Who decides what is normal, and who wants to be normal anyway?

Come to think of it, I have, at times, wished I could just "be normal" and "be happy with the things that normal people want in life".

Decoded that means marriage, a house, kids, a regular job. Heck, I have had those things in life, but they haven't been on my radar for quite some time now. No matter how much I have wanted to feel normal, I instinctively knew those things would not, by themselves, make me happy.

I needed more. Somehow I need to feel I'm pushing the envelope of my life in order to feel happy. I have some kind of need to feel I'm making a difference in life.

Does the world really need another painting?

Maybe not. Although maybe the world needs me to feel the kind of hope that is needed in order to paint another painting.

Did you know that it takes hope to paint? Not only does it require hope, it requires Buckets of Hope!

—Hope I can match the vision I have in my head using the materials I use

—Hope other people feel entranced enough with the process to watch me paint or buy my painting

—Hope my vision or words touch someone enough to uplift them and give them Hope

That last one is the one I am hoping the most. I want YOU to feel deeply connected to YOUR own hopes and dreams. If I'm doing my job (painting) "right", the hopes and dreams I have while I'm painting are tangible in the results. My painting will stir something in you.

That's my contribution. That is how I make meaning in the world.

Connection is my word for the year. Connection has to start within. I have to feel connected to my inner being. Then I have to connect to my subject matter. Next I connect to my painting process and finally I connect to you through my painting.

YOU are my intended connection... well, YOUR connection to YOUR inner being is my intended connection.

See, it takes BUCKETS OF HOPE to make the connection — both yours and mine.

I've been a fan of Christine Kane'sblog and eZine for about a year. On December 31, 2009, I worked an exercise she offered her readers: The Word of the Year Discovery Tool.

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.

One of my favorite Xmas traditions is baking a Candy Cane Coffeecake for breakfast. YUM! I usually start the process the night before and let the dough rest in the fridge overnight, but this year I did it all this morning. The recipe comes from an OLD cookbook put out by WPL (WI Power and Light). I've been making this since high school.

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!

This might come as a shock to you, but I wasn't always a professional artist. In fact, there were years when my creative talents were geared more to making a home than making art. Creativity will NOT be stopped. It simply must seep out through the pores of a creative person (I believe we are All creative in our own ways).

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!