AN ARTFUL ADVENTURE#2

"The unexplainable thing in nature that makes me feel the world is big far beyond my understanding-to understand maybe by trying to put it into form. To find the feeling of infinity on the horizon line or just over the next hill." Georgia O'Keeffe

SEDONA THE BEAUTIFUL! This land is called RED ROCK COUNTRY and widly wonderful. Located in Arizona's high dessert with an elevation of 4,300 feet with towering monoliths, rims and canyons. Many of the massive RED-rocks were shaped and formed from water and ancient deposits of limestone, mudstone and sandstone when this area was the west coast of a still emerging continent. It was also chiseled by wind. Sedona is a unique place to see and visit. WELCOME TO SEDONA The city of Sedona was founded in 1902. It was incorporated in 1988. Historically, it was a rural ranching community located far off the beaten path, but it's natural beauty became nationally known through the motion picture industry. Today Sedona is Arizona's premier tourism, recreation, resort, retirement and art centers. Sedona is well known as an arts community. It is also home to 40-plus art galleries. Western and native American art lend a regional flavor but one can find examples of nearly every style and form of artwork.
TROLLEY RIDE The best and most relaxing way to tour and see Sedona is via the trolley. The tour was three hours long and the driver took us everywhere in Sedona. No time wasted getting lost in this town. Our driver knows the way. This photo was taken from old files in 2004.This was our third trip to Sedona, so we didn't take too many photos during our recent trip.

RED-ROCK SPLENDOR Indeed this picturesque town is surrounded by beloved RED-rock monoliths named Bell, Coffee Pot, Court House, and Cathedral, even Snoppy - because their massive shapes resemble these distinctive objects. Sedona is singing with RED color in every corner. The collection of Sedona's impressive RED-rocks and many natural endowments are worth visiting and meditating. For me the best time to view these rocks are late in the afternoon when the shadows cast their spell. The best images are taken as the sun goes down. The western face of the mountains collects that light. The RED-rocks look like magnificent paintings.

THE BEAUTIFUL BELL ROCK AND ME As an artist, I see in each RED rock or each speck of RED stone the hand of One whose pallete is infinite and whose vision is beyond imagining. From the heights of the Bell rock, God offers us daily a glorious show to His creativeness and majesty.

CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE BELL ROCK This majestic peak is ringing with REDDISH color in every angle.

COFFEE POT ROCK This rock resembles a charming coffee pot. Forget Starbucks or Coffee Bean! Here, there's no need to spend a dime. Just look at this rock and you'll be A...W...A...K...E........and........ A...L..I...V...E...!!!
SNOOPY ROCK Is an easily recognizable RED rock formation. With a little imagination you can see Snoopy lying on his dog house with his head on the left and his feet on the right.

THE COURT HOUSE ROCK Another RED rock with courtly beauty.

CATHEDRAL ROCK Is one of Sedona's most photographed, painted and recognizable landmarks. This is a challenging rock to climb but there were many people who made it up to the top.
BENEATH THE CATHEDRAL ROCK At such wonders, all I can do is bow down in awe. In our very midst, the Cathedral Rock paints a portrait of the beauty and goodness of God. All these magnificent, massive, and natural RED rocks are God's sculptures and statues. I am sure this will be humbling experience for Michaelangelo (the great Italian artist and sculptor), when he encounters this Cathedral Rock. For me, I felt what Georgia O'Keeffe experienced when she was surrounded with so many RED hills in her homeland (New Mexico). She was inspired by the beauty of the hills. As a result, she painted one of her beautiful masterpieces "Pedernal and Red Hills" (oil on canvas-20' x 30"). BEAUTIFUL VIEWS FROM THE CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS The Chapel of the Holy Cross is 47 years old, which features a reinforced cross that juts from 1,000-foot-high rock wall and soars 90 feet into the air, plus 360-degree panoramic views. The RED rock scenery wrapped around us is breathtaking in all directions. Surely even the most jaded would find Sedona uplifting emotionally, artistically and spiritually. Come and visit soon. Surely, this will be an artful adventure you'll never forget.

