Day 356 - Glorious Henna by Amazing Larissa!

I can't believe it! I actually felt great today! Amazing! It's a miracle! Here's hoping the next 5 rounds will be the same! Yay!

Today I had the good fortune of having my head henna'd again. Larissa was back in Alberta for the Edmonton & Calgary Tattoo Festivals. I drove in to meet her at the 'Henna House' for a visit & to let her use my head as a canvas.

I brought lunch & we enjoyed some soup & snacks before the fun began. Man, she is one talented chica. I have no idea where she pulls the creativity from, but she's amazing! I'm thrilled with the design & I wish I could keep it! If tattoos didn't hurt so much, I'd actually have this thing permanently on my head!

She's asked me to describe my Henna Experience, so I'll do my best to put it into words.

When I had hair, one of my favourite things was to have my hair brushed & stroked. It's relaxing & I fall into a state of relaxation instantly. Receiving henna is just like that. Only better. The scent of the essential oils mixed with the henna are intoxicating & add to the relaxation. Lavender dominates & makes my eyelids heavy. My cares fall away as I feel the cool henna paste gliding onto my freshly shaven head. Larissa's energy oozes love, compassion & healing & I absorb every molecule of it! And speaking of healing, it truly is. Not only is it de-stressing to have the henna session - better than a massage or facial - but it is also rejuvenating - confidence building - empowering. I arrived a sad, bald woman & I walk away feeling feminine, unique, beautiful & free of worries. Knowing that someone cares enough about me to spend 3 hours sketching, then painting an awkward canvas makes me feel extra special. Seeing the finished product doubles that feeling. I'm always sad when the design is finished - that means the 'escape' is over, but of course, seeing the intricate designs eliminates any momentary thoughts of sadness!

Now, my only sadness is knowing that I won't see Larissa for another year - or possibly longer! She is so talented & her henna is so much more than just applying a design on your hands, feet, belly or head. She heals with every movement of her hand. Thank you my dear & cherished friend for making this journey that much more magical than I ever dreamt it would be! I love you deeply.

And with that, we taped up my head (to allow the stain to set in) & Larissa & Mookie were off to prepare their booth & I was off to run errands. At the mall. With a full head of white surgical tape. Hello! Lobotomy! :o) I received some interesting looks & comments, but for the most part, it was all good. I can't wait to take the tape off & share the design with you!

It's late now & I have a big day tomorrow.

xxxxMJV&O

http://www.dragon-fly-designs.ca

Larissa Reinders

 The Master in Action

 A rough sketch with watercolour

 A celebratory kiss

I think I forgot to mention that she looks FANTASTIC since I saw her 2 months ago! 

4 months old & he's 24 lbs!!! 

And the creation begins 

 It smells so good, feels even better & looks even better than that!

 Bellissima!

Where does she come up with these designs?! 

 Wow!

 If I were brave, I'd make it permanent! Or not.

 What a beautiful healing gift, my beautiful friend!

Yes! You did that!!! 

Larissa & Mookie - Henna Artists

Below are the photos Jaco took once the paste was removed... Well done Honey! They turned out great!

Day 313 - Saskatoon via Black Diamond

I finally finished the Stirr edits at 0300. I was beat. I crashed, knowing full well that my plans to leave for Saskatoon by 1000 would NOT be happening. My revised plans to leave for Saskatoon at 1200 didn't even happen. Nope. We left around 1400. For Black Diamond.


We had to drop off the edits & Yay! Clayton liked them! I am very happy that he is happy & I am excited to take my cooking class in trade somewhere down the line! One step closer to domestication. No wonder I like boots so much. They allow me to dig my heels in when I want to resist something. Like domestication! :o)


We stopped at Chinook Windz to pick up some food for Valentina & a hot chocolate for Jaco & I. And we were off. At the wonderful hour of 1630. Oh dear. 


Jaco drove the entire way. I kept him company by nagging at him about his driving, reading a book to him, pointing out the Northern Lights (sweet!), giving directions, & steering so he could give Tweet Pea the odd cuddle now & then. 


We managed to get 2 stone chips in the windshield just before Hanna. There was a stretch of highway that seemed to last FOREVER & lo & behold, we each got a chip at about eye level. Hopefully we can get them fixed before they spread right across the line of view!


We talked about politics, childhood memories - when is your earliest memory? - dreams, buffalo, where to live & where NOT to live... Before we knew it, we were in Saskatoon. We found the LAST room at the Super 8... It's now 0130 & I'm beat... Tomorrow we surprise Granny... I brought a wig so she won't be horrified to see my bald, tattoo'd head. Here's hoping the red pixie cut isn't too much for her either! ;o)


Oh yes, Mom took a few snaps of the Henna Do while it's still dark & before I have to attempt at tracing over it. Thanks Mom! She's redoing the office while Jaco & I are away, so here's hoping she manages well on her own! She's always got Oceana for a 'little' support! 


xxxxx
Maria, Jaco & Valentina

Photos by Kim Taylor; Henna Artistry by Larissa of Dragon Fly Designs

Thank you to Larissa of Dragon Fly Designs for her incredible talents!

