Just Knitting in between life moments

I have been knitting it seems my whole life ...

I learned when I was just a little girl

from two very special little senior ladies.

It seems to be the constant I carry with me

in between my life moments,

whenever I need to slow myself down,

grab a minute of creativity,

calm myself down during a stressful time,

knitting has always been the friend I bring along with me.

Moments of sitting with my parents,

through their illnesses and life journey,

laughing with my sister and trying a new pattern together,

knitting baby booties for precious newborn feet,

learning a new stitch

and 

trying my hand at lace shawls,

and I can't not mention

the wonderful pairs of socks I have knit

over the years.

Knitting is the "new yoga" they say,

well I call it

"calmness on two needles"

I have worked out many problems

while knitting,

calmed my heart and fears,

and found myself in a 

sincere state of zen

while holding my needles in my hands.

I am enjoying my latest project,

The Holden Lace Shawl

and it is really turning out beautifully!

I am using a natural grey yarn from my

favorite yarn company

Green Mountain Spinnery

and taking my time to just

enjoy the knitting process,

I'm in no hurry to finish it.

How I love the feel of the yarn in my hands,

and as the shawl continues to progress,

how I love the feeling in my lap

while I am knitting.

So right now I have been knitting

between Annabelle's sweet naptime,

another precious life moment.

I am already thinking about what I can

knit for my sweet grand daughter 

hmmmm........

Wishing you sweet moments in your walk of life,

happiness at every turn,

creative moments whenever you can grab them,

and 

love, hugs and wishes

for a beautiful life!

Donna Lee

On Becoming a Grandmommy . . .

My precious Annabelle Lily Wynn

How did I know my life would change

in the blink of her birth?

You hear the news about a baby coming into your life,

wait for quite awhile to see her growing

inside her mommy's belly,

you get the call that "It's time"

you wait anxiously at the hospital

with other family members

and then

you hear the precious lullaby song

playing on the loud speaker!

An overwhelming sense of happiness showers you

and that moment

when you get to hold her in your arms

for the very first time ... WOW

October 4, 2014

Well my precious girl is over 7 months old now

and our lives have changed truly

for the better.

So many beautiful moments to treasure,

and seeing her develop

and become more aware of her world,

communicate and smile

is beyond any words to describe it.
She is cautious, beautiful, a thinker,
intentional and bright.
She is seeing the world and
truly taking it all in right now!

I have found way deep within myself

a love I didn't know was even there

or that I was capable of giving,

but it is there, trust me.
How I love the name "Grandmommy"

I can't wait to see her walking and talking,

and running to her Grandmommy!

I can't wait to teach her all the things

I want her to learn from me.

For now, we will just dabble with

some paints and brushes

and see what we come up with!

Ten Thoughts on a Wednesday

Ten Thoughts on a Wednesday

Beauty can be found everywhere ... if only you will look

Friendships are lasting treasures ... you must always nurture them

Poetry soothes a restless heart ... take the time to write or read it

Spring is a time for renewal ... in nature and in one's soul

You can't do it all ... so choose your steps wisely

We must choose to be happy ... for it is a state of mind

We all have a message to share ... what is yours?

Candlelight is beautiful ... take the time to enjoy it

Our homes are our safe sanctuary ... stay home and enjoy it

Be at peace with yourself ... and you will be with others

Have a beautiful day

and always look for the good in this life!

It's the Simple Things

Welcome 

I did just return from a precious weekend

at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

now celebrating 

41 years!

I have been coming for over 20 years

and each year I take away something new

that I have learned.

This year the idea of Simplicity

kept coming to mind

for it is truly the simple things

that matter,

that are sweet,

that keep us wanting less not more.

I am always reminded here at the festival,

that doing things for the joy of it,

is important to the soul.

Obviously the shepherds think this way,

for they are truly living a simpler life,

taking care of their flock,

living humbly

and loving their animals.

The weaver is enjoying the yarn that is produced

from these precious animals,

the spinners love to take the time

to spin their own yarns, 

(not buy them from a yarn manufacturer)

to create works of sincere beauty.

The artists love to produce beauty

in their handcrafted art,

the dulcimer music I hear playing

 is reminding me of softer times,

taking the time to appreciate the good in life,

even in playing a handcrafted dulcimer.

There is so much here at the festival

to remind me

to just slow down

appreciate the simple things in life,

put the cell phone away,

create with my hands,

wear something hand knit by me,

that took gentle slow hours to create.

I have returned home with a freshness,

lots of precious treasures,

and heirloom tomato plants

I can't wait to plant in the garden.

I am grateful that I get to travel

to this festival every year,

it is a tradition for me,

it is a soulful renewal for my spirit.

Here are a few pics to share ....

Booths full of yarn treasures!

