Trick or Treat!?!

Sheer Joy of Artist Freedom and the GROSS factor...

Remember, this used to be a real question...trick or treat?; but now the doorbell rings, kids in costumes and adults too, stand at your door and without a word present the bag, pillowcase, plastic collection container. TREAT! TREAT! They scream in silence... Then after treating for a while, everyone goes home to sift through the bounty, sort, categorize and then perhaps eat from the leftover candy at their house. Because, of course, it is the best candy; the kind they like.

So this year we did a Trick or Treat night at our house. My son and a friend 'created' and baked halloween cakes for their Dads.

Recipe=anything that was going to be thrown out, was old and stale, food coloring, flour, water, more gross things, leftover dinner remnants; baked at 350, until brown/green and bubbly.

After proper cooling, real chocolate icing, red piping, coolwhip, and gummy animals were added for authentic cake appeal. Beautiful works of art and could pass for yummy cake....

Then they made cards to be 'sweet' and give the gift of cake-trick or treat style.

Funny!! Trick or Treat?

*Not to worry, us Moms gave 'pre-warning' on the Trick part, but there is free will. Some people will try anything.

Happy Halloween!

Important; Really?

Henry and the Pink Fleece as evidence...

Today, I took my neighbor's dog Henry for a walk. He is a Large Golden Retriever, beautiful, playful, full of energy, and strong.



Yesterday, we went for a hike, up a logging road, over the river and through the woods; ending at a small cafe. Henry was an instant celebrity and we sat, sipped warm coffee and enjoyed the rest. Then back to the hike; we all had a fantastic workout in the perfect fall weather. Crispy, deep blue skies, bright sunshine and vibrant colors-reds, yellows, oranges, and green!


Today, I thought it would be fun to take the 'easy' stroll around the lake near our house. It is 2.5 miles and yet, it seems like a short stroll because of the amazing scenery. The sparkling lake with the backdrop of the mountains full of their fall foliage. The loons and geese are gently swimming through the lake and the trees are swaying in the breeze.




Henry agreed that it was another fabulous day and bounced down the path watching the squirrels scamper up trees as we made our way. His smile was adorable and he wagged his happy dog tail all the while.



As we rounded the last stretch before heading home there is an amazing clearing where you can see across the lake, into a cove and it was like diamonds; brilliant! Directly after the clearing is the most amazing grouping of blackberry bushes; dare I say tall hedges, that are FULL of blackberries in summer.




Henry was overjoyed to see a group of birds in the water and decided to make a run for it! He leap through the brambles, into the lake and after I was into my ankles; I broke free. Henry swam like a champion to the birds!!



Attached to Henry were his leash and my pink fleece. Hilarious!!! Important...not really in the grand scheme of things. I did have my cell phone in my hand still, so things were good.

Henry swam and swam....the pink fleece floating behind like a beacon.




After swimming to the middle of the lake, or my version of the middle, Henry made his way back. This time he came to lakes edge at the clearing; jumped out, shook vigorously, and then off we went. The fleece still intact and amazingly dry in some areas. Who knew!



Now comes the important part.
I got Henry home, washed him down, let him dry in the sun, and made my way home to start work.


As I was working and talking on the phone, I felt my neck where my HeartMommy necklace is around my neck at ALL times. Gone!


I almost vomited, started running around like a rat in a maze, my mind raced, and I began calling my friends and neighbors- Denise and Becca. Both were home or close and agreed to meet me at the jump off spot and fan out.

A vision of the movie Titanic played in my head as the lady drops the giant diamond off the boat and it floats away forever. Well, my version included brambles and green pond grass...

I ran backwards through the yard and on to Henry's driveway; just to make sure before I hopped in the car to head to the lake. Important?



This necklace is something I cherish and touch all the time as I think of my son. The actual metal and pieces are not important, but the symbol of it; so important!



I RAN to the driveway....and there it was, glistening in the sun! Sparkling and I cried.



Henry was happy to see me again too. :)




The experience of having this perfect day, a great neighborohood, amazing friends near, was so great. Henry being a dog, so wonderful, as I miss my own dogs who are now gone. The experience of expecting my necklace to be in its' place and having it be gone; important on so many levels.



