There is no excuse not to celebrate!
Art Is…a kindred spirit
Ever get the feeling sometimes when you meet someone that you have found a kindred spirit? Last night I did. I met a wonderful artist, with a generous spirit. A uniquely talented and humble man comfortable in the spotlight yet quietly clever at turning the spotlight on others.
His name - Michael Albert! 
In the backroom of our community library, Michael spent the afternoon sharing his passion for Cerealism! What a treat it was for those who came to the workshop. They listened to his story then out came the cereal boxes.
I must say the luxury of living in the good ole USA!!! Does anyone realize just how many cereal boxes you can choose from and then don’t get me started on the Pop Tart boxes, snack boxes and candy boxes….the choices are limitless.
Then it truly was ON for young and old…cardboard flying, “does anyone have a V?” and the collective scurrying as people buried into the hidden treasures to find a V. “I have a W if anyone needs it!”
The afternoon rolled on with people coming and going with their new treasure, a new passion and obviously a new way of looking at the cereal aisle in their local store.
Even his kids got into the act as they returned from a full day of camp and it didn’t take much cajoling for their friends (and parents) to join in the fun. 
I am thrilled to have met Michael and equally excited about planning some projects with him in conjunction with Art Is…You. In the meantime I just purchased cereal for Africa! I am so glad my husband likes marshmallows in his cereal… 
But importantly, support your public library. This event did not cost anything to participate in and each child walked away with an autographed poster of their choice. Michael is the epitome of the BIG GIVE.
P.S. Hey mum, get the crew to save their Australian boxes and bring them with you!!
P.P.S. One very happy librarian received a very special gift. While sharing a meal with her, Michael sat and sketched….
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
We are finally reveling in summer holidays and all the sleeping in that this can bring! Before getting there, we had to have our “Moving Up Ceremony” and of course enjoyed watching Flossy receive a couple of prizes in the process.
With the formal part over, it was off to (the first of many)movies and lunch
With school signed off, it was on to end of year recitals with several performances that truly showcased the talents of our “delightful” 15 year old! I love the ease of this photo – they are sitting on a stool in front of a magnificent Steinway Grand in a concert hall where the likes of the Emerson String Quartet play…this is where our kids are lucky enough to also perform and yes – play the Steinway!
The three of us were (quietly) enjoying the absence of our dear MM!
Flossy has been blessed with a phenomenal teacher – Matt Van Brink who offers her the gift of music and comedy all rolled into one.
But summer just wouldn’t be summer without several concerts!
First it was Demi Lovato….I drove 1.5 hours to Hartford, had quality time with the Goddess, picked the concert girls up and drove another 1.5 hours home. Thelaughter and joy of the concert radiating from their faces.
Soon it will be JONAS!! Then a Yankee game at the new stadium and finally Taylor Swift…..the pleasures of living in NYC!
Of course the new Wii is bringing father and daughter together like all the games that they play. I now have to run Wii Intervention and hide the remotes.
Whatever summer brings … it will be enjoyed to the fullest!
Unless it is Wii Tennis against your father…I am just thankful that the controllers come with padding.
Gifts for Me!
I recently wrote about the gift of giving and the joy it can bring. Well I have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end recently of some very special gifts.
Pamela created this beautiful Valentine Gift. 
Alas it got lost in the mail and then blessings were on our side as it was found again - much to mine and Pamela’s joy.
Betti created this beautiful Alice plaque in celebration of our upcoming retreat - Taking Tea with Alice. 
Betti is one of the original Alumni for Art Is…You. A vibrant, NYC girl on 5th Avenue who brings life and love to all our gatherings. She is a survivor too and was supportive when I experienced the woe’s of Mammograms…she is my friend.
And finally a gift that I bought for myself and for my sister. Jill has this fabulous Etsy site and blog that she shares with her sisters and mother. A wonderfully creative girl who touched my heart recently with her wonderful houses.
Because I left the majority of my treasures at home (because …. You know…. We were only going to be in NYC for a moment), I have come to collect and surround myself with treasures from my travels, from artists that I admire and from friends that I love.
There is such a huge part of me that wishes with every breath that I was at home with my family and my friends.
Yet in that same breath I know that had I not taken this path I would not be celebrating the joys that life has given me.
Delight in another child and the bliss of wonderful friends.
The lessons learned on this journey, and contentment knowing that I am, in some ways, a better person for all of these experiences.
Sallianne
More Wreaths
I was “commissioned” by my girlfriend’s friend to create a wreath for her holiday house.
