"The Portals of Locke Meade" is on Amazon!!

“The Portals of Locke Meade” is now available!

Amber Gamboge is learning what life is like beyond the chateau doors. What do the Fashion Police want with a little aristocrat who has never been on her own? Join in the adventure! Grab a copy of “The Portals of Locke Meade” today!

"Rise" by John Pavlovitz: Book Review

Lent is arriving right on time for me! Honestly, even though I have been a Christian since I was in my teens, I have never celebrated Lent. I’m the kind of open minded Christian who studies the Bible on a personal level. The takeaways I get are my own interpretation of things. Some people might consider that unholy or wrong. Sure, many Christians go to church and get taught how to pray. I did the church thing when I was young, and it was not a good experience. To the girl who didn’t fit in anywhere, church was a great place to be the odd man out. Double the sense of not fitting in, my parents didn’t go to church. So church elders looked at me with grave suspicion. I didn’t let that stop me. I was ready to devote my life to Christ, regardless of whether they wanted to be a part of that journey or not.

Nowadays I’m a lot more laid back and open minded. But honestly, this year I could use a renewal of my faith! It has been such a hard few years of my life. Harder than ever it seems. I’ve been doing these mini prayers sprinkled throughout my day, just to be in God’s presence for a while. And today I started reading the book “Rise”, by John Pavlovitz. If you have not heard of John Pavlovitz, he is a former pastor turned writer and leader of a movement for change. He symbolizes the good side of Christianity, not the MAGA side. I’ve been soaking up his writing for the last year or so, mostly through his Substack posts. He fires me up to make a difference.

It isn’t too late to celebrate Lent! Grab a copy of “Rise” from John Pavlovitz’s website and get praying!

Book Club: Turtle Wisdom by Donna DeNomme

I have big news……..I’m pregnant! Hahahahaha! April Fool’s! Seriously though, life is good and bad. A mixture of all the things happening at once sometimes. That is where I find myself this week. I am getting better rapidly because I’m on some new medications. My cat is having surgery tomorrow, and he isn’t doing well. He might not make it. My husband and I are delicately traversing our journey at this time.

Most people don’t know this, but I used to have a turtle. One thing people don’t tell you about having a turtle is that they take a lot of upkeep. I struggled to care for it, so they live at my in-laws now. I always thought he was a male, but he laid an egg a year and a half ago! I used to spend endless hours, watching Eugene swim in their tank. Just that pure energy of bliss and peace as they swam back and forth around their tank.

I keep thinking about this book, “Turtle Wisdom” by Donna DeNomme. Every time I flip it open to read, I am deeply comforted, I feel roots begin to grow out of my feet deep into the Earth, and twigs and feathers collect in my hair. I am at once brought back to my connection to nature, peace, and my own inner nature. The book is so profound! She starts off saying that she lives in a trailer, and is content in her small abode. She has discovered a joy, sharing her wisdom. The book speaks of outrageous acts of courage and love, and how even simple acts of compassion and care make a difference.

I highly recommend this book! I lost sight of my values over the years when I faced some challenging times. Trying to “become something more” and “make something of myself” by consumeristic standards slowly degraded and chipped away at my self esteem. I am recovering, slowly, making things because they speak to my soul, painting, writing, and sewing whatever pulls at my heart and makes my belly fill with butterlies. The creative spark is on fire, and is a great comfort! I know life feels heavy right now, for so many of us! Find a book that speaks to your spirit, and get out your art and craft supplies to just play! It will help you reconnect with your spirit and renew your vision for a more natural rhythm.

Body Positive Coloring Book and Valentine's Greeting

Isn’t love great? I love to love! I love to be in love! I love to dream of love, and fall head over heals with the fantasy of love. Love has moved mountains in my life! God’s love, my husband’s love, friends and family love. Platonic, romantic, spiritual, soul stirring love!

It’s Valentine’s Day, and my cat Indy is still sick! So my husband and I are monitoring him moment to moment. Is he stress free? Is he eating and sleeping? Does he look anxious? Indy got stressed from vet visits and now he is developing other problems from the stress. We are trying as hard as we can for him!

Earlier this week I finally did something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I self published my Body Positive Coloring Pages on Amazon! It is priced at $7.99, and the pages are meant to make you smile, laugh and ponder. The book is great for women’s circles, friend circles and book clubs to spark conversations about the lengths women go to to look beautiful.

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Focus on the people and animals you love! Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be “perfect”…just feel the love in your heart. That is enough!

"Soul Force" by Joseph Arnold

I have a little book club going. Honestly it is me and a woman I met on Instagram! And both of us keep fizzling on the book. Life has been hectic, and we both just dip into the book when we feel like it. I keep flipping open the book, because I’m trying to figure out a new way for my art! Yes! I want to write books! Yes! I want to create graphic novel adventures.

Beyond that though, why do I feel like selling art is the only way to make it worthwhile? It is like ingrained deep in my psyche, that art doesn’t matter unless you sell it. What the fuck is up with that? I mean, why does selling something give it worth? Since when was something more valuable if it had a price tag on it. I call bull shit on the lie that so many artists have taken in deep into their soul. It is a lie that is so destructive. I don’t know about other artists, but personally I have cried so many tears and felt so much shame because of trying to sell my art.

“Soul Force” is like an awakening! Art is for inspiration, healing, and connection! I mean…big breath! And a deep feeling of satisfaction comes over me when I digest that. It is like something I used to know along the way for many years when I was trying to make something of my life. I was making things, and made to feel like that wasn’t enough.

The outside world was putting so much pressure on me to make something of my life! Meanwhile, I was working on my art. I was showing up at my art table every single day, rain or shine. For about 16 years! Putting in the time. Trying to get better at what I did. Trying to heal myself along the way. Supporting other artists, taking classes, enJOYing the process. Stringing together a life of creative moments and memories.

I’ve done a lot of art I’m super proud of! And that is enough for me. I no longer sell my original watercolors and paintings. They mean too much to me. Way more than a dollar ever could!