Vincent Van Gogh * Sunflowers at Arles * Almond Blossoms at Saint Remy - 02/28/08 04:01 PM
Van Gogh sold but one painting while alive, of over 1000 drawings and 600 paintings. However in his varied career, he was commissioned early on to draw street scenes and paint portraits.

Sunflowers, c.1888 Art Printvan Gogh, VincentImpressionism Van Gogh Affordable Prints
At first dark sombre pieces, his studies developed a brighter style of painting.  In Paris 1886, connecting with impressionism Van Gogh was also influenced by the post impressionists, eager to learn and develop. Among the associations were Gaugin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Emile Bernard, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Signac.
 

 
Almond Branches in … (10 comments)

African American Dance Art * Laverne Ross * LIVING SPACES Staging & Interior Design Kelowna - 02/28/08 01:25 PM
A LITTLE ART AWARENESS
Researching dance art five years ago, I stumbled upon  this amazing piece by Laverne Ross. For me it was a breath-taking awakening into the world of African American Art.
There is a tone in this field of art that is distinctly descriptive in a way difficult to put words to. It achieves what art is designed to. It is emotive, appealing to the senses and emotion. Successfully delivered art can be challenging to describe.
Angel WingsRoss, LaverneAffordable African American Art Prints
Being an artist, I know that quality art arrives on the canvas, or in my case in clay, from the … (20 comments)

Part 3 * Restore The Earth * Recipe For Garden Gold - 02/27/08 12:09 AM
RESTORE THE EARTH * PART 1 * PART 2 * PART 4
WOW! I'm so impressed with your eagerness to compost! I am trying to make this as simple as possible. Part of the confusion is information that complicates a simple natural procedure.
CREATING GARDEN GOLD
What To Put Into Your Compost:
kitchen waste excluding animal products coffee grounds promote breakdown - some cafe's are more than happy to give you their grounds yard waste - tough sunflower or corn stalks will break down easier if you first break them up leaves & grass clippings - these will clump, so mix with other materials Precautions
wear gloves … (34 comments)

MAGICAL GEM Of A POST * Six Degrees To Maya Angelou - 02/24/08 10:02 PM

 
Breaking with the theme a bit of 'AR Hidden Gems' posts instituted by Melissa Grant, featuring members, this is an aside to a post by Carole Provenzale .
I'd barely been on Active Rain finding my way around when I thought of all the posts I missed that came before me. So I went digging back and found this 2 months after it had been released.
This post has stayed with me as no other has. The unfolding of this gem created a sensation of opening in my psyche to the magic of the dynamic connection between us all. I highly recommend the reading of it.
 
… (18 comments)

Buddhist Temple Kelowna * Yitung * Interview with Master Xhing Ru * part 2 - 02/23/08 08:34 PM
Talks With Xhing Ru
What Do We Need? Interview part 1 Master Xhing Ru, along with her associate Xhing Hai came to Canada in 1995. Wanting to work with Canadians and learn western ways, they first lived in White Rock BC, a beautiful seaside location.
Soon White Rock became "..too 'Chinese'", says Ru, with many associations of that persuasion. Zhing Ru wanted to learn Canadian customs, so then moved to Richmond - we know of course of the influx of Chinese there.
"I want to learn Canadian, western ways. .. can't with so many Chinese - too many!" she exclaimed, shrugging shoulders draped in the gray robe. "Canadians … (8 comments)

Spring Redecorating * Color It Fresh * LIVING SPACES * Kelowna Decorator Stager - 02/23/08 05:45 PM
Spring is approaching! A wonderful way over the last bit of winter doldrums before spring gardening time actually arrives, is the cleaning out and refreshing of home interiors. Thoughts begin to turn toward cheery colors, accents, painting and redecorating.
Meadow Suite I Art Print
Novak, Shirley
Affordable Art Prints

Along with these inspirations also some questions arise as to how to pull it off. Often simple changes can make a big difference:
Cushion toppers and table linens in fresh colors that make you happySlipcovering furniture is an old tradition for creating a separate look for summer and winterNew art pieces featuring … (18 comments)

Spring Staging * LIVING SPACES * Kelowna Home Selling - 02/23/08 05:36 PM
January and February is when home sellers begin thinking of listing their homes for spring sale. It's a time for also readying the property for the market.
March is now quickly nearing!
Perhaps the property has been on the market for some time. The local Okanagan and Kelowna market has become very competitive in the strength of recent years. It has also meant that extra efforts need be established to get to the head of the pack.
Meadow Suite II Art Print
Novak, Shirley
Buy Affordable Art Prints
The right time to stage is before listing.
Property Presentation (staging) is … (2 comments)

Criticism * Don't Throw Out The Whole Package * Wisdom Is Knowing What To Overlook - 02/21/08 03:29 PM
Things show up in the oddest (right) places. 
Stewing over a slight I was feeling as I went out the door for my walk this morning, I was unable to even decide what course to walk. I ended up going an entirely different way than usual, feeling indecisive.