AN ARTFUL ADVENTURE#1

"The summer I spent in Taos I sometimes rode out to the eastern hills late in the afternoon with the sun at my back. When the sun went down and was not shining in my eyes I would ride back to the Pueblo......It was a wide wide quiet area. - Georgia O'Keeffe

TRIP TO SEDONA, ARIZONA I am back home after an artful adventure. Last week, I had the chance to escape life's routine. Although I love to paint, sometimes I needed to take a break from painting or else life gets boring. I spent four days in Sedona and three days in Phoenix, Arizona. My husband had a conference in Phoenix for three days and I came along as usual. Prior to his conference, we visited Sedona. From Los Angeles we flew to Phoenix and drove to Sedona which is about 2 hours. This was our third trip to Sedona and as always, this beautiful town inspires and energizes me. Sedona is famous for those wonderful RED rocks dotting the landscape. There are countless of them. I will feature those RED rocks in a later blog. Meanwhile, I am posting about the "Pueblos of the Southwest." At present Sedona has many brand new Pueblos. Most of them are resorts, luxury hotels and single family dwellings. The Pueblos here are not inhibited by the Indians of the Southwest. They are mostly for visitors and tourists like us. WHAT IS A PUEBLO? In the Philippines, where I was born, "Pueblo" is our Spanish word for a town. In the American Southwest a "Pueblo" is a communal structure for multiple dwelling. Built of adobe or stone. Adobe is the sun dried brick. Typically Pueblos were many storied and terraced, the structure were often placed against cliff walls and ground-floor. Entry was usually through the roof by ladder. The above photo is the Pueblo that Georgia O'Keeffe described from the top quotation. Georgia was a famous American artist and lived in New Mexico during the nineteenth century. She was fascinated by the Pueblo, which she decribed as "wide wide and quiet area. During a past trip to Taos, New Mexico in the summer of 1996, I saw my first and authentic Indian Pueblos. Like Georgia, I was fascinated with the beauty and simple architetural design of the Pueblos. I thought, how wonderful to live in such kind of architectural beauty. When my husband and I toured the interior, I was very dissappointed to see that it was cramped, dark and lack modern facilities for comfortble living that Americans are used too. There are no modern kitchen appliances, sink, faucet and running water. No luxurious bath tubs and shower head. No carpeting. I wouldn't be happy living in Pueblo. But still the architectural beauty of the Pueblos fascinated me for many years. SEDONA, ARIZONA My hubby and I made our first trip to Sedona in Spring (2004). Then came back two years later in 2006, around my birthday week. During that trip we stayed at the Hyatt Vacation Club to view their time-share presentation. My husband and I were so fascinated and impressed by this newly built pueblo-resort. The architecture was designed and styled after a typical Indian Pueblo but with all the luxuries and coveniences one could dream off. We had attended many time -share presentations before but we were skeptical about buying one. This time, there was no hesitation and we finally bought a two-bedroom time -share. Little did I know that someday, we would be able to live and owned a piece of a modern -Pueblo. I couldn't believe it.
HYATT VACATION CLUB (SEDONA, PINON POINT) This vacation club is beautifully and strategically located in the heart of Sedona with awesome RED rocks and views wrapped around it. The pueblo-style buildings have adobe walls and flat roofs. Since the area is surrounded with myriads of RED rocks the Pueblo-buildings were painted in taupe shade to differentiate it. It is interesting that there are many pueblos painted in different colors - clay, sienna, sandstone, dark gray, brown and Arizona amethyst. Too much RED is glaring and montonous to the eyes.
VIEW OF OUR UNIT Every time we go to Sedona, we stay in our Pueblo-suite above (third floor). I couldn't believe that this Pueblos have all the luxuries and conveniences of an American lifestyle. The kitchen has a refrigerator, oven, microwave, double sink, dishwasher, coffee maker, utensils, pots and pans. The cabinets are furnished with glassws, wine glasses, plates, cups, bowls, saucers and silver wares. It has dining area w/ huge table and chair good for six people. The living room is gorgeously furnished with Southwest styled couch, with fire place and huge TV set. The bedroom has a king size bed and another TV. The bathroom is as big as the bedroom with marbled walls and floorings. It has warm running water for shower. The huge bathtub/ jacuzzi took our breath away. Interiors are decorated with Navajo rugs, pueblo pottery and basket.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE PUEBLO -STYLE ARCHITECTURE On the right side are shops and restaurants just steps away from the vacation club. It's ironic that we rarely cook inside our Pueblo with many tempting restaurants, ice-cream parlor and coffee shops around.
FOUR DAYS TRIP This was an artful adventure that re-energized and refreshed us. Sedona is blessed with serenity and tranquility. Many artists and tourists will always be inspired and never get bored here. There are myriads of art galleries (about 40) in every corner, from Southwest, contemporary to traditional style. This is a haven for artists. Many artists live and thrive here in Sedona. I think artists of all kinds of media are making good money here. Sedona is an expensive place to live. Many rich art collectors and art lovers visit this tourist place. This is an inspiring place where I will be happy to live and paint too but I am worried about my husband. He will surely get bored because there are no Fry's Electronics, Best Buy or Costco here. He has to drive to Phoenix, about two hours away. It's the closest big city, to buy electronic parts. At least, we can visit Sedona every year and enjoy our modern-Pueblo. When I am on vacation, I don't paint. Why? For me it's a time to get away from my brushes. But after getting away, it's weird that I am raring to get back to my brushes, oils and easel. It's time to paint the town RED again.

