New York City and its people

I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art last Sunday. I took advantage of the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping in their wonderful gift shop.

While waiting for the train back to Brooklyn, a dark green train pulled in (not the usual silver with large windows) There were 2 conductors on it , one came out on the platform to shout out the next stop. ( I had never seen THAT before)  But more unusual were the people who jumped off the train laughing and smiling with camera's in their hands  turning around to take pictures of the train. Then people like me who were waiting for the train, took out their camera's and took pictures .When the train pulled away everyone had smiles on their faces. They all knew something that I didn't.

When I settled in on the train I had been waiting for, I asked a young man next to me what that was all about. He told me that that train was over 50 years old . At Christmas time they get a few out and make short runs just for the fun of it.

That sounds like a small town event to me,certainly not  my image of New York City.

 That young man and I had a great conversation all the way home. Back in Iowa, I would have gotten into my car and driven home all alone.

One of the really good things about this city is the people!

So THIS is Joy!

Last week I was trying to decipher the difference between 'happiness' and 'joy'.

This morning  I was reading  'God calling' ( a daily reading),  As I was closing the book I checked my calendar and discovered that I had read the wrong passage for this day.  I reopened the book to  today's date of Dec.16th and read the title: 'What is joy?'  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

Here is God's explanation of JOY,  from the book,'God Calling'.
 
JOY is the reward of patiently seeing Me in the dull dark days, of trusting when you cannot see.
JOY is as it were your heart's reponse to My smile of recognition of your faithfulness.

Here are some more from other passages in the book:

"The foundation of Happiness is the complete surrender of every moment to God.
The superstructure of Happiness it the JOY of communion with Him."

"Nothing in the day is too small to be part of My scheme. The little stones in a mosaic play a big part. JOY is the cement that  secures the Harmony and Beauty in my mosaic."

So there!  I couldn't have said it better myself!

This is the third from my Fruit of the spirit series.

Peace, now that is a good word. That is something we can do something about!

I know it isn't easy, but if you want peace in your life, get out of  un-peaceful situations.

Do what you have to do. Set boundaries, avoid 'toxic' relationships, attend AlAnon meetings, move out, leave, walk away, pray, pray, pray!

Everyone's home should be their retreat, their haven, a place of peace.  If it isn't, change something. Life is too short not to.

Opps!!  I have to go now, I am falling....... falling...... falling...... off  my             soap box.

Let's talk about JOY

Here is the second painting from my Fruit of the spirit series.

I love this word. It is different from 'Happy.' Happy is a temporary short lived feeling. JOY is deep, a sense of well being, a word of hope and faith. The angel said "I bring you tidings of great JOY! "

I am trying to think of Joyful times in my life. Certainly not when I was out with the girls laughing and having a good time. That would be a happy time. Joyful is more real, like the birth of a child.

This is harder than I thought. I must think on this a bit. If anyone is reading this, I would love to have a conversation about this word, Joy.

Anyway, I am really 'happy' that I painted this series, it makes my feel 'joyful'

Check back for the third in this series.

Fruits of the Spirit

These past 5 months since moving to Brooklyn I have been creating some new works. I love working with oil pastel and acrylics, yet watercolor with pen and ink detail is what I have been doing. I don't really have an explanation other than after I finish a piece I move right on to the next. I find them very interesting, the detail adds a richness to each piece.



I have been working in series, the first series I will be posting is from the Bible. In Galatians, Paul lists the fruits of the spirit. There are 12 but I have completed 3. The first one is Love. The final result wasn't at all what I was aiming for and I was not pleased with it. But, as often happens, it has grown on me and now I can sincerely say that I am proud of it.



The three together (Love, Joy and Peace) make quite a statement on a wall, I know because the originals are framed hanging on mine. To see the other two, continue to check in.



That's it for today.

Time to RETHINK a few things

I have been in Brooklyn for 3 months now. I intended to journal about a Midwesterner's view of the big city. Actually, I have been so preoccupied with this new life style that I feel sort of like a 'New Yorker" already, so I hope I can still write about the new experiences.

