apple – Art Apple A Day

July 22, 2011

Day 295 – A Smallish Nap… or Two

”Let’s begin by taking a smallish nap or two.”
-Winnie the Pooh

Poor Pooh has been lost in the Harry Potter buzz. I adore Winnie The Pooh. Ok, so who doesn’t?

There is a new Disney animated film about the Hundred Acre Woods with the whole cast of characters – Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga & Roo, Eeyore, and TIGGER! I cannot wait to see it and get lost for a couple of hours in my childhood.

I also loved the book The Tao of Pooh – I think it would be a great time to re-read it. The book uses Pooh’s natural optimism and outlook to teach Taoism which is a way of appreciating and learning from whatever happens in everyday life. Get stuck in the door to your home, no problem, sit back and enjoy the time with a friend as you wait patiently to lose a few pounds. No need to panic, it will all sort out in time. Live in the present for heaven’s sake!

I didn’t sleep but a wink last night and my weary AS body needed a smallish nap or two today – and since Pooh begins most tasks in life with naps – how bad can they be?

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 295 was created in Black India Ink and Watercolor.

In The Studio

1. Countdown – 70 days to Apple-A-Thon!

2. Process Photo of the Day

3. Apple Recipe of the Day – Candied Apple Brie

4. Interesting Article Of The Day – RA Guy talks my kind of talk – Design/Architecture and a dream for an Autoimmune Wellness Center

5. Which Winnie The Pooh Character are you? – Take the Personality Quiz!

April 24, 2011

Day 206 – Soft Spring

“On soft Spring nights I’ll stand in the yard under the stars – Something good will come out of all things yet – And it will be golden and eternal just like that – There’s no need to say another word.”- Jack Kerouac

I’m ready for some soft spring days and nights. It was cold and dreary and grey here in Colorado today. I love when the new life of Spring appears but we usually tend to get a good taste of it weeks before the last frost around Mother’s Day. This year it hasn’t been cold, it hasn’t been warm, and it hasn’t been nice. I know that our short spring will lead to a hot dry summer but I usually have a period of adjustment and some days that I can be outside getting the gardens ready for the sweet buds.

Perhaps my strong need to be outside with my grasses, flowers, and veggies had a hold of me tonight – I have no idea where this image came from but I got the most amazing amount of pleasure from creating it – and I felt golden and eternal in the process.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 206 was created with watercolor and metallic acrylic inks.

Infusion day tomorrow!!!!!

April 19, 2011

Day 201 – Bite Off More Than You Can Chew!

Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like hell. – Peter Brock

This is the first Apple I’ve done with one bite out of it. Really – I’ve stayed away from that icon 🙂

Just because we’re making apples doesn’t mean we need anyone to associate us with “Apple” which is why I haven’t created any apple art that looks like their logo. If they happened to see our project and …

…well that would be an amazing thing for the world of AS awareness but I won’t hold my breath.

Maybe some day we could have “Apple” take notice. Why not take a huge bite – a huge leap of faith.

Something to chew on – and chew like hell!

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 201 was created in ink.

March 6, 2011

Day 157 – What the Worm is to the Apple

Sorrow is to the soul what the worm is to the apple.

This is from a Turkish proverb that actually says “Sorrow is to the soul what the worm is to the wood” but the point remains the same.

When we live in sadness it eats up our spirit and our soul. Once it takes up home, it is very difficult to evict – but it can be done – especially with support and help. I was amazed in today’s twitter chat that so many amazing people deal with AS and yet have found a way to focus on the positives, look for the good, and pull together to support one another.

For me, seeing this strength and courage has been the biggest surprise and blessing of this journey. We all need love and support, but especially we need attention and care. We’ve all been in the place of desperation – any support that you can give to people who are going through a bad time helps them immensely. You make a difference by connecting with others who need the kindness and care you can give. Reach out today – your spirit will lift when you do and someone else’s sorrow will lessen.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 157 was created in ink and watercolor – with a little help from Bittie…

February 20, 2011

Day 143 – Whirling Dervish

Art Apple - Day One Hundred Forty Three.1

Art Apple - Day One Hundred Forty Three.2

I’m spinning.

When I think of a Whirling Dervish – I think of the Urban Dictionary (caution there is some crazy stuff there) definition. I was thinking of whirling because I’ve felt a bit frenetic lately. It feels very strange and I’m thinking that the way I’m feeling is probably how most people feel on a bad energy day! I received my Remicade infusion on Monday after a horrible week waiting for relief and I ended up getting one more vile because I’ve gained a couple of pounds and it put me into a new dose – 7 vials!

