Their is something about this time of year that makes me want to start hunkering down. The leaves on the trees will soon turn into beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange. Soon thereafter they will drop to the ground creating a sea of crackle. The chatter of busy squirrels will soften and the woods will be bare again, only the skeletal tall trees that will then allow the sun to rush through uninhibited will remain. Their is a mixed potpourri of emotions to this event. Sadness to see the vibrant colors fade away and yet an opportunity to appreciate the stark beauty of the woods. Fall is a reminder of the cycles of one's own life---in the midst of death their is still the hope for spring. This is a painting my talented friend Deb created when she was a teenager.

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A SHORT FAIRY TALE

Life seems to be on fast mode at my age. In my teens I couldn't wait to turn 21. 21 was the magical day I became an "adult". At 21 (actually before that) I was searching high and low for my "Prince Charming". When I found them often it turned out they were looking for another Princess, Oh Well! Life seemed to move more slowly as I searched for the "perfect" partner. In my 40s I found my Prince and he is tall, dark and handsome like my childhood fantasies. His most interesting adventurous life swept me off my feet and I married him. He is still my Prince Charming but I have discovered their are moments when I have to re-invent what Charming means. Having said that, I am happy he wandered into the woods while I was looking about wondering if I would ever be anyone's Princess.

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WOW, from the sounds coming out of the TV the past week it appears the sky is falling on our country again. With this new financial crisis hovering perilously close over our rooftops can we blame ourselves for feeling a sense of unease? I don't know about anyone else but a "$700 Billion Dollar Bailout" leaves me feeling dumbstruck and a bit numb in between the gut churning. How is the average person supposed to get what this means on a personal level? It seems our government and institututions that are supposed to be watching out for us everyday folks keep us locked in fear or at the least in daily angst over how recklessly they jeopardize and manipulate our hard earned money ie taxes. Wow, I think I need some serious sweeping away of the "what's this world coming to dust bunnies" cluttering up my space this morning. Time to get creative. How lucky we are as artists to have this sanity saving outlet.

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Yesterday was the two year anniversary of the death of a dear friend who was in my life for nearly 25 years. To lose a friend of such longevity and importance to me has left a void that will never be filled. Yet, the beautiful memories live on in my heart and console me across that great abyss between the here and now and that mysterious hereafter. Shortly after her death, I was running about doing an errand and over the radio came an old familiar song that absolutely stunned me. It was a song from Fame, "I'm Going to Live Forever". I can't help but wonder, was it just coincidence or can those we love reach out to us in ways we can't totally understand.

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I think society fails to recognize the rich contributions that artists make to our daily existence. If we start to consciously look around we will soon be overwhelmed by the myriad of creative expression in some of the most mundane of items that surround us. Our clothes, dishes, furniture, lamps, computers, books, rugs, floor coverings started out as purely functional items and then an artist came around and tweaked them them with color, pattern, texture and they were transformed from plain to objects of beauty. Artists have been doing this since pre-historic times, driven by some instinct to create magical paintings on the walls of caves or carvings in stone. We all long to be remembered long after we are gone. Most artists never achieve world fame or wealth but our contributions make our world a place of beauty. We must keep creating even when the odds are against us. This is a wonderful folk art painting of St. Francis by Mexican artist Lorenzo Lucas.

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All of my life being creative has given me a sense of purpose. It has defined me in one way or another. I have never not been creative that I can recall even as a young child. Everyone has a lifeline they can count on through their darkest moments, creating art apparently is mine and I am truly greatful. This is a beautiful folk art painting of Jesus that was created by a lovely artist I met on ebay.

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So quiet this morning. Only the hum of the computer and other electrical appliances. If I actually listen to this white noise it can become very penetrating. Daily we are filled with noise from televisions, phones, cars, air conditioners, lawn mowers, etc. etc. It is hard to have moments of quiet when we empty our minds of clutter. It seems that their is one continuous thread of dealing with the noise within and the noise surrounding us. To have just a few minutes of true bliss not impeded by worry, anxiety, lists, what ifs, what will I do when, and the endless tasks and obligations that drive us one day into the next, albeit some of which are postive and creative. Even in sleep our brains are busy conjuring up strange images. Perhaps to be alive is to be in noise.

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One of the things in life that brings me a great deal of pleasure is having a routine. Getting up early in the morning, fixing breakfast (which is usually always the same thing), hopping on the computer and reading my email. Since I joined ArtWanted, of course I have to check things out here too. I usually make a list of stuff that needs to be done and eventually I check everything off the list and start another list. Checking things off the list gives me a pleasant feeling of accomplishment. Having a sense of order in my life is important. When things get off kilter I find myself navigating unfamiliar paths with an eye towards getting back to "routine". Some people need a lot of excitement in their lives. Me, I like the quiet routine.

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It's a quiet Sunday morning except for the tall trees swaying back and forth with the slight wind coming at us from the latest hurricane making its way through our neighboring states. It is an uneasy time with gas prices soaring overnight and people panicking at the thought they might not be able to fill up their tanks. On Friday some of the gas stations here had already run completely out of gas. It doesn't take much to throw us over the edge it seems.

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