How Great The Art

I am babysitting my grandson this afternoon. And, I decided to take this precious time to write, while he is napping. I have been here since Christmas Eve. Consciencely, trying to enjoy every moment. Trying not to take too many photos or video, and staying away from social media. Taking a sip of my hot chocolate, smelling the pine of the Christmas tree with it snowing slightly outside the window. Listening to the innocence of a two year old and trying to understand every word he utters. He has an amazing vocabulary and is constantly in amazement at every single person, place and thing within his eyesight. I am soaking all of these moments in, as these are the golden moments I crave every year. Every morning he takes me by the finger and says "follow me!" And, he brings me to the beautifully decorated tree. He then sits across from me on the couch. And, then he says everytime. Look at the lights. I look and it is very pretty and decorated perfectly with mostly

Do you have a believing mirror in your life? I follow Julia Cameron who wrote about this today. She wrote The Artist's Way. A book I have not read. But, when I listen to a zoom meeting of hers or her daily quotes, I feel she is really helpful in unlocking the Artist within ALL of us. Yesterday I came home to a fed ex package and I couldn't wait to see who it was from and what was in it. It was the beautiful journal pictured above. A tree dream journal was just a perfect gift and the words in the card were so sincere. I then read the quote from Julia Cameron. And, it all made me want to reread some writing I did around the time my mother had died. I was trying to use the image of tree to give me stregnth and write about loss. But, how I was going to get through it, through new growth, like a tree. Here is what I wrote, and then what I wrote after she had died as how to further use a tree to focus on growth: Can’t you see I am me and not a tree I need love peace-li

Winter is here. It is why I am not a snowbird. It is why I am a freebird. I love the change of seasons. I love each season for what each bring to my spirit. Each contain some of my favorite memories and I couldn't just pick one as a favorite. And, if there is something in life I would do differently, I would take a vacation every January. After Christmas I feel like a bear and just want to curl up and sleep. I would love the warmth of sunshine. So, this year I do have time off in January. And, with all the news of new varients etc. I am not making any plans. But, I am foot loose and fancy free, so who knows what I will do. I am already planning and focusing on my goals for 2022. I have a lot of uncertainty, but just as much opportunity. So, it is very exciting. One of the goals is to write a book! So, I will need focus and devotion to this endeavor. It should come pretty easy as I love my morning writings. When I was going through the worst part of this year I

So, this is Christmas for me! Tonight I get to see La Bamba and the Holiday Hurrah at the Stone Pony! La Bamba is a trombone player. When I took my son Ian to see Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at a 4th of July show in 2006, I told him he should try to talk to La Bamba. Ian played the trombone in High School. I had a hard time encouraging Ian to be a musician, because I didn't even know anyone who played an instrument as a profession. La Bamba didn't disappoint and he was very encouraging when talking to Ian. To imagine Ian has played with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and La Bamba is so amazing. I love a band with horns. When, we bought our first house in Manasquan it was on the same block as the Osprey. And, one of the bands that played there many summers was La Bamba and the Hubcaps. That is why I included this picture. I saw it on my way to work the other day, and had to take a picture. This is a Christmas present to myself, to have tickets to

So happy to go to the next Rise and Write class this morning. I am also happy with goals met in this last half of the year. I have had a lot of fear, anxiety, hopelessness and basically a loss of faith in the human race. And, I feel the last ten or fifteen years has helped me find a way out of those feelings. There have many ways I have shared how minfulness has helped me. First, it was the creative retreats. Then it was Deepok Chopra and Oprah Winfrey's meditiation. Then is was magazines like Flow and Breathe. Now, I have been able to use all those tools to help. Basically it was all written about in the book "The Secret". It is basically how to have positive thinking. The ways I have been lucky this year is to find a job that shares my same values. I am working for a very compassionate company and they are on the same track as I am. I am finding room for growth. And, our team met goal in November....woohoo! We also all recieved blankets, which is keeping

Growing up in a town full of Victorian Era houses I have always been in love with them. I grew up in a cape cod house. This has been the most unreal year in my life. The only thing that is making any sense to me is what I wrote about in the beginning of the year. That little girl in the first post, her dreams are coming true. Last Christmas my friend and I went to Cape May. I took about a dozen pictures of Victorian houses and wanted to paint them. I was so happy to actually follow through with this thought. Now, I am living in an apartment in a Victorian House. Every window has an ocean view. I wished for that my whole life. I thought about at one time (especially last year) just renting a place for a week to have such a view. So, yesterday I had a day off. I was asked to work every week until January in Pennsylvania. So, I started getting my laundry done, cards sent and I realized how much time has gone by, since I have been here. So, I got to work on not only being

I titled this blog post after a song. I bought this record and plan on playing it today, and it will be the song of the day. When I heard the lyrics, I hope no one gets any ideas about my relationships. But, the only loving relationship I have right now is with my children, family and friends. I am not looking for anything else. I have found a new relationship with God, though. And, it mostly happens in the morning during sunrise. It is a feeling I haven't had in a really long time. It is warm and embracing. Sounds really wierd, I know. But, being alone I am truly happy I can have those feelings. The first week I was living across from the ocean I couldn't even look outside. It took awhile before I could look at the light of the morning sky. It hurt, it stung my eyes. I kept looking away. Then my birthday morning I burst out the door to witness and record with photographs the magic of a sunrise. This morning I had the choice to go out and see the sunrise. I

This year I don't really have a routine. I am traveling the last two weeks. It is really nice to be able to be spontaneous and do whatever I feel like. So, where I am staying has the Hallmark channel ( I don't have it where I am living). It is a real treat. Last night I had to go see the Anthropologie and Freepeople store. Just had to see how they were decorated for the holidays. As always, it didn't disappoint. Actually, it was spectacular. The stores are huge and it was like walking in a winter wonderland. The picture above is from the window at the Shrewsbury store. But, I was disappointed. I picked up a couple of gifts and when I was standing on line at Anthropoligie. There was only one salesperson checking customers out. There were three kiosks with bags and large scanning screens for self check out. Being in retail I thought, what a sin. I thought a lot about how that is costing jobs in retail. Then I thought that is why I am at King of Prussia. Bec

This morning I woke up a little drowsy. Searching for something to write about. I usually write first, then try to find the picture and quote. Today was different. I am little sick of writing about how to take care of myself. I saw this picture of my grandson and I and decided to write about him. Yes, he fills my life with joy. I wish I could spend as much time with him as possible. I can go about three weeks without seeing him. I will be going down for Christmas. And, I am happy I have the Monday off after Christmas to babysit him. Everyone will be back to work on Monday. My favorite part so far is again the same as looking at my own children. It is the awe of new life and development. Watching him change before my eyes. Seeing him develop a personality of his own. Smelling his head after a good bath. Seeing him in the tub with his smiling eyes and giant exptression of joy. I love love love to watch him eat and watch him enjoy every bite. Dancing.....I love to se

Can you name a book that changed your life and how you look at things? The book for me is "Living a Beautiful Life" by Alexandra Stoddard. She is an interior designer she wrote and shared how to make your living space beautiful and functional. Advice I took from her the day I read it, and continue to do so in the present. I am looking to buy a home for myself in the beginning of 2022 and I find that very healing. I always loved being in a new home. And, not any of our houses we bought were new, but they all needed some love and attention. I think that is my favorite part of art, the art of home. The place I am living in now is so me, and I didn't have to do any of the work. But, sometimes it is work when you don't really know your style, you have to please someone else, or it is just hard to make a decision. I am loving watching HGTV again. But, I have to say looking at all of these cookie cutter houses is really boring. I am not a fan of all the black

How do you look up, when you are feeling down. I will be writing about this from now until Christmas. I grew up in a house that sometimes was a giant contradiction of itself. And, sometimes that is a hard way to live. Because, where the house was (it's been torn down) it was located in the most beautiful town I have visited let alone lived in. So, how do you complain when things aren't going your way? I think most of my life, I have been in survival mode. We traveled a lot as a child. And, I always felt the need to travel when I was working full time. We would book a flight the last day I worked and we would get home the last possible minute I would have to be back at work. I would not have done anything differently. Except being home with covid definitely gave me a chance to get out of survival mode. And, I wrote it all in a post on the first day of this year. Which is remarkable. I talked about not going on a diet. I had gained covid weight already. I am an

