Artists of Love

2011-02-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

Roses are Red

2011-01-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

2010-11-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

What do you see in this picture?

2010-09-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

2010-09-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Nellie McClung

"Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known."

"Women who place a low value on themselves make life hard for all women. "

"Chivalry is a poor substitute for justice, if not hand in hand."

http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10643

Passport Photo Approved!

2010-09-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Dearest Bloggers that want to Be the Change;

Every step counts... every step in every way counts. Here's a photo of the earrings my dear friend wore the day she took her passport photo.

Sitting down with her six year "old" friend she explained to her what she had done. And her six year "old" friend looked at her, smiled, and then asked her why she hadn't just painted a happy face onto her mouth. It's never too early, and it's never too late to be the change. And again... every step counts... every step in every way counts. Gently smiling.

Ode to Odd

2010-09-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

Ode to...

2010-07-04T21:47:00.001-07:00

http://brightonbodycasting.com/design-a-vagina.php

2010-06-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

South West Osborne

2010-03-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

Winter Walk through Wolseley, Winnipeg, MB

2010-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

1st Annual Rainbow Wash Cloth Celebration

2010-01-29T13:42:00.001-08:00

I am presently enjoying ever moment leading to the 1st Annual Rainbow Wash Cloth Celebration. I encourage every woman inspired to celebrate with me in this most joyous of occasions to put on her party dress. I know I will! It is for sure and for certain a night worth celebrating.

Next year, I trust you'll all make the top 50 Women I know, I know.

Also, I encourage each and everyone of you to learn the following sentence:

Scrumdiddlyumptious Short Stories
that Satiate the Simplicity of my Soul.

If you are able to repeat this to me with the greatest of ease you'll have your name entered in a draw for a signed 4x6 photo of the photo that inspired it all.

"Never retreat, never explain, never apologize... get the thing done and let them howl." - Nellie McClung

What?

2010-01-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

I am working through some shadow work...

What do I want to let go of?
What do I want clarity to/of?
What do I want to open up to?

Share with you sooner than later.

2009-11-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

2009-11-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

With peaceful contentment Prairie Grown sighed; "I am in collaging heaven..."

2009-11-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

2009-11-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

2009-10-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

See Scintillating Sentences that Seduce My Senses for a new addition... if inspired.

2009-09-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Reinventing...
Be back sooner than later.

2009-09-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Cheating

2009-07-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Cheating: v. Cheating occurs when one cheats one's self of the life that one deserves... from all levels of intimacy, to work - I prefer the word gig, and to play.

Deserves: v. Serve one's self in the knowing of one's worth, and one will live the dream awake.

Side note: The word work even sound like work.

2009-07-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

Field of Dreams

2009-07-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Eternal Optimist

2009-07-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

One Way?

2009-07-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

There's no one way, there are many ways, and each of us must find our unique way. If our way coincides with another let us support and love one another with a heart that overflows from a spaciousness of stillness. And if not, bow down gracefully with the precious gift of tolerance for diversity.

2009-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

2009-07-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Fantasized
Emotions
Appearing
Real

The Animal School

2009-06-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

"The animals got together in the forest one day and decided to start a school. There was a rabbit, a bird, a squirrel, a fish and an eel, and they formed a Board of Education. The rabbit insisted that running be in the curriculum. The bird insisted that flying be in the curriculum. The bird insisted that flying be in the curriculum. The fish insisted that swimming be in the curriculum, and the squirrel insisted that perpendicular tree climbing be in the curriculum. they put all of these things together and wrote a Curriculum Guide. Then they insisted that all of the animals take all of the subjects. Although the rabbit getting an A in running, perpendicular tree climbing was a real problem for him; he kept falling backwards. Pretty soon he got to be sort of brain damaged, and couldn't run any more. He found that instead of making an A in running, he was making a C and, of course, he always made an F in perpendicular climbing. The bird was really beautiful at flying, but when it came to burrowing in the ground, he couldn't do so well. He kept breaking his beak and wings. Pretty soon he was making a C in flying as well as an F in burrowing, and he had a hellava time with perpendicular tree climbing. The moral of the story is that the person who was valedictorian of the class was a mentally retarded eel who did everything in a half-way fashion. But the educators were all happy because everybody was taking all of the subjects, and is was called a broad-based education. We laugh at this, but that's what it is. It's what you did. We really are trying to make everybody the same as everybody else, and one soon learns that the ability to conform governs success in the educational scene."

