Meri's Musings

When things the magnitude of the disaster in Japan happen, we often feel so overwhelmed and so impotent that we do nothing. Not because we don't care, but because we just don't know how to make a meaningful contribution. Here's a way. Your contribution can be small or large, so long as it comes from the heart. (Clicking on the doll photo will take you to our team's fundraising page so you can join our effort.) p.s. My friend Jen's contribution got us really close to our goal of purchasing a second box -- so it's time to think bigger! Thanks to all of you who've opened your hearts to make a difference.

What inspired JOY in me this week? Using my talents to help a project I believe in, one that will benefit the art museum and the community as a whole. We're working on a redesign of the entry areas, plus partnering with the city to make the downtown corridor more pedestrian-friendly, beautiful and welcoming. Hearing the latest Logan-isms from my son, his daddy. Scheduling studio time to work with encaustics. How about you? What's on your JOY list? To play along and share the joy: 1. do a post that tells and shows us what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post  and paste it into the  Mr. Linky box  along with your name. 3. visit other players -- as many as possible --  and let their joy infect you.   Leave them a comment about their post. Let's start an epidemic of joy!

What a desire!   To live in peace with that word : Myself.   Sylvia Ashton-Warner

Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems.  ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Some things you might not know about me: 1.   My two signature fragrances are Hanae Mori  for daytime and St. John for special occasions. 2.   My favorite brand of shoes is Arcopedico -- pure comfort! 3.    I have an HGTV obsession and a secret crush  on Mike Holmes. Guys who can fix things are sexy. Photo from HGTV.com 4. The last book I read was The Swan Thieves  (a fun read even if not the most erudite book on the planet). 5. The last film I saw was "I Am."  I loved it, but I wish he hadn't scrimped on stock footage.

spring water cascades down a waterfall, rushing past the old homestead For more Haiku, visit Rebecca , the leader of our merry band.

What's on my JOY list today? 1. the smell of melted beeswax for encaustic work 2. the heft of a hardback book in my hands,    especially one so well-written and engaging that    I can't wait to turn the page. 3. seeing blue in the sky amongst the clouds 4. watching sunlight bounce off water -- in the pond behind my house or     in the harbor in my quaint little town -- or anywhere, for that matter 5.  knowing that I'm infected once again with the     creative writing virus  after being in the doldrums Yippee!  What's on your JOY list? To play along and share the joy: 1. do a post that tells and shows us what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post  and paste it into the  Mr. Linky box  along with your name. 3. visit other players -- as many as possible --  and let their joy infect you.   Leave them a comment about their post. Let's start an epidemic of joy!

If you're in need of a little inspiration, visit Rebecca and her friends at Postcards from Paradise. Rebecca asks "How is Spring awakening you?" and talks about the challenges and burdens we all encounter on our walk through life. And I realized that after having my heart broken into a million pieces a few years ago, I've let it harden so it's not as vulnerable. I think it's time to let it bloom. Wish me luck!

For more Haiku My Heart, click HERE .  Shadow Blush © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian blush spreads magenta across her porcelain cheeks demure flirtation

On the day that people everywhere seem to become Irish for a wee bit, I'm showcasing green. You'll find another bit of Irish color HERE . And here's my recipe for Irish Soda Bread, just in case you're in the mood to bake. Irish Soda Bread Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time -- 30 - 60 minutes, depending on loaf pan size INGREDIENTS 4 cups all-purpose organic flour 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt 3 large eggs 1 pint sour cream Optional: 1 cup of raisins for raisin lovers. DIRECTIONS Preheat over to 325 degrees F (165 C).  Grease two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans or four mini loaf pans (5 x 3 3/4 inches).  A squirt of PAM also works. Mix all dry ingredients. Stir in eggs and sour cream  (plus raisins, if you so choose); mix just until all ingredients are combined. Divide batter evenly between the loaf pans. If using mini loaf pans, back at 325 F/165 C  for approximately 30 minutes; check for doneness.

There's a prayer called the Metta Prayer that's part of the meditation practice of a spiritual community headquartered in Boise that some dear people I know are involved in. There's so much heart in this prayer and it's so acutely relevant in these troubled times that it fills me with JOY to share it: May all beings have fresh, clean water to drink. May all beings have food to eat. May all beings have a home. May all beings have someone to share love with. May all beings know their true purpose. May all beings be well and happy. May all beings be free from suffering. Today I shall do what I can to make this so. It brings me JOY to think of the energetic shifts that would occur if each of us said this prayer every day, as often as we think of it and for each of us to put our words into action. It brings me JOY to share my light and see the light in you. It brings me JOY to create photographs and works of art  that might touch someone's heart. I