Happy Solstice!!!!

Dearest Family and Friends........

Today is Winter Solstice,a lunar eclipse and the first day of winter...really could the universe pack anymore in....Today is the day I meditate and reflect on my past year.Today is my day all day to honor myself in meditation. I will meditate in movement (walking) I will meditate in Sitting at my altar ,I will meditate in creativity( I am doing an intuitive painting) Today I will Meditate!!!!

I just got back recently from a trip to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) it was a good time in so many ways it felt like home....This gift was unexpected from my gal pal Joyce who really wanted me to go to Mexico as it had been two years since I had been back. When I walked off that plane and stepped onto Mexico soil my arms lifted and my mouth opened with the words I'm back! Mexico and I warmly embraced.

It was a whirlwind of delight...the sounds,colors,the people all touched me and I walked on like I never left 2 years back....Joyce and I had never traveled together but let me tell u my friend was a true delight to be with...we laughed daily,we talked and talked deepening our friendship...There were many reunions with old friends in Puerto Vallarta and made new ones also....I would walk into familiar places and would be remembered by name it was as if it was yesterday that I was just there.

There is something about Mexico that touches my soul deeply and I now know that it will a part of my future in some way, as it develops I will let u know. The past year has been an interesting journey. Losses and Gains have been part and parcel.. with death( the passing of Taylor's dad ,my ex husband who I knew for 27 years) there comes life the birth of my little button Olivia. Another creative year of residency awarded to me. The passing of my beloved familiar Shadow(cat) and then the blessing of Kasperian (cat) My first solo art show July 2010. The Sanctuary this past year became a stop for many. My word for 2010 was Create and that I have done in so many diverse ways.

Thank-You for your support,friendship, family ties,love,encouragement,cards,emails,letters,gifts,patience,sharing and caring....Thank You!!!

As the holidays rush upon us,I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of u Happy Solstice and Blessed Holidays!!! From my Sanctuary to yours.....See u in 2011

xoxox

Rhonda

P:S..I ended up not feeling well the day before i left Mexico and then got slammed big time with a cold when i got home,just getting back on my feet..but taking it easy...

Pics:

1. Happy Holidays from Olivia

the remaining pics are from Mexico..enjoy

Art -Full

Hello Dear readers;

Thanx for dropping in to see what adventures I am up to.....I've been back at the Sanctuary now for about two weeks from my trip that welcomed my granddaughter into the world..Olivia is already a month old...how time flies and even more so with this new little life.

I arrived home to plunging temperatures and incoming snow..The creative plate runneth over as I prepare to go forward into 2011. In January I add another delicacy to my plate,this time the commitment of working with a life coach that will assist me in evolving my creative vision,there is already homework to be done before the end of this shrinking year. There are many tasks ahead for me coming up more on that in later posts.

Today as I write this from my toasty workplace at the Ranger Station Gallery,its the first hopefully annual Passport Art Crawl,many people have crossed over the threshold,several first timers into this gallery.There is an air of excitement despite the chilled airs outside.

The Art Crawl here in Harrison Hot Springs Village has bought out a number of locals that normally don't otherwise shop or browse many of the participating crawl locations,with refreshments,door prizes it has enticed participants from outside these areas so all in all day one has been a success. Kasper has even hung out in the gallery to greet the visitors.

I am off on another adventure next week this time its Mexico.Yep after two years I am heading back to where my Mexico Journey began(Pureto Vallarta)........ My gal pal Joyce and I are off for fun,loads of Sun and can we all put our hands together for Margaritas!!!! So I will sign off for now but will be back all tanned,inspired and chilled!!!

Adios;

Rhonda

Pictures:

1.The Divne Olivia at Thanksgiving(American) On November 30th she turned 1 month old

2.Kasper hanging in the Gallery to greet visitors for the Art Crawl 2010

3.Home Sweet Home now on display at Ranger Station Art Gallery....created from garbage thrown in and about Chilliwack River.... Artist: Andy Tucker

4&5. Harrsion passport for Art Crawl December 4&5 2010

6. Marilyn from Vancouver came to pick up her piece December 4th entitled"Full Moon" created by yours truly.this was a piece she purchased from my show "Divergence" July 2010.

