I Love Art. I live in Alaska and feel so strongly about our Alaska Artists. I have decided to Showcase Alaskan Artists. Are these people who create Art about Alaska. Not necessarily. These are artists living in Alaska who Love to Create. Welcome to my first Artist. pat Allen from Willow Alaska.

Go to lisamarie.stampinup.net to see my awesome website

Discover You.....

I have spent the last several years defining what happiness means to me. To be happy is the utmost important feeling in life. I believe for me that all other good things will follow. The journey of life is not always happy. These times will pass and we will recover returning to happiness once again.

May 14.....Our last day in this area and we woke up early...grabbed some coffee and my swimsuit and headed to Morrow Bay to find the sealions. We took a different way this time through farms and ranches and beautiful rolling hills with horses and cows. What a gorgeous place. We dropped down to the bay and found the visitor center. The lady that helped me lived in Eagle River for 3 years. She directed us to the Tilling Charger. We got a tour of the bay and found the sealions. Apparently, the adult males were as far down south as LA defending their territory and the females we out having their babies. The otters were in a group of maybe 10 floating too. They have twit babies in the water. The Corp blew up 1/3 of the rock to build a road. Nobody is allowed to climb the rock. The native Indians are allowed up 2x a year to bury their dead. A certain bird nests up there. We found out so much. We finished up and headed to the car stopping at a few stores.....I met a really nice shop owner and she shared her story as to how she happened to be in Morrow Bay. We left the bay and followed the coast. We landed in Montana De Pro where the lighthouse was built for the movie "Pete's Dragon ". I collected lots of rocks and walked in the ocean. The drive was so cool. Trees hung over the road. We saw something that resembled a turkey. We drove back to Avila beach and I layer on the beach and watched a couple dozen different dogs playing with their owners and each other. I got a nice little sunburn. YAY.......we finished the day with Les Lenise and Lakoda at a restaurant at the end of the pier. I had seafood fettucini. The tables were glass bottom so we could see if any critters were below us. The moon was full and the evening was great. It's been a wonderful visit here and I will come back.

May 13...Mom and I got up and headed to do laundry. We found a really nice and very clean laundromat. After we went next door and I got a pedicure....pink with black polka dots. We did a few errands and headed to Pismo Beach. I walked down to the beach and sat and enjoyed the ocean. The sand was hot but I sat and once again admired the ocean. There was a pier to my right that was really nice and provided great shade for people. There were runners, horseback riders and colorful umbrellas. I walked along the beach and found some 20 sand dollars. They were perfect. I walked in the water loving the feeling of the ocean. The water was cold but not for long. I made my way back to the car where my mom waited...napping I'm sure. My mom and I walked out on the pier and admired everything. We sat on the picnic table and just looked. After another perfect day we headed to the Madonna House. Yes it is pink. It was built by a man last name madonna who did a lot for San Luis Obispo. The grounds were equestrian looking and really groomed. I stopped in to get rates...whoohooo. we ate dinner at my brother Les's. He made Artchokes and Talapia. We had oysters...brie and crackers. We ate outside and my mom enjoyed wine with Lenise. The birds were everywhere and chirping like crazy. My brothers place is private and covered with huge trees. We laughed and had a great visit. Back to the ranch we went with wine and chocolate. I'm getting really familiar with this area and I really like it.

May 12....Another beautiful day in San Luis Obispo. We slept in today. We have been going pretty hard so we must have needed it. Hey it's vacation right. We headed to SLO downtown. We found a really nice Starbucks and woke up while people watching. On the way to the shop there was a young man with a dog and a sign asking for help in feeding the dog. I gladly gave him money. Sometimes you need help. A nice mom helped my mom up on the curb. A few pictures later we hopped in the car and spent a couple hours at the SLO Mission. It was spectacular. The museum had artifactss from the habitants that had built and lived there from bowls to arrow heads to guns to furniture and religious robes. The garden was pretty filled with roses and other beautiful plants and flowers. The inside of the sanctuary was beautiful and yet simple adorned with daunts, the Virgin Mary and various Saints. There was a man outside on the bench painting along with a man giving the history of the mission yo a young couple. It was a beautiful day. We met up with my brother Les and his family at their home. We visited and caught up on each others lives. I watched while my nephews therapist worked with him using a swing and baloons Lakoda warmed up to me a little more this visit. Mom and I took off and headed to Shell Beach where we sat on a cliff bench and saw whales go bye, seagulls and brown birds keeping busy on the rock before us. We saw seals, a couple snuggled up and fishing below Us kayakers, a sailboat and listened to the ocean. Hit the rocks below or in the caves. We met a seagull we named gully and fed it cheesenips. At last we watched the sunset and it was beautiful. Home we came to enjoy a sandwich and wine. Not a bad Monday.

May 11....I slept great last night. I was refreshed. I showered and was very excited to meet up with my brother Les and his wife Lenise and wonderful son Lakoda. They met us here at Motel 6 at noon and we headed to a restaurant named Margies with portion sizes bigger than in Alaska for a better price. My brother Les is very handsome with white hair past his his shoulders and a braided beard. He looks great. Lenise is beautiful both inside and out and my nephew Lakoda is their blessing. I knew today would be the best.....We headed on a guided tour via speaker on our cell phones starring Les. We drove on highway 1 through Avila Beach town....definately going back there.....and Pismo Beach.....nice too. Both of these places are small towns nestled along the ocean so quaint and unique full of visitors celebrating the 80 Degrees, a Sunday, or Mothers Day. It was exciting. The ocean was spectacular, the waves had white caps and rolled in one after the other and it smelled like the ocean.....fresh. The smell was not just the ocean itself but the many restaurants. What a great mix. Mom and I headed to watch the sun set in Morrow Bay. We first visited the beach where the famous Rock is and I combed the beach and walked in the water. The ocean feels like home to me. I found a unbroken sand dollar and some other shells. I thanked God for this gift I was so blessed to enjoy. The Morro Rock is huge with birds flying all around it....mostly seagulls. We watched some surfers and aa couple of boats maneuvering the bay. We found a great spot to sit and watch the sun set next to the rock. It was gorgeous. We headed back to our hotel and now are relaxing and planning our day here tomorrow. I love it here. It feels good and is beautiful. Happy Mothers Day. PS. My mom is feeling much better.