Birthday present

My fifty-first birthday has sped right up here and for this birthday I am getting something I have wanted for a while, which is a trip to the beach. Kerry is not really a beach person, so he is always resistant to my suggestions about going there. It does seem like there have always been other places we needed to go when we have been able to take time off, like to visit family or we just have not had enough time to get this far from home

  The last time we were at the ocean for a vacation was 6 years ago before the girls got married. We took our last family vacation then and made a spontaneous trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. That is where we are now, enjoying several days on a budget vacation but I am finally here, breathing in ocean air, feeling the breeze off the water, hearing the waves lap the shore. There is just nothing like it to me to restore the soul. I can find communion with nature anywhere. I love being in the woods, in the mountains, near a lake. God is there and so obvious to any observing eye, but, indeed, there is a special something extra for me about the sea and just BEING there. By that I mean "being". Perhaps the rhythms of the water and wind cause me to slow my mind down, let it empty of all those busy and often harmful thoughts, and actually "be" in the moment.

That is something that is hard for me to do, live in the moment.  I try to constantly remind myself to, but it is easy to start worrying about problems and solutions, the "what if's" and next thing you know another day has slipped by and then another.  Having a birthday past the half-century mark will definitely remind you that time is "slipping into the future". When a moment is as beautiful as this it is so much easier to savor, though, than those days spent working or doing mundane tasks.

I love a pretty sunset and those over water are so awesome.  Don't think you can ever tire of seeing beauty like this.

We enjoyed eating out the other evening at a restaurant recommended by my friend, Kelli. It was a very popular local establishment, J.Micheals, that was pretty busy for a Monday evening. Hard to see the detail of all the decorations in the pic above, but it was quite colorful and the food was delicious.

 

I was walking back to the room from the pool when I noticed the cool shadows of the railing. This might be a cool background for something.  I keep saying I want to get back into art more, but I've not been too successful.  There are some personal business issues that have been on my mind and I have got to get to where I can put these to the side instead of waiting for the perfect day. 

I did bring some fabric stuff and some journals with me.  So far have started a couple of pages in my "Blue Traveler" journal and worked on some needlepoint in the car on the way down.  I've read one book and started another. Lazy stuff and that is just what I wanted to be doing.

Seeing the light

I am trying to get some posts off even if I have nothing artistic to share.  If for no other reason, than to keep myself in a habit.  This picture is one that I took on the way home last week.  I love to try to catch the rays of sun as they shine through the clouds. As it happens, my morning and evening commutes coincide with the rising and setting of the sun, making it easier to capture such a moment, ones that seem to me to be sending a message that our God is there watching out for us with a light so bright that it can break through to us when we need it. I need to be reminded of this sometimes.  Life can seem so burdensome at times, when problems that you pray will be resolved don't seem to be anywhere near that resolution.  It can be hard to understand the "why" and "when".  Then you hear of others who have so much more to bear that you feel small. Even so, to each of us, our cares are still important and real.  It still lifts my heart to see these rays breaking through clouds and to know I am not alone with my burdens.

What your bookshelves look like when you are a "collector" of many things!

 

Show above a shelf in my dining room.  It used to be my living room and my Dad built us a lovely built-in entertainment center across one end of the room.  If/when we ever move, I will be sad about leaving things like this behind.  He is gone now and he built most of our kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and the afore-mentioned unit. Of course, Kerry and I have built most of the house, too, so that will be hard to leave, too!

Well, I digress, as I often do. The shelf above highlights my eclectic tastes, shall we say.  Two dollheads, rescued from from a burn pile, 2 mercury glass candleholders, hand-carved snake and wooden letter openers made by a friend, a butterfly that made it's way into the garage and didn't make it out(died from the heat, I guess),bird feathers,  small vintage business card for a Hitchcock Lamp available at J.H. Hedenburg's in Brooklyn, and a lovely little bust.

I love little things like this.  Too much, I guess. 

