Living In the Moment

I love the thought of a New Year ~ A clean slate ~ A new beginning ~ A chance to start over ~ I want to take this time to thank all of you who have made 2011 a joyous one for me ~ My Family, My Friends ~ New friends I have made along the way ~ You have encouraged and  inspired me, and made me believe in myself when I certainly had doubt. This year I plan to explore new areas in photography and writing. I hope to attend new workshops, and learn new things. My eyes are wide open to new challenges and collaborations with other artists. What are you looking forward to in 2012?

I have been thinking how I can be different in this new upcoming year ~ I hope to be more creative, more focused, more determined in the things that brings me joy. If you would "Change Your Thinking, Change Your World" - How would it be different? How could it be better? How should you change your thinking?

I wanted to take this time to Wish a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all my Family & Friends ... I am sending love, health and happiness your way ... I also wanted to thank you all for the love & support that I have received this year regarding my writing, blog, poetry and photography. I appreciate all the comments, more than you know. As a writer of a blog, you are unsure of who is reading week after week, and when people come out and say, "I have been reading for awhile but I have never posted ..." this makes my heart sing. Thank you to all my new friends that I have connected with, your support has meant everything to me. Where are you headed to spend Christmas? 

I decided to speak of my favorite painter of "Light", Thomas Kinkade for today's post. I love every painting this man has created. He has just the right angles, correct lighting,  the most beautiful scenes for all of us to enjoy. I recently watched THOMAS KINKADE: THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hoping you take the time during this holiday season to enjoy a Christmas movie like this one. Do you have a favorite artist? painter? musician? actor? And why? 

Thinking back of a conversation that Jeanette House posed a few days back ~ I spent some quality time  choosing a word ~  My word for 2012 is "CREATE".  I hope to really push my limits this year in the creative department. I hope to expand my writing (collaborating with more artists), broaden my photography with more thought provoking photographs etc.  If you look at the New Year ahead, what is "Your Word"?

In the Spirit of Holiday Week ~ I came across this photo and started thinking of Christmas Music ... I love the song White Christmas ... I also love Little Drummer Boy but I think my favorite is Baby, It's Cold Outside ... This is an older song, but everytime I hear it - I find myself smiling - I am one of those people who enjoy Christmas Music, in general. What is your favorite holiday song?

SKIING In all sports, you need to have an open mind Traveling down mountains, thinking you’re one of a kind Your patience is dwindling, you may want to cry Your friends are outstanding, it pushes you to try A sign in the distance, for a beginner’s trail Thinking you might take it, rather than fail Black diamonds mean, danger for all Beginners sticking to easier trails, not to fall Skiing along you take the wrong turn The next run down, you will certainly learn You head to another lift to settle all fear Confidence kicks in and you do not have a care Carefully shifting from side to side Assuring yourself to save your own hide Trying another trail, this is the real test With trails behind you, you want to look your best You reach the bottom of the hill with a smile and your friends say, I like your style

This year I decided to go with "Old Saint Nicholas" Christmas Cards. I have always like the feel of "Days Gone By". My folks have told me of a song entitled, "Born Too Late" - I love the music, fashion and movies from years past. I feel like "An Old Soul" ... What type of Christmas Theme have you decided on this year? Yesteryear? Modern? A tree with white lights and white ornaments? Or an old fashioned tree with many ornaments? I would love to hear from you ...

During this Christmas Season I know a few families that are having a very difficult time. I would like to put out "My Christmas Wish" to those families in need. I would like to ask for their lives to return back to normal. I would like them to feel whole again. If I could ask for anything this year, I would want this most of all. What is your Christmas Wish?

Simon & Garfunkel ~ Bridge Over Troubled Water ~ The Sound of Silence ~ 13 Grammy Awards ~  The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Yes, I am speaking of Paul Simon.  He has been a favorite of mine for many years. If I hear one of his songs on the radio, I cannot pass it by ... He has no many songs that make me want to get up and dance ... Cecelia ~ Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes ~ Graceland ~ Kodachrome ~ Loves Me Like a Rock And Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard ...  His Graceland CD is one I can listen to over and over again ... What musician do you find yourself going back to? 