RED ROBIN

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
- A Famous Song

RED ROBIN It is one of our favorite hambuger place in our city. We eat hamburger there when we are sick and tired of McDonald, Burger King and Jack in the Box. Red Robin's hamburgers are more pricey, taste better and beautifully presented with all the trimmings. On the lighter side, my youngest son is named Robin. He was already born before Red Robin came around our neighborhood. He loves RED too. His first car was a RED Honda sports car. His passion for RED car always caught the attention of the police. He always gets a ticket or a warning for speeding although he was not driving beyond the limit. Policemen have hot eyes for RED car drivers. Today, Robin's car is no longer RED but BLACK.
BIRTHDAY COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR It's true! So here I am blogging about the birthday of Robin. His birthday is coming up on the 9th, but I will be out of town for a week. I am posting this blog earlier. There are many things I forget in life but not the birthdays of my children. Their birthdays are marked RED on our calendar.

HOW AN ARTIST CELEBRATED THEIR FAMILY BIRTHDAYS? Robin is a professional graphic artist but when it comes to celebrating his birthday, he leaves all the planning to me. I remember when my four children were little, I was their party coordinator. I loved doing it. I got many creative and fun ideas. I was never stressed with all the plannings and preparations. I made their parties like a movie production- with coordinating costumes, decorations, games, favors and food. I baked their birthday cakes and decorated them too. Because Robin was born in February he always had a RED theme birthday party. Those born in March had a GREEN theme birthday party. The one born in July had the RED, WHITE and BLUE theme birthday party. Now that they are all grown up, their birthday celebrations are anything goes. Meaning any color or theme would do. I passed that stage in life where I like things matchy-matchy.

