celebrate every day . . .

Celebrate!

Every day is a special occasion!

Life has been stressful, busy, and ever changing.  What's new - right?

Life has also been amazing, full of happy, and a blessing.

Life is like that I guess.

I am making time to create and play everyday.  I need that.  I think we all need that!

What you think, you become.

What you feel, you attract.

What you imagine, you create.

~ Buddha

painting . . . playing . . . and Tatum

I'm sharing a couple of paintings I started. 

I still have  more to do on them, but wanted to share what I have so far . . . 

Hopefully I will get a chance to pint later tonight.         

This one discovered painting this past weekend. 

Rather she discovered slopping in the paint water.  

She tends to get messy . . . this one!  

 

 “Do small things with great love.” 

~Mother Teresa

just for fun . . .

fun . . . happy . . . wonky . . . flowers.

I joined an art workshop through Tricia Robinson last week.

As always I needed something to spark my creativity.  I get so busy with work and my mom and life in general that a don't take time for me and the things I love to do.

I am out of my comfort zone when it comes to painting . . . but Tricia makes it so much fun.  The point isn't to make it perfect . . . it is to just make it and have fun!  

I had so much fun I signed up for her monthly "God Made Girl".  I have a feeling it is going to be very good for me.  Quite a difference from my zombie/monster dolls . . . but I have a feeling and hope it will all work together eventually.  I found a cute button last night while I was going through some "stuff" . . . and had an idea about a "wonky" monster doll. 

Let the fun begin!

 

paint and doodles . . .

 We made a little more progress . . . primer on the front fence and the roof is started.

I have a lot of painting still to do . . . but I am happy to have it started. 

Avery loves to paint . . . I have a bunch of small canvases and lately she wants to use them.

She paints with the freedom of a child. 

 I love watching her . . . and I love how everyone of her paintings turns out.  (It's a grandma thing.)

 I decided to do something with her latest painting . . . just for fun.

Avery's painting and Amma's calendar doodles.  

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world

around you because the greatest secrets are always

hidden in the most unlikely places.  Those who

don't believe in magic will never find it."

                                                   ~ Roald Dahl

random . . .

What a wonderful morning!  

It is warm and sunny and smells like newly cut grass.

I have no place to be and that feels great!

  cats . . . big rabbits . . . paint and doodles . . . words on my walk . . . 

. . . and I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

good things today . . .

 This has to be the sweetest cat we have ever had.  

He also is the only cat that I have had that seems to pose . . .

. . .  and wait until I am finished taking pictures of him.

I was going to throw this pair of jeans out since they had a hole in them, but they are the only pair of jeans that I have that I really like . . . so I am going to patch and play with them and see what I come up with.  I'm starting with stripes and an alien . . . LOL!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Walking

FaceTime with Avery & Tatum . . . I even got a smile out of Tatum

A quiet morning to myself

Timehop App . . . today's photos made me laugh

Doodling . . . Reading . . . Painting . . . 

PRAYING!

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. 

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don't be troubled or afraid."

~ John 14:27

monster rocks . . .

She loves to paint when she comes to visit Amma.

This visit we painted Monster Rocks!

jelly, paint, and doodles . . .

"Don't wait for everything to be perfect

before you decide to enjoy your life."

                                               ~ Joyce Meyer

Charlotte's guinea pig came to live with us after her mom found out that she was allergic to him.

I wasn't too sure how I would like him - but he is so much fun.  

He loves to eat . . . squeals when he hears the refrigerator open . . . and makes us laugh.  

If it make you laugh - it's a good thing!

Paint and Doodles on a rainy weekend.  

I may add something more to them . . . not sure yet. 

I have had such a busy week and another busy week ahead of me, but I made some time to play with some paint . . . I made some time to read . . . I made some time to pray . . . and I took some time to rest.  Richard has a crock pot full of goodness cooking. (Korean Beef Zoodle Bowls) 

It smells delicious!  My house is sort of a mess . . . but I'm really not caring today! 

Just enjoy today!

I love love . . . .

“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. 

Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.” 
― Joss Whedon

 Still doodling on this one.  I spent more time reading than anything else this weekend, but I am trying to find some time each day to MAKE.  