I have one more week of my 30 day writing challenge and I am having trouble trying to find something to write about this morning. But, I think what I am going to write about is choices we can make in our mood. Or how to think of the glass as half full when it is half empty. Or when you are a writer or artist and you feel "who cares". When self doubt creeps in and it is just hard to find a subject to write about. So, I am going to go back again to when I was a little girl. One of the lessons I remember imagining the most is when I learned about Helen Keller. I sometimes think this is when I first became empathetic. But, I do remember being empathetic with my mom ,before I started school thinking of ways to make her feel better or trying to get her to talk to me, when all she wanted to do was read a book. But, I remember coming home from school after learning about Helen Keller. When I got home I sat in a dark closet and could not hear anything. I tried to stay the

I am in la la land. I am just living life in a complete fantasy land. Why are you writing as if you are living a fairy tale and you clearly are not......I have been asked. These are thoughts that come to mind about my writing. I am trying to come to terms with that little four year old me. Is it wrong to believe in someone or something so much? I think not. When it is all said and done. It is the belief system I grew up with at an early age. It is not so much believing in myself, but my belief in God and most of all goodness. I am going to share with you why I write. I can go back and it gives me a feeling of foreshadowing. It is as I if I know something is going to happen and I don't know what it is. It is fascinating. What I am going to share is what I wrote the week before the shit hit the fan. The shit that took down a thirty nine year marriage. If you are reading this and think I will give you the details....that is NEVER going to happen. I like la la land...

Getting into my car yesterday, there was a note under my windshield. Being in another state, I found that was unusual. I looked at other cars and they didn't have one. Then I thought to open the door quickly and get back in and lock the door. When I looked at it, it simply said you're special. I looked around again to see all the cars that had this pamphlet and again my car was the only one. I knew it was a religious pamphlet right away, but didn't recognize the group. But, again in my life, I was presented with something I needed to read at that very moment. I wasn't feeling very special. I was feeling pretty down in the dumps. The image of the rose and the message of Jesus being born for each and everyone of us, including sinners was the biggest take away. It included God's pathway and living in the light. As a believer, it was telling me what I already know. But, I wasn't feeling special, and I should. Each one of us should. Because, it is o

Oh Dear! What do you do when life brings on it's biggest challenges? And, you realize you are all alone. But, someone always texts you while you are in crisis. For me, there is this time after something happens and I don't even have to question, who should I call? For some reason in the last six months my friend always texts me at that very moment where I know just who to call, because I know she is available, because she is texting me. Thank God and most of all thank you to her. (as I was writing this another friend texted me). Or there was a time I was about to leave my keys in an open car in Asbury Park and my friend asked if the car was locked. I said "Thank God" you said that. And she replied " Hey thank me, not God". So during this time of Advent, I may seem to be turning to God's words (the Bible) or to Christmas Carols too much. But, I think this is what this time is all about. It is how to bring light to the darkest time of year.

Life is a Merry Go Round, and simply put, sometimes you just want to jump off while it is still going round and round. Yesterday, was one of those days. I was on my way to work at a place I never had been before. I was thinking of my friend, who had brain surgery as I passed by the exit where she lives. I was in traffic because of a horrific accident with about five cars and one was completely turned over and the windows were completely flattened. I was left wondering if anyone in that car survived the crash. I was about a half an hour early to walk and find my destination. I started taking pictures of the beautiful Christmas decorations at King of Prussia Mall. And, just like that, I recieved a life changing phone call. It wasn't about my friend who had surgery, she made it through fine. It is something I can't really write or talk about. So, the first thing I thought was I have to give up writing for awhile. But, like always, I had a hard time sleeping. I did g

