8 Things Thursday - My Birthday

Another birthday is almost over. It has been a good day:

* gifts at 7 this morning before my hubby left for work
*birthday greetings from staff and students throughout the day
*emails and facebook comments from relatives
*a lovely vase of flowers delivered to school from my daughter
*a decorated box with angels from a sweet girl at school
*laughter, hugs throughout the day
*more gifts and a beautiful card from my hubby after work
*a lovely meal at Swiss Chalet for the 2 of us
*shopping afterwards
*phonecalls from my children and stepchildren

So, now when I should be sleeping, I am wide awake and reflecting on a good day.

I am thankful for all my family - they make me feel special. Getting older doesn't seem as bad somehow!


At 8 Things Thursday , the posted question was :

"What are your *8 Things to Stop Doing in 2010? "

But because this was such a good day, and I am trying to be more positive this year, I wanted a different question, and thus create a different list.

I chose: " What 8 Things are you looking forward to in 2010?"

I am looking forward to:

1. More time with my husband, my family and friends.

2. The mixed media collage course my husband gave me for my birthday! Six weeks of creating and learning!

3. Creating more ATCs and taking part in more ATC swaps.

4. Taking Collage Diva's course (that I won) at True North Arts, beginning next week.

5. Reading more and being involved in the book challenges.
6. Working through my challenge, the ABCs of Art and creating much more.

7. Finally having my art studio.

8. Decluttering and making space in my house.

This will be a good year!

Wishcast Wednesday

Today is Wishcast Wednesday and Jamie Ridler of Jamie Ridler Studios asks us:

What dream do you wish to explore?

When I created my dream board last week, the phrases that surfaced were:

Wishes come true

Explore your creative side

Love the journey

Live Love Laugh

With Jamie's question this week, I realized my dreamboard had already answered the question.

I want a more positive year, filled with creative adventures. I want it to be filled with love and laughter.



My birthday is tomorrow and as I move toward my 60s I realize my dreams have to be fulfilled and that I really need to focus on what I want to achieve now. This year promises so much and I want to be all I can be!


As Jamie says: "You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Support wishes by visiting other participants. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other great wishcasting participants here.

ABC Wednesday - X and Y

This week's letter at ABC Wednesday is Y, but I am including last weeks's letter, X, as well.

X is for eXcitement and eXciting.

Last Sunday (Dec. 27)we were able to see the Olympic Torch runners run just 5 minutes from our home! It was eXciting! I can't believe how choked up I felt when I saw the torch being lit and the first runner (a grandmother!) begin her run up Cedar Street. It was emotional for a lot of people.

The next day we were at a birthday party at a restaurant and another Olympic runner came in, with her torch, after having returned from her run in northern Ontario. She graciously allowed whoever wanted to hold the torch and get a picture with her. I did - but still do not have the picture as I had not brought my camera!!!

What a moment that was. Truly eXciting!

The torch will soon be in Vancouver (Feb. 12) and the Olympics will begin! Can't wait!

Y is for Year - it is a brand new year - 2010!

Happy New Year everyone!

Y also is for YES - my word of intention for 2010!

Be sure to visit the other great participants here.

ABCs of Art - My Year- Long Challenge

A B C s of Art 2010

This past week I have begun my new challenge - to look at art and create art - alphabetically. Each week I will focus on an idea, a style, an artist, a medium and then, create with that as the focus. I hope to learn some new styles and use some new media - but overall I hope to have fun.

This week my focus was Abstract Art and Acrylics.

(Next week's focus will be architecture!)

There is an abundance of information on the web. One site had a very interesting article by Harley Hohn on "Understanding Abstract Art".

Definitions abound as do the styles. My favourite definition came from Mary Wallace ("Art for the Heart")

"...communicates the inner world of the artist by expressing feelings rather than things as they look in the real world.".

One of my favourite abstract artists is Jean-Paul Riopelle who created created "La Tique" in 1954. (Oil, 72.4x91.4 cm - seems like jewels! )

As I was exploring artwork and artists I came across a painting by Jack Bush which really appealed to me. It was the one I used as a model.

"Spot on Red", Oil on Canvas, 203.2x177.8 cm, 1960 - simple, bold , colourful shapes.

As I was working on it I realized I wanted then to use it for my Full Blue Moon dreamboard. I used acrylic, something I have not used much of. I really enjoyed creating the colours.

(You'll notice it is missing the spot - that will come later.)