7&8. Repurposed tree ornaments created by ACE students Thursday/Friday December 2&3

No Fussing,No Cussing

I am still here in Fort Meade,Maryland ..however the sand in the hourglass is slowly running out,soon it will be time to wind my way back to Casa Sanctuary. This past weekend I had a faboo time with my friend Bubba D(Daniel) in New Jersey and New York.

Pulling myself away from my little button was difficult..but the creative call was strong so off i went.My intention was to take the Amtrak Train to New Jersey since it was a easy 2.5 hour ride,it wasn't meant to be dollar wise as the close to three hundred dollar return trip price tag was far from my budget..so i chose the no frill 5 hour Greyhound Bus Ride.

Greyhound never disappoints in a good ride. I make my way to DC to catch the bus for 12:30pm..exiting from the DC Union metro station. There large as life is a beautiful red high heeled shoe, I laugh out loud well ya see I've been struggling somewhat with connecting to my next solo show content and the universe smacked me right upside the head with big red shoe!!!! Ding,Zing my creative mind is in full wake up mode and i know I've arrived.

The title of this blog came from my first leg of my trip on Greyhound with Driver Dwayne. The itinerary is laid out along with bus rules one of those being cell phones",Keep your cell phones on vibrate, Keep your conversations on the downlow and remember when u are on the phone none of us want to here you so remember No Fussing, No Cussing"

Its Friday and people are traveling about for the weekend,the bus was semi packed upon arrival in Baltimore i was aware that this particular journey was gonna be full,I'm situated in the back hoping that just maybe the seat next to me would remain empty,as i look up down the aisle sideways well hmm a linebacker (my visual observation of him) plunks himself beside me then inquires as to if i have enough room. We have a chat that linebacker and I and he's from the Bronx and is curious about me from Canada,now let me tell ya this guy was edgey with manners quite a combo but i sensed that a strong mama instilled those manners in him... Finally overtime greyhound pulls into New Jersey station right in the middle of rush hour!!!!

Daniel and I are in take off mode to his studio for which i am excited about...The building that Daniels studio is in is a federal building so security is tight. The funny thing is that down a hall from the studios are the Immigration offices..hmm creativity and immigration now that pushes the imagination lol lol..

Daniel in my opinion is a very talented artist,his medium is Text and his abilities to use it in different ways which is a huge example of the most recent work of his that i wanted to see up close and personal.When i saw this Text Mural it was overwhelming but in a fantastic way.There is no right way to begin and end in reading. Its very open ended and dimensional.

Saturday comes with blue skies and we're heading to New York for the day.....Yahoo!!!
Its early afternoon and as we cross the bridge into New York,I literally could feel the change in energy.....

We ended up in Soho, on a mission we were going to" Levis Workshop" This is a pop up store totally supported by Levis Jeans and guess what all of it is free a rare concept in New York.. Please go the links and read what this is all about in more detail than i provide here. The short of it is its a Photographers Dream wheather u are an amateur or a professional...One of the areas at the Levi Workshop was a vintgage camera rental,pick your camera and go on a journey and take pics inside or our...our camera choice was a Large Poliroid and out we went treking about Soho,camera was to be returned by 8pm..it wasn't an easy thing using this particular camera and deciding what to shoot.....My head was spinning as we went in and out of stores,galleries etc.it was a blast...We returned to the Workshop and finished off out film inside and got some fun shots. Next u scan,then u can either print out your chosen print onto a tshirt or a large poster. Unfortuantely the lineups were long,however Daniel is going to return.

The fun part we both enjoyed was the photobooth ...What i enjoyed was that time flew as we interactively played with this medium i think for both of us that it was more than b point and shoot. The atmosphere was eclectic,stimulating,challenging and really a hell of alot of fun!!!

Night was upon us and were starving so off to eat at Lucky Strike....well our food choices were simple ,burgers with one beer each. Our burger meal was $43.00 well only in New York lol lol lol

It was a short whirlwind visit full of wonder with a fantastic creative boost that was very welcome. I am going to certainly revisit more time in New York in the near future.

I am holding my mini muse Olivia reflecting on my weekend away full of graditude..

Thanx for joining me on my travels...YA!!!!!

For More Info regarding the Levis Workshop I visited : http://workshops.levi.com/

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda