I ran across this quote today and was enamored by it, perhaps because of my recent encounters with Poe's literature or perhaps because of news of his recent birthday bash at the Poe museum in Richmond, VA.  Nonetheless, I was taken aback by it.  

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night".

Is it true?  I've always been a dreamer, distracted from life by multiple hobbies and projects. Could this ability to be a dreamer actually be an asset, instead of a curse?  

The last story I read by Poe was during a very short stint as a tutor to a 17 year old girl.  She was reading the Black Cat and The Fall of the House of Usher.  One thing Poe could do was tone.  The tone of his short stories are dark, romantic, and long-suffering.  Poe was an alleged drinker of absinthe and perhaps slightly opium dependent as well.  Did this have an affect on his writing?  One can only surmise that, yes, it did and perhaps this lends to the darkness in his stories.

This is why I loved his quote.  He speaks of day.  This odd prince of darkness speaks of dreaming in the day and this warms my heart;  I wish I had seen it earlier.  Perhaps he wrote because his thoughts overwhelmed him because he dreamed in color when others got to rest. I found this on the perfect day as I've been struggling with this art thing lately.  I didn't apply to Art Works this month and I really want to find some new galleries/stores in Richmond, VA.

Nest, on Semmes in Richmond, VA has been awesome and is selling many of my pieces!  I couldn't be more thrilled but the larger paintings, I love making are a tougher sell!  Finding this quote today though, inspires me to dream to find additional cool spots and  to keep making things!

So 2013 has left us and brought in 2014!  I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions as I tend to break them but I love the spirit that is in the air surrounding new possibilities in a new year!

I want to begin this year by making a list of what I am thankful for.  Instead of thinking about how much I want to change (and that list is long!), I want to take a minute to think about what I wouldn't change!

1.  My family-  extended and close.  I'm so lucky to have a great husband and two great kids.  I'm even luckier to get along with my oldest one's father.  Together all of us have a relationship that others might envy.  My oldest doesn't come from a broken home but rather an OPEN home where all things are possible in the name of raising great children!
I have my sisters and Keith's family too, all of whom without, I'd be terribly lost!

2.  My children-  also included in family but specifically the smile I get from my little non-verbal 15 month old and the way he hugs me.  I love the way my oldest is full of good ideas and loves his brother so much. 

3.  The space to do my artwork.  Many times I look at my front porch and yearn for a studio space or lament the fact that I need to organize it better.  Then I get to sit and paint and I feel like the luckiest woman because I get a space in which to create.

4.  A Loving husband- who tolerates my messy art space and is with me through this entire journey.  If I become nervous that we're spending too much on my art, he'll pipe in with "there is no such thing as waste when it comes to your art.  It makes you happy. "  Priceless and adorable.

5.  Two jobs which give me flexibility and allow me to spend time with my family and to be at home.  When I'm thinking, "Wow, benefits would be great" I remember that I am not "trapped" somewhere in a cubicle.  I'm allowed to do what I love and keep my freedom.  When I'm not teaching, I'm shopping.  My students get a big kick out of it too!  They think, "Someone pays you to do that?".  Well, yes they do and I think they're super awesome too!  Some days our banter could be a mini-comedy routine!

6.  I live in a free country where I'm allowed to type and say what I think.  Not everyone can say this and I'm thankful for that.

7.  I'm thankful for every chance and re-chance I get at life and want to maximize it's potential.

All of these things I'm grateful for.  My New Year's resolution?.... I dunno.  Maybe to read more, to lose weight.  We'll see if I keep them this year but if I don't I am already blessed because of these many things I already have.

One of my favorite natural wonders is the ocean.  The pure vastness and greatness of it is appealing to me.  No matter how loud I am, social blunders I may be guilty of and how many different directions I am pulled in---the ocean is bigger than me and I find great solace in that.  I love to sit and listen to the intensity of the waves, watch the rolling patterns ebb and flow and revel in the sun shining it's intense rays down and the symbiotic relationship between the moon and the ocean at night.  Man is great but nature is greater.  There is nothing more romantic to me than the great dark sea.  

*  Photos taken at Sandbridge Beach, VA.

It is almost Thanksgiving!  It may be a little cornball but I wanted to take the time to list the things I am grateful for.  I have so many things to be grateful for but here's a snapshot:

1.  My family - and not just my husband and sons but my mothers- in- law (a special shout out to my #1 fan Miss Linda! ) , my sisters, brother in law and niece and Keith's extended family most of whom have made me feel like one of them!  

2.  My friends-  maybe I don't see you often enough or maybe you don't know how appreciated you are but you're very special to me and some of you I've had since high school!

3.  Health-  Especially in my job where I see so many recooperating children, I'm so glad my children have their health.  They are happy and healthy and I should really remember to be grateful for this and not take it for granted.