Then the dreamboard came together. This year I am seeking greater positivity and that came out in all the phrases and pictures I found!. Even my horoscope is cooperating! lol

(I call mine "Blue Moon on Red"!)

Here are some closeups:

I finished some more ATCs for other challenges at ATCsforAll:

A. Birds and Scenes:

B. "Inspire Me"

C. A Christmas Carol (I chose the Muppets' version)

As well, I finished the paper beads for the Prayer Bead swap through TrueNorth Arts (Kathryn Anyr). I hope to do more of these.

All in all, it has been a good start to a more creative 2010!

Reading Challenges for 2010

My library overfloweth!

As part of the clearing away of clutter/making space challenge on Shannon's blog, I decided to read more this year and thus purge my library in the process. This lead to visiting reading/book blogs and what I discovered was some reading challenges for 2010.
Reading is a pasion for me - but usually through the school year I limit my reading to education texts and magazines.

This year I want more reading for me, so I am signing on for the following challenges:

(I will be able to combine books read to several of the challenges - but it still means reading at least one book a week!)

A. . To Be Read 2010

With this challenge you must post 12 books you already have, that you want to have read for over 6 months (lots of those!)

Here is my list:

1. Lovely Bones (Sebold)

2. Time Traveller's Wife

3. The Hours (Cunningham)

4. The Swallows of Kabul (Khadra)

5. Frenchwomen Don't Get Fat

6. Knit Two (Jacobs)

7. The Thirteenth Tale (Guiliano)

8. Unless (Shields)

9. Suite Francaise (Nemrovsky)

10. Deafening (Itani)

11. Break No Bones (Reichs)

12. Three Cups of Tea (Mortenson)

You can also have an alternate list. Here's mine:

1. Life of Pi (Martel)

2. Three Day Road (Boyden)

3. The Year of Magical Thinking (Didion)

4. Lord John, Private Matters (Gabaldon)

5. Serendipity Road (De Vrie)

6. A Voice of Reflection (Gzowski)

7. A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini)

8. The Tenth Circle (Picoult)

9. Extraordinary Evil (Coloroso)

10. Lucky Man (Fox)

11. A Mighty Heart (Pearl)

12. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Smith)

B. 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The goal is to read one book (at least) a week for 52 weeks. The rules are very simple:

The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.Participants may join at any time.All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc.Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2010.Books may overlap other challenges.

C. A to Z Challenge

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

D. Twenty Ten

It is being hosted by Bart over at Bart's Bookshelf.. The idea is to read 20 books that fit into 10 categories in 2010
Rules:
Read 2 books from each category, making a requirement of 20 books total.
Each book can only qualify for one category.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
Here are the categories:

1). Young Adult

2). T.B.R.**

3). Shiny & New

4). Bad Blogger's

5). Charity

6). New in 2010

7). Older Than You

8). Win! Win!

9). Who Are You Again?

10). Up To You!

If any of these challenges interest you be sure to check them out. No matter what - my goal is to read Read Read this year! and enjoy it!

Shadow Shot Sunday

A new year - a new year of shadows! Happy New Year!

Once again it is time to post our shadows.

I couldn't resist sharing these beauties - they stand outside the great restaurant "Le Biftheque" in Montreal. We went there Dec. 30th and had an exceptional meal! These photos were taken at night with flash.

Be sure to check out the other great shadow chasers at Hey Harriet!

Happy New Year!

A new year, a new decade, a new intention!

Having been away for most of the week visiting in Montreal, it is good to be back. I did miss bogging and visiting blogs. But sometimes a break is good as well. It does make one appreciate what one has missed.

I rang in the New Year last night with my hubby and in-laws. Seems strange to say 20-10!

I have been journalling this week about 2009 - the highlights, lows, accomplishments,etc. As well, I looked back over the last decade. I made some discoveries and realized this has been a decade of real highs ( I got re-married at age 50, saw my daughter graduate), and real lows (The loss of my Mom and other family members, health issues, estrangement of family).

I want to look forward. I want to embrace this year and this decade. Sherry of Everyday Possibilities says "the best is yet to Come!" I love that sentiment! I am tired of negativity, of wasting time, of not being healthy!

So a big YES to better health, to trying new things, to meeting new people, to enjoying life. As I read this week - this is not a dress rehearsal!

Thanks to a number of people who have shared some awesome advice and tools for setting intentions:

Kathryn Antyr of Collage Diva/True North

Christine Kane

Sherry Lee of Everyday Possibilities

Alie Edwards

Happy New Year to everyone - may this be a year of blessings, filled with creativity!