The Sundays-One of my favorite songs

Here's Where The Story Ends

People I know, places I go, make me feel tongue-tied. I can see how people look down, they're on the inside. Here's where the story ends.People I see, weary of me showing my good side. I can see how people look down, I'm on the outside. Here's where the story ends, ooh, here's where the story ends. It's that little souvenir of a terrible year which makes my eyes feel sore.Oh, I never should have said, the books that you read were all I loved you for.It's that little souvenir of a terrible year which makes me wonder whyand it's the memories of your shed that make me turn red, surprise, surprise, surprise. Crazy I know, places I go make me feel so tired.I can see how people look down, I'm on the outside.Oh, here's where the story ends. Ooh, here's where the story ends.It's that little souvenir of a terrible year which makes my eyes feel soreand who ever would've thought the books that you brought were all I loved you for.Oh the devil in me said, go down to the shed, I know where I belongbut the only thing I ever really wanted to say was wrong, was wrong, was wrong. It's that little souvenir of a colorful year which makes me smile inside so I cynically, cynically say, the world is that way, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise. Here's where the story ends, ooh, here's where the story ends.

New found Heroe-Richard Branson

Charlie Rose, himself one of my favorite people, interviewed (Sir) Richard Branson the other night on PBS and by that star that guides me I happened to flip the channel right as the interview was beginning. I had caught glimples of Richard on TV, had fallen in love with his Island in the Caribbean and his casual, barefoot mentality in spite of his success. A few more interviews and he had sunk in. Today, I have glorified him. Ofcourse he is intelligent, which gives him an incredible sex appeal. OK, I admit that was what first caught my eye. Yet, what strikes me the most is his awareness. He has that rare gift of understanding his giftedness and transcending the ego. Now that he is rich, he understands he has "a great responsibility to use that money for the betterment of the world." Listening to him that night on Charlie Rose really made him one of my new-found-heroes.

"Please, Sir, I want some MORE".

Un Canto a Neruda

above courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/mahimashrestha/564782307/

Poetry

And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where it came from, from winter or a river. I don't know how or when, no they were not voices, they were not words, nor silence, but from a street I was summoned, from the branches of night, abruptly from the others, among violent fires or returning alone, there I was without a face and it touched me. I did not know what to say, my mouth had no way with names, my eyes were blind, and something started in my soul, fever or forgotten wings, and I made my own way, deciphering that fire, and I wrote the first faint line, faint, without substance, pure nonsense, pure wisdom of someone who knows nothing, and suddenly I saw the heavens unfastened and open, planets, palpitating plantations, shadow perforated, riddled with arrows, fire and flowers, the winding night, the universe. And I, infinitesimal being, drunk with the great starry void, likeness, image of mystery, felt myself a pure part of the abyss, I wheeled with the stars, my heart broke loose on the wind.

Pablo Neruda

and extracts

"beauty is twice beauty

and what is good is doubly good

when it is a matter of two socks

made of wool in winter." From Ode to my Two Socks

Spring is in the Air

I don't recall having a more beautiful Winter in California. Mostly sunny skies with puffy clouds and the chills only at nightfall. And finally rain for a couple of straight weeks, the perfect rain we walked under and cherished looking at through the windows. Spring will be green, crisp and multi-colored.

In spite of the ominous threats this horrendous government has given us, I feel a Hope that by tightening our belts, we will return to simpler things and unite to rescue our country from a materialsm that is out of control. Time to really look at America, care for it, love it, give back.

I have been doing my share, looking up native California trees to plant at my friend's Upper Ranch in Somis, a promise he has not kep and will finally happen.

And ofcourse making ART, day in, day out. There are days I don't get to bed 'till midnight. Yet these were the hands I was given.

Around me Now

Around me Now
Originally uploaded by peregrine blue

Hard as step two was which was the actual artwork inspired by the Renga we put together, I was happy to be pushed to challenge myself. The writing of the last line of the poem came rather easily to me since I was lucky to bring the four previous lines together. But creating the artwork was a totally different matter since it implied creating something that reflected the entire mood of the Renga. Impossible for me. So i picked the words apart, phrase by phrase and picked around me now. Since we are being called into a dance, I thought these the most powerful words to portray all the things we see around us, have around us that we may miss if we DON't join in the dance. I hope others see it that way too since I think the Renga turned out beautifully.

Now for challenge two which I think is totally appropriate now that we have written two Rengas......a journal to be created for writing them in with one of our favorite poems on the cover. I have two in mind...ofcourse Neruda's definition of poetry, but I also ran into a children's book called Every Moon Has a Face and I fell in love with the poetry. That will be it,

Oh friendships and kinships, how lucky I am to have met my ZNERS.