I think I am letting Winter get the best of me.  My goal this week is to put an end to that and get myself in a creative uproar . . . but then I may just pull out a blanket, get myself a cup of tea, and continue reading the book that I can't seem to put down.  

It is an older book by Stephen King - Bag of Bones.  I have read Stephen King for years - not because I enjoy horror stories . . . but I like the way the man tells a story.  

Last Friday was my 60th birthday.  

Everyone kept asking me what I wanted to do.  Did I want to have a party?  Where did I want to go to dinner?  I chose to stay home, turn the living room into a fort by hanging tapestries from the ceiling and have a sleepover with Lily.  I tend to like things simple I guess.

Then we ate in the fort, read in the fort, watched movies in the fort, slept in the fort, had the whole family hanging out in the fort . . . 

and then decided to leave the fort up so Charlotte can see it later this week.  

Am I really 60 years old?  

"Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage

of opportunity and strength." 

~ Betty Freidan

choose joy . . .

 Be joyful in hope. 

Be patient in trouble.

Be faithful in prayer.

I have been fighting something off the last few days. 

That turned into a cozy weekend at home . . . a lot of reading, a little painting in my art journal, 

and just taking time to take care of myself.  

This can be a tough time of year for me.  It doesn't help when I'm not feeling well,

but I had a reminder this morning . . . . CHOOSE JOY!

So today I will be looking for joy in the ordinary.

Have a wonderful day!

painting with Charlotte . . .

"Creativity is contagious, pass it on."

~ Albert Einstein

I spent more time playing with Charlotte this weekend than I did creating, but time spent with my granddaughters is time well spent.  When I did sit down to paint . . . she had to paint also.

Then she told me she wanted to be an artist when she grew up . . . painted and drew 5 quick pictures, put prices on them ranging from $10 - $100, hung them in her room -  which she told me was her art gallery and told me I needed to buy one from her.  This little girl always has a plan.

taking care of myself . . .

I am not sure how any of these are going to turn out.  I guess it doesn't really matter . . . 

The important thing is that I started and had some fun! 

My mind is currently busy with . . . 

. . . journal ideas

. . . doll ideas

. . . wondering who my new boss will be next year.  

(I have worked with my current principal for over 20 years.  

We find out tomorrow who will be replacing him.)

. . . poems . . . and scriptures . . . and story ideas . . .
. . . and all the things my mind is full of when I am busy being me.

Create a life you love!

Be Amazing . . . .

I did what I told myself I wasn't going to do this weekend . . . spent a good part of Saturday cleaning.  My intentions were to make something, read, and relax.  I got frustrated because I couldn't find something . . . which turned into organizing my supplies and cleaning the whole house.  

I have to admit though . . . it is much easier for me to do the relaxing part

when things are in order . . . that's just the way I'm wired.  

So with that done . . . I spent some time painting and writing . . . and reading. 

I had Lily spend the night.  That involved staying up late, watching movies, having popcorn and root beer, playing with slime (her not me) . . . and face painting.  

I have so much going on with me these days . . . some good and some not so good,

but I believe it is all moving towards something amazing  - if that makes sense.  

This blog has always been a good place for me to be me and I go back and forth about sharing some of what I am going through and think that eventually I will.  I have no problem throwing my life out there for everyone to see, but for now and as I work through some things . . . 

I will spare you all the details.  LOL

Life is a gift - Each day God gives us is a gift . . . so find some JOY in today!  

No matter how serious life gets, 

you still gotta have that one person 

you can be completely stupid with. 

let's paint . . . .

 She wasn't sure what this was all about at first.

She was a little timid about getting her fingers in the paint . . . 

 So then we had to try a paint brush . . . 

 I think she may have looked at grandma's hair and thought that

she needed some color in her's also.  :)

 I guess she started taking this painting thing a little serious.

She can be a sort of serious little person . . . 

 . . . and she can melt her grandma's heart in an instant.

I think she enjoyed her first time painting.

I think next week we are going to finger paint with pudding!!!

Be brave!

Be creative!

Be kind!

Be thankful! 

Be happy!

Be you!