Published!

Well people! My first column piece has been published in the Manitouwadge Echo! I am, officially, a freelance writer! Check it out by clicking the link in my blog sidebar! My very special thanks must go to, in the main instance; Lovely Man who always encourages me to follow my dreams, to my best and longest ever friend Jan who told me years ago "you need to write and get published", and to Lorrie who is officially my mentor in all things creative (and technical!). I should also thank all my Blogger friends and everyone else for their gentle nudges too! Thanks guys! And Kassie if you read this thank you for all your valuable advice, I am approaching other sources as we blog!!!

Oh and you'll never guess? I have a veritable feast of lamb stashed away in the freezer! Oh yes my lovelies. Why am I SO excited you ask? Well because, it seems, Canadians just don't eat lamb! I am amazed that I have had at least 5 woman today tell me a) they have NEVER eaten it and b) they wouldn't know how to cook it. One man even said "I'd never eat lamb that's dog food" I traveled to Marathon earlier in the week, absolutely convinced that the "big' shops there would have some. But NO! The guy in the meat shop told me I needed to go Thunder Bay or the Soo ("there's more ethnic minorities there" he said "so the shops will have it there"). Anyhow the long and the short of the story is that Mel, my neighbor happened to be in Thunder Bay this week ( a mere 5 hours away by car!). Dear George, her hubby, phoned her on her cell phone and told her to bring me as much lamb as she could get in the car!!!

Last night at about seven o'clock there was a knock on the door. There stood my new best friend (I'm easily bought) with a shopping bag full of half legs of lamb and lamb chops apologising because she couldn't find any neck of lamb and she knew that was my favorite! What a STAR! so Thank you Mel. Mwah!

Oh and talking of my lifelong friend, congratulations also to Jan (and Mandy) who just ran the Great North Run in just over 3 hours and raised over £3,000 for the Autistic Society! Great stuff mate, I am just SO proud of you!

Oh and just in-case you're having trouble finding the link in the sidebar here it is!!!
The Echo not that I'm desperate for you to read it of course.......

Law of Attraction

I have been reading lots about the Law of Attraction.  It's one of the seven Laws of the Universe.  It's all about vibrations.  Put very simply, when you want something you have to think and behave as if you already have it.  The energy and vibrations working within the universe then cause a manifestation of the desired outcome.  Hey I thought it would be simple to explain!  And you guys are thinking it's all jiggery hokey pokey!  It's nothing new.  It's been around for years apparently.  Maybe it's simply believing in yourself so much that you actually get past the fear of failing, get off you butt and actually do it!  Either way I believe it works.  One day I'll explain why.  For now though let me just say that I have met some very nice people, both here on blogger and the new town where I live.  They have been bought to me, by the universe, and they have all, in one way or another, given me help and support to realise my dream.

For years I have wanted to write, I also wanted to paint and craft and earn a living from it.  It started with my good friend Lorrie  who encouraged me to start painting, sketching and blogging!  Then I got to know about a lovely lady Kassie who is an inspirational writer.  Her column in the Manitouwadge Echo reminded me to believe in myself and to behave and think more positively.  Then came Lisa, her blog inspired me.  It felt like I was listening to myself, the me that thought I wasn't good enough to call myself a writer or an artist.  But Lisa decided to invoke some positive thinking.  Instead of saying "I want to be"  she now says "I am".  This was the kick up the ass I needed.  It's so empowering.  I am.  I am a writer.  I write everyday.  I am an artist.  I create every day.  When you say "I want to be" it simply implies that you might be one day if you ever get around to doing something about it!

Lastly, Lisa put me on to a super duper person, Jamie Ridler, who was giving away these fab buttons for people to use on their blogs.  I love them!  Thank you Jamie.  Also thanks to Lorrie for helping me, once again, with the technical stuff!

So from now on guys I am officially referring to myself thus....I am a writer....I am an artist...I REALLY AM!

I have the nicest friends

Today I went along to the post office to collect the mail as usual.  I had been waiting for some much needed ink pens to arrive and they had come yesterday so I really wasn't expecting to find much in the box today.  To my surprise there was a card in my box telling me there was a parcel behind the desk. Sure enough a brown package from the UK had arrived!  I instantly recognised the handwriting as my best friend Jan's. I had a few groceries to pick up so I tucked it in my bag and decided to open it when I got home.

Well! As soon as I got in the door I just had to open it, thankfully there was nothing for the freezer because if there had been it certainly would have wasted!  In the parcel was the September issue of Woman and Home, a tin of watercolor Pencils and a pad of watercolor paper with a little note that read "something to read and something to do until your stuff arrives".  I really do have the best 'best friend'. Jan has this wonderful gift of knowing just what to get, or do, or say just when it's needed the most. So Jan 'Thank you'. For the surprise parcel and for being my best friend.

This evening I experimented with the goodies.  I copied a sketch that I had done a few nights ago but gave it color using the pencils and my new ink pens.  The design inspiration was a mixture of a memory of a mirror my mum had hanging at the bottom of the stairs when I was small. I don't know what bought that to mind but it just sort of popped into my head the other day and ended up on paper! The choice of color was inspired by a painting called Tropical Fun produced by my good friend Lorrie Whittington who has been, and will continue to be, my mentor in all things arty and techy!

CASS Sculpture Park, Goodwood

Lorrie
Originally uploaded by Rona Gregory

One of the nicest things I can think of is spending some time doing something you enjoy with a good friend. Even nicer is when that friend is a great teacher! Yesterday I had a lovely day with my good friend, artist and photographer, Lorrie Whittington. Patiently she explained apertures, shutter speeds and white balance whilst I fumbled around muttering her instructions to myself so as not to forget them! At the end of the day we were freezing cold, had muddy knees and Lorrie had a rather original hairstyle which, unfortunately was not caught on camera! This is one shot of her in action! Check out some of my other shots on Flickr. Also check out  Lorrie's great shots.