NOTES FROM THE E.R.

It’s funny how every once in awhile life has to teach us who is really in charge. By taking our carefully scheduled life and all our well laid plans and obliterating them in a matter of seconds.
I had one of those, life altering seconds Monday. I was busy painting my granddaughters mural when my phone rang,
“ This is IMC Emergency, your father has suffered a cardiac arrest during his chemotherapy session, he is not doing well, and we can’t locate your mother.”
One phone call, one moment and my whole life is suddenly completely different, and not in a way that I would ever have chosen. It has become an hour to hour roller coaster ride of blips on a heart monitor and the honking of the respirator.
Awe but isn't life is suppose to be a learning experience. I pray that I take away every single bit of knowledge I am suppose to glean from this experience so I don’t have to repeat it.
I know the most important lesson is, if you love someone tell them now because you may never have another chance. ("see you later" has taken on a whole new meaning)
The biggest conclusion I have come to after watching all the doctors and nurses with their endless paraphernalia try to drag my Dad back from the brink; Is that there are far worse things then death. And I'm heading to the nearest tattoo parlor and have D.N.R. tattooed on my chest, that’s Do Not Resuscitate.

P.S. My Dad is finally out of his coma and doing much better today, it is still touch and go and he is still terminal. (aren't we all?) But I thank God for everyday, even if we have to do it His way sometimes.

APRIL FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!

April fools has come to call and I'm the biggest fool of all!!!!

SONG FOR THE ASKING

Here is my song for the asking,

ask me and I will play,

so sweetly I'll make you smile.

This is my tune for the taking,

take it don't turn away,

I've been waiting all my life.

Thinking over I've been sad.

Thinking it over I'd be more then glad to change my ways for the asking.

Ask me and I will play all the love that I hold inside.

Paul Simon

Isn't this all anyone really wants, to be listened to and heard. A verse so simple so profound.

Okay sisters of my heart. These three gorgeous paintings are all entitled "Clytie" I'm sure you already know that not only is she a great photographer of hearts, she was also a water nymph in Greek Mythology that fell in love with the sun god Apollo. Sad story but the illustrations are wonderful. (I just love the sunflowers in the top painting.)

Sorry Beth, I googled Beth & Deann and all that came up was a bunch of funny looking girls named Beth & Deann, I'm jealous. :-)

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MY BLOG FRIENDS!!!

I found this card, I loved it and I wanted to send it to you for your Birthday. Unfortunately I don't know when your Birthday is...so take this card and when your Birthday arrives look it up and know that I wish for you all the best and a very Happy Day!!!

Do you believe in the power of attraction? (no not that kind) I love genealogy and I have recovered and compiled histories for close to a hundred ancestors. The thing that I find amazing is, that when I start writing, information starts to gather. People call, books show up, new Internet sites pop up, pictures arrive on Google and disappear after. For example a few years ago I was writing a history for my Great,great,great grandfather, out of the blue I was struck with the idea of Googling the last name on image, and up pops this beautiful photo of him. I'm ecstatic! (it's the only picture I have of him by the way) But what is even more amazing is that on the same page is this headstone which is in a private inaccessible graveyard in Iowa. The inscription reads "Iris daughter of J & M Shelledy died 1850." Let me just say that I am possibly the only person on earth who would look at this and know who J & M Shelledy were. I had all their records and information about their 9 children, except for their 10th and oldest child Iris. I love it, it's like finding lost angels.

Just a word at the close of the day. About a the people I am descended from for the most part. I love the whimsy, the enchantment, the magic that is Ireland. I love the humor and the wee idiosyncrasy's of the Irish people. But I also want to pause and remember the privation and hardships they have suffered through history especially the women, and celebrate their stubborn will to make better lives for themselves and their families the pride they have in their heritage. I celebrate every drop of Irish blood that is me…Aye even if it means I’m totally whacked most of the time.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

ME LOVELIES!!!

Here is a picture of a fine Irish lass the caption reads:

"THE LILY OF KILLARNEY." the work of her arms develops her charms.

Well now, I hope it won't be workin for me today, for I'm taken me basket to the garden to gather up 40 loads of winter kill. (a daunting task to say the least)
And at my age if I develop anymore "charms" I might find meself face doon on the concrete.

Don't ya just love them good old Irish Blessings....

Here's to you and yours

And to mine and ours.

And if mine and ours

Ever come across to you and yours

I hope you and yours will do

As much for mine and ours

As mine and ours have done

For you and yours!

Okay, it's honor an Irishman Day, and the Irishman of the hour is Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde. (Oscar Wilde) The man was brilliant he was also what my friend Sharon would call "A waste of skin." But I enjoy his wit, insight, his passion and his imagination. His quotes are legendary and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is one of my very favorite stories.

