Lucky in Love

I made this mandala for Inke, who asked me to make her a good luck / love mandala.

I never did this before but it wasn't hard to think of something.

In the middle (click to enlarge) I collected all kinds of lucky symbols, like hearts, a ladybug, a scarab, a four leaf clover etc.

Then the iridescent blue circle, no idea where that came from, but I like it.

Then a green circle with 4 four leaf clovers.

Then a circle of red hearts symbolizing never ending love.

Lotus petals and red hearts.

Inke I hope this mandala brings you what you expect it will ........ you certainly deserve the best in life! Good Luck and lots of ♥.

KJ's mandala

This birth mandala I made for KJ as a present for my visit to P-town.

In my birth mandalas I always include an animal.

For KJ's I chose the grasshopper.

As I had never used this animal before I looked up it's symbolic meaning after I painted the mandala and I was so pleased this matched KJ so perfectly (in my eyes).

What do you think?

The grasshopper moves to its own rhythm and tune, indicating this creature is a advocate of intuition and listening to our inner voices. The grasshopper encourages us to listen to our own stirrings – those beautiful chirping lullaby’s that sing in our hearts are indications of our inner beauty and creativity. The grasshopper totem reminds us these inner musings must never be silenced – rather, they should be nurtured, and always remain as the background music to the performance of our lives.

As with most insect totems, the grasshopper keeps itself to the ground. As such, this is a grounding totem, and the grasshopper can teach us stability, patience, security, and solidarity.

The grasshopper chooses those of us who are innovators, forward-thinkers, and those who progress in life by unorthodox methods. This is because grasshopper symbolism recognizes tremendous leaps of faith, impressive jumps in progress and consistent forward momentum. Those with this totem are likely to aim high, and achieve amazing feats – they take great leaps where others fear to tread (or jump, in this case).

Another special feature of the grasshopper totem is that it calls to those who have natural clairvoyant abilities. Just as the grasshopper uses thousands of tiny eyes to formulate the “big picture” so too do those whom the grasshopper is called. In other words, those with this totem are visionaries. They see things intuitively, seeing beyond what the concrete world holds, and they use this special vision to see the world with a childlike wonder.

We can call upon the grasshopper when we need a sense of adventure in our lives. When we feel stuck in a rut, the grasshopper can bounce us into magical viridian worlds filled awe and joy.

The grasshopper can also help us when we need a little creative inspiration. If muses kept pets – the grasshopper would certainly be a first choice.

Happy Birthday Marja!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Marja!

Today Marja will drive to France after her son Nick will get his "bul " (=degree ?) from the University!

What a present!

Double congratulations!!!!

The 7th of September we will meet and celebrate her birthday........

This mandala was last year's present

In the meanwhile enjoy the ceremony, enjoy your birthday!!!!!

And drive safe!

Don't forget to go over and wish Marja a happy 50 (!!!!) birthday!

♥ you dear!

Happy Birthday!!

Thankful Thursday

This bag I got from Marja filled to the brim with French Goodies! Once the goodies were out another goody inspected the bag........ After the picture I put the bag in a save place ;)

In Tiverton I found this rainbow maker! just 2 minutes after I placed my order to the cosmos! Can tell you how happy I am with this gadget. Spook inspected the spinning crystal and then posed for me......

French delicious gifts. Pink garlic, Laurier leaves from Marja's garden Olive oil books and a red wine ;)

Myrthe came for Lars but had some birthday gifts for me as well! A bag from Susan Bijl my favorite magazine wonderful showercream and a stick to do footreflexology with a map.

This gorgeous box I got from Lo. It was a welcome gift in my room. Filled with sweet gifts:) I love the box!

This beautiful book I got from KJ . A treasure to remember my trip to P-town. So much to be thankful for! That my trip went well to NY, RI and P-town. That Felix had a good time. We were lucky with the weather. We forgot clothes in our hotel and got them back. Felix forgot his shoes in a shop and they were still there waiting for him after 15 minutes. Emma and Bliss wanted to be friends with us. We met Stella and she was doing better after her operation. Felix got to see a baseball game and became fan for life of the Paw Sox! That Felix and Brian became such good buddies. I met KJ and JB. And I finally had that glass of wine together with Lolo! Now I am in Singapore and tonight I will fly home and spend some time home with the family. The kids still have one week before their school begins. Life is good! Hope you have a lot to be thankful for!

NY RI and P-Town part IV / Animal Wednesday

Dog treats.......

What is a holiday without any animals around to pet?!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

NY RI and P-Town part III / Cactus Monday

On our way to the Brooklyn Bridge we found this cactus garden in NY.

If you can find just about anything in NY why not a cactus?!

(found in the Museum of Natural History)

Happy Cactus Monday!

NY RI and P-Town part I

Here is part I of my USA trip

Just pictures in random order....

From the Rock.....

Skyscrapers

the Met

The bridge

The cube

The diner

The bite

The V

F A O

the statue

The MONH

The hotel

A view

The stock exchange

Trouble is my middle name......

The subway

The heroes

The Guggenheim

The Empire State

Ground Zero

NYPD

We thought you must have done something wrong if they let you drive this one.....

It was a magical trip. We saw and walked a lot.

We had fun.

We met our wonderful friends and made new ones.

It was special!

NY RI and P-Town part II

Home again after a roller coaster whirlwind cannonball visit to NY RI and P -town.

Will show the NY pictures later but I know a lot of you are curious about my visit to Lo and KJ, so I start with those.

I finally met Lo after being blog friends for 2 years.

Well and it was beyond magic!

Lo has been busy on a painting for me which was unveiled the night I came to RI

. Read more in Lolo's post!

Isn't it the most perfect Frida you have ever seen?!

Be still my heart..................

Can you believe this painting took my breath away and touched me right there where I am holding my hand.

Finally hugging for real ♥

Felix in his Paw Sox outfit he got from Lo and Brian.

Big buddies watching the game! Felix is a Paw Sox fan forever......

Fries will never be the same after beer battered fries!

A healthy delicious meal for Lo

And finally we had this wine together after talking 2 years about it!

Felix in love with Emma (and I this it was mutual)

More welcome gifts.............

Gifts for KJ, oops we are in P-town already...................

KJ with one of Lolo's birthday gifts.

JB with her gifts (more about that later...)

Most delicious lobster ever!

Our noses

Zinnia's.........ahhhhhhh will I ever have them in my garden?

So much to see!

Can't help it but the order of all these pictures are a bit mixed up......... I think blogger should invent an easier way to upload them......... Well here are Liz, a sweet friend of KJ's , Felix and JB.

Wonderful town

Friends!

Friendship

Wonderful shops and galleries

P-town

( more about our visit at KJ's blog )

My mandala framed in such a artistic way!

Felix and Stella

Back in RI again........where the next day we had to say goodbye to Emma

Had to say goodbye to Frida....(see you soon dear!)

and our lovely room with gorgeous flowers.

and Bliss of course

Bye Emma we will miss you!

Felix was happy and exhausted and so was I.

Well what can I say?!

How can express how this trip was? Meeting Lo, KJ and JB?!

I just think I can't properly.

It was magical. A special experience I will never forget.

Much too short!

Have to do it again! (like that idea better then goodbyes!) Maybe Chicago? And I take Marja along?

In the train from New York I told Felix:

Isn't it funny, we are going to meet people we haven't met before but who are already our friends.

And it was the truth!

My...........what an experience!

We all held this one and placed it in the rock garden. Hope I will see it again one day........with all of you there again.