This picture is taken at Anthropology in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. I always love the visual merchandising of an Anthropology store and this one didn't disappoint. I like how the pictures reflect my taking the picture, also. I used to hate it, when I needed to take a picture and that would happen. I have a love hate relationship with retail during the holidays. But, I have to say this year I am totally in love with my job. Today I start a new part of my job that is exciting. I was not only hired as an assistant manager, but as a support manager. So, I will be traveling in the area ( could be from Maryland to Conneticut) to help in other stores. Today, I go to King of Prussia in Pennsylvania. Ironically, I was excited because my bestest friend lives out that way and I wanted to take her shopping. She has brain cancer, and it ends up, she is having her second surgery in three years to remove a brain tumor today. I hope at the end of my four day stint to be able to visit he

Living alone with the holidays quickly approaching can be difficult. I indulged in something for myself this year. It is an advent calender from Lauduree with parisian sweets. I am kinda obsessed with Lauderee. It is a french bakery and confectionery store originating in Paris. I became familiar with it from social media and artists who would paint pictures of macarons. I collected a few cookbooks. And, when Kaylyn and I visited Paris in 2008, it was high on my list of places to visit. It had a line outside and it was very cold. I hate to admit this, but I wanted the bag, tissue paper and ribbon more then anything. I still have it, because I would like to do some crafting with it. I want to decopauge shells and make a mobile as a homage to where I am living. The name of my apartment is the Versaille Chalet and I have been sharing snippits of my place a little bit in my stories on instagram. I felt an instant connection with this place when I saw it on the internet. I sa

One of my favorite parts of having the store Greetings from Geralyn in Convention Hall, Asbury Park, was the stories. Well, and also the celebrities I met. But, I really enjoy hearing the perspective of other Bruce Sprinsteen fans. And, how his music not only influenced them, but changed them. Many fans I met from all over the world. Australia, Italy, France, England, Netherlands and Germany come to mind. They would travel here to Asbury Park mostly when there was a show at the Meadowlands and for Light of Day in Asbury Park. Many would come to Light of Day (fundraiser in January for Parkinsons) and not be guaranteed that Springsteen would show up. That is when I realized I should buy tickets, too. These fans were also buying plane tickets. the expense of hotels and taking time off from work. So, I am happy to say my tickets are bought for this year's week long celebration and I have it as a vacation week off from work. I know I won't be disappointed. I also have

Listening to Bono of U2's song "Your Song Saved My Life", I can't help but feel that songs are very influential in our lives. He wrote a list of 60 songs for his 60th birthday and sent the performers a fan letter. Brilliant! Sometimes when I write I think of how if I wrote a book, song titles would be my chapter titles. Sometimes I think I was the right age to really appreciate the impact of rock and roll music on all of our lives. I know how much music influenced my father. He had a love of Big Band music and Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Barry Manilow and his very favorite Wayne Newton. He loved to see them live. My mom didn't really appreciate music too much. And, most shows my dad went to he went alone. I always loved to hear his review each time he saw Frank Sinatra. He was either fantastic or horrible. There was no in between. I remember my mom telling my brother that the song "Rock around the clock" made rock and roll take over the a

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December. James M. Barrie I would like to think of my memories as rosey. I remember the beautiful buds blooming into beautiful roses, instead of the thorns. So, that is pretty much what my blogging is. It is how I think in the morning. And, I can say it is what I have been the most thankful for. Pretty much my whole life my thoughts are composed of my happy memories. I never used the saying before a couple of years ago: "Sorry, I am reacting and not really processing what is happening here." I have noticed others using the words processing as a way of thinking things out, without knowing the right thing to say. It's as if our minds are computers, now. We are supposed to think at lightening speed, now. I hate the editing our emails are doing. It's as if it knows better what we want to say, and does the word picking for me. How dare a computer pick out words for me!!! Anyway, I didn't know quite what

As I travel down my journey to joy, I start to question myself. When things don't turn out the way I had hoped, I wonder why I even try. Then I remember the amount of serendipity I have had, that literally dropped wishes come true on me, without knowing I was wishing for these moments to happen at all. I have to remind myself to not to give up trying, but stop trying so hard. Since, we are approaching the half way point of the year 2021 I decided to focus on the Artists in my life who have inspired and influenced me most of my life. And, how some how I ended up meeting, taking a class or working for them. Going through all my books, I am so surprised how many I ended up having them signed by my favorites. The picture above is a book I read a lot in my tweens. I bought it on Ebay this year, because I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I love the American Artist Tasha Tudor. I read numerous articles about her in Victoria magazine and bought a few illustrated books

