Illustration Friday - Worn

Pigment and India ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board

(Click on image to enlarge)

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WELL WORN AND TRODDEN

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It's unfathomable how paths cross and for what reason? Maybe it is destiny, maybe the angels scripted it, but for awhile, their friendship developed a little known but well worn and trodden path of mutual admiration, respect, confidentiality, intellectual fencing, bantering and humor that led to mutual trust, love, understanding and fierce protection of each other's welfare. Thus was borne out of virtue, their friendship...that makes one laugh and the other stammer.

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Meet Me Under The Princesse's Portrait...

...in Autumn, in September, at noon. They move her around. So get familiar with her. Her name is Princesse Albert de Broglie, née Joséphine-Eléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. I am wearing a black suit with a silk scarf...

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Time Stands Still Until...

Like the wildlife dioramas at the American Museum Of Natural History, some moments in life seem to have stood still...until we nudge and stir them once again...

***

I miss Bella Sinclair. I have never laughed so hard this year as I have this week during the time I spent with my sister except with Bella. In fact I laugh so hard with Bella that she sometimes hushes me. I spent this week with my sister and my daughter and we had the best time around NYC, NJ and PA, but I saw Bella everywhere in NYC. I just did. Maybe my daughter's reading choice has a lot to do with it too, she is reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle".

Bella gave me orders to have fun and I did but still I miss her. I know I can't be selfish, for her sake I need her to concentrate on the enormous task of resettling in her new home. I don't know anyone as unselfish and generous as she is, maybe my sister, and then I remember Bella is my sister-friend. So it runs in my sisterhood. When I declared that I wanted to reconnect with my old best friends, Bella encouraged me.

On the way to NYC this morning, my phone rang and it was from someone I met 25 years ago. She is a nurse who brought her husband and her two young daughters to NJ with her in 1984. She is RM's aunt. RM's aunt works with my sister now and I got her telephone number from my sister's friend. Thank goodness these women generously shared phone numbers for how else can I start tracking RM? I know RM is a very private woman. She does not email, she does not send anything electronically. She has a computer but she does not have an email address. Oh my, just my luck! I left a message with her aunt on Friday.

In the morning, RM's aunt returned my call. She did not recognize my married name. I gave her my nickname and I had to pull the phone away from my ear to protect it from the piercing decibel of her scream on the other end when she recognized me. Then she told me "RM was here all day yesterday!" ACK! ACK! "I left you a message on Friday..." She says "Yes, I know, but I did not recognize your name, I did not know it was you!" I laugh. "So do you think you will share RM's phone number with me?" "Of course! She will be delighted to hear from you. We were talking about you yesterday!" I grin and my heart swells. She looks for RM's telephone number, in the meantime, she handed the phone to her husband and we talk about children and my husband.

Later, I called RM. She was asleep but the person who answered the phone woke her up. RM was on the phone. I hear her voice for the first time after many years and she sounds the same, kind and gentle and I can visualize her speaking with a smile. She says "Who is this?" and I tell her. And she exclaims "Hey where have you been?" as if I just left last week...There is no reacquainting sequence. She proceeds to ask me a lot of questions and I answer them and then she asks about my husband and tells me to relay a message to him. Then she tells me what to do the next time I come to visit so we can meet and she tells me that she needs a new photograph of me and my husband and the kids, and she heard I was doing something different and lofty, what did I really do?, etc. etc. I straightened it all out. I ask if I can call instead and she gives me another number and then I ask if I can email her, she replies, "No I don''t email." I laugh and I don't question her because I understand.

She tells me about what she did yesterday and about a movie she watched last night. She watched a Korean drama until past midnight so she was sleepy and then she tells me to call her back when I get home so we can talk some more.

All those years I missed her and have not spoken to her, has it been twenty three years? It's gone, it's as if I never left and it's as if we never separated. Why is that so? It's as if time stood still...

I attended a party this evening and there was a nurse I met the first week I arrived in the US. I ate too much Filipino food and was getting sleepy. I sat next to her on the sofa and I leaned my head on her shoulder. She puts her arm over my shoulders and addresses me "Inday" (Little sister) and tells me to rest, I know I'd fall asleep if I bent my head a little bit more so I just said "Thank you Manang (Big Sister)." It dawned on me, I am convinced some things don't change...If a friendship is really set on virtue, it never ends. As for RM, I need to convince her to get an email address...

My heart is light and satisfied and the first person I share the news with is my sister-friend...