4.  Love-  I am grateful to recognize this emotion and see it all around me, from the way my father- in- law loves his son and wants him to be happy to the way my little one looks at me when I pick him up out of his crib.

5.  Food-  As I type this I'm "starving" but I know when I get home that I have cupboards full of food.  Many people are what has been coined as "Food insecure"-  they don't always know where they'll find their next meal.

6.  My gifts-  Not to sounds like a braggart but everyone has gifts.  Mine are in art, music and teaching.  I'm incredibly grateful to have those.

7.  My shortcomings-  To balance my gifts I'm also grateful for my shortcomings such as math and sometimes relationships with others!  If I didn't have shortcomings, I wouldn't have new things to work on and explore to become better.

8.  My work-  What other jobs would give me flexible time and the ability to do so many cool things?!  I get to help students and teach who otherwise may fall through the cracks and I get to shop for really cool people..... Are you kidding me?!  I'm blessed for having my two jobs.

As Thanksgiving approaches try to think about what you are grateful for and remember it's not just this time of year when the retailers put on the music and the decorations are overblown;  gratefulness is important year round.  I think I'll save this list to remind myself of the same during the coming year!  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Tomorrow is my youngest son's birthday party!  I am so excited to have friends and family come over to celebrate!  I have been cleaning and wrapping up the loose ends of the week all day!  I always try to be open to learning lessons.  Some of the best lessons I have learned have been through manual work.  I tutored all week (Honors Algebra II is crazy hard, and I don't know when you use it again! :(  ) and cleaned a former client's home today.  After that, I had to get my paintings off to Art Works for 4th Fridays  (see new painting below), come back home and clean my own house and reply to a reply I'd received off of Craigslist.

A month ago, I put an ad on Craigslist to be a mother's helper.  My mother-in-law, Nancy, gave me a book by SARK which suggested that you put an ad on Craigslist for whatever job you thought would be perfect for you.  Since I already tutor and have the painting thing going, I thought the best use of my time that allows me to stay close to home, would be to be a mother's helper.  This was my original ad:

 "I'm looking to be a "mother's helper" in the Southside, Carytown, Northside, VA area.  I have about 5-15 hours a week to dedicate to such services.
I am well educated, a mother and find myself in a position to make my own hours and offer my own           services. I can help with household chores, cleaning, children (just to give you some sanity), and household management. 
I have computer skills and experience with plants. I can be your personal shopper or help you out at home while you shop. Basically, I'm offering what I wish I could afford- a little  mother's help!
If this sounds like something you can afford and need--shoot me an email. I have the ability for flexible and minimal hours and offer a reasonable hourly rate."


Well today, I got a response back from a lovely couple who used to own a local string of sports stores here in Richmond.  They need help grocery shopping and we exchanged information.  I encouraged them to look on this website to familiarize themselves with my work and style before meeting and when they came across my interior design, he mentioned he may be buying his wife a new home and she'll get to redo everything and there may be some potential for me to help there!   How fun would that be to have a flexible schedule, teach, paint, raise my kids, tend to my husband.... AND decorate! 


I also traded a painting today for a hand knotted Turkish rug at Epoch!  I put it in my music room (the foyer!) and it fits perfectly!  The colors are great but I do need to balance the deeper colors in the living room by adding them to the foyer.  My husband, however, does not share my vision..... YET!  He told me the other day (after I finished covering our dining room benches with THE perfect fabric that I found for a steal!) that I have the gift of color-  even he was surprised at how well I can memorize and retrieve color images from my mind!  I am so happy with how our home renovation/redecoration is coming along!


After all of these blessed events today, including being able to clean for a former client, I started thinking about the beauty of hard work.  My body and mind are tired but I've always believed in karma--that what you put out, you will receive back, threefold.  

Tonight's quote was special to me because it examined life past karma.  
"To go from mortal to Buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture your awareness, and accept what life brings."
Bodhidharma 


Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk from the 5th/6th century.  Throughout art, he is depicted as a surly bearded man, described as a barbarian.  I love what he says about ending karma and accepting what life brings.   The adage, "when life brings you lemons make lemonade" is perhaps trite but goes along in my life with what Bodhidharma has said.  There is something magical about forgetting yourself and doing manual labor. Life may have given me a ton of education but I am humble and grateful to run errands and clean.  I would have never expected as much for myself 15 years ago but by doing so, I get the blessing of a flexible schedule for my kids and I do not know of anything more spiritual than having the freedom to be there for your kids for every play, holiday and occasion that may occur.

I've been working so hard these past three months and it seems like the benefits are coming and I am so excited and grateful to accept what's coming.

Tomorrow is little Z's birthday party.... I think I'll start there!  Here's a new piece of art that I entered tonight at Art Works Gallery.