WHERE I'VE BEEN...and back!!

The cottage where my grandchildren live next door for now...... a short walk to my back door ..... each day....... a blessing. My doll from 1956 ... ironic, the grandchildren have worn us both out!! This is how I feel! We are both a little frazzeled..... A pile of extended relatives.... it was a long day!! It says...."SLOW"................I WISH!!!!! Swinging ...... lasts about 2 minutes!!! No FOX News tonite!!! .....it's movie time..... Some on the floor..... some on the couches.... My NEW decor....someone has moved in!!! My 40 year old kid's toys from the past have made a comeback!!! That's what I get for not ever getting rid of anything!!!! It comes back to haunt you .... in a wonderful way. Thank the Lord for the WII Games!!!! Lunch preparations ..... in plastic and wood .....yummmm Legos .... wonderful millions of pieces of legos!! .... and I BOUGHT THEM....what was I thinking...? The toy house matches my house!!! Is that Mimi hanging from the rafters? Earlier in the day ... they were bored ... humfph!!! So we took an old sheet .... made a tent fort, they drew targets on the plastic lids , which were also shields.... and with our trusty water guns and water soakers we divided up and I drove the attack vehicle.... at times surprising the enemy ....we were soaked!!!! This was at least a two hour battle .... no photos of the defeated driver .... she looked like a giant wet hen!! Now this is true distraction ..... relaxation? .... well, maybe just distraction...... The most enthusiastic with lots of screaming was the three year old ....I am surprised the neighbors didn't call the police!!! A pretty nifty tent fort.... if I do say so myself!!! I love old sheets .... we built houses with blankets and chairs when I was a youngster ....and lots of clothes pins!!! YES, they do still make them!!! READY FOR BATTLE!!! The cat hid all day!!! Sunny , the cat was a present to us a few months back....from some generous stranger passing by! Sweetest cat!!!! My grand daughter was blessed .... so blessed because Sonny looks just like Sunshine (her first and only cat five years ago that got run over.) It was like "Some one " knew.... she was here in Texas again..... A birthday in February....you can barely see my Christmas tree to the right.... most people don't notice it is still up..... at least they don't "mention" it! And besides .... my grand kids don't care if it still up....they still turn the lites on sometimes when they come over. Now for some sanity and some beauty ....a gift from HIM in my yard. He is GOOD!!! Our famous Texas "Bluebonnets" with a few Indian Paintbrush!! Old Irises ....given to me from friends long ago.... Yellow Antique Rose "Graham ...something?" Just a ROLL of photos to show you life lately..... and why I'm too tired to post art or anything you might want to see .... here it is .... I CAN say we had a GREAT ANTIQUES FAIR ... and I'm still recuperating and trying to finish up paper work. Even though life has been on a different track lately .... I feel very blessed and thankful for all of THIS in my life! If you go back a few years to my Christmas open house, you'll see a very clean and very decorated house .... but NO MORE!! ALAS! ... the grandchildren have taken over and done their own decorating!!! I will end it with the ever present beauty of my yard which helps me to breath and feel His love and care for us .... even if we can no longer keep up physically .... or keep up appearances!! You may see my Christmas tree in a few photos .... yes, in March!! A grand-Mimi has to make choices .... and it hasn't been the Christmas tree!! Oh, what can I say?!?!? .... just enjoy the photos for what they are and then say a prayer for me if you feel led! ... really do! , even though I am laughing I would welcome prayer!! So pray for me ..... Or for the grandchildren, ...... or maybe for their Grandad!!! GREAT BLESSINGS to you during the upcoming SEASON OF A NEW LIFE ... the celebration of a HOPE for our hearts to know our future in the Ressurrection of Christ!

ROUND TOP ANTIQUES FAIR THRU APRIL 3rd !!!

That's right!!! ANTIQUES FAIR THRU APRIL 3rd!!! People are already set up and selling! Our county seat in Fayette County had the "best retail sales in their history" the last quarter....that means this year should be a good one!! So come see us....we are so overstocked with trying to get the Spring items to fit in the shop that we decided to have a SALE on FALL and CHRISTMAS the rest of MARCH and thru APRIL. We carry ALL SEASONS ALL YEAR.....and if you are looking for something you missed last Christmas it is probably here. The SPRING FLOWERS Are beautiful.....well enough said, I have to get to work....WE ARE OPEN ALL WEEK FOR TWO WEEKS!!! BLESSINGS!!!

LUKE....

