Cranberry Township, PA – March 2018
Broken Road.
It can be easy
to breeze through life
when you are cruising along
on the wide open, straight path of the highway.
But often times
it is the bumps and dips and obstacles
on the broken roads
that lead to the best and most beautiful things in life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Snowy Bluebird – March 2018 – Mars, PA
Bluebird of Happiness.
The beggar man and the mighty king are only different in name,
For they are treated just the same by fate.
Today a smile and tomorrow a tear, we never know what’s in store.So learn your lesson before it is too late.
So be like I, hold your head up high
’til you find the bluebird of happiness.You will find greater peace of mind,
knowing there’s a bluebird of happiness.And when he sings to you,
though you’re deep in blue,
You will see a ray of light creep through.And so remember this,
life is no abyss.
Somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness.The poet with his pen, the peasant with his plow,
It makes no different who you are,
it’s all the same somehow.The king upon his throne, the jester at his feet,
the artist, the actress,
the man on the street.It’s a life of smiles and a life of tears.
It’s a life of hopes and a life of fears.A blinding torrent of rain and a brilliant burst of sun,
A biting tearing pain and bubbling sparkling fun.And no matter what you have, don’t envy those you meet.
It’s all the same, it’s in the game, the bitter and the sweet.And if things don’t look so cheerful, just show a little fight.
Fore every bit of darkness, there’s a little bit of light.For every bit of hatred, there’s a little bit of love.
Fore every cloudy morning, there’s a midnight moon above.So don’t you forget,
you must search ’til you find
the bluebird.You will find peace and contentment forever, if you will be like I.
Hold your head up high, ’til you see a ray of light appear.And so remember this,
life is no abyss.
Somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness*.
What a sight to find this beautiful blue bird on the back railing the other day. A bright, beautiful spot amidst the blustery snow storm. It made me think of the phrase, “The Bluebird of Happiness.” A little googling led me to the song and the beautiful lyrics. A lot of truth about life in this.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Finding Your Own Path.
Your life will…
find its own paths…and that they may be good, rich, and wide
is what I wish for you,
more than I can say.It seems to me
that everything has its proper emphasis…keep growing,
silently and earnestly,
through your whole development;you couldn’t disturb it any more violently
than by looking outsideand waiting for outside answers
to questions that only your innermost feeling, in your quietest hour,
can perhaps answer.-Rilke – Letters to a Young Poet
Stay true to your path.
Be confident in the deepest secrets of your soul
that make you… You.
Just like
mine
make me… Me.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My art of late has taken a different twist as I have been so greatly influenced by the on-line art class I recently took by Lendon Noe – Inspired by Lives and Letters. Although the class is over, I am not ready to let go of the lessons it is teaching me – the lessons about myself and my feelings. And this mixed media collage is a letter to my soul – written in the form of art. It is a conversation between heart and soul. I have no idea if it will mean anything to you, but this is for me, and I am so grateful for the venue to express it.
Products used for Mixed Media Collage:
Stonehedge Paper
Dr Ph Martin Ink
Ink-Dyed Tissue Paper
Photo on Velum Paper
Script Stamp
Stamp Seal Sealing Wax
Momento Ink Pad
Cheesecloth
Moon over Mars PA March 2018
Shine Brightly.
Amidst the darkness
and the clouds
that try to hide it,
the moon
still
shines brightly.
I want
to be
like the moon.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
February Morning – Mars, PA 2018
Look Inside.
The tiniest drop of water
hanging on the edge of the limb
that might not last
longer than a few moments
holds a glimpse of life.
It tells a story.
Look inside.
Ignore the blurred surroundings.
Squint hard.
Look closely.
Search deep
into this beautiful thing.
Search deep…
inside of You.
Like the tiny drop of water
that reflects the trees trunk and limbs.
Look inside your heart
to see what branches inside of you.
What is growing and stretching
and feeding your soul.
