Sweet Itty Bitty...

Hello and happy Friday!!!

There's just something joyful about Fridays.

Around here, we wake up excited on a Friday morning. My sweetheart greets my morning face by blurting out, "it's Friday, baby"!

We know that this day of the week is the start of some serious play, rest, road trips, and eating sweet desserts!

What girl doesn't adore a pretty dessert adorned with sugary fluff?

I also love to paint desserts.

I finished another itty bitty canvas last night.

I'm working with acrylics, which I must confess...

Is difficult for me.

Watercolors are my thing!

Yet, I try.

I never limit my boundaries in art. I explore all mediums.

I enjoy every minute.

Just as I enjoyed tasting each one of these sweet treats.

Yes, when we go to a buffet, we sample as many desserts possible.

I take a few bites...

He takes a few bites.

We trade desserts back and forth.

Aren't they lovely?

(I do not allow any bites until after I have photographed each dessert)!

I must go pack my overnight bag now.

We are going to meet my family...

And get my sweet niece settled into her new college home.

Oh my, where have the years gone?

We will laugh and dine...

And eat desserts!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

 

Tiny Faces...

Oh, my!

It's been a few days since I have blogged! Time sure slips away when you are having fun, doesn't it?

Yesterday I did have to attend a work related meeting, but just as soon as it ended, my co-workers and I did some shopping in the city and had a wonderful lunch!

It really hit me...

Very soon, I will be back to work and art time will be limited. I panic! Really, I do!

So, today I did assembly line art!

Oodles and oodles of tiny faces on those tiny canvases!

Layers and layers of luscious, acrylic paint!

So very time consuming and only one canvas completed!

This will be an on going project, but really enjoyable.

It's been raining here again! Happy gardens!

Healthy plants.

Our weather radio went off at about 3:00 this morning. I heard the man's voice say, "severe thunderstorms with powerful winds". I jumped up and dashed out to the patio...

In the darkness, I was moving potted plants and decorative patio accents...

In Kansas, powerful winds are serious!

Once I was safely back inside...

I heard it.

In the nick of time, I rescued the plants and glass candle holders!

Swoooooooosh.

What a storm it was!

How is the weather in your area?

Until next time...

XO

 

Ah, Summer Salad!

Hello, dear readers!

I do hope that you are having the best weekend!

I kicked off the weekend by preparing my favorite salad last night...

(And enjoyed it while watching a scary movie with my sweetheart, on tv).

I was craving fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and cilantro, from our garden.

So, out I went...

With my country basket in hand.

Oh! I picked a honeydew melon as well!

Yum.

We have cucumbers and tomatoes galore. I do wish that I could share them with you.

The corn isn't quite ready yet...

But oh, how we love sweet corn on the cob. Soon, I think. Soon.

So, my favorite salad deserved a place in my art journal.

I did not go into great detail with the recipe because I like to mix it up at times. Sometimes I add black olives, sometimes green olives... Even Greek olives.

If I don't have fruit handy, I substitute the apple slices with dried cranberries...

Or not.

I always keep Feta cheese in the fridge!

I make this salad at least three times a week during the Summer months.

Today we went shopping and I found some wonderful, tiny canvases to paint on! I bought several of them and plan to dive into some art soon! I want to stock my etsy shop, truly, I do. I just find it difficult when working a full time job, leaving me very little free time to keep my shop filled with newly listed items. I thought that I could make it happen this Summer...

But with the wedding and the travels, it just did not happen.

I have decided to keep plugging away with my creations, as time permits. Once I feel that I have enough offerings to make my etsy shop appealing to others, I will stock!!!

In the meantime,

If you do see something that you wish to purchase, please, talk to me via comment or email! Most everything that I create, is indeed, for sale (with the exception of my art journal entries, of course)!

I am a perfectionist and am just waiting for the right time to fill my shop with sooooooo many treasures.... Page after page of viewing and shopping!

A big thank you to those who have purchased from me...

Just by asking! I appreciate your support. My greatest passion is creating, and sharing with others!

Now, I think it is time for another salad! How about you?

Enjoy!

XO

 

The Mushroom Mystery...

Hello!

I haven't much news today, my apologies.

It was a pretty relaxed day. A trip to the grocery store. An afternoon nap. A tiny mushroom painting.

Nothing really blog worthy...

But I wanted to be the first to wish you a wonderful August!!!!!

Now, back to the mushroom.

I painted the red mushroom using Gouache paints. Have you ever tried Gouache?

I like!

They are more opaque than watercolors, yet you use them with water. The colors are bright, rich. I really enjoy them with my watercolors. Please, tell me what you know about Gouache! I want to play with them more!

Ok.

Mushrooms.

You either love them or hate them.

I've always loved mushrooms until I moved to Eastern Kansas and tried a Morel mushroom.

The folks around here hunt for them in wooded, wet areas...

After a good rain.

If they find Morels...

They feel as if they just struck oil!

Seriously, it's a big thing around here and you can even sell your Morel mushrooms for a very nice sum of cash!

My husband found a few when I first moved here.

He dipped them into an egg batter and fried them.

Politely, I tried my first Morel mushroom...

And nicely said to him, "you can have them all, love. They are not what I expected".

