tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15089830787887753042024-03-05T23:56:43.153-05:00Musings of a Cluttered BrainA space to just be for awhileMartha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-47753150720699162742016-04-05T12:30:00.000-04:002016-04-05T12:30:12.648-04:00When you lose sight...I learned some news today. Nothing Earth-shattering. Good news for someone I respect and admire, really. So why did I start crying from such a core of despair? My first thought was (instead of, cool! She got a promotion!), "Great, now I'm even further removed from moving up around here!" That was followed by, "I don't get it. Other people say, when I call, "Oh, I'm so glad it's you. You're our favorite!" Or "I am so grateful to be working with you." "I can always count on you to think out of the box and find the perfect solution!" News like what I read today makes me want to shout, "DON'T TELL ME - TELL SOMEONE WHO MATTERS!" Whoa. Wait a minute. Damn it, I matter. I know what I mean... I mean, please tell my superiors who will miraculously say, "Hey, you know who is a great motivator, mentor, and leader and would be perfect for this job?" <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HKWc3Va90JQx-5ItWnR1k1QzD5-Hf7tm9UHPwSTVtwAVgAl-Tmd8xF7zJL-44OXmpbUQXR4iL5IeY8qd9pROygwILQdM0QYKfSUvFsekSl2JKQFe9iBWsFk1I8120uWMq3c0T6EfxBU/s1600/Affirm+I+allow+it+to+happen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HKWc3Va90JQx-5ItWnR1k1QzD5-Hf7tm9UHPwSTVtwAVgAl-Tmd8xF7zJL-44OXmpbUQXR4iL5IeY8qd9pROygwILQdM0QYKfSUvFsekSl2JKQFe9iBWsFk1I8120uWMq3c0T6EfxBU/s200/Affirm+I+allow+it+to+happen.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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I have lost sight of what I know to be true. Negative thought breeds negative outcomes. Allowing the minutia of life to keep you from practicing positive intention - letting stress immobilize you to the point that you stop taking care of your whole self - only perpetuates the negativity. By affirming - by believing even when it's tough to believe - makes the positive intentions not only possible but reality.<br />
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Thank you, Louise Hay, for teaching me how to affirm - even if I only half believe it and am repeating the current mantra through tears:<br />
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I AM WORTHY OF ACHIEVING MY AMBITIONS AND DREAMS! I AM OPEN AND READY TO RECEIVE A PROMOTION THAT WILL MEET MY CAREER AND FINANCIAL GOALS AS WELL AS MY NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF MY FAMILY!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a0TUdAO1siVViTxuiCE6nKl_nPqu-hnFXFV6twbT9DVbCCxSPFpg84cyQUT9n6VxzxSnApxrU4xSrVxbzkg5jmgIo19aDfmKfj7QGdTp4rOs42_Mbf7kpmte4jGRFxmWl4sF9XZxq7Y/s1600/Affirm+I+create+my+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a0TUdAO1siVViTxuiCE6nKl_nPqu-hnFXFV6twbT9DVbCCxSPFpg84cyQUT9n6VxzxSnApxrU4xSrVxbzkg5jmgIo19aDfmKfj7QGdTp4rOs42_Mbf7kpmte4jGRFxmWl4sF9XZxq7Y/s200/Affirm+I+create+my+life.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">THERE. It's out there. C'mon Universe. Do your stuff. Because I really am open and ready to receive. I am worthy of recognition of my talents and skills - not just in "woohoos" but in tangible ways that positively impact my finances. </span><br />
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So I state again, thank you for all I have achieved and all I have. I am truly blessed. I am ready to move forward in positive ways that puts me in a position of leadership and mentorship; that provides for me and family in ways that allows us to live comfortably, meeting all of our obligations with ease and having plenty with which to play and to share with others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrTlWIwdFod_CfzPshQXjxbBtcANeyvEDs13e3rJR4sJQJTeIyM8IS_M21bKc0B2V8M0QJtedV2AxltHtw_lEKUPuQi-OqWPEUPEWKGxuwYZobkn7y7XwOmIi1AtIKEdKtEtK__ItmUY/s1600/Affirm+choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrTlWIwdFod_CfzPshQXjxbBtcANeyvEDs13e3rJR4sJQJTeIyM8IS_M21bKc0B2V8M0QJtedV2AxltHtw_lEKUPuQi-OqWPEUPEWKGxuwYZobkn7y7XwOmIi1AtIKEdKtEtK__ItmUY/s1600/Affirm+choice.jpg" /></a></div>
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Power Thought Cards by Louise Hay (c) 1999<br />
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<br />Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-23382199484735585062016-03-09T22:40:00.001-05:002016-03-09T22:40:14.029-05:00The kindness of strangersI have often wondered about how a seemingly chance meeting can have a profound impact on your life. I have longed stopped believing in coincidences yet I am often surprised when it happens. Sometimes these chance meetings are only that - just meetings. Sometimes, however, they turn into a deeper connection that time and distance do not diminish. <div>
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On July 1, 2010, I got a phone call from my sister that our mother had been taken to the hospital from her memory care facility in an unresponsive state. This had happened on two other occasions and both of those times Hospice was called in to provide palliative care. But the other two times, our mother revived. This time it was different. Mother's major systems were beginning to shut down and her MD predicted that she would not survive more than 24 to 48 hours. Hpspice was once again called and the decision was made to transfer our mom to my sister's home. I left work early, drove home and updated my family, packed a few things, and drove the 5 hours to my sister's home hoping I would make it in time to say goodbye.</div>
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I arrived at my sister's home shortly after the ambulance had transported our mom. The hospice nurse was there and making sure we had all of the comfort medications and supplies, etc. A short time later a beautiful young woman arrived, complete with a warm smile, and an air of confidence. Ashley was our night CNA assigned to assist us with caring for our mother and yet doing so much more. I found it difficult to sleep that night so Ashley and I stayed up and talked. Although I am old enough to be her mother, it felt like we had been friends forever. She told me about her diagnosis of Leukemia when she was a young teen and her successful remission. We talked about her dancing and her career with a ballet company that was cut short by another cancer diagnosis and her current treatments. She had just started chemo the month before and had shaved off over 18 inches of her hair. I talked about my work as a therapist and my how I was struggling with my doctoral program. We talked about my new grandson and how I wished that he would have had the chance to know my mom. We talked about her plans to enter nursing school and to become a Hospice nurse as soon as possible. While we talked she cared for my mother - gently, professionally, compassionately. </div>
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Over the course of the next 9 days, I looked forward to Ashley's shifts and our talks. The night mom died, it was Ashley that came upstairs to wake me - giving me a chance to tell mom goodbye before she drew her last breath. It was Ashley that took a beautiful picture of our entwined hands - my sister's, my mom's, and mine - before the funeral home took her away. A chance meeting with an angel who turned out to be a lifelong friend. </div>
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Six years later a lot has happened. We have never seen each other in person again but we stay in touch. She is a nurse. She got married and is an amazing step-mother. She beat cancer for the second time. She has hair again but this is the way I remember her</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg2wdp6VBmjEDHML3QkV0icULgBdV8FCnDX3g7BmKT8NykQAtOYZD7Jt1TiNPczy1VpOEUJWPxyraQQ2HdV3G9VG0_l2n5OTRpSjpVdPZ4uN3jyLeJIWIrwP_H3ktY6bM4oL0iij3n-U/s1600/Ashley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg2wdp6VBmjEDHML3QkV0icULgBdV8FCnDX3g7BmKT8NykQAtOYZD7Jt1TiNPczy1VpOEUJWPxyraQQ2HdV3G9VG0_l2n5OTRpSjpVdPZ4uN3jyLeJIWIrwP_H3ktY6bM4oL0iij3n-U/s320/Ashley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and the way I remember the way she provided care to me as much as she did my mom. </div>
Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-8602482011083080092016-03-09T21:59:00.000-05:002016-03-09T21:59:31.077-05:00Reading and reminiscing...I was reading a blogpost tonight about a woman who found out as she entered a grocery store chain that her father had completed suicide. In that darkest moment of her life she was recalling all of the strangers who offered comfort, solace, and tangible evidence that goodness and kindness still exist in this broken world. At the end of the blog was a request for story submissions about a time when a stranger or someone who I didn't know well touched my life in a profound way. The submission is to be in the form of a blog post, hence my cruise through memory land. I can't believe it's been 2 years since I posted last. SO much has changed. So much chaos is in my life right now. I don't have the energy to write about it all now but I am going to make this a priority in my life. I have let myself down quite a bit lately. I've ignored my own self-care and reverted back to my "momma fix it" mode. So I need this. I need to have one space that is peacefully mineTHis . I should probably add a pic or two to mark the passage of time: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuOKrZsXGO6rZBtmg29fXrbztbptKZamg_eXJm4UKIWQMN1M3UJrT20bNU8aNkkyPgLprZiiI-RbYNH1-le8rIUrfp0YbD9EyRz9srgx-7JEq17CigoNBPz5lY38BV6beBKgl3xhhlys/s1600/Noah+and+Xander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuOKrZsXGO6rZBtmg29fXrbztbptKZamg_eXJm4UKIWQMN1M3UJrT20bNU8aNkkyPgLprZiiI-RbYNH1-le8rIUrfp0YbD9EyRz9srgx-7JEq17CigoNBPz5lY38BV6beBKgl3xhhlys/s320/Noah+and+Xander.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the precious little boy of my earlier posts at nearly 6 years of age and his new little brother. Yep... a LOT has happened in two years...</div>
Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-80189261424906913362014-05-21T06:20:00.000-04:002014-05-21T06:20:12.380-04:00Nothing is sure but...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SQUIRREL!! A simple comment like "does anyone else here have a blog" sent me off on a merry chase to view my old blog which led me to writing. The most phenomenal <i>coincidence</i> (there are NO coincidences) is that this question came from someone who is taking an online Brave Girls Club class with me - and my last blog post was about the Brave Girls Club post I took two years ago... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was reading through my last posts and it occurred to me that while change is challenging, I've been through a great deal of it lately. Another observation is that "change" should probably be included in the list of life's guaranteed absolutes: death and taxes.... and change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To catch up quickly: I did finish Soul Restoration 2 (now called Life Restoration - see - another change!) and over the next 18 months completed all but one of the goals I had set for myself. I completed all of the requirements to be fully licensed as a therapist in South Carolina and North Carolina. I completed certification in trauma-focused therapy. I graduated with distinction from Capella University with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology. And now... we're one step closer to my final goal... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're moving back to North Carolina!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last May I left my full time job with the SC Department of Mental Health. I don't want to go into all of the reasons that I walked away from steady income and benefits but I will just say that I never regretted my decision for one moment. In August I took a part time job in my adopted hometown. I started working "PRN" for an inpatient behavioral hospital and continue to do so (just with less availability) even though I took a full time position with a different hospital halfway between where I live now and where I want to be. Thus - the decision to move closer to my jobs - my husband has decided to reduce his job to part time...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you see... everywhere I turn there is change. I suppose I should get used to it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See you sooner...</span>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-19066522796445358402012-04-22T22:28:00.000-04:002012-04-22T22:28:36.629-04:00Soul RestorationI have spent this past week in several hours of self-reflection as I answered the guided journal exercise. This is the first exercise in the Brave Girls Club Soul Restoration 2 online course which I started last Tuesday. I, like other class members, tend to over think the answers as if we are being graded by some cosmic headmaster and the fruition of our future dreams and visions depend on saying "just the right thing." Oh, I wish it were true. I wish that just by writing down over and over again that I am achieving balance and letting go of old hurts that I can wake up tomorrow or the next day with it <i>all</i> figured out. I do believe with all of my heart that the laws of attraction bring to us what we ask for. But what if we ask for the wrong thing? What if we don't have a clue what we really want? The what ifs will make us crazy. <br />
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I wish I had a way to do a word usage generator on a handwritten document. I have a feeling several words would float to the top of the leader board: Balance. Abundance. Letting Go. Family. Friends. Peace. Harmony. Fairness. Equality. Healing. These are definitely the things I hope for - for me... for my family. But is this enough? How do we ever know? I guess that's part of the discovery process. Being open and receptive to whatever the Universe wants for each of us - and being flexible - allows the abundance to flow to and through us. At least that's what I intend to attract!<br />
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I can't wait for next week's class. I can't wait to see where this path is leading. Now if I could only find the motivation I need to start writing on my dissertation chapters!<br />
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Blessings...Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-53133457259918198152012-04-21T00:16:00.000-04:002012-04-21T00:16:10.237-04:00Change sucksbut unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's necessary. I found this unattributed quote tonight and it seems to sum up how I've been feeling lately:<br />
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“As I look back on all that's happened..growing up, growing together, changing you, changing me -- there were times when we dreamed together, when we laughed and cried together. As I look back on those days, I realize how much I truly miss you and how much I truly love you. The past may be gone forever..and whatever the future holds, our todays make the memories of tomorrow. So, my lifetime friend, it is with all my heart that I send you my love, hoping that you'll always carry my smile with you, for all we have meant to each other and for whatever the future may hold.” ~Anonymous.<br />
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All relationships change. It's inevitable. The inevitability doesn't make it any less painful. But, I've weathered worse... and, in reality... what I'm feeling may be nothing. It may just be a series of missed opportunities, of exhaustion and life getting in the way. I hope so. However, no matter what, I will keep this quote in my heart.<br />
