@Diana: Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing! Thank you so much for your exuberant comments. I can not believe it has almost been a year since you first ca,e round! Man time sure flies when you’re having fun! It’s good to have you back here at the blog. In the past you have emailed me messages and I have responded to them. But I could tell that many of my messages never did get through to you because of some filters that your email service provider had set up. So it’s good to hear from you. Communicating with me here on the blog will ensure that our messages get through to each other, rather than ending up lost in cyberspace.

I be think’n, that you never give yourself a break — and take a vacation! I’m so glad to know that you did do this. I’m a MOM, and a Grandma too, and “Time waits for no man/woman”. Cindy, my Mom use to say, “You blink your eyes, and your children are all grown up”. This weekend, I found myself looking at my one (and) only guy in my life — his name is JACK, and he’s my grandson, and looking at his current picture — well,it blew me away!!! Feel as though, we can only be better, when we feed our souls. Our families are an important part of that. Want to tell ya, “You give so much of yourself to all of us”, but (speaking for myself) I’m so pleased that you did take some time for yourself. Can recall those times, when I would take my son and daughter to New Hampshire (for a week away from everything). Oh Cindy!! I’m sixty-five now, and my children are all grown with children of their own, and we still speak about those special shared moments. Memories are a wonderful moral booster, and it’s the best therapy for any/all of us. Sometimes, I find myself hysterical — because I can still visualize some of those crazy times. Kids can do some crazy stuff, and being there to observe them (first hand), that’s what it’s all about!!! At the same time, when I returned, I was ready to take on the world!!! I’ve felt that way, even having had worked in The Venetian Hotel (and taking a week’s vacation to replenish my self-preservation. Always was like a performer. Ha! Ha! Love people, and met some of the best!!! Even then, the time away helped me to return as my ‘ol outrageous self!!! Ha! Ha! We gotta learn to be able to laugh at ourselves, because we have some really great materials to work with. Ahem!!! Anyway, you get the pickchaaaa!!!!

LOVE YA, AND WHAT YOU BRING TO ME! YOU’RE AN AMAZING ARTIST!!!! Thanks for sharing your talents with all of us!! You are unique, and just so relaxed. For me, you help to reopen that creativity! As we get older (sometimes), things are somewhat intimidating. Your mannerism helps me to be “ME”, and that’s really something!!!! So, I’m as crazy as eva!!! Crazy as a Bedbug!!!

Something to share — the beauty of being allowed the freedom to make something is such a Blessing. To reiterate something I might have mentioned — sometimes since I’m older I need a nudge to get me going. I want everything to be perfect (right at the get-go)! However, I’m realizing that some of my best work comes from making mistakes. Ahem!!! Mistakes can sometimes lead to newer horizons! We can’t be too hard on ourselves — the fact that you are trying something new (that is what’s important). My days are never dull, because my brain is always moving on (to bigger and better things).

The fact that it’s still working, in spite of some (not so nice things that happened in my lifetime). I am Blessed immensely, and will not waste a minute. There are times when I am a Bobbing head doll with shaking hands, but the fact that I’m still able to do all kinds of things — this is what keeps me going. Who really cares. Just enjoy what you are doing, and have fun with it. This is what it is all about. Besides this, I’m allowed the opportunity to teach my grand- children something that will someday be a memory to them too. Such a Blessing! There is really no such thing as a person allowing age to get in your way. LIFE IS AMAZING! We celebrate each new day — for me it’s all about creativity!!! I have alot of fun, and can oftentimes be my crazy self (always) — so I just say, “Jump in with both feet, and don’t think that you need something to hold you adrift. Tread water! If you make a mistake, so be it. What I think is great when I do have some time to work with clay; it is such a freedom! Amen! Besides that, if we come across a problem, we can always torture Cindy!!!!! Ha! Ha!

Love Ya,

DIANA QM

P.S. Life is fragile handle with prayer, and also find something to make you smile. This is the name of the game. It’s called survival, and enjoying yourself at the same time. Don’t buy the negativity!! Just do your own thing and have fun. Clay is great for this, and we have Cindy to boot!!! Just think we can even hammer on the clay and get rid of all of our aggression. ENJOY!!!

Regards, and LOVE YA! You are on my mind, in my thoughts, and most important in my prayers.

DIANA QM

P.S. Glad that I found Ya, and it’s almost a year!!!

Managed to get away into the mountains of Whistler for a few days. It is where the downhill skiing events will be in the 2010 Olympics. During the summer, there are lots of beautiful hikes and bike trails you can take, as well, as Gondola rides.

We took the chair lifts to the top and the new Peak to Peak Gondola that takes you from the top of Whistler Mountain over to the top of Blackcomb Mountain. Highest and longest Gondola in the World. Scary for me but the family loved it. (I had to close my eyes a couple of times, but made it through without my heart rate going too high! lol)

Lots of picnics and spending time walking around. Body is tired but mind is still.

Doug took lots of beautiful photos which I’ll have to share on the blog. Some will be great for color palettes. So stay tuned!

I am absolutely buried in comments and emails (literally hundreds), that will take me a few days to get to, so try to be patient. I’ll get to them asap.

Thank you everyone for holding down the fort while we were gone! I am grateful to you all! :-)