Hello, how are you?

Let's see...so far, I looked like a ranger (Sunday), and archaeologist (Thursday) and the Mafia (Friday). I don't know what the bases are because I look like I do everyday when I am in Texas and that is a middle-aged wife and mother. Tomorrow, I wonder what I will be compared to or what I will look like. I know we are going to a party.

So today, my daughter was reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" while my sister and I were busy laughing at the things we were saying to each other. My sister has this uncanny ability to make any situation humorous and today was no different. My daughter and I dragged ourselves out of bed finally and my sister took us to central New Jersey at 3:00 o'clock PM among the hills, trees and farms and into Delaware and Pennsylvania.

The quaint little towns were becoming "touristy" so after eating ice cream (guess what flavor I had) we left for a friend's house.

My sister's friend is the best friend of another friend of hers and someone I met 27 years ago. I met her because she was the friend of my best friend then, before RM. This best friend that I had also happened to have been my mentor, my clinical instructor in nursing college and my roommate in NJ for three months. I met this best friend of mine when I was a 15 year old overly assertive and enthusiastic student nurse who needed supervision. She was a young clinical instructor who had the most beautiful smile, dimples, disposition, patience and open mind. Later when she went to the US, she facilitated my employment papers with the human resource department of the hospital in New Jersey where she worked and later offered me a job. When I arrived in the US, I had no place to stay so she let me stay in her apartment for three months until I moved to a place of my own.

So we arrived at my sister's friend's house and I immediately remembered the time we went to a park with my best friend. I asked her if they get in touch with one another and she said yes, whereupon I asked if she wouldn't mind if I asked for my former best friend's telephone number. She obliged and she also gave me my former best friend's address. Since I had my phone with me and she was preparing dinner for us, I dialed my former best friend's number...

Twenty seven years ago I was so full of myself. I was young and immature and after making friends with everyone and establishing very close and intimate relationships with a few of them, I decided to pack up and leave with such short notice and in my best friend's case, no notice at all.

So this evening I found myself talking to her, OH MY GOD! she sounded the same like she did 27 years ago. She did not recognize me because I was stammering and struggling to find the right words in our language which I was never fluent in the first place. So I spoke English and she asked who I was and I slowly said my name because I was so anxious for her reaction and I could hear her, and her husband who was driving, on the other line and it was like 27 years ago again...So in half an hour we updated each other with everything that happened to our lives within the last 23 years...and I finally found the courage to apologize to her. She was caught off guard and asked why I was apologizing and I told her for not saying goodbye, after all the good things she has done for me and she simply said "oh, you don't need to apologize, you had personal needs at that time and you had to go..." Wow! I can see her face, smiling and cheerful as ever and she was more concerned about seeing me before I go back to Texas but she asked one question..."Are you still thin?"...GULP! "No, I am very fat" I replied and just like someone who was sure how I'd take it, she said "Shame on you!" and she laughed and so I had to go but not before I told her that I always loved her and never stopped loving her and she replied "I know!"

An hour later she sent her email address by text message.

The Delaware River along the borders of PA and NJ

People Watching

Here are some of New York's memorable faces that I want to remember:

If I lived in New York City I will definitely have 2 things: a library card so I can read and draw at the Rose Reading Room and a membership to the Met. There is also a collective reason why I never ventured much into the city when I lived across the bay - the crowd, the mob, the noise, the traffic and taxes. Yet it is a perfect place for an introvert - no one will bother you.

NYC Skywatch

I always thought that the Gulf Coast had the most beautiful and majestic skies especially before the arrival of a hurricane, but a few days ago, NYC gave me a glimpse of the beautiful cloud formations that dampened our walks with rain and drizzle. My SIL focused on photographing buildings and scenes. I kept looking at the clouds. I wonder if this caused the pinched nerve on my neck.

A Punctuated Coffee and Tea Time!

A Punctuated Coffee and Tea Time...

But they are landing on their feet!

And they are wearing great Italian-made leather shoes!

Ta da!

(Pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board. I started drawing this image an hour before I left for the airport, then while waiting for my flight and during the flight. Ta da!)

Ces said...
Another race to 100!
March 27, 2009 2:05 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
MAN, I love that sky!

20
March 26, 2009 11:10 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
21
March 26, 2009 11:10 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
22
March 26, 2009 11:10 PM

Ces said...
Are you practicing your counting skills?
March 27, 2009 2:18 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
I is in your closet counting shoes 23
March 26, 2009 11:28 PM

Ces said...
Well you obviously don't know how to count because I only have two pairs of shoes!

