2016 A Word

Live a balanced life-learn
some and think some and draw and
paint and sing and dance and play
and work everyday some.

                     Robert Fulghum


In between, the painting of flowers from nails,
I have been quietly considering words for
my One Little Word 2016 project
hosted by Ali Edwards.

For 2015, my word was seed. The seeds,
explored in my thoughts were planted
throughout last year. It's a process, I will
not abandon. 

Part of my recuperation process has been
to clear out clutter and purge. I cleared
out dozens of magazines and sorted through
books, ripping out my favorite pages
and collecting pages in categorized binders.

The Feb-March 2010 issue of MaryJanesFarm
had a snippet about praise. "As you open your
eyes to the work of talented women around you,
allow yourself to experience awe without envy."
Acknowledge and praise the work of creatives.

My 2016 word will be praise but I will
expand my understanding to all creatives
and to my biblical devotional learning, too.

I want to create and to praise the efforts
of others. 



To start: Painting of a Garden

Jar of nails.

Color choices.

Holly and I painted stems.

Christmas Hospitality

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, 

for by so doing some people 

have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 

                             Hebrews 13:2 NIV

One of our Christmas traditions

is to visit my hometown cemetery.
We try to visit prior to the ushering in
of each new year. One year,
we arrived just before midnight
and jumped the gate with flashlights.

Old cemeteries are beautiful.
Our loved ones are laid to rest in a
beautiful peaceful place.

There is only joy in our visits.

Aileen, my friend of over 40 years, walks down the hill with
me to visit  Mrs. Dale, another friend's mother's resting place.

After visiting, our tradition, includes a drive up and down
the U-shaped cemetery road before leaving.

Here's the top:

Descending. Look close, we have visitors.

Turkey hens, out for a December walk in the cemetery sunshine. 

The Painting of Ornaments

This past week, I finally felt well
enough to focus on creating.


Creative minds have always been
known to survive any kind of bad training.

                                            Anna Freud


A canvas found.

Heart to Heart

Sweet are the uses of
adversity;
Which, like the toad,
ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel
in his head....
                             William Shakespeare

Ah, Happy Birthday to the
most precious jewel.
My best friend and
partner.

All our experiences,
we do not regret, my love,
because they have brought
us to this moment.

Feliz Natal:Merry Christmas

Let there be Peace on Earth.

The Heart of Christmas

By simply listening with calm and understanding,
we can ease the suffering of another person.

                                       Thich Nhat Hanh

An Artist Among Us

Recuperating can lead to cabin fever.
To cure my cabin fever,the family
when for a little walk through
Treasures N Junk.

Girl remembered to bring her camera.
See some of her photos below.

She has learned to develop compositions.

She placed these two squirrels together.

White boots, girl loves shoes.  What girl doesn't?

A handsome snowman.

An angel.

Simple pleasures, talented children. Isn't life
grand?