One of my favorite parts of my childhood Christmas tradition, was candlelight service on Christmas Eve. I LOVED being there. I love the greenery, the hymns, and the candles at the end it. For me, is nothing short of magic when we light the whole church from one person to another. It makes me cry every year.

If you know me very well, you know I love to go to bed early, young child early. And, I am happy to make an exception if I am expecting someone. I can remember (before cell phones) the mix of excitement and worry waiting for an out of town relative who was expected to arrive earlier. We would brew coffee and play card games and listen for tires in the street. I also waited, and labored through the night for my children to be born.

Tonight I will wait for another baby to arrive. I will soak in all the smells and bells of midnight mass with my family. My heart will leap with joy to know I am celebrating with people all over the world. Merry Christmas to all of you!

“Like the hummingbird sipping nectar from every flower, I fly joyfully through my days, seeing beauty in everything.” – Amethyst Wyldfyre

Rufous Hummingbird

One of the feistiest hummingbird in North America. The brilliant orange male and the green-and-orange female Rufous Hummingbird are relentless attackers at flowers and feeders, going after (if not always defeating) even the large hummingbirds of the Southwest, which can be double their weight.

Note: I bought a special handmade watercolor pan made with mica. I LOVE mica! Bring on all things glitter! Last year I learned from Carol Ho about cooking beans in micaceous pots, and the amazing potter ,Barbara Campbell, set me up! My beans have never been more delicious, and now mica is in my watercolor pallette too! Isn’t the world prettier with a little sparkle?

“And far and wide, in a scarlet tide, The poppy’s bonfire spread.” -Bayard Taylor

“I survived, carried on, glad to be like a weed, a wild red poppy, rooted in life.” – Marilyn Buck

Another mini. I let the Kraft paper do most of the work in this one, all that negative space creates a peaceful, neutral background.

“Through the dancing poppies stole A breeze, most softly lulling to my soul.” -John Keats

I am loving painting little paintings, they are quick, and easy, so it gives me a sense of play and accomplishment. I love how working small allows a braver approach to making art. Making tiny art is helping me grow as an artist, and it is fun:)

Mini workshop at Ghost Ranch. September 3-7

Day 4 on Camino de Santiago. We walked to Pamplona, Spain today. I am so grateful. And tired. we are walking the 500 mile pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain with our kids to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.