Art by Oblinsky

Up there on the list of my impossible dreams is to be an author of wonderful romances in the early nineteenth century and like George Sand, to dress outrageously in men's attire and scandalize a tightly laced society with my outrageous behavior. But foremost in this dream is to lay beneath the grand piano of Fredrick Chopin and listen in rapture to him play and feel the music vibrate through my soul.
So turn the volume up my dears and dream on..............What's your dream?

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel to the brave men and women who have given themselves, as a sacrifice on the alter of America's freedom.

For myself, for my children and my grandchildren,

I thank you.

GRAVE THOUGHTS...

I spent the best part of yesterday with my Husband and my Mom hanging out in graveyards, remembering those loved ones who made my life what it is and thinking about how lucky I was to have had such kind and good souls to help start me out in the world. It's good to think about the good old days when in my child's eyes things were so straight forward and simple, I marvel at how many life things got so complicated and out of control, and all the truths and things I believed and held in my hand as a child seem to have scattered like a dandelion in the wind.

I think contemplating your dead kin conjures up many a bazaar thought, I wondered if my Dad was annoyed that I "wasted" money on a pot of mums for him when he would have much rather had some homemade peanut brittle. How strange it is that one day a year we all run to the cemetery and plunk down a fortune in flowers to remember those who have gone before. I wonder how many people do it because the really want to or because they think the dead are somewhere watching and keeping score. And am I really doing this for him or me.?..?..and if it's for him I really ought to leave him something he'd like, maybe next year I will leave him a plate of peanut brittle.

THANK YOU MY FRIENDS...

CLOUDBURST...

Working at my kitchen table, a low rumble draws my mind to the view outside. The sky the color of cold ash, the pond like a mirror set in the grass, no life, no motion, still, like the world holding it's breath, the calm before the storm. I feel it creeping up my back, the dog moves to sit by my side, dark Jurassic cloud shadows loom over the house and across the lawn and on. The surface of the pond breaks into hundreds of pebble tossed rings then suddenly erupts into what looks like violently vibrating marbles. The trees are whipped into a frenzy of reach and recoil, the reeds and grass flattened against the banks of the pond, the winds howl and strum the slats on the porch railing, the windows rattle and the dog snuggles closer to my feet.

As quickly as it came it slithers off over the ridge, and across the valley, toward the mountains, chased by the sun. The pond now sparkling bright with greens and golds, the ducks back dipping and splashing, but the sky and mountains are the color of blue black slate, a single white bird flaps across the heavens waving it's benediction to the storm.

One of the joys of living on the edge of heaven is having your own tree of hearts just outside your bedroom window.

THE BLISS CHALLENGE AWARD...

Where there is a challenge there must be an award. After giving it some thought I decided this award should go to all those who participated in the challenge because in addition to their obvious creative talents they are all worthy to be called members of the L'Ordre de Coeur (The Order of the Heart). Just like the expression of their bliss, each sister brings their own special kind of "Heart" into the world.

Clytie is a seeker she goes out into to the world everyday looking for hearts, beauty and wonder to share with all of us.

Jann shares her heart and friendship with all those who need love and appreciation.

Beth cares, everyday she leaves a bit of her heart with her friends and family so they know they are loved, and she treasures what they give in return.

Becky puts her heart into everything she does, her art, her friends, her family.

Deann is a heartsmith if she needs a heart to give, she will create one.

It is my hope that Clytie, Jann, Beth and Becky will be proud to take this award which in it's self isn't worth much but to me what it represents is priceless.

THE NAME YOUR BLISS CHALLENGE

The gauntlet was thrown down and a challenge was given...

Name your bliss …..Search your heart and then…..Paint, paste, photograph, create, or compose your personal masterpiece in the medium of your choice….said masterpiece to be entitled “MY BLISS” and indeed reflective of that subject.

The following brave souls took up the challenge and named their bliss for all the world to see...

...................

CLYTIE'S BLISS

What could possibly be more blissful than kicking back outside on a warm sunny day with a favorite book and a bar of chocolate?

Enjoy more of Clyties wonderful photos on Random Hearts and also Random Stuff.

JANN'S BLISS

“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” Eleanor Roosevelt

MY BLISS IS CHIQUITA. MY SWEET TEENY TINY TEA-CUP CHIHUAHUA. SHE HAS BROUGHT ME SO MUCH JOY. I LOVE TAKING CARE OF HER AND HOPE YOU ENJOY VIEWING WHAT BRINGS ME SUCH HAPPINESS.

