Santa knows every little girls' dream pony. [Santa and Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses Photo] ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"Desiderata" (Latin: "desired things") is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann. (the myth that it was from 1692 is incorrect) This is the correct version from the original poem. Some versions have altered the next to last sentence to read "Be Careful" ~ however, the author, Max Ehrmann wrote the line as "Be Cheerful"

So Be Cheerful...........................and have yourself a merry little Christmas now and in the New Year...strive to be happy. ♥

Remembering Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ~ South African

Time Out on the Beautiful Rainbow River

~ the fog lifted and the wonderful sunshine came out and warmed it up to around 74 ~ no wind made the water very calm and serene. So we had lunch outside by the river. The Rainbow River in Florida is still very pristine and gorgeous. Totally lovely day. and p.s. the vegan luncheon was yummy.

Disney Gingerbread House

Ingredients list for XXXXL Disney Gingerbread House ~ at The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The house is reaching up to the second floor! Sweet!!! [yummy photos taken by Alina Heller at Thanksgiving] ♥

In a Pinch for Gift Box? ~ Instant Recycle Tea Box

Yogi Teas has the most wonderful printed insides that I have seen on any tea box. They also make fantastic TEA. Of course the tea is the reason I buy Yogi Tea. It is great Tea. And each individual packaged teabag has an inspirational affirmation attached ...kind of like a fortune cookie saying.

I haven't had a tea from them that I did not like. And I love, love, love tea ~ especially organic teas.

Sometimes it is hard to find just the right little box for a gift when you are in a hurry. Last minute and all the boxes you have are too huge and so are all the gift bags. Never fear in your cabinet is beautiful [and tasty]

Yogi Tea.  So ....Turn the box inside out gently lifting edges....use a little bit of invisible tape..which you can see in the photo because I forgot to smooth it out before the picture. 

here is a before and after, with tape smoothed down on the lower box...and now a bit of tissue wrap and gift treasure inside...good to go. [add ribbon, or ornamentation or  coloring the design for extra fun]

Confessions of a Hot Air Balloonaholic

I have a Hot Air Balloon fetish...they make me extremely happy to see floating along in the sky. I rode in one once and that was an interesting experience. Especially for someone who was/is afraid of heights.

It turned out to be so much more enjoyable than I could have imagined. [fyi: hot air balloons are different from gas filled balloons in that well...they don't use gas to fill the balloon but heat the air inside the shape] Gas Balloons in the US usually use Helium which is not supposed to be flammable ~ Hydrogen is the flammable one and it is mainly used in Europe because Helium is so expensive over there. ~ Anyway...this is a gorgeous Hot Air Balloon I took a photograph of at the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Colorful Exuberant Leoma Lovegrove

All Things Leoma ~
one of my favorite free-spirits is Leoma Lovegrove ~ Colorful Florida Artist from Matlacha Island, Florida.
(pronounced Mat-la-shay) it is located near Ft. Myers. North of Sanibel and next to big Pine Island.

Her bright and splashy colors are everywhere... on walls, canvas, bikes, clothes, coconuts, mailboxes...all over the place and on Leoma herself. And those amazing Leoma Glasses are her trademark too. Impressionistic & Wildly Expressionistic she goes about transforming her world of Matlacha Island. There she has a gallery & garden and her "international headquarters".  P.S. the cottage is for rent to get the Lovegrove experience first hand! She recently signed with Bealls dept. store chain to feature Lovegrove designs in all their stores. She is a Florida treasure and her gallery/shop/gardens/headquarters are tourist destination extraordinaire..

recycled cobalt blue saratoga water bottles form strange

plant shapes in the Lovegrove garden

kick back in Matlacha

Weekend Mantra

I made this poster as a big reminder...

breathe

this is also a post it note from Yoko Ono ~ and always a good one to remember! I need to post this everywhere...as well as the YES one. I took them down, I had them all around, in cabinets, on mirrors etc ~ so I need to re-post it note...perhaps in clay and fired on little tiles. That would be more permanent and could hang. ...to be continued with results later....

