Altered Ego

Ok,so today I get to be "Queen For a Day"...well, maybe queen for an hour. I have always had a fascination with collage and altered art. Add to that a love for tag art and voila: altered Me! I especially love the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that is emblazoned across my waist..."What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us". So true, so true. Do you suppose it also took Emerson 50 years to come to this conclusion? So here is the truth - you cannot change the past and the future never arrives. There is only ever today.....Live it like a cello-playing, flower-picking, courageous, happy Butterfly Queen!!!
(PS. I play the piano, not the cello.)

Napoleon, the Wood Duck

About a quarter mile from our home is a small park with a large duck pond. All year long this pond is inhabited by a flock of non-migrating mallards, 3 Pekin ducks, and one lonely little wood duck.
I first noticed Napoleon, the wood duck, last year. He is much slighter than his compatriots with a noticeably squeaky quack. What impressed me so much about this little fellow was how desperately he tries to blend in with the rest of the gang. Most of his day is spent tirelessly paddling in double-time to catch up to the rest; only to be once again left behind when they change direction. On occasion he can be seen trying in vain to bully the others. Sadly, though, no one seems to take him seriously. This whole scene was not unlike ones that I have witnessed on playgrounds....one child desperately seeking "friend". How many bullies are really only lonely, insecure souls?

Welcome!

A sudden flash of inspiration upon retiring last night led to a mild case of insomnia and new ideas that wove their threads through the fabric of my dreams. I took my copy of Artful Blogging to bed with me and entered a beautiful new world of self-expression. I have been blogging for almost a year now. Up to the point, blogging has been more like show and tell. I think I am ready for the next level. What I want to share with you is this.... a combination of my creative endeavors and the amazing inspiration that this world offers to me. I would like to journey down the road of self expression through that which I am passionate about.

Sew.....what am I passionate about? So many things!....my husband, my children, my friends, my animals, nature and this big beautiful world around us, my sewing (aprons of course!!), quilting, rubberstamping and altered art, writing, photography, gardening, cooking.

A word about the title: The words for the title came to me as I fell asleep. Not wishing to disturb my dear husband's slumber, I chose not to turn on the light and find the implements to write them down. Afraid that I might forget the idea by morning, I opened the drawer to my nightside stand...knowing that seeing something out of place the next morning would jog my memory. I used the word "sew" for obvious reasons and "fourth" instead of forth because this is my fourth attempt at blogging.

I have entered the second half of my life (yes, I am going to live to be 100, God willing). It is my hope that I can express my love for my family and friends thru creativity. This blog is my gift to you.