A Totally Merry Christmas!

It is 11:54 p.m. on Christmas Day, and I am happy to say it was a totally merry Christmas for me in Memphis.

My mother did it again! She has a wonderful way of creating especially special occasions for our family in her home. The peanut-butter stars were one of the highlights of the holiday. I was glad to see them when I arrived.....they did not last long.

Mom's homemade fudge -- chocolate and peanut-butter -- is SO delicious! I am having fun introducing all these family traditions to Adrian, and he is having fun with the sampling. I am grateful that we are in Memphis together this year.

My whole Memphis family gathered together today, and there were many gifts given, with much happiness included. The happiness is not about the gifts, we know, but we appreciate the appreciation of each other and the gesture of giving each other gifts is a family tradition which we enjoy.
This year's celebration included many cell phones, facebook status updates, and uploaded photos. I enjoyed my new iPhone and some instant uploading of memorable moments.

One of the best things about my parents' house is that there is always plenty of food. As soon as the peanut-butter stars were gone, more were being made. That is truly a blessing.

We renewed an old family tradition of playing "Bingo," after Christmas dinner. I remember playing the game with my family, including the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Kentucky when I was a child.....such a simple thing to do for family fun.......well, if everyone would stop talking and listen to the numbers being called it would be simple.....but maybe not as much fun! hahahaha

Speaking of "simple,".......here I am, once again,....writing about simple things and small matters that matter a great deal to me.  I am very thankful for all of these things.

A Totally Merry Christmas!

It is 11:54 p.m. on Christmas Day, and I am happy to say it was a totally merry Christmas for me in Memphis.

My mother did it again! She has a wonderful way of creating especially special occasions for our family in her home. The peanut-butter stars were one of the highlights of the holiday. I was glad to see them when I arrived.....they did not last long.

Mom's homemade fudge -- chocolate and peanut-butter -- is SO delicious! I am having fun introducing all these family traditions to Adrian, and he is having fun with the sampling. I am grateful that we are in Memphis together this year.

My whole Memphis family gathered together today, and there were many gifts given, with much happiness included. The happiness is not about the gifts, we know, but we appreciate the appreciation of each other and the gesture of giving each other gifts is a family tradition which we enjoy.
This year's celebration included many cell phones, facebook status updates, and uploaded photos. I enjoyed my new iPhone and some instant uploading of memorable moments.

One of the best things about my parents' house is that there is always plenty of food. As soon as the peanut-butter stars were gone, more were being made. That is truly a blessing.

We renewed an old family tradition of playing "Bingo," after Christmas dinner. I remember playing the game with my family, including the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Kentucky when I was a child.....such a simple thing to do for family fun.......well, if everyone would stop talking and listen to the numbers being called it would be simple.....but maybe not as much fun! hahahaha

Speaking of "simple,".......here I am, once again,....writing about simple things and small matters that matter a great deal to me.  I am very thankful for all of these things.

Congratulations, Alex Maxwell!

I'm so blessed to be here in Tennessee celebrating with my daughter on her accomplishment of a bachelor of science degree from Freed Hardeman University.

A friend recently asked me what I wanted in life, and I summarised by saying I wanted a happy lifestyle.  She asked me what "lifestyle" means to me, and I said I want my life to be full of family and friends and good activities.  This is a short, simple, statement of what I want in life, but I am serious about it.  I am thankful for what I have and who I have in my life....and I am very thankful for having a lifestyle that allows me to be here now enjoying these things.

Congratulations, Alex Maxwell!

Congratulations, Alex Maxwell!

I'm so blessed to be here in Tennessee celebrating with my daughter on her accomplishment of a bachelor of science degree from Freed Hardeman University.

A friend recently asked me what I wanted in life, and I summarised by saying I wanted a happy lifestyle.  She asked me what "lifestyle" means to me, and I said I want my life to be full of family and friends and good activities.  This is a short, simple, statement of what I want in life, but I am serious about it.  I am thankful for what I have and who I have in my life....and I am very thankful for having a lifestyle that allows me to be here now enjoying these things.

Congratulations, Alex Maxwell!