Love by Dr. Leo Buscaglia - 1972

2009-06-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

I am new to the world of blogging therefore I shall help out those who are new here too. Scroll down About me all the way down to VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE and click on it. Now, you are on my profile page. Scroll down to MY BLOGS and view a collage of blogs I've created. As each and every one of us is multilayered and multidimensional quotes a friend of mine. And it is her inspiration that caused me to "diversify my funs" in this way.

Please feel free to scroll down to BLOGS I FOLLOW and meet some of my neighbors. These blogs belong to bloggers I know beyond the world wide web. Bloggers who I would fight to the death for in a balloon fight to defend their honor.

Awareness

2009-06-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

Awareness... interesting that war is in the word awareness. Perhaps if each and every one us brought greater awareness to our own internal wars we would have no external wars. Healing from the inside out. One can imagine, one can so imagine.

2009-06-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

No point... just sharing...

2009-06-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

Contrary to the spelling...
there's no fun in fundamentalist.

Peace in the World

2009-06-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

"If we want there to be peace in the world, we have to brave enough to soften what is rigid in our hearts, to find the soft spot and stay with it. We have to have that kind of courage and take that kind of responsibility. That's the true practice of peace."

Pema Chodron

2009-05-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

I speak not of...

2009-05-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

"When
the power
of love
overcomes
the love
of power,
the world
will know peace."

Sri Chinmoy Ghose

Winnipeg Folk Fest

2009-05-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Forty Six days, 9 hours, 37 minutes, and 11 seconds to the Winnipeg Folk Fest. This is a moment brought to you by...

"Hurray for Everything!"

Our Deepest Fear

2009-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of "Love". Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of "Love" that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

Note: Marianne Williamson uses the word "God" where I have inserted "Love". I chose to do this out of respect for tolerance and diversity for all beliefs. Let us be "Frank"... Love is a Universal Language. And if "Frank" was a real human being... he would so be my friend. Notice that when the word "so" is inserted into a sentence it makes it more intense. Seriously! Playfully shared with a smirk on my face.

Moontime

2009-05-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

I bleed today.
Contrary to the commercials
I bleed red not blue.
A time of solitude.
A time of reflection.
A time of being.
Gloriously being
Being with what is.
A time to bleed...
not only for my own pain and suffering;
but that of each and every one of us.
May we all be awakened, liberated and free.
May we all remember the truest essence of love
that flows through each and every one of us.

Note: Google Photo http://www.xamanismo.com.br/Capa/WebHome

Backdoor...

2009-05-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

This business is no more. All the doors and windows are covered up with old newspapers and all is left is this sign. Every time I drive by it, it makes me laugh even on the dreariest of days that be within me.

The Invitation

2009-05-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been open by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trusthworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Oriah Moutain Dreamer

Happy Manitoba Day!

2009-05-12T17:24:00.001-07:00

Where is Manitoba? It's in the heart of Canada... in a field of dreams. Our licence plates describe us as Friendly Manitoba. Our Government was going to change it to
Spirited Energy. Originally when I heard it I was one of the few who appreciated the intangibility of the slogan for there really is an Energy of Spirit here. But our Government didn't act from an Energy of Spirit when campaigning this new slogan so it soon lost momentum. Although, I thought that it would have been in the best interest of all our incredible artists here in Manitoba to offer a contest allowing us to vote for our new slogan. I would have found an artist willing to be in a co-creative collaboration to go with Prairie Heart. And whether I won or not that's not the point. The point is... there's no "i" in team, but there sure is in "win", and when we all play together we all "win". But that's just my humble opinion, take what's useful, leave what's not.

Note: Google Photo

Graffiti...

2009-05-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

No point... just sharing...

2009-05-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Community = Come Unity
Coincidence... I feel not.

2009-05-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

2009-05-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to Amanda Coe

2009-05-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

Who am I?
Who? I am.

2009-04-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

If video killed the radio star;
television killed the creative mind.

