I made my inner child doll, she is a wee bit worn out. I made her to resemble my extended childhood. I almost put her out in the yard, because I would forget my toys...and remember finding them in the yard, I would panic thinking my little friends alone and scared in the dark. I encluded a picture of her on the floor, since she is designed to flop on the floor well. I have not figured out how to rotate pictures, so ya' all can watch my techie skills grow with my blog. The doll's name is Flora, after a book I had as a child called Miss Flora Mc Flimsy. My Flora wears one shoe, in my art I have many red shoes, but red would not go with her dress. I did a close up of the dress I made from a hand towel I found at a flea market, a slip with old lace from a sleave of a long dead realitive. A wisp of red hair I was always 'fixing' my dolls hair. My mother was a wonderful seamstress, so her quality does not represent my mother's skill. But reflects my prolonged wild childhood, that ended just a few years ago. So it is easy to tap into the fun I had along the way. My favorite age was five, and I loved the unsupervised summer time. I could go on and on about being a kid. Best wishes to all. LIzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy

A sample of different art at different times with different materials. Soji my daughter's dog is in my moleskine from my last visit there, the squiggly water color is recent, the rabbit was an Easter card to a friend. The dancing dogs, arylic, has been in process. the dogs ar 14X24. the moleskine is typical size, the rabbit 5X 7" and water color 14X20" lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzy

rabbit princess

This is before her nose was added, for those who are having a hard time ...it is a sprite on a rabbit the grey thing, she has a yellow flower skirt. the reins are yellow too. more views available.lizzzzzzzzzz

better view

first felting attempt

China town Portland 4/07

well the african...

painting had a loading error, I not that good at loading stuff yet. lizzzzzy

This is a drawing in my moleskine of my inner child doll. I had a very full and prolonged childhood. I invision my inner child doll as worn out. She is made from muslin for the body and an old embroyered hand towl with a slip of old cotton lace. At present she has only one leg, but I am thinking of creating a button on leg. It just seems right. The injury was to my left hip, though no one could tell I was EVER ever hurt, I still hurt in the hip. I hate the A word (arthritis, an aging disorder...). The doll will apear in her "flesh" when I feel she is finished. Lizzzy

Ok, I am not yet good at getting it all in the photo, but the writing on the wall says." Birds sing before the dawn with aniticipation. There is a small painting done by a local woman of birds. Liz ooooozes creativity, I wish I had half the energy she does. I think I will paint the switch cover, it is too dominate. lizzzzzzzzy

Here is another painting I did about a year ago. I was thinking about the suffering of women in Africa, their screams muffled by our Western indifference. I am looking to find a good organization to aid a woman.
I just watched Last King of Scotland, Uganda was once a garden of a country, after Obote Amin and Aids, it is a human desert. I hope to do more paintings with this in mind. I feel apart of the spirit of all women. Lizzzzzy

I am getting better at this now. Too bad my teacher is going to Atlanta Georgia. she has the scanner too. but this is also from my trip to the Pacific NW. Loved the area. A perfect place for someone who loved rain, wanted the ocean and the mountains. lizzzzzzzzzzzzzy

HA! this is from my Moleskine I take on trips. this is my attempt at being a cartographer. My father loved maps, I taught seventh grade geography, loved geography, seventh graders, and teaching. Hated grading, and polititics, teacher meetings, and the copy machine. lizzzzzzzzzzy

This is a painting I did maybe a year ago, it is part of a pair. this is the first picture I have been able to add to my blog. I keep trying and so far this is it. I love to trout fish, I love to clean trout, and even better to eat fresh trout. It is not like any other fish, to me. The brook trout are my favorites. this sounds so wooden, like a robot. but here is my painting on my blog. Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzy

April showers...and thunder and dead flowers and

It has been so long since I relaxed and sat down to say anything. I took off from Arkansas-land and went to NW America, Portland OR and Seattle WA. My hubby travels, and I don't/can't. So I keep the home fires warm. He was on assignment in that part of the world so I went to visit. After a 10 hour trip, 8hours from Dallas to Portland...yes really. A two hour delay in the airport, then two hours on the tarmac then 4 hours there...the other 2, the time to get from my beloved Fay-town to Dallas icky. I got in at two am and I am very much a creature of habit, and retire early. so any way... Mt Hood with snow, the Columbia breath-taking-River Goarge, MT Rainer, Olympic National Park, Pebble beaches, Japanese Gardens, Chinese Gardens, (yes they are different). I may have my friend Lila help me post drawings from my moleskine-I travel with the Moleskine instead of a camera.
I have cleaned my art space, so I am ready to create! I have been in the house a year, and that is the last room to be packed, then because it takes so much energy and decissions to unpack...it takes the longest amount of time and mental energy. which I have been lacking.
I am not a true Blogger...I know that now, so duh, now what? I will figure it out.
I am so excited I will be in Virginia for Mother's day!! My daughter invited me and I am thrilled. I have been manic since I got home, and have channeled my energy. I had the contents of my closet all over the bed room floor last night, whew what a mess to clean up, but the final product is worth it.
I hate what is happening to my body, I now work out at the gym 4-5 times a week, 8 months now, and have gained 3 pounds, concidering I was 10 pounds overwt. to start with it is a problem and DONT dare give me the pound of muscle weighs more than fat...I have just started writing down what and how much I eat, So now I am keeping an eye on calories too. hope , hope hope.
Life is really more complex than that.
I have discovered felting, really excited, look out dolly girls!!! Lizzzzy

march maddness

At least twice a year I have a mood shift. Not a big thing, now that I have been diagnosed bipolar (bear)...more of annoyance. That is why I have been silent so long, apologies to both my readers. grin. lizzzzzzzzzzy

moon thoughts

I read yesterday the moon is to have a copper-like tint to it. Could it be responsible for my random thoughts???
Some relationships are too complex to explain to someone new.
Advise is wasted on the young, it is not advise but experience that drives home a point. Just be there when the experience is over.
My Grandmother told us never to think of her in a rocking chair, but at a typewriter smoking and drinking rum. A generational blessing?
Keep life simple said a woman in the nursing home where I did rehab. Complexity has been my curse since then. grin!
Learning to walk is easy finding the path is hard. It is only in the still quiet moments that it is clear.
Random thoughts always make more sense, it is binding them together that makes an author.
My real blessings in life have two feet, my husband, my children and true friends.
A real friend is someone you can tell your inner most feelings, and not have them step on your feelings. Acceptance is key. It is great to be loved even when you are wrong...we all know the inner truth.
Sleep makes everything better, if a thought is keeping you awake, put it out with the rubbish.
LIzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy

black dog continued

So today I go to post the picture of the dog, stating he is a found dog. I go to the first pole, and there is a lost dog sign! Layla, started smiling in the car as I drove her home. Incredably funny good dog. Turns out that is where my daughter kept her horse, when asked about a reward, I replied I just wanted permission to fish in the pond on the back of the land. Happy ending.

I don't pick up dogs. You must understand that first. I don't pick up dogs. So why do I have a dog in my garage? Okay this dog is different, he has a collar and he has one of those special stay- in -the -yard thingys on the collar. So someone wants this dog. I don't pick up dogs...with out collars. This dog was walking in front of the car, it is a black dog, it was night, and we were headed toward a busy intersection. This is only the second dog I have ever picked up in ten years. "Dog you better feel lucky" because I don't pick up dogs. It has been a strange day. The dog thinks so too.