Trusting, With Intent

This week I am packing up and heading to the U.S.A. for a three-month visit.  My partner, Adrian Kosky, and I are leaving our beautiful Tasma House and Gardens group accommodation biz in good hands, though.  More importantly, I dare say, we are also entrusting the care of our dear doggie to our friend, Gerry Managh.  

This trip marks the beginning of a new part of my life.....the part where I actively reside in two countries, and on two continents, by choice and with intent.  

Often life events happen by accident or from necessity.  For me, many life events are random and come about without intent......and then they evolve into planned up activities.  I'm thinking of my artistic randomness, now.
 I get inspired by the silliness of things sometimes; and sometimes I am launched into an art project by something beautiful.  I'm trying to describe what I have done in the past, to help explain what I am about to do.  

Since I have been in Australia, I have learned a lot about simple digital photography, painting with simple art supplies, simplifying the art of making music, and simply enjoying my surroundings.  

I have been blessed with good things that come by trusting the trustworthy.  I am thankful for not losing my faith and for keeping my hope.  I am happy that I dream and that my dreams are sometimes animated.  I am grateful that I no longer have to get out of bed early every day.  I am glad I have the energy to begin traveling regularly between the U.S. and Australia; and I'm looking forward to being happily random, without intent, again, wherever I am -- so that I may plan and follow-through with good activities, as I have done in the past.  I am thrilled that I am aiming to increase my involvement with artists, musicians, art, and music, and trusting that good will come of all that.  I'm ready to wear my "happy hat!"

Trusting, With Intent

This week I am packing up and heading to the U.S.A. for a three-month visit.  My partner, Adrian Kosky, and I are leaving our beautiful Tasma House and Gardens group accommodation biz in good hands, though.  More importantly, I dare say, we are also entrusting the care of our dear doggie to our friend, Gerry Managh.  

This trip marks the beginning of a new part of my life.....the part where I actively reside in two countries, and on two continents, by choice and with intent.  

Often life events happen by accident or from necessity.  For me, many life events are random and come about without intent......and then they evolve into planned up activities.  I'm thinking of my artistic randomness, now.  

I get inspired by the silliness of things sometimes; and sometimes I am launched into an art project by something beautiful.  I'm trying to describe what I have done in the past, to help explain what I am about to do.  

Since I have been in Australia, I have learned a lot about simple digital photography, painting with simple art supplies, simplifying the art of making music, and simply enjoying my surroundings.  

I have been blessed with good things that come by trusting the trustworthy.  I am thankful for not losing my faith and for keeping my hope.  I am happy that I dream and that my dreams are sometimes animated.  I am grateful that I no longer have to get out of bed early every day.  I am glad I have the energy to begin traveling regularly between the U.S. and Australia; and I'm looking forward to being happily random, without intent, again, wherever I am -- so that I may plan and follow-through with good activities, as I have done in the past.  I am thrilled that I am aiming to increase my involvement with artists, musicians, art, and music, and trusting that good will come of all that.  I'm ready to wear my "happy hat!"

The Holy Moly Masonic Temple Project

I'm working on a new project with Adrian Kosky, and this is the building where it's all going to happen.  We are looking into our future with the potential of artist-in-residence spaces and group accommodation (similar to what we have at Tasma House) in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A., in the old Masonic Temple located at Third Street and Issaquena Avenue. This new project is unfolding daily, as Adrian and I learn what we may and may not do as citizens of two different countries/continents.  I am so excited by the possibility of having fun by living a busy life again that I am finding it hard to concentrate on feeding the ducks and cockatoos in my backyard!  I can't sleep, can't paint, can't ea....... nevermind, enough said.

Photo by Susan Gordon-Brown

This photo of Adrian and me was taken just after the decision to purchase the Masonic Temple....with good vibes and coffee as shown.

I've started a blog, twitter account, youtube channel, and even a facebook page to provide official info about the project.  I am hoping that others will be as excited about this as Adrian and I are!  

