Color me Pink

I’m having a little color envy today. I love fall and her vibrant colors but I was in need of something a little lighter, something soft and dreamy. This pic filled the order nicely. It feels like only a few days have passed since I took this image when actually its been several months.

 I’m looking forward to the greet and treat tomorrow night. I love to see all the little kiddos donning their favorite costumes. A few well placed candles flickering on the porch and me sitting in an open window with a big bowl of chocolate goodies in my lap.  My favorite music playing in the background and Mr. Java making the trip from the great room sofa to my office every now and then to take a peek at the scene. I sit on a stool just inside my window unless the weather is unusually warm, which is rare for Halloween night.

Have a spooky but safe Halloween and save some chocolate for the kids!

xo-jj

Grazing the Moon

The Story:

A seed is planted without any guarantees. No way to know if it will grow and prosper, but the anticipation is worth the risk. The meadow outside my window is tended to by a horticulturist who from time to time plants a few seeds for no reason other than he can. I have the privilege of waiting and watching.  Sometimes they emerge from the ground as tiny shoots and then wither away in the harsh Michigan weather but other times they prosper and spread far and wide. I remember a year or so ago watching this man toss seeds about, the very same seeds that I have enjoyed from behind the lens of my camera. He probably never imagined that his actions would befall the eyes of so many.

 So as you’re reaching for the stars and when you sometimes graze the moon remember every action causes a ripple and leaves a mark forever- you can’t fall out of time.

I added this image and the story behind it to my studio. Thanks Doc….

xo-jj

Tunnel Vision

Over the past year and a half I’ve been working a little from home and enjoying a respit from the every day office scene. It’s been different and nice. You would think that by this time my house would be completely organized and I would be totally up to date on all current events. But somehow I feel less informed and my house is the same- looks good unless you open the closets-  beware of falling debrie!  I quite often boycott the news because I don’t want to hear about the unemployment rate for the fifth time today and I really don’t care about the political views of our daily talk show hosts. I am quite often guilty of tunnel vision and only see whats right in front of me or what directly affects me, me and oh yeah, me.

With my head in the sand, I’ve been left with several questions like: what happened to daylight savings- weren’t we supposed to fall back already? When are our troops coming back from Iraq, did we enter some sort of extension or just decide to stay? Has New Orleans recovered from the flood, is the city rebuilt and is it business as usual fo her residents? Who killed Jonbenet Ramsey and what happened to the former president , has he officially become a missing person?

It was easy to stay on top of the news or daily current events  when I was working with a political junkie, a religious zealot and Ms. CNBC but now I am totally and quite blissfully, I might add, unaware of whats happening in the world today. Is that wrong?

I have started a new part-time job but there really isn’t much to report yet. It seems my new place of employment is nothing like the highly organized, rule oriented place I left behind. They can’t seem to keep a manager long enough to begin training for the new hires. I get a call almost daily explaining a new plan. I’m told it will be some time next week but no exact date and time as of yet. Now, I understand why they asked if I was flexible- flexible yes, unorganized a little, confused quite often… hmmmm, maybe I’ll fit right in 

xo-jj

Instinct or imagination

Do you trust your first initial feeling, that special knowledge that’s worth believing?  I ask you this because I’m trying to understand a few things  that took place a very long time ago. A few truths from my past have come to light just lately. These truths were things that I had a feeling about, knew something wasn’t right but chose to ignore because I was young and didn’t trust myself, didn’t want to ask questions and didn’t really want to get involved. All of that is in the past but still I wonder what could have or would have been different if I would have asked those questions, or said something about what I was feeling. My life went on without a hitch but there were others that didn’t.  At what point do you really know if what you’re feeling is real, not imagined, and not just a worry and where do those feelings come from? Are you an evidence kind of person where seeing is believing or do you trust your gut and act on it?

For some reason I’m doing a lot of thinking today, maybe it was too much orange vodka in the martinis last night or the hours of chit chat with my girlfriends or perhaps it’s because we watched the movie Practical Magic twice in a row last night. No matter the reason, the questions are still the same.