First of all, my apologizes go out to ANYONE who may have read my blog entitled, 'Take time for yourself ' dated April 26 '09. A great reminder to myself that you should never preach or tell others what they 'should' do. (Thank you God for the reminder to be humble.)

In that post I said that everyone can take the 1st hr of each day for themselves. Well how about that young mother who needs to get the kids ready for the sitter or for school and still have time for her teeth and hair and hopefully a piece of toast, at least before leaving for work herself ? Sure, she could get up early for that precious 'one hour alone time', but is that wise after only 6 hrs of sleep?

I WAS that mother, how could I have forgotten! Shame on me.

I have a new 'role' in life. I have become a housewife. I have always wanted to be a housewife, but I was that young mother I just talked about instead. Now for the first time in my life I am staying home with the kids. I prepare supper on Mon and Wed. evenings for a a very appreciated son and daughter-in-law. I do the laundry.( the washer and dryer are on my floor and it only makes sense since I am home all day. Besides, I like sorting colors and folding fresh warm clothes. It is civil, it is organized,) I do not have to go to work. I love it. I also love 6:00 P.M. when the kids go back to their home and I am once again a single retired lady. If the kids are crying upstairs, I get to ignore it. I can sleep in on Sat mornings and do anything I desire on Saturdays and Sundays.

About that April post: I said that I did most of my thinking when I walking my dog, Sammie. Well, that was true then, but now the scene has changed a little. Picture this: My sweet little 2 month old Leo is on a harness type thing attached to my tummy (someone out there knows what they are called, but I don't...they do work great no matter what they are called.) O.K. back to the description. Baby is on my tummy, Lucy is either in the stroller, or on her scooter next to me and Sammie (the dog) is on his leash. Sammie wants to smell everything and Lucy wants to keep moving. Streets are tricky. Yes, I am still thinking; but this time is about survival.

I am back to blogging and it feels good.

Keep it simple

People in Brooklyn have Stoop sales. We call them garage or rummage sales, but the concept is the same; you remove things from your home that you no longer want or need, you put a price on it and then you wait for people to come and buy it from you. Although the concept IS the same, there is one big difference.
Compare these next two scenes.
Last month as I was preparing to move I had a large garage sale. I started preparing the week before, going through all of my drawers and closets, cleaning the garage, taking the items to the garage, finding 'make- shift' tables, putting up a tent in case of rain, pricing everything, going to the local newspaper and paying $70. for an ad, waiting until dark the night before to take everything out to the driveway to display it so that I would be ready at 6:30 A.M. for the early shoppers (who pretend they were not aware that the sale starts at 8:00.)
Last week my daughter-in-law said she wanted to have a stoop sale. We planned on having the sale last Sat. On Friday I was dreading all of the work we would have to do that night. She shrugged the idea of preparing off with a "We can do that tomorrow" I am thinking "WHAT?"
Sat morning at 10:00 we started to hang items on the iron fence around our stoop. She brought down her jewelry box and laid some pieces that she wanted to sell on a T.V. tray. My son found a clothes rack in the basement and we hung some clothes on it. Shoes were placed on the sidewalk. People walked by and bought stuff; all morning long. At 2:00 we decided we were done and put away the few unsold items and my daughter in law put her $75. in her pocket and enjoyed the rest of the day.
Hmmmm, I like the idea; "keep it simple"

Don't underestimate the power of the 'stroll'

If anyone were to describe me, a statement like this would probably be part of the description:"She walks very fast with her back straight." Let me just stay "Things, they are a changin."

The first few days here, my friend (who drove the many miles from Iowa to NY with me) commented on how slow the people walk. I hadn't noticed, but since then I have become one of them. For me, if I walk fast I just might not get there(because I will die, or at least feel like I am dying) I have discovered the stroll as a means of survival.
In New York everyone walks, and not just a small distance. Three days a week I push a stroller with either my little 2 1/2 yr old Lucy in it with Sammie on a leash or visa versa. We walk 11 blocks to and from the day camp twice a day. On the other days we walk 10 blocks to the park.