74!

I am in your cupboard counting all the polka dotted cups!!!
March 27, 2009 2:31 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
24

I've moved on to counting suits
March 26, 2009 11:36 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
OH! Holy crap!
March 26, 2009 11:37 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Your closet just threw up on me!
March 26, 2009 11:37 PM

Ces said...

75

Leave my clothes alone!!! They're too big for you!!! Elm trees are huge! I don't know why I care so much about someone so liberal anyway?

March 27, 2009 2:40 PM

Ces said...
76

I am counting Obama's broken promises...Here's your funny hat back!
March 27, 2009 2:45 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Yeah, right.
March 26, 2009 11:45 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
That elm tree thing -- a complete non sequitur. You're getting delirious.
March 26, 2009 11:45 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Anyone reading our comments will think we are completely nuts.
March 26, 2009 11:46 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
29, baby
March 26, 2009 11:46 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Whoops, my bad. That was 30. This is 31.
March 26, 2009 11:46 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Hahaha! Thank you. And here's your soapbox back.
March 26, 2009 11:48 PM

Ces said...
It's those liberals, my brain is allergic to them.

77
March 27, 2009 2:49 PM

Ces said...

78

Yes, you are.

March 27, 2009 2:49 PM

Ces said...
79

You lost the tic-tac-toe game.
March 27, 2009 2:50 PM

Ces said...
80

You are a terrible influence on me.
March 27, 2009 2:50 PM

Ces said..
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by the author.
March 27, 2009 2:52 PM

Ces said...
82

and I welcome it!
March 27, 2009 2:52 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
HEY, I did NOT lose that game. And 'tis YOU who are a bad influence on MEEEEEeeeee. Ok, totally dried up on the wit here.
March 26, 2009 11:52 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
March 26, 2009 11:53 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
WHOA.I thought you'd never say that to another blogger again!
March 26, 2009 11:55 PM

Ces said...
Chicken!
March 26, 2009 11:55 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
bok bok bok
March 26, 2009 11:56 PM

Ces said...
I took it back!
March 26, 2009 11:58 PM

Ces said...
I am not playing with you any more :(

Get out of my closet, you messed it up! :)
March 27, 2009 12:00 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
You asking me...to..come outta da closet? Ok. Good night, sweetheart.
March 27, 2009 12:04 AM

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Happy Father's Day My Dearest Viking!!!

By Bella Sinclair. The Catfish Ride. Ces, her Viking who loves to fish, Epsilon 1 who caught a ginormous catfish, and Epsilon 2 who starred in a musical production of Don't Rock the Boat.
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Well, he's more like an English German Viking but he is proud to be mistaken as full Norwegian.

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He is the only man I ever loved and wanted to marry. Ironically, he was the only man who did not propose to me. He hem-hawed until I got a phone call from my Mother who was upset that I moved to Texas to be with the Viking. You know the story.

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He is the kind of man who will do anything to please my mother, his mother and yes he's learning...me.

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He is a good father...let me say that again, he is a very good father.

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He is gentle, soft-spoken, respectful to women, an egalitarian, and honest and trustworthy man.

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He knows when to be protective of me and knows when to leave me alone and deal with the a--holes.

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He is gregarious, amicable and loves a good party. He is intelligent, eloquent and very good in Math, he is a good teacher. He helped the children with their homework.

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He writes postcards, sends birthday greetings and remembers birthdays and anniversaries.

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I met him in 1979. We have been married for 23 years. He does not swear, he has never said a mean thing to me. He is patient with me. (Something must be wrong with this man for putting up with me). We have two teenagers and they adore him and listen to him. That's a lot right there.

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Oh, one more thing. He is gentle to Daisy and Snowflake, he speaks softly to them.

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He greets me and the children a sweet and gentle good morning. He wakes them up gently Like "Hey son, how are you, did you sleep well, time to wake up" or "Hi Em, good morning honey, are you awake?" On the other hand I just announce "it's time to get up. Up. UP!

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Happy Father's Day, I love you!

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For Bella:Many of you have expressed interest in supporting Bella through this difficult time. if you would like to contribute a letter, poem or piece of artwork to a care package for Bella (no financial contributions please), contact Aimee at Artsyville (at) gmail (dot) com.

Illustration Friday - Drifting

Not drifting,
But resilient.
Open,
And not close.
Feel and be real,
But my heart can no longer break...