Countdown

After years of dreaming, daydreaming, wishing, hoping, praying my vision is about to come true. At the end of February I will purchase my first piece of land. In CHILE ofcourse. One acre and a quarter, located on the outskirts of Puerto Varas in the 8th Region of Chile in a condominium called Bosque Vida. See http://www.bosquevida.cl/.

Buying the land will be phase one. I will then begin anew saving for the foundation and the plans for the house, hopefully ready by the Summer of 2008. Phase 3 will be the actual building. My brother Martin will help me there since he is an accomplished carpenter and quite an artist when it comes to using the materials available to him, low budget.

Oh Lord, how I thank you for the reward after so much arduous work on etsy and ebay saving all my sales monies. I thank You for carrying my weight and allowing me to buy this land at last.

In the making: my own flag, lots of sketches and cutouts from Interior Design and decoration magazines.

THOU SHALT NOT WHINE

courtesy of http://www.kristinemays.etsy.com/

So here they are, my New Years Resolutions. Number one on the list and probably the hardest to make public is
1 THOU SHALT NOT WHINE. It will be a hard one since I am quite a perfectionist and a doer so really get pissed off when people don't have initiative to make things happen and just show up for the show.

2 I SHALL LOVE MYSELF AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MYSELF as in go and get that foot massage I've always wanted, get my toe nails done, get a facial once in a while, go to the hairdresser to dye my hair rather than do it myself, eat well, exercise more and think of caring for myself first. I tend to do everything for my children and significant other and then feel sorry for myself because I'm not reaping any of the benefits.

3 I SHALL NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT number 2.

4 Focus on the Chile plan, draw lots of pictures of how I want my loft to be and make lists of possible restaurant/store area at the front including my best recipes for cooking.

5 GO TO CHILE this year no matter what

6 Continue ridding myself of clutter, craft supplies I will probably never get around to using and selling lots of the knick knacks I have that really serve me no purpose but to gather dust. Easier said than done.

ABOVE all to LOVE and Respect my CREATOR and all the wonder he has created, especially all my worldwide friends on FLICKR, ETSY and ZNE.

Looking Back at the Year

As I look back at the year and just in case I feel I didn't accomplish enough, here are a few of the finished products.

Pastel de Choclo

Page from unknown Magazine

Page from unknown Magazine
Originally uploaded by peregrine blue

As chaotic as Christmas can be, it also slowly brings us back to the essentials. I can finally gather my thoughts and choose to bake brownies, go for a long walk, light the fireplace and watch an oldie, read some of those magazines i never have time to read, commit to some of those recipes and begin an inventory of the year.

Yes, there will be resolutions, not many but four or five. Most importantly it will be to focus in order to stick to them. How else can that dream deferred begin to unfurl?

Melancholy envelopes me when I stop to think of Chile. So so so many memories of that country I only began to touch on the surface. I will make an inventory of dreams to accomplish there too.

Wrapping up the year I choose to sing. Sing, "When I was 51, it was a very good year".

A Scent of Cinnamon and Cloves

November and December have been a frenzy. The year moves at a fairly normal pace until after Thanksgiving, my favorite day of the year. We lit the fireplace and family gathered at the Hughes' all love and warmth and simplicity. I don't know what happens after that; the whole ambiance in the air changes to frenzy. As much as I have vowed not to fall victim to the Christmas season, I always do. Yet, I can't just switch the lights off and skip the season altogether.

At least my lists are reasonable this year and Christmas cards were mailed on time. Funny thing, as I shop for sons and lovers, I always end up with a thing or two for myself that I've been craving. I guess I can get away with it by telling myself that is "lo
v ing myself" or taking care of "numero uno". ATC Collection over the years

Originally uploaded by peregrine blueAnd so, these framed ATCS are a product of years of collecting. I gave myself permission to buy the most expensive shadowbox to give them the respect they deserve. I was lucky to find Album Cover frames on sale so grabbed 3 of those too and framed my Jethro Tull and Joni Mitchell covers and ordered a classic Cream album to complete the third. I think Album Covers make the coolest artwork. There are some awesome covers over the years. I will take pictures of these later and include them here.

I have been working around the clock, too, fulfilling custom orders for etsy customers all over the world. Knitted three children's sweaters in chocolate, red and moss green shipping to Canada and made all sorts of neck warmers and cuffs too.

The house now smells of Cloves and Cinnamon and the mixer awaits the ingredients for homemade fudge and cookies, and we are in earnest for the 14th. Christmas Carol Concert at Padre Serra Catholic Church
As long as we keep the meaning of Christmas in focus, all should alright.