lost to enchantment

a post :)

2008-01-16T19:33:10Z

I haven't updated this in awhile so I'm taking care of that now :) Its just that I don't have any real news. I've been living and breathing fractals. I've download 4 programs to make fractals (just a wee bit obsessed..), and just been playing with those like crazy. Posting some of it to deviantart, reading tutorials, and trying stuff out. I don't know if anyone else is into fractals but these are the programs I got:

1. Apophysis 2.07b...this is the one I use the most. (Free)
2. Fractal Explorer...don't like this one. (Free)
3. Tiera-Zon 2.7 ..nice but seems somewhat limiting. (Free)
4. Ultra Fractal.. downloaded the trial. Really impressed, probably gonna buy it. (free trial)

I'm not big on buying software. Mostly just because I can't really afford it. But this Ultra Fractal program has so many possibilities that I don't think I'd ever get bored of it. And I love the look of the fractals that come out of Ultra Fractal...entirely different than the ones you get from Apophysis.

Other than being glued to the computer playing with fractals, my toe is healing finally. YAY!!! Its taking forever but I can walk around without it hurting now and it only hurts when I wear a shoe but even that is getting better :) Now the trick is to make sure I don't crash into anything else around here. Which means I gotta pay better attention and quit walking so fast. Or so I've been told over and over ;)

And I found the rest of the Griffin & Sabine series of books at the library. Why I never thought to look for them all there before I really don't know. Normally the library is the first place I check. But I didn't and they had them all so I've got them all on loan now :)

Our weather is crazy. Sometimes its really cold and snowing.. then like a week or so ago it was 64 degrees out. Today is in the 30s and this weekend will be single digits with 30 degree below zero windchills (thanks CANADA and your Alberta Clippers, grrr)..YIKES! I'm not going anywhere. I'm going into hibernation with the bears. Someone wake me when its spring.

I guess thats about it..going to be catching up with everyone's journals. Hope everyone is doing good :)

Wish come true

2007-12-26T22:14:11Z

I'm pretty sure I broke my toe a bit ago ..thats not the wish. It really hurts. But before that I went to the library and while I was there walked over to the area where they sell the used books. I always stop there before I leave the library. Books mostly donated by patrons. I found a copy of Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock for 50 cents.

I used to be on a art journaling list and they talked about this book all the time. Money was tight and I really couldn't afford to pick it up then but wished to at least see it if not own it someday. Today, I got my wish :)

This book..if you've never heard of it, is amazing. Its the illustrated correspondence between two people named Griffin & Sabine...Griffin begins to fall in love with Sabine as they write each other and who Sabine is is a mystery that you have to come to your own conclusions about at the end of the book. As you read the book and turn the pages, you get to open envelopes, take out the letters and hold them in your hand. Just as you would if they arrived in the mail. The illustrations are awesome.

I was shocked to find this in pretty much perfect condition on the library used book shelves. I consider it a gift from the Universe to find it. It has me wishing now to have my own mysterious illustrated correspondence with someone just as Griffin & Sabine had.

mystickelf @ 2007-12-22T10:04:00

2007-12-22T16:11:25Z

Wishing everyone a very happy Yule - Winter Solstice!

Yaaaaay for more daylight coming! :)

A drawing I made for my deviantART account.

mystickelf @ 2007-12-15T08:09:00

2007-12-15T14:13:24Z

There are a lot of this artist's quotes that I really like including this one:

The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.
--Henry Miller

fridayfiver

2007-12-14T23:39:09Z

from fridayfiver

1. What's the last movie you saw? At the theater.. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2. Are you gentle? hmmmmm, yes and no.