ROBIN'S WISH The oil painting above "Reflections Of My Homeland" had appeared many times on my blog. It's a favorite family heirloom and painting that I will pass on to Robin someday. Why Robin? One day, he told me, "Mom, when you pass away, can I inherit that painting?" Since none of my children asked for it, I said "YES!" I love all my children and don't show favoritism. In the future....the rest of my paintings and personal art collections will be divided equally among them. GENERATION GAP This photo was taken one Christmas Day ago. The favorite painting hangs in our dining room. Robin was standing second from the right. He and I like the same things and we get along pretty well, despite of our huge generation gap. Our favorite topic is of course, art. We are both passionate about art. When I was in art school, I didn't have any idea that someday, a sophisticated computer will come around and be used as artists or designers tool. Robin is very good and creative digital-graphic artist. What he could designed on the computer is mind-boggling to me. I admired his many wonderful and modern ideas. I am so proud of his TV ads for Budweiser, Toyota, Reebok, etc., which were shown at the Super Bowl, during the past 2 years. On the brighter side, he is also one of my admirers. He is amazed at my paintings, which are done by hand and brushes. He couldn't understand why it took lots of time and effort to do oil painting on canvas. He's not as patient as me. On the other hand, I am also amazed at the way he could manipulate and design speedily and creatively via computer. We are both amazed at each other's talent and appreciate the differences on how we created out art works.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN!!!

A COLORFUL RED PALLETE

" A friend is a close companion on rainy days, someone to share with through every phase. Forgiving and helping to bring out the best, believing the good and forgetting the rest."-Anonymous

RED MONTH When I think of FEBRUARY the color RED comes to mind. Valentine's Day is around the corner. There are RED hearts and cupids everywhere, reminding us to go shopping again for gifts for our loved ones. I haven't recovered from Christmas shopping yet. I am seeing many RED dresses for sale in the mall with matching RED shoes and purses. I saw a RED Prada shoes. I wasn't tempted to even try them because I know the devil wears Prada. Last Friday, it was National Wear RED Day. Women were asked to wear RED.

RED IN MANY SPLENDORED NAMES It is s a primary color. Sometimes there's no such thing as RED. That's only a small sampling, though, of what you'd have to deal with if you walked into an art supply store and asked for "some red paint, please." "Do you want vermillion, cadium, Indian oxide, alizarin crimson, Acra, Venetian, or Mars? So many choices, huh? When I read novels, I noticed many authors would write sexy RED names like scarlett, crimson and rose? When I go to jewelry stores RED means garnet or ruby. When one is in debt, they say, " In the RED." When one is treated with very grand or impressive welcome, we say "roll out the RED carpet." When I walked into the hospital, I see RED every where, meaning I smell "blood." RED is the color of blood. So many names and terminologies. Could you imagine a world without RED?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!! In our family we have two birthdays in February. My hubby and youngest son are celebrating their birthdays this month. Tomorrow (February 4th) is a special day, and as usual this blog space is dedicated to my special friend, close companion during rainy and sunny days, and faithful husband for 36 years, who happily turned ???????? years old. Shhhh....sorry, I couldn't disclose how young he is. Last year we celebrated his birthday on board the gigantic Crown Princess during our cruise to the Southern Caribbean last February 2007. Our cabin door was festively decorated with RED balloons. Dinner that night was RED wine and RED Fillet Mignon. He likes rare but I like my steak medium (not too RED). Dessert was jumbo fresh strawberries dipped in brown and white chocolates. My husband is a chocoholic. What a RED birthday to remember!

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT HIS NAME: My husband's full name is Rhodamin but we call him Rhod for short. His father being an artist picked this name. It originated from a RED chemistry color called Rhodamine. This color or dye is obtained by heating an alkyl aminophenol w/ phthalic and hydride. Interesting huh? RED is PASSIONATE color and my hubby lives up to his name. He's passionate about many things- long marriage, big family, grand kids, career, latest technology gadget, huge flat screen TV, church work, Fil-Am volunteer, traveling and cruising. He is supportive about my passion for art but he is not passionate about art and museums. Although all his life, he's surrounded by artists-artistic wife, a father who is a scenic artist and two sons who are graphic artists. RED is a HOT color. He is true to my car's plate # HOT ROD. RED is also a BOLD color. If you ever watch a bull fight, the matador challenges the bull with a RED flag. When my hubby challenges me, his lips and face turned RED too. He's fair and get REDDISH easily. No kidding!
A PAINTING FOR A WONDERFUL HUSBAND My husband is an electronic engineer. He works for a defense company that makes sonar system. One day he asked me to do a painting for him. He wanted me to paint something for his office. So I painted this oil painting ( 18" x 23") entitled "Airborne Sonar AN/ AQS-18 (V)." This painting is now on display in his office. I blogged about this painting last February 2007 and I am posting it again for those who have not seen it and new to my blog.
CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE PAINTING
I had only done one painting for my hubby. I think I should paint more for him after supporting and loving me all these years. One day, I met a male and unmarried artist in his early thirties. He told me...."You're very lucky to have a husband who could support you, so you could paint full-time. I wished I could find a wife who could support me too and paint full-time like you." Gee, he sounded like Van Gogh. Van Gogh was able to paint full-time because his brother Theo was there to support him most of his life. He didn't take a day job and paint at night. At mid-life, I think it's a good life to paint without financial worries. Thanks to a wonderful husband.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET-ART!

