Dragon Fly's map of the USA

Not sure what is going on here. I just randomly played with watercolor and ink yesterday. I  just let the watercolor drip and absorb the paper and then go in later to add details.  The method is from Angela Wales Rockett's expressive arts class. Basically she asks us to paint in the moment with no concern for the finished product. I will be doing more of this as I find it a great way to get to center.

Now that it is finished I can see that I was inspired by the map from  "The Man in the High Castle " Which is an alternative map of the US if the Germans and Japanese had one the war.

Merry Christmas 2015

Lucy is the most excited

Keir can't keep still

The whole gang

Keir , baby Eamon and Emily

Colette and Corey and uhhh urrr Miss Piggy

Daniella is making her Mother-in-laws old family recipe

Wonder

Alicia and Alex have a moment

Sandra knows it doesn't get better that this.

And best wishes to anyone reading this entry! We are all blessed.

That's right

That's right

I'm so grateful

for all I've been

given

and promise to

appreciate

the life that I'm

livin'

Great music for the Goddess within

Here is the mix of music I was able to enjoy last weekend at the Grunewald Guild Retreat center. 

The name of the retreat was "Coming Home to the goddess within: A four-day womans's retreat into the strength, creativity and wisdom of your own goddessness."  Angi and Angela were our leaders for four days of yoga, painting, meditation, clean eating and dancing and much much more. Enjoy the Music! I enjoyed the exposure to some new songs. 

Angi’s Donovan Mix 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8

Roar by Katy Perry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ8xqyoZXCc

Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K9xgx6fA5E

I'll Take You There by The Staples Singers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ivt_N2Zcts

Bitch by Meredith Brooks

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Part+of+Me+by+Katy+Perry

Part of Me by Katy Perry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEfbL53jhN4

32 Flavors by Alana Davis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcGEsRqyipc

Love Me by Katy Perry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs

Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine

https://www.google.com/#safe=active&q=Try+by+Colbie+Caillat

Try by Colbie Caillat

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=F**kin'+Perfect+by+P!nk

F**kin' Perfect by P!nk

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Hollaback+Girl+by+Gwen+Stefani

Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Wide+Awake+by+Katy+Perry

Wide Awake by Katy Perry

Angela Wales Rockett’s mix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs

Nina Simone Feeling Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN8lTxciLBo

She Walks in Beauty by Mediaeval Baebes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlochG9Urho

Hagia Sophia by Irfan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpws72fGmWg

Dringo Bell by Mediaeval Baebes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emkIjXMLmws

Alkonyvarazs by The Moon & the Nightspirit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCsIjtf6ba0

Donacreitun by Gary Stadler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey1DuuJ6tGk

Water Prayer Rasta mix (Matt the Alien Remix) by Adham Shaikh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWBaAQQy2Y

We Are Water by Patty Griffin (sung by Hayden Panettiere and Nashville cast)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U10ftE4XQvo

Walpurgisnacht by Faun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfbCADJMas0

Come My Sweet by Mediaeval Baebes

Oyneng Yar by Faun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwmkR7H0UNs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58XKqsnnHBs

Sing to the Mountain by Elephant Revival

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Drive+by+Incubus

Drive by Incubus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3w-mhsN_oQ

Roar by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox

For LuAnn

She gave me myself back,

wrapped up in paper I picked out 

years ago but was afraid to use. 

She knew how to listen 

and that we were playing a wicked game 

of keeping score. She was patient. 

She was kind. 

She let me cuss and cry. 

She was freedom and green trees 

and    fall    breezes that echo back 

what they are told.

She gave us 

us.

She helped me fall in love 

with him again. 

She can’t be a friend

    but I love her    and hope

one day 

she    reads     this. 

Alligator Bites

Fish Deaths

Fish Deaths

i am struggling to swim

i must gain oxygen

   there is not

        enough

        water

        cycling

        across

        my

             gills

i am suffocating

   because

     these

     levels

     are

     too

             low

it’s a shame us stocked fish cannot survive

      in a lake

      made 

        by

              men

Expressive Arts

Here are two painting with Tempera Paint I created this weekend at a retreat in the Grunewald Guild. My friend Angela Wales Rocket teaches this technique of painting freely without any real planning. A bit like a creative meditation.  I look forward to trying this again. Soon.

