(a flower from home)

yet another quote that is so beautiful it merits being written in calligraphy or placed in a scrapbook or something...

"The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."
—Charles Dickens

in other news, i'm really wanting to go run at the beach today.

"nourishment" (from illustration friday)

funny thing, i had this idea last saturday for this week's illustration friday but getting a good picture of it without it getting blurry proved to be quite the challenge. good grief, i seriously need to get a scanner. okay, i don't NEED one but i wants one. :)

anyway, today was absolutely gorgeous here. nice and hot and sunny. love that! i spent the morning running at the beach with a fellow group of runners...ran past the Queen Mary in the harbor, past a little lighthouse, the marina, the aquarium and then on to the beach. wow, it was a beautiful day.

now i'm drawing and watching finding neverland.

(yes, i do do responsible things such as laundry and cooking and cleaning, i promise ;))

the flowers in my room. i saw them at the store and couldn't resist. :)

i think this is the most beautiful quote. i came across it yesterday on keri smith's site:

"When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea."
"That is all very well, little Alice," said her grandfather, "but there is a third thing you must do."
"What is that?" asked Alice.
"You must do something to make the world more beautiful," said her grandfather.
"All right," said Alice. But she did not know what that could be.


[from Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, 1982]

wow.

what a beautiful day! we're having an extended spring here in southern california that is so out of character but so wonderful. usually spring is around 3 to 4 days of 70 degree weather and then it is HOT. but i love the heat, so i'm not complaining, no surree. i'm just surprised that i'm still wearing sweaters to work. (this is where all my friends in really cold climates say, "you're wearing a sweater when it's 70 outside?! are you crazy? that's SHORTS weather!) but no matter. i can take it. ;)

well, illustration friday has been so much fun and i've only done it twice. haha the only problem is i am desperately wanting a scanner now. yesterday i found myself spending way too much time searching the internet for the perfect (cheap) scanner. it was kind of sad. (any donation of a scanner would be greatly appreciated. haha)

in OTHER news, this weekend is going to be so much fun! on friday night, i'm volunteering at a film festival which always produces such thought-provoking and interesting films (very excited about that) and on saturday morning i'm running my first 1/2 marathon. there's talk of going to the awards ceremony for the film festival on saturday night...ooh la la. but maybe i should save my energies and go to disneyland on sunday and actually use my pass. it is the 50th anniversary after all. hmmm

life in lalaland is definitely never boring.

it's not even illustration friday yet but ah well. as soon as i saw the word, "mischief", i thought of my mom's two kitties. very mischievious yet so darling! :)

last night

sometimes this happens to me. i pull out my art journal to add a couple pieces to it and before i know it, i have the scissors out...





and the glue stick in hand...





and a cup of water and my watercolors and acrylics strewn about...




and...a couple hours later i sit back with a satisfied smile on my face. :)

so, anyway, last night i spent some quality time doing that. i also went crazy with roasting a chicken and 8 million vegetables. i had this great idea for roasted vegetable sandwiches on olive bread for this week's lunch. yum, yum.

isn't life grand?

(for illustration friday)

little thoughts that ramble on forever...

a lot is changing in my life right now--from tiny things like we have less homework now in German (or is that HUGE since it had taken over my life?! haha) to big things like my sister and brother-in-law moving to Idaho. so many things...but so many good things too. i suppose this is how life is. it is an ebb and flow. sometimes (like now) it is so busy but sometimes it is slow. there is a learning to enjoy each of these moments whether i am busy or not.

there are some really fun things around the corner, though. a 1/2 marathon in a couple weeks, volunteering at a film festival, and (hopefully) going home for memorial day for a nice rest.

i recommend:
--npr or kpcc (here in l.a.)...i listen to it during the day and am now educated. :)
--english breakfast tea. it's so tasty. numnum
--jamie's kitchen forum. the cooks on that forum are genius. i copy down recipes down like a maniac and dream of lovely dinners (and earning more money so i can afford such dinners.)
--making roast chicken from scratch instead of buying them from the store premade. apparently everyone already does this but i've just recently discovered it and WOW, there is nothing like a roast chicken stuffed with lemon and rosemary and thyme to make you want to dance around the house. :)
--writing letters to friends and family. cell phones are wonderful but there's nothing like getting a letter in the mail. i'm trying to be better at this. (and this comes from a card maker! haha)
--signing up for the 5K or the 1/2 marathon or whatever. at the beginning of the year, my sister and i decided to choose a race to run every month and it has been so much fun! seriously! a.) it gives me a reason to train, b.) the races are for good causes so that's really cool, and c.) there is such an energy and fun atmosphere at these races--i love it! :) believe me, i'm not out there breaking the tape at the finish line but i'm having fun! :)
--fixing my filing system...alas, i am an organized nerd at heart. but i'm over it.
--gerber daisies at your desk. i was given a little bouquet at admin asst's day and they are so cheerful, it makes me want to buy a ton of plants for my area. :)
--dr. neil clark warren's book, 'love the life you live'. it is really so good. i'm going through it with some girlfriends and loving it.

okay, i guess i could list out 8 thousand things but i will stop for now. have a wonderful day, friends!