A COLORFUL MONTH

"The woman who works with her hands only is a laborer; the woman who works with her hands and her head is a craftswoman; the woman who works with her hands, her head and her heart is an artist." - St. Francis of Assisi

END OF THE MONTH It's worth blogging on as we savor the last four days of January. Where does the time go? I would love to think that 2008 will be a more relaxed year, one that moves a little slower but the reality is that time really does fly. I am challenged this year to do at least one painting a week. BUT there are endless things to do and my painting project is always interrupted. I find myself driving from place to place and spending more time inside my Beamer, doctor's office, bank and grocery store, than I care to do. Thankfully, interruptions and errands didn't stop me from sketching. Even the very cold weather and non-stop rain this past week. It was so cold that when I go to our garage it felt like I am inside a big freezer. Yesterday, when I woke up, the view from our backyard is so beautiful and refreshing. I am blanketed with mountains covered with snows. This sight is rare in our city. I like to look at the white mountains but not live among snow. The colors of our plants and trees are suddenly bursting with all shades of green. The colorful roses are refresh and breathing well after drinking lots of rain. The myriad rains were showers of blessings too. I was able to work on many preliminary sketches. I tried to focus and concentrate on my painting ideas and not think about hundred other things that need to be done in life. Although life is rushing, when it comes to doing a painting, I take my time. I always start w/ a sketch and don't just throw my oil paints on my canvas and hope for the best. Like a good traveler, I have a road map for my artistic journey this year.

A PAINTING WITH A HEART This year, I am working on few small and many large paintings. This month, I finished 2 huge paintings. When dry, I will post some of my paintings. Mean while, here's a favorite Southwest oil painting ( 18" x 24"). I worked on this painting many years ago and gave it to my son Ryan when he moved to his own condo. This is a labor of love. I painted it with passion. I noticed that when I put my heart into my painting, there are many unexpected compliments and gratitude. When my painting touched others, I know it got a HEART.

THREE LAYERS TO CREATIVITY As an artist, I discovered that there are three very different layers to creation: the labor, the craft and the elevation. St. Francis explained the creative process beautifully in the quotation above. Labor in creation is showing up to do the work. Craft is how you go about doing it. Whatever I am doing- painting, blogging, scrap booking, and cooking, I am there in mind, body and spirit. Do I hum while working with the.... ING and KING, enjoying the process of creating? Yes, I do! Passion is present. Passion is the creative energy that induces elevation- that high -five moment in creation when craft becomes an art. Whatever I do, when I put my hands, head and heart into it, I am an ARTIST according to St. Francis. This new year, he inspired me, not to be just an ordinary artist. I'd like to be a St. Francis woman artist, one with a HEART.

PAINTING IN FAITH To keep me motivated, I also read daily inspirational blog like "Writing In Faith" by Sandy Carlson. She's one of my latest blog-mates. Her blog elevates and keeps me going. She often dropped me beautiful comments that are so uplifting. It has some spiritual overtones but not preachy. She's writes beautifully with her hands and heart, plus she puts her heart into it. She embodies the ideal artist of St. Francis. Please check it out here: http://slchome.blogspot.com/

I realized that my artistic dreams and goals in life couldn't be achieved with my own efforts and skills. I needed God's help and the support of my family, friends and art-blog-mates.

