Avoidance

I've been trying to work on some writing projects. However, it turns out that some part of my mind tells me that doing chores is more important than the writing. So I end up not writing at all. It's kinda sad that I have to fight with myself to do something that could be fun. That awful chattering mind voice has got to be ignored.
Today I will write!

Eggs - day 53!

I'm getting excited! Today is day 53 for my 6 ball python eggs in the incubator. They should start to hatch sometime today...or sometime this week. It's not an exact science. Unlike bird eggs that you can pretty much depend on to hatch on a specific day. Reptile eggs may take a little shorter or longer depending on the conditions and temps in the environment.

I was able to separate them last night. That's good news. They were stuck together in a big pile the whole time they were incubating--that's normal. The mother would have wrapped herself around them and incubated them herself.
Here's mom on the eggs
.
This was right before I put them into the incubator. They are stuck together in a clump.



A sign that they are close to hatching is that I was able to carefully separate them. Another sign is that they are starting to dent in a bit. (The shells are leathery and not hard like a chicken egg.)
At least some of them are denting.



This pic was taken through the incubator window so it's a bit murky. There is one huge egg. You can see it in the right hand side. It was the bottom egg in the pile and is a lot bigger than the others. Can't wait!!! :) Maybe it's twins??!!

Is this heaven?

Just got over a summer cold. I haven't had a cold in the summer in a LOOOONG time. It's just as "unfun" in the summer as it is in the winter. ;)
Then this week not one...but both our cars broke down and are in the shop! Don't know where the money is going to come from for those problems. We also had to rent a car. What a bummer. However, I do have to say I like driving this little rental Nissan instead of my usual Eurovan. I feel like I've lost 200 lbs. lol!

Now we are heading to Iowa...

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?
Ray Kinsella: It’s Iowa.
John Kinsella: Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.
Ray Kinsella: Is there a heaven?
John Kinsella: Oh yeah. It’s the place where dreams come true.
Ray Kinsella: Maybe this is heaven

My hubby quickly made this pic yesterday night. I think it's cute.

Field of Dreams...love that movie! We’re heading to Iowa for 2 public screenings of Mad City Chickens this weekend. Iowans want their backyard chickens, and we hope to help them get ‘em.

~June 27, 2009 Iowa City Environmental Film Festival presented by IC Friends of Urban Chickens - 2:00pm Robert A. Lee Rec Center Social Hall, 220 S. Gilbert St.

~June 28, 2009 Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Public Screening presented by Cedar Rapids Chicken Chat group and the Indian Creek Nature Center - 2:00pm Indian Creek Nature Center.

Anyone in Iowa? Come on out for the free screenings. I'd love to see ya.

The holidays

The holidays have a way of bringing up the light and the dark side of life. This past Saturday I just felt melancholy all day. There wasn't anything that I could point a finger to and say "that's it. That why I feel bad." It just was there.

Then last night...more sadness. I found out that Suzanne of the blog Liquid Illuzion committed suicide on Christmas Eve. I was shocked, for many months I have enjoyed her blog and the comments she left on mine. She will definitely be missed. I hope her spirit finds the peace she sought. If you feel inclined you can go to WIXY Gone Bananas blog and see her obituary and friends comments.

Even though the hour was late, before I went to sleep I picked up the book The Heroine's Journey by Maureen Murdock. The part I read seemed very fitting for how I was feeling the last couple days and oddly it helped.

"Sadness lies at the very core of being. Lay the heart bare of every other feeling and inevitably you will come upon sadness, ready like the quickened seed, to put forth its green leaf.' One does not have to hold onto sadness, however. Releasing sadness is a discipline, like mindful breathing. Breathe in, you feel it, breathe out, you release it. Breathe in, a tear rolls down your cheek; breathe out, you feel gratitude for its warmth. Breathe in, and smile.' Be kind to yourself, take baby steps."

Be well,
Tashai

Impossibilities

Two quotes today because I like them both and couldn't decide which one not to use. ;)

"We forfeit three-fourths of our self to be like other people."
- Arthur Schopenhauer

That's a lot people! Let your true self shine. No one else can bring to the world what you can.
and the second bit of wisdom...

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
-Walt Disney

Walt was told many times in his life that he couldn't do what he wanted to do. He succeeded because he never gave up.

Sliding into home

~
Unfortunately, some of us detest Mondays.

If you don’t dig your work find something else.
This may take some quiet time.
If life leaves you empty, fill it with something satisfying.
Live like you mean it.

I forget that sometimes we have to find our passion again. Drag it up from where it fell. Shine a healing light on it, and tend it like a fragile seedling for it to continue to grow and blossom into the giant beanstalk that it was meant to be.

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Chocolate in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO-HOO! What a ride!”
~unknown

I'm not a religious person but I just have to say "Amen" to that!

The two sides of my mother

Why I thought this would be an easy post I have no idea. Probably because it's been on my mind for days. I thought I had it just about written in my head...but it took me a long time to get it out.

This is for my mother who passed on three years ago today.

I don't miss...
1. your rage.
2. your pain.
3. your prudishness.
4. you calling me stupid.
5. your stuckness.

I very much miss...
1. my momma
2. your awesome cooking
3. your special wisdom
4. my shopping buddy
5. having you there

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contrary to what my Aunt thinks...my mothers favorite colors were green and pink (not purple and yellow). Where did that rumor start?