Thank you to Mom for her fabulous photography skills!

Day 310 - Tattoo'd!!!!

This morning I was up & at it earlier than usual. I was off to Black Diamond for the second half of my photo shoot at Stirr! I was excited & nervous. I love a new challenge when it comes to photography & I haven’t previously shot anything like this. Lainey & Clayton set up a few food arrangements & I happily clicked away. It took us about 3 hours to get everything arranged & shot close ups, indoors, outdoors, boiling water, melting butter & bowls of fruit… It was a fun shoot! I’m anxious to edit & see what I’ve got!

Clayton & Lainey are a really great team with an incredible setup. I’m anxious to see where Stirr! takes them in the next while! I’m glad I could be a part of it & experience the world of food. (I’ll even admit it could be exciting!)

I sped home & quickly prepared for our supper at Mom2’s. I was so excited to finally be there with Jaco & of course, for my visit with Larissa!

I phoned Mom2 before we left & she asked if we could pick up some asparagus & a few extra chicken breasts before we came. Mom heard me talking & said there were chicken breasts in the fridge. I asked Mom2 how many she needed. ‘Two’. I asked Mom, ‘How many breasts do you have?’

‘Two.’

‘And how many chicken breasts do you have?’

She looked at me funny & then started to laugh… ha ha… (That one is for James) (The joke, not the breasts!)

We dropped Mom off at Home Depot (apparently the wrong one, as we later learned), as she was making big plans to change her office while we were away later this week. We stopped at CNF & picked up a few goodies (mostly candied ginger, which we’ve both grown addicted to the hotness of) & then to Safeway to pick up dessert.

By the time we made it to Mom2’s, it was pretty much time to get in the car & drive back downtown to fetch Larissa. On our way there, we encountered a crazy lady in the middle of the road, cursing at us & attempting to kick our car as we drove by. Thankfully there was a police van at the next turn & I informed him of the situation. He responded by saying that crazy people don’t hang out in the streets! And 4 minutes later we narrowly escaped a side swiping by an absent-minded cab driver. We risked life & limb to pick you up Larissa! :o)

We managed to put all of Larissa’s luggage into the trunk & back seat & make our way SAFELY back to Mom2’s. Mom2 & Larissa know each other well & they were excited to be reunited as well. Supper was ready, so we sat down to a feast of friends, family & catching up.

Larissa moved to New Brunswick a few years ago from Calgary. She generally visits Calgary once a year for various festivals pertaining to her henna artistry. Self taught, Larissa is an incredible artist. She freehands & creates some of the most intricate & beautiful designs. She used to henna my hand prior to the start of each contract when I was working on ships. (Much to my Manager’s dismay, as tattoos are forbidden!) When I found out I would lose my hair with chemo, I asked Larissa if she would be up to henna-ing my head. She does beautiful belly blessings for pregnant women, so I figured head – belly, they’re both fairly round! She agreed & tonight was the night.

After our scrumptious honey gingered chicken dinner, Mom2 bic-ed or shaved what was left of my hair & Larissa began her masterpiece. She knows me & she chose the design. She sketched a rough outline on my head with a watercolour pencil & then she grabbed her first of many henna cones.

Far from the expert on henna, I understand that is has been done for thousands of years by the women of India, northern Africa, & several other countries. It is customary for brides-to-be to have their hands & feet henna’d before the wedding, pregnant bellies to be decorated & of course, the henna is generally done in the company of other women, most of whom are in support of the woman having the henna done.

Larissa is truly gifted when it comes to henna. Every time I have had henna done by her, it is an experience that takes me far away. I am relaxed, at peace & undistracted by the events troubling my life at the time. Today was no exception. In fact, today was even more magical.

When I used to have hair, it was a favourite sensation to have my hair ‘played with’. Without hair, the henna application was an even more desirable sensation. I was like butter, melting away. It was so relaxing, like I was having a massage. It took nearly 3 hours from start to finish & I felt as though I had been still for only 5 minutes. I know that healing exists on all levels. I’m not sure what level to put this experience on, I think I would be just in saying that healing occurred on all levels this evening. Surrounded by people who love & support me, there was love & laughter all around.

The final result was beautiful, crazy, unique & empowering. What was scary & daunting is now laughable. The fear has fallen away & been replaced by a simple, yet incredibly intricate creation that comes from a place of love & gives healing. Thank you Larissa for this incredible gift – in so many ways.

Enjoy the photos… it was a very special night…

xxxxx

Maria, Jaco & Valentina

A MASSIVE Thank You to Larissa for her incredible creative gift that she shared this evening & to Mom2 & Dad2 for dinner & the shave! 

Enjoy the creative process!!!

Mom2, Larissa & her canvas

Mom2 & Dad2