3. Do you sleep with your bedroom door shut? nope --the cats would drive me nuts crying.

4. What's your middle name? Ann

5. Friday fill-in:
I could learn to like ___. having a maid ;)

mystickelf @ 2007-12-14T17:04:00

2007-12-14T23:27:43Z

Playing catch up today. I haven't done a whole lot of anything. The past few days since that hospital thing, I've just been feeling drugged..thats nerves. So I was sleeping on and off. One of my cats that normally doesn't like to sleep up by the pillow was taking a nap with me. She even let me hold her and put the cover over her a little to keep her warm :)

John's car is in the shop..he's got my car at work today. Which is OK cause I really don't have to go anywhere and its too cold out anyways --I'm a winter weenie :) The only place I'd like to go is the art store but it can wait. I'm working on mandalas again (more contemporary style) and I don't really like the paper I have so want to get some new paper. Also want to pick up more Prismacolor pencils too...go thru those so fast working on these.

I think the new Harry Potter DVD is out now.. thought I saw a commercial saying it was out. If we can pick that up over the weekend that would be great.

Dreaming of places like Bali and Hawaii... anywhere tropical :)

mystickelf @ 2007-12-11T08:32:00

2007-12-11T14:48:39Z

Its supposed to get really bad this afternoon with ice storms. They're saying we might get up to 1" of ice on power lines and trees. I've got to go out later this afternoon...not looking forward to this.

Last night John's car wouldn't start when he was out shopping and he was stuck in a store parking lot. Had to drive over there so he could jump his car. He's gonna need a new battery. The upside was he kept saying I was his "heroine" cause I came and rescued him. lol :)

I finally joined deviantART this morning. I have no idea what I'm doing yet. But if you're on deviantART come see me. I'm lonely :) Mine is here:
http://mystick777.deviantart.com

Is it spring yet????

mystickelf @ 2007-12-10T04:19:00

2007-12-10T10:33:02Z

Yesterday I woke up with the worst headache that lasted all day. Skipped dinner cause it was making my stomach so sick that the sight & smell of food only made it worse. Must have slept crookedy or something the night before. Still have it but its not bad now.

Did go to the craft store yesterday and picked up some really pretty bottles to make captured fairies for my Etsy store. Got some silk greenery to put inside and some ribbon roses...gotta look thru what I have here and see what else I want to add. My only problem with it is calling it captured fairies. I have to call it that because thats what people will search for if they're looking for it. But oh, poor fairies...fortunately its only a decoration :)

I was thinking about doing crazy quilting items but when I researched it there and saw that for the time involved that the craftspeople were not making anywhere near what those items are worth, I decided against it.

I slept a lot yesterday to get rid of that headache... been up since midnight wide awake now. Guess I'll go read.

The dove in this icon reminds me of my old cockatiel Maxy. She was the palest shade of yellow..almost white and when she extended her wings she looked a lot like this dove. Thats why I like this one :)

Top 5 Writers

2007-12-10T09:57:29Z

from thewhyfive My top 5 Favorite Writers

1. Charles de Lint -- numero uno love love love!
2. Marion Zimmer Bradley --all her Avalon books
3. Nora Roberts --her paranormal romances
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Diane Stein --non-fiction

mystickelf @ 2007-12-07T08:20:00

2007-12-07T15:02:30Z

John was watching a program last night called "Three Faiths, One God" and he called me into the room to see it. It was about the big 3 monotheistic religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It was showing a number of similarities between the three religions as well some of their individual differences. It was quite good. Was showing efforts being made by interfaith organizations to help people in these faiths understand each other better and put an end to some of the fears & prejudices towards each other. All three of them are preaching fundamentally the same idea so there is a lot of common ground.

I watched it as an outsider. I am not in any organized religion... my spirituality is centered on the Goddess and its pretty eclectic. But I was brought up Catholic. I left the church in the early '80s. As an outsider (and glad to remain one), I hope that these three religions can come closer together. It seems necessary for them to survive and function in this world. Any efforts made to bring more understanding and compassion among people is worthwhile.

