Wow, I mean, WOW!!!!!!! What a wonderful tool!

Through a series of questions, Christine guided me to discover the word that would intuitively propel me into 2010 in a powerful way. I journaled for about thirty minutes and when I was finished, I was energized! I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my word for 2010 is Connection.

I intend to powerfully feel my connection: to my inner self; to my art; to my family and friends; to YOU, my collectors; to the Universe; to all things and all beings.

On New Year's Day, Keanu and I went to see the movie, Avatar. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized the powerful theme throughout the movie is the interconnection of all things.

There I sat, beaming at the screen, feeling my connection to this fascinating movie!

The next evening, my friend Diana came to paint wine glasses with me and Keanu. Together we painted a collaborative glass in memory of the Tree of Life in Avatar. It's a bit difficult to see in this photo, but the tree itself is painted in black and the luminescent leaves are white.

If you haven't seen the movie, watch it in 3-D. The graphics are amazing; it's a lot of fun! Go ahead, watch the movie and let me know what you think. Imagine how connected we will feel.

Christmas Candy Cane Coffeecake

Dissolve 1 pkg dry yeast in 1/4 C warm water
Scald 1 C milk, cool, and add to yeast mixture
Add 2 eggs, slightly beaten

In a separate bowl, combine: 4 1/4 C flour, 1/2 C sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp grated lemon rind
Cut in 1 C cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add yeast mixture; mix well. Dough is soft. Place in a greased bowl; cover and refrigerate.

Divide dough into thirds. On a floured surface, roll each third into a 6x15” rectangle. Spread 1/3 cranberry filling (see below) lengthwise down the center of the dough in a 2” wide strip. Cut dough w/ scissors every 1/2” from both outer edges toward the filling. Be careful not to cut too close to the filling. Crisscross pieces of dough over filling.

Place on a greased cooky sheet. Stretch dough to about 20”; curve to form a cane. Let rise 1/2 hour. Bake 375º for 25 min. Frost with a thin powdered sugar glaze and serve.

Cranberry Filling
Combine in a saucepan: 1 1/2 C finely chopped cranberries, 3/4 C sugar, 1/2 C raisins, 1/3 C chpd pecans, 1/3 C honey, 1 tsp grated orange rind. Cook over medium heat 5 min. Cool.

It might seem like a lot of work, but you'll be rewarded with a real treat. Remember, this recipe makes three canes. You can bake them all at once, store the rest in the fridge up to a week, or freeze one or two to bake at a later date.

The filling oozed out a bit on mine, but it still tasted great. Please be sure to let me know if you bake this holiday delight. Enjoy!

Cooking and baking were once my main passionately creative outlets. That's why I enjoy sharing my recipes with the you. 

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE to eat cranberries! I like fresh cranberry muffins,  fresh cranberry bread,  fresh cranberry relish, and fresh cranberry sauce.

Fresh! That is the key word! The Cranberries MUST be FRESH. And that only happens once a year. Now!

Every year I wait for cranberry season to arrive — it is frightfully short here in Hawai‘i!

The folks at the grocery store are beginning to know me as the cranberry fanatic. I ask for them weeks before they are here, knowing full well they will be gone before December first rolls around. That is why I buy up and freeze bags of Fresh Cranberries every year. 

You HAVE tasted Fresh Cranberries, right? Yes, they are tart, AND they are filled with vitamin C and fiber. They are the “good-for-you, healthy fruit.”

Try my recipe for Foolproof, Fresh, Hawaiian-style Cranberry Relish and you will be hooked — I promise. 

Foolproof, Fresh, Hawaiian-style Cranberry Relish

1 Cup Orange Juice

½-1 Cup sugar (I use ½ C, but you can use up to one cup)

1 Bag Fresh Cranberries

¼ Fresh Pineapple cut into bite-size pieces (substitute 1 small can of pineapple OR 1 apple OR 1 orange)

½ C chopped Mac Nuts (walnuts are a good substitute)

Cinnamon to taste

Bring the juice and sugar to a boil and add the remaining ingredients. Turn heat to medium, and cook for ten minutes, stirring every few minutes. Watch your stove, you don’t want this to boil over! Enjoy!

Remember, if you live here in Hawai‘I, Please save a few bags of fresh cranberries for me. I haven't stocked up just yet!

At one time or another, we have all had trouble remembering to see ourselves this way. Sometimes, when the outside world gets demanding, we forget who the real person is within us. Is that why the painting speaks to you?

