FEBRUARY TRIMMINGS & PROGRESS

Archduke Charles antique rose with one from the Mutabulis rose bush. The white roses are called Ducher The before picture in grey of our future house and with a little work done in yellow below.... The big fat rose bud below is a different rose, salmon in color when bloomed....can't think of the name. The progress on our downsizing has been slow, but the growth of February roses, Ducher antique rose bush to be exact, was progressing like a burst of Spring! We always trim all of our antique roses around Valentines and Labor Day. These roses were what I picked up from laying in the yard before they cleaned all the extra growth they trimmed over the warm winter. I put them quickly in a vase and photographed them for future art or painting, BUT they are too beautiful like this to try and duplicate in a drawing or painting!!! I took the photos inside that evening as they sat by my chair where I work on the computer....the smell was glorious. The pink/red ones are the antique rose bush Archduke Charles, hedge we have in front of the small cottage. They bloom almost all year!!
THEN a quickie photo of the "before 1960's house" on one third of an acre, we purchased to remodel and to downsize to 20 miles away....and "a recent house picture with the addition in front changing the front profile", plus the doors and enclosing of the big garage for my studio! The house is not painted as that is the primed color of the hardy panel....but I am thinking a soft light buttery yellow with white shudders and trim would be so happy looking, especially when I get roses around it!! We will eventually add a nice big porch and other things including a garden in the back...plus the children's play house will go back there. More photos later. We are working madly to get enough done to move into it. We rented a storage unit as we can't seem to throw away enough old goodies.....and are putting people off for a while longer who are wanting to see and possibly purchase the beautiful big house on three acres we built/restored and have lived in for thirteen years ....we don't even have it on the market or appraised yet! We are getting tired and have had two garage sales and will have a bigger moving sale during the Antiques Fair in Round Top.....whew!!!! I am definitely ready for less work and stuff and a little more relaxing!! Blessings to you all. Sorry I haven't blogged...we have been too busy to breathe!

TRAINING IN WAITING....by TRUSTING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEYTON!!!!! ARE YOU HAVING FUN TODAY!!?? Maybe my new banner for the blog.....or am I too attached to the old one? All with a ball point pen....fun doodling and some color.....bliss!! Who knew?! ...Alisa Burke did!!! Love her class! More ball point pen doodling....such fun!! I discovered this on the chalkboard after the children went home .... Pilar drew this !! She is 10 and going to be baptized in two (weeks) Sundays.... I would say she is excited!! I would love this on an invitation..."Today is Sunday!" There are a lot of activities for the youth on Sunday at our church....so happy when the kids look forward to going! Waiting is not one of my pluses .... and I am learning to accept someone else's (God's?) timing. Actually, I am at peace with the timing of our "downsizing" progress .... sort of up in the air until the next project is finished and we move on to the following item that usually we are tripping on! And in between I sneak in a little doodling and drawing with a ball point pen, pencil or micron pen and some water colors added ... my joy is doing SOMETHING creative....it is the fuel for my being along with the THANKSGIVING of a true God who is soo alive in our daily lives. Even in the tough times, he must be by my side in my soul like life blood for me to continue each day. There is so much more good than bad about this world if you see it from His perspective! Anyway, things are good right now and I am loving the process of the progress!!!! No matter how slow!! One exciting item to mention is that they have built a sleeping loft in the big garage that I am turning into a studio in the new old house we will be moving to! I needed another bedroom for my kids and family when they come and the sleeping loft is what the kids are sooo excited about!! It will have a railing around it and they can see below.... kind of like being on the side of a mountain!! For a four year old, that is wayyy up there!! Blessings to you today!!!

The LAST LEAVES...

It is January and these are the last leaves on the Spanish Oak Tree .... my favorite tree in the yard. Christmas was really wonderful this year with the kids and grand kids here. A few people were missing, but real Christmas will be celebrated in Heaven someday with a celebration like no other!! Yes, we all gained weight .... so what?!? Tried some new recipes which were a success, especially the "skillet green beans" by Pioneer Woman .... which we will repeat for sure! Dick and I are still working towards downsizing .... and eventually moving. We are working on the new "old" house 20 miles away and trying to go thru all the years of stuff here .... to rid ourselves of "encumbrance" to be freer in many new ways and hold tight to the fondest of memories .... and looking forward to what is ahead for us with this move!!! We are truly excited. The following pictures are some of the things done with grand children ... the stuffies , which they drew, colored and then sewed and stuffed....they were a hit!!! Then some ball point pen drawing inspiration from a small class I am taking from Alisa Burke..... and a little watercolor "food" inspiration from the "stew" I made ..... and a trumpet vine at my neighbors. Winter really hasn't hit here yet! BUT the leaves.....oh those glorious red leaves.....so beautiful with the evening crisp sun shining through .... this tree I wish I could take with me .... but I am sure there will be one near the other house for me to photograph! We don't usually get those colors around here. Enjoy and I will try to update you on some progress of the move. We did tear out two walls last week , you know kind of like the DIY shows you see on TV.....we had fun doing it , but tried to save the good stuff! We'll share photos later.....hugs and big BLESSINGS!!!

IT IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!

