i love your art blog award

the original award creator

WHOO HOO! julie and margaret both nominated me for another award...thank so much!

there are so many blogs that i love to visit and/or read via my bloglines reader (LOVE bloglines!) and i can't possibly list all 243 of them. so, i will just say that, if you have an art blog and it is listed in my side bar....this award is for you also!

feel free to collect your award and pass it on.

spread the blog love, people ~

moral and virtue

i'm managing to stay on top of things here and finally got around to finishing my nephew's birthday gift....just need to varnish it tomorrow. the pic doesn't show it but the characters on the side borders are actually a metallic gold so they do have a lovely shine to them in reality.

Moral & Virtue for AdamAcrylics on 24"x24" gallery-wrapped canvasclick on image to enlarge

i'm officially a muse and fairy magnet......

.....because i won a magical choker/necklace over on luci's blog. YAY!!! click here to see my prize close up and read all about it's magical properties. THANK YOU, LUCI! i love it and here is a 'self-portrait' of me wearing it - i have a new admiration for all the bloggers out there who participate in the self-portrait challenge because i found it very difficult to get the camera at the right angle. maybe i should have tried a larger mirror. lol anyways, i sure hope my muse is all geared up because i'm planning on getting stuck into a few painting projects next week.

on another note, i would like to say a heartfelt thank you for all the support and kindness we have received from my blog friends on the passing of my ex-husband. it has meant a great deal to me and the kids.

family reunited

my ex-husband's funeral is now over and, while we wished it had been on a better occasion, it was wonderful to catch up with all the 'tomlinson' side of the family. they are all such beautiful, caring and loving people. the good thing that did come out of it all is that my kids got to see their two older brothers to my ex-husband's first marriage and we have all made a commitment to stay in touch.

here is a pic of my four kids with their two older brothers from their dad's first marriage -

brad is in front, greg the second eldest son is behind, then gary the eldest son, michelle, beau and reece

and a pic of me (far left) with all toro's children with gary's and greg's spouses and children also -

this is just a small part of the 'tomlinson' clan.

i had hoped my ex would reach out to his kids in his final months but, sadly, he passed leaving a lot of unfinished business and confused hearts behind him. i would like to share with you a poem that my son, reece, wrote for his dad and it pretty much sums up how his children felt. reece's poem was read out during the service and it brought tears to many eyes. i pray that all of his kids, including his two oldest sons, can all find peace and closure because it certainly hasn't been easy for them with so many mixed emotions.

Confusion hits me, as the mind seems to play
You left us standing, by ourselves far away
You were the father, our own right to claim
The feeling so empty, for my blood, my own name

A young heart mistaken, could never have known
The love and protection, those feelings below
A shield of pride, which held you so far
Broken down slowly, and leaving these scars

It’s hard to imagine, that you’ve left in this way
A man of such strength, now broken away
You are my father, which I can never let go
Holding me in your arms, and watching me grow

Time that we’ve lost, and the time that we shared
As the past races by, I now know that you cared
The moments I miss, and the moments I despise
The good times we’ve had,
only become more clear in my eyes

So now that you’ve parted,
And left us for the hereafter
I’ll always love you in my own way,
and you’ll always be my father

Your son, Reece

remembered

sorry I've been a little inactive here. my ex-husband, father to four of my children, passed away on the 12th after a six month battle with cancer. sadly, he was estranged from his kids and, while he wasn't the greatest of dads or the best of husbands, the kids and I do remember the happier times with love.

Gary (Toro) Tomlinson

8/9/47 - 12/9/08

R.I.P

do you ever get the feeling that you're being watched?

this tree overlooks our backyard from the bushland behind the fence. this is actually a termite nest and was home to a kingfisher family earlier this year. it originally had the one hole made by the kingfishers but, over the past few weeks, a second hole has appeared.....it makes me think of a face with eyes looking down at us. i like to think of it as our very own sentinel and protector.......someone to watch over us.

on another note, here are our completed tags. aaron did the green and pink ones which are yet another gift for his big sis. he chose those colours to match the little sticky-note book he made for michelle in his paper bead project. he even included his leftover paper beads in the tags. i think my tags look quite boring and bland compared to his bright and cheerful ones but don't tell him i said that or i'll never hear the end of it. lol

What Tarot card are you?

janet had this on her blog and i thought you might like to try it too. you even get a choice of what tarot deck you want to use.

You are The Hermit

Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.

The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!

Sunkissed Daisies - acrylics12"x16" gallery-wrapped canvas© Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge
well, it's spring DownUnder! here in brissie, the morning first greeted us with some light rain but now the sun is shining again. while i do love winter, i'm looking forward to the warmer days of spring.

yesterday, we visited michelle and alex and had a lovely time.

today, i plan to spend some time in the studio. i hope that, whatever you are doing today, it brings you lots of joy and contentment.