YES

~ this is the post it note that was on the ceiling of Yoko Ono's show in London & there was a ladder underneath so people could climb up and read what the little note said. One of the guests to the gallery was John Lennon who climb up and read.

Early Week - Transformation in Progress

it's the start of a new week and I just love this photo - don't know the credits yet - but isn't it awesome!!! I know Allison Dahl from NC did the wonderful flowers for the wedding. Talented Girl!

NYC Marathon Sunday

~ just gotta say those runners are so awesome. did you catch any of the race? I watched online and I guess I am turning into a mush because the wheel runners made me cry... and so did a lot of the stories of other runners. There was the blind runner who is a mom and came over last year from Europe to run after raising money to get to NYC. And then last year having the race cancel due to the Hurricane Sandy disaster. She over came many obstacles to get back this year... and the runner from BVI running his eleventh marathon while still battling kidney cancer...and oh gosh the 93 year old runner (is that possible?) wow - so many inspiring stories no wonder I teared up...the runners raising money for all the great charities...the list goes on. I know one runner personally and I think he is an inspiration too. Dr. T. R. Eckler running for UNICEF. Congratulations to all of the runners!!! You are all winners.

THE ART-O-MAT

last night cruising through the Appleton Museum after the reception ...I was struck with instant love. Dazzled into stillness. Stunned in Delight. While leaving through the Gift Shop (!) I beheld this wonder of recycled upcycled wonders...and even exclaimed out loud WOW..

yes absolutely beautiful in thought and design...it held tiny wonders of ART!!!! I of course wanted all of them & the machine. Greedy little me. So I decided to investigate further...seems like these beauties have been around awhile... since 1997. What? where have I been??? I certainly need to get out of my studio more often! I have decided this is fantasmagoric...and I am going to do mini wonders to be put in Art-O-Mats thru out the known Universe. Pronto.

Time Change, New Moon, Solar Eclipse & Art

I can feel the change in the air here in N Central Florida and it's glorious. Crisp, Sunny and Breezy. We had just enough rain yesterday to keep everything green. I got rye grass planted in the front pasture for the horses!! So the rain really helped. They have to stay off of that pasture for at least 2-3 wks to give the grass a chance to pop up and grow. My horses love the cool crisp air too.

Last night I went to a great Art Opening Reception at the Appleton Museum. It is the Ocala Art Group Show - A Toast to the Arts -  (it is up through the Holidays until January)
 http://www.appletonmuseum.org/
Lots of wonderful works by regional artists. 2D and 3D work which is nice to have a lot of sculpture included with all the paintings. I think this really makes for a well rounded show. This one did not disappoint. Actually, it was better than I had assumed. Quality works! One of my favorites is by Orlando artist Mindy Colton titled Run Wild, Run Free. It took second place in the exhibit. These black and white sculptures are stylized Appaloosa horses. The dark colored areas are made out of teeny tiny pictures of horses on rice paper!

All Souls' Day/ Dia de los Muertos

 November 2nd is  All Souls' Day ~
 and
Dia de los Muertos
a day for prayers and remembrance of loved ones and all the departed. I enjoy the
Mexican tradition of not remembering them in death but with lessons learned, happy times, and life lived. Many celebrate with candles, lots of candles,  special foods, ofrendas, flowers...especially marigolds, catrinas, dancing skeletons, and one of my favorites...Sugar Skulls. This time next year I hope to be down in Mexico to celebrate there in person. For now I celebrate here and virtually with my dear friends in Mexico. I hope your day is sweet!

All Saints Day ~ start with St. Francis of Assisi

Today is All Saints Day ~ November 1st 2013

Thinking this is the perfect day to start the new blog. One on which all the saints/angels etc are extra close because it is their special day. One of my favorites is St. Francis of Assisi.
Many films and paintings have portrayed St. Francis. Here is one of them....

I don't know who painted this version which is a modern style of the Eastern Icon Tradition. St. Francis could speak with the animals. So he was the first known Saint who was an animal whisperer.