Open Heart - An Indian Princess

Ever since Valerie over at Project Pink Suitcase posted about her real Grandmother, and how she was a beautiful Indian Princess (check out the photograph of her as a young woman), I've envied her unique American heritage. I believe Valerie's Grandmother was part Chippewa, so I say upfront, I earnestly apologize to any and all tribes if my version worsened any stereotypes, because I admit, I didn't do research for costume, face painting, hair, well, anything! That said, I loved wearing this costume! Annie kept saying "Mom, you look so beautiful!" and she was so excited that I dressed up, plus I got some very nice comments from some folks we saw trick-or-treating. I was surprised and delighted at how much dressing up lightened my spirit and shifted me into a playful, open-hearted mood! Yeah Halloween! Well, except that Annie's 'Candy Fairy' trade-in gift didn't arrive on time, even though I paid for the quicker shipping! Oh well, I put a note hanging from a Chinese umbrella mobile (that I've had stashed away) from the fairy telling her to look for the big brown truck...she'll love it!

The Dark Side or No, I Don't Really Believe in the Devil

A blogging friend wrote something recently that made me think. She said something like she is a more popular blogger when she is going through hard times, struggles, and crisis, but that she wanted to go back to sharing more of the celebrations and sweetness in her life, even if she would loose some of her readers. Something like that anyway. Hmmm. It has made me ponder my own needs and hopes for MakingPeace. I know I have chosen to focus on what feels beautiful and celebratory here. Although, is this boring? Am I real enough? Why do I blog? Do I want to express my struggles, and what feels so tender here?

That said, I have been struggling. I've been feeling intensely anxious, confused, angry, vulnerable, sad, stressed, just to try to name it. The move, my brain chemistry, an uncertain future, health, aging, genetics? I don't know. I'm working on it though!

I look at many blogs and I see into what looks like "perfect" lives, and I want to create no illusions here. My life is just like yours. Ups and downs, beauty and intense struggle.

Counting the Days

We've been lightly celebrating Day of All Souls by remembering our relatives, pets and dear friends who's bodies have died and are living within us. It is a wonderful mix of celebration and mourning! I will post pictures of our "altar" when we are done adding to it. As for Annie, she is mostly focused on Halloween this year. She really loves the idea of going house-to-house asking for candy!! In the past, I think she was unaware of the scale of "take" she was missing out on, since we just went to a few houses in the neighborhood. This year she wants to go to "a lot of houses" to trick-or-treat. She's been counting down the days with a home-made calender, x-ing off days as they pass. It's been fun. Counting, adding, subtracting and a few fractions have been a new theme around here. (See photo above.) She's starting to understand more about money too! Back to Halloween though...Annie has decided to trade in her Halloween candy, (leaving it at the foot of her bed on Halloween night) after choosing her favorite six pieces, for a present from the Halloween Fairy. She has wished for a pogo-stick-like jumping toy that she found in the New Explorers catalog. I just ordered it today.

"Heads or tails?"

Three Little Kittens

Our dear friends are fostering a mother cat and her three new kittens. Ohhhh! They are really darling! I think they are almost two weeks old. The mother is a very exotic looking cross between a Siamese and a Tabby, with wonderful markings. She isn't very tame. The two cream-colored babies are girls and the little tabby is a boy. I watched the kids, and Annie, handle them with so much care and love, I just know that these kitties will be lovely house pets once they are ready to launch into the world.

I think these pictures capture a bit of the ecstasy of holding, seeing and hearing these little beauties! Can you feel it too?

WIP-Monday

Cory gave Annie this wonderful green tee-shirt and we have decided to decorate it. Since it's been a year since Finny died, we decided to do a Finny-We-Love-You shirt. We are stitching the "Finny" on with red floss and Annie is doing a fair bit of the sewing. We are doing tiny stitches so it's taking a while. The felt is wool and I highly recommend washing it in warm water first to let it shrink up, and/or bleed before cutting or sewing.

I recently watched some short camera movies starring Annie and Finny, and I was remembering what a delightful little companion he was. Watching him at Annie's side in literally EVERY movie triggered a wave saddness, shock and confusion all over again about losing him. Ugh...I know that once you love someone, the love keeps on going...


We still love you Finny!

Annie-Self Portrait

My new computer came with a built-in camera and PhotoBooth and Annie has literally taken hundreds of self portraits with it since May. So many of them are wonderful! For this one she chose some "sketch" effect and I really like the way it looks. She almost looks like she's being lit by candle light.

Yin, Yang and Wimsy

We went to the famous Alameda Antique fair yesterday. It's on the first Sunday of every month and it is huge!! I mean small booths with every kind of treasure imaginable, as far as your eyes can see! 10,000 people, 800 booths. Something like that! It's out on the old air base, right on the water, with a great view of San Francisco. Have I mention how much I love living in Alameda?

Well, I've been on a half hearted search for something more to adorn the area above my mantle. Dear Sara let me use a wonderful old mirror of her grandmothers, and it looked really good, (now it's right here on my studio desk!) although I've been yearning for more color and/or something to more draw you into the room. So, when I saw these metal flower sculptures, I knew I had found it! They say Made in Hong Kong on them and I'm guessing '50's? Love them! I really had envisioned something more traditional or stately, and as soon as I saw these, I could see them perfectly and I knew I'd like it. Bill wasn't so sure, and he kindly trusted my gut. What do you think? Kind of wimsical?

Next, we found these two chalk-ware plaques (we love chalk-ware) in perfect condition for next to nothing so we couldn't pass them up. I call them Yin and Yang. I'm not sure about placement though, you can see where I put them in the bottom photo, right behind Annie's body. I'm really enjoying the orange=persimmon=red flavor in a room. I guess I really needed a color infusion. I think it works with the pumpkin pillows and, if nothing else, sure prepares you for the color onslaught coming up in the dining room.