Saga of the Rhino

OMG what a project! Well, I know myself and thought if I don't knuckle down and do some work on my rhino, I will forget what I learned in class and I'll never finish it. So, on Sunday, I skipped services at Our Lady of Perpetual Mimosas, and got to work. I worked for six hours on it and then woke up in the middle of the night and worked a few more hours to get to this point:

 Here is the front, all pieced together like a puzzle, and this is what the back looks like.

I woke up on Monday and I could not move my head. My neck and shoulders were in agony.  So I ate about six Advil and put in a call to Dr. Lu who saw me right away (she is so awesome.) I had to drive to Homestead to have my car serviced but then came back and went for a massage. I happened to have a gift certificate so I went to somebody I'd never seen before. A young greek man named Solarius (or something close to that) with a thick accent. He nearly killed me. Seriously. He attacked my neck and shoulders and back with a vengeance, like they had done something horrible to him and he had to take revenge. Oh it hurt. Dry relass, dry relass, he says. Ow, says I. Ow!  Long story short, it helped. A lot. Yorgotta eyetzit, yorgotta eyetzit, he says. Took me about two hours after I got home to realize oooohhhhhh (forehead slap) "Try to relax, try to relax" and "You've got to ice it, you've got to ice it!" I took yesterday off, on Lu's advice - had to go up to Miami anyway - but when I got home, I couldn't help myself. I had to pull off the paper and see what I had so far. So here is my rhino emerging as I pull the pattern off. Now to sew.

 Although, I think his shoulder might be too light . . . hmmmm  I do love his eye though.

. . . stay tuned for the finished project.

A bright and beautiful morning

Things always look brighter in the morning, don't they? Literally in this case. Here is the view from my dock. Eckart Tolle says the moment that judgement stops through acceptance of what is, you are free of the mind. Just thought I'd share that with you this morning.

I know the night is not the same as the day: that all things are different, that the things of the night cannot be explained in the day, because they do not then exist, and the night can be a dreadful time for lonely people once their loneliness has started.  from Ernest Hemingway in A Farewell to Arms.

A warm humid night tonight, the sky full of stars and the smell of the water and sound of the crickets bring back such wonderful memories, and I have not one complaint in the world. I loved being married and I loved my husband and my life. I accept that I am on a different path now, but sometimes I wonder if I will ever be truly happy again. 

I have to trust that one day soon I will look back and think, oh silly me, I'm happier than I ever was back then . . . 

Yesterday was quite the busy day. Mom and I went to the annual luncheon and fashion show to benefit Voices for Florida Keys Children down at Hawks Cay Resort.  It was a mob scene but we had a good time as always. Here is a shot of some of the models lining up and one of Mom and me (can you tell which is which? hahaha) The other picture is of the dolphin tanks at the resort with the bridge in the background. It is such a beautiful place and Mom had to hold my hands in my lap so I couldn't bid on the two night stay auctioned off (it was a steal!)

It was after 4:00 by the time I dropped Mom off and she and dad headed up to my house to walk and feed my dogs - THANK YOU! while I, social butterfly that I am, headed off to the big celebration for Chuck and Steve. Look at their mugs on the door of the Civic Club. Too funny. Karen went all out and had transformed the room - so festive - and there was tons of food and drink, not to mention a huge crowd. Great party. I didn't last long, went home, jumped in the pool and went to bed. Happy birthday you guys!

Sophie

She had a busy morning. Went for a run, chased a cat, ate some garbage. Doggie heaven. Time for a nap.

You can always cope with the now, but you can never cope with the future -- nor do you have to. The answer, the strength, the right action, or the resource will be there when you need it, not before, not after. - from The Power of Now

I went for a walk and found this beautiful yellow hibiscus. Sad that they only last one day but that must be why they are so gorgeous, putting all of their energy into being beautiful for one whole day only.
And, here is the quilt my mom put the binding on for me.  I look at this quilt and it makes me smile. I made it in a class with my friend, Rina. We laughed hysterically practically the whole time. Too much fun.

hmmmm, this picture makes it look kind of more pink-y than it actually is...

Les Mis

Mom and I drove up to Fort Lauderdale to see Les Miserables on Sunday. It was awesome. Lawrence Clayton played Jean Valjean and what an amazing voice but I have to say the most impressive part of the production was the sets and lighting. Fantastic! If you have the chance, go.
  Busy busy week but I will be back in my studio after tai chi today.