The Sema is a ritual dance performed by a Whirling Dervish, a mystical dancer. He rotates in a precise rhythm as part of a sacred ceremony. The purpose of the ritual whirling
is for the dervish to empty himself of all distracting thoughts, placing him in trance; released from his body. In a crazy sense this whirling I’m feeling is releasing me. I’m savoring the taste of real energy but it has me thinking of the inevitable crash.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 143 was created in mixed media x 2 – two apples for one courtesy of Remicade! Let me know which one is your favorite 🙂

***New Guest Artist – Jennifer LeBlanc***

Update – How do you like the new site design? Still some kinks to work out but please let me know what you think.

February 18, 2011

Day 141 – “Yeah, my back hurts too.”

Caution: Rant ahead.

If I could collect a dollar for every time I heard the statement, “Yeah, my back hurts too” I’d have enough money to fund the entire HHS and CDC!

Ok, that made me laugh. But the point is that this is what we, as people with Ankylosing Spondylitis, hear. If you think about it that is a really intolerant, insensitive, and completely unkind thing to say to someone whose spine is slowly fusing together.

Imagine… not being able to touch your toes. You aren’t out of shape or lazy or don’t do enough yoga – come on! Imagine… you can’t go skiing anymore because a fall could not only hurt you, like it would anyone, but it could kill you. Imagine… owning multiple heating pads – there is a reason they are blue – blue for spondylitis! More on this with a wonderful guest apple I’ll be posting on Sunday. We aren’t dying, our disease is not terminal. We are just living a very difficult existence. Please be more tolerant and kind if you hear someone is dealing with AS or chronic pain.

I don’t want to rant but I’m passionate about trying to help people understand that there is a difference between my lovely husband waking up and saying he’s sore or his back hurts, and the pain I deal with. And – I’m doing so much better – I’m one of the lucky ones who can get access to the crazy expensive drugs that give me the strength and ability to have a basically normal life. Imagine… being one of my friends like Shashwata Satya from Bangladesh who is a brilliant young scholar who has had multiple surgeries and had a taste of life with Remicade but now can’t afford to continue to get it. He said “I could fly when I was on Remicade” and now he’s firmly attached to the ground and he’s suffering. Imagine… being my friend Ron who is charming and giving and a wonderful new friend I’ve met through ASAP who is in so much pain and he can’t get anything from the Canadian health care system (something I hear repeatedly) and that he’s distraught. Imagine… my dear friends – a life with AS.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 141 was created in ink and acrylics.

February 16, 2011

Day 139 – Just having Fun!

Sometimes you just have to have fun!

I had such a glorious but crazy busy day. I’ll tell you all about it soon but it involves a guest post on the WEGO health blog about the first ever Twitter chat with Big Pharma! A huge step in the right direction!

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 139 was created in pen & ink and watercolor – my favorite!

February 15, 2011

Day 138 – Can’t see the Apple for the Trees

Art Apple - Day One Hundred Thirty Eight

I try not to get caught in the trap.

By focusing on the details we can lose site of the big picture. Lately my life just seems to be easier when lived in the minutia. Taking one day and one apple at a time may get me to 365 days but if I think of all of the apples I have left to do – I’d be lost in the forest. Sometimes it’s just fine to only look at what is right in front of you.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 138 was created in ink, prismacolor pencil, and watercolor.

***New Guest Artist Apples by the Unrein Family*** – Amanda of United Voices for AS and her two kids Alexandra and Mark all contributed an Art Apple for AS! Please check them out and let them know how much we appreciate it!

February 14, 2011

Day 137 – Topiary

Art Apple - Day One Hundred Thirty Seven

I love to garden.

It amazes me to see something come to life from a seed or a dormant bunch of twigs. For me it’s a way to paint with living things and I’ve always been very interested in trying my hand at topiary. Country Living had an article last year or maybe two years ago that showed how to create a simple rooster. So, I bought a couple boxwoods thinking I’d just follow the directions and viola! Yeah, right – they looked horrible and I found out that boxwoods don’t like my super dry climate or the 6200 ft. elevation. Some day I need to live where things actually want to grow! And my next attempt will be an apple 🙂

I had my Remicade infusion today so my thoughts aren’t forming well. I think I just need to call it a night for today since the medication packs a big punch and makes me so tired for a day or two.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

*** Welcome to all the new folks and keep posted for tomorrow – I’ve got three new guest apples to post!!!! ***

February 12, 2011