"Allure"
(work in progress) mixed media 7 x 11

Worked on this new concept of mine today, good thing I am giving myself some permission to make mistakes....it is fun....been filling the studio with lots of flowers, can't help it, have no idea what kind they are but got to have them...saw the gecko today too..climbing around on my walls...frozen fruit drinks in my blender, making notes on the celebration in July, too many ideas, another beauty of a day...pool was lovely, talked to John (resident from RI)..he is moving to Panama the end of month with his adopted dog, Archie...library here looks better than last year, cushions on the chairs now, books in order, newspapers to check out, books on Costa Rica, ...looking into traveling down to Osa, the southern part, Cocovado Park. It will take some planning with my peeps whether we go by bus or fly or rent a car...so lots to think about here.

Getting comfortable in my home away from home...wine with Pat & Willy (residents) on Tuesday night...Bernarda made dinner on Friday night in my studio and we belly danced the night away with her daughter, Isabella teaching us with her bells jingling on her waist and the arms flying in the air, funny....Gaylord (poet) made chicken dinner for Vivian (artist) and I on tonight...really nice. Patricia coming Monday, no just heard Tuesday now, she wants to come down so bad, but her health puts her into a "status quo" mode..to be continued

Brugmansia/Datura

After posting in my blog today, about my favorite flower here in Costa Rica, this poem found me, literally, so I am taking it as my "muse" for the start of some wonderful paintings, of poetry, handwriting & calligraphic marks and inspiration...while they are in bloom...so cool when this happens to me. (with Lise's blessings) Listening to my intuition and experimenting. I have done some paintings of the Angel Trumpet before, but now taking it further into its intoxication.

Cloud Forest
by Lise Goett (friend I met at the artist colony last year)

The brugmansia’s slender, fluted bells proffer their deadly champagne,
their alluring, toxic flowers dangling as if they’d been gassed—
angel’s trumpet they’re called—as deadly as the single carbon

bound to oxygen you inhale, motor running. An acre of trees
for each ton of carbon load is packed up these Costa Rican steeps
by human hand, the forest canopy a lung.

You are carbon after all and to dust you shall return.
You are tired of the news, each day another hemorrhagic
wound: the drilling day, the trigger point, unctuous

plumes unfurling a Medusa’s head, a toxic gumbo spilling into dread.
On the path, by moonlight, just like you,
the ants are dismantling the jungle, leaf by leaf,

dragging it to their fire hill. Who would will their nature
or yours—your farm-fed fish, your terrerian gavage—
other than it is? They’ve been here since the start of time,

boring holes through leaves no one read.
Genius of the lazar house, petite ame bleue, how long
will your species live, the earth a spinning lazaretto?

The fleshlike bells proffer their perfume.
You are of them—their syrups of forgetfulness,
their gummy shades of night. How long will it take

to remake you, your soul no longer made of lead?
You held the handkerchief as the world danced to its demise.
The owl asks, “Who?’ You knew the answer once.

These are my favorite flower in Costa Rica, "Angel Trumpet",
the perfume is intoxicating and poisonous. Will be painting these
for sure while they are in bloom.

I am so glad it stopped raining, it is 81 degrees, just a gorgeous day, went to the "multiplaza" today with some people satyin here in the colony, Francisco took us in his huge silver pickup truck...I hat the way he drives. I have to close my eyes, the motorcycles, and people waiting to cross the street, small card darting from everywhere. Makes me sweat...or was it a hot flash?

Feeling like this is home away from home now after 5 years coming here. Drinking my papaya liquid lunch smoothie and eating ceviche...tonight Bernarda & Isabella are coming over for supper, we are making her "tica" dish of tomato soupa with avocados...and she has to check over a gift certificate I designed for her "massage" business, and then translate into Spanish.

I am settling in, art supplies are where they should be, I forgot a couple things, but will manage. Now I am waiting for the muse to take over...too much thinking. Makes me tired.

No madarin oranges yet on the tree near the pool, no bananas yet either on property that are ripe, place is full of people by the weekend, group dinner Monday night, bought beautiful orchid today for my studio, the ants have given up on crawling on my easel, after I dowsed with lysol three times, I put my string of lights on the wall in a xmas tree shape, looks cool...it is 3:30pm, and it is so still outside, no breeze...but pleasant and bright, energizing...ok

Rain....rain go away

wow, it is so green, lots of rain...raining now, I have a sweater on, it is damp for sure and my hibiscus tea is steaming, fog is rolling in between the mountains, it is nice to be back here. It's quiet, the mind, body and spirit is in balance...right now, will settle in today and work on some ideas for new series. This is not a real bird, it is a cut-out. silly...