It started with a sign... a single feather that waited for us when we first stepped into the backyard of our new home. It could have only been there for the wingkeeper to pick it up.The sign became a wish... so I made this photo-montage of the two of us in the backyard (that has much prettier chairs and greener grass now) and sent it to her.And then it happened. One day after Christmas my present arrived and stepped in her bouncy shoes from my car.
Sharon (of Norah's art) was here! She brought laughter and joy, shadows and art, beauty and friendship and ceremonies and stories.... and we had five days of sharing and fun.
It started with a lemon tree ceremony. She gifted me with an amazing tree flag... I saw only fragments of it on her blog and had no idea what it was.
The text says: "BALANCE LIFE AND LEMON TREES" and that is exactly what I plan to do in the next year. My friend is spending the day in three different planes and four airports and I am missing her company already and planing for our next meeting. I think this was the best possible way to finish the year... something that will set the path for 2009. Life and lemon trees. Art and friendship. I wish you all a very happy 2009! May we all laugh, create and learn new things in it.

Thank you for the comments and sweet emails. It is finished and I survived. What's more, I might have gotten over my ridiculous fear. This dentist is sweet and gentle and has twinkling eyes. So, next time I go I won't have to make such a big thing out of it as now. Unfortunately, my tooth was un-saveable (broken in all the wrong places) so it had to go out. Now I have several stitches and it doesn't feel really good to talk (so I'm silent) and I have slept I think 4 hours after it.... Tomorrow will be a perfect day! xoxoxoxo

I often sketch on random pieces of paper in various places trying to capture how I'm feeling. Not like a real self-portrait (I don't know to do that), more like the emotion I feel and can't get rid of. Somehow I can breathe easier when I get it on paper. Sometimes I incorporate the sketch on my journal pages, but today I didn't have time for it. Maybe tomorrow. I know that tomorrow I'll feel much better. At least I won't be scared in the afternoon. The dreaded dentist visit (root canal and something else) is tomorrow morning. I have whined about it to my blogging friends on several continents and I know that we will all be happy when it's over.
Swirly Girl wrote a blog post to which I related today, so I used some of the words on my sketch. BTW - she has giveaways every day on her blog...
Eight more days.... or is it seven? One little week before my Christmas surprise appears...

Circles, circles and more circles.....
Eyes are circles... And soap balloons too....
I think I managed to make a square look like a circle.

I thought I'd share some journal pages I recently painted. I am getting more and more relaxed in my journal, just picking the colors that feel right at the time, not thinking too much about the color combinations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I also started making weird drawings like the next one. Where did she come from? I think I like her.
This one is not speaking to me at all, but she'll stay there with the others.
I painted this page last month, but I don't think I showed it (and if it's not on the blog, it's like it never happened).
Hope your week is going on well. xo

It has been a very long time since I made a journal. I used to love creating these journals "with a secret". They are cute journals that look like a normal book, but have a removable spine that reveals a hidden 'inside' book. This time I made them 3"x5" using the beautiful Fabriano artistico watercolor paper. It took me the longest time to get decent photos of them. For some reason the blue color does not show up as deep as it is and it was frustrating. Finally I gave up and picked the best looking photos, hoping that your imagination will add the saturation of the color that the monitor does not show. Both are available in my etsy.

While I'm enjoying all the winter photos in blog world, I can't add to them... simply because winter never really comes here. While we were living in the apartment I never noticed that flowers don't stop blooming. I am completely surprised to have roses in December... and so many beautiful ones.
I followed the link on Misty's blog.
It took me here.
And now I can't stop playing with digital polaroid photos. They look really good when you click to enlarge them...
Needless to say - I will not see the movie, and I'm not sure about the Christmas tree either... but I had fun taking pictures and making 'polaroids' from them. Try it - you'll get addicted too.

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend at home, putting up the Christmas tree, cooking yummy treats, working in the garden and maybe going to see a movie... I can't decide what to watch - "Australia" or "Twilight"? Hana would love to see Twilight for the third time... but I'm not sure. Did anyone see "Australia"?

So..... yesterday was December 1st, and it started on a Monday and for some reason I thought that it was a good thing and I was in very good mood... up to 1p.m. Then I found out that I made a mistake at work and that it would cost the company money and time and everything changed. I wanted to cry, run away and never come back.
But I didn't.... And that's why the title is growing up.
Because that's what grown ups do... And then they go home and pay the bills, listen to their children, make doctor appointments and do other grown up stuff (including drinking a glass of wine to wash out the stress). My boss said something like: "Don't bend for the one stone you dropped, when there are 100 stones that you already picked up". That helped a bit. On the other hand, I never made a big mistake at work.... never.... and I'm wondering how did I let this one slip up. Maybe because my head is in swirls of purple and orange and green and not where it should be? Not easy being a grown up. Wouldn't it be nicer (and easier) if we could all make a living playing with color all day long?