Harvest Moon and an invitation.

I spent some today in the studio with my carving tools, making some rubber stamps and hand stamping a card for someone special.  (Shhh!  Don't tell - it's a secret!)

I posted the picture over here at my City Different Artisan facebook page.  I invite all of you on facebook to go take a look, and if you'd be so kind, like my page. 

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some pictures I've taken of the clouds which have been flowing in the skies here.  We finally have gotten some much needed rain.  Don't you just love the smell of rain?

Coming together, with blowing wisps.

The sun was still trying to show through.

It started to smell like rain.

As summer draws to a close, I am enjoying the crisp, cool evenings, and mornings.  I've always been drawn to fall, with the changing colors, autumnal traditions, and don't forget - the Harvest Moon!  It's tomorrow night!  Do you have your crystals ready to bathe in the moonlight?  Even if it is cloudy, the energies of the Moon are there.  Also, with the Harvest Moon, in particular, it will appear full for three nights.  Happy Moon Gazing!

Update

I've been absent for quite a time, I know.  I've been busy working behind the scenes in Pixie Campbell's luscious Visual Quest course, as well as her Woman is a River course.  I am looking forward to completing my painting in Visual Quest (running behind, as many of us did) and when I do, I will post here.

With fall approaching, I have some things up my sleeve which will also be appearing here.

In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy some pictures I took of Grandmother Moon in the last months.

This was the Strawberry Moon - see the jam?

This was our last Blue Moon, as she peeked out from the clouds.

I adore moon gazing, and often use the full moons for all kinds of fun things, like making full moon water, as Dana Gehrhardt has described. (She wrote a blog post about this at MoonCircles.com) I also like to place crystals to bathe in the light of the full moon, charging them with her special energies for the work that I do with them.

Wishing you, my readers, fun as you gaze at the moon.  Our next full moon is coming up on the 19th.  Try some moon water, if you like.  It is really magical.  What crystals will you be bathing in the moonlight for this Harvest Moon?

Walk Downtown in Santa Fe

The Square, Downtown Santa Fe

 I went on a quick walk downtown and took a few pictures to share here with you.  These are two of the park benches on the square.  If you look closely, you'll see the pigeons walking around.  There are always many on the grassy areas.  A lot of tourists feed them popcorn and bread, and they've learned to gather frequently.  



I got this one to pose for me while I was taking shots.

Posing Pigeon

Hanging Baskets

These hanging baskets are gorgeous, filled to the brim with petunias.

Potentilla in Bloom

Potentilla Up Close

 I've always loved the beautiful yellow blossoms of Potentilla.  They don't last long, but are so pretty on their spindly green branches while they are open.  Then they all blow away.

This was a charming plea for rain, which some jerk decided to partially erase.  I had seen it the day before, and that is what prompted this little walk downtown, camera in hand.  I particularly wanted this.  Even though someone messed it up, I still liked it, so took shots anyway.  It had said "Pray for Rain".  The stones forming the word "for" were removed, as well as a little circle which reminded me of a medicine wheel.  The request worked, anyway.  We got rain the evening I took these pictures, though not a lot.  It was so welcome!

Elm

 

 

This final picture is of some interesting growths on an elm tree.  It gave the trunk character, I thought, as though it was a gnarly old gremlin in a fairy tale.

Thanks for joining me on this brief walk around downtown!  I'll share more of my lovely city in the coming weeks and months.

As always, I appreciate your visits here, and your lovely comments. 

Happy Summer Solstice!

My gosh, it's been a while since I've been here.  I've been devouring other's juicy blogs, playing on the SouLodge private fb page and working on quite a few new things.  Work time for creative "stuff" is so disjointed now, that I have many WIP and little finished.  I'll be sure to share when they are complete.

In the meantime, since Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is TODAY, I wanted to share blessings for this time of intention setting and the longest day of the year.  This picture is typical of the single petaled roses you see here in Santa Fe, and it's beautiful yellow color said "solstice" to me.  Enjoy ~

Miss me?

It's been a while since I've been here.  I've been working on many new things.  They are still in need of photographing before I can share. 

I've been somewhat under the weather as well, and afflicted with sciatica in accompaniment to the pain from last year's still healing shoulder injury.  These things slow one down a bit.

So, for now, I want to share a little of what spring looks like here in Santa Fe, (before we get the snow again that is forecast).

A beautiful full dogwood.

Forsythia

Fluffy clouds - do you see the winged  heart?

Things are starting to bud and green.  I'm keeping my eye on the lilacs - they are my favorite, but suffer so quickly when they get nipped by cold.  They bloomed wonderfully last year, and my hope is to see more this year.  It is truly my favorite scent in the whole world.

I hope the coming week bodes well for you.  My "weekend" occurs in the middle of the week, so I will be lining things up to photograph and post here for you to see then.  

Thanks to those who visit and comment - I love to "see" you here!!

Message In the Snow

This little face greeted me outside my door after the snows fell.  I think it was created by the puppy prints, but I'd like to think the little snow fairies decided to smile upon me.
I'm creating in the studio this week and hope to be able to share a few things with you as they are completed.  Stay tuned ~ 

Valentine's Day

This is my gift from Nature for today ~

An elm sends its love, even while in sleep.

Wishing you a love filled day.