dear God!

What is that strange light??? Panic and then joy ensued in north Texas after a brief appearance by the long lost SUN! The populace was stunned by the intensity of this burning star. Mood were lifted! Bedraggled marigolds strained to lift their sodden heads. The familiar heavy clouds want none of this. They plot their return...

Check out my Slide Show!

Today is littered with jewels.
Opals wink from deep within
forget-me-nots. Wrens clutch
rubies in their tawny feet.

I woke with tenderness
upon me like a ray of light
and breathed its irridescence
as a sweet dream recalled.

I gather pearls and sapphires
in my pockets, heartbeats
in a paper sack. All day long
I see the diamond stars that wait

for sunset as they ride the lake's
broad back. My hands hold
faceted turquoise skies
and garnet memories set in gold.

for Lily

happy boy

Here's my Will with Annie at his riding lesson. My heart fills to its brim to see my sweet boy so happy. This was a perfect June day.

I love my camera...

Almost broke my neck chasing bubbles with my camera glued to my head... but got some cool shots! It's summer and I'm photographing bubbles. So there you have it.

“Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language”

~Henry James

I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk

It's all the same damn thing...

Okay, so this just came to me. Everything is natural. Nothing is man-made. All the ingredients are already here, provided by God, Goddesses, the Big Bang or what have you... all man does is rearrange them. So... it just follows that every little thing on this planet is natural. I am so happy! No more reading labels. No more guilt. It's ALL good! Name one thing that's not organic. I dare you! God, I love a breakthrough! Now my weekend is off to a spectacular, enlightened start!

I've been working on my ETSY store http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=23439,

my website http://seadreamstudio.net/index.html

and my eBay store http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=seadreamstudio

so if you're in the neighborhood, please stop by.

Isn't it interesting how so many forces in our lives attempt to dictate or influence what we like and love? Our preferences define us, motivate us, steer our lives in every way. Well-meaning people, society, media, religion... so many things exert their power in so many ways to tell us what we should care about. Our desires and inclinations are formed by countless forces, some random, some programmed deep into our limbic systems, some cosmic perhaps... but isn't it our right to care for what we care for, to love what we love, to want what we want? I am not advocating pursuing every whim that we have, but I think we should honor this fundamental part of out psyches. I suppose it is just being true to yourself, but always we should consider our actions and how they effect others. Within that framework of decency and kindness, I feel we should be who we are.

splendiferousousness... or something like that...

Art & Jazz Fest was a wonderful event. I am so glad I was able to participate. Being among artists feeds my spirit. Amazingly the weather was perfect. I blog too much about weather, but damn!... it was just fabulous how the rains (storms, I mean) skipped around us. I could go on and on about it, but I won't. if you live in this area you know that it is nearly miraculous that this event happened under SUNNY SKIES!!
So, our tent rocked! I was honored to be among...
Sandi Dinehart~ who sponsored our tent and provided us with the use of her credit card machine, her exuberant personality and a few icy Shiner Bocks! Hugs to her and her dear hubby, a funny and kind man.
http://www.downtownmckinney.com/associations/144/data/forms/1056/Market_Square

Lisa Raymer~ My friend and former bosslady, an amazingly talented artist who can do anything
and I mean ANYTHING! She is a bundle of energy and creative ideas. Her jewely is so beautiful and unique. Check out her business... Decoupage Flooring

Kathy Kromer~ A fun and talented lady whose work is exuberant and colorful. Her painting bring smiles!! Her website is down, but you can check out her apperance on HGTV!! Impressive, Kathy! Crafts : Artists / Crafters : Mixed Media Collage : Home & Garden Television

Janet Landers~ A fine painter whose canvases range from a whimsical green horse to Tuscan landscapes. Sorry Janet-can't find anywhere to link to for your art. Rats!

And last, but not least... the very talented Manuel Sarmiento. His metal sculptures are beautiful. I would love to see him at work. His pieces are gorgeous. I would suggest you buy one or two quickly before they become utterly unaffordable. Wonderful work! Check him out here... artists.htm

Oh, and little ol' me...SeaDreamStudio.net

more later...

SHOUT OUT TO SHELLY!!!

I'll regale you all with stories of the Art & Jazz Fest a little later, but this can't wait!

So I'm at the Fest on Saturday and I met Shelly...

who , I swear to God, says to me... "I read your blog all the time." I nearly fell over. I did a quick mental replay of my posts and blushed (which I never do!) and then offered her my autograph... JUST JOSHIN'!!! It was a bit surreal to meet this seemingly normal person who actually takes the time to read my crappy blog.

So, Shelly... Thanks for stopping by and it was a delight to meet you!!! I hereby promise to attempt to make this rag-o-blog a bit more exciting. Yes, I will have to lie, but we writers like to call that fiction. Stayed tuned...

Avatar Review

My poem, still life with forced perspective, is included in the newest edition of Avatar Review . I am honored to be a part of this publication.

Click here to read... AV9 :: Dale McLain

The painting above is by Flemish artist Adriaen van Utrecht.