Right Brained Gal

Looking for the Sun

For the first time in a long time, it rained all day Tuesday and I found myself getting into a dark place.  Things are not going well in my life right now, and it is so easy to slip into an isolating, melancholia mood when it's dark and raining.  Those of us who live in Southern California are so spoiled by having the sun shine 98% of the year. I know for a fact that I could never live in Seattle, but the times I have been there, I really loved the place.  When it is warm and sunny, I like it almost as much as San Francisco. The main reason I couldn't live there is that I don't like coffee!

My computer is dying and has to be replaced. Some people in my life are causing me to be annoyed and angry.  I am disappointed in some of the people I care the most about.  Basically, I am hurting and just want to isolate and be vulnerable all on my own.  I know this will pass, and in the meantime I just keep truging along the road of happy destiny. I escape into my art, and do what gives me the most pleasure in life - create.  I did some wreaths in anticipation of Spring and Easter, hoping it would get me out of my funky mood.

So I will just do what I have to do to move on. I can’t escape problems and negativity. Escaping just brings denial and suppression. Ironically, it is my lack of acceptance and resistance to the problem that creates the pain. Resistance builds up a wall or block that, if not discharged, gets suppressed into the body. These blocks identify places where we have not enough understanding or love. The only way for me to feel better is to help someone who needs help.  It works every time.

Illustration Friday - Monster

Gremlin: the hostile voice within us that kills joy and sows self limiting thoughts and behaviors. Unfortunately I have a whole committee of them that meet on a regular basis inside my head.

Illustration Friday - Feet

My Friendship Cake

A friend of mine has been having a hard time lately, and I wanted to do something to show I care. What better way than a visit with a home made cake.  This is one of my favorite recipes for a fast throw-together cake.  It can be made in minutes, and you can use any fresh fruit. I had just gotten fresh strawberries from the farmer's market, so I used them.

I achieved two things -  I cheered up my friend by showing I care and providing her with someone to talk to and I felt so much better about myself, because what we give others, is a gift to ourselves.

Now I want to share the recipe :

Yogurt Cake

1/2 cup  butter
zest of a lemon
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup yogurt
1 cup of fresh berries, like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, apricots, or a combination.

Cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs. Sift in flour and baking powder. Fold in yogurt; mix until smooth.Pour into a baking pan.  I used an 8" round with liners or grease and flour.

Put berries over surface, and push down a bit. Berries will sink down during cooking into the cake.
Bake at 350º for 25- 30 minutess or until springy to the touch. Cool, then dust with powdered sugar.
I vary the cake by substituting  1/2 tsp vanilla or almond flavoring for the lemon.  Bon Appetit.

Peter Cottontail

Since I missed a great photo op yesterday with the snowman, I decided to make it a practice of taking my camera when I go on my morning walk/jog.  Luckily, I was able to capture the invasion of the bunnies.  I guess it's a sign that Easter is coming, but I was surprised to see this cute little rabbit sitting in someones front yard.  I'm sure he must have been a pet that got loose, but none of the neighbors were home.  Then I went a little further, and low and behold, there was another one in the next yard.  You know how fast rabbits multiply!!!!

Of course I worried all day about their safety, but I am sure they survived.  Rabbits don't have collars, and try catching one. They sure are cute but I don't think they should be kept in cages as pets.  Especially in California because when the weather gets hot, they bake.  I can't tell you how many children are scarred for life after finding their rabbit on a hot summer day, well done.  Of course you can't keep them in the house, because as cute as they are, they stink and constantly release pellets.  So if you are getting your child a rabbit for Easter, be sure you put air-conditioning in its cage.

Snowman Thrives in Los Angeles

This morning as I was taking my daily walk, I came across a snowman.  This would not be unusual if I was in Wisconsin, but this is Southern California where it barely ever rains or goes below 50 degrees. Anyway, I didn't have my camera and was so mad that I had a busy day and wouldn't be able to take a picture. As  I drove by later that day at five o'clock, I saw him, but he had been reduced in size and someone had taken the cute hat and eyes and nose reducing him to a plain jane, run of the mill snowperson.  I lent him a hat I had in the car, and snapped this picture. That shows you how cold it has been here lately, if a snow man can last all day.  I still don't know where he came from as there was no measurable snow falling in the area, so I assumed that someone had driven to Angeles Crest and brought back the snow for the rest of us to enjoy.  Thank you, who ever you are.  It made my day.

Border's is My Second Home

If you could marry a bookstore, I would be Mrs. Borders.  I am lucky enough to live really close to two Borders Bookstore's which I frequent all the time.  My love affair with books began at an early age, and I grew up thinking I was Nancy Drew.  My mother read more than anyone I know, and I experienced  seeing how much enjoyment she got from books.  When I walk into Borders, I feel like I'm home.  Everything you need to know in life is in there.  This store is about everything that is right in the world. They encourage you to spend time, by offering coffee, tables, comfortable leather chairs and the best sales people in the universe.  Unlike Barnes and Noble, they have individual computers that allow you to look up books, without having to ask anyone.  They have Seattle's Best Coffee Shop, which isn't Starbucks (yea) and have an all around better feel to them.

I hope everybody supports them, because my worst nightmare would be to have them bought out by Barnes and Noble.  As much as I like the discount at Amazon.com, I feel it is my civic duty to support Borders in return for them giving us a place to hang out, and a sense of community, plus I go for the instant gratification.  It is becoming the new place to go and on the weekends, forget about getting a place to sit. The Pasadena store has an abundance of Cal Tech students, and you don't dare say anything to them about taking up all the seats, because you've got to know they have more pressure on them at this moment than you'll have in your whole lifetime.  I love to meet friends there, because if we run out of things to talk about, we always pick up a few magazines and read them while drinking our coffee.  And nobody seems to mind that you are never going to buy the magazine when you see how little there is to it.