When I get groceries I take a cart on wheels and walk 4 blocks to market and return with a cart FULL of "stuff". I am lucky, my flat is on the ground floor, most residents have a flight or 2 of stairs to climb with groceries in hand.

New Yorkers walk and walk and walk. IF you want to take the train (subway) you need to walk to the station. Then you need to walk down the stairs. When you get to your drop off site you need to walk up the stairs and in some cases, a lot of stairs. Then you have to walk to your destination.

Does this sound like a bad thing? It isn't. You just have to remember to Stroll.

Did I say this was going to be easy?

My intention was to journal my journey from Iowa to New York city. Well, THAT didn't happen! I have been here for 3 1/2 weeks now and I DO have some stories.

As the photo shows, my friend (who volunteered to drive with me and then fly home) and I set out on June 26th and arrived in Brooklyn on the 28th.

Going across Manhattan to get into Brooklyn was not the best idea MAPQUEST ever had. That truck you see in the photo drove down the length of Manhattan starting at Times Square during the Gay Pride Parade. Two little ladies in that big truck stalled in the middle of the celebration; yeah well it sounds funny NOW. We did have quite a view.

Check in regularly if you want to see New York city through the eyes of a person who has lived in small towns in the Midwest her entire life .

That's all for now.

Leaving "stuff' behind.

Today's art choice is an oil pastel I recently did for my Grandson. His room is all about Panda's and I love that kid so much that it was a joy to a paint, even though it isn't a subject matter normal for me. He loves it.

It feels good to be writing again. Last weekend I was in Minneapolis spending Mothers day hiking in the woods with my kids. There is nothing like being in nature to refresh the soul. The weekend before was 'girls weekend 'at my house. Three of my lifetime friends from South Dakota came for their last weekend with me in this town and house. If laughter is good medicine, we all got a good dose.

Emptying out a house,especially if you are an artist (pack rat) is really a big job. Here is an example: Last night after watching American Idol (don't you just love Danny? He is so nice and cute.) I went to my studio's storage closet to box up some supplies. I have made the decision to only bring my painting supplies to New York. I love anything creative and I have a tendency to stretch myself too thin. I want to spend a year concentrating only on painting. So here is an example of my problem: I love to make greeting cards and journals from my handmade papers and embossing and lino prints etc. I started to box it all up to save in storage until I return and move to Minneapolis. You cannot believe the agony I put myself through. I got everything organized and found myself mourning over the fact that I cannot take it with me. This morning I find myself more disciplined, "I will leave it behind."

I also face the dilemma on what to do with all of my 'non painting' art. I just posted some of it on etsy. If you are reading this and have the time I would appreciate it if you would check it out and pass the word.

I have so much more to say, but out of time today. http://artworksbydiane.etsy.com/

Another discovery on this journey of change.

My move to N.Y. is less than 10 weeks away. My 'calm, collected self ' is not feeling calm these days. 'Anxious' would probably be a better word to describe how I feel. Anxious as in; "I am so excited about going to N.Y." and "I am disturbed and worried that I cannot get everything done before I go."

My priority this week has been to correct any little flaw in my house so that it is ready to be properly presented to the potential buyers. (Note: I did not say 'next owner' because that thought still makes me sad.)

On to my discovery: I have a huge closet in my attic studio, and I decided that is a good place to start with the sorting process of what to save and what to throw. My discovery is that I can easily part with most of it. Here is one example:

I had 8 spiral notebooks of daily journals about my activities and thoughts during the first year after the divorce (19 years ago). I save this type of thing, imagining that someday when I am old I will read them for reflection and insight. It was very therapeutic then, but I don't have any desire to read it now. It is in the past. As I continued in the closet I realized I didn't need nor want to save most of what was in there.