 
Passing the cold storage warehouse, I went in to buy some apples and pears. Checking out, I noticed the chalkboard behind the counter, written on it were these words .....
..."Wisdom is Knowing What To Overlook" - my words for the day.
I paid an associate a compliment. Thinking I was speaking encouragment, she took it to mean something entirely … (14 comments)

Light Offerings * Yitung Temple Kelowna - 02/19/08 01:01 AM
The February full moon signals the final celebration of 4 weeks of Chinese New Year. At Yitung Temple the ceremony took place Sunday.
The Chinese New Year Celebrations make so much sense relating to intention, clearing out, making way for new things. The 4 weeks offers good time for evaluation and reflection of priorities and desired intentions. 
Light Offerings 
a significant part of the service, the candlelight symbolizes  enlightenment.  Buddha taught that all are enlightened needing only to find and nurture the divine life within. each person lit their candle from the large gold one on the altar then, returning to the altar offered a personal wish (intention), placing the burning candles on the altar … (2 comments)

Part 2 * Restore The Earth * Compost Your Kitchen Waste - 02/18/08 01:23 AM
PART TWO   *  (Part One)  'Restore The Earth....' (P Three)  (P Four)
YAY FOR COMPOST!! It's another sunshiny Okanagan morning.
The earth really is so very wise all on its own - it does everything right.
I said composting is easy - and it is - there are things that need to be understood to achieve success - or remain in the mystery of compost failure. So a few more preliminaries first. 
All we need to do is learn is how the earth does it best. The biggest frustration I find is that people see it as a big 'mystery'
"Well I put the stuff … (28 comments)

Kelowna Home Staging * Art In Modern Interiors * LIVING SPACES - 02/16/08 10:59 PM
Art is subjective. It is can be difficult to choose it objectively. Art tends to have a strong emotional impact. It appeals to the creative right brain.  That's a great thing when selecting it for personal use and enjoyment.
The left brain relates to art by trying to quantify and qualify, it seeks to make a logical decision about it. We need to balance left and right brain processes when selecting art for staging. It isn't the usual way we buy art, so can feel somewhat alien making a 'logical' decision where an emotive one is the usual criteria. (Sorry! but it's why A-types tend to need creatives to help them - … (14 comments)

Three Minutes Of Intimacy * Kelowna Dance Cafe - 02/14/08 03:29 PM
I wrote this analogy of the brief intimacy of dance encounters - now I feel shy releasing it!
My date was a wavy-haired blond blue-eyed Hamburg-born Canadian - A 'Hamburger', he called himself! Driving the 4 hr drive from Vancouver to Kelowna in his black Corvette, we were meeting for dinner. I left work this blazing summer evening directly to the lakeside restaurant.
This was the perfect date on a perfect summer evening.
Waning light of dusk replaced the hot sun with a balmy breeze that was a breathy kiss on bare shoulders. Walking after dinner, with firm confidence he took my … (19 comments)

Restore The Earth - Compost Your Kitchen Waste - 02/12/08 02:12 PM
PART ONE     (P TWO)  (P Three)  (P Four) Sunshine and the thaw of the mild temperatures had me thinking spring and compost already this morning! 
I love compost - people used to think I was a little nuts when I'd give them a tour of my yard and gardens - then the compost bins! 
When you collect all your kitchen waste separately from the garbage that gets thrown out, you truly get to see what it amounts to. I live alone downtown and fortunately take part in the Kelowna Community Gardens. My waste is put into one of those plastic salad bins that you buy organic greens … (28 comments)

Kelowna Women Midlife Wisdom Support Meditation Group - 02/09/08 11:42 AM
Monday Meditations are now open to everyone - 7pm Mondays.  

If you are a woman at midlife, there is no question that there are adjustments required to improve the quality of life and health at this time. 
While there is increased awareness and helpful information, it can be difficult to access needed support. Solid Professional assistance can be lacking in knowledge and understanding of progressive integrative medicine & what is truly helpful. 
Each woman must find her way - a time to call deeply into our own inner wisdom. For some the transition is a lonely journey.
Let's join our strengths together!
 
A longing for … (16 comments)

Interview with Master Xhing Ru ~ part 1 ~ Yitung Buddhist Temple Kelowna - 02/02/08 02:20 PM
 
A girl of 10 in Taiwan, Ru met with a deeply saddening disappointment of separation that was to impact her life. From a classroom of 45 students, classes of 5 were created, separating her from her wonderful friend. The only girl in a family with 4 brothers, she felt alone. Now she was alone again. There was no other opportunity to be with her friend again.
The disconnection from her one girl friend so affected her, that she "..became quiet...", hardly speaking for the following 15 years. She wanted 'forever' - always to be with her friend - always to be connected. 
"What is forever? Who can … (6 comments)

KELOWNA BUDDHIST TEMPLE * Master Xhing Ru on What Do We Need? - 02/01/08 11:08 AM
It was my first discussion of any length with Xhing Ru. We had previously greeted one another with 'O mi to fo' and hello many times. A cheery and wise woman, trained in Pureland Zen.
At the end she related a marvelous parable. (speaking in her charming Taiwanese Mandarine dialect)
 
"I come here and go into a room. Ah, the room is nice, big, lots and lots of space! I like it! I stay here. Then everyday I go and bring one thing. In one month I have 30 things in the room.
Now the room is small! I want a new room.
I take a shower. Then I need a towel. … (8 comments)

 

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