I liked what this one elderly priest on the program said. He was half-joking but said that religion should come with a warning like 'this could be dangerous to your health.' He said the problem is when people talk about the Absolute = God, they speak in absolutes. And thats where the problem comes in. He's right.

mystickelf @ 2007-12-07T07:45:00

2007-12-07T13:53:04Z

Saw this really beautiful deck called "Messages of Light" here at Mario Duguay. Except its not an oracle deck or Tarot deck.. its a deck of affirmations. I love the paintings and the fairies on some of the cards. But unless I ignored the card meanings and read it intuitively just using the images, I wouldn't have much need for it. If you click on Pick a Card in the upper right corner you can see some of the cards. It is really stunning tho.

mystickelf @ 2007-12-07T06:32:00

2007-12-07T12:49:31Z

from: fridayfiver

1. Are you married? yes

2. When do your claws come out? When someone is being hurt or bullied. And occasionally over some spiritual matters particularly when they have to do with organized religion and/or treatment of women.

3. Have you ever been in a car accident? no

4. Who is the last person you held? My neighbor cause she was crying.

5. Describe a time you've gone overboard: Not sure how to answer this. I don't think I go overboard. One of my friends, Les, would disagree tho. He says that I either have no interest in something or I am obsessed with it. (he was referring to stuff on the computer & eBay at the time) That just makes me laugh. Well... the way I figure why waste time on something I could care less about? And if its something interesting, why not learn everything about it? Thats just sensible :)

thefridayfive

2007-12-07T00:57:04Z

I don't really have much to write. Its just so cold outside now. So I'm doing thefridayfive:

1. Have you ever stayed in a hostel? If so, where? Did you like it? If you haven't stayed in a hostel, would you? Never did but I would consider it.
2. What is your favo(u)rite airport that you've been to? Why? Chicago O'Hare Airport. When I was younger used to like to watch the planes taking off and landing there.
3. What is the best museum you have visited on vacation? The Art Institute of Chicago. Usually wind up vacationing at home. Its a fabulous art museum.
4. Have you ever made friends while traveling whom you keep in touch with on a regular basis? Nope
5. Have you ever had a conversation with a seatmate on a plane? Just with the people I was with.

mystickelf @ 2007-12-04T12:21:00

2007-12-04T18:45:52Z

Its supposed to snow this afternoon so I want to get to the craft store before that snow makes it really nasty out there. Have to pick up some things for making projects for Etsy. And I'm really excited about it cause it looks like I might be doing this shop with a friend. I'll be doing crafts and he'll be selling custom graphics.

In hindsight, now I know what that Fairy oracle reading was talking about when it kept saying "New Opportunity." At the time I didn't know what it could be referring to, it must be Etsy. Cause once I found Etsy and decided to do it ... that card disappeared from my readings ... it was fulfilled :)

I need to pick up some Christmas cards too. Even though I don't celebrate Christmas exactly... we do Yule instead... everyone else I know does and I have a bunch to send back.

Heard they are selling Livejournal. Doesn't seem like they've owned it very long...I remember when they bought it.. I still had my art blog on Typepad at the time which is owned by them too.

I need more coffee........

Reading: "Bite Me if You Can" by Lynsay Sands
When is LJ gonna add a field on here for Books like they do Music?

Top 5 Inspirational Movies

2007-12-03T19:35:45Z

thewhyfive topic is the top 5 inspirational movies. Here's my list ;)

1. Brigadoon -- cause there just has to be a magical reappearing/disappearing town somewhere and its got my missing socks.
2. Waynes World -- just cause :)
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
4. Harry Potter -- I'm waiting for the Weasley's flying car to show up outside my window and I'm outta here :)
5. Animal House (original one)

Belief-O-Matic

2007-12-03T16:38:17Z

This is interesting... its a quiz that asks you 20 questions and then matches your answers up against the worlds religions. The one that matches your answers most closely is at the top. To take this quiz go here: Beliefnet: Belief-O-Matic.

