Bad Dream

I had a long, drawn out, bad dream this week. The dream was, my house had been bull dozed and cleared while I was not home. In this dream world the neighborhood was different and I was across the street at a friend's party, I came home and my house was gone; only an messy empty lot remained!
Well, there was a pile of chewed up & spit out building materials left. But that was all.

The feeling the dream left was one of loss, shock, anxiety, surprise, fear and did I say loss?
I repeated to the players in my dream "I'm literally homeless", the idea was difficult for me to get my mind around. The biggest gyp was that all my "good-damn stuff" was gone. Vanished. All my stuff.
I've been trying to figure where this all came from. I don't think all dreams have to mean something, but some sure do seem like a thinly veiled message while others seem to be an analogy for something going on in our lives at the time. I always try to allow any useful information contained in dreams to come to the surface of my mind at its own pace.
Two days later I think this was a manifestation of all the closet cleaning out and general purging I've been doing. I'm looking to buy some clarity of mind for the low low price of letting "stuff" go. I'm also reorganizing some things. To be sure, there's still a room in my house I will allow no one to see; I'm getting to that next!
I was re-prioritizing things on my vision board last night after making some serious headway in my bedroom and the bathroom closet (closet is a bit too fancy a word for it, it's a glorified cubby hole with a curtain instead of a door). I have a deck of cards with different affirmations that I love. Wouldn't you know it? I drew one that says
Detach Yourself from your "Stuff"

on the front and

You're not what you have and you're not what you do. You're an infinite, divine being disguised a successful person who has accumulated a certain amount of stuff. The stuff is not you. For that reason, you must avoid being attached to it in any way.

on the back.

This is a good thing for me to remember, especially during a good "throwin' out"...
But let's not start talkin' crazy; I am after all living in this earthly realm, and I like & enjoy a certain amount of stuff.
The rule of thumb for me is A) Do I need it? B) Do I use it? or C) Does it have enough sentimental value to earn a place in my limited space?
Those three things get a lot of crap out of my house.
I must say, it feels good to narrow down the material possessions.
And after that dream I'm counting my blessings for what I am keeping.

Hotlanta II !

Home again, home again, jiggity-jog!
It was snowing on the way home from Atlanta today! Snow before Christmas, very rare in these parts. It was like white blessings raining down on us.
On the way down to ATL the Dodge was jam packed full of our wares.
Bran hams it up good at Scott's Antique Market where we started vending this last weekend.
It took us two hours to set up, everything looking good!
We met so many wonderful people, such a fantastic array of personalities. Our neighboring vendors were all so different & interesting. I think we got off to a great stat & were a hit in this gypsy-antique community.
The man next to us is a Persian rug dealer who really knows his stuff and has impeccable manners. We became fast friends with Jubin and he blessed us with introductions to some of his repeat customers. He was such a delight. He even made me a cup of Persian tea that was to die for! He says things like "She will bring many blessings to your business" after introducing me to a designer or "You have been blessed with this beautiful face" after I showed off a vintage celluloid cameo I just bought. Such a dignified person with a beautiful spirit abundant with generosity,kindness and consideration.
He opened many doors to clients for us. Here is a baroque ornament I sketched out after he introduced me to an interesting couple who want a custom over-mantle for their Louis XV living room.
Alas, it was me & Brandi and there was plenty of hilarity and laughing ourselves into tears. There was more than one time when I feared getting pulled for a DUI due to my spasms of hilarity while driving.
I was a very bad girl and bought myself this celluloid mourning cameo circa 1930. It simply couldn't be helped; I was compelled, under the thrall of it's beauty.
We are so fancy we put our styrafoam plates on silver platters to eat our salads. You know, just to gussy-up the antique show fare.
By Saturday night we were ready to go out & "tie one on", an expression I taught to Jubin who was delighted to learn such a weird American expression. We found a cozy sushi place in Buckhead and Brandi was just dying for some raw fish that night. I have had it before long ago, and as I recall I was not particularly impressed...Time has not made me grow in my appreciation of this delicacy. I ordered two different kinds of salmon sushi rolls and I had to master my control of the gag reflex to carefully, slowly, deliberately choke them down! The only thing I have going for me in a sushi bar is my dexterity with chop sticks, (and ability to override the gag reflex).
We were our own paparazzi, as per usual.
Brandi ate nearly three orders of sushi since I tried two but did not like either and we hated to waste it. She said "Oh no, you have to eat something!" to which I replied "NO. I don't ever want to eat any food ever again. I'm on a sushi diet; I'm only allowed sushi to eat and it is totally gross so I will starve myself thinner!"
It's day two and I've already broken that diet. I tell ya, I got no self control!
We found our way (with some difficulty) to Jeff & Dolores' house to check out the space and discuss design obstacles & options. They really had a gorgeous home; the kind I could never maintain, spotless & perfect everywhere you look. Like a gorgeous fancy hotel! But it certainly was stunning & in good taste. Did I mention he is an engineer? And yes, I do know that I can design & build something that will meet his approval and exceed his expectations. I do love a challenge! I'm so excited about the project. I really love the process of working with someone to come up with a solution to what they think they want with what you tell them they are going to love!
We return for our second show in once month hence! We have so many ideas & plans to bring to fruition. We will be working on some pieces on site so people can witness first hand how we do wat we do. I have a great deal of difficulty getting people to comprende what it is exactly that I do. I guess because handmade items are a thing of the past and people just can't compute it.
But rest assured; we are going to learn them on what's good here directly!
I've got sketches to draw, deals to strike, ideas to document, alliances to form andblessings to count and manifest for the upcoming future.
After all; the future is now. Life is going on right now and I don't want to spend these precious moments on the sofa like a commoner.
The force is with me!