When I picked my son up from school today, he bounded out with a giant smile and warm hug. He is the reason for this thing called life; parenthood. He is important. Everything else pales in comparison.

Things Change

As we go through life, we often get comfortable. Given that every particle is in motion, even those that seem solid, getting too comfortable also often means we slow down. Our motions become smaller, less intense and often times are only done when we must do them.



For instance, a large family of dust-bunnies have managed to sneak into my house over the last week...okay a couple of weeks. Well, I have had the vaccuum next to the door near the largest of the dust-bunny clan, but for reasons beyond my control, I cannot move my particles to create enough motion to evict the family. Okay, I love the bunnies too...


But not moving still brings everything and everyone around you to a slower pace.

Life is so fast at times it may seem we are whirling, but is it fast because we do too much or we fill our time with too much that is truly motionless?

What I have learned is that things change. They just do. There is no good, bad, judgement or emotion; things just change.


Staying in motion is important. Whether we are working, playing, or growing in some way, our motion creates an effect that ripples out, creating more motion. Genius right? I know, I have discovered some hidden truth...brilliant.


No, but I know that when my motion slows to the speed of the dust-bunny crawl, my motivation also slows, my hunger for knowledge slows, my ability to be on the edge slows and yet the ripple effect moves no less quickly; it seems to move more quickly.


Again, there is change; but the ripple effect is moving at the exact same speed.


Why the musing of such things? Because, things have changed.

The world, the speed at which we receive information, the intesity of what is around us, and we must move with it. Not too fast, not too slow; a dance of balance.



Most importantly, we must move our thoughts. Keep them in a balance that allows us to see what is ahead, not sit too long in the present; enjoy it, and certainly not stewing in the past.



This is true with every thought. What we send out in thought; and remember everything is made up of particals in motion, will manifest itself somewhere. Think of things you want, think of movements you want to take, think of what it means to be successful; family, friends, things, money, whatever it is; move it into motion.

It will change things and things change. It is a fact.


My thought,-I intend to move forward with change, learning the dance, enjoying each movement, fondly remembering the past, learning from the present, and in doing so, creating the change of the future, I call success.


Those dust-bunnies, I evict them with love and good will. Tomorrow...

Asheville Date with Me

Today, I went on a date with me.
I wanted to make a good impression on my first date, so I showered, shaved, put on make-up, got dressed up in dark jeans and a crocheted sweater. Oh and perfume too...
When I picked myself up, I was pleased with my date. We went in the Kermit Green Honda Element, listened to Maroon 5; really LOUD, with all the windows down.

After finding a parking spot and meandering through the hoards of Asheville locals and curious tourists, me and my date came upon a cat in a window of a jewelry store. At first I thought it was a toy, but then it moved and his owner sprinkled a bit of catnip on the window sill. I quickly pulled out the camera and took a photo of the now drunk cat.

Then me and myself strolled up Biltmore Avenue and while waiting to cross the street; we were approached by a man wearing a black placard telling of the end of the world. He wanted me to know that although he found me attractive, his commitment to God was what his mission was on this earth. Was he asking for a date or was the devil reaching under the placard for a tickle?

Swiftly, we crossed over, drewled at the Cupcake shop....and passed by without looking too closely. Meandering is something that is easily done in Asheville. There is too much to see.
Musicians playing, a lady yelling at someone on the cell phone, another lady chatting quietly to herself, skateboarders, dogs, dogs and dogs.

The Kress building has a great artist gallery; so I snapped some shots of a shiny windchime, twirling and singing in the perfect weather. My date was so easy going, not rushing, not talking too much, no complaining; prefect.

Then we went to visit Heaven Rains in the Grove Arcade. A boutique that carries HeartMommy jewelry. Rosalind wanted to re-order so we chatted, watched people browse and enjoyed all the commotion downtown.

