I’ve been eagerly awaiting this new book, Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley, to come out and arrive at my local bookstore. Today was the day! In the car Miss Gidget and I hopped, and tried not to speed the ten minutes to Book Heads Book Store.
Normally I don’t recommend a book until after I’ve read it, but I’ve heard sooooomany good things about this book. And come on! It’s got a dachshund on the front cover – it’s just got to be good!
I can just feel it’s one of those books that will make me shed a few tears (okay, probably A LOT of tears!). One that I will resonate with. One that I won’t want to end. But one that will stay in my heart forever.
A snippet from the inside flap: This is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can’t live without. Lily and the Octopus reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.
Yup… I already need tissues. Okay, here we go…… open the cover and begin!
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Two years ago I planted a honeysuckle on the east side corner of my writing cottage next to my Victorian screen door. Hummingbirds love them and I have a love for hummingbirds.
This year I’m trying to be more diligent in encouraging the vines to wind around the east side of our deck rails. This morning when I opened the blinds, I noticed that one vine has begun winding around the birdhouse sitting on the deck railing. Isn’t this so sweet?
I guess the honeysuckle thought this little white house with faded red roof needed a little green to liven the place up. And you know what? There is only so much training you can do and then you must let go and let nature do the rest. A good metaphor for life too, I think!
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. – Shakespeare
photo: roger levien
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Shannon in front of one of her new paintings in progress posing with the She Shed book she won from me!
I want to tell you about a dear lady, my friend, Shannon who has grown by leaps and bounds right before my eyes the past few years. She is living from that place in her heart, that so many want to find the courage to do so also. She is letting art be the balm for her soul that fills her with joy and purpose.
She is also the lucky lady who won the book giveaway of She Sheds – A Treasure Trove of Women’s Creative Spaces. I always use Random.org when I pick a winner and while I wish everyone could win, I was very tickled that Shannon did. Not only does she live five minutes from me and I could get a picture of her with the book I signed for her (and it’s why it took me a bit to announce the winner), but I really think she was meant to win this copy! Like those that left a comment, Shannon would love a She Shed of her own to keep pursuing her art.
You see, I’ve known Shannon for a little over 25 years now. I first knew her mom when I worked at Kohl’s Department Store which was like, um, eons ago and this is how I met Shannon. Then John and I wanted to buy our first home a couple years after we’d been married. We ended up buying a spec home that Shannon’s husband, Bradd, and her father-in-law built. And over the years our friendship has grown, and ebbed and flowed.
She went on to have two children and as with most friends, being we didn’t have any, or lives drifted apart for awhile as she raised her kids. Shannon’s daughter will be in her third year of art school come this fall and her son will head to college in the fall also.
When her daughter was getting ready to graduate high school Shannon had the upheaval of emotions so many mom’s go through. She wondered, Now what? Who am I as my children to go out into the world on their own? And she was asking herself, what’s my purpose?
And with a little searching and being open to possibility, along with giving herself permission to follow her heart, Shannon began to paint and realized how much she loves it. And might I add here, she is really good at it!!
Shannon’s art table of supplies. One happy corner of her world.
It’s truly been a joy watching Shannon spread her art wings! And how lovely its been to support her by encouraging her and seeing so many others who stop by her personal page to “like” and comment on her work. Check out these two squirrels she recently painted.
And she keeps putting one foot in front of the other, sometimes her knees knocking and her nerves jumping, but she continues to paint. And this week, she will be taking a few pieces of her work to a shop to sell, which as many of you know, is a big, big step. I’m SO proud of her!!
Shannon would love a “She Shed” of her own someday, but the cool thing is, she hasn’t let that stop her from doing her art as often as she can. She has set up a little corner for herself in the lower level of her home. She has a beautiful view of trees outside the window, and where her sweet, dear, dog Molly is resting in peace with a marked grave.
And I think this quote on the back of this chair she painted below says it best. Because I believe too that when we answer that inner calling that is there nudging us along, can we then begin to walk peacefully on this earth.
Keep painting Shannon — you are creating your own special miracles just by letting that inner light in you shine and move out into the world.
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