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Onto a slightly different topic... I've started a new online class called Soul Restoration 2. We're in the first week and the assignment is filling out 14 pages of prompted self-reflections. Wow... It's not easy writing for just me... and keeping the authenticity and honesty flowing. I don't know about you, but I find it easier to be authentic with a presumed audience that with my own self. Is that weird or normal? I had to go back through the sheets and refine some of my responses because I felt I was trying to please a phantom reader - you know - say what you think they want to hear? I think I've been trying to write my responses based on what I think I want to hear. Ok... that's making me dizzy! I have to start just writing from the authentic center of my soul - pain, ugliness, harsh reality, and all.<br />
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Anyway - the end result of this journey should be a mixed media vision journal of the life I want to have. I guess I have to work on being open and receptive to what the universe has in store for me...instead of what I think I want it to say.Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-12418934722994362372012-04-14T11:37:00.000-04:002012-04-14T11:37:39.638-04:00I just needed to get this off my chest...I am feeling very vulnerable today. Well... actually, it's been a few weeks that I've noticed old insecurities creeping in. It reached a pinnacle of self-pity last night as I watched the Lionel Richie special and bawled my eyes out because I felt like I was in mourning over our relationship. I guess that happens when you feel more connected to someone than they <i>show*</i> you that they are. I let my imagination run to the "she must be mad at me... I am a bother to her... I've done something to screw up our relationship" cesspool and drink deeply. I don't want to. I really don't want to be that insecure, needy, codependent, passive, self-centered person anymore. I don't want to need validation that our love and connection are solid - but I do. There... I've said it. I need to know that I am thought about sometimes; that she turns to tell me something or ask my opinion about something and realize that I am not sitting there just like it happens to me most days. I need to know it's ok that I sometimes screw up and say the wrong thing. And what I really need is to stop putting so much responsibility on her. Maybe that's why she is so silent right now. I suck too much energy out of the room. So... what will be my affirmation today? "I am sucking less energy?" Or, "I let go of my relationships and let them be what they will be" knowing full well that if I believe this, let it go, that I risk a change so drastic that I might never breathe again? But isn't that what unconditional love means? Isn't that what I preach to my clients each and every day? I have to let go. I have to stop expecting others to <i>show </i>(*aka PROVE) that I am important in their lives. "I am open and ready to receive love in whatever form it chooses me. I let go of all strings and conditions." Hmmm... still have to work on that affirmation.Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-37541540737677263772012-04-08T14:36:00.000-04:002012-04-08T14:36:27.047-04:00Reflections on Lent<div class="MsoNormal">Things I learned during my Lenten fast:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This isn’t a new year’s resolution.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It’s a disciplinary practice to make us think about our priorities.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Relapse happens.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The point is not to give up when we blow it but to figure out how and why we continue to make that “priority” more important than our commitment to our spiritual practices.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Every time you think about your “forbidden” thing you have the opportunity to think about how this thing takes over your life and your other commitments.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It’s not so much that you quit a bad habit or take on a healthier one – what do you do with the time you would have spent on this?</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">What do you do with the money you spent on this? Are you more consciously aware? Are you willing to spend your time and money on something that brings you closer to your spiritual self instead?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Has my “fast” moved me to be more thoughtful in my practice or use of that priority I gave up?</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">My fast did not stop me from getting incensed at the political stupidity that has been running rampant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It did not keep me from feeling ashamed of the people who still believe that by sharing we lose. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yet, I have stopped letting every idiotic, prejudiced, ignorant political attack rile me to the point of rage.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have learned that no one listens to ranting – it just makes them look at you like you’re a crazy person. I’ve been rereading a lot more of the quotes attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi lately. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have also learned that the reason I get so riled up has a lot to do with my own feelings that others think I’m unintelligent just because I think we should all have the same rights and privileges. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">My own feelings of inadequacy and insignificance contribute to my anger about a lot of things.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Self-affirmation is a daily practice that has to happen long past 40 days.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have learned that I am guilty of the sin of generalization. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I thought I was good at carefully wording my thoughts to avoid this. Evidently, I don’t do so well when it’s a group with whom I wholeheartedly disagree. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have been working on not lumping “all conservatives” into the same pit and I continue to work on not letting the over-generalization of “us filthy liberals” make me forget all that I’ve learned.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have been reminded that I am in control of my feelings and, therefore, can choose how I express them.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And, although I am in charge of how I feel and respond to anything – I am not in charge of the outcome.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ever.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I think the biggest lesson for me is that it is absolutely ok to be passionate.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It is absolutely ok to act passionately.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And it is absolutely, 100% OK for me to share that passion with others.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The part of the lesson that I still have to work on is that it’s absolutely ok for your passion to differ from mine.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">I hope your Lenten season (whether you participated in fasting or not) has been a beautiful and meaningful time of self-discovery. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm and Easter Sundays 2012</td></tr>