This is one of those days. It is day that happens in novels but not in real life. I did not even want to get up.
But LATER when I was in the check out line at our local grocer's, magic happened. I had to write a check because my debit card had gone all funny. I hate to write checks, and avoid doing so at all costs except hunger. So I recognized the older gent in front of me, an ancient professor. He forgot part of his order so I ran it out to the car to him. He looked so awful, thin and sooooo very old and frail. So there was a little delay when that happened. My check would not go through the little machine and after a while, a toe-tapping while, somebody else came to rescue the checker from my errant check. More time...I was so ready to leave. Then when I turned there was Amy!!! I had longed to see her for years now. There are stories out there about teachers who made a difference in a student, well to this then seventh grade teacher ~this student was special. I used to have "Lunch Bunch" in my classroom after a verbal tiff with the English teacher. I ate in my room after that and soon I had about 10-12 students eat with me. They were irregulars to some teachers, but each was special to me. We had holiday parties, with table cloths and candles and decorations. Amy was part of the lunch bunch. We all would listen to music hold forums...laugh and cry together. I have not seen Amy since her last year At Ramay Jr. High. My heart jumped when I saw her. It was a red letter day that started out blue, wondering if I was worth two cents to the world. I would have missed her if I had not had the delays. I hope for more in the future. Amy and I are having lunch at my favorite place, her suggestion: Hugo's. The sun is warm and I saw daffodils today blooming in my neighbor's yard. I see the post man it is one of the days you think you will find money in the mail! It has been a wonderful day.

I have in my hand the most amazing work of art. Not only is my doll (see flickr) absolutely the most beautifully crafted...full of creativity....mysteriously she is me!!!! I feel a strong connection with the creator of the doll. She is full of symbolism and a treasure to my heart. Lisa what more can I say? thanks this is a really fun thing to participate with others. Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzy

Quiz answers

These are the answers to a 'quiz' that James somebody does at the end of every interview he does with a Celb. on the show Actor's Studio. Now I am no Celbriety but I can answer questions.
my mind has been a little tired and not creative, but the weather is warm and sunny and I feel perky again.
1. What is your favorite word?
Welcome
2. What is your least favorite word?
fatal
3. What turns you on...spiritually, emotionally, creatively?
speed.... er I mean positive flow
4. What turns you off?
fear
5. What is your favorite curse word?
Sh** it is organic
6. What is sound or noise do you love?
The sound of the wind blowing in the pine trees in the mountains, or the palm trees of a place I would like to be.
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
The squeeling of tires, a thud, or metal giving way.
8. What profession would you like to attempt other than your
own?
Art consevitor,but I loved working as a counselor in my former life.
9. What profession would you hate doing?
giving enemas, or picking up dead animals off the highway.
10. If there is a heaven (which I believe there is) what would you like God to say when you get to the Pearly Gates?
Nothing, I would just hear the joyful sounds of praise and adoration.

2002 to now

Well I looked back at my Kalho post and I did forget the date it happened in 2002. I have learned how to be since that time. I am active again, and the man on the street would never know what I have been through. The credit goes to an amazing team of health care providers and God.
I love the creative process but the computer is putting my creative time out of balance. I am not a freq blogger, but love getting email! Today the sun 's warmth will melt away the remains of our snow. I fed the birds and Virginia Satir, my cat, loves watching the hopping little birds and squirrels who eat more than their fair share. lizzzzzzzzzzzy

My bond with Frida Kalho

I don't want to dwell too much on the accident. But a few details of my recent life may create a new bridge of understanding with others. I was taken to surgery after the accident. I had an open book fracture of my pelvis, the front bones of the pelvis were blown out and opened like a book. The first operation was stopped because of my blood loss. I spent days on a ventilator, before they could go back and complete what had been started. My survival tools, denial and I didn't have my contacts. I could not believe what they said because I could not 'read' their faces. I was treated at the U of Calif. Medical Center in San Diego. I was truly blessed in countless ways. Too numerous to count. I spent several weeks at the hospital, then I had to be moved to a rehab center. This is an outrageous joke--it was a nursing home. I learned so much about the women who took care of me, I learned finally at the end of my six week stay, to stand with support, which was my first vertical move since the accident. There are dozens of stories from this time. It was rich with learning experiences for me. I still have all the cards and letters that were written to me at the time. The accident happened in July. I was able to come home in Sept. and started developing the muscles to walk. I did most of the work in a therapeutic swimming pool. Then came the winter, struggles with depression. When Freida ( there are different spellings) Kalho's story came out on film it was inspiring and challenging to me. I have a rich internal world...but less likely to "put it out' there. I am a little more private in corners of my life. lizzzzzzzzzzzy