Here are the relevant links:

www.TheHolyMoly.com

www.Twitter.com/HolyMolyTemple

www.Youtube.com/theholymolytemple

www.facebook.com/theholymoly

The Holy Moly Masonic Temple Project

I'm working on a new project with Adrian Kosky, and this is the building where it's all going to happen.  We are looking into our future with the potential of artist-in-residence spaces and group accommodation (similar to what we have at Tasma House) in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A., in the old Masonic Temple located at Third Street and Issaquena Avenue. This new project is unfolding daily, as Adrian and I learn what we may and may not do as citizens of two different countries/continents.  I am so excited by the possibility of having fun by living a busy life again that I am finding it hard to concentrate on feeding the ducks and cockatoos in my backyard!  I can't sleep, can't paint, can't ea....... nevermind, enough said.

Photo by Susan Gordon-Brown

This photo of Adrian and me was taken just after the decision to purchase the Masonic Temple....with good vibes and coffee as shown.

I've started a blog, twitter account, youtube channel, and even a facebook page to provide official info about the project.  I am hoping that others will be as excited about this as Adrian and I are!  

Here are the relevant links:

www.TheHolyMoly.com

www.Twitter.com/HolyMolyTemple

www.Youtube.com/theholymolytemple

www.facebook.com/theholymoly

First World Pains

I'm blogging from my BRAND NEW COMPUTER!  Feeling happy and blessed to have this luxury birthday present ordered by Adrian.  

What are my "first world pains?" The learning curve, for sure.....lots of newness to deal with.....My "old" computer was purchased in 2007 with hopes of doing all kinds of photo editing and movie making, etc.  As it turned out, I never did need the fancy photo editing software, and I never made any major movies.  My old computer served me well, though, and it worked very hard, down to its last 4.46 gigs....bless its heart!

Here's a photo of my BRAND NEW COMPUTER! 

I'm using this post as a test, to see how my recent recording of "Little Red Rooster" works as an embedded file.  My old way of sharing music is not available, apparently.  Blast!  I had a good system going with GoDaddy's free blog, Switch (a free file conversion program), and my handy-dandy-digital recorder.  GoDaddy's free blog seems to not be compatible with my new OSX software, because I cannot upload my recordings on my GoDaddy blog like I used to.  

I've seen tweets refer to "first world pains," and I understand this phenomenon, very well.  I believe it is the pain of stress caused by luxury items.  I'm stressed right now, and all I want to do is share my music the way I usually share my music....without having to learn new technology.  Nevertheless, I will strive to learn how to get my recordings simply shared on my free GoDaddy blog at www.Memphis-Dulcimer.com.

Until then, here's a sample from last night's gig :) at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  This is my personal recording of Table Hill's performance of "Little Red Rooster." Please notice and click on the play button shown below, to listen to Table Hill.

First World Pains

I'm blogging from my BRAND NEW COMPUTER!  Feeling happy and blessed to have this luxury birthday present ordered by Adrian.  

What are my "first world pains?" The learning curve, for sure.....lots of newness to deal with.....My "old" computer was purchased in 2007 with hopes of doing all kinds of photo editing and movie making, etc.  As it turned out, I never did need the fancy photo editing software, and I never made any major movies.  My old computer served me well, though, and it worked very hard, down to its last 4.46 gigs....bless its heart!  

Here's a photo of my BRAND NEW COMPUTER! 

I'm using this post as a test, to see how my recent recording of "Little Red Rooster" works as an embedded file.  My old way of sharing music is not available, apparently.  Blast!  I had a good system going with GoDaddy's free blog, Switch (a free file conversion program), and my handy-dandy-digital recorder.  GoDaddy's free blog seems to not be compatible with my new OSX software, because I cannot upload my recordings on my GoDaddy blog like I used to.  

I've seen tweets refer to "first world pains," and I understand this phenomenon, very well.  I believe it is the pain of stress caused by luxury items.  I'm stressed right now, and all I want to do is share my music the way I usually share my music....without having to learn new technology.  Nevertheless, I will strive to learn how to get my recordings simply shared on my free GoDaddy blog at www.Memphis-Dulcimer.com.

Until then, here's a sample from last night's gig :) at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  This is my personal recording of Table Hill's performance of "Little Red Rooster." Please notice and click on the play button shown below, to listen to Table Hill.

Painting from Photos of Birds in Tasma Gardens

For the past few months I have been playing with paints.....painting the birds that I have photographed in Tasma Gardens.  Each one of the paintings below has a bird in its candid-camera pose.  

