We are in escrow!

Oh my goddess! We are so excited. This house is amazing and we are delighted to be moving to Petaluma!! I will be opening the west coast branch of The School of Art and Magic so get ready to play in the Laboratory.

HOUSE - Yes yes yes yes yes

We saw a house today that we loved! (We actually saw 2!) The one we like best is a bit of a fixer - in a good way - and has exactly what we are looking for. It's just within reach of our price range, so it's time once again to do a little more magic to really rope it in!!!

It feels scary to be taking such a big leap but the truth is WE ARE READY!!!!

For the good of all and harm of none!

Fall Equinox Altar

I got an early start on my Fall Equinox Altar and decorated a new journal. Most of the cloth I use on my altars is fabric I use in my sewing projects - materials infused with the connection to spirit.  Tomorrow is the full moon in Pisces. Neptune asks, what are we dreaming about? My answer...a home of my own, a mortgage payment, a community of other families and artists, and a studio that is on my property...huge, light, big enough for large canvases and classes.

Taking care of addie, Taking care of me

I love taking care of Addie. (Is she taking care of me too?) I spend a lot of my day laughing. She smiles and laughs at me, I smile and laugh at her. Until she goes to bed. And in the morning...when I open the little curtains that enclose her nook, there she is smiling at me again. Is this for real?

I still feel stressed about MY work and MY time, but I have to admit...I did that before she was born. I don't like to face this fact, but it's true. Along the lines of "Taking Care of Me"...today I had a success. My husband watched Addie and I went to my office to paint. I spent 5 hours in my office and painted for one of them. Though I wish I had spent more time painting, this was a Miracle! I listened to Michael Jackson's BAD, danced my ass off, sang and painted all at the same time. It felt good. REALLY GOOD. It's funny, I remodeled my office a year ago so I could paint in it...and this was my first time. One step at a time...

Today best friend Fern shared one of her breakthroughs with me. She told me that working on her list of "things to do" was not the thing that made her feel productive, but it was prioritizing the things that had heart and meaning for her...and doing those things FIRST that actually made her feel productive. Once she did her ART (first)... she felt more available to do other things on her list. 

The truth is, most of us know what we would like to be doing but spend our time actively not doing it. How we justify this (time, money, being realistic, need more information, judging our desires, etc.) is simply hiding a bigger soul dilemma. What if we gave our self permission to follow our intuition/desire and trust that what we are wanting is what is wanted from us.

Addie RULES!!!

MIndful by Mary Oliver

Every day

i see or hear

something

that more or less

kills me

with delight,

that leaves me

like a needle

in the haystack

of light.

It is what I was born for - 

to look, to listen,

to lose myself

inside this soft world - 

to instruct myself

over and over

in joy,

and acclamation.

Nor am I talking

about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,

the very extravagant - 

but the ordinary,

the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar,

I say to myself,

how can you help

but grow wise

with such teachings

as these -

the untrimmable light

of the world, 

the ocean's shine,

the prayers that are made

out of grass?

New Plan!!

September: a Morning Meditation & an Evening Prayer every day

Intention: Get focused, stay focused.

Okay, today is the first day of my new plan and it's already after noon! Not even one little meditative moment. Steve took the baby this morning around 10:00 AM so I could have 2 hours to myself (yeah!) His parting words were "don't spend the whole time on the computer"...and of course I responded, "don't tell me what to do" ...even though he is TOTALLY RIGHT. He doesn't tell me what to do often, but when he does he is usually right on target. I often feel gross if I spend a big chunk of time on the computer. (That's why I gave up webDesign as my living!) Well, he was right again! I spent the whole time on the computer working on a new website for Build Altars. He just called and said he'd be an hour late. OH JOY!!! So, I jumped back on the computer to write this!!! What a dork I am.

Okay back to the business of being a mom and an artist. I am now going to SHOWER and then meditate. I might even take a walk before my people arrive home! This afternoon I am making a labor day apple pie. Mommy-mind can only handle so much it seems.

PS! My most honored friend Francesca gave me some wonderful echino fabric by Etsuko Fuyura!! THANK YOU, what a great present!