Yes, It's 15 degrees here and we are about to get a ton of snow. DH is going to Costco today because we are running out of some stuff. I cannot do without coffee! The picture is a glimpse of the fence along our driveway. Keep your eye on that Yucca plant because it won't be long before it blooms in beautiful spikes and flowers.

I was going to spend the day with my sister but the patient she cares for is needing her and my Mother is needing to go to the doctor for her swollen foot. I have a nasty cold with sore throat and earache so I won't be going out. I just had a nice talk with my sister and we are going to try to get together on Friday. I have to feel better by then! It's imperative! I have to get out of this house. I'm having a bout with Cabin Fever!

Carving a life

This is my Mom and Dad.  I lost my father when I was 10 years old.  My Mother is now 90.  I often wonder what my life would have been like if I still had two parents.  My parents divorced several years before Dad died and it turned my world upside down.  I have heard that it takes a lifetime to get over your childhood and that has been the case.  I'm still working at it.  Moving back to my home state has brought up a lot of memories and not all of them are bad. 

I often dream of having loving parents but that was just not the case.   There is a song that says "A child's hurts are carved in stone" and my sister talks about "carving a life for herself".  I think about that word "Carving".  It is a word that denotes hard work and creating a life for yourself with few tools is very hard work but we are strong and we do it.  My five siblings are strong because we had to be.  We all have different damage and memories but I am so proud of our strength.  We are all creative in are own way.  Being creative is such a blessing and that has been a gift.  Our strength we earned with hard "carving".



"Somewhere It's Snowing"

Yes, The soft is drifting down.  I need to get ready soon because my sister is picking me up for a day of fun.  Yesterday I organized my art room and it looks great!  I can actually see what I have.  Since I received a new color printer from my son for Christmas, I have been working on scanning and printing photos of family.  I found a box of baby pictures in the basement of the grandchildren.  Memories!

I was really tired last night but the effort was worth it.  My promise to my DH is that when something comes into the house, something has to go out.  Yesterday I decluttered and it is waiting for me on the porch to donate.  Yea Me!

Random Thoughts

It's all beautiful and snowy white outside and I hear that we are getting more this afternoon.  That's okay with me except that I really should not be driving in the storm so I won't.  I am sitting in my art room pondering how creative I will be today.  Some would look at my room and think "hoarding".  I think "creation"!  As long as the rest of the house doesn't fill up, I am good. 

Today is my granddaughters 21st birthday.  I received a text with her hand holding her drivers license and her saying "Yea"!  She was a beautiful baby and now she is a beautiful adult!  She is so excited and I am excited for her.  Happy Birthday Lexi!!!

As of January 1, 2011 I decided to take much better care of myself.  I joined Dr Oz's "Move It and Lose It " but I'm struggling to understand the web site.  I am watching portion control and cutting out sugar.  Yesterday I went to a new salon and got a really cute haircut.  I am taking better care of my skin, which I have neglected.  Excercise is next but I guess I keep putting it off.  I have lost 2 # so far so I am on my way.  My goal is to be healthier and to live longer. 

Tiger Lily

I finished this today and now I can see everything I did wrong from the drawing to the values. I am going to try this again, this time with a value sketch. I knew better but I was in the playing mood and just threw paint. I used sepia pen, salt, watercolor, quin burnt scarlet (DS), Nickle Azo Yellow and paynes grey.

Curiosity

It's 2011!  Happy New Year friends and family.  This morning I was perusing the web and Oprah's OWN was everywhere.  I clicked on Diane Sawyer and I hear her say "always wake up curious".  It has been just lately that I have liked that part of me.  Growing up, it was "children are to be seen and not heard".  Asking questions was forbidden or frowned upon so I learned, not only to not ask out loud, but to not ask internally.  Lately I have been asking:

What if I tried....
What if I did this or that....
Am I the best person I can be?
What do I need to change?
What are my priorities?
What makes me happy?
What makes me sad?

So.....Like my friend Dabs, I ponder alot!  Mostly when I am creating art.  My art room is a serene, peaceful place and it is quiet so I can hear my thought and hear that small, still voice inside of me. 

May this year be a turning point for those that need it and a spiritual growth spurt for those who least expect it.