Yoga Dance Retreat

This afternoon I am on my way to a Yoga, Painting and Dancing retreat with my friends Angi and Angela. I am going to Dance in the rain, and splash paint on my yoga pants! So excited to get away.

Package of cards up on Etsy

I just posted 14 of my favorite all Occasion cards up on Etsy!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/artandwords2015

Take a look. They would make a lovely gift for some one you love.

Best,

Sandra

October Monday

Tonight  

    I stopped   and  

closed my eyes 

   so that I could hear  

    the trees        lose their leaves..

Words by Courtney Hanes

Art by Sandra Moreano

Best in Self

Breath in
the air
of uncertainty
and vanity
and irresponsibility
and breath out
your
best self.

Shirley Summers writes Life's Kiss

Shirley turned 92 last week. She and I are very excited to be working on her first poetry book together. Shirley started writing poetry late in life. She says she was around 80 years old. 

Printed below is one of my favorites

Life’s Kiss

When you’re in love you’re on cloud nine

Soon the wedding bells will chime

Someday a family there will be

You’re excited 

You are pleased

But kids don’t stay kids for very long

They grow too fast and then they’re gone

Just wait awhile and you will see

A little grandchild on your knee

A little one to love and hold

A happy thought when you grow old

When I start to reminisce 

I have to smile

And I’ll admit that this first started with a kiss.

by Shirley Summers

I love when

I love when night falls
and a man
walks up the road
and has a dog
named mystic and
romanian blood and
an uncle with a similar name
an a father born with the same date
and you can talk about lessons and
mistakes and not be afraid

It takes courage to be an artist

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist
because you put your true selfout there for others to see
because when you start you are all inspiration
and then hit a wall with limited skills.

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist 

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist
because your best friend is god.
And god talks in mysterious ways.

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist
because whatever you create
it will never be perfect. 

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist
because money has no currency
in the studio

It takes a lot of courage to be an artist
because when your unique self is revealed
it doesn’t always look familiar. 

it takes a lot of courage to be an artist.......

Wildflowers

Wildflowers bloom in phases. they can't all go

at once. they wait, patiently.

for their turn. for if they all bloomed at once,

the world wouldn't know what to do.

art by sandra words by courtney

For all the dreamers

For all the dreamers

You've got your head in the clouds

You're so unfocused

Why can't you sit still?

You can't finish a project

Pay attention!

Not everyone who wants to be famous becomes famous

Dreams happen, but not to you

If you drop out of school, you will be nothing

Your dreams are too big

You're a fool

You have an Insatiable appetite for excess

You're obsessed

Your energy would be better spent changing the world in a different way

Forget you!

I'm a dreamer,and I'm not letting go

You don't understand

What you don't know

I'm going to seek the art

Find the beauty

Value the truth

Make my own music

Work my ass off

Pull myself out of this mess

I'll be known

For the gift I possess   

            One day,   

                        I hope you find your own

Poetry by Courtney Hanes, Art by Sandra Moreano

This poem was inspired by the Oscar's overall, but Jared Leto's acceptance speech for supporting actor, first up, really solidified the beauty of the night; the transforming of oneself into a character to move others. It is the human experience that we all have in common which connects us, and inspires us. His speech, his character, and his story of birth to a single, teenage, dropout mother, really hits home. He paid tribute to those around the world who are living through war, disease, and poverty, and who have not let go of the dreams. Today's poem is for all the dreamers... because the only way to continue to dream is to insist that those dreams are stronger than those who 

Daniella's Wedding Photos have arrived!

May 30, 2015  Buffalo, NY

Wahler's on the left and Moreano's on the right.

The Moreano's

Our extended Moreano Family.

Alex, Buster, Cleo, Jean, Erica, Keir, Natalie, Sandra, Lucas, Jody

Walking down the aisle with Dad

Corey Waits for his bride.

Colette rehearsing with Jett

Colette lets go of the leash!

Jett is free but not for long!

Giving away the bride.

The ceremony

Vows

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Wahler!

So proud of the new couple!

Let the party begin!

Alex tells a good joke 

Alex welcomes everyone in to the family

The Wahlers are rejoicing

Corey's dad celebrates

Corey's parents feeling proud

The O'conner's!

Daniella, Emily and baby Eamon in da belly!

A sweet night!