rebuilding my life

ahhh, then came the life on a Caribbean Island, Isla Mujeres. I bought this place with intention of living in Paradise for ever. Maybe transform my 4 bedroom Casa in to a guest house and serve tacos for breakfast in the huge courtyard. Or maybe open an artist co-op. Or maybe have an outdoor kitchen and invite guest chefs for cooking schools. But as destiny would throw me a curve, I ended up in Central Texas with a 5 bedroom Bed and Breakfast. Paradise minus the beach and aqua waters. The best part of my detour in Isla, was when my world collided with Meteo. Little did we know that some day we would be landlocked together cooking breakfast and making beds for travellers at my B&B. Ya know, ya just gotta surrender to the wind when it blows you in a different direction. ~ The answer my friend is blowin in the wind~ Bob Dylan

“I shall go the way of the open sea, To the lands I knew before you came, And the cool ocean breezes shall blow from me, The memory of your name” ~ Laurence Hope~

once upon a time

just a few shots of that little sacred spot in the woods I once called Home Sweet Home, before Rita came to visit. Oh what memories.

survival

In preparation for my upcoming Day of the Dead Workshop, and Dia de Bloglandia, I have been revisiting two very special shrines of mine. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita, aka "That Bitch" smashed my home to the ground. The rooftop became twisted metal. 100 year old pine trees that stood 100 feet tall, were mere splinters on the ground. My little sewing room was knocked off its throne, as buttons and lace were buried under mud puddles. The bedroom furniture looked like tinker toys and doll furniture tossed about a childs room. My heart cracked open and it took a couple years and life on a Mexican Island to mend. Now, that sacred space on Village Creek, Texas belongs to someone else and my mended heart is swollen with happiness and comfort at my home in Carmine, with my beloved Matt. The pages of this fabric book are filled with water damaged photos, vintage curtains, lace and a needle felted cover. The cigar box shrine is filled with broken bits and pieces rescued from the mud and rubble. I visit these two shrines on occasion and smile, they hug me and remind me of days gone by, well spent and loved on Sister Creek.

Within you there is a stillness & a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time & be yourself ~Hermann Hesse~

Wednesday Window

Wednesday came and went without me noticing it...I spent all day cooking and cleaning. So my self portrait will be some kitchen views and my favorite recipe for easy natural oven cleaner.!! Mix 5 tablespoons baking soda, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 drops Peppermint Castile Soap. Just wash your cool oven walls with this pasty mixture, use a scrubby if it is real gunky, like mine was! I also use this to clean my sinks and shower! No fumes and smells yummie! ( you can use your favorite dish or hand soap, I just prefer using "natural" when I can) I also love Mrs Meyers Clean Day products! If ya gotta clean, ya might as well enjoy the day!

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Click here, and come on over to my Workshop Blog to see whats in store for next month! Painting by Flickr member yoborobo