Some days we hope to see the sun ~ Some days we yearn for a rainy day ~ Some days are just the way we want them - After a full week of Jodi LeBrun's Share-A-Palooza, it seems I have a million new ideas in my head for writing & photography. I love it when I feel awakened and inspired!  I am continuing to work my way through Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. I am also committed to writing everyday. After attending my Writing Workshop a few months back, all I can hear are the instructors saying, "If you are a Writer, you should be writing". No Excuses. What have you told yourself, there is no excuse for?

~ Reach, Seek, Look and Dream ~  ~ These Words Resonate With Me ~  As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I am a part of Jodi LeBrun's Share-A-Palooza - I have been flying high (like the girl in the above photo) with creative energy ~ I love connecting with other women that love the arts. I have met women interested in so many things - Coaching, Photography, Writing, Cooking etc and we are only halfway through the week ~ I look forward to seeing what else Jodi has in store for us ... When was the last time you were flying high?

Over the past few weeks, I have been asked me to be a part of Jodi LeBrun's Art Share-a-Palooza this upcoming week ... In short, Jodi is bringing together a  dozen or so women that she has connected with over the past year online and featuring what we all do (and love!) - I am proud to say she has asked me to join in and I was thrilled to be a part of it all ... I am looking forward to seeing my feature appear on her site ... What a thrill ... More on this soon ... What other avenues have you taken to show your creative side? Blogging? Getting published in a local newspaper? Being part of a craft fair?

TRAVEL DAYS Days seem a wee bit long After you are packed and gone Time is the one I seem to blame Hearing some thunder and the rain Waiting for that safe arrival call Being my lifesaver, after all Another sunny, cold, brisk day Autumn always feels this way Doing what we need to do Hurrying back to me and you

Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday, yet again ~ Recently I have been doing a lot of writing and this is what it has felt like to me - The above paintbrush when I put pen to paper - A flurry of color and expression. I have been writing 750 Words a Day consecutively for 29 Days now. Recently, I have asked family and friends  what they think of the task of writing 750 Words A Day, their responses differed. Some said it was painful to think of getting so many words out each day. Others, said it would flow out of them, easily. I seem to be in the latter. I never have difficulty when I start writing, I always seem to know what the topic of the day will be, before I begin. I hope this continues ... I am grateful for these 15 minutes daily, to be - Me. And the Giveaway Winner is ... Karen in FL  Congratulations, Karen! Please email me @ kaortega1120@yahoo.com with your address!  Thank you for all who entered ...  I hope to have another giveaway real soon! 

Shania Twain ... So Successful  ... I have to be honest, I did not become a fan until she made her crossover to Pop music  ... The first songs that caught my attention from her "Come On Over" CD were "Man! I Feel Like A Woman", "That Don't Impress Me Much". I still enjoy these songs ... Her follow up CD "Up!" was another smash hit. The titles "I'm Gonna Get You Good" and  "She's Not Just a Pretty Face" are the two that stand out for me. I love her style, voice, beauty - What can I say - She will always be a favorite of mine!

Today marks my One Year Blog Anniversary ~  It has been a wonderful year of meeting new artists, painters, photographers and crafters. I have made many new friends on this journey ... I have received many compliments on the above photo, so I thought I would have a fun give-away. This is to show my appreciation for all your support of my photography and writing over the past year. I am giving away the above photograph (my original photo, accented in Photoshop) as a 5x7 print.  Please leave me some comments of "love" and I will be picking a winner on Wednesday, November 30th.  This is my first give-away and I am so excited about it ~  Hoping to hear from many of you! 

