Meri's Play Place

Mosaic Monday A little baby shower fun to brighten a showery day  here in the Pacific Northwest.

There's a place I love to go to browse when I have a few hours to spend. . . a place where I can find plants for my yard, baubles and beads, or pretty things for my house. It's a great place to take photos. Do you have a secret place where your eyes can feast non-stop? For more eye candy, check out MOSAIC MONDAY .

Mosaic Monday Though today is damp and rainy, I can see the lilac in bloom outside the guest room window. Some of the camellias are still in bloom and the peonies planted up against the south side of the house are in bud. Aquilegias and violets are naturalizing in the side yard garden and make a pretty sight -- a nice contrast to the hostas that are shaded by my neighbor's laurel hedge. I love the opening energy of spring!

Mosaic Monday Reminding myself that spring is out there, waiting for me to recover from this wicked bronchitis.

Oh me oh my! An idea germinated in my head today - more like a command from Spirit. Images just keep popping into my mind like a big mosaic. I'm overwhelmed with possibilities but inspired to shine. Brightly. Bloom on! Mosaic Monday

I don't know if you pray and believe in miracles. But a lot of people pay their respects to sainted ladies and swear that miracles happen. I, for one, choose to believe because having faith that miracles happen brings me HOPE when world events deplete my supply. If, like me, you've felt overwhelmed by  the magnitude of the tragedy in Japan and haven't known how to make a difference, you can join the AQUATIC ANGELS TEAM and help deliver a Shelter Box to a family  in the disaster zone by clicking HERE .  Our team goal is $2000 and we'd love to have you join in our efforts. (We've purchased the first Shelter Box  and are working on a second one!)

Mosaic Monday. Let's hear it for Flower Power.

The Temple at Dendara © 2009, 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian holding in my mind and heart the image of greater freedom and opportunity for the people of Egypt and the hope that they preserve and protect the treasures of their ancient civilization Mosaic Monday

How about some red roses for a blue lady? A pretty folk art cross? Putting hands together in prayer or around soft balls of yarn? Floating through life? What's your pleasure? Mosaic Monday .

Something a little different today for your viewing pleasure. These are all bits and pieces of artful images I created with mixed-media collage, digital collage, or prints created from  altered digital images. There's even part of an artist trading card pictured here. Enjoy!  

Let me transport you to a magical place where color seeps into your heart. . .  and warms your soul. © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian Mosaic Monday Mexico Monday

Between the poetry bookstore and a performance of Hair by the tour company, I sneaked in a little visit to Anthropologie and then next door to Williams-Sonoma. One gift for Danielle. Two gifts for me. At least I'll have something under the tree. For more Mosaic Monday, click HERE . And please join us  for SHARE THE JOY THURSDAY . Tell us (and show us) what gives you joy. Share those incomparable little moments.

I don't know why but today I'm in the mood for shiny. Glitzy, glam, and gorgeous. "Shine and Glimmer" © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian What are you in the mood for? For more Mosaic Monday, click HERE . To see more Mexico Monday, click HERE . I'm playing in both! (And don't forget to join us here for Share the Joy Thursday.  Mr. Linky will be waiting for your name by 6p.m. Pacific time Wednesday).

Here is my contribution for MOSAIC MONDAY and MEXICO MONDAY . Enjoy! Images of San Miguel de Allende's Parrocchia © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian. One of the most recognizable landmarks of  San Miguel de Allende is the city's Parrocchia, one of the many parish churches  rather than a basilica. It has a neo-Gothic facade clad in a beautiful pink stone and its fanciful appearance has reminded some of Disney creations.   The church was built in the 17th century  with a more conventional exterior, but "redecorated" in 1880 by Zeferino Gutierrez.  He was an indigenous bricklayers and  self-taught architect who was shown  postcards and lithographs of European  cathedrals in the Gothic style  and asked if he could replicate the look. The resulting revision -- which reclad the exterior walls of the church -- is his own interpretation rather than a  copycat cathedral.  The interior of the Parrocchia is quite traditional. We were luck...

Today I'm celebrating Mexico and color and tasty food and fascinating customs like Dio de los Muertos. These images were taken 10 days ago in Guanajuato, where everyone was preparing for Day of the Dead. So I'll make a pitcher of margaritas from scratch and pour us each one so we can peek at my pictures. Come to think of it, with all the pictures I've taken, we'll need more than a single pitcher.

As the saying goes, God is in the details. For more Mosaic Monday fun, click here .

Tacoma is home to the internationally-known Museum of Glass and its glass bridge is an homage to Dale Chihuly, featuring a large glass installation. Dale Chihuly is a  Tacoma favorite son  and many of his creative conceptions  grace museums and other buildings in the area. The Tacoma Art Museum is the proud owner of  a significant collection of Chihuly glass, for example. You even can do a walking tour of Chihuly glass  in downtown Tacoma using your cell phone to hear information about the pieces on display  in various public and private sites. So I thought I'd treat you to a blog tour of my own, featuring the works of Dale Chihuly on public display at the outdoor bridge of glass. All you have to do is look up. I'll give you fair warning: if you're there up close and personal you can get a stiff neck in no time flat. For more Mosaic Monday, click here .

Last week I posted a montage of Times Square Photos. This week I thought I'd share a bit of upstate New York where life is a bit slower and guys don't run around in cowboy hats and briefs that say "Naked Cowboy." For more Shadow Shot Sunday, click right here and for more Mosaic Monday, click here.

I'm not a big fan of yellow. But today, I'm making an exception. For more Mosaic Monday fun, click HERE .

Can't tell you why precisely but I love snippets of things bits and pieces that hint of something without telling the whole story. Perhaps it's because I aspire to be a Woman of Mystery. For more Mosaic Monday intrigue, click the icon on the right.