Thursday, March 24, 2016

Monday, March 21, 2016

A song for the South China Sea


Art by Sandra Moreano and Words by Courtney Hanes

We now sing
of a love that binds
an altered course
sinking the hate
on an anchor of pain
through mist
until they meet again

Friday, March 18, 2016

The greatest love story

The greatest love story
is like
fresh purple grapes
on a February day
dripping with taste
  sometimes in hast
(that's how you learn).

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

I glamorize

I glamorize the Alaskan Frontier, 
but wonder if I’d ever have the guts 

to kill and prepare the animals  I eat every single day 

Sunday, March 13, 2016

A nod to Shel Silverstein




It is

It is a heart-warming experience
to borrow a book from a man 
who loves his mother
and listen to a sweet six year old 
read about a tree that lives
to give
and gives to live. 

It leaves one feeling 
lucky for the shepherd
who served his time,
found a boat,
and sailed back to build a home
with wood 
from a tree he carved himself. 

We are the tree that 
gives to live,
and lives to give. 

So be it, so be it. 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Some are better prepared


some are better prepared
to take
the news that rattles and
spooks without warning
with no time to duck, cover, or
hold on for dear life.

some are better prepared
to let
it wash over their bodies and
face. clean. like a fresh start.
or a new flower, growing alongside
a field of beat down weeds.

some are better prepared
to release
the nastiness and stench of a thing
that they did not ask for, 
and are forever questioning.

some are better prepared
to close their eyes to betrayal
that knocked on the door and let itself in
with a secret key. secrets love company.

some are better prepared

indeed.

Poem by Courtney Hanes are by Sandra Moreano

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Calf on Hollow Road



I know he is a new calf
too weak to walk alone
who only wants a teat
to suck
and
to be nurtured and loved,
but it's growing cold
and I've got places to go
and I'm afraid that
if I stay to love him,
he'll die anyway
and
I'll be left alone.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Contemplation


The combination of observation along with love--not with resistance, judgment, analysis, or labeling--just observation with love and reverence, is probably the best definition of contemplation.                      Richard Rhor

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching


When we become more at ease with all the intensity that flows through our being, we find that we can remain present with what's happening. In this way we build proof that we can endure and even welcome all that life presents, one moment at a time.

                            "The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching by William and Nancy Martin.


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Words Escape Me


Words

Words escape me
because
the super moon
has swallowed
them
whole

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Measuring the Invisible


I've had this comic in the making for years now. This idea that we can not measure our subjective experiences brought me to a spiritual awakening. I always believed that we lived in a material world that operated on principles of science. More recently I have come to believe that human life also operates on the invisible things that defy measurement.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Time



Time lapses with light,
which retires and
brings new days
it will not remember the dirty heat,
or the chains which some bear,
     for it is too in love with living
     to feel anything but divine strength,
so
drink it up because that
is the essence in which we travel,
in which we are traveled.

Words By Courtney Hanes and Art by Sandra Moreano

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The Kiss




Your slime and moisture
will mix
in a 
science of ancient beauty
wrapped up in stars,
an Egyptian Milky Way
of crevasses and 
arms. 

Words by Courtney Hanes and Art by Sandra Moreano

Monday, February 1, 2016

As a Girl


As a girl

she picked daisies
happily lost in magical
landscapes of green 
streaked with birds 
and their worms
     but 
when she 
became a woman 
she moved to the city 
sprinkled with
skyscrapers and 
mocha dreams
and traded in 
her horse for 
an old 
model Porsche 
that
sped her away
     leaving behind 
more than 
dusty corridors 
and 

hay

Words by Courtney Hanes   Art by Sandra Moreano

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Berkeley

I like you
for what you
reveal
and what you
conceal.

Words by Courtney
Art by Sandra Moreano

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Inheriting a Marriage



I inherited their marriage,
though (I’m certain) that was not
                     their intention.

She whispered to me often,
    “Do not go gentle into that altered night.
    Like fins in an algae covered net
    you too
             will be trapped.”

Decades later
with different jewels
he forgot the jaded rules
and rubbed his
palms
(already smooth)
along the hardened pew.

She laughed at him and screamed,
"That's not my name!
The mirror belongs to no one!
The winter is full of frozen water, not ice!"

They became
compassionate strangers
with four working hands
but their
voices no longer matched
the ones they heard before.

They stood like wood
rotten from the inside.

They swam like fish upstream.

              They pretended to be   the people
                     that others wanted them to be.


Friday, January 8, 2016

The Soul's Garden





Art by Sandra Moreano                                            Poetry by Courtney Hanes.

The soul's garden reveals when it is full of grief or love,
unable to hide in the shadows, 
open like a mystic's eye 
that even when closed knows how to see. 
Time always lapses with light, 
which retires and brings a new day.
It will not remember the dirty heat, 
or the chains which some bear. 
It is too in love with living 
to feel anything but divine strength. 
Drink it up 
because that is the essence in which we travel,
in which we are traveled.  


Monday, December 28, 2015

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.


Sunday, December 27, 2015

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.





Thursday, December 24, 2015

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'

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

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. 



Roar by Katy Perry


Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves


I'll Take You There by The Staples Singers


Bitch by Meredith Brooks

Part of Me by Katy Perry

32 Flavors by Alana Davis

Love Me by Katy Perry


Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine


Try by Colbie Caillat

F**kin' Perfect by P!nk


Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani


Wide Awake by Katy Perry




Nina Simone Feeling Good


She Walks in Beauty by Mediaeval Baebes


Hagia Sophia by Irfan



Dringo Bell by Mediaeval Baebes

Alkonyvarazs by The Moon & the Nightspirit


Donacreitun by Gary Stadler

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


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


Walpurgisnacht by Faun

Come My Sweet by Mediaeval Baebes


Oyneng Yar by Faun



Sing to the Mountain by Elephant Revival


Drive by Incubus

Roar by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

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


Monday, December 21, 2015

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

Monday, December 14, 2015

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.



Thursday, December 10, 2015

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.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

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

Thursday, November 19, 2015

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


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Best in Self




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

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

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

Thursday, October 22, 2015

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

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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.......

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

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