It has to learn to stretch so I can embrace the corners of the globe to envelope those I love in times of sorrow, in sympathy for the personal losses of my dearest Bella Sinclair in Japan, Diana Evans in Canada and Arija in Australia. This month! It has brought me great joy and sorrow alike.

I am not superstitious. I am used to death and dying. It is to me, no matter how a life ends, a part of the circle of life. I do not judge death as fair or unfair. It is what it is. Life has no guarantees, no templates and no known script. However, I give myself permission to react whether in anger or in sorrow. I have seen death as a child, deaths of my playmates from trauma in front of my own eyes; and of classmates from illnesses, of children ran over by motor vehicles in the city streets and later as a student nurse, I wrapped my first dead patient when I was 16 years old. There were many more deaths to come. One day I performed three post mortem care procedures and filled three death certificates as a trauma nurse. I have also filled birth certificates followed by death certificates with the same birth and death times. It gets heavy and my resilient mind and heart have learned to empathize with the loss while being present for the living and allow me to focus on the tasks at hand.

Death can be beautiful. It was in the case of my beloved Mother. She died while my sister and I held her in our arms and each of us kissing her forehead. We have done all we could. We nursed her day and night for three weeks. She was defiant, refusing to talk to the priest and approving our plans to take her home where she was to settle with twenty-four hour home nursing care. Then one day she agreed to talk and asked me to pray for her. The day before she was scheduled to go home, her physical suffering seemed to have ceased and my sister awakened me from a light nap by our Mother’s bed.

My sister is blessed. As a nurse in the intensive trauma unit she and her fellow nurses have learned to skillfully monitor patients with great clinical skills and as a human being, she is blessed with an enormous capacity for love, generosity and empathy. She is also a spiritual being. She is cognizant of the signs of impending death that are not written in textbooks; the spiritual signs. In the early morning before I clinically declared my Mother’s death, there was a harbinger of news. I did not know then and I was apt to dismiss it as a coincidence. My sister told me to let it be and to focus on facilitating my Mother’s passage with comfort and prayers.

I have learned to be open now. On Saturday when my dearest sister-friend told me of the tragic news, the same messenger came to my bedroom and furiously circled around me and all over my project notes and papers. I was wrapped up in sorrow and pain as I physically felt my heart breaking to pieces, meanwhile the messenger taunted me. It continued to do so for half an hour and then I remembered my sister’s words. It finally stopped and left when I verbally acknowledged it and said “Yes, I know.”

For Bella:

Many of you have expressed interest in supporting Bella through this difficult time. if you would like to contribute a letter, poem or piece of artwork to a care package for Bella (no financial contributions please), contact Aimee at Artsyville (at) gmail (dot) com.

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I have said all I can. I must now retreat and proceed in silence...

For Bella

Bella Sinclair. "She regaled them with stories of odd hobbies and sprouts at the CuppaCuppa Tree."
Bella Sinclair, Ces and Aimee

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Thank you very much to all of you for all the supportive comments you left for Bella here and at her blog. I am comforted to see such outpouring of affection for Bella and her daughters. Bella is truly someone special to all of us. When she returns I think she will find it heartwarming to see this genuine display of affection and support.

Many of you have expressed interest in supporting Bella through this difficult time. if you would like to contribute a letter, poem or piece of artwork to a care package for Bella (no financial contributions please), contact Aimee at Artsyville (at) gmail (dot) com.

Today is a sad day for my dearest friend, reiki master Arija. Her only brother passed away last night in Australia. If you have a chance, please stop by her blog and offer her your support. Arija is an accomplished photographer, a poet and an absolute phenomenal woman.

Blogging

Blogworld is an odd place. That I feel deep emotional ties to someone with whom I have not shared the same air in a room is rather unfathomable at times. Yet every pore of my body feel love for Bella that I can only compare to the love I have for my family. Blogging provides a place to develop intimacy with anonymity. We find ourselves more open with our blog relationships that we take it to a private line. Perhaps the reason why such closeness is prone to develop at a rapid pace is because we do not have to deal with all the quirks of human nature, of physicality, of habits and mannerisms that we may find annoying or hinder us from establishing human contact. Instead we go straight to what is meaningful to us, a deep bond with someone whose intellect, artistic talents, values and ideals we seek and admire.

I have not been around your blogs lately due to work commitments. Summer is peak season for project implementations. I just had one this weekend and it is going well. This summer we will be installing our massive clinical information system at our newest member hospital. It will require some night shift rotations on my part which immediately start after I return from my trip. I will try to make up visiting you as soon as am able.

