REDONDOWRITER'S SACRED ORDINARY

Monday Mornings With Mary: SoulCollage® Madonna Red and Black

It's Monday morning and that means Rebecca's Mornings With Mary. This morning I'd like to share a SoulCollage® card from the Council suit I call Mary Red and Black. 

Using the "I am the one who" statements, this card speaks to me in this way. I am the one who Frances seeks throughout all her art and writing processes. But, though Frances sees my divine feminine image in many places during her daily life, she carries them quietly in her heart. Always drawn to bold colors, particularly red, black and gold, she made this card several years ago and "drew it" this morning from her madonna file in the computer. See, I am not only stored in hearts, but even in computers. 

If I could ask this card a question this morning it would be, "How can I incorporate more easily your presence in my daily routine?" 

Incidentally, our dear Rebecca, a gifted artist, poet and blogger, who has provided a home to so many of us over the years, is facing into some serious health challenges. Please hold her in light and prayer. Her own offering at Recuerda mi Corazon this morning so beautifully describes how she faces into her own pain, using Mary to describe it.  

Monday Mornings With Mary: Mother Emily and Mother Frances

Each Monday is Rebecca's Mornings With Mary and this is my offering today. I hope you can take the time to visit everyone who posts today. 

When I think of Mary, Jesus's mother, my mind goes to all the great works of art depicting her in all her forms. But, Mary is synonymous (for me personally) with madonna, mother and child, the archetype of all mothers and children, and the divine feminine. I'm certainly not equating my own late mom (five daughters) or me with any kind of divinity, but I definitely think of us both with the classical universal terms of maiden, mother and crone. Below are two photos in our mother period. One is of my mom with me as a baby. The other is me with my firstborn. 

I was the youngest daughter, born to my parents' great surprise when they were 40. The photo is dated, in my mother Emily's handwriting, as Feb. 13, 1938. I am six months old and this is our front porch in Hawthorne, CA. That's my mom's sister Sylvia in the background. Don't you love mom's housedress and the shoes with the socks? 

This is me with my firstborn son, Joseph Michael and the date in my handwriting is Oct. 4, 1962. He is three months old and he turned 50 last summer. Following him were Christy, now 49, and Tony, now 46. When I look back at my personal greatest accomplishments it is being mom to the three of them. 

Yesterday was father's day but I like to think of every day as being fathers and mothers day. 

Old Friends Mel and Jo Celebrate Their 55th Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday I attended another memory-making event--the family gathering celebrating the 55th anniversary of my old friends Mel and Jo. Their family and ours bought houses in a new tract in North Torrance, CA in 1966. At the time they had their four young kids and my husband I had two kids. In 1967 we adopted a third, Tony, as a newborn and not only does our own family remember that momentous day when we brought him home with Joe and Christy riding shotgun in the back seat of the car, Mel, Jo and their family were the first ones to welcome us home with the new baby. We raised our kids together to adulthood--and the stories we could tell (and often do)! Suzy, Mel and Jo's eldest, remembers babysitting Tony when he was an infant. The celebration yesterday was at Suzy's home. 

When I look at the faces of friends I knew since we were young, the years simply slip away--and we all just are who we are. 

These are Mel and Jo's children--Steve, Tracy, Suzy and Shari. Each of them have two adult children. It was so much fun yesterday reminiscing. Tracy and my daughter Christy were particularly close, but both our families--and several others--were often blended as one big family. Those truly were the good old days. 

And here I am with Mel and Jo. So many people were hugging Mel and Jo that their leis began to fall apart. We spent almost as much time in each other's houses in the olden days as we did in our own. 

This photo I "borrowed" from Mel and Jo's son-in-law Corey's Facebook today. I'm still glowing from this party yesterday. Most of these people are Mel and Jo's family with just a handful of "old" (some of us very old) friends sprinkled in. 

Thank you so much for sharing your special day with me. Tomorrow I'm going to hunt for a few photos of us when we were all young. 

As Psalm 128:6 says, "May you live to see your children's children-- peace be on Israel." Peace is indeed ours; we have lived to see our children's children. You can't ask for much more in life. 

 

Ottawa Friends Visit After Traveling Route 66

The Internet is nothing short of miraculous as far as I'm concerned. It all began with my friend Lorna at Lorna in Wonderland whose blog I've followed (and she mine) for many years. Lorna and her husband Dave live in Ottawa and a year ago they came to California and stayed for a while and we got along famously. 

Today their friends Peggy and Merv from Ottawa came for brunch at CJ's Pantry as they completed their journey on Route 66 in Santa Monica yesterday. They started in Chicago a few weeks ago. I usually welcome guests to stay, but since my daughter moved back in, the inn is full. But--I loved Peggy and Merv--and I love Lorna and Dave. I'll get to Ottawa eventually, but hopefully the four of them will come next summer to "do California." 

Peggy and Merv got the official "I Traveled Route 66" dashboard card. Both of them were far more knowledgeable about Route 66 than I am, but I do remember driving part of it with my friend Kathy. We stayed in a funky motel in Winslow, AZ. 

And they drove Route 66 in their silver Mazda Miyata. A former Canadian military man, Merv, at Peggy's suggestion, showed off the tiny organized trunk with their three bags ready to move in and out of hotels and motels. What an adventure! 

I forgot the story about Ol'Pronto's license plate. From here Peggy and Merv are finishing L.A. in Hollywood, of course, and then head up the coast to Vancouver. Then they drive across Canada back to Ottawa, with week stops at their daughter's home and to another relative. Three more weeks to go and they expect the odometer to clock 10,000 miles by the end of their trip. What stories they had to tell. They should write a book! 

Peggy and Merv prove to Lorna and Dave that they visited with Fran and Sophia the Art Mannikin. Merv immediately commented that the top of Sophnia's dress looked like Peggy's wedding dress and she agreed. 

Mornings With Mary: Angu Walters Mother and Child

I tripped across this painting called Mother and Child on Bing and was able to trace it back to Rob Heater's blog. His photos are wonderful, but I just love the abstracts of Cameroon artist Angu Walters posted at Fine Art America and Art Cameroon. 

I am posting this as I participate in Rebecca's Mornings With Mary at Recuerda mi Corazon. She posts her own entry as the Art of Seeing and Angu Walters abstract requires sitting quietly and seeing because this painting is so multi-faceted. 

The Internet is nothing short of miraculous for me personally. I am introduced to so many people and activities that I'd never encounter in life without it. When I list my gratitudes, the Internet and the people who did all the research to bring it about, are always on my list. And I send blessings today to Rob Heater and Angu Walters who I didn't even know about before last week. 

 

 

Be Sure to Visit the CA 101 Art Show in Redondo Beach

Last night my friends Rick and Orma and Mary Lou went with me to the opening reception of the CA 101 art show co-sponsored by the Redondo Beach Friends of the Arts and the Redondo Beach Art Group at the AES power plant in Redondo Beach. I go to a lot of art shows and this one is probably the most spectacular local show I've been to. I did not submit anything for consideration; I was too intimidated! If you live locally, I can't recommend a visit to the power plant this weekend or next--and there is no charge for the event. Here are a few photos to whet your appetite. 

This is Rick by his favorite painting, Donna's Love by Max Parker of Torrance, CA. 

This is Orma Hammond of Palos Verdes Estates with her painting. 

Another favorite local artist is Irene Rafael of Palos Verdes. 

One gallery is devoted to the unique sculptures of Karen Cope of Cope Studios, Glendale, CA.

This is tongue-in-cheek digital photography done by Cie Gumucio of Redondo Beach. The subject matter made me laugh--Wedding Toast.

She Broke My Throne by William Solomon, Newbury Park, CA. 

This show is so unique that I will definitely go back tomorrow to photograph a lot more. Be sure to see Inga Gorsvans-Buell's Closeout. I could stare at it all day. 

AES Power Plant

1100 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Gallery Hours:

SAT 6.8.13   11 – 8pm

SUN 6.9.13   11 – 7pm

FRI 6.14.13   5 – 9pm

SAT 6.15.13   11 – 8pm

SUN 6.16.13   1 – 7pm

 

 

 

Mornings With Mary: SoulCollage® Card Our Lady of the Storms

If you haven't read Rebecca's Mornings With Mary entry this week, I encourage you to do so. She is an inspirational artist, poet and storyteller. And while you are there, visit the others who participated. 

My offering this week is a SoulCollage® card I made on Monday. Adolph Bougereau is a favorite artist and I'm particularly fond of his creation of Mary and child focal point for this card. I call it Our Lady of the Storms. 

In the style of SoulCollage®, I am the one who is always comforted when I take the time to think about the divine feminine, particularly Mary, Mother of Jesus.  She calms me when I encounter real storms, like the people in the midwest suffering from tornados. But she is always there for everyone encountering the storms and routine of every day sacred life. I am the one who attains a groundedness in being that enrichs my spiritual beliefs when I remember to bring Mary to the forefront of my racing thoughts. She is the one who cuts across cultures and myth and brings peace to humanity in all her various forms. 

The question I personally would ask of Our Lady of the Storms is, "The rose reminds me of my own late earthly mother. What practices besides the ones I already do can you gently and persistently introduce to me in my journal to reconnect with my mom who I've grieved for since 1968?" 

 

 

 

 

Who Should Sophia the Art Mannikin Marry This Year?

Sophia the art mannikin is dressed again (5th time?) for her June wedding. This year she has yet another vintage wedding gown, late 70s or early 80s if I were to guess. I got it at a thrift shop as the tags were still on it: $10. Such a deal! 

When Sophia finally leaves my house of mirth and madness (how many elders do you know who dress mannikins?), she says she will not marry again. Me, one of the larger cynics of happily-ever-after, is the one that magically holds on to the fairy tale wedding idea by dressing her each year. 

Counting my own wedding dress, which she has worn once, she has five of the symbol of the virgin maiden dresses; next year will be a 60 year old one I'm saving for last. Yes, six times married will be quite enough for Sophia, she says. She wants to settle down permanently. The question I always ask myself is why do wedding dresses end up in thrift shops and garage sales?  If I'm at a garage sale, I'll ask the seller and wow, sometimes I get some pretty angry accounts of why. At estate sales, it is usually grandma's gown and the family just doesn't collect like I do. What do you do with old wedding gowns? Bury them ceremonially like you would a flag? 

If I were better at PhotoShop, I'd layer a potential groom in the photo, but I'm not. Nor am I sure who that groom would be if I had my druthers. It's easy to choose a sexy actor or even a character from fiction or film. But, since I long ago gave up the notion of remarrying, I'm curious who you would choose if you could pick a groom for her? Just curious. By the way, she says looks are not important and neither is wealth, although if he comes with humor, intellect, gentleness, compassion, curiosity, and belief in something greater than himself, it would be OK. She would also like to be loved unconditionally, but doesn't mind a lively exchange of ideas. She says if the right man (or woman) comes along, she will also commit herself until death (or sale to a high-end retail store) parts them. 

Look at that high neck. My own wedding dress had a high neck but the beautiful fashions you see these days aren't afraid to show skin and décolletage. As often as not, they are form fitting. Because I do play around on Polyvore, I'm blown away by some of the gorgeous wedding dresses of today. 

So, who do you think Sophia should marry this year?