THE WIND...being still

The 4th of July has come and gone with all our guests leaving the house empty once again. We had close to 70 people and many more hotdogs!! It was very HOT and DRY and we were thankful for what breeze we had as we watched the parade go by. I didn't venture out into the heat much this year and stayed inside. I've been staying inside a lot!! I needed to work on a QUILT AD for an upcoming publication ...so I took an old worn 100 year old quilt I bought around 40 years ago and hung it outside on a cedar tree branch to photograph it. It was briskly blowing around and wouldn't stay on the branch and the sun was bright and I needed shade to shoot it. After the fourth or fifth try on my little step ladder it finally hung on the fat branch and gently moved in a soft breeze.... and the sun went behind a cloud! I snapped my camera up quickly to begin to shoot the photos.... then on the computer analyzing them and picking one to manipulate and paint..... I began to think of my life lately and how I am tossed by the wind!!! And how I want to only be "gently" blowing in a soft breeze ..... MYSTELE is having a group of us do art or write about "BEING"......each Wed. I am late posting , but here is the work in progress of the log cabin quilt that I hung on the tree branch .....and click the following to see the incredible reflections of scripture that help me to see that He can calm the wind in my life and I can be stilled in my soul ...... the best "ME" I can be is to be in His boat, but not fall asleep to the power He has in my life! I really think there is an opposing force that tries to keep you from who HE made you ..... just as you are with what He has given you to nurture your soul. This quilt picture makes me feel like BEING STILL, and just KNOWING He is God .... TRUSTING Him to continue to mold me and use me ... even though I am further down the road in years! Be Blessed and Be Still in your soul...... my prayer is to be who He made and not be afraid of who I am not..... to be me.

LET ME HEAR ....

Recent collage bookmark... Pilar, Peyton, Olivia, Tito, Elena, Eli, Sonny the cat, Luke the dog,, the rabbit in the yard, the old cat Rodney, the squirrel, and Sunshine, the cat who went to heaven to be with Rodney, her brother.... Grand dad and Mimi.... Grandpa, Grandma, Jimmy and my Kellie.... Julius, the donkey with a cat...size is weird....but he is a miniature donkey in real life!! The ever popular old golf cart that each kid learns to drive on in front of the water slide!! The play house.... And our Olivia...in front of a nest of mockingbirds in the tree behind her............................................................................................................................ For me to do art with children is to be still in my soul .... while playing ... and sometimes I TRY TO LISTEN and feel or know His loving kindness and care. Sometimes I have a REALLY STRONG hunger and thirst for Him more than at other times.....and especially His affirmation of my worth. Why, I don't know exactly, but it is an area where I struggle still. I think children are much easier than adults, who require so much of each other. High expectations drive me crazy and cause me to rebel, probably because I grew up pleasing people, which fed me for a long time but never lasting. That is what I love about Him, He loved me before I was fixed or cleaned up. He just wooed me to Him and I said "yes" and He said "You are worth it" .... and died a horrible selfless death on the cross. Life is too hard "without" Him, and I am thankful for His forgiveness and promise to me, no matter how I feel or perform at times..... life eternal with Him was my gift. Where is that "grace and mercy" when we deal with one another? He didn't do it because we were sooo good, He did it because we were soooo rotten and hopeless, even trying to be our own Gods as though we could really do a better job than Him .... I don't even want to try anymore, I just WANT to REST in Him .... knowing He loves me and cares for me and even blesses me with these children that are so fantastic, artistic and creative .... that I get to do art!!! THESE PAPER DOLLS from cereal boxes will be living in a fold out book with pockets and scenes from Mimi's house with the cousins and animals and other visiting grandparents .... we have been working on it .... Olivia, 9, and I , so she will have it with her when she moves and begins to miss us all. All of us are represented and there will be many more scenes and memories...... THIS PROJECT was from Carla Sonheim ,under tutorials, hope I spelled it right .... I will post the link ..... it was a week of fun creating it with "special moments" with my eldest grand daughter .... Olivia .... one of my artists. ENJOY and BLESSINGS!!! Also added a bookmark I made with scraps.

SEEK MY FACE...

It has been so hot outside and the drought is something we can't control. We humans are so used to controlling every aspect of our lives that we can ... but there are some things we can't control. I found this scripture while doodling and drawing old fabric scraps and watching the children play BLISSFULLY with no worries. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends it's roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but it's leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7,8. I just thought it was something to give us thoughts of the HOPE if we SEEK HIS FACE....a quote in my devotional on the 6th. I hope you have a BLESSED day and REST in HIS ARMS of CARE. ......and I hope you get to paint !!!

