Violet Vinegar

I wish I had something more grandiose to share but the past few days have found me beginning the day by wandering through my yard happily gathering violets to make my favorite vinegar, violet vinegar. I particularly enjoy their delicate beauty and could have stared all morning at the yellow bowl on white table filled with them. They are sweet and make a nice addition to any meal. To make the vinegar (which is also sweet and carries the medicinal properties of violets) fill any size jar with violets, a delightful chore. Fill to the top with apple cider vinegar. Cap and let sit for 6 weeks. Strain and enjoy!

Other than that I have been busy working away and coming and going. Thursday will find me on the road to Baltimore and Alexandria.

And right now will find me going out to the garden to put in some veggie starts and a couple of packages of veggie seeds such as peas and I forgot what else.

Talk soon, Melissa

More re-entry

Yeah, more re-enty. That's the way it goes for the next few months. Just returning from a nice visit to MA and RI where I did Spirit Essence Portraits for the last few days ending with a day at the Love, Light and Laughter conference in Warwick RI. It was wonderful being there because I have a mini community with women in places I return to and get to see familiar faces that I have enjoyed intense connection with. Because the portraits are always intense connection. The image above is a portrait of a woman that had taken a painting workshop with me and had shared at that time about her life and the changes that had taken place since she declared to the world that she is indeed an artist. It's more abstract than most of them in honor of her own abstract work. It also contains personal symbolism which I will not share here.

A few of the portraits this time where women returning a year or so later for another one to see how their changes would be reflected in a second portrait. I love returns too for that reason. I don't remember the first portrait but if they describe it I can often bring the image to mind.

I enjoyed a few good conversations that I could dig into and as you know I collect stories and date to include in my card decks and future books. I like observing how we are going through changes collectively and I hear so much of that lately.

One thing I really enjoy about the state of MA is that there are many small businesses still in existence. I hope they are doing well. I try and frequent non-chain privately owned businesses as much as possible. And people are trying so hard to go the extra mile in service these days. There is a small cafe downstairs from one of my locations where the owner is there probaably 12 hours a day and working so hard to provide great service and food and is always ready with a kind word and wondering how you enjoyed your meal. She is so proud of her New England clam chowder (she won an award for it once) so I made sure to order some to see her look of pride. I was happy to see she was still in business. Here in my area it seems folks are going out of business right and left.

Enough of that. Off to catch up on work, yoga class and lunch with a friend.

till later, m

Environments

I was thinking yesterday as I was booking my hotel for upcoming trip how my environments are important to me. The above photo is the living room of an adorable, mystical cottage called the Dragon Wing cottage that I was fortunate to stay in while in Tallahassee awhile back. This cottage had an amazing swamp behind it with spanish moss and old old trees rising out of the water and a beautiful statue of Diana, the huntress in front of the house. Each room was carefully decorated with elaborate altars for various purposes. I loved the spiral that was applied somehow so carefully and it is the first thing one sees as one enters. The owner uses the cottage for classes and ritual and the vibe was great.

Sometimes I stay with people and that is always interesting too. I meet so many great ones who are always very hospitable.

On the opposite polarity I decided to priceline a 4 star hotel for next trip since I will be there for a good many nights. I wanted to nest in and be comfy. And hooray - got the price I wanted!

Still high from been inspired by hearing David Whyte read his poems in DC. Listening as I drive around to a CD I bought. I love how he extracts so much from the natural world around him.

Later, M

The Spaces in Between

Just a brief check in here which seems to the be the character of this blog. It was a fun trip down to Croton on Hudson. I enjoyed the sanctuary (Opal Moon) and as always the people. The drive down tho not far was incredibly beautiful, especially going over the Hudson River at Bear Mountain and driving around the mountain itself. I often use these drives to catch up on phone calls ( I have a headset) that I don't have time to do when home.

I am home for just 2 days before taking off to do a vending spot at the Psychology Networker Symposium in DC. Looking forward to meeting a childhood friend there and catching up.

That all being said I feel like the woman in the image above. There is so much involved with each trip, packing and unpacking and what I take for any given trip varies tremendously. And there are the commitments here as well, orders to pack, bios to get to folks, images sized and on and on. Today I would like to add in a trip to the gym but not sure if there is time.

I have been awarded an artist residency in France but the notice comes late and I have made commitments that I don't think I can get out of. I hate turning this down. Well, decisions to be made and boxes to pack.

Later, Melissa

Friends, Friends, more friends

The image above is one of my greeting cards and what I feel like doing today. But alas I have much to do before I am on the road again.....Sop I will be packing up for a visit to Opal Moon in Croton NY to do Spirit Portraits and then a psychology symposium in Wash DC. A lot of packing..

Yesterday a friend I know from 20 some years ago surfaced. she was bringing her son to visit a nearby college and it was so much fun to see them and meet him. We went to a local Japanese rest. after she showed him my studio. She always did like Japanese. Earlier that day I took some photos for a friend for professional use. I am not by any means a pro with a camera or photoshop but I do have a good eye.

so off to to begin the day. Hope yours is sunny and bright.

Melissa

Alone with One's Thouoghts

I was perusing images to see what I would like to write and about and feature tonite and I came upon this painting I did a couple of years ago in the Midst of winter. I often crave the color yellow in winter I think because of all the gray skies here in the northeast. The painting is from a series of photos I took of a woman that is an incredible artist. Her name is Karin Houben and I still have not figured out how to insert a hyperlink to a website so you can google her. She makes wonderful beaded jewelry and many butterflies for those butterfly lovers out there.

In any case I am back at home for a few days and alone with thoughts of my own. Much going on and much to think about. And all that inner time will soon be at a premium because spring is springing and there will be the garden to plant. On top of all the travel. So I am enjoying the alone time as well as time with local friends. It has been a full weekend with dinners out, some salsa dancing and a test swim today to see if the chlorine will break my skin out again. I am really missing my swimming.

So a quick quick in to you till then.... Melissa

You Can't Hit a Moving Target.....

I don't know why that phrase keeps coming to mind except that that is how I feel. I am loving being here in Florida but I haven't had a moment to sit still or relax or write this blog. The photos here are from central and north central Florida. The little shanty is where I normally stay when I am in High Springs but for reasons too long to mention here I am staying in the "tree house" which is equally as cool but for different reasons. Just beyond the little shanty only about 10 feet away is the Ichatucknee River in all it's splendor complete with herons, cranes, ibis, turtles sunning themselves in multitudes on rocks. One of my most favorite places on earth and the location where I did the painting "Dreams Come True". I have so far been in 4 different locations doing Spirit Portraits and meeting incredible women in each place. so far no men have come for a portrait on this trip.

I am having to be extremely flexible on this trip because I have a lot of gear and need to uproot so frequently. and plans change...

There are many amazing healers in Orlando of all places I have come to find out. The woman that hosted me there is an osteopath and a real magician in her doctoring. if you live near there visit Dr. Laura Rampil if you are in need of a treatment.

Speaking of that I need to keep moving. I pulled or tore something when I was doing some weight lifting with no instruction and I am going to a biofeedback session this morning here in Palm Gardens Fl.

I will post more later. Lots of new photos to upload and share.

Till then..... Melissa