Around we went, past the amazing cathedral, bells ringing, and on to Jewels That Dance to say hello to my manufacturers and to browse for things I would LOVE. Of course we went to Malaprops, a local bookstore, where everything is cozy, warm coffee, interesting people. The first thing inside the bookstore is a shelf of 'banned' books. Dr. Suess....banned.

We leave the bookstore, stroll past the Woolworth gallery, and head right for a sushi and saki lunch. My mouth waters as I get close to Wasabi, thinking of the #9 Roll and a hot saki. 2:45 pm...15 minutes until they close. As I enter, thwarted at the door-Sorry, we are closed. WHAT! No #9, No Sake...okay, we rebound and head towards the Noodle Shop.

On the way, we take shots of the tall building near the courthouse, I call it "The Devil's Advocate" building; scary. As I neared the Noodle Shop, there was a LINE of people.

Our date was coming to an end, no sake, but a great time watching, listening, photographing, and experiencing Asheville on a date with myself.

With new orders from Rosalind, another wave at the drunken cat, we head off in the Kiwi Element...lovely.

Next date- #9 roll and Sake 1st; then meander.

Isn't It Funny

Isn't It Funny?

Today, as I watched my son play dinosaurs in our yard, I thought how much he had changed.

And to see his intense concentration in Kindergarten Chess. Yes, Chess...he really gets it too. The sponge of the child's mind is a delight.

He is taller, his face is more mature, and now he sings songs while playing. Tonight as we chatted before bedtime, he started giggling and could not stop, his little face crinkled up with silliness. And yet, as I look over the website and the photo site with his pictures, there is so little change.

On the far left of the photo site is Garrett so small, days old if that, with a small smile. On the far right is Garrett now. He has the same smile, the same eyes and the same nose.

Tonight, as I browse these familiar photos I think, isn't it funny, no matter what is happening in the world today, what is happening in our lives, things are as they are meant to be.

http://heartmommy.shutterfly.com/

(Top left 2002 and Top right 2008)

In the middle are Kim and Steve at our first meeting after Garrett was born.

Garrett is a beautiful soul. He will always be.



HeartMommy

TIRED and OVER Committed

Is this what every mother does?

I am the constant "yes girl" when people need something. No matter that I am completely overwhelmed; I do it to myself.

As I have learned in my life, we often do what we want done for us. In my case, I have had some wonderful and amazing people help me through when things get rough. So, I feel compelled to say yes when I am asked to help.

This is not a good thing. What eventually happens is that I neglect myself, my house, my business and then everything becomes hairy-scary.

On a regular basis, I have cancelled exercise commitments, missed my business class, and let my house get DIRTY.

So, today I pledge to be selfish. I am going to exercise, go to class and CLEAN my house. I still have the commitments I have already made, but nothing new.

Here is what is important-out of the mouth of my 5 yr old son- "You have to love yourself more than anyone else or you can't love anyone." Oh the wiseman said....

Tomorrow, I keep my commitments to those I have said yes to. I will get up earlier to exercise, go to class on Friday, stay late to catch up and study, ship all my orders, finish my articles for the newspaper I write for and then, I am watching Lipstick Jungle with a friend.

This weekend, I AM going to downtown Asheville to enjoy its "ashevilleness' and I am not going to make any plans with anyone but myself. As Carrie in Sex In The City did, she had dates with herself and her NYC. I am having a date with me and my AVL.

HeartMommy Asheville Onsie Revealed

Here it is!

The newest item in the HeartMommy product line; the Asheville Onsie!

The idea for this series came after a late evening session with my 'team'...Denise and Katharina; they rock!

The pattern reminded us of looking into a kaleidoscope and we added orange stitching to make it pop. The HeartMommy logo is in the center of the Onsie...I love it!

There are hearts everywhere in the pattern...All you need is love, baby!



HeartMommy

Chocolate and Onsies

Today, HeartMommy needs chocolate.
Yesterday, I went on my first field trip with my son and it was FUN!
Great pumpkin patch, perfect weather, my son and his kindergarten class.
Today, I am working on some amazing designs for HeartMommy Onsies. They are fabulous and I can't wait for everyone to see them!!
For now, Chocolate....