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!

Amen

Baby Boy has a name! His name is Eamon ( rhymes with Ramon). It is a celtic name and so he takes after his father Keir. So...

Presenting a now smiling three day old baby 

Eamon William Moreano

Please welcome him into this world!

Baby Body Grandson

My Grandson was born last night.

Who are these people?

For Pete

for pete


a good song makes us linger
on a smokey mountain road
where it's too cold to head out.
but not too cold to go.

Art is a watercolor of Mt Hood, Oregon on a foggy day.
Words are from Courtney Hanes

The Mermaid Divers of Japan

The Mermaid Divers of Japan

he sits in the boat
like he has for years,
armed with a little less stamina
and a little less fat
because he knows
this is a woman't game,
and his role a
as a loyal husband
is to wait.


Art by Sandra Moreano and Words by Courtney Hanes

This poem is based on a story from the CBS Sunday Morning about the Ama Divers of Japan. One particular woman diver highlighted was an 80 year-old grandmother. What a beautiful story of stamina and tradition. It definitely makes me want to learn more.

Anvil Rock Road

Anvil Rock Road






Songs surprise me now

I sing along, but the words are scuffed

And changed

and sad where they were once happy

And happy where they were once sad

She creeps in.






Sometimes I scream

To please leave,

Other times, I let her linger

Just above the clouds

and the ridge line

Until I'm ready to release

If I'm ready

In between tears and touch

My heart races

And retreats,

But on it beats,

on it beats

Thank God

It beats






I'm leaving some of her here

among the rocks and trees

because they'll know what to do

with her

more than I.

And I'm growing tired of her.






Tired but grateful

For the part that hovers

The sway and swallow

The revelations

and extremes






Today we found some

ground that was common

Inside our hurt and pain

And false walls and anger

And betrayal and shame

And parents, our own

The cycle of broken

Stops here

On Anvil Rock Road






A dark bird flew

While the wind blew

And cows mooed

And in that warm Arizona sun,

I left a piece of you.

For that one moment,

I was restless no more.

I smiled and cried,

I stopped keeping score.

Ruston Point

Took Rita out for a walk along Ruston Point today. The ferry was busy running back and fort to Vashon Island. Sept 6th and the gray has descended.

Getting ready to study birds

I picked up several books on birds at a nearby garage sale. So not I a
m stoked to learn more and then take a hike in search of their flight, sounds and colors.

Cowboy Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

I'm Lenore Washington

I'm



I'm a bird perched on a swing,

a ladybug wandering

while he waits

for his wings.

On a raft I float, on the moon, I gloat.

I'm on fire.

I'm a dog nestled on a brand new bed,

heading to sleep after being well fed.

I'm a lion who sunbathes in the plains and free spaces.

I bend with the wind, which blows with unannounced faces.

I'm flexible. I'm confident. I'm evening out, like a picnic blanket fresh from the line,

ready for the basket and a nice glass of wine.

I'm a grand piano happy to play.

I'm colorful in spite of the black and the white

world in which some solely see.

I sneak into living rooms and bring

my friends with me.

We make music and paint pictures

and hang them on walls

that wrap their arms around us all.

I'm here with my whole heart,

with my babies and thee.

I love living this life meant

just

for
me.

My Dream

My Dream

My dream is to wake every morning,

rested from a night of sweet slumber

Wrapped in crisp, breathable sheets

To these eyes of brown 

And the smile that melts all hearts

It is a dream 

because although I wake 

to the beauty,

it is only in pictures 

that I see the most amazing woman,

and touch the softest of skin

She is shared with the world now

Cancer took her

like she has taken us

We are still allowed to dream, 

laugh, spin, be free

I want to always remember 

the love of life through death

the fragility of it

the complete powerless vulnerability that is breath

the smell of seasons and salt, and fresh cut grass

my dream is to wake, taking all of this in

because she cannot

Now she smiles elsewhere with her healthy body 

and soulful love, always near, but never here

knowing his dream is to wake 

beside her

she follows him where he goes

Make Love (not war)

i want to buy a sticker
that says,
make love not war,
and I want to cut off
the not war part
and just have it read
make love

Garden Market

Sketching in Sumner Yesterday with the Urban Sketchers of Tacoma. Great group of people that are very supportive.