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</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-76151473387952384352012-03-30T08:01:00.000-04:002012-03-30T08:01:54.038-04:00Challenge 64 and other random tanglesHappy Friday on this next to the last day of March. I am the Diva's challenge this week is for everyone to use the same string - 8 (quasi) special right triangles (one 90º and two 45º angles). I was sitting in an all-day training this week when I created my tiles. I've said before that Zentangle helps me focus and opens my auditory processing so I can retain more of what's being said. Therefore, I didn't pay a lot of attention to what I was drawing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpJT4B9OytwAiAae4OmLeX3_oMOVA32G-GzZlCaMjuIAu_-8G5tqazTQ-ALUvZsmToZ-4qZlWDc4ae9ehyphenhyphenek4T1_nz-tPnvuUotpxIeht3eU4sMMUQmR7rgpw1FxVcW6PLLS69xZqEPQ/s1600/Challenge+64+Tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpJT4B9OytwAiAae4OmLeX3_oMOVA32G-GzZlCaMjuIAu_-8G5tqazTQ-ALUvZsmToZ-4qZlWDc4ae9ehyphenhyphenek4T1_nz-tPnvuUotpxIeht3eU4sMMUQmR7rgpw1FxVcW6PLLS69xZqEPQ/s320/Challenge+64+Tile.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br />
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The top one was done on an actual tile and the other two in my sketchbook. Of course, at some point (after lunch) I just started tangling on a random string in my sketchbook (which for some reason only scanned as a portion:<br />
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I had to take a picture of it and resave to get the whole thing:<br />
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Uhm.... no matter how I turn it it looks a little phallic. Oh well... probably had something to do with the lecture on how psychotropic medications effect the body... :-)<br />
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I'm looking forward to my grandson's visit this weekend. It will be a wonderful whirlwind of 2-yr-old activity here. I hope everyone has a weekend that is filled with your favorite things to do, too!<br />
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Happy tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-28144213979796213202012-03-17T15:07:00.000-04:002012-03-17T15:07:06.030-04:00No challenge this week -other than setting up a new computer. I have to rebuild all of my bookmarks and other stuff (and get used to a new keyboard) so I don't have time to tangle this week...<br />
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I'll be ooo ing and ahhh ing over everyone else's offerings, though.<br />
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Happy Tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-6402376406977425422012-03-08T21:28:00.000-05:002012-03-08T21:28:28.140-05:00Challenge #61 UMT v.II GolvenMariet's tangle pattern, Golven, is this week's challenge from I Am the Diva. My tile was actually started before the challenge was posted. I've mentioned before that I often tangle during church services to keep my mind from wandering and my butt from squirming in my seat (back row center of the choir loft - pretty noticeable!). I rarely finish one and this one was no exception. I took my tile home and forgot about it until Monday when Diva posted her challenge. The center just beckoned to be filled with Mariet's waves. Love the tangle and I will definitely be using it again!<br />
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Happy Tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-16003735515963336852012-02-27T23:13:00.000-05:002012-02-27T23:13:02.722-05:00Challenge #60 - Duo Tangle v.III Cirquital/MunchinWow. Two tangles I've never used before. Sometimes I am really not up the challenge of using new tangles or using only one or two specific tangles. I almost passed on this one. But then I saw a technique on the Pinterest boards that piqued my interest. I am including a picture of it here because the visual is better than any explanation I could give:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholNLMLWZlepgPzxYZXAZQDmGzfhC0_2b2AKzcG1mbe7vDeBJPd8Uy00ANiPs_3xCG09kp8Nvyf36APzSnSYDHq7TRgGwroGTmliocX5-X2bba34jS-vVhSLBBJAbsaUEDd9p8Dxc2p18/s1600/3DHand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholNLMLWZlepgPzxYZXAZQDmGzfhC0_2b2AKzcG1mbe7vDeBJPd8Uy00ANiPs_3xCG09kp8Nvyf36APzSnSYDHq7TRgGwroGTmliocX5-X2bba34jS-vVhSLBBJAbsaUEDd9p8Dxc2p18/s1600/3DHand.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, anyway, I was thinking about the challenge and got the idea to use an outline of my hand for the challenge. The original intent was to color it with this technique but I had the forethought to scan it first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNobxw9gFz6krEqqlL6dCs-GEH14INnJ_ylkrIdZ5sdqH4AW0DfEp4fBm09mVi90jv0dRG6GjaR-TFLfWBvPDboTPCg9nqQC42dBiOPSgMRHMqf5tgicKSWKSkNkes78-eQOyI2lKEM8/s1600/Munchin+and+Cirquital+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNobxw9gFz6krEqqlL6dCs-GEH14INnJ_ylkrIdZ5sdqH4AW0DfEp4fBm09mVi90jv0dRG6GjaR-TFLfWBvPDboTPCg9nqQC42dBiOPSgMRHMqf5tgicKSWKSkNkes78-eQOyI2lKEM8/s400/Munchin+and+Cirquital+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I printed out a copy and colored it - and hated it. I thought, "maybe it's because I don't have much of a border around the edges (I used a Strathmore 5x7 Drawing Card)." So I decided to draw another string, use the same challenge tangle patterns and then color it. I'm still not fond of the results - and I forgot to scan the black and white version first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfbhxo-aKy2GsgUbDojFF1k22iAFGHXqg_Qh5x8oTcdI6QU_ZJWspoZrab4Zmj3dF7EUqUna9T2IhrAyUif23LuQh7GUC6nYldlDJjKaJbTLSjdC-FlQyDFuPLyoq_J4Y_M5EpXzs6Sc/s1600/Munchin+and+Cirquittal+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfbhxo-aKy2GsgUbDojFF1k22iAFGHXqg_Qh5x8oTcdI6QU_ZJWspoZrab4Zmj3dF7EUqUna9T2IhrAyUif23LuQh7GUC6nYldlDJjKaJbTLSjdC-FlQyDFuPLyoq_J4Y_M5EpXzs6Sc/s320/Munchin+and+Cirquittal+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I understand the concept. I just didn't achieve the effect I was hoping for. I will keep practicing. Until then - Happy tangling!</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-30820106711097157462012-02-24T23:38:00.000-05:002012-02-24T23:38:13.631-05:00Challenge 59 UpdateI got bored tonight so I decided to color my mask.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzBuDYDfGYkx4mpzss7fvDy4XaTnAjbvpW9Gztz9ADoAWuWwe53c3GBav2zGrII0XzRuB7SQN7_-mXxThM6MuhcIqVxlcsoi61R6bSXqOzEs5j9KJnqPI3tuJOROokXo5ORjPcfZl2hA/s1600/Mask+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzBuDYDfGYkx4mpzss7fvDy4XaTnAjbvpW9Gztz9ADoAWuWwe53c3GBav2zGrII0XzRuB7SQN7_-mXxThM6MuhcIqVxlcsoi61R6bSXqOzEs5j9KJnqPI3tuJOROokXo5ORjPcfZl2hA/s400/Mask+2.jpg" width="400" /></a>'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like color but I don't usually use it because there's just so much pressure figuring out what color I want to use where. It's a little easier when I limit it to two or three colors - this time I used the "colors of Mardi Gras" - gold, purple, and green. I used both Marvy and Tombow markers and played with the blender. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really appreciate the nice comments I received on my black and white version. I have so much fun and one of my challenges is to avoid comparing my work with others. It's so hard when we have been raised to compete. It's sort of another part of my Lenten journey this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was going to write about that last night when I posted my black and white Mask. I was too tired to think but I decided to share tonight if you don't mind. This year I decided to give up talking about, reading about, thinking about (way harder than I thought) politics. I did this not as some sort of self denial but as a way give up being angry, disgusted, and frustrated all of the time! We'll see how this goes. I'm pretty opinionated and can get pretty darned emotional (which includes screaming at the TV). It's only day 3 and already I've been tempted and challenged. But I'm riding the mute button to avoid getting sucked into news stories and I avoid reading anything posted online. Maybe by Easter I'll either not care anymore or succeed in channeling my anger and frustration into something much more productive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tangled blessings to you all!