recycled bottle garden pathway

i finished (at least i think) this section of the yard. well still have to paint fence but its been very hot and also rainy so using that as a excuse to avoid it.

thanks to a super cool freecycler you will see my new edging! i thought i was gonna pick up just a bag or two but there were five to my delight!! i had just said hey i need something cool,free and recycled to outline the edges last week and SO here it is. they are baby food jars. my soil is sand, so they were super easy to push in. the kiddos towards the end of prepping them helped open the lids and peel off the labels. my hand was getting sore!




i haven't weeded=obviously.







the walkway is made out of recycled bottles-i put a bit of watered down paint in the clear bottles and let them dry in the sun before i stuck them underground. i didn't get a close up-sorry. these bottles needed to be a bit larger for more stability since we walk there. i also used paint lids, hubcaps, and coffe cups. it took a bit of work to dig down far enough-although my youngest son did alot of it-he loves to dig.




my big dog kept digging in this section by the tree so i tried to fill it with things to keep her out. lets see if it works!



i forgot the english name of this plant-we eat the roots-its like a sweet potato.




this is what i reworked the other day. another freecycler gave me some mother tongues and the spider plants. it still needs less weeds and more plants.



i uncluttered here and added a few hibiscus.




here's the full view of the song quote-it used to have alot of saw blades, frames and other bits-they've fell off and i'm too lazy to redo it. i still need to rework the stuff in front of fence.

thats good for today-its still hot at 7! i'm off to make something yummy for dinner.

Art with a purpose

i made these a few months ago. i was hoping i would be "detached" from them now cause i should actually SELL them. i've been cranking out massive art the last few months which is why i've been so quiet here... although most of it is for the CAFE, there is quite a bit i've kept! so these i made them originally for the cafe.... of which i haven't mentioned here! i've been working for it... for oh my almost a year!! my good friend had the vision and then brought me in on it. i am so very passionate for their cause. its a non profit,ALL monies go for funding Air Mobile which is a disaster relief org that delivers amazing (and solar) water purifiers to those who desperately need it! Each mission, each Voyager (the purifier) requires the green, the team volunteers their time and even more so their own money!! Their PASSION will infect you. we are never short of disasters or passion, but quite often the green limits us, so we've been busy about finding a way to support our cause (hence the cafe).

Currently they will be heading out in the next week or so for their second trip to Myanmar where the disastrous Cyclone Nargis will likely claim more deaths than the 2004 Tsunami. In which Air Mobile was also there, leaving their mind and spirit scarred by death and devastation. You will find it has only fueled their already abundant passion for helping the helpless.



Above is one of the team members Joe Prussel working with local monks. Below is a heartwrenching photo of the reality of what we take for granted.





So you see that ART does make a difference. Our cafe also has an art & gift gallery, as well as offer a variety of classes. I'm the community advocate and creative director. We are using ART to build our community too for it is full of disaster and devastation as well. From the community to the nations Elevations International Cafe is about serving a thirsty world (and not just about coffee). So yes these dolls will have to move on-they have purpose besides making me feel good. Sometimes, my selfishness gets a big kick in the pants. ITS SO NOT ABOUT ME. We are busy about changing our world, through art and relationships, and one good cup of java.

the funkilicious garden

the modern day scarecrow. everyone should have one.
they even scare away noisy neighbors!!









my mom was here from april-june 1st. i was working in the backyard-she wouldn't come out much cause it was too hot but
she actually was inspired to make chimes inside LOL. i added the freakiness. it sounds awesome!!









i'm still working on finishing painting the fence as well as planting no dig gardens in all our dead grass spaces. eventually i'd like it to take over the yards! so until we hit the road we can be self sustaining and enjoy delish veggies!

CHECK me for people

i'm putting laundry in the dryer and start CRACKING up!!!
my 13 yr old son wrote this.
it is a well known hiding spot
-we've discussed it before with my 9 yr old & friends that
its NOT the greatest one and how kids have been hurt from this.
i could panic, i suppose
if you know my sons
really this is the least of my worries!!!!

so i mention it to oldest and he says
"well EVERY one hides in there and we always forget to check it-NOW no one will"

ahhhh i nod & smile BIG......to raise a free thinking child.
totally different perspective.