Australian Magpie

These paintings represent a lot of bird watching and a bunch of sour-dough bread that was fed!  I have spent a lot of time with these variously-feathered friends.

Pied Currawong

I've learned a lot about their likes and dislikes.......some of the birds like bread shaped into a bread ball.....and some don't like bread at all.  

Sulpher-Crested Cockatoo

After painting these pictures, I have featured a few in musical posters, and I have pinned them up on Pinterest, too. I've been doing all of that just because I can.....as it is something new and fun to do.

I am thankful for the blessings of time, space, and this beautiful place.....Tasma House and Gardens in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia,.......and for the art supplies, the digital camera, the computer, the internet, the digital voice recorder, the ability to make music with friends, and the shared Blogger software where I can post these paintings.

Rosella

As I reflect and consider what I am so thankful for, I realize I might sound like a child offering a bedtime prayer......"Thank you for Mommy & Daddy, and Brothers and Sisters, and the dog, and ALL my FRIENDS,....and, and, and...," and I'm okay with that.  Because I AM thankful for all those things, too.

Australian Magpie

I pray that others will enjoy this blog and these paintings, as I have enjoyed the painting progress and the posting process.

Teal Duck

Painting from Photos of Birds in Tasma Gardens

For the past few months I have been playing with paints.....painting the birds that I have photographed in Tasma Gardens.  Each one of the paintings below has a bird in its candid-camera pose.  

Australian Magpie

These paintings represent a lot of bird watching and a bunch of sour-dough bread that was fed!  I have spent a lot of time with these variously-feathered friends.  

Pied Currawong

I've learned a lot about their likes and dislikes.......some of the birds like bread shaped into a bread ball.....and some don't like bread at all.  

Sulpher-Crested Cockatoo

After painting these pictures, I have featured a few in musical posters, and I have pinned them up on Pinterest, too. I've been doing all of that just because I can.....as it is something new and fun to do.

I am thankful for the blessings of time, space, and this beautiful place.....Tasma House and Gardens in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia,.......and for the art supplies, the digital camera, the computer, the internet, the digital voice recorder, the ability to make music with friends, and the shared Blogger software where I can post these paintings.

Rosella

As I reflect and consider what I am so thankful for, I realize I might sound like a child offering a bedtime prayer......"Thank you for Mommy & Daddy, and Brothers and Sisters, and the dog, and ALL my FRIENDS,....and, and, and...," and I'm okay with that.  Because I AM thankful for all those things, too.

Australian Magpie

I pray that others will enjoy this blog and these paintings, as I have enjoyed the painting progress and the posting process.

Teal Duck

Learning to Use SoundCloud

Sometimes I reluctantly learn things.....and other times I jump into learning with excitement.  I think learning to use SoundCloud has come by both avenues in this musical road trip I am undertaking down under.  Here's the result of what I have learned about using the free bits of SoundCloud:



It's not pretty....the artwork might not make sense, the song selection might be a bit random, and the recordings are homemade with a digital voice recorder, but it's just a learning exercise.....and I'm okay with that.

Pinterest

I'm experimenting with Pinterest.  I have hesitated entering Pinterest world, because I did not see a need for it.  I'm still not sure I "need" pinterest, but I see that it is a GOOD thing.  It is basically a virtual, visual, collection space.  A place to pin-up what one wants to see again and to share those things with the world while keeping the original photo's credit/copyright, location, etc.

Although I am not (at this time) collecting the way many others collect photos on Pinterest -- collecting recipes, dream-vacation spot photographs, or pictures of high-heeled-dream-shoes and wedding dresses -- I do see Pinterest as an excellent place to place advertisements and promotions of things that are good.

My experimentation with Pinterest has mostly been in sharing things I love about Tasma House.  Without SELLING Tasma House, I am able to use Pinterest to show why Tasma House is a lovely place for families and friends to gather.

On the link below, I have used an RSS feed of my Pinterest account to share here what I have shared there.

 Pinterest

Click here for a link to my Pinterest pin-board/profile page.

Pinterest

I'm experimenting with Pinterest.  I have hesitated entering Pinterest world, because I did not see a need for it.  I'm still not sure I "need" pinterest, but I see that it is a GOOD thing.  It is basically a virtual, visual, collection space.  A place to pin-up what one wants to see again and to share those things with the world while keeping the original photo's credit/copyright, location, etc.

