For years I have enjoyed painting, drawing, illustrating books and making multi-media art with found objects in the South. This pursuit of learning more about art has led me to meet many creative people who have helped me understand more about visual dynamics as well as help me with my English. My art has allowed me to document and respond to the diverse places and people where I live with my wonderful two sons and our beloved dogs. I look forward to meeting new friends and I hope this blog helps to share my joyous journey with even more people who might understand how important this quote is: "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again."
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
MCA
A recent photo of the CFSF in downtown memphis, where I just stopped by the other day.
Mississippi and me
AWAKENING OSIRIS
When the time comes,
I give up life without regret
to feed a spirit greater than mine,
I shall die,
a small thing to become part of the larger word.
May we love forever and forever.
May the light shine through us and on us and in us.
May we die each night and be born each morning
that the wonder of life should not escape us.
May we love and laugh and enter lightly into each other's hearts.
May we love forever.
May we live forever.
( The Egyptian Book of the Dead )
I give up life without regret
to feed a spirit greater than mine,
I shall die,
a small thing to become part of the larger word.
May we love forever and forever.
May the light shine through us and on us and in us.
May we die each night and be born each morning
that the wonder of life should not escape us.
May we love and laugh and enter lightly into each other's hearts.
May we love forever.
May we live forever.
( The Egyptian Book of the Dead )
MCA
" You never can tell when you do an act "
" You never can tell when you do an act
Just what the result will be,
But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
Though the harvest you may not see.
Each kindly act is an acorn dropped
In God's productive soil;
You may not know, but the tree shall grow
With shelter for those who toil.
"You never can tell what your thoughts will do
In bringing you hate or love,
For thoughts are things and their airy wings
Are swifter than carrier doves.
They follow the law of the universe-
Each thing must create its kind,
And they speed o'er the track to bring you back
Whatever went out from your mind."
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Just what the result will be,
But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
Though the harvest you may not see.
Each kindly act is an acorn dropped
In God's productive soil;
You may not know, but the tree shall grow
With shelter for those who toil.
"You never can tell what your thoughts will do
In bringing you hate or love,
For thoughts are things and their airy wings
Are swifter than carrier doves.
They follow the law of the universe-
Each thing must create its kind,
And they speed o'er the track to bring you back
Whatever went out from your mind."
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Memphis College of Art Exhibit
HAPPINESS
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content
when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together when we get a nice car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?
You life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first,
some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacies were my life". This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.
Happines is the way. So, reassure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish school. Until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until yougain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire from work, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your home is paid off, until spring , until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time that right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Thought for the day:
Work like you don't need money'
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching...........
Work
An unfinished song by the late John Lennon was titled:
"Life is what happens while you are making other plans".
when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together when we get a nice car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?
You life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first,
some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacies were my life". This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.
Happines is the way. So, reassure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish school. Until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until yougain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire from work, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your home is paid off, until spring , until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time that right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Thought for the day:
Work like you don't need money'
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching...........
Work
An unfinished song by the late John Lennon was titled:
"Life is what happens while you are making other plans".
"Think"
" Think big, and your deeds will grow;
Think small, and you'll fall behind;
Think that you can, and you will-
It's all in the state of mind."
Think small, and you'll fall behind;
Think that you can, and you will-
It's all in the state of mind."
Light up the Fire
I gaze into the heart,
lowly it may be,
Though the words be higher still.
For the heart is all the substance,
The speech an accident.
How many phrases will you speak,
Too many for me.
How much burning,
burning will you feel,
Be friendly with the fire,
enough for me.
Light up the fire of love inside,
And blaze the thoughts away.
lowly it may be,
Though the words be higher still.
For the heart is all the substance,
The speech an accident.
How many phrases will you speak,
Too many for me.
How much burning,
burning will you feel,
Be friendly with the fire,
enough for me.
Light up the fire of love inside,
And blaze the thoughts away.
A Mother
" To be a mother of men,
a woman must make men of her boys.
She demands ther best,
not because it belongs to her,
but because it is due to them.
For that which is due children
is not ease and luxury
but hardening of muscles,
the habit of work,
a sense of honor,
and a self-respect
born of integrity"
a woman must make men of her boys.
She demands ther best,
not because it belongs to her,
but because it is due to them.
For that which is due children
is not ease and luxury
but hardening of muscles,
the habit of work,
a sense of honor,
and a self-respect
born of integrity"
Life
Life is fun, but it is sometimes hard.
It is difficult to comprehend
Why some things happen
and some things don't.
Why some things have to end.
Don't try too hard to understand.
Don't confuse yourself with why.
Just find the best in every minute.
It is there if you will just try.
It is difficult to comprehend
Why some things happen
and some things don't.
Why some things have to end.
Don't try too hard to understand.
Don't confuse yourself with why.
Just find the best in every minute.
It is there if you will just try.
Remember
Remember, son, If you are successful, I will be happy as can be. But remember, too, that when you fail, you can always come to me. There's little in life we cannot share. We will share the bad times, too. For my love does not have conditions son, That is what i give to you.
Do you love me?
Do you Love me?
A lover asked his beloved,
Do you love yourself more
than you love me?
The beloved replied,
I have died for myself
and I live for you.
I've disappeared from myself
and my attributes,
I am present only for you.
I have forgotten all my learning,
but from knowing you
I have become a scholar.
I have lost all my strength.
but from your power
I am able.
If i love myself
I love you.
If i love you
I love myself.
A lover asked his beloved,
Do you love yourself more
than you love me?
The beloved replied,
I have died for myself
and I live for you.
I've disappeared from myself
and my attributes,
I am present only for you.
I have forgotten all my learning,
but from knowing you
I have become a scholar.
I have lost all my strength.
but from your power
I am able.
If i love myself
I love you.
If i love you
I love myself.
Center for Southern Folklore
A recent photo of the CFSF in downtown memphis, where I just stopped by the other day.
What the stones Remember
" It takes time to know beauty is
not given us and must be worked for.
To find beauty
I must first find it in myself"
-Patrick Lane.
not given us and must be worked for.
To find beauty
I must first find it in myself"
-Patrick Lane.
The Beauty of the Heart
The beauty of the heart
is the lasting beauty:
it's lips give to drink
of the water of live.
Truly it is the water,
that which pours,
and the one who drinks.
All three become one
when your talisman is shattered.
That oneness you can't
know is reasoning.
-Rumi-
is the lasting beauty:
it's lips give to drink
of the water of live.
Truly it is the water,
that which pours,
and the one who drinks.
All three become one
when your talisman is shattered.
That oneness you can't
know is reasoning.
-Rumi-