</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-8484937601756425602012-02-23T22:31:00.000-05:002012-02-23T22:31:17.951-05:00Laissez les bons temps rouler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Let the good times roll! I haven't worked on a zentangle inspired art piece this detailed in awhile. I'm not completely satisfied with it - as always, when I try for a specific outcome it never quite turns out like what's in my head. But that's ok. I like it anyway. Since Shrove Tuesday has actually passed and we are now squarely into Lent, I suppose I can give up that need to control this outcome, too. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJDoFNtfc4PJQA6twCs8IStKP-dTD6kOuhnDT6I0h6roCU4W6HJsCdfM366wW9kCRNrksOcGuTlql7KDPRRQjOM8IqPTEnwvhPM-1COlGHhlMxmWGL3hc7sGJlL_-PpK_W0egGC9mCWQ/s1600/Challenge+59+Mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJDoFNtfc4PJQA6twCs8IStKP-dTD6kOuhnDT6I0h6roCU4W6HJsCdfM366wW9kCRNrksOcGuTlql7KDPRRQjOM8IqPTEnwvhPM-1COlGHhlMxmWGL3hc7sGJlL_-PpK_W0egGC9mCWQ/s640/Challenge+59+Mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was going to write about Lenten journeys but I'm tired and I wanted to get this posted. So happy tangling and blessed journeys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-5904629738221639932012-02-20T15:55:00.000-05:002012-02-20T15:55:15.792-05:00In between challengesI've been reading a blog lately by Dan Pearce called <a href="http://www.danoah.com/" target="_blank">Single Dad Laughing</a>. You can find the link over on my favorites list. Dad wrote a post recently called "Who's Life is it Anyway." I don't think I've ever seen so many comments as the result of a single post - it really hit a nerve with me and, obviously, with a lot of others, too. Due to the response, he's following up with a series on what happiness - or more accurately - what the choice to be happy means. I encourage you to read. <br />
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After getting some major work on my dissertation proposal done this past week, I am ready to work on the next Diva challenge - Mardi Gras! I can't wait. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. I'm also doing some more work on my "visioning" ZIA. So I'll be back...<br />
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In the meantime - happy tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-47845255070677186482012-02-11T20:57:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:57:39.163-05:00Challenge #57 - UMT v. 1 - Sanibel<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjoN_oj7s0l3n2I81YTARtv47DixnAEgq-9ugYccSX1bTfeISHieuK0BT0BlquG75QHO7JRmsXvcZX5HZTeHms_9LCGZtmjBnt14rD8Miqbd-EEmF_KShFBeQJ1Taf9box5cJgaZ3Avo/s1600/AnamCara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjoN_oj7s0l3n2I81YTARtv47DixnAEgq-9ugYccSX1bTfeISHieuK0BT0BlquG75QHO7JRmsXvcZX5HZTeHms_9LCGZtmjBnt14rD8Miqbd-EEmF_KShFBeQJ1Taf9box5cJgaZ3Avo/s320/AnamCara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: xx-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></strong></div>I realize that my post for Diva's challenge is nearly last minute. It has been a full-moon sort of crazy week. It started last Sunday when I found out that a dear friend's 12 month old grandchild died suddenly in a choking accident. I struggled all week with the thoughts of losing a child - no matter what the circumstances or age of the child. Today I was able to finally sit down with my soul-brother (Shane's step-grandfather) and spend some time - sharing, crying, venting, and even laughing. It really did my heart good to see him. I hope I was a blessing to him, too. <br />
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Before I went to meet Tom, I wanted to create something tangible to remind him that I was thinking of his family. I had bought some "drawing cards" today on a whim so I started tangling using the grandchild's initials as my string. I was able to include several "S" patterns, including Sanibel, for Shane and several "T" patterns for Tom and Tita (Tom's beautiful lady and Shane's grandmother). It felt good to draw while holding this family in my heart. Inside, I included a poem by John O'Donahue. Fra. O'Donahue was an Irish Catholic Priest who died too soon but who left some of the most beautiful words behind to comfort and bless us. I share the poem below. I hope and pray that you who may read this will never, ever experience this kind of tragic loss. Yet, I hope that you will find blessing and peace in these words. <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For a Parent on the Death of a Child</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">No one knows the wonder<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Your child awoke in you,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Your heart a perfect cradle<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />To hold its presence.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Inside and outside became one<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />As new waves of love<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Kept surprising your soul.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now you sit bereft<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Inside a nightmare,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Your eyes numbed<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />By the sight of a grave<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />No parent should ever see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You will wear this absence<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Like a secret locket,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Always wondering why<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Such a new soul<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Was taken home so soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Let the silent tears flow<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And when your eyes clear<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Perhaps you will glimpse<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />How your eternal child<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Has become the unseen angel<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Who parents your heart<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And persuades the moon<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />To send new gifts ashore.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">~ John O’Donohue ~</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">To Bless the Space Between Us</em>)</span></div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-40298860757992479792012-02-02T21:54:00.000-05:002012-02-02T21:54:57.511-05:00Challenge #56 Non Dom v2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVfpQJ1kIY0HGiQxUcRgXlzIP3uVEYl2YPZv45N3gb6narIcQ9_D6kjuNT7hRRR34PsfZIReLuysWji00Hs25ts5mdN6DjVthq6em1cOE3gniaWoXU2igtfD-Io9swQEXDNnkb6Chiu0/s1600/Non_Dom+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVfpQJ1kIY0HGiQxUcRgXlzIP3uVEYl2YPZv45N3gb6narIcQ9_D6kjuNT7hRRR34PsfZIReLuysWji00Hs25ts5mdN6DjVthq6em1cOE3gniaWoXU2igtfD-Io9swQEXDNnkb6Chiu0/s320/Non_Dom+v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Back in the Spring, Diva challenged us to use our non-dominant hand to create a tile or Zentangle inspired art piece. Once again, we are challenged to create a complete tile using only our non-dominant hand. For me - it's my left hand. I can actually write a little with my left hand. It comes from years of self-preservation - my mother was a leftie and if I sat on the wrong side of her at dinner we'd clash elbows! Anyway - drawing is a little trickier. I found that despite my best efforts (that would be with brows furrowed and tongue sticking out) my hand would shoot off in odd directions spasmodically. It was actually pretty funny. Interestingly, I seemed to only be able to work from left to right. When I use my right hand I am not that "linear." <br />
