The Art of Gratitude at the TToT

I’ve never been one to have a birthday or a Christmas list. My friends and family have found me quite frustrating in that respect. My wants are few and they often see my needs as many. But my needs are not many. They’re more esoteric and intangible, (like health or find out what happened to my partner) and if they’re not, then they are downright expensive (like a car, or my school loans) These things don’t really avail themselves of listing. So what do you get a girl who has everything and nothing all at the same time?

Last weekend my niece’s husband, Andy took part in an art show. He is an incredible artist. He also owns a very cool tattoo shop.  He had this painting that I fell in love with and guess what!…. YUP…. gonna be hanging it up some time soon! Is it not the coolest painting?

I love and adore any and all homemade art. Okay, that’s a lie. I was not into all that art with defecation and religious icons from a few years back and there have been a few pieces of museum art that I find too cynical and depressing . What I’m talking about is art that has been made/given by someone I love and who thought I would like it or made it especially for me!  There is the refrigerator door variety… like the poodle wolf seen here… or SpongeBob or the Puppy Planet, both of which are renting space on my fridge.  or this classic!

folksie stuff! My  friend Lori makes these and all kinds of things that would have to be a post by themselves as there are sooooo many!

 Then there is the food variety. The cake is actually a three-tiered mountain for a friend with a llama farm but I love giving art away as well… and the cup…my friend Ari made that for me thinking I would love it and I did… but he got to drink it cuz I don’t like coffee… but I love the design… He was trying to make a monkey getting into a taxi on 57th St., but this is what came out. I think it’s pretty impressive no matter what!

 I also bind books. All the paper was handmade by my partner. He was an amazing artist. I love being able to make something that as long as the paper holds out is still from us both.

My brother John is an incredible artist. He gave me this (it’s huge!) for the heck of it… I KNOW! I love it! It hangs in my office. This is a little vignette of some art pieces made by my sister and my niece… and the bird was given to me by friends from a local artist. My friend Richard recently printed this for me… he was a good sport when I asked him to forgo some of his usual precision because I so loved the foggy look and the small bird in all that background. I think it makes her look more delicate.        It’s a crummy shot of an incredible shot because I forgot to get the computer photo.

This is a hand from an art project when my nephew was in art school. It’s made of beeswax. I use it as a bookend.

Believe me I have much more… but I suppose I should mention a few other things that I find myself grateful for this week.

 Managed to photograph this little guy on a walk with Doug… Oh , who’s Doug ? Oh well, I try to let him have his privacy and not mention him too often as he fears having too many adoring fans… but, I have this dog that I am also quite grateful for … his name is Doug. He’s pretty cute… as a matter of fact the poodle wolf in the start of this post was modeled after him. I’m sure you will notice the resemblance. 

 Remember this little guy? He showed up in our yard and on the back deck pretty regularly for a few months. Then he was gone for a few days. We were afraid he got killed…. he DIDN’T! He does have one less toe though. He had a rough night somewhere, but he’s not talking. What happens in Vegas… I’m just glad he’s okay.

This morning I woke up to a thank you that I really appreciated and to another friend bending over in the driveway showing his backside to our security camera. Not as grateful, but very grateful he kept his pants up.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?

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