1. New Age (100%)
2. Neo-Pagan (98%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (80%)
4. Liberal Quakers (68%)
5. Mahayana Buddhism (68%)
6. New Thought (63%)
7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (63%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (61%)
9. Reform Judaism (60%)
10. Sikhism (58%)
11. Scientology (53%)
12. Bahá'í Faith (51%)
13. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (50%)
14. Secular Humanism (49%)
15. Hinduism (48%)
16. Taoism (48%)
17. Jainism (44%)
18. Orthodox Quaker (42%)
19. Orthodox Judaism (34%)
20. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (28%)
21. Nontheist (24%)
22. Eastern Orthodox (23%)
23. Roman Catholic (23%)
24. Islam (21%)
25. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (21%)
26. Seventh Day Adventist (17%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (7%)

Theme: Hypotheticals

2007-12-03T04:15:59Z

from journalgems

1. You find a lamp. You rub it and the cliche genie pops out and grants you 3 wishes. What are your 3 wishes?
1. ~~*sorry, its a secret*~~
2. ~~*sorry again, keeping this one secret too*~~~
3. move to Hawaii

2. You come to a fork in the road. One path is pink. One path is blue. Which path do you take and what is at the end of it? Hmmm, I'll go with pink...ok, I'm walking down this pink path which winds out farther and farther and at the end of it is a enchanting buttercup colored cottage with ivy covered walls, the front yard is all flowers and rose bushes. See a couple of cats out there and the door is slightly ajar. Theres a besom next to the door and a woman is out there tending the flowers.

3. You are out for a walk. You come across a cardboard box. What's in the box? a old anniversary type clock, someone's handwritten leather bound journal, a stack of letters tied in ribbon, and pair of beautiful old gloves (womans).

4.A store has a promotion. You get to reach into a covered box and pullout a slip of paper. Whatever is written on the slip of paper is your prize. What's written on your slip of paper? a 1973 blue Corvette Stingray, mint condition

5. You get to borrow a talent from a friend for 1 week. What talent do you borrow? I would borrow S's way with parrots.

6. You are given a whole lot of cash to buy things on eBay. What 5 things do you search for to buy? Hmmmmmm...
1) a digital camera
2) floor to ceiling bookcases --need a bunch of them
3) artwork?
4 & 5...I'll have to think about this and fill it in later in the week cause I don't know.

7. You are allowed to re-run 3 TV shows from your childhood. Which 3 shows do you choose?
1. the original Dr. Doolittle movie (1967). It never runs on TV and I haven't seen it since I was a kid.
2. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir --the entire TV series
3. Hardrock, Coco and Joe

mystickelf @ 2007-12-01T11:55:00

2007-12-01T18:11:37Z

It's supposed to get really bad out later today...weather forecasts keep saying snow followed by ice and rain and making for hazardous driving. Fortunately I don't really have anywhere that I have to go so I'm staying in. Got plenty of books to read and the Internet and my pets to keep me busy :)

I joined Etsy this morning. Its the place where a lot of craftspeople sell their crafts online. I didn't open a store yet but I'm thinking about it. There were some things I used to sell on eBay that I might try here. dancing_breeze thought of you while I was here. Looks like a really interesting site. I already bought something off it..a Sodalite and Goddess Potion Bottle Necklace. I'll take a pic of it when it comes. Its a necklace with a tiny clear glass bottle surrounded by sodalite gemstones and at the bottom has a Goddess charm. Looks really magickal, the Faeries would like it :) I guess anything that will fit in the little bottle is ok..the seller suggests putting essential oils in it. Not sure what I'll put in it but thats a possibility.

My favorite show wasn't on last night because of the Grammy awards ;(

Think I'll go make a root beer float now :)

mystickelf @ 2007-11-30T16:15:00

2007-11-30T22:28:06Z

I just heard on the radio that Evel Knievel died. He was 69. When I was in high school I did a report on him for my English class--this was back in the '70s. At that time, Evel Knieval was really a household name because of his daredevil stunts on his motorcycle. I used to think he was so cool :) Loved watching him.