THE JOY OF IT....

The hungry second born (born that day!) of the beautiful blue eggs my mockingbird laid in her beautifully built nest....which was in a wire basket on my trellis where I could lower it each day to check on them....she never fussed!! Those little nubs of wings that will turn into beautiful wings so he can fly! The nest was so beautiful, even had horse hairs in it that she got from the neighbors barbed wire fence where the horses tails swish across the barbs leaving long hairs... Click on the pictures to see them up close!!! Look at the beautiful fungus on the tree twigs.... a loosely built nest on the outside and then a delicate more tightly woven nest on the inside.... Those feathers beginning to develop ! NOW for a nap til supper!! This is ONLY one week later!!! I FORGOT TO MENTION....Flat Stanley Star Wars style from LaGrange Intermediate school, came for a vacation to our house and got to climb a tree with the grandkids! "D" for daughter... God and Family, cherished, the apple of His eye..."Home is where the heart is...."....for my daughter's Mother's day card.... Card below designed by my grand daughter for her Momma...the top attic opens for a sweet note....we used stamps too....she wanted no color....simple and classy, just like her Momma! she put our bird nest up in the peak....it was Mother's Day.... For a friend's daughter.....praying for her to flourish and heal with upcoming surgery.... "A" for Adams....or Anything! A design gathered from an old white on white hankie.... The JOY of what? There is so much hurt, disappointment, loss, self-righteousness and self centeredness .... what JOY could I be talking about? Sometimes you just can't put it into words ..... or you may be critisized for it anyway .... and you just aren't up to the analysis of others .... so you don't try to explain it.....I'm sure you have been there! BUT!! .....BUT there IS JOY ..... JOY in these words spoken this week ...... why are we so lacking in the work we try to accomplish for Him? These words ( Isaiah 33:6...And HE will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The "fear of the Lord is his treasure"....it is key, I think, for authentic success) words rang LOUD in my head when I read them over and over this week. Then there is the JOY of ART and the colors and joy of getting to be creative with it .... for me anyway! Here are some pieces of ART I have been playing with and the house card my grand daughter did for her Momma. THE JOY OF HIS LOVE ..... even for "just me" .... inspite of myself or the yukky and sometimes disappointing world around me. I BRING YOU THE WONDER OF HIS CREATION AND THE JOY OF IT....enjoy these incredible pictures of my "Mockingbird Babies" and enjoy the art.... Blessings to you!! Have a good weekend.....

A MOTHER....

Beautiful wife of Jimmy (Daddy) and Momma of my three awesome grandkids! We love this scripture in reference to our kiddos....3 John 1:4...."I have no greater joy than, to hear of my children walking in truth." New design from elements in the old designs seen below...for a friend's grandchildren....would be a pretty marriage certificate with England in mind! Antique certificates of my friend's family...you can see different elements used from each for the new design...with their own church inserted.... Below is the final design she picked for five grand children.... My Mother was in a wheelchair for thirteen years at the end of her cherished life. I have had so many thoughts of her lately with Dick home after knee replacement. We have used her old wheel chair, and several other things she left behind in 2001. I even looked for her whistle for him to use in case I didn't hear him....but no need, I've been close by. When we restored this old house we made sure it was handicap friendly....and didn't get to use it fully with her....but with Dick these last two weeks, we have given the design a real try every day.... and I have to say it has been so wonderful to have things set up for Dick to use with ease and for me!!! Thanks Mother!! I miss you!! Happy Mother's Day!!! Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful daughter too.... who has the same big smile my Mother had! She is a wonderful Mother to her children....really wonderful!! Of course we are proud of her and our son too...they both have great families!!! Happy Mother's Day to my daughter in law who is also an awesome Mom!!! I am going to list some old quilt squares that I found, undoubtedly made by some Mother or Grandmother or Aunt...the colors are so happy and the primitive designs speak of home. There is also a newly designed Baptism Certificate I did for a friend . She brought me three antique family "Baptism's" and "Confirmations" from three generations of her family....for me to design a new one for her grandchildren. So the new design has elements from all three of the antique certificates that were all in their family. The complete wording is not present yet. Anyway, enjoy these fun colors and think of all the MOTHER'S ....who have put bright spots in your life... one way or another. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all and great BIG BLESSINGS!!!

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!