Meri's Musings

It’s Halloween. A day that brings great JOY to kids who doorbell for candy. I’ve always thought it was boring to answer the door and drop treats into pillow cases. So it gives me great JOY that Danielle loves to dress up  and do the honors. And for those of you who aren’t into  Hunger Games lore, s he’s dressed as Effie.  (We had 127 trick-or-treaters and the ones 10 and older  all knew who Danielle was dressed as.) And if you're inclined to 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Then click the NEXT box (or the time) to choose an image  from the post to insert in Mr. Linky's list  so people get a sneak peek.  (And if you just can't get it to work,  email me and I'll try to link it for you.) 4. Visit other players and let their joy infect you. Leave...

Apparently I had to learn this the HARD way. Have you been guilty of this? If so, what finally made you wise up? Or are you trapped by the illusion that if you only love him (or her) enough, he'll (she'll) love you back and make you a priority? If so, you'll learn all too soon that the one who loves the least holds all the cards.

I’ve created, posted on Facebook,  watched the Seahawks lose to the Lions   on a brilliant catch in the end zone,  read a few more chapters in 500 Days  (a book about the war on terrorism),  and it’s only 1:30. Now what? "Faded Glory"  MeriMagic creation on Polyvore today  Time for a nap. But first, I'm gonna run my hands under hot water. I'm freezing!

I’ve been looking at and thinking about assemblages today. . . Joseph Cornell's "Rose Vents" - collection of MoMA, NYC probably because of writing memoir bits and pieces recently Untitled - Robert Rauschenberg and thinking about how scraps of our past just keep accruing, Close up of Leighanna Light piece - photo © Leighanna Light accumulating, being altered, getting burned for fuel. © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian Realizing that broken can be made beautiful.

This is what Seattle looks like when she takes off her make-up and settles in with a good book on a drizzly October afternoon.

Here’s my little dollop of JOY An afternoon of movies Meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner on a cloudy, chilly autumn day What’s your source of Joy? To play along 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Then click the NEXT box (or the time) to choose an image  from the post to insert in Mr. Linky's list  so people get a sneak peek.  (And if you just can't get it to work,  email me and I'll try to link it for you.) 4. Visit other players and let their joy infect you. Leave them a comment because everyone  enJOYS getting positive feedback. Let's start an epidemic of JOY!

All too often, as young girls we learned to subjugate our own voice to the authority figures in our lives. The voices of our mothers, fathers, teachers, and clergy drowned out our deepest knowing. Made us doubt our internal guidance. As women, we need to unlearn the habit of substituting the authority of others for our own. We need to find and trust in our OWN truth to lead us in the right direction as we travel our soul path. Own your truth. Carry it with you wherever you go. It won't let you down. p.s. For Truth According to Children and a hearty laugh, make sure to read Kamana's post today.

Wouldn’t you love to see yourself in someone’s eyes? A loving glimpse,  if only for a moment. It took me two years to see myself in this guy's eyes. I'm not particularly quick at times. And then again. . . . .

Linking with Rebecca’s Calaca Each Day

Today I’m writing bits and pieces  of Chapter 7 in my memoir and hoping for some of this  "Insight" (what else?) - one of my Polyvore collages to inform my narrative

An October storm roared through a few nights ago, Stripping leaves from the vine maple outside my office window. Some hung on for dear life, but it’s easy now To see the structure of this tree. It’s also much easier to see the hummingbird Who loves to perch on the highest point, resting at a still point for longer than I’ve ever seen one sit. Then he – she? – zips away. They’re such amazing little creatures – They make my heart hum with JOY. "Palais des Papes"  - one of my Polyvore creations A new-to-me Polyvore group called "The Collagists"  is hosting a competition featuring collages  in the style of Nick Bantock. (Think Griffin & Sabine). So, as you can tell, I seized the opportunity to include an image of my little feathered friend. Bantock's style is far more whimsical and cluttered than I'm drawn to, but it's been a JOY to push myself to explore new possibilities. I also was ov...

The other day, I caught myself thinking old, worn out thoughts and acting for all the world as if they were facts. And then I remembered: I created them. They’re not “real.” I can change them whenever I want.. What thoughts are tripping you up, making you believe that you're not enough gorgeous talented special and totally adorable Making you believe that no one will ever love you again it's always gonna be like this that's just how it is you can't be yourself ? ? ?

“We're all just walking each other home.” - Ram Dass

We’ve had a sixty day string of warm weather with no precipitation around these parts.  Late last night, I awoke to the thrum-thrum of snare drums and couldn’t quite place the sound.  Oh – rain!  My brain finally caught up.  Now, it’s a misty, moisty morning  here in the Pacific Northwest.  I imagine we’re in for a string of days with plentiful precipitation, now that it’s mid-October. I’ve said it before: I’m solar powered.  The longer I go without sunshine,  the more worn down my batteries become.  If I get too droopy, I have to resort to artificial sunshine via a light box. It seems to help a bit.  But there’s nothing like the real thing.

I have a great excuse for doing a happy dance today. My boyfriend got a clean bill of health from his vet. The special diet seems to be doing the trick. So what’s your reason to jump for joy this week? To play along 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Then click the NEXT box (or the time) to choose an image  from the post to insert in Mr. Linky's list  so people get a sneak peek.  (And if you just can't get it to work,  email me and I'll try to link it for you.) 4. Visit other players and let their joy infect you. Leave them a comment because everyone  enJOYS getting positive feedback. Let's start an epidemic of JOY!

I can win contests (3 rd place out of 787 entries). Selling something is a different story.

Rebecca of Recuerda mi Corazon is building up to Dia de las Muertos with a month of La Calaca figures and asking us to play along. I don’t know that I have enough treasures To fill a month, but I’ll share a few. Where shall I start? Oh, I know. . . . Isn't he colorful?

Some reasons for JOY? Fresh, crisp apples. Chai latte with caramel swirls. Getting the new catalog for the Open Studio weekend coming soon and looking forward to seeing lots of new work. Pretty girls with birthdays. And so much more. What's your source of JOY? To play along 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Then click the NEXT box (or the time) to choose an image  from the post to insert in Mr. Linky's list  so people get a sneak peek.  (And if you just can't get it to work,  email me and I'll try to link it for you.) 4. Visit other players and let their joy infect you. Leave them a comment because everyone  enJOYS getting positive feedback. Let's start an epidemic of JOY!