The Censor, The Garden, and Mary

Miss Suzi Blu has inspired me again!! Damn that woman!! :) If you haven't already gone to her ning network, please, I beg you, GO!!! (http://www.suziblu.ning.com/) There are so many workshops to fall in love with and they are sure to unleash the creative passion that you thought didn't exist. One of the newest FREE workshops is centered around a book called "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron. The first chapter is about creating a sense of safety by acknowledging your inner critic (you Censor) and basically telling him to shut the heck up... he's the one who plants "Negative Nelly" thoughts in your head anytime you get a compliment. Have you ever really payed attention to children... they will compliment themselves with such conviction and without hesitation because they're free from self doubt (that negative crap we adults force feed ourselves). Go ahead, try saying something nice about yourself and just listen to your Censor weasel his way in... We don't need to hear any more from the peanut gallery, so could you kindly SHUT UP!!!... I still have to do my positive affirmation homework, but so far I'm loving this book...

On the gardening front... After all my stressing over my bulbs not sprouting I went out on my patio Saturday morning and found that two of my bulbs had indeed broken free (and a couple days later a couple more made their debut).... I tell you, I have never been so freakin' excited and I must have gone out to "check on them" about 20 times throughout the day just to bask in my success. I was all ready to dig them out and "force" them, but I guess all I needed was a little faith and patience. I was so inspired by my newly discovered green thumb that I went out and bought lavender and star jasmine plants and a bunch of herb seeds... and yes, I will sow them myself... that's right, Martha Stewart, there's a new girl in town... Watch out!!!

Some other good news... I have finally finished my commissioned piece for the The American Cancer Society. Her name is Mary and I am completely head over heels in love with her. All day Monday I painted away at this background... I lost count on how many layers I put down, but the end result is beautiful, I think, so it was all worth it. I couldn't bare to not have a remembrance of her, so I dropped her off at Sacramento Giclee this morning so I can have a print all to myself (and anyone else who loves her)... Her she is...