I guess your first questions are what is TNC and AEDM. TNC is The Next Chapter where the group is reading and discussing Soul Coaching by Denise Linn. AEDM is Art Every Day Month - a group the lovely Leah from Creative Every Day put together to get us motivated to be creative. I signed up for both of these groups with the best of intentions, but life (or the universe) sometimes interrupts what we think we would rather be doing. I tend to listen to the universe or I get a headache! So, when the contractor called and said they could begin repairing the damage from Hurricane Ike, we said come on.


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Here's a picture of one of the walls that had the drywall and insulation removed after getting wet from Ike.

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The two humans (Mr. and Mrs. Dragon) and the fur babies are the only things not covered by plastic or dry wall dust. YUCK. But, things will get back to normal (whatever that is) and we will have a new paint job in the living and dining rooms. We will take the opportunity to clear the clutter (one of those Soul Coaching suggestions) and really clean the house (more Soul Coaching). We've been spending a lot of time on our balcony listening to the birds and watching the squirrels (Soul Coaching again) while the dust and dry wall fly inside the house. Guess I've been more with the TNC group than I first thought. I'm just doing things in a slightly different order!

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One of the suggestions in Soul Coaching is to set up an altar. We have two altars in the house. One large one near the front door (covered in plastic) and this small one in the bedroom. I love the St. Francis. He reminds me of nature -- animals -- birds -- that we are all in this adventure together. The candles are ritual candles -- one for health and one for my guardian angel. There is a small piece of obsidian on the table -- a gift from a dear friend of some 40 years -- to remind me of the earth and to keep this Gemini grounded. Also on the table a small tag that says Bless My Cat.

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As for AEDM -- I haven't finished the collage I started in the organic background class I took with Paulette Insall. You guessed it -- all my supplies and working area are under plastic. However, I did pull the canvas out and placed on my focal points. The Buddha is a photo we took in Maui many years ago and the lotus is from clip art. They are both just sitting on the canvas as I decide if this is the final placement. I will have a few words on the canvas: Listen With Your Heart.

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And I am crocheting dolls for my two little girls in California. Aren't they cute?! They were designed by the same woman who designed the Favrielle dolls. My fingers are itching.