Although I am not (at this time) collecting the way many others collect photos on Pinterest -- collecting recipes, dream-vacation spot photographs, or pictures of high-heeled-dream-shoes and wedding dresses -- I do see Pinterest as an excellent place to place advertisements and promotions of things that are good.

My experimentation with Pinterest has mostly been in sharing things I love about Tasma House.  Without SELLING Tasma House, I am able to use Pinterest to show why Tasma House is a lovely place for families and friends to gather.

On the link below, I have used an RSS feed of my Pinterest account to share here what I have shared there.

 Pinterest

Click here for a link to my Pinterest pin-board/profile page.

Old School Art -- Learning to Watercolor

For the past few weeks I have been reintroducing myself to hands-on art.....painting on paper.  Painting with water colors is new to me.

Years ago I took a few painting classes (workshop-style) in the stockrooms of stores that sold craft supplies.  Tole painting, oil painting, I remember, but I don't remember ever studying watercolor techniques.  So, I'm learning as I go.   I'm learning old-school-style.....by taking a brush and putting it to the paper and teaching myself what I like and don't like about my skills.  I am enjoying this!

After taking thousands of photographs of birds in my backyard, I decided to start painting the ducks I have been watching.  These ducks have become little friends.....and I can see by the photographs that they are not imaginary.....sometimes they seem to be asking if they can sit in my lap when I am watching them near the pond, though we have not become that friendly!  I love to see their water-play when several of them are on the pond, and I watch their expressions as much as their feathers.  All of this duck-observation has made me less critical of my own artwork.  I know my basic painting skills need work; but when I get a sense that a painted duck is looking up from the paper, like the ducks in the backyard, I'm satisfied and can move on to another painting.

Here's a photograph I used as a reference for a recent painting:

And here's my watercolor painting:

I'm enjoying the process of learning from authentic experiences: feeding, observing and photographing ducks in my backyard; organizing and sharing photographs via the internet; using my computer for referencing and enlarging duck photos whilst painting; photographing the various stages of my paintings; digitally enhancing and cropping photographs of my paintings; and, now, sharing these experiences and paintings via facebook, Picasa, Twitter, Youtube, and Blogger. 

Here's a short slideshow of the stages of my painting:

Click here for a link to the slideshow.

I'm not sure where my mind would be, if it were not for the blessings of ducks and digitalization in Daylesford....down under. 

Old School Art -- Learning to Watercolor

For the past few weeks I have been reintroducing myself to hands-on art.....painting on paper.  Painting with water colors is new to me.

Years ago I took a few painting classes (workshop-style) in the stockrooms of stores that sold craft supplies.  Tole painting, oil painting, I remember, but I don't remember ever studying watercolor techniques.  So, I'm learning as I go.   I'm learning old-school-style.....by taking a brush and putting it to the paper and teaching myself what I like and don't like about my skills.  I am enjoying this!

After taking thousands of photographs of birds in my backyard, I decided to start painting the ducks I have been watching.  These ducks have become little friends.....and I can see by the photographs that they are not imaginary.....sometimes they seem to be asking if they can sit in my lap when I am watching them near the pond, though we have not become that friendly!  I love to see their water-play when several of them are on the pond, and I watch their expressions as much as their feathers.  All of this duck-observation has made me less critical of my own artwork.  I know my basic painting skills need work; but when I get a sense that a painted duck is looking up from the paper, like the ducks in the backyard, I'm satisfied and can move on to another painting.

Here's a photograph I used as a reference for a recent painting:

And here's my watercolor painting:

I'm enjoying the process of learning from authentic experiences: feeding, observing and photographing ducks in my backyard; organizing and sharing photographs via the internet; using my computer for referencing and enlarging duck photos whilst painting; photographing the various stages of my paintings; digitally enhancing and cropping photographs of my paintings; and, now, sharing these experiences and paintings via facebook, Picasa, Twitter, Youtube, and Blogger. 

Here's a short slideshow of the stages of my painting:

Click here for a link to the slideshow.

I'm not sure where my mind would be, if it were not for the blessings of ducks and digitalization in Daylesford....down under.