Welcome 2011
It’s a new Year! How have you spent the previous 9 days? Full of fresh resolutions and ideas about the upcoming 12 months? Recovering from the joyous partying of bringing in the New Year?? Thankful that the holidays, while full of good time and great cheer, are (finally) over?
I’m pleased to welcome 2011. The year is full of potential. I hope to not only dwell in possibility, but to make a few dreams come true in the following months.
I’m slowing down and trying to appreciate the small details, looking beyond the busy days, and finding the beauty of life where I am. I sepecially like to notice the little whimsy that makes life great: like finding a growing green heart on the curb.
L is for Letters
When was the last time you received a letter? 
Do you remember the excitement of a hand-addressed envelope bearing your name, signed stamped and sealed, nestled amongst the ordinary bills and junk mail? Did you pause in your routine, sit down and peruse the note?
I have pen pals from all over- Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and from across the United States. Receiving a letter from them brightens my week. It doesn’t matter the length of the letter- a postcard is just as exciting as a 10 page missive. It’s the simple act of taking the time to write and share of themselves: the joys and sorrows, humorous anecdotes and incidents that mean so much to me.
I find I am happier if I write letters. I am forced to reflect on what I’ve been doing. I realize all the good that has occurred along with the frustrating and stressful events that so often cloud my vision. The focus is now on my friend, whom I’ve not seen or heard from in a while. Sure, I could call, text, or e-mail my friend, but a letter in the mailbox is more personal and deliberate somehow.
Won’t you take a few minutes and write to a friend? Brighten their week!
The act of writing a letter can be daunting. What do I say? How long does it have to be? What if I can’t spell? No one can read my writing! Remember your audience; you are writing to a friend that knows you! It doesn’t matter what the letter says- everyday information, news exciting and tragic, encouragement, a reminiscing of past adventures. What matters is the act of sharing. What fun things have you done lately?
Take a few moments to share. Spend a few cents on postage. For most items (barring very heavy elaborate greeting cards and square envelopes) the cost to post a letter is small: US first class is 44¢ and international postage is 98¢
Kaleidoscope
With the slightest twist, the view changes, colors vary and patterns emerge. This summer has been a bit kaleidoscopic so far.
May into June brought relatives from Australia to our house. Five weeks of conversations lingering over coffee and tea, treasure hunting through charity shops and antique stores. 
Found: an alphabet primer from 1920, mother of pearl buttons to make a necklace, and safety welding goggles in the original box from 1932. Jaunts west to the coast and north to Seattle. Five weeks of stories laughter and making memories sandwiched in with the everyday 8-5 working routine.
4th of July, celebrating the Independence of our nation with the truly traditional St Paul Rodeo. God bless America and thank you God, for cowboys. 
5th of July, Portland Waterfront Blues festival what a fun variety of people enjoy the blues, the festival was a great source for people watching with good music as an added bonus. There’s nothing like seeing Portland from the river- thank you to the friend of a friend with the boat. 
Meeting up with friends not seen in a long time- visitors from Japan, and some locals from Portland, it’s always nice to catch up, to hear the latest and enjoy each other’s company.
Sand in the City and hanging out in Portland on a sunny Saturday- what could be better? I’ve just discovered the small urban park that has opened up off Yamhill, between SW 8th & Park St- across from Flying Elephants Deli and Banana Republic- they have a wading pool for the kids- a perfect place to wade about in on a hot summer afternoon- lots of splashing opportunities…
Time in the Studio… I’m to be September’s Artist of the Month at a local Starbucks (more details to follow) so I’ve been madly working in the studio, creating a variety of pieces to show. Ink, paint, colored pencils, and writing with a great variety of pens, including popsicle stick.
Even a visit to the Oregon Zoo, I got to feed the lorikeets their brightly colored feathers and friendly attention was great fun. I also visited the elephants, the baby Samudra is getting to be so big. And I stopped by to see my favorites- the giraffes. 
And it is nearly August- I’m looking forward to more sun-shiney days, my sunflowers blooming and seeing a few out-door concerts as well. How is your summer going?
joy
I’m jumping for Joy! Three of my pieces were accepted into the Portland Society for Calligraphy’s May exhibition.
The artist’s reception is Saturday May 1st 12:30-2pm.
The show runs May 1-28th at The Doll Gardner Gallery, 8470 SW Oleson Rd., Portland, OR 97223
http://www.whuuf.net/index.php?topic=dgag
I spent many years attending classes at Portland State University, and then worked there for an additional year after I graduated. Around campus, especially in the Smith Memorial Building, there are words posted on the walls, the floor, across window panels. Some are words of wisdom, others are partly stories. One of my favorites was the quote to the left “Protect your Joy”
Other things I am joyful about: welcoming the summer by planting flower seeds with my 7-year-old neighbor Carmen. She was a great helper, singing songs about growing flowers, and eager to use the watering can to get those seeds started. We were both a bit grubby by the end of the afternoon, and are looking forward for those seeds to start sprouting!
What is your source of joy?
In the meantime…
What happened to February and most of March?
Reflection Pool at Menucha, Columbia River Gorge
It’s been a while since my last post, life has a way of happening. I am working again, full-time employment is wonderful after five months of searching for work. I’ve gotten out of town, first to the Columbia River Gorge for a weekend, and then a girls retreat to Sun River, two places that are as different from each other as they are from Portland. It’s nice to see the scenery and breathe a bit of open air. And I’ve caught up with friends I haven’t seen in some time, remembering past adventures and encouraging new endeavors.