THE ART OF DREAMING

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

MIDDLE OF THE MONTH OVER Already? It's hard to believe that almost half of the month of January is over. This week I started to prep my canvasses and filed them by sizes. What a great job! Also, I tried to work on many paintings left undone from 2007. If you asked the older people, they reminded me that unfinished jobs from previous years will be added burdens to the next year. The unfinished paintings will accumulate and so forth. So this week, I tried hard to finish all the paintings that I started last year, and the year before. Sounds familiar?
COLORFUL WOMAN PAINTING Here's an oil painting (16 X 20") that I did in 2006. I practiced on this painting. I wanted to try a different style and here's the outcome. This beautiful and colorful woman called "Lazy Daisy" is always dreaming, looking at the yellow moon and hoping for the best. I could relate to her. Sometimes, I am like this colorful woman. Always dreaming of big things, wishing at the full moon, and hoping that the coconut tree will bend to my wishes. Somehow, many of my wishes in life had become realities but my artistic goals have yet to be work-out.
ONE GOAL AT A TIME It's good to have goals and dreams in life. They make life more interesting. I love what Anne Shirley said, "Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions....And there never seems to be any end to them-that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see one glittering higher up still. It does make life interesting." How true!

PALMA TAYONA'S FIRST ONE-MAN ART SHOW Who is this young artist? He's one of my blog-mates. He had a dream of having a one-man art show someday. He worked hard and finally his dream became a reality. Last Monday, January 14th, was the opening of Palma Tayona's first one-man show entitled LIVING/Stories. The show features some paintings he had done during that past two years, including those he wrote about in his blog. LIVING/Stories will continue until January 25th. It is held at 1/OF Gallery, end level Shops at Serendra, Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila. How I wish I could be there to see Tayona's first one-man art show.
CONGRATULATIONS to Palma Toyona! I am happy to hear that he had a successful art show. Dreams come true. I discovered this artist when he dropped me a very wonderful, sincere and long comment on my blog. We gradiuated from the same art school (U.P.). I watched his art works as it progress. We clicked too. Later we linked and became blog-mates. His art-blog became one of my favorites. I like his vibrant and modern painting- style. His paintings are very interesting with accompanying stories. I highly recommend his art-blog to you. If you couldn't travel the distance to his one-man show in Manila, checking his blog "Visual Viscera" is the next best thing to do. http://visualviscera.blogspot.com/

ARTISTIC GIFT OF HEART AND HANDS

"Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well." - Pamela Glenconner

IT'S THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY, FA LA LA LA LA LA........ I love to create and paint. Making handcrafted gifts and paintings for those we love can be fun and creative. But only when we've got the time and creative and energy to do it properly. This is not the day to start making gifts, with Christmas just two weeks away. Scary thought if you're the last-minute-type.

WISE TIPS FROM MRS. EARLIE SANTA CLOSE She said.....remember it took nine months to orchestrate the First Christmas, which is exactly what you're going to aim for in the future. Next year, you promise, it will be different. But in order for that to happen, you're going to have to get started on it the last week of December. That's just when you're sooo......sick of Christmas, of course, and holiday novelties at bargain prices. Start planning your handcrafted and creative gifts on January. Enjoy beginning a gift of heart and hands one rainy day in February."

OPEN YOUR EYES, NOT YOUR WALLET I noticed that resourceful and creative people made most of their gifts and start as early as January or summer time when going to the beach is more enticing. You can bring your craft project or painting there, if you want. More inspiring with the ocean view. When you start early, by the end of summer you're half way done and you can relax when Christmas is around the corner, while others are shopping in panic. HO! HO! HO! HO! Don't be a last-minute gift giver. Give with thought and care.