This idea of getting rid of everything I don't need is contagious. The plan has always been to keep it simple and only take what I need to New York and store what I want to have when I move back and settle in Mpls. The list of what I want to save is getting very small.

The result of this is the feeling of freedom. I want to be rid of the burden of all of this 'stuff" I don't need. By clearing out this house, I am clearing out my life and keeping just the good. I am getting rid of the clutter in my life.

I recommend this idea to others. Think how easy it will be to find stuff !

Read the quote for today, it was perfect for this blog.

I hope to hear from some of you.
Diane

What makes a house a home?

I just finished watching American Idol. With all of the tragic things happening in the world, this show gives me some much needed enjoyment and relief. It was great to see the contestants so happy that the judges 'saved' Matt, as if they were not even in competition with each other. They have grown so close to each other during this. Isn't it fantastic how much joy we are able to give and receive in this life? People need people. Tonight's show was just the icing on the cake after seeing the 'You Tube' video that has been on the news all day. (Britain's show: 'You've Got Talent', also with Simon Cowell) If anyone didn't see it, I will put the link on this post. Every time I watch it my smile gets bigger and bigger. Watching Simon smile, melts my heart. He smiles with his eyes.

American Idol isn't the only reason I am emotional today. I have been going back and forth about what to do about my house when I move to New York in July. I have decided to put it on the market and today they put the 'For Sale' sign up. Ohhhhh, I am selling a part of me. There isn't a wall I haven't painted, or a space I haven't transformed. I will miss

the small outside terrace that my neighbor and I paved with brick and my flowers and birds and the gentle sound of the fountain. My home is so charming and has given me more contentment than I ever could have imagined, not to mention the wonderful times spent here with family and friends.

BUT, I will create that where ever I go, I will take my home with me. It isn't the house in my life, it is the people in my life that matters. I get to spend a year with my New York family. I am so excited to think of the adventures ahead of me and the people yet to meet. I will grow there, not old, but I will grow as a person and then I will sadly have to leave them because I intend to end up in Minneapolis where my other 3 children live with their spouses and my 5 grandchildren.

What a problem, huh?

Some have said that they envy me for this freedom. I say: "You can do the same when your time comes. Never settle, never stop." I just finished reading Obama's book, "Dreams of my father" I actually didn't read it, I had the audio book and I listened as I drove to Minneapolis for Easter. Barrack read it so wonderfully, he could be an actor. His voice changed with each character, it was fantastic. He was telling about moving back to Hawaii to live with his Grandparents for awhile so he could continue going to American schools. He described his Grandparents routine. Pops (I think is what he called his grandpa) was bored with his job and he and his Grandma, 'Toots' didn't talk much to each other anymore. So Pops sat in front of the T.V. every night and Toots spend her time reading in a different room. The line I remember was this: "It seems they both just decided to 'settle' ''. That is sad.

These posts are going to be about my adventure. So here is the list:

1. Move to New York for a year.

2. Sell the house. (If I don't get my asking price I will rent it)

3. stay tuned.......

The best laid plans...blah blah blah

What a day I had yesterday.

I was so excited to see an empty square on my calendar, an entire day to spend as I wished. My plan to get my shopping done in the morning was good, I would take the dogs for a nice long walk in the woods when I get home. (My companion Sammie, a little 6 lb. Maltese and my daughters huge black poodle )

I really got into my shopping and was relieved that I didn't have to teach the art class I have been teaching on Thur afternoons since the first session had just ended and we were on a break. I came home with way too many bags, not just grocery's, a frame for my last painting, a couple of tee shirts, some self tanning cream and new lipstick and lotion for my very dry face, and oh yes, the grocery's that the trip was all about. Really, I MUST stay away from Super Target!