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I tend to tangle when I need to focus. If I have to sit and listen, I find that tangling helps me focus and absorb what I am learning. I discovered that tangling with my non-dominant hand interfered with my auditory processing. I was listening to a lecture online this week and, as usual, found my attention wandering. I figured that I'd work on the challenge to help me focus... uhm... yeah... not so much. I had to stop so I could "tune back in" to the lecture. I suppose it has to do with dominant hemisphericity. Hmmm...that could be an interesting study someday. <br />
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Happy whole-brained tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-86683289586356554272012-01-17T21:35:00.000-05:002012-01-17T21:35:04.125-05:00Challenge #54 PurpleI love purple... I wear purple a lot ("when I grow old I'm going to wear purple...") - it's a color that makes me happy. I was delighted when Diva chose purple as this week's theme. So much so that I created two offerings:<div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBSMTi1Bcf6oUwCUh_1bQzNNXkOYJ5k1pj91I7PEWb-ICVePUHq2ChCVSQlh013FAO1U_rn717kE2wHCq1XPrjpB76X0rPreJY3XWWP0R2kEy-xk568Lasr6N03deG2AixmMbwrS1cE/s1600/Purple+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBSMTi1Bcf6oUwCUh_1bQzNNXkOYJ5k1pj91I7PEWb-ICVePUHq2ChCVSQlh013FAO1U_rn717kE2wHCq1XPrjpB76X0rPreJY3XWWP0R2kEy-xk568Lasr6N03deG2AixmMbwrS1cE/s320/Purple+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Background using Tombow Purple and <br />
Marvy Le Plume Violet Watercolor Pens</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYB4OUYQXwLHX546nEKB37LcOjy8si53mmB0_S7oPq6Z5ZYTTReII7AZPsmug4lLmFGkNHgaMZCB8kurhVt3dgbUfrU9BCuemlKg5urJKucSR869W7KmymYlDi4JxSHUuHs3gwM2OWX8/s1600/Purple+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYB4OUYQXwLHX546nEKB37LcOjy8si53mmB0_S7oPq6Z5ZYTTReII7AZPsmug4lLmFGkNHgaMZCB8kurhVt3dgbUfrU9BCuemlKg5urJKucSR869W7KmymYlDi4JxSHUuHs3gwM2OWX8/s320/Purple+1.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color added with Marvy Le Plume Violet</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Happy Tangling!</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-7879445411620838702012-01-10T20:40:00.000-05:002012-01-10T20:40:08.767-05:00Happy New Year - Challenge 53New Year - new beginnings. I don't believe in making resolutions. I try to avoid setting myself up for failure whenever possible. However, as some of you know, I am working on my dissertation towards completion of a doctoral degree in psychology. So - my resolve is to get past the blocks I've encountered up until this point and make significant progress in the coming weeks and months. Zentangle is and will be a very large part of this process! Here is my homage to Diva's "Undine" - SO glad to be back!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI0pLDdP-hNblFJ4yzWGlEwIfq6Lqzc5AAwBpvz8FrS-Pg-MPS6ZrYmIbBK_KMGqzPgejay5SPl2GT0Yvzm5hY16rnp6STQQz6n-jDDieZcjAuyWVnce3m6pADwjYvMfBtpAbr8Rqj7Y/s1600/Undine+shaded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI0pLDdP-hNblFJ4yzWGlEwIfq6Lqzc5AAwBpvz8FrS-Pg-MPS6ZrYmIbBK_KMGqzPgejay5SPl2GT0Yvzm5hY16rnp6STQQz6n-jDDieZcjAuyWVnce3m6pADwjYvMfBtpAbr8Rqj7Y/s320/Undine+shaded.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-8132051616776700842011-12-17T21:02:00.000-05:002011-12-17T21:02:30.732-05:00Merry Christmas!I love Diva's challenge - number 52 - wow... it's hard to believe we've been at this a year (although I joined the party kind of late). Anyway - the challenge is to "give" Zentangle this year and I've already done that. Unfortunately - I rarely remember to take pictures of what I give to others. So I will just report out.<br />
<br />
First of all, I introduced a young friend to Zentangle the other night. She, her mother, and I sat around their dining table and drew tangles for a couple of hours. She loves to draw and was trying to convince her mother to run to the local hobby store as I left. <br />
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A very dear friend of mine has been incredibly hurt by someone she trusted. It ended up costing her job and her self-esteem. As I was sitting and holding her in my thoughts, I meditated with my tile and pen. The result was her initial embellished with my favorite, comforting tangles. I sent it to her with a card that was able to capture what I was feeling for her.<br />
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A few months ago I found a "slate" board - white board covered with black. Using an etching tool, I created a Z I A which I then gave to a friend as a housewarming gift. I had already given him my very first tile - done when he was going through a very tough time and another one when his little niece was born 3 months prematurely. He's going to frame them as a grouping which makes me feel very happy.<br />
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I've posted in the past about the larger pieces I've done - the tree of life for my heart sister, Kat and the spiral for my son. It seems that I am most inspired by the transitions of life. I am most grateful for this forum to share these various inspirations and transitions with a fantastic group of artists.<br />
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I wish you all peace in this world of uncertainty. May your holidays - whatever and however you celebrate - be blessed.<br />
<br />
See you in the new year!<br />
Namaste and happy tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-54302109205995306172011-11-26T20:44:00.000-05:002011-11-26T20:44:07.567-05:00#49 Red Thread ChallengeHappy Thanksgiving and Advent (starting tomorrow, of course) to all.<div><br />
</div><div>This week's challenge was so much fun. I loved creating a tile using a red string. The challenge comes from Cris Letournea. More info about the "<a href="http://redthreadpromise.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">red thread promise</a>" project can be found on her blog <a href="http://tangledupinart.blogspot.com/p/i-promise-to-help.html" target="_blank">Tangled Up in Art</a>. I hope to send my tile and I can't wait to see the poster! </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizReSbC3c50U9ktDKcbsJ84H_yQuHGZwg3jElh0Dcofy10IXIJRwzf3cgF3zFPTc2Pn-J5B4CVjeg85A_qAza1bmtIFWVdAvxsxhBaNLJDZFSx03zdA2TMf4-uOEYoAlBgxalwR4FhRpc/s1600/Red+String.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizReSbC3c50U9ktDKcbsJ84H_yQuHGZwg3jElh0Dcofy10IXIJRwzf3cgF3zFPTc2Pn-J5B4CVjeg85A_qAza1bmtIFWVdAvxsxhBaNLJDZFSx03zdA2TMf4-uOEYoAlBgxalwR4FhRpc/s320/Red+String.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>My family (sans son who was working at his new job and was sorely missed!) had a great time together over the past 3 days. Truly, we have so much for which to be thankful. I would share more but I am exhausted after traveling and babysitting so I'll just leave it for now. I hope to post some Advent musings in a few days. For now, I hope you can find ways to give charitably this Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Yule season. I would venture to guess that most of us could forego the malls and stores altogether this year (shop small and buy locally) giving thoughtful, heartfelt tokens of love and remembrance instead. I hope you find ways to make this season meaningful for you and your loved ones no matter how or what you celebrate. And, as always,</div><div><br />
</div><div>Happy Tangling!</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-2624893624909275812011-11-19T09:59:00.000-05:002011-11-19T09:59:17.383-05:00I'm back! Challenge 48<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwVxgzaYwWyrY-vAiEwOKsu5TeQzkdKQpdsJ_-8ZssgM1k28f2zH4NeQPxq_Wi36hl_XpaLq1Cx5VdCnguGiJfQWuHU6ZlEkyCUUQycTZ8MlfVB9VcspHq_Z1xucybZ_8lM52ekHK5Vk/s1600/Challenge+48+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwVxgzaYwWyrY-vAiEwOKsu5TeQzkdKQpdsJ_-8ZssgM1k28f2zH4NeQPxq_Wi36hl_XpaLq1Cx5VdCnguGiJfQWuHU6ZlEkyCUUQycTZ8MlfVB9VcspHq_Z1xucybZ_8lM52ekHK5Vk/s320/Challenge+48+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After a few weeks' hiatus, I finally completed one of Diva's challenges to post! Yea. Actually, I did two. Last Monday I was waiting for my friend while she completed some routine health exams. I had drawn the tri-shapes string but had no resources with me to try out tangle patterns I'd never used. So... the first one uses patterns I seem to use all of the time - Flux, Florz, Knightsbridge, Cadent, Purk, etc. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOkMegYxjX5GQQm_PCEYc2oSJfbKi4EgXuTxRLUh4nAz7ROnEg-VxqW_6lLEdfHOzUJ8dbqUOJ6WyfxMSHaXenu-VwjAxOS9ociiDvbYkdiBKjjoC58zpc6RU5-DOWNE5S-UDXu8DcOw/s1600/Challenge+48+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOkMegYxjX5GQQm_PCEYc2oSJfbKi4EgXuTxRLUh4nAz7ROnEg-VxqW_6lLEdfHOzUJ8dbqUOJ6WyfxMSHaXenu-VwjAxOS9ociiDvbYkdiBKjjoC58zpc6RU5-DOWNE5S-UDXu8DcOw/s320/Challenge+48+001.jpg" width="320" /></a>I came back home after a long weekend with my friends and helping my daughter's family move and<br />
decided I would try the string again following Diva's challenge - use tangles I have not used before. That was a pretty difficult task. Even though I don't use a lot of them all of the time I have played with most that I have found in my books and on Linda Farmer's <a href="http://www.tanglepatterns.com/" target="_blank">Tangle Patterns</a> site. I used a few that I will probably use more often and some - well - maybe I just need to practice a bit more! <br />
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In case you're interested - the tangles I used are: BB, Bilt, Bitten, Bumps, Demi, Florez, Gothic, Hepmee, Japonica, Popsicles, Punch, Unyuns, and Wisket.Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-83649798329439708372011-10-27T22:43:00.000-04:002011-10-27T22:43:13.332-04:00Indulgence and Challenge #45This week's challenge is to use a new tangle pattern by Rick and Maria - Chainging/Punzel - I may work on a tile later that center's on this pattern but for now I have placed it in a large piece I've been working on all week for my son. I like the tangle - it has so many possibilities. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6773PLqg4xcJmBdL7i-xqKE2fF1dTaVwyeh20AwBLyPeIy7v1q-GVm8NUvGm9Ps5MV9yZBKjw7tSp_EGOA1kJVrh_gOsGXYuDXYbbQdgJVFmqw6okefD-YB4gpMrsZJK6gIH8Xb6nVdc/s1600/Calebs+Piece+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6773PLqg4xcJmBdL7i-xqKE2fF1dTaVwyeh20AwBLyPeIy7v1q-GVm8NUvGm9Ps5MV9yZBKjw7tSp_EGOA1kJVrh_gOsGXYuDXYbbQdgJVFmqw6okefD-YB4gpMrsZJK6gIH8Xb6nVdc/s320/Calebs+Piece+005.jpg" width="320" /></a>T</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that was the challenge part... now for the indulgence. I have been working on how to express my thoughts and feeling to my son all week - and I suppose this is a pretty public forum in which to do it. So if you have other things to do, you can stop reading now. However, you are welcome to stay - I'd be honored to tell you about my son and how very proud of him I am...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He's my first born. He's an artist, a poet, a musician, and a dreamer. He's an old soul.- perceptive, compassionate, and not afraid to be vulnerable. A rare thing in someone so young - a pretty rare thing in our typical macho culture. Recently, my son shared with me that he was longing to do something different with his life. He was looking for a career move - work that would feed his soul as well as his wallet. He loves where he has been living - the city of his birth. A move he made a year ago with a lot of hopes and expectations. Not all of them worked out as he hoped, but I think he's enjoyed his life there. He found time to play, to create, to relate, and to grow up a bit. But it seemed life was calling him to leave the safety of "home" - to leave the familiarity of the coffee shop, his family of choice, and the protection of the mountains. So he applied for a job a few months ago which recently came to fruition. He starts on Tuesday. New month - new opportunities. New challenges, friends... all mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety and anticipation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He will moving to Florida to work with kids who have blown their chances in the traditional world - kids who have made poor choices; kids who have been abused, forgotten, neglected - some who have never been able to learn how to deal with life. He will be living in a wilderness setting with these kids - 24/7 - for 5 days per week... living in a communal setting when off duty and trying to find a little space in his down time to explore his new surroundings and himself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are times when a mom has no words to express the depth and breadth of her feelings for her children. One such time was a year and a half ago as I stood by my daughter's side as she gave birth to her son - my first grandchild. Watching her grown into motherhood has been so amazing. Now, my son is carving his path in this world. I love them both so much. I am so very proud. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ZIA piece I have created incorporates several blessings by Father John O'Donahue, an Irish Priest who sadly passed away a few years ago. I just discovered his writings this year and I feel so blessed every time I read his words. His book, "To Bless the Space Between Us" is a wonderful collection of blessings and musings on life - all aspects of life. Check it out sometime... I can't recommend it highly enough. Anyway -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the November 2011 calendar page created by Carole Ohl for my background/canvas. The spiral blessing represents the paths we walk in life - leading us, if we pay attention, into the core of our soul. The tangles were chosen randomly, attempting balance between curvy and straight, soft and hard edges - I think, life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIy8Uss646f3y2G9POtXdhFkUAo6REKVEVbv_HVQyvn3rUR0RIeKpQL8ZqjLOgB4ry46BNjlXw0UyzNcbwQFmEY5l53Pf5eggqxk3BZBBhQt8MsiXnRHPbMjb89l0RBfIFloI4cz-euQ/s1600/Calebs+Piece+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIy8Uss646f3y2G9POtXdhFkUAo6REKVEVbv_HVQyvn3rUR0RIeKpQL8ZqjLOgB4ry46BNjlXw0UyzNcbwQFmEY5l53Pf5eggqxk3BZBBhQt8MsiXnRHPbMjb89l0RBfIFloI4cz-euQ/s320/Calebs+Piece+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT-95_hBHXuHIC8NUbwA2X0X0Te-I5sFAS7XIJfpligLYMjq0dcwmLM0aJqgji0ygj_Ru-JDzO1KKdjF_43033eBVVSVHfvavwfDt598Z8ncG_zUcugym5X1pVMjKklX8lpQNHIxkhqo/s1600/Calebs+Piece+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT-95_hBHXuHIC8NUbwA2X0X0Te-I5sFAS7XIJfpligLYMjq0dcwmLM0aJqgji0ygj_Ru-JDzO1KKdjF_43033eBVVSVHfvavwfDt598Z8ncG_zUcugym5X1pVMjKklX8lpQNHIxkhqo/s320/Calebs+Piece+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFhRzi1ph9K4MslBqR_ggESqCBGCB0xkSdrLZ7o8fJu7x2SOmH7OiTN0V_vQzf0skXPzY0-DCAqDjDIlx1CqsijKI9wxwbsa6bYIPC1D2dRiMUC14zYsDwkItImMEpCYgFQk6GrDCsC4/s1600/Calebs+Piece+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFhRzi1ph9K4MslBqR_ggESqCBGCB0xkSdrLZ7o8fJu7x2SOmH7OiTN0V_vQzf0skXPzY0-DCAqDjDIlx1CqsijKI9wxwbsa6bYIPC1D2dRiMUC14zYsDwkItImMEpCYgFQk6GrDCsC4/s320/Calebs+Piece+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've read this far, I thank you for sharing this moment with me. I am going to miss my son so much but, as I keep reminding myself, he's not going into the depths of the Congo. He's going to Florida! And he will have access to the internet on his days off. I've grown accustomed to his being only 2 hours away. Yet - I am so proud of him. I am so honored to know him. I am working on being open and allowing all of the good the universe has for him! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I leave you with this blessing from Fra. O'Donahue:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the Artist at the Start of the Day:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May morning be astir with the harvest of night;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your mind quickening to the eros of a new question,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your eyes seduced by some unintended glimpse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That cut right through the surface to a source.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May this be a morning of innocent beginning,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the gift within you slips clear</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the sticky web of the personal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With its hurt and its hauntings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And fixed fortress corners.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A morning when you become a pure vessel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for what wants to ascend from silence,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May your imagination know</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The grace of perfect danger,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To reach beyond imitation,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the wheel of repetition,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Deep into the call of all</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The unfinished and unsolved</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until the veil of the unknown yields</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And something original begins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To stir toward your senses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And grow stronger in your heart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In order to come to the birth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a clean line of form,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That claims from time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A rhythm not yet heard,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That call space to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A different shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May it be its own force field</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And dwell uniquely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between the heart and the light</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To surprise the hungry eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By how deftly it fits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About its secret loss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From To Bless the Space Between Us, (c) 2008</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Tangling!</div>Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-37777784157029515742011-10-20T20:30:00.000-04:002011-10-20T20:30:13.583-04:00All Tangled Up Inside (Challenge 44)I missed last posting last week's challenge. I did it... it just took me a week. I loved the concept of the sunflower, though, and I love this week's challenge to put a tangle inside a tangle. For my "string-tangle" I chose Flux. I seem to put this tangle in nearly every tile I draw so it's fitting, I think, to use it as my string. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyfExEnbBDmPxcd4lAjdkJ0zc0YkcCI3tw85YSGutzQ4bGElHR2bnWD7nJVXmu7_wt3avZUZG6g7mQG0ytBigxk_nPy4kXhVhJQi-qi3v2N13Z0PeDS5CNIMQz8o7-AUujptt-_2YDGc/s1600/Challenge+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyfExEnbBDmPxcd4lAjdkJ0zc0YkcCI3tw85YSGutzQ4bGElHR2bnWD7nJVXmu7_wt3avZUZG6g7mQG0ytBigxk_nPy4kXhVhJQi-qi3v2N13Z0PeDS5CNIMQz8o7-AUujptt-_2YDGc/s400/Challenge+44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The tangles inside the "petals" are: Betweed, Meer, Pepper w/ Mumsy, Florz w/ Squid, and Cadent. This is the first time I've used Meer and Pepper. Between the petals are Oof, Keenies, Limpitz, and Printemps topped off with Pendrils and Pokeroot. <br />
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Now - off for my weekend with my dear Maggiekat and precious Noah (and of course his mommy and uncle!) Maybe between challenges I'll blog about some of the changes happening in our family but for now -<br />
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Happy Tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1508983078788775304.post-10847102790971518452011-10-06T23:04:00.000-04:002011-10-06T23:04:44.655-04:00HopeThis week's challenge is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness - the theme is hope. <br />
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Most of the time the challenge is finding the time to tangle or learning a new pattern. The challenge for me this week was how to depict something as elusive as the concept of hope. So many tangible and concrete things represent hope to me: a baby, the first daffodils peeking through snow, a cocoon, a job application, a lottery ticket. I had a very hard time finding the one thing that inspires me to hope. I started by drawing a double-string of the word "hope." And then it dawned on me - rainbows. I love color and light. In lighting, white light is the presence of all color. Rainbows visually represent the entire refracted spectrum. When combined, the result is pure white light. Healing light. Hopeful light. So... here are my interpretations. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K7T6c6qH90bEbT2nDjkQWovuCT8dcvzQqNJ0Njokp1XXcZYE1p1BZZrQ1Qz3nzTd9cIScPL055tdcULHYDgwtgorT0gOMGyRKmyldNiR967TWdhNPcbRCp2gTiTsRgKKdzeXdSAJinU/s1600/%252342+Hope+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K7T6c6qH90bEbT2nDjkQWovuCT8dcvzQqNJ0Njokp1XXcZYE1p1BZZrQ1Qz3nzTd9cIScPL055tdcULHYDgwtgorT0gOMGyRKmyldNiR967TWdhNPcbRCp2gTiTsRgKKdzeXdSAJinU/s400/%252342+Hope+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A full spectrum of hope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTisfPpt1jtstPSbaOCozhTl0MI9lPbzxYfhPObpjFRNxcluNcHdiu0ZDiKYBHDVYXTLrZy4ofa7CfCoYqkaGjHoMwvQuV8KJOp1c73qBqxwRNh1-71pywKG_TaiTPDElrgYmoHjxZfXk/s1600/%252342+Hope+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTisfPpt1jtstPSbaOCozhTl0MI9lPbzxYfhPObpjFRNxcluNcHdiu0ZDiKYBHDVYXTLrZy4ofa7CfCoYqkaGjHoMwvQuV8KJOp1c73qBqxwRNh1-71pywKG_TaiTPDElrgYmoHjxZfXk/s400/%252342+Hope+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The names bordering the ribbon are special people in my life - family and friends - who have been touched by cancer. Both my mother, Louise, and sister, Judy, survived cancer. My mother succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease July 2010.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbKITK_wIaCHirbDSLYwF7bWybhCzd6L59oltgIyvIGKZgh8Etmau-662MwbL9cqgz7JOEB_MschRHtwfq2MHP-o4xi8s2ayivdY3TN1ZAwfj036jzJutuCNcLNFSop6fD4fZBJsdCq0/s1600/%252342+Hope+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbKITK_wIaCHirbDSLYwF7bWybhCzd6L59oltgIyvIGKZgh8Etmau-662MwbL9cqgz7JOEB_MschRHtwfq2MHP-o4xi8s2ayivdY3TN1ZAwfj036jzJutuCNcLNFSop6fD4fZBJsdCq0/s400/%252342+Hope+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #edf1f7; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="sqq" style="color: #003399; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline;">“<a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/hope_is_the_thing_with_feathers-that_perches_in/146228.html" style="color: #003399; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline;">Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.</a>” Emily Dickinson</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Without hope dreams are meaningless. Without hope we wouldn't put one foot in front of the other or dare to believe that a cure for cancer can be found in our lifetime. So, I wish you hope. And light.<br />
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Namaste - and happy tangling!Martha aka BlueRidgeWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058489151376037485noreply@blogger.com6