I’ve been trying to get outside to admire the spring bounty: cheerful daffodils and tulips, cherry blossoms, and magnolia trees. I like to find a patch of sunshine and soak up the goodness. What is your favorite thing about spring?
H is for Haiti
On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti. Initial reports were vague in numbers but vivid in detail, flattened buildings and many injured people. More recent reports are devastating: a rising death toll of 70,000 people. The need for medical attention, clean water, food, and shelter is overwhelming.
In disasters, we see how things can changes to very quickly. I think our humanity has been touched as we see the devastation and try to fathom the sheer numbers and staggering loss the Haitian people are facing. Our heartstrings are pulled taut. I ask myself: how would I survive? What would I do if I lost everyone and everything? I am immediately aware of my good fortune, my family, my friends, and the value of my home and belongings.
And then I ask: How can I help? Everywhere there are places to donate. Medical Teams International has 9 volunteer medical workers in Haiti and are taking donations for medical care (http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/Home.aspx) Convoy of Hope is providing food and water throughout the country. (href=”http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/haitians_desperate_for_food”>) Together, let’s help the Haitian people, let’s be the change we want to see in the world.
G is for goose!
The letter g is a funny-looking character. In the Bookhand or Foundational script, it consists of an upper circle, a right-hand ear at the top and has a curved neck with a lower bottom bowl. The letter is 4 pen-widths high, and descends past the baseline a further 3 pen-widths.
The letter is made in 4 strokes of the pen. 
The first forms the left-hand of the upper bowl. The second finishes the top of the upper bowl, and extends down to the left, and then swinging back to the right, forming a crooked neck and the beginning of the bottom bowl. The third stroke begins at the bottom left, connecting to the edge of the second stroke. The fourth stroke creates the ear in the upper right hand corner.
When it is formed correctly, a few more strokes can turn it into a goose!
And as we all know, geese form a gaggle, but did you know that multiple g’s also gaggle?
F is for Flurry
Isn’t it amazing, how just a little
can create such excitement?
I was out and about when the snow started to fall. Everyone was exclaiming “It’s SNOWING” some with joy, others with a bit of trepidation. 
At first it was just a tiny bit, blink, and you’d miss the flakes. Then they started falling in earnest, fat flakes, the kind you remember from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
There’s just something magical about watching the snow fall, as it dances and flits through the air.I love seeing the accumulation on the trees and throughout the neighborhood.
The neighborhood kids were out in force, wrapped up in scarves and wearing gloves, shrieking and screaming their delight as they dodged snowballs and created snowmen. I watched from my studio window as I worked on calligraphy… I didn’t accomplish much this afternoon, I was too distracted by those snowflakes!
E is for Experiment
It all started with a post from Holly Becker of Decor8. She featured Niki Jones, a creative interior and furnishings designer based in the U.K. I fell in love with this bed:208_Standard.jpgbut at ₤1299 ($2,100USD), it was a little out of my price range.
I was inspired, I wanted a black bed! So I decided to experiment. How hard could it be to re-finish my own bed? Ignorance really is bliss. I took my bed apart and carried the pieces downstairs to the garage. 
Leaving my mattresses on the floor of my room. It’ll take maybe 2 weeks… I rather naively thought.
It was the end of October, just as the temperatures outside dropped to below a balmy 50 degrees. I stripped the old finish off, scrubbed off the stripper with denatured alcohol, sanded and sanded some more, painted on primer, all this was in between the regular events of life, fighting a cold, and working in an office for a week. 
It did take a few weeks, I borrowed two space heaters from friends, made the trip across town to the Lowe’s for supplies and advice, and finally I was ready to paint it all black! The biggest challenge was sealing it once I had painted the black, the directions recommended a “well-ventilated area, between 55-75 degrees, without any pilot lights/flammables present.” I ended up outside in my driveway in 41 degree weather… 
spraying quickly and then bringing the various pieces into the garage to warm up and dry…
And the project was only half over. Next I had to decide what designs to paint! I cut out the shape of my head and foot board in brown craft paper, and went to work, sketching out ideas. 
I studied the initial design from Niki Jones, tweaking a few details here and there,but in the end, decide to keep it less busy than the first inspiration.
Fortunately, for this stage, I was able to paint the detail work inside on the dining room table, it was much warmer, and the light was better too. 
And finally my experimenting was finished! The paint had cured for the recommended time, and I was more than ready to get my mattresses off the floor. 
From start to finish, it was a 5 week project. I’m quite pleased with the results. I would try my hand at other re-finishing projects, next time, however, I would pick a warmer month to start the project. Now, all I need are the fantastic linens… I’m not ambitious enough to experiment with crochet or lace-making for the linens-details…
Dare to Dance!
Over the past 12 months, I’ve learned to salsa dance. It’s exuberant, joyful, and sensuous. I have improved a lot since January, when my feet knew the basic steps, but my face and body reflected fear and tension.
With a few lessons, many generous dance partners, and lots of practise, I’ve learned to go for it. Yes, I make frequent mistakes, I lose the beat of the song, and I don’t always follow my lead. But I’m willing to try new steps, learning to follow and trust, and choosing to forgive my own missteps.
My goal is not to perform. I want to continue to learn the steps, to simply enjoy the music and my partner, and appreciate the skills of the other people out on the dance floor.
What dreams do you have? Try to pursue them- I dare you! -A