I walk into the house,bags in both hands, with 2 hysterically happy dogs barking and jumping their greetings to me and the phone is ringing. It is the art center giving me the news that two students showed up for the second session.........WHAT?! No! I have groceries to put away, I am hungry , the dogs are lonely and need a walk. I tell the art director to give the students some paper and watercolor paint to keep them busy for 15 min. I frantically stuff all the grocery's into cupboards, the microwave and refrigerator to protect everything from Jasper, the HUGE black poodle. I grab some art supplies and Sammie (no way is my sweet little guy going to be cooped up in this house alone with this HUGE poodle any more.) and jump into my car. I close the car door and discover the index finger on my left hand is still outside the door. Weird, no pain.When I opened the car door and removed my hand I discovered that the finger was wedged into the rubber lining of the door. Lucky for me.

Sammie was a little anxious when I first got to the art center so I held him as I started to teach. Within a few minutes I looked at my finger and it was rapidly expanding in size. I had no feeling in the finger, that was a good thing, right? The gals at the center brought me a little baggie of ice, so I rested my left hand on that which freed up my right hand to hold Sammie. When I wanted to demonstrate a procedure to the students I would let Sammie walk around the table. It was really cute when he started to drink the water we were cleaning our brushes with and walk through some wet paint and then walked across an empty canvas with his little green paws.

Next weeks class may be more organized but I am sure the students won't think it is nearly as much fun.

Tomorrows blog will be about the next step on my list. The saga continues on the journey of my next adventure: moving to New York.
1. I have decided to move to N.Y. to Nanny for a year.
2. Should I sell or rent my house?

Of course I will want your opinons so keep tuning in and thanks so much to those who have already commented. I will get back to each of you soon.

Diane

'Change' can be a good thing.

This post, and those to come, are for me. But if there is anyone out there who finds that they are in a ‘rut’ and don’t know how to get out of it, you may be interested in my story.

I am about to embark on yet another huge adventure in my life. I am currently making plans to move to New York City, from a small town in Iowa, to live for one year as a Nanny for my 2 yr old granddaughter and yet-to- born, grandson.

The ‘theme’ of this first personal post is change. I will begin with a brief history of my past, but I will continue to journal from where I am right NOW, in the present. I intend to journal my way from here in Iowa to my destination in New York, and how a youthful 66 yr old handles life in the BIG CITY as a Nanny .

This is not the first time I have made a decision that completely changed my life as I knew it. At the age of 51 I moved from my hometown in So.Dak. to a small town in Iowa that I had never heard of, to begin a new career. Now, 15 years later I am going to do it again.

Here is my story and why I consider myself a 'Spokeswomen for change':


When I make a big change, there are many decisions to make. So many in fact, that I find it necessary to make a list and then deal with each; one at a time. I always start with only ONE thing on my list. Trying to project into the future and make every decision at once is too overwhelming. ONE item on the list is 'do-able'. That isn't so scary. I have faith, the next step will be there for me when I am ready. I make no decisions without prayer.



Change is very scary. It is the unknown, it isn't familiar. Change is uncomfortable. I think that may be why many people play it safe and don’t go with change. Thank God, literally, that I am not one of those people. Change has opened my world, and I have grown in every way. Sure, I’ve made some bad decisions, but have come out so much stronger and wiser because of the experiences.

Change brings growth.

Growth provides important lessons to be learned.

Contentment and happiness are the results.

This is the list I faced 20 yrs ago:

End a very lonely marriage of 31 yrs.

Find an apartment.

Move out of the house. (he wouldn't)

Begin college as a 48 yr old freshman.

Plan a class schedule to ensure a graduation in 4 yrs.

Sell the business I owned for the past 21 yrs.

Apply for a teaching position.

Make the decision to accept the offered job.

(difficult choice since I knew no one in the town and was alone)

Rent a U haul

Move

If anyone reading this needs encouragement, continue to log in. Maybe I can help you, or you can help me.

I have started a new list. The first item is done, I AM moving to New York. I am just pondering the 2nd item on the list, but that is for my next post.

Keep the faith and read today's quote.

Thanks for stopping by.

Diane

Can't we all just get along?