R.I.P. Evel

mystickelf @ 2007-11-30T10:10:00

2007-11-30T16:33:26Z

Just words or things running through my mind... I ought to call these thought bones since they are just random thoughts not fully fleshed out..just the bones:

thinking about putting the tree up for Yule..its a white tree with white lights...saw feather trees in the craft store the other day, never saw those before they looked so light and not even sure they are strong enough to hold ornaments....glitter keep thinking about glitter for some reason...something made with glitter on it but not sure what..think I really need to use glitter on something...I should get back to drawing just everyday things like the kitchen gadgets, random objects, food, things like that which I used to do...Sharpies probably need to get more...watercolor paper, wonder if I still have enough...drawing as a way to notice more of life..to appreciate more of what is around me...the zen of drawing...really looking closely...to know a thing is to draw it...why don't I draw more?...inertia...creative inertia...have to overcome it.. have to get back enthusiasm for drawing...have to see it as play instead of performance or product...to do for the doing of it...to enjoy it again...

thewhyfive

2007-11-30T13:44:51Z

This week's topic at thewhyfive is to list your top 5 dream jobs and why. Ok, well here's mine but not in any order. The top 4 I rattled off right away. The 5th one I had to think more about.

1. Bookstore Owner --just cause I love books and bookstores.
2. Coffee House Owner --love hanging out at those.
3. Artist-- I actually did this one and may go back to it someday.
4. Writer-- this one would be a dream job if I was ever any good at it.
5. Oracle Reader...similar to Tarot reader but using Oracles instead. And I would want to do it from home not at fairs or anything.

cross-posted to thewhyfive

John won Nano

2007-11-30T13:16:20Z

John, my husband, finished Nano last night. As his novel was validating, I gave him an actual drum roll on my Native American drum :) He came in at 51,442 on the validator :) He was running behind for awhile and really caught up.. don't know how he did it. I couldn't do what he did. Its his 2nd year winning. He's not done tho... he thinks it will be about 70K when he's done and then he wants to edit it and publish it. Congrats John! Way to go!!

mystickelf @ 2007-11-29T17:32:00

2007-11-29T23:51:34Z

--In my "Healing with the Fairies" oracle, I've gotten the card "New Opportunity" every day for the past three days. But I haven't figured out what it pertains to yet. Like today I drew:
1. New Opportunity
2. Follow Your Dreams
3. Magic of Nature
I oughta see if Froud's Faeries Oracle can shed some light on what that new opportunity could be. Its a more in-depth oracle and the one I normally use.

--I'm almost done reading "A Bite To Remember" by Lynsay Sands. I haven't gotten tired of these vampire books yet. This one is really good and I found 2 others of hers at the library :)

--Looks like John will win Nano. He's got some more work to do yet but he's doing really good and should finish in time. Real happy for him, he wrote 9600 words in one day over the weekend. He wrote like 5200 last night. And he's not veering off his story...its amazing to me.

--I'm working on a handwriting analysis for a friend of mine. I used to analyze handwriting a lot and then I was involved with other projects and got away from it. But its something that I really enjoy doing.

--Just found out another friend is in the hospital in a coma. He's an old neighbor of ours. It's really serious and trying to think positive.

mystickelf @ 2007-11-29T07:41:00

2007-11-29T13:45:38Z

stolen from dancing_breeze :)

In 2007, mystickelf resolves to...

Volunteer to spend time with faeries.
Give up crystals.
Spend less time on nature.
Learn to play the summer.
Get back in contact with some old nature spirits.
Admit my true feelings to laughingloudly.

HEY! How am I supposed to get back in contact with old nature spirits and spend less time on nature at the same time? ROTFL! I'm all for the volunteering to spend time with faeries! Giving a shout to laughingloudly :)

mystickelf @ 2007-11-28T18:35:00

2007-11-29T00:49:00Z

...for Gloria

I will remember your laugh the most.

Don't forget to get good seats ;)