Lille Diane, lifelong artist, musician & creative instigator & her journey living with PTSD & conquering it--one thought at a time.
Hmmmm, Michelle, "Lady Bug" was at the zoo, too. (wink wink....)
These jellies are jammin'.... I took this shot of these incredible jelly fish at our local zoo today.... I mean yesterday.... now this will post tomorrow. I mean today.... never mind.... my brain is jelly.
So now I just take pictures of squirrels passing by, and enjoy their antics as the agile acrobats of the tree world. Below is a picture of a little squirrel that comes to visit my kitty, Opie Taylor. I do mean visit. They eyeball each other through the windows, and this little guy imitates the way Opie hangs out on the overstuffed arms of my couch. Look for yourself....
These two are not the only squirrels I've had pop into my life. I've enjoyed meeting another squirrel, the Squirrel Queen. SQ, as we call her, is one of my friends and follower's of my blog. SQ is a photographer, and that's what drew me to her. Her work is awesome. Her friendship has been awesome. Many of you already know her, but for those of you who do not, you should introduce yourselves to her.
Last night we celebrated Dylan's Birthday here at the Tree House. Personally, I believe birthdays should be celebrated for an entire month otherwise they wouldn't call it your "Birth Month".... I'm also the girl who believes you should always eat 2 cookies. One for each hand or one for each thigh. It's all about finding the perfect balance in life....
I look back on my DB I made almost a year ago. (June 2008) It took me a while to tackle (or allow, believe and RECEIVE) some of the things I put on here. I didn't realize how many things are being birthed right now or have already come to fruition until I really stopped to look at it today.
This is the part of my DB that makes me a wee bit weepy.
See the mailing package on the right? (above the four-leaf clover) That's the envelope a beautiful necklace I ordered from Healing Stones, in New Zealand, came in. I ordered it for Sonja, my fabulous massage therapist (who BTW is working hard to get my muscles back into shape, and break up the scar tissue I developed after the accident) I want to travel to Australia and New Zealand... Who wants a postcard from me from one of those countries????
I fell asleep last night with my puter on my chest, kitty purring next to me, and a smile on my face. I woke up a little while later, drool running down my chin, and a crick in my neck to find it wasn't a dream I had about receiving a blogging award.... I really had. Somebody likes me... They really, really like me.... (So Sally-ish... I know...)
I never know what I will find when I stop in to read what Nolly has posted because she posts from her heart--not just to fill space. I've cried with Nolly (her post-poem about her poplar tree is a must read) I've traveled underwater with Nolly, (under the sea....la la la la....under the sea.... her post about what she visualizes when she meditates gives your spirit mermaid fins....) I've had a peep out Nolly's windows to see what Australia looks like... I visit Nolly just to hear what tunes she's put on her play list so I can get swept away in her magic selection... She's taught me so much about Aussie musicians and opened my eyes to people I think wrote a song "just for me".... She reminds me when I visit to remember the simple things in life, and the importance of family.
Painting for Dylan.
There's another island not far from where I live, and when I was walking down the delightful lanes of summer homes and cottages, I spotted these poppies blazing in the late afternoon sky. I immediately wished I had my camera with me...which usually happens when you witness something spectacular--you don't have your camera with you. My next thought was of Dorothy, Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man running through the field of poppies to OZ. What a magnificent piece of cinematography that was for that day and age. I went back this morning with my camera.
I didn't even realize until I stepped back to look at my freshly painted sunset, that the mountains in the background look like my beloved Topa Topa Mountains (Chumash Indian for Pink Moment) in the Ojai Valley of southern CA. There is a huge part of my heart in these mountains. I "now" see it just poked its head up to remind me it's embedded in my thoughts even when I'm not consciously thinking about Ojai, CA.
I don't take little things like this for granted any more. Being inside a car has a whole new feeling, a whole new meaning for me now. I drive slower. I probably would have been driving 70 on the freeway when this all important rollover happened. I may have tried to snap a shot of it on my cell phone. Don't get all snooty on me now... Shakin' your head's saying, "I would NEVER DO that..."
Here it is. 100,000.... Beautiful, isn't it?
I'm grateful to be gripping a steering wheel in spite of my constantly white knuckles. But at times, well, in fact... most of the time... I'm taking it one mile at a time on the freeway. Mustering up courage to expand my miles beyond my house. To get up and go out the door. To get back on the road of life. To treasure my daily business---from waking up--to going to sleep. I was given another chance to make a list of 101 things I want to do and NOW go out and get to do them. To smile like this pretty girl in the picture. The gift of being able to say thank you for my family, my friends and tell them I love them.
Superman and I are waving to ya'll.
This painting, Ecstasy, is by Maxfield Parrish. It has been my favorite painting by him for over 30 years. Well, it's my favorite painting period.
From the deck at the Tree House you can see the smaller island off of my island. Behind the pine tree is the bridge that connects the two islands. To the right of the island you can see a tree branch sticking up like the hand on a clock announcing it's 2:00 o'clock. Right below that is where my story will begin...but not quite yet.
There's a cabin that's been on the small island since 1949 but has had no children laughing or playing on the large stage-like porches that wrap around three sides of its wooden face in a very long time. A swing hangs from a tall tree and glides to and fro slightly when the breeze catches it just right. The ghosts of summer's past laugh and chat under a huge covered pavilion with a cozy fire pit surrounded by chairs whose vinyl seat cushions have long ago reached a lighter shade of pale. They match the weather worn picnic tables that could easily seat 12-20. No one has sat in these chairs for a very, very long time. Yet, under the dust, and between the cobwebs linking the arms of each chair, I hear singing, crackling fires, and can smell the distinct caramelized aroma of marshmallows roasting. I see fireflies dancing in the shadows while children lie under sleeping bags on the boat dock counting stars.
I see Family. I feel Love. I sense the Magic of childhood. I cradle Memories--someone's memories--perhaps they are just my own conjuring up of ghosts from imagined happy childhoods. But I am not alone in how I feel. People I've taken to the island can feel it too. They sense, like me, that it once was a magical island because it was loved. It's abandoned now--or nearly so. I've only seen one person, a young woman about 18-20, come to the island last summer to watch the fire works you can see so well from here on the 4th of July. I imagine she was one of the children of one of the children--of one of children that make the chain of generations that played there.
This activity went on for several days. Back and forth, and back and forth. He grabbed lilacs branches (the lower ones), a few sprigs of lavender or leaves from hosta plants; then he'd jump back into the water and swim to his fortress at the edge of the small island where the tree branch says it's 2:00 o'clock. That's him on the bottom left of the photo below nearing the entrance to his home.
It's here he dives under the water to the entry of his fort. This leads me to explain why there's such a commotion, such a steady parade of activity off the small island. The back and forth, the gathering frenzy... I am quite thrilled to introduce you to Mrs. Muskrat. I just spotted her a few days ago sitting at the garden's edge as if she were pointing to what she was hungry for so the Mr. could bring it home for her. I think she's having distinct cravings. Hence, the lilac, lavender and hostas... This is her below. She stays underwater mostly--popping up now and then to peek at what the Mr. is doing.
1)Name and link back to the person who tagged you.
2)List six things 6 (un) important things that make you happy.
3)Tag 6 bloggers and let them know they're it by leaving them a comment on their blog.
So here are happy little tidbits that make me happy.