When I began to sketch this piece, I wanted to connect these three shapes through movement. I knew beforehand that these shapes would each represent a different culture. I chose Egyptian, Native American and African because I admire the patterns ,designs and colors that they use in their art.

I believe that it is the women of the world who see war as insane. We just want to get along. We want peace.

These dancing ladies are my visual message to that.

What do you think? Please comment.

I believe in angels, do you?

This is the first angel I painted, my second is ready to be posted, the 3rd is still on the drawing board, frustrating me to no end...I will get back to that later. First let me begin with why I am painting angels.

I am very interested in life after death and all things spiritual. As I was reading a book written by a doctor working in the field of Hospice; Into the light by John Lerma M.D. I was amazed at the stories some of his patients told of Angels. The details of their appearance was so descriptive that I knew I had to try to capture those words in a painting. Here are a few passages from the book.

2 year old Jacob

After 4 months on life support, little 2 yr old Jacob opened his eyes, smiled really big, raised his arms as if reaching for someone above him. Then he died. His 4 yr old brother Michael told his mother that there was an angel sitting next to her. Then he told her "The angels are in the hallway with Jacob,and he is laughing and doing somersaults."

Matthews story

" You start out with one, and then you get more when you are really sick. During the last three to four days you might have 30 or 40 angels, as many as you need to feel good about leaving your family and going with God. There are different kinds, Some are brighter and bigger, some are smaller, some have more power and they can do different things."

Father Mike ( a priest)

At their highest level of love they are fiercely white. There is a spectrum of light from gold to yellow, blue to green, pink to purple. The colors are so much more brilliant and radiant than earth's colors.

Another patients description

A large translucent,white-robed angel appeared, standing to the right of my bed in a shielding and comforting stance. (Four days before she died she described a new magnificent angel, large and brilliantly blue with white wings.)

Another patients description

Their faces were brilliant and their long blond to brown silky hair blended with their feathers and long flowing robes.



I have also recorded in my journal some of the descriptions of angels, found in the Bible. Here are some from Revelations:



"An angel robed in a cloud,with a rainbow above his head, face like the sun"

"A woman clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head."

"They were dressed in clean shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests."



So, full of inspiration with pencil in hand I start to sketch out these angels. My intent for the angel displayed on this post was something very abstract and beautiful. She was to be painted using only metallic paint. After a day of frustration, I realized that metallic paint was not going to work. It does not have any blending qualities, so I ended up limiting the metallic as an 'add- on' to her hair and the stars.

The second angel I painted ; you will see her next week, is not at all abstract. What happened to my abstract idea? Nothing new to me, I never end up with what I start out thinking it will be. That isn't really bad though, sometimes surprises can be nice!

The third angel is another story. She only took about a day to do, and when finished I thought she was lovely. I left it on the easel for a few days view, as I always do. When I went back to look at it the next day, I realized much to my dismay , that her eyes were 'spooky'! I redid her them and her face and now 'she' looks like a 'he' ! I know, angels come in both sexes but this combination I came up with just isn't good. You probably won't ever she 'it' but I will be creating more. I don't believe in quitting on a low note.

This blog site is new to me and I am looking for followers to link to me, so we can get some conversations going. If you stumble upon this, and like it, I would appreciate it if we could 'link' our sites. If you don't have a site, I would still love to hear your comments.

I ask myself, "Do I NEED people to like my art?"

I have reached that point in life: retirement. I will make art! What if no one likes my art. I NEED to have people like it.
Think of it this way:
If you were born with a beautiful voice you would ,of course, enjoy singing.When people tell you that your songs make them feel good, that is a good thing. It is nice to know that people enjoy what you love to do.
The same thing applies if you are a cook. When you serve a meal, you want them to like it.
So my point is this:
A visual artist is born with the ability to see, imagine and then produce. Creating is not only a necessity for an artist, it is also something we love to do. Our art is meant to be shared. Of course I want others to like it and it is really nice when they say they do.
In answer to my title question: "Yes I do."