A boy and his dog.... there is something so special about it. A special connection ... for a boy to have "his" dog. My son, Scott, had several favorite dogs growing up and today as a married man with a family ... has his beloved "Dodger", a big ole Chocolate Lab.... a sweet dog who hung his head over the playpen looking at their newborn when she was sooo tiny.... a gentle dog. Then there is this boy, Tito, that is our grandson by adoption .... HE ADOPTED US.... and we have been so blessed ever since he was born right next door .... he is not the only addition like that to our family of grand kids!! Anyway, he had wanted a dog for a long time, and it just wasn't time for them to have one .... until his uncle said he had one for him when Christmas rolled around. WELL!!...HE was so excited, reading all he could on how to take care of him, what he needed for toys, and maybe a sweater....oh my, the list was long!!! The first thing I took over to his house was a small carrier we had with a new pillow in it so he could bring home his "Chaweenie" (chihuahua and weenie dog mix) from the long trip to get him at his Aunt and Uncles before last Christmas. Just the site of the carrier had him giggling and chuckling in a constant blissful way! He named his little dog "LUKE"....and I must say there is a special connection between them!! Here are some photos of the first week with Luke.... is that a happy face on a boy or what!!!! Love these photos and wanted to share them!! Here is also a cartoon, really old one from out of an old book from my parents....a laughing dog from a cartoon newspaper or comic book cutout to save. I wanted to send it to Diane at My Art Journal who has a dog named "Bob", see his story through her blog. Then there is an endearing story of the dog adopted by DJ here...a beautiful dog named "Tulla". I don't have a dog, but I DO have the children to watch as they discover their new pets.... and the "JOY" of it!!! Blessings!!!

AUNT EDDIE MAE....

Today was a sad day in many ways. The funeral of my Mother's little sister, in her eighties, went home to be with the Lord. That is a good thing .... that you go home to the Lord. I was overwhelmed with tears in church last night, as I thought of how she was the last of "that generation" in our family, and how it made me miss my Mother. She died in 2001, but it is still hard because she was so very special to us all. I have a brother named after my Aunt Eddie ... his name is Edward, but it was with her in mind when they called him "Eddie". He is still living, but I miss him because he has separated himself from me ..... for many reasons I can think of, but not sure "exactly" why. We really never got along after we were adults. I didn't go to the funeral, a short trip, today, ... too vulnerable .... it was just too hard this time around ... it is too painful. Selfish, I know, ... but I just chose to hide away. I seem okay as long as I stay away and keep busy with other things. Well, I stayed away today and sat in the studio to try to do art .... I had an overwhelming sadness. I had started this piece last week but it didn't seem to go anywhere, just didn't come together and had no desire to finish it ...... until I looked at a page from scripture still laying on my desk from doing the beatitudes .... and there it was .... it just popped out at me!!! Matthew 5:23,24. Click on it to read it.... It is in the old scripture language on the art, but it hit home for sure and it was sooo convicting considering my brother. I DO love him and I DO forgive him and hope he WILL forgive me for what it is that has him so angry at me. ANYWAY, loss is hard, either in death or in life....both have loss. This art piece was easier for me to do with him in mind and what the Lord might be doing through it .... either for him in time to come or for me today. I added the hearts .... for the desire of a loving relationship as a brother and sister, which I withheld from him for years in anger ..... very hurtful to a younger brother. The little bird is flying with a heart in his beak to hopefully drop it in the right place ... for healing ..... before it is too late. I will miss Aunt Eddie and do I love you, Eddie, my little brother. Blessings.....

THIRST...for God

"THIRST" is the last in this series of Be Attitudes until I finish the next set. These have been so pleasant to do...."Like conversations with God." I keep thinking, WHAT is so special about them or doing them?! It is the relaxing flow of play with shapes, color, words ...like making mud pies when I was little....and the whole time I'm having those quiet conversations with God in my head. It is a wonderful time .... sometimes until 5AM!!! Sometimes when I'm in that mode, so engrossed in the play that I have ceased to exist for the world until it is finished and then I show it and say....Here I am!! And then I play catch up with sleep, chores and business all the while dreaming of the next window of time to get to go the spot (my studio) where I make "mud pies" (art!) again....til whatever hour!!..... I like the peaceful look on "THIRST'S FACE"....the words come from "The Beattitudes" in the Sermon on the mount....in MATTHEW 5...verse 6. We are anxious for Spring as I am sure everyone is.... Please pray for my friend GRACE, who lives in New Zealand with a heavy heart for her country and people after the horrible earthquake. What IS EASTER... REALLY? Is it about God's only Son paying the price to set us free...I mean really free even beyond death and suffering? Free for Eternity. Seems much more clear and special these days. Just contemplating....The Passion of Christ is graphic, but it is what He endured for all of us....not one people or person completed the fulfillment of God's Word...we all did and fulfilled God's plan. You can read all about it in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. Or simply John 3:16,17. Have a blessed and grateful week!! Easter season or resurrection day is the biggest gift of all!! Enjoy!