Have a fabulous Tuesday…

xo-jj

Witches Night Out

 

Picture me in a long pink wig, sleek black dress, black boots and a pointy hat. I will have a spooky martini in one hand and the remote in the other. Why? you ask. Well my pretties, tonight is my turn to host this months girls night with a witchy twist of course. We will feast on a caldron filled with a mysterious concoction, sure to delight any witch with an appetite. Next comes the toast to a good spell of wishes come true and friendships that never end. Then we will settle into a comfy sofa or two to enjoy the cult film, Practical Magic. It will be an evening of laughter and witchy tales too good to miss. I wish you all could be here to enjoy my:

 Espresso Martini

• 2 cups freshly brewed espresso, chilled
• 2 cups orange-flavored vodka (recommended: Stoli Ohrani)
• 1 cup coffee liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)
• 8 slices orange peel, twisted

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur. Shake for 30 seconds, or until foamy. Strain into a chilled martini glass and decorate with the orange peel. Serve at once.

Along with a bewitching casserole

concocted with a few secret ingredients.

So close your eyes,  put on your pointy hat, and then click your heels 3 times to join me (in spirit) and my friends for a night of fun and laughter.

Cheers!

xo-jj

You’re my first

I sold this writing  journal in my studio a year ago.

I think firsts are so important, first kiss, first birthdays, first house, etc. There is nothing like the first time. You just can’t recreate that feeling of a first time discovery or indulgence. I am very open to trying new things and I love to look at things in a new way. It’s called a beginners mind and it allows me to realize that every single moment carries something distinctive within it. You could say it’s kind of a Zen thing or child-like. The possibilities are endless when your in this state of mind. Although I am very open and love to try new things, MR. Java is not and does not. So every once in a while I feel it necessary to surprise him with something that he would never do if given the choice. Something totally spontaneous and maybe a little crazy. He usually resists and groans a bit in the beginning but we almost always end up having a great time. So for our anniversary I decided to do something a little unusual for him. Tonight we will embark on a ghost tour of Detroit. He and I and a couple of friends will board a bus along with 14 other brave souls,  to several locations known to have paranormal activity. This is way out of the normal realm of things for us but thats what makes it perfect. He thinks we’re just going to dinner… he hee!  

MR. Java has been way too into work lately and needs a diversion in the worst way. I can see it now- he will give me a squinty eyed glance and shake his head, as if to say, what have you gotten us into now- I love that look, it makes me smile.   

They always make me smile!

Speaking of things that make me smile, I have to share something incredible with you. It’s a youtube video that is so worth a moment of your time. It took place in Chicago, the magnitude of so many people doing the same thing simultaneously, in perfect harmony, just blew me away. Keep an eye on Oprah and the total joy on her face. Notice the crazy girl in the front-she’s the only one dancing at first but then… The energy of this video is infectious-  you just have to see/feel it for yourself!   I got a feeling!!!

Isn’t that incredible? I would have loved to have been there! Like Oprah said it’s JOY Rising!  My favorite part is the wave toward the end when everyone is touching the person next to them. I love the upbeat music of the Black-eyed Peas but the energy in the crowd is phenominal- if this can’t inspire world peace, nothing can. I have to confess something  a little embarresing, this video made shed a tear because it was so beautiful!

xo-jj

Everything is on it’s way to somewhere

 

“Everything is on it’s way to somewhere”, ran through my mind as I captured this series of  images. The breeze gently carried each and every tiny seed across the field in a hurry. It looked alot like my life, with bits and pieces of me rushing about going here and there, without an inkling of destination.

Life has been busy this past week and I haven’t had any time to chat-a  sick child, me playing the role of baby nanny and a new job. My seeds were scattered in all directions but as things began to quiet down I headed out with my camera on a mission to capture the journey of life. It was refreshing and now my child has recovered, batteries are recharged and my seeds are ready for a new journey- destination unknown, of course.

 

 

This one is my fave and I will probably make it available in my shop when I get some time- who knows when that will be- Soon I hope!

