MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

STONE BANK (here and below)

Today, over at Maggie's Garden, she talks about art being made out of money. You'd never think it was money unless you looked really close but the idea that it sparks is quite interesting. Just what exactly IS money, its value, what it all means to all of us at this time in our history where when you think you HAVE money, all of a sudden it vanishes into thin air.

It sparked a memory of a recent segment that I heard on NPR the other day where the Yap people (an island in Micronesia) use stones for money. You can read about this here and see more photos of the island and their culture. What I find interesting is this: that we are capable (as human beings) to assign value to something and then actually use it for things that we want or need. How many of us have wonderful stone collections in our own homes? They are valuable to us in other ways than exchange for goods. Or maybe not! There are a lot of stone collections that I have seen in this blog-o-sphere that I would trade something for...seriously!

What's amazing to me is that there are no actual "bankers" watching these stones so that they don't get stolen. There are no bank robberies here I would imagine. BUT...they still have value. They are mostly used in trade when someone gets married, when you need to make an apology to someone or a family, and other uses that are more esoteric rather than just for goods. But, I like the idea.

I am not sure that I have enough acreage here on Mole Hill to handle all the stones I would need! And, how would I get it to the party concerned? Hire a U-Haul, with what? STONES? Maybe our country needs to quit arguing about money and just start trading goods again. Wouldn't that be a novel idea! I'll trade you a week's house cleaning for fixing the motor in my car...I'll trade you a collage (maybe made of paper money?) for my dental work. How would we figure out who was rich and who was not? And...does it really matter anyway?

I think that we, as human beings, have lost our way about this and need to re-think it. Does it really matter how many pairs of shoes we have? I know people who can't even afford to buy ONE pair of shoes. We always have to have the latest cars, the fanciest jewelry, the over-flowing closets of clothes, and on and on. Sure, I am guilty of all the above. But...I think that maybe getting back to the basics is not a bad idea.

WISTFUL WEDNESDAY

Sitting here this Wednesday, I am wistful. I have a yearning to be somewhere today but it is not within my reach. Not today. I long to be at the ocean, smelling the damp, salty air and feeling the moisture of that damp air permeating my skin and bones.

Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area all of my life until the age of 22, I guess that feeling of smelling the salty air never leaves you. When I grew up there I always wanted to be in the mountains smelling the pine trees and woodsmoke; my dreams when I was young came true. But, the call of the ocean never leaves you I guess. It gets deep inside you and creates a longing or desire that needs to be fulfilled.

Some day I hope to own a beach house or bungalow somewhere close to the ocean. I don't have to have ocean-front property but just be able to get there at a moment's notice. Until then, I sit here in my cabin-in-the-woods, dreaming of what will be someday. They say that if you can imagine or dream it, it will happen. Until then there is always VRBO (vacation rentals by owner), an on-line site that we have used each year to fulfill our dreams momentarily. Sometimes that's all it takes. Just a week or two in a different location and then home feels fresh and new.

MAGPIE TALES TUESDAY

SHIVA NATARAJ

My life is part of a cosmic dance.

I am an individual

Thinking outside the box,

Apart from the masses.

Resisting no longer

My flame burns bright,

But brief.

This tragedy gives opportunity for growth.

I do not fear

But

UNFOLD.

EVOLVE.

Time and space are elastic.

Form becomes transparent.

Shiva Nataraj, the god of creation AND destruction

SHOWS ME THE STILL POINT.

Each matchstick holds

ETERNITY.

Each dancing atom holds

INFINITY.

Living outside the box there is no flame.

EXHAUSTED.

And, there is ONLY flame.

A dance

of

Rhythm

In the universe.

MONDAY BLUES? NO WAY!

When I was younger and had to work, I used to hate Mondays. Even though it is the second day of the week, it always felt like the first, of a very long week. At this point in my life and for many years really, I have been really fortunate to not have to work. Oh sure, I held part-time jobs that I enjoyed and I also spent 4 years attending college late in life, but none of this felt like work! Let me show you my Monday.B and I went on a really long walk today in Auburn while Bodhi was at the groomers getting washed and "fluffed". We actually walked almost 7 miles but it didn't seem like it because we got to see so many wonderful things along the way...things that you don't see unless you take the time to stop and look. This cherub placed happily in a head-stand on a wall, for instance, was tucked almost behind a bush that you wouldn't see if you were just driving by.
This happy mailbox, complete with all sorts of words to live by, waited for us at the bottom of a hill. I bet the mail person loves to deliver mail to this box especially if he or she takes the time to read the words. Who could be unhappy reading: love, shine, sing, believe, wish, or wonder!
A few miles farther down the road we ran into the most beautiful blossoms on this tree. The entire tree was filled to capacity with these blooms. Ah----Spring really IS in the air! Monday blues? No way! Just Monday pinks.
Down the same street was this incredible little house that was decorated for the month of February. It had beautiful flowers and vignettes all around the house. Hearts and flowers adorned the entire place. Sweet! Another place that just made me smile.
This beautiful building is the Auburn courthouse. They have just recently refurbished the building and it stands on a high spot in Auburn overlooking many parts of the town. You can see it from many locations in town.

All-in-all, Monday was an incredible day. It was sunny, I was in good company, we ran into people along the way and stopped and chatted, we stopped for a mocha at Starbuck's and basked in the sun while we sipped our drink, we held hands and laughed along the way, and generally had an entirely wonderful second-day-of-the-week. Ah...Monday! How much better can it get? Maybe a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday? Oh yeah...every day is a weekend around here! I am one of the luckiest people in the world. We may not have lots of money but we have everything that we need. And that is all a person can ask for. I am really fortunate to live in such a wonderful place with such a wonderful, loving person (and dog)!

IT'S ALMOST HERE!

HAS STARTED TO ARRIVE HERE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

SHADES OF PINK AND PURPLE VIOLETS. WHAT, YOU SAY? PINK VIOLETS?

THESE ARE PINK VIOLETS. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, DOES IT. SHOULDN'T VIOLETS BE VIOLET? THEY SMELL JUST AS SWEET THOUGH!

BEAUTIFUL HELLEBORES. ALTHOUGH NOTORIOUSLY TOXIC (ALL PARTS OF THE PLANT ARE POISONOUS), HELLEBORES WERE CULTIVATED BY THE ANCIENTS FOR MEDICINAL USE.

TODAY, HOWEVER, THEY ARE THE DARLINGS OF PLANT CONNOISSEURS WHO CELEBRATE THE PERENNIAL'S MANY FORMS AND DELICATE DEMEANOR.

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE. CAN YOU SENSE IT IN THE AIR WHERE YOU LIVE?

THANKFULNESS THURSDAY

I'M THANKFUL FOR SEEING THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT

FOR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

FOR SEEING HOW IMPORTANT THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE ARE

FOR WALLS OF STONE AND MOSS AND NOT HATRED

FOR OBOS ALONG THE DREAMWAY

"THE DREAMWAY IS WHAT YOU KNOW WITHOUT KNOWING"

THE DREAMWAY BY ROBERT GENN

WEDNESDAY'S POST-DINNER POST

From this desk I sit and watch the world go by. The computer holds links to many different people all across the world that I have grown fond of via blogs. Today, I sit here, at this desk, and ponder all the things I am grateful for and I can unequivocally state that you are part of the things that make my every-day-world so fun and exciting.

Melanie in Mass. makes my "heart" sing. I have really enjoyed getting to know her and see how talented and gifted she is. Willow has opened her heart up too and also a new blog that has challenged me to think in ways that I would not have bothered to on my own. She is another talented person who inspires me with her knowledge and delight. There is Donna who always posts such lovely and informative art that really captures the essence of why I am an artist in the first place. It is more than just the art...it's about the (HE)art and soul of why we do what we do and what it means to me. There is no way that I can list all the wonderful people that I have met on these blogs. But, there is something in each one of you that really touches me...that I remember about you and what you have posted.

Egmont lives in my neck of the woods and is such a lovely man with a lovely family. He, too, is SO talented. I tend to look at other's work and compare but it is not all about "who's better, who's making a living at it, who's well-known" is it? It is more about what resides deep inside that I am interested in. Neva Coloma, Mary Ann, Jen Worden in Nova Scotia, Gina in Tasmania, Robyn Gordon across the globe who does wonderful totems, Bethany who has a deep, deep love for animals and all things that "bloom", Maggie (is that your name AND your dog's name too...I often wonder) who has a curiosity for art and a lust for life, Nina Bagley who lives in one of my favorite states, No. Carolina, and does the most incredible jewelry (and by the way: has a real way with words, so soft and gentle and loving)...all these people have such a lust for life and it shows in their blogs. I have become attached to you all and many, many more. (You can always check my sidebar for my favorites). There are way too many to list here in this post but the point I am trying to make is that I appreciate you and take a piece of you along with each day. Does that mean that you are my FRIENDS? I think so because I care about you. But really, we have never met. Does that make me care any less for any of you? I think not. I cry with the best of you, I laugh with you too. I ponder your deep and caring thoughts. In that moment, I am THERE with you. That is all that really matters to me at this time in my life. Maybe at some point in my life there will be a chance to meet and visit. I certainly hope so. Maybe we can share a cup of tea or a mocha or even a meal.

Last night we had our friends over for dinner. We have known these friends for quite some time. I used to work at the hardware store with Frank, who is deeply involved in Ham radios and has sparked an interest of them in my husband. They "ham it up" every day. His wife Kathy and I have known each other for many years too. We used to belong to a quilting group together and I "cat sit" her dear Winston when they take off for a few weeks each year. They are dear friends and we really enjoy being around them.

My sister and her husband (who live next door to me---you'd think we were twins but we're only 11 months apart) came to dinner also. We are all part of the same family in a way...the family of firefighters. Frank, B. and my BIL all were involved with our volunteer fire department for many, many years. Once a firefighter, always a firefighter. There is an unspoken attachment that we all share that will never dissolve. A firefighter always has your back. For life.

Anyway, we ate dinner together and then I served dessert on these wonderful plates that my friend Lela gave me. They, too, are Fitz and Floyd. They are called "Phoenix Rising". Wonderful aren't they?
Here they are again with martini glasses upside down, waiting to be filled with chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, dark cherries, whipped cream and 7 DEADLY ZINS! Yum! There is nothing better than good food and good friends. Oh...a good life doesn't hurt either!! Thanks for being "part" of my life. You make it all worthwhile.

THE MUSE

Recently, Willow over at Willow Manor started a new blog titled Magpie Tales. You can see it in my sidebar. She invited those of us who might be interested in writing poetry or fiction to join her blog and she would provide the muse. Today's muse is this photo below. I think this sounds like a bunch of fun and I can't wait to see what other people write about "The Muse". Here goes:

IN THE MIDDLE WAY

I stand here in the middle.

In the middle way there is no reference point.

You have found my soft spot:

The discovery of Bodhichitta.

I have a tenderness for life.

A noble awakened heart---

I take it all in.

This pain---

This armor that imprisons me.

Am I willing to give everything away?

If not, I cannot experience the world

Fully.

Full---

Unfathomable---

A prison.

Separate from the whole.

In the middle way there is no reference point.

I take in pain.

I (take)

In pain.

With tenderness

For life

I

Send

Out

Pleasure.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

YOUR HEART'S DESIRES BE WITH YOU.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

AFTER THE SILVER LINING DISAPPEARS...

MOVE TOWARD THE PAIN

TO

CULTIVATE WISDOM

COMPASSION

AND

COURAGE

"When something hurts in life, we don't usually think of it as our path or as the source of wisdom. In fact, we think that the reason we're on the path is to get rid of this painful feeling ("When I get to L.A., I won't feel this way anymore.") At that level of wanting to get rid of our feeling, we naively cultivate a subtle aggression against ourselves.

However, the fact is that anyone who has used the moments and days and years of his or her life to become wiser, kinder, and more at home in the world has learned from what has happened right now. We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment. Now is the time. If there's any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now, not at some future time. Now is the time."

From: When Things Fall Apart--Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron Shambhala Classics p.144

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

There's not much need for an explanation about why these two are my favorite things. Oh...I have lots more favorite things but these two: these two are priceless!! And, the best part? Their love is unconditional. I don't have to try and figure out why they love me or apologize for who I am to them. They love me no matter what. They accept me for the way that I feel about life and for my flaws, which are considerable, I admit. But, they also don't judge me or stop loving me or abandon me. They are always here for me. What could be better than that really.

WABI SABI

"Things wabi-sabi are expressions of time frozen. They are made of materials that are visibly vulnerable to the effects of weathering and human treatment.
They record the sun, wind, rain, heat, and cold in a language of discoloration, rust, tarnish, stain, warping, shrinking, shriveling, and cracking.
Their nicks, chips, bruises, scars, dents, peeling, and other forms of attrition are a testament to histories of use and misuse.
Though things wabi-sabi may be on the point of dematerialization (or materialization)---extremely faint, fragile, or desiccated---they still possess an undiminished poise and strength of character.
Things wabi-sabi are indifferent to conventional good taste. Since we already know what the "correct" design solutions are, wabi-sabi thoughtfully offers the "wrong" solutions.
As a result, things wabi-sabi often appear odd, misshapen, awkward, or what many people would consider ugly.
Things wabi-sabi may exhibit the effects of accident, like a broken bowl glued back together again. Or they may show the result of just letting things happen by chance..."
"Things wabi-sabi are usually small and compact, quiet and inward-oriented. They beckon: get close, touch, relate.
They inspire a reduction of the psychic distance between one thing and another thing; between people and things."
(From: Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers by Leonard Koren

Stone Bridge Press, Berkeley, California pages 63 and 67.)

REMEMBERING A DEAR FRIEND

Two years ago, my dearest friend in all the world passed away. I have missed her deeply for these past two years. I thought that I would tell a bit about her here on my blog since today is the day that she was born. This is a small painting that she gave to me many years ago. She used to love to paint and when she lived in a mobile home park she would teach others what she knew at the club house. I own a few of these paintings, primitive as they are, but love them to pieces because they were made by her, with her hands.Lela was a generous person all of her life and she lived well into her eighties. Her health was bad a few times throughout her life. She had asthma that plagued her and landed her in the hospital many times throughout her long life. She survived breast cancer. She survived lymphoma too. She had a dedication for life that was beyond what most of us would ever expect to be put through but she was determined. She was strong until the end.

I was thinking the other day that sometimes after we lose someone, it is hard to pull their face up in our memory. I need a photo sometimes to remind me exactly how she looked. I think that faces start to fade after awhile. But, I always remember her kindness and her friendship toward me. I can never remember arguing with her about anything, I never remember her saying a harsh word about me ever, and I can honestly say that we were the kind of friends that never forgot about each other. We talked on the phone a minimum of once a week. Sometimes when she couldn't reach her daughter on her cell phone she would call me and we would talk. My only regret is that I didn't make the effort to drive the three-hours to the Bay Area to visit her more. Toward the end of her life B and I would make the trip down to visit her in the care facility she was in. Being the host that she always was, she would offer to serve us something to eat or drink as though she were at home in her own surroundings. I would stop at Trader Joe's and try and pick out things for her that she could enjoy that didn't require refrigeration. Sharing a room in a care facility is not as dignified as most people would care to admit. But, she never apologized for her small living quarters, only the fact that she didn't have enough chairs for us to sit on or that she didn't have the ability to use her beloved kitchen.

Lela loved to cook. She was in her element in her kitchen and she rivaled anyone in this arena. One of her pass times if she couldn't sleep was sitting up looking at cook books. I have a few that she personally signed for me. They are my treasures. And...I also have a few of her recipes still too. I have scanned her recipe for Kosher Dill Pickles, written in her own handwriting, for you to see. Notice the attention to details that she went to in telling me that I had to use "Heinz" vinegar and that the water had to be "distilled". Even the salt had to be "canning" salt. On the back side she gives me permission to "use garlic and peppers to [your]taste" and she gives me a health warning, cautioning me not to "use if they are soft or lose color" and that I "make sure [you] scrub cukes and remove any bad spots."

I loved this woman!! She was always there for me. She never ignored me and always gave me good advice in my life. I didn't always take it but later on I wished I would have! She had a keen sense of humor and she could tell me something I didn't want to hear but it didn't make me like her any less. We shared a love of painting and flowers. She always picked up things for me that had pansies on them because she knew how much that flower meant to me. I have the most beautiful Fitz and Floyd pansy teapot that she gave me once. I was instructed "to never get rid of the box" and I haven't! We both understood chiaroscuro which is important when you are an artist. Without it, there is no dimension, no realism to representational art.

Funny how even though she is no longer here physically she is "still" here. Her handwriting proves that she once walked this earth. This summer, when I make her Kosher Dill Pickles I will once again be transported to her kitchen. Good luck wishes from Lela. Good luck from her to me. She will always be here with me. No one can ever take that away from me.
1 lug fresh picked cucumbers

1 gallon white vinegar (Heinz!)

2 gallons water (distilled)

4 cups salt (canning)

Fresh Dill, garlic, and red dried peppers

Pack in hot sterile jars. Cure for 3 months in cool place.