True Blue Friendship





North Myrtle Beach



Sunset






Sunrise





Bi-valves on the shore- and they're alive!










Me and Jerri

49 years. That's a helluva long time to know somebody. But, Jerri McCabe Menefee and I have been friends since 5th grade (which would make us 59 yr old= YIKES!!!) It's funny how some people, ultimately those that are really important , stay in our lives. It was 10 years ago when we last saw and spoke to each other, but it could have been yesterday. I wondered if Jerri had changed, if we'd have anything in common, if she were suddenly wild, being given new freedom courtesy of a recent divorce. But, no, she was the same sweet, beautiful person she has always been. And, as for something in common, we have both been on a spirtual path, looking to change our lives for the better, and happier, so what fun to unabashedly speak of meditating, and people like Chopra and Wayne Dyer and the Universe. Whoo-hoo! She and her delightful friend, Liz, had come to North Myrtle Beach for a vacation. How lucky that I only live a couple of hours away. How lucky to get to reconnect and rekindle our friendship. But, they say there are no coincidences. "Trust the process- the Universe knows". So, now we can visit more frequently via Skype and plan some more concrete visits in person. And, look! See how in sync we are- unplanned, we both wore orange- haha!

Sky Blue With Nary a Cloud...



Nyree checking out the rings



After days and days of rain, Saturday, August 25, 2012 blossomed into the most gorgeous of days = a cloudless, blue, blue sky with mild temps. And, what timing! My bestest friend from Columbia, Nyree, came down to visit for a couple of days before her refresher course on Sunday. We checked out the Farmers' Market in downtown Charleston at Marion Square. Entertainment, food, artisans and , yeah, some produce from farmers as well- haha! She found a beautiful ring, silver with an inlaid piece of broken pottery. And, such a surprise- the woman behind the table went to high school with Nyree! Talk about a small world. I purchased a garua plant- fingers crossed that it survives! Our birthdays are only 2 days apart, so we celebrated during her visit. Nyree had painted a tall, ceramic glass travelling mug at one of those places for me and besides cute little windows and a door on it were the words "Calvin's Artwork Emporium." I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Further proof that it WILL happen!  My gift to Nyree was my friend, Puja Desai, who spent 2 hours with her aligning her chakras. Then that evening, we ventured over to Cork Neighborhood Bistro located on Montague Avenue in North Charleston for dinner. I had gotten one of those Living Social deals on line and it turned out to be very much worth it. We both had the pan-seared salmon- the BEST we've ever tasted , with the vegetables and some kind of tomatoey sauce. It was quite up-scale. And, the weather, continuing to cooperate, allowed us to dine al fresco. We had a fantastic time and underscored just how much I miss spending time with my friend. Wished she lived closer.......

Pewter charms and silver wings

My first art doll!!!!! I took an art doll class on line- they were pretty, & antiqued. But, it seemed from all the pics that other students sent in, that nobody really followed that style, For some reason, I was totally enamored with them. Drawn in. Slightly obsessed. I plan on creating personal ones and I'd like to do animal totems. That's what I want to do- no rhyme or reason, I just feel compelled. To practice, I've begun by doing some personal ones. Puja Desai is the first. She's my energy healer friend, who has aligned my chakras, got rid of that scattered feeling and awakend my creativity. She had to be first. And, she loved it! Trav and Em had to be next.  I've learned that I prefer making transfers as opposed to opaque paintings. Discovered, thru many trials & errors, which print and size is best. For the totems (first one is in the works), I'm learning that using digital transfers is okay and not cheating. It all comes together best when I totally am "in the now" = completely focused on what I am doing during the creative process, from the intial planning to choosing the words and the layout. That is when God's conciousness is supposed to come and be. In the now. Hopefully others will be drawn to them as well. We will see.  Meanwhile, let's take a look at the others: