Soar - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Soar". I hope your art/life soars this coming new year!

Giving

our time together
is a colorful journey
a quilt of memories

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Giving.

Horizon - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday and the winter solstice. This week's prompt is "horizon". May you embrace the beauty and magic of winter!

Christmas Tree Lighting

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Celebrating the holiday with my sis, nephews and niece! This makes me laugh so hard ;)

A Kind of Beauty

revealed
nestled in a tree
empty bird's nest

This year I am enjoying the welcome of winter as it reveals things normally unseen - like the beauty in spotting a bird's nest or the subtle hint of brown, red and golden hues. I now understand the metaphor of going inward during the darkened days while finding the beauty within.

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is A Kind of Beauty.

Backwards - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "backwards". Need I say more?

Gift of Tree

Yummy

as the leaves fall
carpeting the ground in color
fresh baked apple pie

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Yummy. This is a pie a good friend baked and it was yummy ;)

Little Things - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Little Things.

Container

you faithfully
ferry us across the Sound
day after day

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Container.

Excess - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Excess. I think Carl expresses how I feel about EXCESS....

Boulders, Rocks, Stones & Pebbles

millions of years old
you watched over the natives
mother of waters

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Boulders, Rocks, Stones & Pebbles. Mount Rainier was originally known as Talol, or Tahoma, from the Lushootseed word təqʷúʔbəʔ ("mother of waters") spoken by the Puyallup.

The Zoo - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is The Zoo. I loved finding Box turtles when I was a kid, but with all the development over the decades, I wonder if kids can only find turtles in the zoo near the suburbs these days?

Adventure

you flew from D.C.
to Seattle all by yourself
first big adventure

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Adventure.
My seven-year-old nephew is so courageous, his first hike he led the way up the mountain, like he'd been doing it all his life.

Superstition - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Superstition. This of course, made me think about the folklore around black cats, which I just adore!

Belonging

children nowadays
who may have special needs
find more acceptance

I attended a special event last Fall at a local elementary school in honoring the opening of the Buddy Garden, which is a place children with special needs can participate in gardening at the school. I was amazed at how accepted and integrated these children where into the community. When I was growing up, you rarely saw children like this, they were kept behind closed doors. I'm happy this is changing. This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Belonging.

Scale - IF

This is a full spread page from a children's picture book I was working on during the summer. And I am now reminded how much I miss playing with it and truly look forward to completing the book.This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Scale.

Loneliness

for thirty years
you've filled the space beside me
now memories

This is for my neighbor who just lost her husband. Although, he was almost 92, it happened so suddenly. I feel for her and her deep loss. Please keep her in your prayers. I am reminded of the preciousness of life...

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Loneliness.

Hats - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Hats. I love hats (funky ones in particular) and although, I don't own a cowboy hat or have I been to Texas, I felt inclined to illustrate this.

Change

as the days shorten
nature paints all around us
each leaf a sunset

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Change. Change is not an easy thing for me a lot of the time, and yet it is a constant in life. Autumn is a change that's hard to ignore and dislike....until I think of the long, grey winter ahead. I will practice embracing change more...

Trick-or-Treat -IF

Looks like Kitty has a few treats in mind for Halloween. Of all the holidays from childhood, I must say this is still my favorite. I love all the colorful costumes, crisp days, apples and best of all - carving jack-o'-lanterns.

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is Trick or Treat. This is a perfect prompt to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of get zen! Thanks to all of you for your kind support. ~Peace

Closeness

between the laughter
and tears, the thread that binds you
sibling love

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Closeness. To my amazing niece and nephews, who are a constant inspiration in my life.

Grow - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Grow". Like funky people, funky flowers need space to grow, too.

Balance

I wrestle with you
finding the perfect balance
waiting for high tide

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Balance.

Polar Extremes - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Extremes". What first came to mind for me was climatic extremes and the threat to the extinction of polar bears. Climatic warming is melting their ice pack habitat. This is hard to imagine and saddens me.

Leaf Drift

faithful to the tree
growing through spring and summer
gently drifting leaf

Simple Pleasures

while fixing dinner
amber light breaks through rain clouds
dusk saying hello

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Simple Pleasures. I am lucky to have a big view outside my small abode. A simple pleasure is being surprised by the light outside - nature saying "play with me".

Boyhood

in a world
of sticks, sand, seaweed and water
make believe

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Snips & Snails (Boyhood). I had the joy of spending a week this summer with my 7-year-old nephew, who took me back to childhood imagination. It's never too late.

Blues - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Blues". I think of most of us owe some honor to the Blues, to those who struggled in the Deep South and shared their pain and suffering through music. Anyone who has listened to popular music is touched by the Blues, its threads are woven into an array of modern music.

Pictured is the great Robert Johnson.

Juicy Haiku

your thorny vines
bless us with juicy blackberries
lips stained purple

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Juicy.

Juggle - IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Juggle". This is what it feels like sometimes when I'm trying to juggle too many things while cooking ;)

Haiku Recipe

gin and vermouth
over ice, shake, pour, add olive
dry martini

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Haiku Recipe for those thirsty cooks.

Joe Zawinul

I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of another great jazz musician, Joe Zawinul. Zawinul was a pioneer in the jazz fusion arena. He played with some "heavy guys" like Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Miles Davis. He was the leader of the 70's fusion band, Weather Report for many years. It occurred to me how the death of someone you've never met can impact you so deeply. For me, it's related to the era in which these people impacted your life, thus, it taps into one's history. Getting into jazz in my late teens was a major part of my growth and exploration as a young adult. So, when I learned Joe had died, a part of my youth seemed to go with him. Sending love and peace to him and his family.

Simplicity

with a few lines
I express a lifetime of work
old apple tree

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Simplicity.

Momentum -IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Momentum". I played with some photos I took recently at an amusement park. What fun to let the momentum of a ride take you away with laughter and fear!

Grandparents

your union
brought to life fourteen children
branching many more

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Grandparents". I feel lucky to have these two wonderful people as my grandparents. May my Grandmother rest in peace. My mother is the eldest of 14, and as you can imagine, I have a large extended family. When we had a family gathering, it was a happening. I loved the excitement and love that was always available at my grandparent's home. Cherished memories....

alphabets - IF - LOVE

I was delighted to see the prompt "alphabets" today at Illustration Friday. Just yesterday I created this piece for a coworker. She is redecorating her teenage daughter's room and wanted something in this color scheme with love as the theme. As you'll discover, this is only one side of the love alphabet; the side most of us prefer to embrace.

Tiny Pretty Things

blanketed in snow
for most of the year long
meadow flowers

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Tiny Pretty Things.

Daybreak

crows cawing
signal your arrival
dawn

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Daybreak".

Max Roach Tribute

I was saddened to learn today that Max Roach has left us, but he left us with a legacy of innovative drumming that influenced modern jazz musicians and its enthusiasts. Being a jazz fan since my late teens, I give honor to Roach and the many fantastic jazz players for opening me up to new musical territories, which changed me forever. I’m sending peace and love to Max, his family, and the jazz community.

Cascade Hike

Here are pictures I took during a wonderful hike along Naches Trail near Chinkook Pass last week. It's an easy hike. In fact, my 7-year-old nephew led most of the way! It was his first hike and he didn't complain once during the 2-hour hike.

Missing - IF

I had fun with this. I love typography and so I designed with type. Take time to play with the piece and see if you can find the missing letters. Btw, I will not be online as much next week (does that qualify as missing?), so in advance, I appreciate your comments and may you find what is missing in your life....

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Missing".

Compare & Contrast

fallen into decay
you give way to the future
enveloped by life


This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Compare & Contrast".

Moon - IF

I've always been drawn to the moon. I remember riding in the car at night as a child, lying in the back seat gazing at the moon as the wheels spun down the dark roads. Even as it ducked behind trees, clouds and houses, it stayed faithful and followed along. The moon played with my imagination and it's a place I find comfort still.

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Moon".

Comfort

The life of one
blends into the hearts of many
never forgotten

Jennifer, I am sorry to hear of the passing of your father, I hope the love expressed through One Deep Breath brings some comfort to you and your family. My heart goes out to you. This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Comfort".

Flower Poem

The Seed

Grows
becomes what it is
inside.
Inching in sunlight
dotted with shadows
I grow petals.

I wrote this poem many years ago to reflect the inner growth and potential in all of us. I hope all of you blossom, even amidst the shadows. This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Poem".