Have been creating a little here and there

Think I have set an all time record for no blogging for me, anyway! It's been 2 months now! A friend mentioned a post I once did about trees and people on Facebook and it shamed me when I visited my own blog and saw how long it had been since I posted anything. I have been trying to get scans done of the mini-journal I mentioned in that last post, but it's been hard. My scanner is hooked up to my desktop and it is working vvvverrry slowly now. I think it either has a virus or spyware crap that I can't find or some settings are messed up that I'm not smart enough to figure out.

I was able to get some jewelry made this past week. Shown above are some asymmetrical earrings I made today. I wanted to use a jade floral charm I've had since I was young. I never wore it on a necklace anymore so I thought this would be a good way to wear it again. Below are 2 pics of  a necklace that started out with vintage blue glass beads from an old necklace that I cut up. Then they seemed to call for some more bright colors, so I mixed all colors of beads in with the blue. I like it although I'm not so sure about it still. I did get some funny looks when I wore it, so maybe I'm the only one that likes it.

The little journal is something I've worked on here and there with mostly little scraps from my art table. It was one of those sheets with punch out pages that you assemble together. I wanted to art it up so it was more my style. I made it so I could go back and journal in it. It ended up having some running elements throughout with an overall them of quirky!

Above the cover, closed.  Uses stamped and painted scraps of paper, flower brads, paper leaves, Stickles glitter here and there.

First page: watercolor painted and stamped vintage book pages, vintage text, Go embellishment

More stamped or painted paper scraps(color is off a bit in this scan, couldn't get it to fix) Used some gesso, markers, paint once elements glued down.  Plaid pocket has a marbled paper tag.

Still mostly scraps of paper with randomly chosen images, more stamped book pages

This is one of my favorites spreads in this little book.

More of the same. Some of the shaped paper trims I used in this journal were from some children's craft kit that had punch out shapes, strips in all kinds of colors.

I like this one, too, especially the left page. Used gesso to soften arond the edges and touches of paint, too.  Like the dreamy look it has. 

Yeah, weird, I know, lol!  Inspired by the stamp.  Again this one uses watercolor painted book pages.  I got some one day and just played around throwing colors on there in different ways.  I stamped on some of them.  Reminder to me: you need to take time to play like that again!

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Still playing around with craziness.  Some of these images like the dragon and the star were in a collage pack that a friend, Jane Widman, sent me in a swap one time.

Last page.  It is like a third page next to the spread shown above.  Actually the back cover of the book. This one didn't scan well either, maybe because of the plastic flower.  The colors look better than they show here and there is gold outlining making a tree that you can't really tell here.

Wish I could get back into some kind of artistic groove, but it just hasn't happened.  I keep feeling like I am in some kind of "waiting" mode, although I am not sure what I am waiting on.  Thought at first it was that I had to get adjusted to all the changes from my job and that may still be it, but fully expected to be over it by now.  There is still uncertainity about our farm and what we are going to do about that.  Perhaps it is having that in the back of my mind which keeps me like this.  My job does take much more time out of my life than I was used to since there are an additional 2 hours added to each day just commuting.  Also, there are no extra off days like I had at the hospital, either working 4 ten hour days per work week or a 7 on/ 7 off schedule.

I will just have to keep hoping and praying that I get my head all straightened out and that creativity will return as much as time allows.  We do take time to see Thomas and that is time I never regret.  Recently he turned 2 years old and we all celebrated that occasion with a trip to a petting farm near Tuscaloosa.  It was hot but we had a blast.  I'll close this long overdue post with few shots from that day.

In the meantime...

I know it has been a LONG TIME since I have posted. I am really working to get a post together about a little mini-journal I've been working on here and there. In the meantime, you should visit the jewelry workshop link(the new button on the side bar) and check out the amazing work by Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime Her work is amazing, often spiritual, and always beautiful!

She is also giving away 2 free workshop experiences. I would love to win one of these!

I am having so much trouble with blogger today that I want to scream!!! I can not see any of the stuff down the side of my blog that is supposed to be there, including the button that I mentioned above. When I go to "settings" everything shows up that is supposed to be there, but I can't see it once I go to my blog. I can't stay signed in and am having a LOT of trouble just posting or editing. I am trying to attach the button link here, but not having much luck with that.

Monthly blog?

Seems to be what I'm down to posting, if that. Good intentions, but you know how that road goes! In looking back at my last one, it is so sadly ironic that I mentioned, Sammy, my other granddoggy and needing to give equal time to him. We spent this past week in Waco, Texas visiting Chris, Holly, and, of course, Sammy. I am so sad to say that last Wednesday evening, Sammy was killed by a hit and run driver when they had let him out before bedtime. Ended up being good that we were there to help with some things. Above is a shot of Holly and Sammy that Chris was kind enough to send to me. He was the sweetest, most well-behaved dog! Also, one I took last year when we went to see them. It left an empty spot for them and I know they are missing him!

Other than this, we had a wonderful visit. Holly wanted us to make some jewelry together while I was out there. She had some ideas in mind and I had brought some jewelry magazines also for inspiration. I am still a novice at wire-wrapping but started out doing most of it. Holly quickly caught on and ended up doing one necklace entirely by herself. When sewing was required, that was my job. We didn't capture the best pictures of the necklaces, especially the one made of tie-dyed fabric strips, cording, and felt balls. All the others are combinations of various metal chains, beads, and jewelry findings. We flew so I couldn't bring all my junk jewelry, so Holly had to purchase the different components. I had brought my tools and some fabric notions.






Holly made this one with the white glass beads by herself.



For the necklace above, Holly already had a vintage pin from my stash that she wanted to use as a focal point. She cut up an old white tshirt to make the fabric flowers.



This was the first one we made.

Holly made me work for my keep while we visited! We rearranged some furniture, hung pictures, etc. This is her new guest room decor below. Also, we did some fun things. I got my first professional pedicure ever. Probably won't be my last. It was very enjoyable! I would show you the picture we sent to Emily of that, but it makes my toes look fat :)



We visited Holly's classroom to see how she had redone it for this year. She has worked really hard and was rewarded by being honored with "Teacher of the Year" from her school during her first full year of teaching. We are very proud of her.



On Friday evening we drove down to Austin to eat at the Melting Pot and got to see a little of the city before we ate. It was a contrast of beautiful old buildings and modern architecture.







This week away flew by as they always seem to do. We got back into Birmingham on Saturday. Emily and Thomas picked us up along with our 2 dogs. So there were the 3 grownups, Thomas and his carseat, our 2 dogs, and all our luggage along with what Emily had to bring for she and Thomas to visit for Easter. This was a very comical sight I'm sure. I'll make another post about Easter and Thomas, since this one is long enough already.

Post to show my grand dog, Coal

I follow several blogs, keeping up with them from Google Reader. One of my favorite artists, Colette Copeland, of A Bird in the Hand, posted some pictures today that led to my quickie post here. Her doggie friend looks just like my daughter's dog, Coal. I almost thought at first I was looking at pictures of him and my husband did think so when I showed him. Here are some shots of Coal. I have better ones somewhere, I know, but couldn't find them just now.

Aren't they beautiful dogs?!? I will have to do another post soon and show my other granddoggy, Sammy. Can't be partial! He belongs to my youngest daughter, Holly. Just wanted to get these up here so Colette could see the resemblance.

Be sure and check out Colette's blog while you are there. Her art and blog are among my favorites.

Good intentions, you know the story

Well, you make promises to try to do better about blogging and next thing you know, things go wrong. I won't even get any deeper into this since I shouldn't really talk about some of the things going on in such a forum, but suffice it to say that life can be very challenging sometimes. The trick is finding the place where you can be "in your head" to be able to continue on with your day to day life, which as they say does go on. I'm trying to focus on the good, hope for the best, but make some contingency plans all the same.

I did finally make a little bit of jewelry, very simple pieces, which are pictured here. Have some other jewelry ideas in my head waiting for time and energy to coincide. Maybe I should not make any plans, but just sneak up on some projects here and there, as I've still not gotten around to journaling, drawing, and painting like I had planned.