GIFT OF HEART AND HANDS Because I have more creativity than cash, I learned to be very resourceful. I love crafting many of our Christmas gifts. As soon as I finished putting away our truckload of Christmas decorations, I also start planning for next year's gifts. Sometimes, I start painting still life, landscape, cactus, flower or portrait at the beginning of the year, when my motivation is very high. Painting takes time -from prepping of canvas, sketching, painting and then final spraying and framing. I also start scouting and browsing craft boutiques and antique shops for imaginative gift ideas. Where else do you get free ideas? Ideas can snow ball into inspiration. So after summer is over, the cool autumn weather revives me to be creative and crafty with my glue gun and stuffs. For me, a gift of heart and hand is not only more meaningful but also priceless.

BACK TO CHRISTMAS 1997 It was the most creative and artistic Christmas for me. Eleven months prior to that Christmas, I had a cochlear implant surgery at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, California. I am an adult hearing person. But during the mid-part 0f the 80's and on to the 90's, I experienced a decade of very devastating, progressive and profound bilateral hearing loss. I could no longer hear and understand the TV, phone, movies, and most people sounded mumbling or eating their words. It was scary .......the world of silence. This was the most challenging experience I had in life. But thank God, I live in the advance world of technology where it's still possible for a deafened artist like me to go back to the world of sound. I had a successful cochlear implant. What is a cochlear implant? It's a miniaturized computer device that helps hearing impaired people to hear the environmental sounds and understand the spoken words. Cochlear implant is not like magic. I didn't get my hearing back overnight. What followed were months of difficult rehabilitation process. I spent hours learning to hear again with my new computerized hearing device. I practiced daily -listening to my tape recorder while following along a kid's book. I listened to the TV and matched the captions with the spoken words. I practiced listening to the phone. I learned how to lip-read. I got involved in a cochlear implant support group. I diligently learned how to use the computer so I can communicate and e-mail my family & friends, while waiting for years to hear on the phone again. Technically, I am still deaf without my cochlear implant device on. Fortunately during these challenging times, I never loss my artistic desire and passion. I continued to paint. Art became an effective therapy when I didn't feel like going on with my difficult life. With prayer, patience, practice and perseverance my hearing improved and I started a new life. As I said before, God (who knows everything) redesigned my new pathway at mid-life. It's been 10 years since I had my cochlear implant. It was like a "Renaissance" period dawned on me. I did many of my best paintings during this difficult period of my life.

"TAOS POTTERY"(18" x 24" - Oil Painting On Canvas) Next to Philippine settings, I love painting Southwest themes and scenes. I like the simplicity of Southwest art. I think the "Taos Pottery" is the best Southwest oil painting I have ever painted so far. In deep appreciation for my successful cochlear implant, I lovingly gave this beautiful oil painting as Christmas gift to Dr. Jim. What should I give a doctor who has everything? I have no doubt that a gift of art from my heart and hands would fit.

One day, Dr. Jim told my husband while visiting him....."Tell your wife, thank you for the oil painting. It's so......BEAUTIFUL!!! I displayed it in our family room." I will never forget those nice and kind words. I was so happy and thrilled that he didn't hang my painting in the garage. I am truly honored that this painting is on display in his luxurious family room. I knew that the prettier the painting, the more enjoyable the visual experience.

Over the years, I never regretted giving him lots of my oil paintings. He is the most compassionate ear surgeon I have ever known. I have so many doctors, but none as caring and as nice as him. He's very different because he has "heart and soul." Ever heard of a doctor taking the time to answer a patient's e-mail? Yes, he replies to my e-mail. He even reads my blog. Very rare quality among American doctor's today. How could I forget someone like him? INSPIRATION I saw this ad from a local Sta. Fe magazine and it inspired me to paint the painting above entitled "Taos Pottery."

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS: As Pam said, "giving gifts is also a talent. Never hesitate to put your personal touch, heart and soul on your gifts no matter how modest. As you creatively craft your gifts, it becomes your work of art. Let love flow through your heart and hands - a gift for yourself and for others, which is priceless.