Thank you very much.

Bella Sinclair: The Other Flower Girls

I do not feature other artist's works on my blog with two exceptions: the great painter Artemisia Gentilischi (July 8 1593 – 1652/1653) and my favorite modern day artist illustrator and beloved sister-friend Bella Sinclair. I miss Bella. I feel lacking. Something is missing. I am not having a lot of fun drawing. I go through the motions but I don't feel anything. I wish Bella success and happiness.

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The Other Flower Girls

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This is what happened. Bella did a series of the most beautiful illustrations of little flower girls. She called it (drum roll please) The Flower Girls Series. TA DA! We all loved it. But Renee and I loved it more. We loved it so much that we were mad that the teacher was getting it instead of us. We offered to fly to Japan to teach just so we can have the Flower Girls Book given to us. Imagine that. OMG! Imagine Renee and I...Little Emma's teachers? So Bella drew this for us (or perhaps for her own peace of mind).

Bella Sinclair. Flower Girls. "While Renee, Ces and Bella danced beneath bells of blue."

Everything Bella Sinclair creates with her drawing hand is beautiful.

And Here's a mish-mash of comments from her series.

Björnik said...
OMG! Just looking at it from my dashboard makes me wanna jump into it headlong and land on these lovely little girls feet! You've captured it again Bella! I can't wait for the remaining 10!:)
March 12, 2009 2:32 PM

Björnik said...
Ok remaining 9, I'm an architect and it's a shame if I don't know how to subtract. hehe help us here, we need more wind! *blows*
March 12, 2009 2:35 PM

Ces said...
Ahhhhhhhhha! This is so beautiful! I want to be that teacher who will receive this book!!!!!!!! I love this one. The orchid is so real. You can start a botanical series. By the way I forgot to tell you that the euphemism about the pencil forest being a stretch is quite clever and wicked.Everyday I as I continue to look and examine I notice the features of your drawing. Your characters' feet are so cute. I feel like biting them.
March 12, 2009 3:01 PM

Ces said...
I gather from the girls, this is an international school?
March 12, 2009 3:03 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Ces, Bjornik:Ok, guys. What is it with you and feet? One of you wants to land on them, the other wants to bite them. Honestly! Next time, I'm putting steel-toed boots on 'em.Ces, yes, it's an international school, with girls coming from all over.And Bjornik, let me know which buildings you helped design and I'll make a note never to stand in them.... ;)
March 12, 2009 5:20 PM

Ces said...
All I said was to bite them the way I nibbled on my children's feet when they were newborns. Bjornik has issues. I would be wary about a man who wants to land on women's feet. That will remind me not to wear open toed sandals when I meet him someday.
March 12, 2009 8:10 PM

Ces said...
I can't wait for the next flower! I want a little Ces climbing a big tree, not part of the series of course but may I please please be YOUNG again and have cute feet like those. I have big feet now!
March 12, 2009 8:30 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Ces! Can't...breathe...laughing...too...hard!Aaah, a wish for small feet. They seem to come at a price, though. Notice: small extremities. Gigantic noggin. It's a wonder they can even stand.
March 12, 2009 8:40 PM

Ces said...
The shape of their mouths are so adorable! Yes! Postcards or Greeting cards! Ooh I like that you counter my morbid abecedarian illustrations with these wholesome, lovely, adorable, bright and gay illustrations!I am using the word "gay" before it became controversial as in Renee's post.
March 13, 2009 12:59 AM

Ces said...
Where you be? The epsilons at school done ya in?
March 14, 2009 6:41 AM

Ces said...
You are a ray of sunshine!
March 14, 2009 10:02 AM

Ces said...
You blow me away! I am out of here. See you in Alabama or maybe Nagoya!
March 14, 2009 8:04 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Woooooooosh, baby!
March 14, 2009 8:10 PM

Renee said...
So fantastic Bella.Have a wonderful weekend.Love Renee
March 14, 2009 9:49 PM

Ces said...
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain,...rain...
March 15, 2009 11:25 AM

Ces said...
Overcast, rain, cold, stuffed, sleepy, drawing quaking aspens, I remember a lady from Japan commenting on my ginkgo biloba drawing. I have the impression that she is an expat living in the orient, she is so genteel and I feel a little bit intimidated and cautious. She creates wonderful drawings, she still does, except now she makes me smile so much and she is a great source of inspiration and happiness!
March 16, 2009 8:56 AM

Ces said...
Overcast, rain, cold, stuffed, sleepy, drawing quaking aspens, I remember a lady from Japan commenting on my ginkgo biloba drawing. I have the impression that she is an expat living in the orient, she is so genteel and I feel a little bit intimidated and cautious. She creates wonderful drawings, she still does, except now she makes me smile so much and she is a great source of inspiration and happiness! March 16, 2009 8:57 AM

Ces said...
I hate laptops and touch pads! See - I deleted the wrong comment which was the right comment last night and the wrong comment tonight, because it is a duplicate was not deleted because I scrolled on the wrong trash can icon. I'll go back to drawing, no touch pad just pen and paper.
March 16, 2009 9:01 AM

Ces said...
Holy Keyboard! I left 15 comments for this post! Now 16. Dang!
May 1, 2009 12:18 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
HAHA! Inadvertent spam.You cannot resist. You will make it 17, won't you.
May 1, 2009 12:33 PM

Ces said...
Your blog is very addictive. I need therapy!
May 1, 2009 12:39 PM

Renee said...
Bella, the poem is so beautiful isn't it.Love Renee p.s. Where is our Ces?
May 1, 2009 1:13 PM

Ces said...
I have to answer Renee. I am here Renee. 98! Oooh I am getting excited!
May 1, 2009 1:25 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Beat ya to it
May 1, 2009 1:31 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
HIYAHHHH wooooOOOCHAW!
May 1, 2009 1:31 PM

Ces said...
Whut! WHUT! WHUUUUUT!??? You keyboard ninja stealer you. YOU YOU YOU did two turns. ARRGH!
May 1, 2009 1:37 PM

Ces said...
WHAAAAA!(*SULK*):(
May 1, 2009 1:38 PM

Ces said...
I am calling the Kung Fu Hustle Landlady to settle this!
May 1, 2009 1:40 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Wait. Lemme get my industrial strength earplugs....
May 1, 2009 1:48 PM

Ces said...
HAHAH! Someday we should watch Kung Fu Hustle together. hehehe.
May 1, 2009 1:55 PM

Eli Catroucci said...
very nice , very clean and I am very first again. Oh the joys of blogging!!!!
May 2, 2009 8:33 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Why, hello, Sybil. Oh, I mean Eli. Congratulations on being first. For that you get a big kiss. *Tsup!*
May 2, 2009 9:02 AM

Eli Catroucci said...
Do you like my anagram? Hehehe!That striped building reminds me of a prison suit or pyjamas.
May 2, 2009 9:14 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
HAHAAAA!Ok, I always sucked at anagrams.
May 2, 2009 9:34 AM

Snowflake said...
What happened to the girl that was eaten by the Taco plant? Did you bury her?
May 2, 2009 9:40 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Fertilizer, baby.
May 2, 2009 9:48 AM

Ces said...
Bwaahahah!
May 2, 2009 9:50 AM

Valerie said...
hahahaha, poor girl... pls try to revive her. i'm sure you can work miracles.
May 2, 2009 11:09 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Oh hi, Valerie! Didn't see you sneak in there. Ew, little girl is partly digested. Don't think you want me to revive her. :(
May 2, 2009 11:12 AM

Ces said...
Partly digested? Who corrupted you?
May 2, 2009 11:36 AM

Renee said...
Bella these are all so cool.Thank you for the lovely comment about the dinner picture. There was this pervert that came to my site named Eli and said that dinner reminded him of fetal alcohol syndrome.Nice way to ruin the picture Pervert.Bella, I knew you would love it.A ukulele for Emma. Adorable. xoxo
May 2, 2009 12:23 PM

Ces said...
I thought Eli's comment over at Renee's hit the nail on the head!
May 2, 2009 12:42 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
BAAAAHAHAHAHA! What? Eli, a pervert? Clearly, he knows what he likes, and you are too much woman for him. Ces, OMG, I get such a good cardio workout laughing with you!
May 2, 2009 12:49 PM

Renee said...
Bella the vampyre is on the loose. I think it may have been all the red in your pictures today that have set her off.I hope that she does not know your address in Japan as she knows you have called her out about being breakfast this morning.xoxoxReneeOh shit.... I just realized my name starts with R.... I might be tempting to her too, as she may think red = r and renee = r. And I have 217 pounds of fat and blood.I'm getting scared shitless. If I should die before I wake Bella, you know how I feel. And you also will know who did it.Love Renee xoxo
May 2, 2009 1:07 PM