WOW- never limit your material!

and if that inspires you-you must see the Raman Noodle Wall

Dieunika steals your heart

This is the beautiful heart stealing Dieunika who we brought in (Air Mobile Ministries) from Haiti who needed a life saving surgery. She was born with a serious deformity in her bowel. Its such a miracle she's even alive. Her body amazingly formed its own disposal, a colostomy on her left side of her stomach.

Just to explain a little bit -Air Mobile Ministries a non profit that I adore and get the pure pleasure of working for does relief work. The majority focused on deploying the water purifiers that they manufacturer themselves right here in Titusville to disaster areas all over the world. Although they truly do SOOOO many things here in the community as well as international. Joe Hurston is the Pilot & his wife Cindy is a RN. They began in Haiti many years ago and still continue to go over monthly. They also work with an orphanage (run by an amazing lady named Barbara- and if you can't get enough you can read about the Hurstons daughter Cherie who just came back from a trip there here)

Anyhow Air Mobile Joe & another Joe on one of their recent visits encountered Dieunika in the villages. They just knew they had to help this beautiful gal! She has parents who love her dearly and are awaiting her return. She is the only child. They graciously lent her us to adore & love!



her doll lost the colostomy bag in the bed somewhere but she shyly shows you LOOK there's other girls like me!


If you didn't read my previous post, where i gush in plain ol mushy love about this absolutely adorable gal just scroll on down. She is only 2. She actually will be celebrating her 3rd birthday with us on May 2. (also my oldest sons b-day!)

These photos show you just how incredible this little one is! This is her on her 2nd day after surgery! SHE IS ABSOLUTELY an AMAZING GIRL!Astonishingly she was able to come home midday!


I spent the Fri & Sat with her and she was playing lightly,even smiling and giggling. i speak broken creole so we are able to communicate abit. Although most of the evening i just held her as she was obviously uncomfortable. She had some heavy meds around 11. She ate well that evening,slept well and Saturday she was back to SUNSHINE!










She's a super star, she's been all over the local news. of course they tend to focus on the donation value of the surgery!!

fox 35 did a great coverage of her but none online

www.wftv.com/news/15868742/detail.html --got scooped by fox so only a tiny reference

www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/...




oh and this is the doll named love!!



the first few days she was here she didn't really have much to play with (she was not used to toys anyhow) so i went home & made her a doll. she was a little unsure of it so she gave it to me to hold and i gave the doll a hug and said ohhhh love, love baby. the next day i came to see her, she was in the crib and picked up the doll to hand me as she smiled and said love! oh i just melted!! so now she is called baby love. TRULY though Dieunika is the doll named love!

a doll named Dieunika

SHE'S AMAZING!! She is simply amazing!!!

who the heck am i talking about?
i wish i had pics to show you right now
but until i unload them you watch the video
and get the jist of her story
Dieunika (ja NEE ka) arrived last week
and since has totally consumed my heart

it doesn't capture her quirkiness
her infectious laugh
or her capturing personality!
seriously THIS DOLL has completely set ablaze my already bright world!

since the first day i met her,
i couldn't stop smiling or laughing
i fell in love with HER character,her smile
and her laughter...OMG i can't help but giggle thinking of it!
oh as mushy as it sounds
my heart just swells every time i think of her!

she's here so we can help her,
but truly
SHES bringing us all something so indescribable
and well pure joy!!

yesterday was her surgery
i could not focus most of the day
i KNEW she would be ok but just the thought
of her under a knife had me watching the clock!!

of all things she called me last night
and said hello to me!!
she only speaks creole so this was extra special
as i tried last week to teach her my name
also incredibly they said she was SMILING!!
after such a procedure that one thing i would NOT be doing
but it just tells you so much about this little one.

now i'm off to spend the night with her
i get the privilege of loving her through the pain
but i know her-- we'll be giggling too!!

later i hope i REMEMBER to share with you about the doll named love.
its so sweet.