Friday is for Fun!

Today I went to Providence Gallery where Dad & Connie had a few paintings in the show. Connie sold one. Yay Connie!
Connie is my Dad's "girlfriend" of twenty something years. Of course she's more than a girlfriend, but they refuse any other legal title so there you have it. Additionally, she has the best taste and fanciness abounds all around her house.
Look at one of untold numbers of bird's nests in her house.
Here is a lamp she's had forever that I've always coveted.
And annother object of my desire, this little "Girl With A Pearl Earring" on a twisted wire easel.
And here is how she does cream, sugar and Splenda when she serves coffee. No crappy plastic grimy containers for this artist!
Dad is doing his level best to tolerate some necessary socializing at the gallery.
Connie is on the left, Bran's on the right.
I finally got my dining room gussied up and cleaned after Thanksgiving. Still doesn't hold a candle to Connie's...
My bronze ceiling is growing on me.
I'm making molds of some carvings I've done so I can reproduce them. You know, for all the orders I'm going to get next week in Atlanta. We're going to have a space at Scott's Antique Market where we will knock all yall's socks off.
I have quite a bit of designing, building, carving, casting, pastiglia sculpting, not to mention finishing & general problem solving to do between now & Thursday. As the McKennas say, "It's on now!"
What's on right now though is some blogging followed by some R&R on the ol' sofa. Do you see Miss Roxi curled up there? Bran's on my sofa as we stay up way past our bed-time laughing ourselves into fits of tears & hyperventilation, and Roxi enjoys some rarely permitted couch-time. I just realized tonight that Roxi loves when we have company over. She's a natural hostess, just like her "mama"!
So, it's after 2 AM and I have yet to shower and do the whole bed time ritual that is so necessary, and so enjoyed. That's okay though, it's what Friday nights are for, right?

Another gorgeous day was to be had at the Farm this afternoon!
The spring house is probably my favorite architecture of all time. We used to sleep in there before we built the house when I was little. It's like a free standing screened porch right on the pond.
Beautiful sights for sore eyes every which way...
Connie's children and grandchildren came out for a rare get together with everyone there!
It was the perfect weather for a campfire; a little chilly, a little windy, but beautiful.
There's nothing like weenies roasted over an open flame! And how appetizing is this picture, complete with dirty old bandaided thumb?

My only regret is that Roxi had to be left at home. She probably would have knocked down some younguns so I did us all a favor & left her here. In the city. Alone!
And she was so good while I was gone. I have to go treat her to some extra good snuggling tonight.

Thanksgiving

This year we did Thanksgiving at my house for the first time.
I must be a late bloomer.
I made the turkey & pumpkin pie and everybody else brought a dish too.
My dining room was officially gussied up for the holiday.
Brandi whipped up beautiful biscuits in the kitchen.
Jim gave me a gravy lesson. That was some good stuff.
There was merriment about...
The kids we pretty well behaved in my small house with the attention of all the adults not on them.