gall stones. oh, crap. That is all I am going to say about the matter.
Many grey days, I feel my soul is as dry and crisp as a brown autumn oak leaf. My creative level has hovered around 1 or 2 on a scale of 100. It is just a good time to curl up and read.
Growing up, my best friend was Chris Greer. There were no girls in the neighborhood. Chris and I played kick ball, hide and seek, and with dinky cars and tanks in the dirt under MY tree in the back yard. I was always the red jaguar automobile. We dug garages, houses, and built bridges and roads.
Chris' father was a Cadillac sales man. He came home for lunch. Chris and I must have been 4 or 5 years old. Mr. Greer drove this big long sleek black caddie home for lunch on that summer day. Chris had discovered the lighter worked in the car, even if the keys were not in it. Now I wish Mr. Greer had a shorter lunch, because we successfully burned these neat little circles in the car seat. I doubt it was leather in those days, but what ever it was Mr. Greer got real excited when he discovered our creative design. Odd I don't remember anything past seeing how excited he was and I don't think I will try recessive memory exploration to discover the missing parts of the story.
Chris had an older brother, Timmy. Chris was shorter than everyone on the block. So when we gave up digging to China, we found out the pit was just deep enough for Chris to stand up in . The hole was right by the back driveway for the Greer's car. Mrs. Greer was excitable just like her husband I guess. Because when we heard her drive up we all scattered like wheat in the wind. Except Chris because we filled up the hole and only his head was sticking out. It looked like his head was cut off and sitting on the ground. It was really neat looking. But just like the car seats, she did not think it was so cool. Summer time before TV and little parental supervision, ideal.

Do you Remember the days when girls HAD to where dresses? Yes, that is the way I grew up, even in the dead of winter, I wore a dress, tights and corduroy pants with my fancy like-everyone-Else's goulashes (sp). I really have a heart for the lower grade teachers who had to help 20 something little kids removing the ugly black over boots, then trying to match the dozens of boots lined up under the coat hooks, to the dozens of squirmy little kids. Once David Dick paid (I guess his name should go unmentioned) this kid to go out and pee in every one's boots. Next to the heat radiator the smell ruined the end of the day for every kid, but it was so funny. Of course the corduroy pants had to come off at school, so all the girls froze at recess, too posh to put the pants on again. O the cost of vanity. In corduroy pants, you are never walking alone, zup, zup, the sound of two legs rubbing the cord with the roy.
But what I remember about fourth grade was the spring day when I got another one of my brilliant ideas. I tend to learn from experience, so life was interesting, and full of embarrassing moments. Tuffy was my golden hamster, mostly nocturnal, kind of a dud of a pet in reality. But in my imagination Tuffy was full of character and I created many adventures for Tuffy in my mind. This spring day, Tuffy had a real adventure and I had the longest day of school in my life. Where was the little voice to protect me from my own foolishness? I guess my creative side won most of the internal arguments that happened in my head. My mother worked, so the only person to see me off was my high school age brother, who just made sure I didn't go to school with my underwear on my head. So, it was easy to get Tuffy out of the house, sleeping in my dress pocket. That part was the only part that was easy. I swear this little nocturnal beast had been hit by a sudden burst of ADDHD. Tuffy was a closet overactive hamster, a hamster-zilla! How much sweat can a little girl sweat, I found out that day. I just knew I would get the horrid punishment of going to the office, to visit the dread paddle. The paddle viewing happened only once, the rest of the memory was blank. Tuffy spent hours in my desk, after-cont. in next post