 

These tiny seeds are wrapped in a ball of fluff, their design is perfect and the sight of them taking flight is beautiful .  I tried to capture the magic as I saw it but I think you just had to be there.

xo-jj

and that’s the truth

All right, without further delay or procrastination here it is, the honest scrap about me.

This honor was bestowed upon me by my good friend the Seawitch.

1. I live in the same town where I was born- moved away once but came back. I always thought I would grow up to be famous and live in a big city.

2. I have been writing crazy little stories and poetry since I was 12 years old.

3. I am fiercely loyal and can become dangerous if you mess with my kids

4. I had a stalker when I was 15. Thank God that’s over.

5. About 12 years ago I ran into a burning house and retrieved 3 kids and 2 dogs. I put them in my car/van and waited until their mother arrived home.

6. I’m a terrible speller, spell-check is my friend.

7. I have only finished reading about 6 books in my lifetime I get bored too easily.

8. In 10th grade my girlfriends and I hid in the locker room of the opposing football team at half time and never got caught. We didn’t see much but it was still worth the thrill.  he he

9. I had to stuff my bra for my best friends wedding because I missed my last fitting and well it didn’t fit. Thank heavens everything stayed put.

10. I believe helping others is the best way to help yourself!

That’s it, 10 things you don’t know about me. Have a great weekend!

xo-jj

Diary of the girl next door

Dear Diary,

If you are white, are a girl, have a family and look pretty ordinary than you just might be considered the girl next door. I never really subscribed to that theory or most other stereo types initiated by the middle class. Growing up middle class in a small town I felt protected, a little ordinary maybe but still protected. I never worried about whether there would be food on the table, a warm bed to sleep in and I never thought about violence of any kind. I wasn’t allowed to watch R-rated movies (which are more like the PG movies of today) and anything labeled adult conversation was not spoken in front of the children, ever!  I was a country girl from the mid-west and knew very little about life outside small town America. It was implied that I would finish school, get married and raise a family, whether I had a career or not was up for grabs.  Things were pretty simple and quite ordinary back then. I was considered the girl next door. I knew a lot of girl next door types and some were quite ordinary like me but then there were others that were anything but ordinary.  They might have been considered the girl next door at first glance but if truth be told their membership would be revoked in a heart beat. But the world was a little more polite back then (I’m talking the late 70’s- early 80’s)  and we lived by the golden rule of don’t ask- don’t tell. I’m not so sure that’s a good rule, well it doesn’t really matter because that rule has changed. Kids are no longer sweet & innocent until they arrive at adulthood and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a sixteen year old kid that hasn’t seen at least one R-rated movie.

So what happened? Is it a good thing that the girl next door doesn’t  exist anymore. Are we any safer now that our kids know what the world is all about both good and bad? What they don’t know can be googled  in 30 seconds, anyway. Although, I believe it’s dangerous to be too naive, fear invokes limitations on people.  They used to say “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” but today there isn’t much we don’t know. That theory was completely bogus anyway.

Now that this middle class- girl next door approaches middle age she kind-of, sort-of misses her bubble of innocence but then she also wonders what would have been if that bubble had never existed in the first place.  What if I’d known then what I know now…

xo-jj

Seeing things from a different perspective

 

I decided that today was the perfect day for a little extra color, something a bit unusual. So I digitally painted this otherwise tipical image of a  sunflower in hopes that just maybe it would brighten up an oh so grey fall day.  I love the passionate blues and cozy butter tones, it’s fresh and new. Michigan isn’t known for its sunshine but I have to say I don’t ever remember a year with more grey days and bitter temperatures than this one.

I’ve decided not to let the grey skies paint my mood. So today as I’m driving my car, running in and out of buildings and going about a normal day, I’ll keep my eye out for little bits of  color and inspiration where ever I can find it.  I wonder how different things could look if I changed my focus just a smidge. Just now looking out my window I notice how green the grass looks in the absence of sun. Perhaps those grey lifeless skies will be the perfect backdrop for a wide array of fall colors or maybe I’ll be surprised by a few snowflakes quietly falling on my windshield. The forcast is calling for a few flakes. I’ll let you know how this little experiment or shift in attitude works out.

Enjoy your day from a different perspective and see what happens.

xo-jj