In this version, the background and Good Fortune card are Photo-shopped in.

I wrote at –> Update from the art studio <– that I’m having a lot of fun playing with my paintings in Photoshop.  I can try out colors and backgrounds and even make the piece half painting and half digital art if I wish. That opened giant doors in my mind! When I have a new set of possibilities in front of me, I feel expanded and connected to the Universe.  I’m learning it’s fun to begin a painting in acrylic, then take a photo of it, and open the pic in Photoshop. I can draw on it and add to it layer by layer.  To the left, I Photoshopped in the sky, clouds and moon, and the Good Fortune card she is holding.  I made fine details to the eyes on one layer, to the necklaces on another layer. I Googled for an image of brocade fabric and Photoshopped it at 50% opacity as her robe on another layer.  But that’s not what the original painting looks like.   Continue reading →

We live in Florida. People vacation on our Florida beaches, so it’s not uncommon to have friends old and new invite themselves overnight while they’re in town.  Domino told me last night she got a call from someone she hasn’t spoken to in 10 years who wants to use her place as a crash pad for a week. She doesn’t know how to tell them no.  She doesn’t want to seem rude, but she runs a busy business from home and doesn’t have time for the interruption.  “What would you do?” she asked me.  I told her I’d tell them the truth.  My home is my office, it is not set up to have people stay with me. “You won’t even know I’m there” is never true.  Even if we’re each being quiet, my routine is interrupted so my attention is taken from my work every moment you’re in town. The fact that I have an extra bed or couch matters not. It doesn’t even matter that I don’t know you that well or you’ve never contacted me for any other reason. My home is simply not set up to accommodate guests, no matter how casual. Domino works from home and stays as busy as I do.  My truth is her truth as well.  When her parents visit, or her kids, she loves spending time with them but all work comes to a halt until they’re gone.  I love my friends and family and they understand staying with me is out of the question. If it is also out of the question for you, don’t hesitate to tell them so.

RELATED: Learn to speak your mind
It used to be hard for me to say No
It is easy for me to say no when it has to be a no

Instead of saying, “I told you so” when karma comes around and a friend gets their come-uppance. say instead a heartfelt thanks because:

1. There but for the grace of God go I; and
2. Another soul is awakening from the illusion.