Memorial Day Weekend - Staycation/retreat

My daughter and family are heading for Carmel and San Francisco for the weekend and I'm feel nostalgic for Carmel. I lived in and near Carmel for over 35 years and nothing compares to the Monterey Peninsula!!! Rather than have a pity-party, which isn't hard to do these days, I've decided to treat myself to a weekend of pampering. I checked the freezer and happily I was smart enough to freeze some meals. I've already had a facial and nice long shower, made a delicious rich chocolate smoothie and am salivating over the popcorn that I'll pop in a bit. I found a recipe for a Doritos-like spice blend to use on popcorn. The organic popcorn has been measured and is waiting in the air-popper. I haven't found a movie to watch yet, but I know that instant-streaming on Netflix has something waiting. I found two books waiting on the iPad for me so I'm set for a nice quiet weekend of doing nothing but enjoying myself. (what plans do you have? share.)
   
The image above is a superimposed one of a tree photo that was shot last year on Memorial Day Weekend when Corey and family were here for the weekend. We went up the Palm Springs Tram for the view and dinner and the tree was backlit by empty sunset sky making it the perfect image to layer with backgrounds. In this case the background is a section of an abstract painting I just finished for the living room.

Be sure to leave a comment on the post earlier this month for a give-away that ends soon.

 Benjamin Harrison
I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.

Happy Mother's Day

 Cactus Blooms by moonlight.

Hibiscus.

''God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.''

 Rudyard Kipling

May! Give-away

I can't help but wonder what this year will bring into my life. It was one year ago this month that I knew I had cancer even before the diagnosis was given to me. The radiologist who told me said that everyone I'd met at the mammography center knew that I'd get through it, "just a detour for you. It's your attitude that will see you through." Perhaps I come across as having a good attitude but if they really knew how I felt inside I doubt I would have been told that. I can honestly say that I didn't expect to be here a year later. But here I am, still standing!

 The image in the mirror is very foreign to me; it's as if the former me has been replaced by someone who now has silver curly hair. Gone is the blond who prefers shoulder length hair and the face that now greets me has become thinner and more wrinkled due to weight loss. I tell myself that change is good and that life is good, but my voice isn't very convincing. I did say that going through chemo and radiation would not only be like a tsunami but would give my immune system a clean slate on which to build a new one. Did that also mean a new body? Perhaps I wasn't clear about what I expected. I knew that presenting myself to the world with only one breast wouldn't be easy but I didn't expect to age so much as well! My energy levels are even lower than before and that was expected but not welcome. Too many days spent resting make for frustration and huge doses of self-pity. And so it goes . . .

There is always much to celebrate and I choose to do that most of the time rather than throw a self-pity party. I can't remember the last time I had a give-away. What better way to celebrate being alive than by giving away something that I've enjoyed creating? Fractured Grids. These studies are 5x7 inches done on mat board. They're not framed in the photo below, but I'll pop them into black frames before sending them out. Leave me a comment by the end of May letting me know which one you might enjoy, 1,2, or 3. Just yesterday according to the count of Blogger Dashboard there were over 30 visits to this blog. I don't know when the counter stopped, but visits are still noted on the Dashboard and to date there have been nearly 21,000. (Note: the counter still listed on the side of the posts notes world-wide visits. Can't remember when I added that counter but the total isn't accurate.) It would be outstanding to hear from many of you.

Follow the path of your appetite, your desires, and your secret wants.

- Mama Gena