Renee said...
For God's sake Bella be careful what you are saying.Of course she is sultry and sexy and we want her to bite our necks and maybe even nibble on our left earlobes but for all the vampyre slayers that have gone before us. We cannot go down without a fight.By the way did you read Twilight, total teen book and it was one of our bookclub picks. Anyway, my sister Mickey kept saying I don't get it, like what would happen if she has her periods.' And I said 'that would be a win/win.'Okay back to our scheduled biting of the neck.Run to the nearest Shinto Temple and get them to tie some garlic cloves around your neck.xoxo
May 2, 2009 1:18 PM

Renee said...
Bella, where the fuck is Ces. I haven't heard from her in about 18 seconds. I'm scared, you don't think she has turned into a bat and is flying to Winnipeg do you.One of my nephew's is a cop so maybe I can use his tazer. My hand is sore so I can't squeeze any garlic.The tazer will have to do.Love Renee xoxo
May 2, 2009 1:35 PM

Ces said...
Oh my goodness. The spittin' cursin' woman was here. She panicked because she could not find me - because I went to sleep. YEAH! That's what happen when you are a human woman - you get tired and sleepy at night! Bella, Renee cracks me up and she is all hyped up because you agree with her on almost everything. Why don't you tell her that you were just pretending? :)
May 2, 2009 5:03 PM

Idora Aciloeci said...
You are the shamrock fiestaware in the dessert.
May 2, 2009 9:15 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Oh my goodness, Renee! I think you worked yourself into a tizzy! No nightmares of vampires last night, I hope. Check your neck. Any puncture wounds?

Oh, V. There's beauty all around. You don't need to travel out of the country to experience it. I firmly believe that. Even around my old home in Westchester, NY, there were pockets of astounding natural beauty. It was intoxicating to drink it all in. I'll see what I can do about nabbing that metal baby and mailing him to you, though. Hopefully no one will notice.

Hola, Idora. Si, I am always green with envy.
May 2, 2009 9:38 PM

Idora Aciloeci said...
HAHAHHA! That would be one giant erection and it will be bigger than the rest of your body! I would love to see that! HAHAHAH!
May 2, 2009 10:17 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Make way, make way! Very happy person coming through!
May 2, 2009 10:21 PM

Ces said...
OH MY GOD!This is perfect!You are perfect!
May 3, 2009 9:48 AM

Ces said...
Oh girl, I am so proud, so happy. Oooh!I love you so much!
May 3, 2009 9:50 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Oh, no. Kind of anti-climactic, but it is what it is. Thank you sooooooo much for keeping me laughing throughout. You kept me going, Ces, really you did. I love you!!!I'm just glad it's over. Woohoooo!
May 3, 2009 10:02 AM

Ces said...
OH MY GOD!OH MY GOD!OH MY GOD!I am almost chocking from being so overwhelmed. I actually have to get out of your blog because I am beside myself. Oh Bella, you are so good. I don't think you know how good you are. My head is about to burst and my neck is pounding. I am so beside myself. This is the most beautiful art series ever. I have never seen anything like this in the blogs since I started blogging.I don't see any reason why we can't buy a copy of this series. It is a sin not to make this available. Oh I may have to quit my job to be your agent!
May 3, 2009 10:05 AM

Ces said...
I mean choking. I can't think straight. This is too overwhelming.
May 3, 2009 10:14 AM

Silke said...
Just wonderful! So incredible. What a talent you have! :) Silke
May 3, 2009 10:17 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Good heavens, woman! Get a hold of yourself! It's not as incredible as some OTHER series I've seen here in blogville (you know who you are, and yes, the abecedarian is one of them). You are definitely biased, but that's why I love you.
May 3, 2009 10:18 AM

Bella Sinclair said...
Thank you, Silke!
May 3, 2009 10:19 AM

aimee said...
oh!i'm speechless.almost.they're beautiful, bella - you've used your illustration gift so generously and preserved all of those little girls just as they are. their parents will treasure these drawings for so many years. in a few years, when you've recovered from this amazing effort, hopefully you'll look back and treasure them, too.celebrate. you did it. :)
May 3, 2009 10:58 AM

linda cardina said...
CES IS RIGHT!!!!!!!! OMG!!! THEY ARE SO PERFECT!! I HAVE TO TELL U I AM SAD THAT U ARE DONE....BUT I AM HAPPY FOR U. I REALLY ENJOYED EACH AND EVERYONE. SURE WISH I WAS THE MISS LINDA THAT WAS RECEIVING THIS SPECIAL GIFT. BELLA THE TEACHER ARE GOING TO BE SO THRILLED. I HOPE U CAN TAKE PICS OF THEM SEEING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. U ARE AMAZING!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEW CREATIONS...WHAT NEXT? CARTOON FOR DISNEY CHANNEL?? NICK JR??XOXOX LINDA
May 3, 2009 12:09 PM

