Coming back into reality after spending time in such an amazing place with equally amazing people, was needless to say a bit tough. It has taken me a week to acclamate myself into my once daily routine.

The "students" (on these journeys, I never consider myself a "teacher", rather a person who guides others through creativity and inspiration) were collectively the most supportive, helpful, generous, creative and talented people I have ever had the priviledge to be with.

Having my beautiful daughter Casey on this trip, was just icing on the cake. We were always having her model for us. Her four years of spanish certainly paid off, because she was able to actually carry on conversations with the local people.

We visited a very tiny town called Colotta. It is just above Carrera where the marble mines are located. This town's "piatzza" floor was entirely marble. It had been raining fairly hard, so we stopped here and had zuppa and homemade pasta. No one spoke english which only means there rarely are tourists... exactly how we like it.

Lucca is an amazing small walled city, uncluttered by tourists. The class spent a whole day there shopping with the locals, bicycling on the wall which circles the city, munching on pizza and gelato and of course relaxing in the afternoon with a thick rich cappuccino.

Cinque Terre is a group of five small seaport villages on the coast. No cars are allowed, so to access them you either walk a path along the cliffs, or take a train which runs from one to another. The colorful buildings, clear blue mediterranean sea and the incredible aromas from pizzereias and fish markets made Cinque Terre a wonderful opportunity for inspiring photographs.

The Ponte di Diablo or The Devil's Bridge was an amazing bridge that myth has it, was built in one night. The devil claimed the first soul that crossed the bridge, so the town sent a pig for the first maiden crossing.

After the sad farewells to the class, a few of us drove to Venice and spent several days there. Although the city is filled with tourists, we found getting up at dawn proved to be pretty amazing. Here the water is like glass, for no boats travel the canals that early.

Venizia

Casey and I said goodbye to the remaining girls, rented a car and drove to Provence. We traveled over the Italian Alps, through tiny mountain towns. The vistas were breathtaking! For four days, we drove around the beautiful backroads of Provence. I never realized that "french blue" really did come from France, for every shutter in this area is french blue!

One of the most moving places we visited was Saint-Paul-de Mausole, the mental institution where Van Gogh resided. We found ourselves completely alone in this beautiful place. Casey and I found a place to sit and just sat quietly for almost half an hour reflecting on the history of this magnificent place. In the surrounding towns, every corner we turned reflected one of the many paintings of this talented man.

This glorious old gate was just alongside the road. The garden within was completely overgrown.

My cup runneth over....my senses all equally filled. The tastes; afternoon cappuccinos, full bodied wines made from local vineyards and thick rich zuppa (soup) on chilly evenings. The visions; of olive grove patterns lining the distant hills, cobble stone roads, elderly people chatting in the piazzas or grapes hanging full and lush on their vine. The touch; of ancient stone buildings and warm hugs from new found Italian friends. The aromas; wafting out of bakeries and pizzerias or the pungent smell of grapes being processed into wine. And last, the sounds; of distant church bells and the Italian language being spoken in love above me as I walk through the narrow streets where everyone is tucked away in their homes having their afternoon meal.

I am so very blessed to have experiences like these. As for the future? Ireland just might be calling me from across the moors.

Saying goodbye is sometimes difficult, whether it be to a year, a loved one, a place or even your Christmas tree. I actually loved my little "nature" tree so much this year, that i couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to it on New Year's Day (my tradition to take the trees down on that day while i watch the Rose Parade). I left it up for another week, in which it became very ....dead. Saying goodbye, or simply put, change makes us uncomfortable. If we have the right attitude, change can be a good thing. Even in very bad circumstances, if we choose the right attitude, we can turn change into positive.

When I think of events in 2007, I can honestly say that good or bad have found the positive. I may grieve for the loss, the change, but I will be better for it. Early in the year, I lost a dear friend, "Papa Roskelley". We somehow found each other very late in his life, when he had cancer, but we became incredibly close. I, his adopted daughter and he, my adopoted papa. I visited him almost every week, when he was placed in a rest home with his wife. I am not sure who gained more, he or I. He taught me of poetry, music and beauty. His whole life centered around love and beauty. I would take him to his very special place in San Dimas Canyon, where the sound of the brook and the breeze in the trees brought him great peace and endurance. It was excrutiating watching him die. We wept together, laughed together and shared moments I will never forget. I said goodbye to him on Friday and Saturday he went home to be with the Lord. One month later, his wife joined him. Papa Roskelley made me even more aware of the beauty here on this earth. It was at that point in my life, that i started my floral portraits. His love for and belief in me inspired me beyond what i ever imagined. He will always share a very special place in my heart.

Traveling to England in May, soaking in the beauty and sharing all of it with an incredible group of people, will stay with me all of my life. The next journey? Italy............and then? maybe Ireland.

One of the best weeks of my year is at a summer camp for abused children called Royal Family Kids Camp. As difficult as it is both physically and emotionally, the goodness far outweighs the pain. These children, broken and discouraged when they first arrive at camp, leave with smiles and hope of a future. The camp's premise is simple, from God, through us, for the children. It is all about making these kids feel safe, loved and special.

It is amazing to me how these children, whos lives have been so shattered and broken, are so open and willing to accept love and give love freely. I think that this certainly could be the message for the year 2007. As a dear friend once told me

LIATI...Love is all there is. Happy Belated New Year!

I recently taught a workshop in the Cotswolds in England. This area is probably one of the most beautiful places i have ever been to. Of course, loving gardens the way i do, added to the pleasure. This photo is of a 2 1/2 acre family owned garden named Mill Deen. You are greeted by a lovely woman who shows you the way to a glass enclosed room, where you can enjoy homemade sandwiches, warm soups and delicious cakes. On this particular trip, it rained just a tad (which made for fabulous photographs!) so the enjoyment of the warm soup and tea was heightened.

Almost every window in the Cotswolds is framed with a beautiful rose like this one. Our timing could not have been more perfect to catch the blooms of roses, Clematis, Peonies, Ceonothis and more.

I had always heard about the thatched cottages in the Cotswolds, but thought they were a thing of the past. The grasses are actually covered with a type of chicken wire.

When the students arrived our second week, we stayed at a lovely place called the Kings Head Inn. The rooms were beautiful, clean and inviting. Every morning for breakfast, we had "chicken". There were three resident bantie chickens that would come into the dining room and munch on the crumbs that would fall. Actually, it was our group that "opened" the doors, so they could come in. I don't think the Inn keeper really approved.

As a surprise for the students, I arranged an "after hours reservation" at Stonehenge. Normally, tourists must stay behind a rope and view the stones from a distance. We were allowed to go in at sunset, walk amoungst and touch these magical stones for a whole hour. My daughter Casey, dawned a black dress and we had her model for us. That evening definitely filled our souls..............