Marionberry Cobbler & Ducks Butts

This journal entry waxes from laughter to growth spurts.

The page on the left is dedicated to my new Business Coach. We met very serendipitously, she walking by my Ashland Art Studio where I was working, where we then struck up a conversation. Ultimately, she offered a free consultation and we agreed to meet. Since she was new in the area, I knew one thing I had to introduce her to: the Marionberry Cobbler at the Standing Stone Brewery (http://www.standingstonebrewing.com/)!! Not only are they one of the greenest companies in the area but their Marionberry Cobbler is to die for. I swear, it's the must do on my birthday every year!!! So we had our consultation and a very animated, fun conversation. The relationship has grown and we've not only spurred me onto bigger things business-wise (that I'd never have invented myself) but has morphed into a friendship in it's developing stages. A couple of months later, I was perusing thru my DayTimer and found these two pages stuck together with a gooey, purplish stuff with particulates in it. WHAT in the world is this stuff? Examining the page I realized it was on the page I'd taken notes from my meeting with Anne and was, of course, marionberry cobbler! Naturally, in between giggles, I had to install it into my journal page with Anne's portrait!

Adjacent to Anne is a tale from my hubby's travels, literally and figuratively. For a couple months now Roland had talked about taking a camping trip just he and Cody, our Golden Retriever. Finally he charted his agenda and location ~~ and the boys took off for a near week of solitude and exploration.

His first stop was just east of Redding, but the campgrounds were stark and winds were disconcerting. Next he tried in Redding and spent the next few days there befriending the local ducks. When he decided to travel home and was just unloading one of our friends dropped by and that's the image I replicated here. The lil' clipping of the duck's butts is from a sweet card Ro left me which said, "I'd follow you anywhere, the view from behind is great ... " which was especially endearing to me (who has had a "rear view image" issue all my life). Needless to say, I was pleased to have my boys home . . . but we both grew from being apart.

And that's a good thing . . .

Year's Update

I've been "attached" to my Journal for the last few days . . . one of my favorite part of journaling is when I finish a complete "book". That's when I return back to the beginning and color in the "illuminated letter" that I've carved to begin each entry. I choose color and what to fill in by what will unite the page, add focus or interest. It also gives me the opportunity to go over that whole period of time (May thru December in this particular journal) and relish memories. And even revel in the creations on each page - being excited by the colors, the page design, and of course, by the flood of memories that return with the image and reading of the text.

Also, this exercise serves as a kind of remembering, "I am an artist, I am creative, my work provides an uplifting service to this planet"! I hope you enjoy with me, the fruits of this labor - which - really is play!