Note: Google Photos

Cloaked by a Veil

2009-04-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days where I awoke cloaked by a veil of pain and suffering unable to see the truest essence of love. And then the phone rang. Two beautiful women in my life, two of many, but not too many, for one can never have too many beautiful (beauty-full) women in one's life. Oh... back to the story... and I was invited on a luncheon date to The Underground Cafe, 70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Soon after our date, I felt that that truest essence of love was peaking through that veil. I bow down in gratitude for both these women, reminding me of that which was forgotten. A shared embrace and we parted ways. As I strolled the streets of the Exchange District through the corner of my eye a photo of love framed. A woman, sitting with herself, a book in one hand, a "life choice" in the other, the sun beaming down upon her, I veered down this back alley. I explained to her that I could see the love made visible and wished for a photo. She warmly agreed. A deep breath in, a deep breath out, embracing the full present experience of love... and snap. As I put my camera away, she shared that this was not the first time a moment such as this occurred. Coincidence, I feel not. Love is visible, always, and in all ways.

Shotgun Rules

2009-04-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

If you and I ever come to be friends outside of this virtual home of mine it's important that you understand the rules of engagement for shotgun.

1. Shotgun is the only word to be used, no variation of the word is acceptable.
2. One must have their shoes on, unless they never had any to begin with, and must be outside and in view of the vehicle to call; "Shotgun!"
3. If more than one individual calls shotgun simultaneously, then a game of rock, paper, scissors will be the deciding vote.
4. If a Slurpee run is made to 7 Eleven, whomever had shotgun retains shotgun out of respect that Winnipeg, MB, Canada is... Slurpee Capital of the World.

2009-04-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

2009-04-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Inner Child

2009-04-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of my mother as a child. How beautiful is she! Notice the exclamation mark and not the question mark at the end of the previous sentence... for this is not in question. I
dedicate this photo to the inner child within each and everyone of us.

"If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think there probably can be no greater happiness than this." Kitaro Nishida

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when adults are afraid of the light."
Plato

Collage

2009-04-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

A Wasp Nest

2009-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a wasp nest just looks like a wasp nest; but sometimes it can look like a side profile of a buffalo's head. Coincidence, I feel not.

No point... just sharing...

2009-03-27T07:55:00.001-07:00

Math: Diversify your funds.
Life Math: Diversify your "funs".
Coincidence, I feel not.

Truth

2009-03-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Untruth

2009-03-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

2009-03-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

No point... just sharing...

2009-03-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Humor is a joking matter.
And it must not be taken seriously.

Peekaboo!

2009-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Flipping the Bird"

2009-03-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

More than a year ago a co-worker from Churchill and I started this game where if one spotted the other before the other realized that the other was in their presence would then "flip the bird" waiting with great play-full anticipation their reaction. Knowing that each other supported and loved one another, and it was a delightful game to play at work. There's one rule, one can only "flip the bird" once in a twenty-four hour period. Funny makes me laugh.

I thought that this game could be taken to a whole new level if I found a finger puppet that looked like a bird and took photos last Autumn around Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Side Note: Looking for Artists of Love willing to make me finger puppets for a series of these photos. I will barter homemade knitted wash clothes. More information to follow. Who doesn't love a co-creative collaboration! I shall call this series Medicine Cabinet Art. Seriously... so seriously... those who check out ones medicine cabinet playfully deserve to have the bird flipped in their direction.

Back to the original story... I flew up to Churchill on Wednesday and had the cargo handlers working that day place it on their fridge in their lunch room. He was on days off. And upon his return, I would await him through a new medium that would be unsuspecting due to this co-creative collaboration. Again, funny makes me laugh. Using my mom's old typewriter I typed to the back of it "Flipping the Bird" - Dedicated to Ray. And Scene.

Happy International Women's Day

2009-03-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

IMAGINE A WOMAN...

Imagine a woman who believes it is
right and good she is a woman.
A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories,
who refuses to carry the sins of others
within her body and life.
Imagine a woman who believes she is good.
A woman who trusts and respects herself,
who listens to her needs and desires,
and meets them with tenderness and grace.
Imagine a woman who has acknowledges
the past influence on the present.
A woman who has walked through her past,
who has healed into the present.
Imagine a woman who authors her own life.
A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf,
who refuses to surrender except to her truest self
and to her wisest voice.
Imagine a woman who names her own gods.
A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness,
who designs her own spirituality
and allows it to inform her day and life.
Imagine a woman in love with her own body.
A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is,
who celebrates her body and its rhythms
and cycles as an exquisite resource.
Imagine a woman who honors the face
of the Goddess in her changing face.
A woman who celebrates the accumulation
of her years and her wisdom,
who refuses to use precious energy
disguising the changes in her body and life.
Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.
A woman who sits in circles of women,
who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

***Imagine yourself as this woman***