Spinning right from the Angora Bunny! 

My favorite booth of all ... Kiparoo Farm!

Yarn Bombing was everywhere! 

Sheep to Shawl Competition!

My favorite time is seeing the sheep in the barns! 

How I love to watch little ones with the animals!

Just taking it all in!

Fiber Heaven!

Heading to the Sheep and Wool Festival!

How I love sheepies!

Well I am headed to the

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

again this year!

Every year on the first weekend in May,

I head myself to West Friendship, Maryland

to the Howard County Fairgrounds

for an amazing weekend

full of Sheep, yarn, shopping,

fellowship, celtic music,

more shopping, knitting,

yummy foods,

sheep shearing,

sheep dog trials,

more shopping,

exhibits

and so much inspiration.

I look forward to this festival every year

and this year, for just one moment,

I thought maybe I wouldn't go this year.

I truly have attended for over twenty five years,

and I couldn't bring myself to miss it this year.

I always enjoy the experience

and come home so inspired to

weave a little bit more,

pick up my knitting needles again

and come home with

so many adorable sheep photos!

This year I plan to carry my pocket

watercolors and sketchbook,

I want to come home with some

mini paintings!

Traditions are always good,

we learn to count on them.

Time away is always a good thing

and re-connecting with fiber friends 

that I haven't seen in a year,

is always so special!

This festival is good for my creative soul,

I need it

what was I thinking when I said I might not go this year?????

So off I go!

Perhaps I will share some fun photos

next week,

right here ... same time ... next Wednesday!

Donna Lee

(aka weaver, knitter, spinner, sheep lover)

Slowing down with Self

"I love and respect myself as I am"

I have been thinking a lot about these words lately ...

I created this mixed media mandala

while participating in an online course

with Louise Gale.

I have learned so many techniques and ideas

for creating my mandalas

and I can't believe we are already on week three,

with just one more to go.

As I was creating this artwork,

this affirmation was included

from a bunch Louise had shared with us,

I chose this one,

it spoke to me loudly!

It is so hard these days 

to love and respect ourselves,

just as we are.

The world says we have to be ...

thinner, prettier, talented, richer, better, achievers

and so much more.

I am trying so hard

to slow life down just a bit,

to center my life around

what IS, not what IF's.

Appreciating the gift of my family,

my faith, friendships, my written words and poetry,

my artwork.

I am learning to believe in myself

and the woman I have become

and the person I truly am

right here and right now.

This isn't always an easy thing to do!

Life certainly carries it's challenges along the way.

For now I will quiet my heart and mind,

concentrate on what is

and appreciate what life has brought me.

Loving and Respecting myself all the while.

I truly love how art and life

are mingled together so beautifully.

I am grateful for this teaching moment

I had this week

and grateful for creative moments

in my studio,

one of my most favorite places to be!

Donna Lee

A Poem in my Pocket . . .

This is National Poetry Month

where we celebrate 

the gift of the poetic verse.

I am in love with poetry,

reading it, writing it, sharing it and teaching it!

I am always wanting to lead others to it.

Tomorrow April 17, 2014

is

Poem in Your Pocket Day!

It is where you choose a meaningful poem

carry it in your pocket all day long

and share it out loud

with as many people as you can,

sharing the gift of poetry.

I am so excited that it is tomorrow

and I can share it also with

my Senior Adult Writing Group!

I chose the poem

"Now I Become Myself"

by May Sarton

somehow these words feel perfect

for tomorrow,

so today I decided to share it with YOU!

Now I Become Myself

by

May Sarton

Now I become myself.  It's taken time,

many years and places;

I have been dissolved and shaken,

worn other people's faces,

Run madly, as if time were there,

terribly old, crying a warning

"Hurry, you will be dead before ---"

What? Before you reach the morning?

Or the end of the poem is clear

Or love safe in the walled city

Now to stand still, to be here,

Feel my own weight and density!

The black shadow on the paper

is my hand; the shadow of a word

as thought shapes the shaper

falls heavy on the page, is heard

all fuses now, falls into place

from wish to action,

word to silence,

my work, my love, my time, my face

gathered into one intense

gesture of growing like a plant

as slowly as the ripening fruit

fertile, detached and always spent,

falls but does not exhaust the root,

so all the poem is, can give

grows in me to become the song,

made so and rooted by love.

Now there is time and time is young

O, in this single hour I live

all of myself and do not move

I, the pursued, who madly ran

Stand still, stand still and stop the sun!

Little Donna Lee
Becoming Herself

It's not too late to gather up

just one poem

and put it in your pocket for tomorrow.

May your day be filled 

with happiness and all good things

Treasure what already is in your life!

