Happy is as happy does

Perhaps if one really knew when one was happy one would know what things that were necessary for ones life. Joanna Field

Happy is as happy does, or so I like to think so. I still believe in the power of positive thinking and try and look for the good in situations. Stress can sometimes let us know what we are really made of, sometimes it can let us know we need a break!

Happy around here often revolves around a nap. Having only geld

ings now things have slowed down. This is a old picture but every day the boys settle down for a nap. Indy (the large black one resembling a moose) sleeps propped up on the sandpile, or in his stall. Redman (the RED one duh!) will sleep anywhere and often snores and twitches in his sleep. Eazy (the old fart we all love) often snoozes standing up leaning against his stall.

I am looking forward to a break! We head to Mexico in two days and I am counting the hours!

Happy?

The thirst after happiness is never extinguished in the heart of a woman. Jean Jacques Rousseau

Happiness is sometimes something we chase but rarely feel like we have caught. I am trying to slow down and take more time to be happy, more time to laugh and smile. I appreciate my studio more and my time spent in it.

Little things can make me happy. The soft nose of a horse waiting for his morning greeting

before he eats his breakfast. The sound of rain on the roof (but only at night!). A bead coming out of the kiln much like I had it envisioned in my head. The cat purring (and snoring) while he sleeps.

What about you? What little things make you happy?

Who am I?

Many women today feel a sadness we cannot name, though we accomplish much of what we set out to do we sense that something is missing in our lives - and fruitlessly - search "out there" for the answers. What's often wrong is that we are disconnected from an authentic sense of self. Emily Hancock

I sometimes wonder how I became who I am today. Life moves so fast! I turned 40 this year, how did I get so OLD? It still sounds weird when people ask how old I am and I say 40, some say I don't look 40. Not sure if that is a compliment or not?

I've morphed into a much different person from who I was in my 20's and 30's. I love gardening now, have become and artist. Horse have become a hobby instead of a business, something I am very happy with!

For the most part I don't feel sadness I feel shock and wonder and who I have become! I am moving forward, trying to develop my art form, and a customer base (not easy in this economy!) I am blessed to have good friends in the industry who've helped me along the way, and are still helping me!

The glass world is an amazing place, just today I got this wonderful gift in the mail, from Offilia Cinta. It's one of her stunning fish! Her name is Sassy, she sits on the shelf in my kitchen gazing out the window!

This ain't no dress rehersal

When you perform, you are out of yourself, larger more potent, more beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth, and it is yours nightly. Agnes de Mille

Are you like me? I often buy a scented candle, nice towels, a pretty bath oil on sale............ then save it. What am I saving it for? I spy a wonderful shirt, maybe on sale maybe not. But it then it sits, rarely worn, heaven forbid I wear it out.

Lately I've been cracking open the heavenly scented bath oils, lighting those candles I've been saving for months. I love scent, smell takes me places I've been or hope to go. It brings back memories, it makes me sigh ...... long ......... relaxing sighs. My current favorite bath bombs are from Lush. I love the Sex Bomb bath bomb, the pretty little rose it my makes me feel pretty darn girly! Treating myself once and a while makes me smile. And being that life isn't a dress rehearsal shouldn't we smile often?

Simple

Simple (adj) without embellishment, clarity of form and thought, fundamental.

My beads tend to lean towards a simple style, well I think they do anyways. Lately I've been working on a goddess style with a simple, more elegant flow to it. Nostalgic Tale is one of the beads that I believe has a more simple flow or style to it.

I tend to me a "inside the box type thinker and these beads have more flow to them, they often go in different directions than I originally had planned. They stretch my mind (often confusing it!) and seem to send me someplace serene and comfortable.

Work it Right

You live only once, but if you work it right once is enough. Joe E Lewis

I wonder, do I work it right? Work life, love, happiness? CAN you work it? What's right? What's wrong?

My ongoing goal is to remain positive, to try new things, to find the good in any situation. That can be hard! Looking back on 2009 my hot air ballon ride with Andrea in Turkey is a positive thing. My trip there with a good friend is something I'll cherish forever, and being afraid of heights getting in a hot air ballon (and STAYING in the ballon) is a major life achievement for me.

The years questions

There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.

I hope that this year answers some questions for me. The end of 2009 was rough for me and my husband. We had sick horses from June onward, one died and one is still not back to normal. The ongoing stress of dealing 24/7 with animals we really couldn't seem to help set a toll on me. My creativity and motivation suffered. Studio time felt like a chore instead of a joy. I've taken some time off and had planned to re evaluate the beginning of the year. Now we have a Mexico trip planned and I am so excited about it I can't focus on the studio once again.

My hope for this year is to focus my studio time more effectively, set out a business plan (YIKES!) and try and be more effective about promotion myself and my work. The answers this year may give me are, is my foray into glass really going to grow and flourish. Or, should it just be a hobby?