I had great pleasure in doing so because we have lovely memories from a whole summer ago (I can’t believe it) when we spent the day eating lobsters, playing with Max (the dog) and getting wet in the water with Max (the kid).
The brief? Yellow, Green, Beige. Note the little bucket has a special image from that summer and under the influence of the Goddess…a little “pop” of color with my dragonfly.
She clapped her hands with glee and with a kiss and a cuddle, I know it will be loved.
The Absent Presence
A hard concept for most 10 year olds to grasp but one my Treehouse kids now have to live with. We try to guide them to understand that, while the person has died, that person is, in so many ways, still with them in mind and spirit.
So the activity, answer as many questions as you can starting from “what color eyes did they have”, “your favorite memory” through to “if you could say one more thing, what would it be”.
Answers were written onto post it notes. 
Post it notes were stuck to a chair in front of them and then at the end of the activity the kids were encouraged to “introduce us” to the person that had died.
I am in awe of the strength emanating from these kids. I am sure they don’t feel this strength right now but it is evident and it is helping them to cope. They realize they have a wonderful support group. They realize they are not alone. They realize it is ok to cry.
After completing this activity, we celebrated birthdays in the group but in keeping with our unique “club” atmosphere, we celebrated everyone’s birthday with a lot of laughter, some fabulous cakes, birthday medals for everyone 
…and all the time, the chairs with the post it notes, sat quietly beside us all. Absent, yet so present.
Gifts for Others
I marveled last summer when a new reality show hit the tv. “Oprah’s Big Give” - a show where Oprah gave several willing participants the opportunity and the cash flow to make something happen for someone else.
Everyone was talking about the show.
Everyone was tuning in.
Morning Show hosts discussed the success of the program with great interest. Yet I laughed at what I have known for so long.
The simple act of giving to somebody else has a powerful ripple effect that can not be controlled once that first ripple bubbles.
I have spent my professional life giving to others and (fortunately) getting paid to do it.
What is an Incentive and Sales Conference if it isn‘t just one “Big Give”. A BIG GIVE that empowers the receivers to go out and work hard in the job that they love … why? Because they were just told they were great! They were unbeatable! They have the power! I would always - always, come away from these events empowered and invigorated…even if my feet didn’t feel like they were my own anymore because I had been standing on them for 72 hours straight!!!
Following closely in the footsteps of my mother, I receive a great deal of joy when giving to others. Giving to others makes me feel complete. Giving a little bit of creativity takes it one step further because you are truly giving a part of yourself when sharing your creations.
The power that we have as people to make another person’s day a little brighter is within everyone’s reach and I love the fact that my hands are always full.
Little Gibby
Once upon a time there was a
little boy who would only wear polo shirts that had a top pocket. Why? because his friend “Little Gibby” lived in his top pocket and kept him company every day. This little boy was (is and always will be) the apple of his parent’s eye. He could do no wrong (even when he did…which was often).
Gibby as he became affectionately known, is an expert on just about everything.
He is a gifted musician…violin, pipe and electronic organ, and keyboard. He can sit down at a keyboard and just play a tune 2 seconds after he has heard it. Annoying really. Yes jealously can rear it’s ugly head even in blog writing!
He is a fabulous handyman with his skills being demonstrated early in life. He would often alter furniture to fit his (essential) needs. Neil and I were lucky enough to inherit one of these exceptional pieces. A bookcase filled with jagged holes which at various times had provided the necessary outlet for the current home audio system being installed.
He is a gifted vegetable farmer but the less we say about the vegetable patch out the back and the subsequent burning off, the better.
He has the gift of the gab which in our family is actually pretty hereditary but instead of keeping this gift to himself (and his loved ones), he has managed to make a living out of it and to change people’s lives because of it.
The definition of joy for me is to finally have someone who I can discuss all of Gib’s idiosyncrasies. I believe it is her definition of joy too!
He is passionate. He is a comic. He is loving. He is strong willed (how much would he love to know the password on this entry!). He loves his family and knows all the right things to do to win points…He is a master negotiator. He is a good friend. He is a streaker. He loves grilled tuna and cheese sandwiches, mum’s baked potatoes, mum’s tuna mornay and anything that Chesh cooks.
However after many years of dictating every flow…..he is now dictated by two little guys (and one girl who tries her best) and he loves every minute of it.
I am lucky to have him as my brother. There are very few people in this world who understand the complex character that I am – he is one of them. I love him and he loves me.
Happy Birthday Gib!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)