Phil took down a truly hideous 1980's shiny brass trailer looking broken ceiling fan and put up a chandelier I've been toting around. I can not believe I've been living with that eye sore for four years!
Thanks Phil!
I love cooking turkey, I really don't see what all the fuss is about with the preparation; it's just a big chicken.
I had such a wonderful time with all of Brandi's clan, Phillip & Misty, Vanessa & Chad, Mom, and even Dad came over after eating at Connie's and snoozed on the sofa amidst all the chaos!
I wanted to savor the day, going around getting things together, finding things in the kitchen for everyone, setting the table; general hostessing.
Domesticity is one of my guilty pleasures. Well, not really guilty. I love it!
I have so much to be thankful for this year, I always do.
Gratefulness, appreciation, thankfulness, all a matter of perspective. I get a "daily inspiration" thing every day in my email. Here was today's:
"Upgrade your past by seeing it with appreciation."
So true!
I appreciate everything that came before because that's how I got here, and here is good.

Happy Birthday to ME!


I'm so good, I uploaded my pictures on here backwards. But you know what? It's my birthday and I can do that!
I like to not have plans on my birthday and that's exactly what happened. I had an awesome day.
I have wanted to pierce my nose since the first time I saw one when I was in 4th grade. So, needless to say, I've given it plenty of thought. Lately I've been into doing things that were important to me at that age.
But this seemed like the perfect thing to do for my birthday ritual this year.
I parked near RR tracks and I love the way the rails light up in the setting sun.
But back to the birthday ritual; here is a closeup right after I got it.
Shoo, it made my eyes water! Not a glamorous picture but here I am.
Here's my view from the chair...
And here's my friend Kerrie who stabbed me in my nostril for my birthday. When we met, she was 6 and I was 19. I never would have guessed that little girl would be piercing my nose 15 years later. She just got this job a week & a half ago and I'm the first nose she's done. I laughed so hard when she asked her boss right before she started "Do I use these?" or something to that effect! I said "Kerrie, at least act like you've done this before!"
I was really happy that it worked out this way though. It really was a birthday ritual for me and I'm glad she was part of it.
Later on I went to Dee's house around the corner and ate pizza with her & her youngest Timi. Timi is only a year younger than Kerrie was when I met her...
I'm wearing a gorgeous skeleton cameo by LuLu Kellog that she gave to my niece and I'm borrowing it from her. Timi was impressed with it and said "My Mom has one like it but hers is live", what an observation!
I have had such a great birthday full of a weird range of activities and happy birthday wishes from so many people I'm lucky to count as friends.
I look back on birthdays past, and I have to say things only get better.
I read a quote today that said "How good can you let it get?"
On my 34th birthday I think I can confidently answer "Pretty damn good."

I am just enjoying the h-e-double hokey sticks out'a my mini nature/Catholic-y terrarium.
That is all. Just wanted an excuse to post this picture again.
I'm not sure if this one was in the previous post, but just look at all that texture!
Mmhmm that there's a good damn nature sculpture.
I went to Asheville on the 8th to see Social Distortion! It was an awesome time.

This is their little shrine they set up at every show. That's all I know about it.
I really fully enjoyed the luxurious, decadent experience that is live music. This band's punk rock style with a rockabilly twist always makes for a really fun, high energy show. It feels like they really love the "dookie-balls" out'a playin' their music for a bunch of knuckle heads, me included.
I went alone but ran into someone from the Charlotte-cool-people-scene.
It was good to see Sharon!
I've been more socially active as of late which has been great and I'm always glad when I make myself do it, but don't think I'm such a rock star I don't take time to enjoy the little things.
Life's simple pleasures should always be noted.
One of my favorite things is random little surprises like this.
I also repainted my living room recently and in doing so I moved a large armoire away from the wall and found these lovely mummies amongst the dust bunnies and stuff that you always find colonizing under furniture; you know, a ball point pen, half of a Net Flix envelope, lid off some used up plastic bottle.
They are two finches that I believe Mixie brought inside last summer. I say that because I remember one day there were tiny feathers on the floor...I never found a bird though and I never smelled that tell-tale stinky stank of dead critter, so I just swept the feathers up and forgot about it. I guess she pawed the birds under the armoire and they mummified there without a single smell.
One of them is missing its head though...kind of gross huh? Still pretty cute I think.
You've got to stop and smell the roses!