With Spirit Full, I Live

"With arms outstretched I thank.

With heart beating gratefully I love.

With body in health I jump for joy.

With spirit full I live.
"
~Terri Guillemets

I have been under the weather with a summer cold, turned upper respiratory ailment for the past week or so and haven't had the energy to do much of anything. This morning, I received this wonderful note from one of my June 11th, first time workshop participants, Lynn Pechinski, who owns 1st Straw Marketing and Promotions. I rarely get much feedback from participants. Her card really made me feel great! Lynn clearly knows the power of gratitude and of making people feel special.

You can see amazing art from the last workshop here, where 5 of the 7 inkers were first timers!

The next scheduled "play"shop here is July 23rd. You can see details about the watercolor on Yupo paper "art experience" here. The early bird registration discount ends tomorrow, June 25th. 

It's not just a workshop, it's a full bodied "art experience"!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that

the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanks for your friendship and feedback everyone!!
I am grateful for you all.

X ♥  O

Gratitude (Day 15)

"There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed. 

If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude." 

~ Robert Brault

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Crocus Among Us~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

I think you can learn a lot about people by how they express (or don't express) their gratitude. Just a few words, a short phone call, a card or an email with a sentence or two can make all the difference to the giver as well as the receiver.  Giving thanks opens your heart and gives way to a receptiveness to more good things in life. The surest way to stop the flow of abundance is by not being thankful for the gifts you have already received. "Gratitude really is the best attitude."

I am truly grateful for your friendship.

Thanks for following along, for your interest and support.

X ♥  O

Happy Father's Day!

"When I was a girl of fourteen,

my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand

to have the old man around.  But when I got to

be twenty-one, I was astonished at how

much he had learned in seven years."  

~ Author unknown

I am so grateful to still have both my parents here.

My dad has always been there for me, in good times and in bad. He has bailed me out with a helping hand when trouble hits and has celebrated my successes when few others seemed to care. I am the oldest of four siblings and like with most kids, it wasn't always smooth sailing. As time goes on though, our father/daughter differences have become less, as our bond grows ever stronger. Thank you so much for all the love and support you've showered on me over the past half+ century, dad! I love and respect you dear father, mentor and friend ~ with all my heart!

Here are some recent photos of my dad, 'Big Al' Sandy.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DAD!!

And to All Dads Everywhere!!

X ♥  O

 

A Painting Giveaway!

" TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES "

PAINTING GIVEAWAY!

In the spirit of birthday week, I'm announcing an ORIGINAL PAINTING GIVEAWAY! It's also a way of showing my gratitude for the support I've received online, especially on facebook, during my 30/30 challenge.

It is quick and simple to enter.

If you are on facebook:

#1) Go to: Sandy Sandy Spiritart and LIKE MY PAGE if you haven't already. 

#2) go to the album: TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES, click on the images and leave me a short comment on at least 3 of the (available) paintings you would like to win. (It would be nice, but not necessary, to hear why you select the ones you do.)

#3) To get an extra entry, share a link on your facebook timeline to my TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES album.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you do not have a facebook account:

#1) Become a follower here if you are not already one.

#2) go to the album: TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES, click on the images and leave me a short comment on at least 3 of the (available) paintings you would like to win. (If facebook doesn't allow non-members to post, just comment here with 3 titles of those you would like to own.)

#3) To get an extra entry, share a link to this post on your blog and please let me know you did it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ORIGINAL PAINTING GIVEAWAY

 will be held at 11am, EST, March 20th, 2013

(The same day as my Animal Spirits book giveaway.)

Thanks again my friends.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

X ♥  O

"Saying thank you is more than good manners.

It is good spirituality."

~ Alfred Painter

Wishing You a Grateful Heart on Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving Day, my goal is simply to be a kinder person and to express my sincere gratitude more often. I will start here with all of you that have come into my life or have reconnected through the internet. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who read my posts. Whether you visit regularly or occasionally, you and your feedback have helped shape my path. Just knowing you are out there, keeps me from feeling so alone and isolated. It really is inspiring and energizing being connected to a global sisterhood / brotherhood of like minded beings!

I am so grateful for each and every one of you! You who have offered me your friendship in good times and in bad; have celebrated, sympathized, advised and supported me. In truth, your kindness has made a lasting mark. Connected by fate, in one way or another, big or small, I carry a little bit of each of you with me always.

Thank you all, thank you very very much!

Here's a few quotes by people who say it so much better than I can.:

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."  ~ G.B. Stern

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."

~ Meister Eckhart

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart".  ~ Jean Baptiste Massieu

"It is not what we say about our blessings,

but how we use them,  that is the true measure of our thanksgiving." 

~ W.T. Purkiser

Wishing You Many Blessings Always

and a Very Grateful Heart,

X♥O

Getting Back Into Riding . . . If Only in My Dreams

The past few nights, I've been having vivid dreams about riding and caring for the horses. It is probably due to me getting more upright, flexible and mobile, while taking advantage of the boot, physical therapy and exercising. I even walked out to the barn once with help from Jerry and a walker. Yesterday my farrier came and I stayed out there for almost two hours. I also gave Rita a good grooming. We both really enjoyed it!

Jerry continues to lunge my 32 year old, Rudy, at least every other day

and they both seem to be benefiting from it.

Sometimes he takes me out in the car so I can watch.

Over the past two months, some individuals have been sending healing thoughts, get well wishes and asking how I'm doing. It's really nice to know that people care. Thanks especially to those of you that have reached out to me during this trying time. Your friendship and kindness really means so much!


"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."  ~ Henri Nouwen

"We are the captains of our own ships sailing the sea of life, but in times of a stormy weather, you will discover true friends when they don't hesitate to be a lighthouse."  ~ Dodinsky

Still spending part of my days in the chair; here's my current studio setup.

Jerry shot my leg last Thursday at my first physical therapy appointment. Only a week later, it looks much better. Still lots of swelling after exercise, but everything is going really well. I've been meditating nightly which is helping me heal more quickly, both physically and spiritually.

Although the time did go slow for me during my convalescence, I can't believe it is almost June! Now that I'm feeling better, things are really speeding up! This shot of Rita was taken by my friend, Jen, last August. She will have a collection of her photos at The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair at the Caracol Jewelry  booth. If you are local and you go to the show, be sure to stop by and have a look.  Her art is awesome.

Memorial Day weekend unofficially starts tomorrow. It kicks off the summer here in the states. I just started working on some of my stock photography again. I think this one of my folks, is appropriate for the holiday weekend and summer season ahead. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! YAY!"


No matter what your plans are, have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Take some time to reflect and be grateful for all those who have lost their lives so that we may enjoy the many freedoms we hold dear.


Wishing You Many Blessings, Sandy