To make a good thing even better, they now have a Rewards Program that offers you discounts, holiday account and special deals via e-mail.  I was very pleased today, when I got a free caramel latte, with my free beverage coupon.  I felt so guilty, that I ended up leaving a two dollar tip.

Thank you Borders, for just being there for me.  I will always be loyal to you.

Illustration Friday - Tattoo

No children were harmed in the creation of this illustration.

LA Art Scene

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending a juried fine arts exhibition at the William Grant Still Art Center in Los Angeles.  It included student works from the five top  art schools: UCLA, USC (who hosted it) Art Center College of Design, Otis, and Cal Arts.

A friend of mine's daughter Maggie was one of the participants and he asked me to go with him.  He is totally out of his element with the art scene, but is extremely proud of his daughter and appreciates her work. It brought back memories of my father, and what a hard time he had identifying with my world of art and crafts and all things right brained!

The show was so inspirational, and I loved seeing art created without the help of a computer. It took me back to my roots. How I long for the days of cleaning brushes, mixing colors and inhaling the fumes from paint and solvents.  Getting high on life and paint fumes. The excitement of starting with a blank canvas and putting all your feelings out there for the world to see.  Now it seems all I have to show is sunburned eyeballs from computer rays.

The show was diverse and the work was high quality as are the schools represented and I thoroughly enjoyed the scene and all the creative people who attended. It definitely wasn't the white men in ties scene. I want to congratulate Maggie and her friend Victoria (far left, whose piece is shown) for all their hard work and appreciate how very talented they are.  And to all the fathers, who don't understand, but unconditionally support their daughters.

I wish them all the best as they graduate with a fine arts degree and my word of advice to them was to get a copy of The Artist's Way as a graduation present.  And remember, you do it because you love it, not because you want to eat.
 

Hopefully, the Best Year of My Life

I am a big fan of self-help and receiving inspiration from anywhere I can get it. Since I work at home a great deal of the time, I am in the habit of listening to   Hay House Radio during the day. It's great, because I can also listen to the pod-casts while I am out walking. One of the hosts I especially like is Debbie Ford, a coach who has written The Best Year of Your Life , and must I admit, this is one of the better self-help books I've read, and I've read many.  I even enrolled in the on-line Barnes and Noble University, so I could be forced to read it and do all the exercises in a timely manner.  I blew that, and now I have enrolled in the latest session, and I have made a commitment to myself that I will finish it this time.

Anyway, if anyone is stuck, I highly recommend this book.  I especially like her philosophy - self discipline is the greatest gift you can give yourself.  She stresses that it is much easier to reach a goal when you are enjoying the path. She tackles all the things I need to tackle at this point in my life: procrastination, taking action, having clear goals, and manifesting them into reality.  Who knows, maybe this will be the best year of my life, since last year was the worst!

My Daily OM

This is the daily message from my favorite web site Daily OM - the daily source for nurturing your mind, body & spirit.  I need to hear this at this exact time in my life.

 March 6, 2006
A Concrete Dream
Goals 
Our desires act as fuel, propelling us toward new horizons. Without something to strive for, we stagnate and become stuck in ruts of our own making because we are unsure of what to do next. Goals are the dreams that we are willing to work for. When we set goals, we take responsibility for our lives and choose to wholeheartedly devote ourselves to our aspirations. Even if we only take the smallest steps toward achieving our ambitions, it is vital that we actively pursue our goals rather than just daydreaming about them. Having goals makes us feel good because it adds a sense of purpose and direction to our lives.

When you endeavor to achieve clear and quantifiable goals, your choices and actions take on new significance. Consciously creating your goals can help ensure that the success you seek is attainable and serves you. Your plan must be conceivable, tangible, and measurable. If you cannot visualize your goal in great detail or believe that you can realize them, you may find it difficult to commit to your goals and take the necessary steps to achieve them. Make sure that your goals have the potential to be emotionally satisfying. You may even want to write them down. Putting your goals into words can keep your intention fresh in your mind and remind you of your purpose. As you make progress toward realizing your goals, give yourself a reward each time you take a step forward so that you have the incentive to keep going. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, examine ways in which you can revise your strategy so that your plan can work.

In creating goals, you create your future by outlining your destiny. When you choose your goals using your head and heart, you take the first step in manifesting what you want. You grant your own wishes every time you achieve another goal.

Illustration Friday - Insect

Ladybug!  Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire.
And your children all gone.

I have always had an affection towards ladybugs because of this nursery rhyme.  My grandmother also told me they brought good luck.

Inspire Me Thurday

This is my first entry for Inspire Me Thursday and the topic is self-portrait. This is a pastel I did for my mom many years ago, while I was in junior high, as a birthday present.  She said it was a self-portrait of me as a little girl and hung it in the kitchen so she could see it every day. Of all the art work I did, I think this was my mom's favorite. My mom died many years ago, at too young an age.  I was in my twenties, and had just had my first daughter. My sister was younger and had just gotten married. Needless to say, it was the hardest year of my life.  My mom died when I needed her the most.

I don't know why I wanted to put this on my site, but I think maybe this is a way of doing something for my mom.  Who knows, maybe cyberspace reaches to heaven.  Anyway, mom if you are reading this, I miss you so much, but I am grateful for the time we had together.  I think of you often, remembering how I would call you every Sunday night while I was in college to touch base and fill you in on my week. Of course bar was often transposed with library, but I think you got the idea that I wasn't an all work and no play type of gal. I think the hardest thing in the world is dealing with the void of a Mother's love.  A Mother's love determines how we love ourselves and others.