What is reaching
to grasp your happiness.
Look inside
at the beauty of you.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daffodils Popping out of the Ground – February 20, 2018 – Mars, PA
In Search of the Little Things.
Sometimes we need to get down low,
Forsythia Buds on Branches – February 20, 2018 – Mars, PA
or look extra closely,
Grape Hyacinths Emerging – February 20, 2018 – Mars, PA
or push some other things out of the way,
Bleeding Hearts Emerging – February 20, 2018 – Mars, PA
or look for tiny changes.
Irises surfacing – February 20, 2018 – Mars, PA
The little things are there…
Little signs of change…
Little hints of what is about to happen.
As I walked around the yard late yesterday afternoon in bare feet on a record-breaking warm day for February in our area (we hit 80 degrees F!), I searched for little things. I searched for tiny changes. I searched for little hints of Spring.
And they were everywhere! Daffodils and hyacinths and irises popping through the earth. Buds developing on forsythia branches. Intricate formations of future bleeding hearts.
And it made me think…
Again…
On a topic that has not left my mind or my heart…
The mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last week where a 19 year old boy/man killed 17 innocent children at school.
As the days pass, details are being revealed.
Little hints of issues.
Little signs of change.
Didn’t anyone notice?
Wasn’t anyone paying attention?
Why was this troubled young man able to purchase military grade assault weapons?
For that matter – why is any civilian legally able to purchase military grade assault weapons?
That is certainly one important issue I feel needs addressed.
But we must also be diligent.
We must also be watching.
We must be paying attention
to our children.
We must be searching for and noticing the little things…
The little changes, the hints, the signs
happening with our children…
Before it is too late.
It is up to us.
Hugs,
Jodi
The Misty Morning Fog.
Arising to the misty morning fog
that beautifully softened what could have been a bleak view
caused me pause and made me think.
It made me think how a bit of fog
might help the way we critically look
at different people and different situations.
Ones we think are clear,
and we think are bitter,
but we really don’t understand.
Maybe a little spritz of magic mist
is what we need
to spray on our hearts
to prevent us from
so harshly judging
the things we believe.
A magic mist
of understanding
to soften our views,
to soothe our souls,
to unlock the love
that lives
in the
misty
morning
fog.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
May your day be filled with peace and love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
That Moment.
That moment when a drip of water
crystallizes into ice with a single degree drop in temperature.
That moment when your eyes meet
and you truly see, and you immediately understand completely.
That moment when a song comes on
and memories and long-forgotten feelings flood your heart and soul.
That moment when the ringing phone
brings startling news that suddenly changes everything.
That moment when a single spark
ignites a rip-roaring, intensely scorching, blazing fire.
That moment of quiet wonder amidst the clamor
that reminds us that blissful peace is within reach.
That moment…
just one of the many…
that define our lives.
Cherish that moment.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Icicle – Dealing with Change – Mars PA January 2018
Dealing with Change.
If you
think
you can’t
deal
with
change,
think of
the drop
of water
who froze
in
midair
when the
brutally
cold wind
met
it.
It became
an
intricate flake
that
landed
on the rooftop
and joined
the
others
to form
a
soft
white,
fluffy
blanket.
Then
the sun
came out
and
warmed
it
just
enough
to create
a crystal
clear,
hard,
solid
icicle.
The sun
grew
warmer yet,
and
the icicle
melted.
The
drop of
water
fell
to the
earth
and
watered
the ground
where
the tree
grew
that
provided
shade
when
the sun
grew
even
warmer
yet.
It went
through
all that,
and
remained
beautiful
in
every
stage.
If a
drop of
water
can manage
through
all that,
You, too,
can
deal
with
change.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Winter Sunset, Mars, PA – January 2018 – “Happy Endings”
Happy Endings.
The magical beauty
of a sunset
at the end of the day…
no matter how hard
or cold or uncomfortable
the day…
renews my faith
in the possibility
of happy endings.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 