Recently, I have been writing so much more than I ever have. I have taken on a practice (as some of you know) of writing 750 Words A Day, Blogging, and doing morning pages (another writing practice by Julia Cameron). The more I write, the more creative I seem to feel. This picture shows how I have been feeling lately. I feel like I have an open heart to new interests. I wrote poetry while I living at home with my folks in my teen years, but then I let it go for awhile, as I have mentioned before. I am still loving photography, but I feel this is another area I am quite interested in. How many interests do you have? Have you been wanting to try something new? What interests you?

It is a cool, crisp weekend here in New England. The cooler weather is finally here, after having a very hot and humid Summer. I love this time of the year. I wish I could move somewhere that the weather is like this, year round. Just Beautiful! When I came across this painting (and if anyone knows the artist, please let me know) I could not stop looking at. I had many questions while viewing it - Where is she? What is she thinking? How did she get up there? Is she praying for someone? Is she sending a birthday wish to a loved one (with the balloon)? I love wondering what some paintings are actually saying. I love where she is standing. I love the blue and grey sky that makes up the background. Do you find yourself asking these same questions?

How many of you know about these "Fortune Tellers"?  We used to make these with pieces of paper when I was a kid.  You would move them in and out depending on the what number you chose  (the numbers would be where the letters are in this picture). You would then have color names (Red, Green, Blue) inside to choose from, you would count out the letters to see what secret message you would open for that person. They would fold out from the inside of this shape shown above. Just a fun childhood game I have never forgotten ... My motto is: We always have a choice So this quote really spoke to me. What is your motto?

Celine. Just saying her first name and everyone knows who you are speaking of. The first I heard "Where Does My Heart Beat Now", I knew I would become a Celine Dion Fan. I felt her voice had a range that was so unique and genuine.  Disney's "Beauty and The Beast" debut seemed to put her at the top of the charts and she only became more famous from there. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" was also a favorite of mine. "My Heart Will Go On" was a huge hit all over the world being one of the title tracks for the film "Titantic". "I'm Alive" and  "Because You Loved Me" are also popular favorites amongst fans among many others.  Fans were able to enjoy Celine's Caesar Palace - Vegas Shows from 2003-2007. She took a break to enter back into the studio and to do her World Tour over the next few years. She is back  in Vegas this year and going forward for us to enjoy her a bit more.

How do you balance out your life between work and home? How do you find time to do the things you want to do? This all comes down to balance. Do you sometimes feel like that small rock in the middle of the photo above, trying to hold it all together? Have you found the secret? I would love to hear your answers ...

POSITIVE SIGN I KNEW THE TIME HAD COME TO PUT ASIDE MY TEARS I HAD TO SEE THE DAY AHEAD   WITHOUT ANY OLD FEARS I HEARD MY HEART BEATING LOUDER THAN IT SHOULD   MADE ME FEEL WEAKER KNOWING THAT I COULD ALL THE WHILE HOPING FOR A POSITIVE SIGN EASIER DAYS AHEAD WOULD SOON BE MINE DREAMING OF DAYS PAST WOULD GET ME THROUGH THE WARMTH OF LAUGHTER HAPPIER TIMES I KNEW LOOKING TO THE FUTURE I KNOW WHO I WANT TO BE PUTTING THE PAST BEHIND A SUNNY PATH TO SEE

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Time ... Time go to bed ... Time to get up ... Time to get things done ... How much time do I have left to do things I want to do? Ever wish you could freeze time? Do you ever wish there were a few more hours in a day? I enjoy the days I do not have to worry about time. I love being on vacation and actually knowing that if I look at watch, it really does not matter. Those are the best days. The days when we can enjoy every moment until the sun goes down. Tell me that last time you did not have to worry about time ... I am all ears ...

I thought this simple picture was perfect for Whimsical Wednesday. It had me thinking of what truly makes me smile ~ Spending time with Family & Friends, Photographing Nature, Writing Poetry, Cool Autumn Days - Just to name a few. What makes you smile? Who makes you smile? I would love to hear from you ...