Check out Jann's beautiful Altered Art, pictures and wonderful posts at Forever Jann & 13 Thorny Roses

BETH'S BLISS

Here is my most recent cloud painting. I was so inspired by the spirited challenge from Painted Garden, that I finished this cloud painting lickitysplit, and since it's been done, I've been chomping at the bit, to post it! Here you see the cloud which portrays My Bliss. If you look closely, there is a faery hidden nearby. You may have to click on the drawing to see....Below is the original cloud which caught my fancy. I took this picture of a stormy sky out over our back fence. Since then the trees have unfurled all their leaves, and it does not look the same.

Don't miss Beth's extraordinary Cloud Art, Photography and Artwork at Beth Niquette Fine Art & Expect the Unexpected.

BECKY'S BLISS

My bliss the place I can find peace and tranquility, A sense of humor, Laughter, Pain, Beauty, Love all rolled up into one.......I find my bliss in so many things but one that I cherish is Creating Artwork. I love how something black and white can hold so many textures and sing to me! I add color or not, I see in my minds eye what I would like to create and then I am taken away on a Creative Journey. Sometimes it turns out just as I envisioned but other times it takes on a whole different entity altogether.

I love black and white artwork and thought you might enjoy a couple of beautiful pieces I own. The first is an ink on Mat board by my beautiful Daughter Leslie. She has a gift a beautiful talent. She made this drawing (This is only a portion of it) when she was in college. It is a collage of things she knew I loved. It is 16X24 and framed in my living room. I chose to show you this portion because it is of an Old Butter Churn that I painted Grapes on. It belonged to my Great Grandmother Cronk and I cherish it. Leslie also threw in a bit of Nature which I also love.


The next picture is one my son Sean bought for me at an Arts Festival here in Oklahoma. He was 8 when he purchased this for $3.00 he saved his allowance and used it on me! What a treasure this has been. I can not give you the name of the artist because when I had the piece framed it covered it up. At the arts festival they set up a tent where the artists allow children under the age of 12 to purchase prints they sign of the pieces they create they date them and talk with the children about artwork. Instilling in them a love for all kinds of art. Sean had this signed to the Mom I love from your son Sean.My son Sean has become a welder. He uses that medium to make artwork his latest usable piece is a cooker which I will post when it comes home. He has made it look like the atom bomb. (Such a guy thing!) Sean draws a bit and does beautiful pastel chalk pieces.
I have gotten off the subject! I love this picture because it shows the beauty of life unrolling in a symphony of Joy. The beauty all around us each day. A divine and delicate dance of life.To all I hope you find your Bliss and Embrace it! Enjoy it! Let your heart sing it's own Symphony of life!

XXX TO ALL Becky

See more, more, more of Becky's gorgeous Altered Art at Whymsical Musings

DEANN'S BLISS

My bliss is bringing ideas, objects, picture, colors and characters together adding a little love and arranging them all in a manner that is hopefully pleasing to the eye and the mind. I love the whimsical and the profound and seek to combined the two into a kind of thought provoking fun.
This piece is called “Time in a Bottle” it is a new medium that I plan on exploring for awhile. Thank you my friends for letting me indulge my fantasy, I hope I make you smile once in a while.



"If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that would not have opened for anyone else." Joseph Campbell

HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY EVERYDAY

To all my dear friends and the wonderful women in my family,

thank you, you're the best!!!

Jessie Willcox Smith a painter of feelings, a superb mother child artist. In honor of all the superb mothers in my life. Happy Mothers Day everyday.

I love Alphonse Sooo Mucha!!!!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO AMIGOS!!

It's the Mexican equivalent of the 4Th of July, so live it up at your local tacaria!

How about a lovely bouquet of Tulips to brighten your day

(please overlook the weeds, I do)

Is this not the most beautiful snail you have ever seen??? It has inspired me I am going to use it on my Bliss project.

THIS IS MY 100th POST ON THE PAINTED GARDEN..

It is the lusty month of May and this is my 100th post on The Painted Garden.

Forsooth I feel a challenge coming on……So I am flinging the gauntlet at the feet of all those artists brave enough to take up this quest…..Search your heart and then…..Paint, paste, photograph, create, or compose your personal masterpiece in the medium of your choice….said masterpiece to be entitled “MY BLISS” and indeed reflective of that subject.

Take up the challenge on my comment page and post your entry on your blog on May 10th. That’s right 10 days to name your bliss, can you do it?

Stout hearts brave enough to undertake this quest will be posted on “The Painted Garden” throughout the month of May, and a soon to be coveted prize shall be awarded. (that and 50 cents will get you a candy bar)

So come one, come all, tell all your friends…and follow your bliss!!!