(I couldn't help wondering just what the big hype was)????

I have googled Morel mushrooms and read all about them. Many chefs prefer using the Morels in their dishes.

I had never even heard of them until moving here.

 

Hubby found his Morels behind our house...

Deep in the woods, by a creek.

Me- I only found a black snake and vowed never to go into the woods again! Ever!

Although I love living out in the country, by a pond...

I rarely go where tall grass grows due to my fear of snakes!

I go only with the husband or the dogs.

We strolled down to the pond last night to hunt something else...

A critter!

We saw it...

Swimming in the water, but never did see it again.

I allow my imagination to run with this.

Was it the Loch Ness Monster?

(A fun game that I play... Out here in the boonies)!

Possibly it was a visitor from another planet.???

It seemed very large.

So, now we wait. We watch...

In hopes for its return.

Happy August, friends!!!!!

XO

 

Creating Yourself...

I once had a friend who gifted me a refrigerator magnet...

It was a large, square magnet with bold lettering that read, "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself".

At that time, I was going through a divorce and uncertain as to what I was going to do next. I was in my mid forties and starting all over just wasn't in my life plans at that age.

I sat the magnet aside, not really processing just what those bold words were telling me.

 

Today,

I completely get it.

 

We do have the ability to create the kind of life that we wish to live.

It may not all come together instantly...

We may have to settle for working unfulfilling jobs or possibly living in places that just don't feel like home...

But if we have a vision and set goals to achieve,

Those not-so-pleasant things are temporary.

We can create the life that we so desire.

I'm still working on my life, but I always new that I wanted to live in the country. Being a wife is my favorite "job", and I have been blessed with marrying a very sweet, country boy!

I am a person who must be creative.

I am creative, in some way, every single day. Sometimes I force myself...

But I do it!

I do it because I want to live a creative life and only I can make that happen.

I might get fancy with a meal...

A splash of color on a plate.

I may just grab my camera and step outside in search of a pretty picture.

I journal.

Press flowers.

Garden.

Collect junk and turn it into something cool!

Sometimes I add whipped cream to my coffee and drink from a special mug.

I love to play in our five acre yard.

Early, early mornings are my favorite time of day...

If I don't have to work!

I adore shabby chic style...

And ripped jeans.

I don't pay attention to what is in style. I wear only what I like. Sometimes, it's weird and mixed-matched!

These are the things...

The simple things that make me smile.

Things that I always wanted for my life.

Hubby and I prefer homemade vanilla ice cream over store bought ice cream.

He likes to make it!

Finally, at age 47...

I get it.

I can create a serene atmosphere and enjoy the simple pleasures to find contentment.

I am true to myself.

Living a creative life.

I hope that you are fulfilling your desires!!!!

Today, while starting on my Halloween clay characters...

I was also having a conversation with a friend who is experiencing some big, life changes.

This is what led me into my art room...

To retrieve that square magnet with those powerful words on it.

It was that magnet that inspired the art journal entry (above).

I remembered feeling quite scared and confused back then...

When the magnet was given to me.

Soon, I realized that I was powerless at that moment, to "fix" everything and be instantly happy....

But discovered that once I let go of the constant worry and fear...

I was able to embrace the new adventures that awaited. It was fear that kept me stuck and feeling so hopeless.

I wasn't even able to create at that time. My mind was on overload!

Creating ourselves is a fun journey!

Step by step...

A little at a time.

We can create ourselves and the life that we want!!!!!

Blessings to all...

XO

 

Thank YOU, Friend!

Hello to you!

I just love it when I wake up to sweet emails or comments from those who visit my blog! It's so nice of you to take the time to do so.

Through the years I have "met" so many wonderful people through blogging!

I also find great pleasure in viewing your blogs, if you have one. It's my ritual,each morning, with a cup of coffee...

To view the beautiful blogs in which I have saved to my "Pulse" app, on my iPad. Unfortunately, through this app, I do not have access to a "comments" feature. Just know, that I am there...

Faithfully...

Taking in your inspiring posts!

You are a huge part of my life, whether you know it or not!

Many of you motivate me to get out my paintbrushes or my camera.

You all make me smile...

And although we have never actually met,

I feel honored to call you my friend!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

XO

 

A Pretend "Fall" Day...

Interesting, it is.

How the weather can alter our minds and trick us.

It's been raining all day here. With the rain comes a chill in the air.

It truly feels like a Fall day. The sky is a drab grey color.

I made a pot of coffee, late this afternoon, and took a cup of the hot brew into the bedroom.

I got all cozy, beneath the bed blankets and opened up my art journal.

Sketching.

No plan...

Just pencil scratches...

Then some watercolor.

Soon, these faces adorned the journal page.

Kinda creepy, eh?

Well, maybe not.

I found myself thinking about Halloween, pumpkins, ghosts, goblins, black cats.

Glass bottles filled with magic potions...

Oooooh, don't you just squirm when you think of that spooky time of the year?

I dip my paintbrush into the bright colors...

Orange, green, purple, yellow, and blue.

I'm thinking that I may create each one of these characters using clay!

What do you think?

Possibly, I will.

So, in my art journal I will continue to play.

I will jot down some notes and ideas...

On this pretend "Fall" day.

Until next time...

XO