sweet indigo life

Dear Susanna,

Here is hoping this *winged* message finds you.  Today you are a Queen, for we are celebrating the inspiration, the creativity, and the friendship you have given us.  We adore you, and want to honour you with this *blog party*!

 Thank you for sharing your dreams with all of us.  The above two photographs were taken this past week in Hollywood for you, specifically for this party in your honour. I hope you like them.  Keep creating, sketching, travelling, inspiring and being just plain wonderful.

For those reading who aren't the lovely Susanna, a complete listing of participating blogs is available if you visit the delightful Angie, at Visually Oriented.  Angie is one of a few lovelies who organized this soiree for our Queen!

With love,

Gillian

xox

Note; Scroll down the page for an additional Remembrance Day post today.  We must also honour those who have gone before us to ensure our freedom. xo

I will remember.

Thousands of red, white and blue memorial crosses line the beach in Santa Monica, California, November 2009.

Today in Canada, we honour Remembrance Day.  In America, it is Veteran's Day.  In France, L'Armistice.

The number of crosses on the beach in the above photograph each represent an American man or woman who has given their life for the cause of freedom.  The number of Canadian soldiers is growing also.  For me, Remembrance Day used to be a day to honour the dead of long, long ago. Wars that were fought in our history books.  Before me on that beautiful sunny beach in California was the stark reminder that war rages on, lives are lost, and families are left grieving and wondering why.

The memorial didn't include crosses for the lost lives in Iraq.  If it had, the number of crosses would have filled the entire beach, as it is over one million lives lost to date.

Today, at 11:00 a.m. stop and give two minutes of silence for those who fought and still fight. 

xo

Travelling feet & a happy heart *

It is a road trip of sorts.  My sister-in-law and me, in a Mustang. There are miles of rugged coastline to shoot.  Toes that beg for a dip in the water.  Characters lurk around every corner on Venice Beach (begging too, to be snapped).  We'll eat the cuisine.  Shop for treasures.  Soak up each ray of delectable sun in the convertible we rented. We may even see a movie star.  Or two.  Because that is the kind of luck we have.  It is the magnetic kind...attracting in all kinds of lovely things. 

Wish you were going too...!  Gone 'til Monday, kids.  California is calling my name. xoxo

P.S. OH how could I forget?  My DAD is blogging...his paintings and musings can be found at Experiments In ART.  Could you welcome him in to the fold?  Thanks everyone!

Paper calavera catrinas & sugar skull catrinas, Happy Dia de los Muertos~!

Last year's ofrenda.  For the Day of the Dead. Made with skeleton lollipops and sequins :)

Dia de los Muertos is upon us again! If I were close to the Mexican border (which I am not) I would have bowls of marigolds laid out (no Marigolds around here!). As it stands, I will have candles lit, catrinas decorating every shelf, and many ofrenda's to celebrate the people I love who are no longer here.

Here is a link for some paper Diego & Frida catrinas...super cool. Go ahead and print, colour & cut out, you know you want to!

I'll still hang the Dia de los Muertos flags (like Tibetan prayer flags) that Stephanie sent over...!

And I'll make sure I prepare a traditional Sunday dinner to honour those who aren't dining with us.

See here for a wonderul video posting La Llorona! it is so neat, love that animation. {Love du buh du designs too, did you check out her shop with the catrina ornaments??}

Over at Susanna's you will see a party in full swing starting Sunday...for the occasion.

A divine encounter with a fox the other morning has me reeling.  I was face to face in the grey morning mist of my daughters school yard (it was early, well before school for volleyball) and the fox stopped two feet in front of me...locking its gaze with mine.  That my friends, is a close encounter with the spirit world if ever I did see one. I still feel so honoured.

*Happy* Dia de los Muertos and be on the lookout for a totem visit of your own, it just very well could be someone you love coming back to say hello.

xoxo

Shades of a childhood most happy and full of downtown BROWNS!!!

My favourite song as a five year old kindergardner.

 

From chocolate to chai, browns are welcoming-warm-loving.

Happy Halloween to all!

The best way to end colour week, thank you n o d d y b o o m for being a most gracious and fun hostess. xoxo

Jazzy blues & Hafiz too :)

 
I'm leaving you with some euphoric blues...only a few.   The title of my post made me laugh out loud today.  I once served some cheese at a family gathering, giving the cheese wacky name labels so people would know what they were munching on.  For example names like "Cheeky Cheddar" and "Outstanding Oka"...but the one that makes me laugh still..."Jazzy Jarlsberg" !!! My brother-in-law walks in and says, "Where did you find the Yazzy Yarlsberg?" Oh good times. :)

*Blues* from my archives.  Hope they speak to you! I think blues are sensual, dreamy & freeing...like any colour worth it's salt should be.  Oceans, cloudless-skies, refreshing pools...blues surround us everywhere. 

Here is a poem I left as a comment for my friend Sherry that touched me yesterday:

There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that.

In one well
You have just a few precious cups of water,
That "love" is literally something of yourself,
It can grow as slow as a diamond
If it is lost.

Your love
Should never be offered to the mouth of a
Stranger,
Only to someone
Who has the valor and daring
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife
Then weave them into a blanket
To protect you.

There are different wells within us.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far, far too deep
For that.

~Hafiz

Colour week continues over at n o d d y b o o m. Enjoy this jazzy, uptempo Thursday! And be well folks!!! xo
 

Pretty plum purples~a passion

I'm plum tired.  I had the flu shot yesterday, because I work with the public and must do my duty to protect myself, my family and my clients.  But today, my arm feels like a giant purple bruise and my head is swimmingly tired.  My spirits are up though, so that is a good thing.  At least I'm not tired and miserable!

Purple has been one of my favourite colours since childhood.  Purple and rich green.  So here are some shots of purple that won't leave you feeling under-the-weather! But first, speaking of childhood, a friend of mine has taken up her passion for writing, and is now publishing a blog for all to enjoy...please visit Tracy and say hello, you'll love her passion for writing, biking & cooking! 

 


 

Look at that face! Does she need a nap or what?? lol

That M*A*C eyeliner is my favourite...POWERPLUM :)

Here is a shot for you, on this rainy day in Ontario.... xo

Oh...and a song too! {Don't watch if you are a sappy sap like me, I cried! Super sweet gesture, Miley}