Tuffy

That part was the only part that was easy. I swear this little nocturnal beast had been hit by a sudden burst of ADDHD. Tuffy was a closet overactive hamster, a hamster-zilla! How much sweat can a little girl sweat, I found out that day. I just knew I would get the horrid punishment of going to the office, to visit the dread paddle. The paddle viewing happened only once, the rest of the memory was blank. Tuffy spent hours in my desk, after pooping and peeing in my pocket. The desk was a metal open drawer type under the desk top. Tuffy was happy making confetti out of my papers, scampering with his toe nails that sounded like a flamingo dancers, tapping out Morris code, "Iam here, I am here!" Long story short, I did not get caught. Maybe the teacher realized I was suffering without additional consequences. Maybe she was deaf that day. Rest assured it was Tuffy's last day of school, and as far as I know Tuffy returned to the mild mannered normal nocturnal cutie. I often wonder how Tuffy would tell the story. Lizzzy

first grade at Dora Moore

David, just in case you come back to look at the blog, you filled in a blank for me! I missed 70+ days of first grade, and could never remember my teacher's name. As soon as I saw it I knew it! Miss Wyatt. All kids remember their first grade teacher's name, not me. This is so exiting to me. Do you remember the librarian, she was a fossil! She was there when the school was new, for the rest of you it was built in the 1880s. It was a remarkable piece of architecture, and still there. The librarian could remember looking out the window and seeing Indian camps. When she said this, my eyes could have been mistaken for two over easies. I remember my fourth grade teacher, Miss Parks took her place. The significant think was Miss Parks read us from Babi Yaga, a Russian tale of a witch who lived in a house on chicken legs! When I was in East High School in Denver, I met an exchange student, whose parents immigrated to South America from Russia, OK, long story short, there were tears in his eyes when someone could relate to his childhood story. If I were clever enough I would now scan my photo from Dora Moore. East was designed after Independence Hall, a much larger version to house well over 1500 students back in the late 1960's. I graduated in 1969. More later. Lizzzzzzzzzzzy

mouse earrings

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was to dig in my mother's bottom drawer. Don't ask me why, but she kept her jewelry box in that drawer. Maybe so I could look in it? Anyway there it was, easy access for a probing six year old. It was 1957 and I was in first grade. My mother had a wealth of earrings: big red hearts, little brass tea pots, and my favorite the little grey mice earrings. There were others of course, but those tiny stuffed-grey-half-inch mice with little black -bead eyes, and wee tails were my absolute favorites. In those days all earrings were screw-on, only a few were clip-ons. Only the Catholic girls had ears pierced from birth. The mice had screws that held them on, and they were most uncomfortable.
I remember the conversation I had with myself about wearing the earrings to school, I told myself I would be the most enchanting girl alive at Dora Moore Elementary in Denver, Colorado. I was not hard to convince since I loved jewelry almost as much as the air I breathed.
So, they were carefully tucked into my pocket as I headed out for school wearing the red dress with a huge round collar with an apple embroidered on it. My mother made all my clothes, and my Ginny doll had the identical dress. All went well, then after lunch as I reached up to touch the little mouse whiskers, my stomach lurched...I only had one earring on! I remember looking high and low for that little mouse earring. The floors were wide hardwood boards, that I knew had swallowed the one dear mouse earring.
My mother knew something was terribly wrong as soon as I came home. I confessed all immediately, like a nun who had eaten all the chocolate. My mother gave me the worst punishment imaginable. Some viewers may want to look away at this point as it gets graphic. She said, "If only you had asked, I might have said 'yes'." Crap, I had suffered that day, and all I had to do was ask if I could wear the earrings. Secretly, I think she would have said, "no", but that is for another day. I would have rather been spanked.