BABY BE ATTITUDES!!! or TENDER PLANTS...

Many people have been asking about these "Be attitudes" and I am going to list them on a post soon with the sizes and price each or by the set....just need a few more days to figure it out.....in the meantime here are the babies!! I have always loved the scripture in Deut that says...." My words fall like rain on tender plants...".....that to me is how gentle God is in teaching you when you are hungry and thirst for more of Him....read the whole verse....I just LOVE it!!! When I did NOT deserve it....He was GENTLE and MERCIFUL to me teaching me softly about His love ...." absorbing His love and words like dew on tender plants....oh, anyway, here are the babies....then I have another new one coming up....."Merciful" ... a little larger. I have ordered white washed 1 1/4th inch wide barn wood frames for the shop. I WILL get the prices together and sizes with photos soon! And with Pay Pal for those who want to pay that way. Thank you all for such interest!! I have another set in mind with the Proverbs.....and there is a few more in this set....the 6x10's (image is 4x8 approx.with out white border)will be around 12.00 each and the longer skinny 6x15 (image is 3x13 without white border) around 16.00 each. THEY are made with elements cut from art pieces I have painted.....now used as collage to embellish these little people. Blessings to you....ENJOY!!

A DEVINE MOMENT...

Have you ever reached a point where you took the risk to step over into a "Devine Moment" and knew if you did you could never turn back and it would change you forever? .... you know you need to step over but didn't know what was in store because only God knows and you still know you must step over? Well, it is a story too long to tell, but has to do with my precious little church buying land to expand our church for our children! An account of Jonathan's Devine Moment in scriptures ... I Samuel 2:6-18, tells the story of him entering into a Devine Moment, better than mine .... his military strategy was the opposite of what regular intelligent military strategies would be, but he knew he had to make the move and step out ... taking the risk .... God's hand before him with no other choice, waiting for him to "take that step" and TRUST ... it is a good study for us to TRUST what we know only God knows, because we DON'T know! It is not always that Devine Moment ... but when it is.... WE KNOW IT ...... and we have to make a choice. Here is another "Be attitude" art piece. I love doing these...you never know how they will turn out and I just love the surprise of each face! Enjoy and Big Blessings to you!!

THE CHURCH LADY?

Here they are framed....just a trial set....for the shop This "Be Attitude" was hard because I couldn't quite get her face or expression right....maybe it is right. Anyway a funny thing happened with this one....I showed it to my grand daughter, age nine, and she read it.....then she said, "Mimi, this would be a good Valentine for a husband who has left his wife!" Well, I had to laugh because she didn't know it was scripture (Matthew 5:11), so her imagination made it what she thought. We are from a family of strong women who also point that finger when we need to to get our husband's attention or make a point! We DO still have our husbands too...ha...Anyway, here she is...... she reminds me of maybe some of the "Church ladies" that have been bad mouthed through the years, but were maybe right. Her glove makes me think of the days when they wore hats and gloves to church....anyway, enjoy!! I have a few more coming...that I like more! Again, if you want to read the Beatitudes...see the link to it in the post below. BLESSINGS!!! Keep warm!!!!

ANOTHER BE-ATTITUDE....."MOURN"

Here is another "Be-Attitude" .....as I named them...... I have taken old paperback Bibles I buy at the used store and tear scriptures out of them that I want to use on art pieces. I've had these "beatitudes" from scripture laying around from a previous project and I have always wanted to learn more about them and what Christ was trying to say when He told them to the disciples while sitting on a mountain (Sermon on the Mount) after He saw the multitudes. He knew something about us .... and what we needed .... truly needed. I hope I haven't miss represented these "beatitudes" with the art I have paired them with ... and I may have slightly. These have caused a lot of conversation and many of us to wonder what exactly did the beatitudes mean? So if you want to read them and do a little fun digging .... here is a fabulous place to go to .... "Blueletterbible.org" ....but specifically when reading them ... click the blue numbers by the words you want more meaning to and it takes you to the original meaning it had in the Hebrew or Greek at the time it was written! Have fun and forgive me if some of these have been paired wrongly with the art. We have giggled with them and wondered with them .... so I hope a good thing! I would love them in a devotional to lift spirits .... who knows where they will end up. But here is one more ...... with more to come. ENJOY and BLESSINGS!! And thanks for all the positive feedback!! This one is "Mourn"...number three.