The Ballad of Reading Gaol is also a favorite poem. I have chosen just a few verses that touch me. Wilde spent several years incarcerated at Reading Gaol for debauchery and died in 1900 a few years after he was released. The photo is part of the gaol ruins still standing.

THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL

He did not wear his scarlet coat,

For blood and wine are red,

And blood and wine were on his hands

When they found him with the dead,

The poor dead woman whom he loved,

And murdered in her bed………

……Yet each man kills the thing he loves,

By each let this be heard

Some do it with a bitter look,

Some with a flattering word,

The coward does it with a kiss,

The brave man with a sword!
Some kill their love when they are young,

And some when they are old;

Some strangle with the hands of Lust,

Some with the hands of Gold:

The kindest use a knife, because

The dead so soon grow cold.
Some love too little, some too long,

Some sell, and others buy;

Some do the deed with many tears,

And some without a sigh:

For each man kills the thing he loves,

Yet each man does not die.
He does not die a death of shame

On a day of dark disgrace,

Nor have a noose about his neck,

Nor a cloth upon his face,

Nor drop feet foremost through the floor

Into an empty space.
He does not sit with silent men

Who watch him night and day;

Who watch him when he tries to weep,

And when he tries to pray;

Who watch him lest himself should rob

The prison of its prey....
Oscar Wilde

Here is my latest ACEO she is called "Fantine" and I kind of like her. I think she reflects the spirit of Victor Hugo's character. "Les Miserables" is one of my very favorite books and plays.

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.

That myth is more potent than history.

I believe dreams are more powerful than facts.

That hope always triumphs over experience.

That laughter is the only cure for grief.

And I believe that love is stronger than death.

Dark Eyed Molly

Deep and dark are my true love's eyes,

Blacker still is the winter's turning,

As the sadness of parting proves.

And brighter now is the lantern burning

That lightens my path to love.

No fiddle tune will take the air,

But I will see his swift feet dancing

And the swirl of his dark brown hair,

His smiling face and his dark eyes glancing

As we stepped out Blinkbonny Fair.

And if my waiting prove in vain,

Then I will pack and track ever take me.

The long road will ease my pain.

No jewel of mankind would ever make me

Whisper love's words again.

For in drink I'll seek good company,

My ears will ring with the tavern's laughter,

And I'll hear not his last sweet sigh.

And who's to know in the morning after

How I long for his dear dark eyes

How I long for his dear dark eyes

These lyrics by Eva Cassidy remind me of my forth Great Grandmother Margaret who lived in Ireland she fell in love with a dark haired, dark eyed, Irishman named John, he was a soldier in the English army. They were married and she was carrying his child when he called to leave with his Company and fight against Napoleon at Waterloo. He never returned. She eventually left Ireland with her little son and came to live in America.

Clytie & Beth, I'm so excited just look what the snow storm left me!! Just noticed it this afternoon, I guess the sun melted the snow off the trees. My original heart is on the left and a beautiful heart shaped patch of pine trees, a heart shaped melt off and then in the shadow on the right another almost perfect heart shaped indentation in the mountain. Just had to show it to someone who would truly appreciate the natural phenomenon.

Aye but I'm glad I did my sallying forth yesterday for this is what the fates have brought this fine morn. Isn't it just the edge of heaven.

The gauntlet was thrown and a challenge delivered to sally forth in search of an unheralded face, and heart and capture it on film for all the world to see. And I being the cheeky wench that I am, did whine and stamp my feet until I was also invited to take part. So armed with my trustie Kodak Brownie Camera, I sallied forth and behold not 3 feet outside my back door, I spied a spot. But nay not just a spot it was a heart and then nay not just a heart but a face also, and of Abraham Lincoln to be precise. "But" said I this was no challenge I must prove myself worthy, I must go amongst the wild beasties with large pointy teeth.

And life being what it is, sometimes we go in search of one thing and find something else entirely, Although it does have two cheeks. But wait what is this....

....a small heart, is it true that size does not matter?

And then looking up I see a face in the heavens and I hope that you can discern it too because, knave that I am I accidentally deleted the enhanced version, and this one has about 5 pixels per inch.

I returneth to my keep, satisfied that I had met thy challenge. Taking one more look before closing the drawbridge when low and behold on the side of yon mountain a heart of monumental proportions that could only have been carved by a dragon.

Alas my next quest, sally forth and find the dragon.

Solitude

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Here is a little jocularity for you today. Yes I have embarrassed myself in almost every art medium there is. (grin)
I have a special treat for everyone, at the end of this page don't miss "Women In Art" it is an extraordinary film of art masterpieces morphed together.

P.S. Click the sound off my music before you start the movie.

Welcome, welcome March, doorway to spring and harbinger of blarney, filled with the wonderful magic of the Irish. Come with me and we'll celebrate with all the green that is in us and sail our kites on the last gasp of winters wind.

Because March is my month and I love it!