniel. He talked about using homeopathy for emotional and spiritual imbalances, as well. I was very excited about this new information. I decided to make an appointment and give it a try! I wasn't exactly sure what my issue was or what I wanted treated. However, after our first appt. it became clear. I was struggling with my own individuation and breaking free from all the rules "society" placed on me. I was being ruled by all of the expectations that society has. I longed to be my own person and to make my own decisions that were not based on guilt or shame. Moshe saw a very similar problem that Scarlet Macaws face. Scarlet Macaws are group oriented and yet they have a need for self expression. They long to be free and wild, yet they face being entraped by group "rules" and are also entraped physically by people who capture them in the wild to be sold as "pets." They have a need to express themselves, while still being an integral part of their group or society. This description fit me to a tee as well. It was set, we had my remedy!

After taking my remedy on and off for the next several months, I have noticed a big change. I know more of who I am and what I want. I feel free to move towards my goals with no guilt. At first it caused me to question all of my motives. Why was I doing this? Is it because my heart is telling me to or is it because I feel obligated and guilty? Now with everything I do, it is because it is my true calling. My heart is telling me to go for it, not because I was told that this is what I "should be" doing. What a huge break through! I feel like I am moving towards more freedom in my life.

If you would like to research more about homeopathy or make an appointment with Moshe Daniel, his website is http://www.david-house-productions.com Go to the "Alternative Medicine" section on his website.

The photograph is of my most recent painting depicting my experiences with the Scarlet Macaw remedy.

2008-08-22T05:15:00.001-07:00

I had my dear friend, Marca, (pronounced Marsa), visit me a couple of weeks ago. She and I met when we were in kindergarten. Marca tells me that I used to tie her shoes for her. Even though I don't remember that, it is nice someone else does. We have been friends all of our lives. It is wonderful having a friend that has known you through all of the ups and downs in your lifetime. She plays a major role in my life of being able to ground myself again, when I am feeling off balance. She now lives in Colorado, but we manage to keep in touch and to see each other every year.

I took Marca to all of the fun places where I love to find interesting artifacts and found objects. My most favorite place is called Sunset Junque, located in Fennville, Mi. It is a place like no other. They have the most interesting pieces of sculpture, old buggies, beautiful old doors, mannequins from nativity scenes, confessional booths, etc, etc. We had so much fun photographing that we were there for 2 hours! I am including some of the photos from our excursion.

Moon Shadow, the art muse

2008-06-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

Moon Shadow, a 6 year old schipperke, is my art muse and friend. She has taught me many things since we got her as a puppy. I believe she was brought into my life to teach me about health and healing. When she was 3 years old, she paralyzed her front left leg. She did this as we were taking her to the park in our little convertible. She got so excited that she jumped out of the car. Sadly, she did not regain feeling in that leg. This began our journey to natural health and homeopathy. I started to take her to a homeopathic vet and learned a great deal about how the body can heal itself in time, if given the proper food and nutrition. I started to make her own food, stopped giving her vaccinations, and instead took other precautions such as, a rabies tither which can check the level of protection she has in her body. This caused me to start seeing a naturopath to start my own healing. I learned through many different tests and iridology what was going on inside my body. This helped explain my exhaustion and fatigue. Now after 2 years, I have much more energy and eat a lot more healthier. Moon Shadow has been inspiration to both me and my husband. She acts as if there is nothing wrong, and she still can tear around the house.

In the next few months, this blog will highlight the different walks and excursions I go on with Moon Shadow. Sometimes we even go dumpster diving for scrap metal and found objects. Now you can see where my creativity comes from.