Look What I Found!

Look what I found while on a drive ... Lois Lane and the sweet yellow mustard flowers at the base of the sign! Imagine that! The REAL Lois Lane! HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA - Lois

A Brief Bit of Sun!

The sun briefly made an appearance this afternoon so Phil and I dashed off to East Beach on Marrowstone Island for a quick walk. There was sun, a low, low tide and no wind. We just about had the place to ourselves. I took all my broken cabs and bliter pearls to the beach and made an offering of thanks to the earth as I tossed them into or back to the water. The earth gives me so much in my business to sell or work with; it only feels right to return what I can not use because of breakage.

Poor Andrea, stranded in Seattle for the night instead of being on her way to Texas. Dang airlines!@# %6!8 *()&* There I said it for her! See you later gator, Lois

A Purple Day

These pictures have a theme in common; the color purple. It is our funky lavender flower bed with the bowling ball we found on the beach as an ornament ( who would get so mad at bowling that they would toss the ball into Puget Sound?? ), my beautiful purple vincas which grow along the walkway to my front door without any help from me at all and finally, one of my folkart paintings of english canal flowers that was framed in a small but elaborate gold frame.

We greeted this day with a mad rush to get Jacob to school or rather Phil did as I just snoozed away, only to find out that there was no school today because of a teacher's training day. That just forced Jacob and I to visit Andrea and Whit and have hot dogs at John's hot dog stand downtown. MMM .. jumbo veggie dogs! All this during a brief few hours of sun!! Now if only Jacob would quit bugging me about running off with my ancient IPod! Time for bed! xxoo, Lois

Twenty Six Years Ago ...

On this day twenty six years ago; I gave birth to my oldest son, Michael. I named him with a long distinguished moniker, Michael Ernest James Venarchick Morello and after a difficult few weeks of worry; took my sweet baby home. I am to this day amazed that I could be entrusted with a new human life and not need a license or any specialized training or education. Michael has been a wonderful boy and now a man. He kept me company, made me laugh, worry, cry, rejoice and delight in life and him. Even now that he lives so very far away; I miss him terribly and yet, he still makes me feel all warm, cozy and motherly inside. He is and always will be a joy in my life. My now grown up treasure!

I am adding this photo of Seattle's famous Space Needle for Michael. When he gets home one of these days we are going to head to the top! Happy Birthday Michael!! Love, Mom

Pretty Trees in Portland

I am feeling pretty tired as it is getting late and world weary tonight so I am just going to post these pictures of the lovely, blooming fruit trees at the Portland Convention Center. Aren't they beautiful? I have always had a love affair with flowering trees! It is so spring! Sweet dreams - Lois

BeAd ExPo in PoRtLaNd

Oh, but it is good to be here! I love my bed, my dog, my welcoming home and studio! I really appreciate everything after I have been away and everything feels new and refreshed!

I have for you here a photo from the opening of Bead Expo in Portland, Oregon. It's the sign at the gateway to all the marvelous beads and treasures contained within the show. Not to mention all the friends that I only get to see on the road. Friendships that you build between customers and set up or breakdown.

I have always been a person who says to people seeking answers to " ask the universe " and wait for an answer. The trick lies in listening and then hearing the answer. Sometimes I am asking a question without even being aware, consciously, that I have asked a question and then, POW!, an answer appears and you can say I WAS asking. That's the case with this sticker that appeared on the Do Not Enter sign on the walk from my hotel to the convention center. Now IS all you have. A reminder from the guiding universe to not worry about the small things ( Will I make money at this show? Can I cover my expenses? ) and to remember now is the moment and now is what I have. MmmmHmmm, Lois

In Portland

Here I am in the Rose city; a city that inspires me with all its' green philosophy. Mass transit, ( free downtown ), low flush toilets, recycle bins everywhere and it just feels good and right and well, inspiring. The Bead Expo show has been fun and with the threat and actual snow everywhere in the area; I am pleased that customers are still finding us.

We are all feeling a tad homesick. Not for each other for as Phil reminds us, we are all here as a family but for our actual home, all its' comforts, the dog, the cats and my studio. It is wonderful to be around all these bead classes and jewelry that everyone wears and tragic that I can not get to my studio! On the road knitting and my sketchbooks are as arty and crafty as I can get! Speaking of getting, I better get back to work! Now! Watch for pictures & more! xxooo, Lois ( p.s. It is snowing in PT right now! )