Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Icons of the Outer Banks

Now THIS is what a successful vacation at the beach looks like!  We overbought the crabs a bit and ended up having snacks of crab cakes and mini crab cakes and crab bisque and crab, crab, crab....But it was marvelous. Thanks to my brother Jay for the great picture!

Magic of the Sea

The magic of the Outer Banks is still upon me.  I hear it's song even in L.A.; feel it's breezes; smell it's heat. I think it will be days before I struggle out of the mist.

Every three years we're drawn to the sea. It's more than the ocean and the storms and the sea oats.  More than the lightning and rainbow, the sunrises and sunsets.  Most of all, it's the memories of years and years and the march of time - those who've joined us; those we've lost - the changes in face and body.  But always, it's family.

The treasure of 9 brothers and sisters who love each other and care for each other (and feed each other!).   Children from 10 to 38.  Grandchildren from 3 to 9.  Blessing upon blessing upon gift upon joy.  

Ah, yes. The magic is upon me and it will be many days before the smiles and the tears and the sighs fade away.

Just because.....

I always wanted to make one of these.

So, I did.  

PCC July Flea Market

I stole away for a very few hours Sunday morning and it made a world of difference to me.  The weather was great, crowds not too bad, saw a few friends - I came home refreshed.  And - found some GREAT stuff!  Vintage linens, old paper, tin, frogs, stencils, wood, bone, glass..ahhh..Pasadena City College Flea Market, I love you.

These were the find of the day, though it's hard to say when you find such nice things.  I'll use these on a shrine or special box for special things.

Isn't this a sweet face?  I rarely find tintypes that appeal to me, but she is so lovely.  How did they get little ones to sit so still for so long????

I have been looking for one of these for years....do you know what it is?  I'll tell you at the end of this post, if you're curious.

I acquired a PILE of these bone sticks; I think they are from a mahjong game?  I plan to use them in books, as clasps or perhaps as a spine for something odd.  Aren't the forks neat?  Bone and wood handles, with some metal.  Three prongs, so they are fairly old.

A few glass flower frogs....

And an old ration book in a neat leather case....

And a holder for important documents, with envelopes and a great case.  I only noticed when I got home that there were papers in the envelope and they do tell a story.  I'll share then later.

I also found.....

And a kimono stencil - he had a lot of them and I want more and more!

OK, so what was that basket thingy?  It's a stairway basket!  It sits at the bottom of your stairs, one edge on one stair; one on the stair above.  You drop into it anything that needs to go upstairs and when you're on your way up, you carry it with you.  My mom always taught us to never go up or down stairs or into a different room without carrying with us something that needed to be put in it's proper place.  Now, I have an elegant and practical way to do it.  Thanks, Mom!

Sushi Boy

Now, I don't eat sushi. I've tried it, and it's ok, but it's just not my thing.  Apparently, five year olds who live in Maui don't have the same issues.  Ready?

Set....

GO!

Everyone told me this salmon was fabulous, but I stuck with the Miso....

Wimp....

Score!

Look what I found at Pep Boys yesterday!  OK, call me crazy, I know, but I am inspired.  Can't wait to turn these into......something.

Sometimes, it take so little to make me happy.....

Zoo Time

Look Mama!  Grammy put a snake on my head!   Grammy is a sucker for good merchandising...