Renee said...
Absolutely amazing Bella. Just fantastic. And the picture of the kids around the teachers. Amazing and so heartwarming.Bella you did an incredible job and what a gift that the teacher will keep for ever.You have created such a work of art and an heirloom for someone.Bella these were such a joy for me to look at, sometimes when things were harder than others and I could look at these cute little faces and scenes you did it made me feel better.Love Renee xoxo
May 3, 2009 12:48 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
OH GOOD GRIEF, LINDA! WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING? THANK YOU!
May 3, 2009 2:37 PM

Ces said...
I have not felt differently about this series yet. In fact my feelings are more intense
May 3, 2009 5:49 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Ces. If you became any more intense, I fear you will become a human black hole. This was comment #5 for you, but who's counting. ;)
May 3, 2009 8:32 PM

Ces said...
Oh my God! You called me a "Black ho--" Oh my God! That is so politically incorrect if I lived in Dallas. A councilman is tried to get that term 'black hole' banned because according to him it is a racist comment. Oh yeah what is Stephen Hawking and the other physicists going to use? "Overly pigmented hole"? But this is the Flower Girl series and I digress.
May 3, 2009 9:35 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
WHUH?? No freakin' way, Ces! Racist??? I'm sorry -- what a fool. I don't understand. "Black" is not derogatory by itself. Maybe he doesn't like the word "hole"? What kind of hole is he thinking of?! Overly pigmented hole. HA! This is #6.
May 3, 2009 9:57 PM

Ces said...
Is there aquota here? What happens if I exceed my comment quota, do I get expelled, BLACKBALLED, send me to an alternative blogworld? Hmn? I like Emma peeking from behind the rose.
May 4, 2009 6:37 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Good morning, Ces! Love your new avatar! #7. hehehe
May 4, 2009 7:03 PM

Renee said...
Good morning doll.I love the two little girls peeking out behind the rose too. So adorable.How is the move coming? Are you packing up yet?Lots of love and have a good nights sleep with wonderful and meaningful dreams.Love Renee xoxox
May 4, 2009 10:02 PM

Renee said...
So glad you are up. We need you (as in I need you) on you know who's blog. She is too funny.What will you toss. Why not keep most of it, I bet all of it, even the junk, is keepable.Are you guys excited?Love Renee xoxo
May 5, 2009 10:42 AM

Renee said...
Wolverine oowww ooowww hoowwwllll.Nip Tear, Nip Tear Lick. xoxoxo
May 5, 2009 11:08 AM

Ces said...
Whut? Renee recruited you again?Oh crap, you are making my head grow big, it will soon explode. I think they just want someone to listen and I am a very good listener because I don't retain all the crap details, so I am not a good gossip. And I never personalize it unless I really love someone.
May 5, 2009 11:20 AM

Renee said...
Any actor that tries to play in a Red Riding Hood movie. I will be the casting director and say 'could I see your tongue please.' Thank you very much.xoxox
May 5, 2009 11:28 AM

Ces said...
Your shoulders are Better bella, more shapely. Mine are just like a wad of thick cotton towel. I am so confused. I have never seen a Hugh Jackman movie. All I konw is he was the emcee for the Grammy Awards.
May 5, 2009 11:32 AM

Ces said...
Hello Gamera,You can always talk to me.Yours,Godzilla
May 5, 2009 12:41 PM

Bella Sinclair said...
Renee, Ces, you two are the biggest nuts I've ever had the pleasure of laughing with. Wait, that sounded kind of wrong....
May 5, 2009 3:05 PM

Ces said...
Hahaha. You can say we are a trio of nuts but that would be very abnormal. It is almost always only a pair. Two nuts are too much, three is overkill!
May 5, 2009 4:42 PM

Renee's birthday caravan: (Blogger Self portraits): The Gemini ladies Ces and Linda constantly compared designer apparel, Bella Sinclair practiced her bizarro serenading skills, and Bjornik eating Renee's birthday cake.