Both of these recent projects are actually remakes of old jewelry. The multi-strand necklace is just old chains of different colors reassembled. The earrings were gaudy eighties items that had this strange orange glitter rock-looking plastic centers. I removed this tackiness and punched some dictionary scrapbook paper to replace the centers, topping them with some glass marbles. One side reads "creator(God)" and the other "creation", a reminder to me of the glory of what I am to the One who is in charge.




Today one of my talented coworkers did a "lunch and craft" class where she showed us how to make this really cute card with a suit and tie on the front. It is harder for me to do this type of crafting, as I'm more of a "put it together as I go" kind of person instead of one who plans and executes. It was a bit of a challenge to me, but one I really enjoyed. Plus, the end product is so adorable!! If I got around to doing more cards it would certainly be a way to use up some of that collection of cute scrapbooking papers I've accumulated!



I was fortunate enough to escape down to Tuscaloosa to spend some time with Thomas, Emily, and Craig last weekend. It was so nice to laugh and play and amazing to see how much he changes. He already exhibits a great sense of humor and is such a little ham! Love this little fellow!

Promised snow pictures

These are the promised snow pics from my last post and were taken of the snow that we got around the 10th. Above is Max enjoying and posing in the snow behind the house. He loved it surprisingly and ran around having a good time.



On the other hand, we took Thomas out the morning after most of the snow fell and he was not too thrilled as you can see. Granted there was a very cold wind blowing that had some snow still in it. You can tell by looking at my face above that the wind was miserable. Grampy was even willing to go outside with the grandbaby, but we only stayed out a few minutes. We put Thomas down on the ground to see what he would do and he just held his little hand back up to Grampy, like "get me outta here"!



The shot below of our back deck steps illustrates how much we got. We think maybe 6 inches or so. This is a lot for our area. It hung around for a week in some places and that is also not very common in Alabama.



The pictures below were taken at the end of the week outside my workplace. You can see that there was still a good bit of snow left on the ground. Where they plowed the snow off the parking lot into huge mounds lasted on almost another week. I know this is laughable to those of you who live where it snows all winter, but this is remarkable to those of us in the Deep South.





We have had even more episodes of snow and ice since this, including an unpredicted one yesterday afternoon. It started about 2-3pm, catching people at work and school or trying to get home from those places. Ice and snow in various mixtures fell with freezing temperatures keeping it from melting on the roads. I work an hour from home and left there about 4:30, trying to get on the road before it got too bad. In an unusual twist, this system came up from the south, so that although nothing had happened where I worked, I was driving south into the icy conditions. By the time we got about 20 miles southward, conditions rapidly worsened and we ended up creeping along the interstate in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Thankfully, we only stood completely still a few times and were able to get home safely. What is normally an hour commute or less took 3 hours. Other coworkers who left later than us were not as "lucky". By the time they made it 3 miles from our exit, so many cars and trucks had stopped for one reason or another that traffic was not moving at all and those last 3 miles took them two and half hours, making their commute be about 5 hours!

There is even another winter weather event being talked about for next week. I do so hope that this doesn't come to pass. I love winter weather and if I worked at home or in a job where I didn't have to go in or stay due to bad road conditons, I would be happy about it.

So a post about the weather and grandbabies! Lol, I have done almost nothing artistic recently. There is jewelry stuff sitting on my table that has been here a month. Holly and I got it out to make her jewelry and I thought if I left it here, I would be more inclined to do something with it. In my defense, I was sick for a week or two, watched Thomas that next weekend, and have had to work late several times. Also, we had a really bad week last week with the chicken houses. My off days last week were spent working out there. This week I was at my Mom's on my Monday off helping her.

I am starting to feel some return of motivation though. Wanting to get back into my journals, try some new things in them. Lots of ideas bubbling in the leaky cauldron that is my brain. I must find a way to get my artistic self back into some kind of groove, even if it is just a snippet here and there!