Title of Piece: Mothers
Medium: Digital Art
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Uber Amazing Blog Award!

Another honor! Thank you Fairy Jane at http://seefairies.blogspot.com for bestowing the Uber Amazing Blog award on me. I'm so happy that people actually read my blog and it's not just going into a cyber blackhole! :)


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"How is the award determined? The rules are as follows:

The award is presented to blogs that- 1. Inspire you 2. Make you smile and laugh 3. Or maybe give amazing information 4. Are a great read 5. Have an amazing design 6. Or any other reasons you can think of that make them uber amazing!

If you receive this award: 1. Please put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 5 blogs that you feel are Uber Amazing! 3. Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog. 4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from."
*************

I'm sending it on to these lovely folks:
http://twentypoundtabby.blogspot.com (love the colors and patterns (and kitties) she does and has)
http://mea-culpa-aromatherapycreations.blogspot.com (everything always looks so yummy)
http://delightfuldivasinbusiness.blogspot.com (for their work inspiring independent business women)
http://michelleperkett.blogspot.com/ (just love her fairies)
http://pinchmetoseeifyouaredreaming.blogspot.com (her journal pages are so awesome...and she likes Pippi Longstockings)

Fall textures

I like finding the hidden beauty and wonder in ordinary places. The day I took this had perfect light for photography. Love those days!

~

Title: Hopper

Medium: Digital Painting

Full Size: 8" x 10 "

Fall Harvest

This is looking out my back windows this past Saturday. I love fall...and I'm finally getting into the spirit of the season. It's starting to feel like halloween is coming...with witches and werewolves out at night. I saw the most excellent moon last night! All blue and purple with wispy clouds moving across it.

This weekend I gathered some apples from our tree. We don't do anything to it...except an occasional prune. The apples aren't pretty but they are all organic and make for excellent drying fodder! We had a banner year for our old tree. It's just covered in these green apples. Our backyard smells heavenly.

I brought some pics to the library on a jump drive... No my computer is not fixed yet. :(

Friday drama

~
Whew! and TGIF!
My computer's mother board is still on order. Really, really hope it gets here soon!
My blog will be much more picturesque when I can post images again. :)
I have to say that it did turn into a beautiful day here in Madison. Got some great pics of "weeds" to practice watercolors on. Yes, weeds in watercolor are beautiful....well at least if you are a good with watercolor. They might not look good for me. lol.

Finally some good news...I picked up a freelance website job. That money is already earmarked to go into my "new DSLR camera fund". I'm really hoping to have it before the holiday season. Been waiting long time for that one.

Cheers!
~

More Waiting...

Malcolm from the computer tech placed called this morning. Bad news!
My computer's mother board is history. That means another $300.00 on the credit card and the computer won't be back to me for another week. Ugh!

This must be a patience test. lol!

Well...I guess that gives me some more time to do etsy research. I've been drooling over so many items on there! Even though my shop is still empty...and I've got no internet access at home. I'm starting to feel like a I found a place where "my people" are. :)

Some Days...

...I feel like my heart has been ripped from my chest and pinned to the wall to bleed dry.
That's how I felt while working on this.
...And it came together so easy. When it was finished, I felt cleansed. I really love this piece.
Funny huh?


Title: Some Days
Medium: Digital Painting
Full Size: 8" x 10"

Thought of the day

~
The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.
~ Deepak Chopra
~

Dog Love

~
Here's another tribute to my dog-Cupcake.
~
Read about Cupcake.

Title: I'm ready!
Medium: Digital Painting
Full Size: Greeting Card
~

Qutoe of the Day

~
We carry within us the wonders we seek without us.

~Sir Thomas Browne

Quote of the Day

~
Sometimes you must become simple, strip away all ambition until you are bare, before you can build from the true design in your heart. Some pieces can be recycled, re-used, reincorporated. The other things, that took away your strength and energy, are ready to be discarded into the void, to be transformed by the mystery.

~Unknown

On Caterpillars

~

When it reaches a certain stage of its evolution, a caterpillar starts to consume more than it can handle. It becomes extremely voracious and becomes extremely disfigured and grotesque, and its cells begin to go into chaos and start to die.

Within the body of the caterpillar at that time there are a few scattered cells, which biologists refer to as imaginal cells, and these imaginal cells start to connect with each other. And when they reach a certain critical mass of connectivity, a genetic mutation occurs which has a genetic code for a different species: a butterfly with wings and a flight to freedom and a desire for that flight to freedom and beautiful colors. And this genetic code also has a gene that allows the connected imaginal cells to use the decaying body of the caterpillar, the liquefying mass, as their nutritious soup.

~Deepak Chopra

That's pretty awesome! Just think if we had imaginal cells.

Peace

*
May peace prevail on Earth.
May peace prevail in my mind.
May peace prevail in my heart.
May peace prevail in my life.

May I know peace.
May my ancestors know peace.
May my childrens' children know peace.
unto seven generations.
May peace prevail on Earth.

~Kisma Stepanich

Mouth of Fire

Title: Mouth of Fire
Medium: Digital Photograph
Full Size: 8" x 10"


This shot is from my friends Bird & Amelia's farm. See the barn?