I began blogging in 2008 after a department store I had been working at since 2001 had closed. I set my goals. I was going to open an etsy shop, go on a creative retreat, be a vendor at the retreat and start a blog. Within a month all of those things came true. For the month of December I wrote every day. It was such a treat to have a December off, because I was working retail for so long. I made the most of every day. It was still a challenging time, because my brother was in the hospital with pneumonia. My mother also decided she wanted to have a picture us, three generations of girls, in front of the eiffel tower. Kaylyn was taking french and studying Art her last year of high School. My mom ended up in the hospital and told us to go without her. So, here I am still blogging. It is a pleasure to wake up and process whatever is going through my mind at the time. Right now, my mind is amazed how some people are put in our path. When I went to the first class for writing

When I first started blogging I expressed my need to write to hold on to memories. My dad died from Alzhiemers and his last couple of years he didn't know who my mom and I were. That was heartbreaking. My mom was diagonosed with Alzhiemers in 2012 and was completly different in her last years. She called me by name many times in the last weeks of her life, but she had different symptoms of Alzhiemers that were parallel with what I read of the last three years of stages of Alzhiemers. The last few care visits I had at the nursing home with the nursing home I would tell the nurses she had alzhiemers and they would always say there are many forms of dementia, and your mom doesn't have Alzhiemers. It was frustrating, but looking back I am comforted I had the mom who still remembered me AND always had the right thing to say. My weekly visits were difficult, but I am so thankful for the time we had together. Many times visiting her I would bring postcards, greeting cards and

It's Bright Friday. I don't know how many Black Fridays I have worked. But, I think it is safe to say it is at least twenty five. I like to be busy, because it makes the day go by really fast. The store I work I at, Vera Bradley, has renamed Black Friday to Bright Friday. I really like this, because it is a day full of bustling shoppers. We have a really good sale which will last until November 30th. I really want to talk about how surrounding yourself with goodness is a really great way to be happy each day. How positive words, things, people, places can really effect your mood. So, the image of a black Friday as being bright instead is a really good idea. I also have found having Snoopy and Woodstock in the store have really added a spark of joy into my day. I think that is a good Artist, with his comic strip and tv shows he could change not only your mood, but your outlook on life. And, that is what Art is about. The more you surround yourself in creating or

Today is Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. But, as I face the day and try to be the optimist, I have to face the truth. I am waking up by myself on Thanksgiving for the first time in thirty nine years. It is challenging,and I don't want to feel like I am in denial. Especially, as we approach the holidays. But, as the days pass in the life I am living today, it is important for me to look on the bright side. Like a sunflower, I feel I have to look to the sun. The sun with all of it's warmth and energy. Every day the sun is always there even during the stormiest days. Cheers to all we are thankful for. Even if your glass is half empty today, my hope for you is you can look at it as half full. After all, there is always something to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving. Quote of the day: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what the sunflowers do.” - Helen Keller Song of the day: Brightside by the Lumineers

Believe it or not my birthday this year was the first time I had ever woken up early enough to witness a sunrise on the beach. I have seen many sunsets, and wished to have seen a sunrise, but never had the motivation. There were all these appreciated pictures on facebook and instagram. And, the Easter mornings I would wish that I went to a sunrise service. Best yet, there was nine years I lived across the street from the beach in Manasquan. And, there was my son, who would show me beaufiful pictures of the sunrise at Manasquan inlet he had taken. It something that is so simple to do, and I always wanted to see it. I wished I would wake up and be motivated enough to do it. But, no the bed was always more comfortable, then to jump out of bed. I have to admit it is out of convenience that I have seen at least ten beautiful sunrises in the last month. I was reminded the other day watching a video of the early days my son Ian played with Woodfish at the Saint in Asbury Park abou