Puzzled Thoughts

Imagine a Dream

My latest purchase from the Museum Gift Shop

My in laws have gotten me

hooked on puzzles!

Whenever we travel to 

Williamston, North Carolina

there is always a puzzle on the dining room table.

As we pass by the table,

we all add a piece here and there.

Laughing and celebrating when

just one piece is fitting into the puzzle!

I have come to really enjoy my own puzzles.

I love the time spent quietly fitting the pieces together,

relaxing and enjoying the process.

Sometimes it takes me weeks to figure it all out

and I find myself wondering

why in the world do I keep at it?

I don't have an answer,

I know it is good to keep my mind active.
Besides I like breaking away from my art table
every now and then,
I return to it refreshed and ready!

I find myself 

putting in a piece here and there

in the early morning hours,

with a fresh cup of coffee near by.

They have become a familiar friend to me.

Puzzles keep me intrigued and thinking

They work the mind with reasoning.

I need that for sure!

I know I have been able to work out

lots of thoughts in my head

just by working a puzzle.

It is good for one's soul,

just working in creative play.

I began putting puzzles together

because I have always been told

to keep the mind active

(for my mother had a journey with dementia)

I am determined that won't happen to me!

So the next time you find yourself

near a puzzle display at the store,

take a long look at all of the fun images

I promise you ... one will jump out at you.

Take it home and give it a try!

Break away from the computer, 

social media and your phones.

You won't be disappointed.

Donna Lee

Return to Monet

Monet Waterlillies

Modern Museum of Art

March 28, 2014

While traveling to New York City

in the year 1997

I was able to see an amazing exhibit

of 

Monet's Water Lilies

in the 

Modern Museum of Modern Art

located at 

11 West 53rd Street

I still carry the vision

of the three large paneled

original artworks

in a very quiet room,

with only a bench

to sit and take it all in.

I bought the beautiful poster of the works,

had it professionally framed

and that poster now hangs

in the hallway of my home,

a constant reminder

of the artist

I so truly love.

Before leaving for my yearly trip to New York City last week,

I made it a goal that I would get to MoMA

and I would see the Monet work of art yet again.

I just happened to check the date on the back of my framed piece,

wondering if I had recorded a date to remember that day ...

as luck would have it,

I had pasted the museum ticket on the back

dated

3-31-1997

it was a little dusty, but still there!

So this time I had Returned to Monet

almost 17 years to the day

3-28-2014

on a very rainy Thursday afternoon,

alone and eager to see the exhibit.

I will never forget how I felt

entering the same room

all these many years later

I was filled with emotion

and immediately felt tears falling down my cheek

It was as if it were waiting for me to return

after all these years!

The subtle beauty I saw in these large canvases,

the muted colors, the textured paints,

it was as if Monet were present in the room,

for I could feel his presence!

I took many pictures, 

including "selfies" along the way

and so many like this,

capturing the texture and colors

that Monet created with

I took the time to write down all that I saw,

recording all of the emotions in my journal,

and of course

being the Poet that I am

wrote a poem

entitled

"Return to Monet"

(I knew the title before I ever left home)

It was an amazing afternoon,

one I will never forget.

How extraordinary a feeling

to return to a place

you know you have been before

so long ago

yet

it was as though

no time had gone by . . .

How I love the artwork

of

Claude Monet,

his work speaks to my heart,

this encounter

touched my creative soul!

So another MoMA ticket

is placed beside the original

always a reminder,

that I had returned

once more to Monet.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 

Guiding my Seniors with Zentangle

Zentangle and Coffee!

I have been helping to guide the Seniors of 

The Creative Writing Group

at First Colonial Inn

for over two years now

and what a blessing 

they are to me!

I have written about them before!

I was asked to lead them in a Zentangle Workshop

last Thursday evening

and what fun we had together.

I taught them about the history of Zentangle,

how it relaxes the soul,

how it helps us to sort out thoughts

and applied it to our writing practice

by giving them a prompt

"I am a Writer because ..."

Something for them to ponder on

while learning their 

meditative drawing process.

We relaxed and listened to beautiful

flute music

by

Rick Roberts

(one of the creators of Zentangle)

and it was so soothing and relaxing to all of us
We used the Apprentice Tiles and Pens
and they were so delighted to be learning.

It was a most beautiful evening

and I am so proud of the residents

of First Colonial Inn.

They created beautiful works

and were so proud of their accomplishments!

Here are a few captured moments

(They are so used to me and my camera!)

They all left wanting even more!

I love this group beyond measure

they have taught me so much

about living fully every moment.

Their love, their smiles, their friendship

and

their precious written words of life memories

have touched my heart.

I am the grateful one!
Zentangle continues to teach me beautiful lessons.
How blessed I am to have found this art form
and that I get to share it with others.

Donna