Do you remember when you were a child? You used to raise your hand in grade school because you wanted to be picked. There was always someone in class who had all the answers. Their arm was held so high they were practically levitating out of their desk. Their hand was waving back and forth as “ooh, ooh” eeked out of their scrunched-up face. They KNEW the answer. They wanted to be SEEN, to be picked, and so did you.

“Me, Me, Pick Me!” Now it is YOUR turn to be called upon.

Do you remember those times you found yourself sliding down in the chair trying to become invisible instead of sitting up tall to be seen? Do you ever feel the need, even today, to be picked, to be the chosen one? I suspect that most of us do.

Now is the time to remember who you are. Now is the time to be visible not invisible, and not only to yourself but to the rest of the world, too. The world wants to meet you, to know your thoughts, to hear your words. We want to feel your heartfelt voice. Come on, raise your hand. Let us pick you. Step up, it is your turn.

Raise your hand, not just metaphorically! Show yourself and the rest of the world that you are here, that you have the answer, that you are relevant, that YOU matter!

If this painting reminds you of your joyful child within, or if you know a teacher, a friend, or a parent who will appreciate that same feeling, this will make an excellent “end-of-the-school-year gift” from you. To order your prints, go to: The Shop Page 

To download the article "Me, Me, Pick Me!" and receive your yummy Coconut Custard Pie Recipe, click here.

To download the recipe along with the article "Me, Me, Pick Me!" click here.

Beat 4 eggs
Add 3/4 C sugar and continue to beat
Add 1/4 C flour (I used WW flour), and 1 1/4 tsp
baking powder
Add 2 C milk, 1 tsp vanilla,
1/4 C melted butter,
and 1 C coconut

Pour into a glass pie pan sprayed with “pam” and bake at 350º for 1 hour 5 min.The pie makes its own crust. The coconut floats to the top, the sugars caramelize, and turn a lovely golden brown.

YUMMY!

If you missed January's newsletter and want to know why these journals are spilling over with ribbons click here to download the pdf file on Gratitude, Appreciation, & Celebration

Or read it here:

Gratitude looks back on things that have come before.
Appreciation looks at what is currently present.
Celebration opens the door for more to appear.

I want to share my latest method of celebration with you — so you can use it too. This idea came about in November when my friend Judy asked me what new and exciting things had happened in the two weeks since I had last seen her. I was stopped cold.

Had anything new and exciting happened?

It took me at least ten minutes to come up with something, and another ten minutes to come up with another something — and they were both big “somethings”. How could I have ever forgotten them?

Shocked at how far from my memory my good times were, we brainstormed ideas to celebrate them. Clearly I needed a way to keep the good times in the forefront of my mind.

You are going to love this idea. It is so easy, playful, inexpensive, and FUN! If having a glass of wine every time something good happens to you seems a bit excessive, try this instead:

Tape a piece of curling ribbon to the top of your journal, or to the edge of your calendar, to commemorate and celebrate the good as it comes into your life.

Today my journal has five different colored, curled ribbons hanging out of the top. Just looking at it every morning makes me smile. NOW I am regularly remembering all the good things happening in my life. How wonderful is that!

It is so easy for us to fall in-step with the gloom and doom pervasive in the media these days that we often forget the good times we are actually having. We don’t have to do that.

When we remember to LOOK for the good that surrounds us, when we remember to CELEBRATE the good that surrounds us, we open ourselves up to allow even more goodness in our lives. Celebrate Now! What have you got to lose?

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This month's featured painting, Promises & Secrets Within, was titled by good friends and the people who watched me paint her in public.

This mystery woman peers out at the world from within us, quiet and confident in her wisdom. She is delighted with the many promises and secrets she holds for us. They are all there for us to find - if we will look with our hearts instead of our eyes.

Who knows what really lies within the inner landscape of our existence? Can we navigate through to find out? Our future stretches out before us. We're on the verge of learning something new, of becoming more fully present in our own lives.

These times in which we live can be exciting or frightening. The choices we make regarding our perception of events, dictate our feelings and our responses to them.

Fear and excitement are "kissing cousins" of one another. When we realize that we can choose between fear and excitement, we have the power to decide which to feel in any given moment.

The awareness that there is a choice to be made comes first.

Collectively we have all begun a new year, 2009. On January 26, we entered the Chinese Year of the Ox, a year representing prosperity gained through fortitude and hard work; how appropriate. In addition, we have a new president who has emphasized the need for accountability and responsibility.

A new time is truly upon us. Who knows what promises and secrets lie ahead? We all have access to our greatness within. Let us choose to open ourselves up to all that is left to be discovered.

Our strengths await our presence. It is up to each one of us to stand tall and true ... our lives hinge on our decision to do so.

To read about Finding Your Promises and Secrets Within, click here.