Oh My!!! One week ..... LESS!! .... left!!! I am behind, but catching up and anticipating the grandchildren coming to Mimi's and Grand Dads!!!! YAY!!!! I was doing good until my computer and scanner wanted to take several long naps today!! I am trying to finish a little book I made for my grand kids to go with a special ornament I bought them at "The Mustard Seed" in LaGrange!! What a cute shop!!! I went there three times in one day! Anyway, I'll show you the booklet and ornament when and IF I get it done! Pray for my machines .... they are only four years old, which according to MAC and PC people....that is old! I am 65 yrs old and I still work!!! So I will show you the Christmas card we made for this year. (I painted it and Dick wrote & mailed them!) He had the hard part! The verse was different.... but I JUST HAD TO PUT IT. I have several people in my life that have had medical hardships this year ... one precious friend in particular has been very sick and a mystery to the doctors. Her nick name is "Ampie" .... so if you are in prayer mode please pray for her to be comforted from her severe pain and to begin to heal. She is young and was very vibrant. Worked very hard to have a home along with her husband and has been a good mother to two girls. She is loved. The other reason I put it on my Christmas card was I thought the one part fit God's CARE for His OWN Son after He was born, guiding and protecting them as they went their way. It was such a huge and monumental event that only God really knew how special that the time had become fulfilled ..... what so many had been anticipating and waiting for .... and His birth was the beginning of showing us how very much He loves us and knows that we need Him. That He, Jesus, would be the only answer to any ailment or purpose in life ... even beyond death. So He came here to let us get to know Him, experience His love in a human way ..... a love like no other could show us. So Ampie , this is for you ..... I love you too! ....here it is ...."He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalms 91:4 In Spanish it is this...."Con tus plumas te cubrira; y debajo de sus alas estaras seguro; escudo y adarga es su verdad." Salmos 91. verso 4. Blessings to you all during this special time of reflection of how God has provided for us THE ANSWER .... not found in anything else. MERRY CHRISTMAS..

RUNAWAY? HIDE? OR PUSH ON ... FORGIVE AND PLAY!

We have been definitely busy downsizing and fixing our next spot, so I haven't blogged much! But while going through things a few things have come back across my heart lately that made me think about how kids forgive one another..... better than we do!!! When you are hurt by someone, do you RUNAWAY? Do you HIDE? Maybe you PUSH ON ....which feels right ..... but do you (speaking to myself) FORGIVE? When I am hurt by someone I do runaway and I hide to protect myself and I push on .... but usually I can't get past the fact that I love that person who hurt me or disappointed me and it doesn't go away. SO I am learning and wanting to FORGIVE THEM, SO I CAN CONTINUE TO LOVE THEM .... either closely or at a slight distance. BUT I CAN LOVE THEM IN SPITE OF HURT .... I CAN and I DO. It also made me remember how the children played when they were all here last year.....they had the greatest of times and couldn't wait to be together..... then they would get selfish and fight or get mad or hurt at the other...... but usually five minutes later they were back to normal having a great time. That is what I want to learn ..... to get over myself and get over hurts!!! And to learn not to hurt others!! I am trying ..... it is "THANK GOODNESS" not a trait of God .... to runaway, to hide, to just push on, to pout and hold a grudge or guard the hurt in His heart feeding on it..... I have much still to learn at the age of 65!!! Praise God, I can still learn and He can still be patient with me. And thank goodness He loves me and He loves them equally! Who was hurt more? Jesus in His being rejected and dying in humiliation on the cross or all of my past hurts in the past? Then look how His Father lifted Him to such a glorious place because of His love for His Son and for us! I think for sure I can get over my hurts and forgive ..... He did. Honestly, each person who has ever hurt me is a person I can't get over because I LOVE them...... so I forgive them!!! ALL! And I HOPE they will forgive me. I am working on it with His help!! Blessings to you all!

FUN DAY FUN STUFF....

"A" was for their last name, and "G" was her maiden name....wish I had pics of each letter with all the different children....maybe later! This was a joy to do for them!!! A picture for the author page.... An old page piece from a book.. AND now the fun day with a grand daughter!! The old fifties case was a dirty blue color and we got to work to make it something new!! The first pictures are of a small "ABC" book I made for a special new baby in our circle of friends! There was a "tree letter" for each letter with different pictures of children or a horse etc painted on them....then a blank page opposite for the new parents to add their story each day....the cover paper was a manipulated antique page from an old book....and inside a little collage from another antique book....I used my "Zutter" for the first time to cut the pages and align them....can't wait to do more personalized little books with my art!! THEN here is a series of an afternoon project with my grand daughter before she moved. She needed a bag for hair stuff etc....so we went to the garage and found this old makeup suitcase from the fifties and we mixed a color of purple she so desired and we printed, quickly, some photos and began to arrange it the way she wanted....It was all HER design and with her favorite Kitty, Sunny! ....and all her cousins, grandparents and family! Her favorite things this year while living next door were the birthday parties, cooking, spending time with family, friends and the cat!! So here is her finished suitcase!!! It was another "special day" to remember for us two!! My first grand child!!! Enjoy doing something with one of your family or a friend today!!! Blessings to you!!! sherry