My Life is a Cartoon

Domino Necklace

2009-07-14T02:49:00.005-02:00

This is something that I made today. I had first thought it was an original idea, but when I did a search on the internet I found that other people were doing it.

I took a domino and used the numbers on the back to reference a bible verse. Then I took the front and drew on a design and glued on a cross a butterfly and two tear drops. (that part I have not seen done)

Quote: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:- Philippians 1:6

The cross, the tears, the butterfly and the verse all have meaning to me.

Back to the basics

2009-07-13T09:37:00.004-02:00

I am getting back to painting (if you were wondering) and I'm starting at the basics. Something I didn't do the first time around.

This is from my first basic lesson and it's on shadows. Making something look round by the shadows and highlights. It was really fun and good information

It should help my paintings of people to get better as I learn more about basic stuff. My instructor says there is freedom in knowing all this. You don't have to follow rules if you know what the rules are they just come natural to you.

Quote: I'm becoming more and more myself with time. I guess that's what grace is. The refinement of your soul through time. - Jewel

Hallway

2009-07-12T09:53:00.003-02:00

I took this picture in a hallway at my Church. I was really taken by how the light bounced off the wall and looked like large archways. I don't know if the person who designed the building planned this or not, but it was inspiring to me.

You don't get to see the Church often with out lots of people in it and I usually look at the people instead of the building, but this was somehow a good reminder to me of God and he is the most important part of the Church.

When I was actually standing there in the hallway it looked like the finger tips of God curled around as he held me (and the Church) in his hand.

Quote: Where there is much light, the shadow is deep - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Allergies I presume

2009-07-09T09:28:00.001-02:00

I think it's allergies. I was really feeling yucky early in the week. The worst was Wednesday, I was sick in the morning so that when I tried to take some medicine I could not keep it down.

I made it to work and did okay, but then I went out to eat later for a birthday celebration (not mine) and we went to an all you can eat place. The food there is great, but I could not eat much and it made me sick again. I went and bought some benedryl on the way home and took that. It seems to have helped.

Quote: Self-esteem is different than conceit. Conceit is the weirdest disease in the world. It makes everyone sick except the one who has it. - Hartman Rector, Jr.

Memorial Service Today

2009-07-05T23:55:00.006-02:00

I went to a memorial service today and they used a painting that I had done of the lady who passed away. I was very humbled by that. She was very special to me, but not the kind of person who would ever want to have her picture taken or a painting done of her. As a favor to me she came and sat for me to do the painting.

I kept the painting for years, but finally gave it to her daughter a few months back. I'm glad that I had already given the painting to the family before she passed away.

Quote: Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart. - Washington Irving

Family Reunion <- the other side

2009-07-04T09:43:00.004-02:00

I am probably the only one in the picture who will be there today. This is my grandparents (passed away) and all their grandchildren. The picture is in black and white, not because it was THAT long ago. I think it just looked better in black and white.

This side will be my fathers side.

Quote: "Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? They have the same enemy - the mother" - Claudette Colbert

It's cold in my house

2009-07-03T10:45:00.002-02:00

It's really hot outside, but the cat and I are enjoying the air conditioner being fixed. I'm too cold, but I have a fleece throw around my shoulders as I type this and a lawnmower waiting outside where it's hot enough to get me warmed up again.

By the way I have to move my self imposed deadline for finishing that painting, but I did go to a painting class last week to get me back into the swing of things.

Whether the weather be fine, Whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather, Whatever the whether, Whether we like it or not - not sure who said this

Broken Fan

2009-07-01T07:28:00.003-02:00

It turns out there was a broken fan inside of my air conditioner. They had to find a new one and so were not able to fix it today. It should get fixed early tomorrow and then the cat and I can recoop.

The good thing was the cat like the two men who came and so did not growl at them. This may be because he wants cool air. I really need to get him a hair cut.

Quoe: The journey of a hundred mile begins-with a broken fan belt and a flat tire - I don't know who said it, but there is a lot of truth in it. Sometimes it's the things that happen that we don't want to have happen that get us moving along.

Time for a Change

2009-06-29T09:24:00.005-02:00

After I had my tooth extracted and was recovering from that the air conditioner went out at my house. I didn't feel like dealing with it and you know how cool it is in Texas this time of year (not). I picked up a portable air conditioner for a temporary soultion and the cat and I have been wilting like the flowers in my flowerbed.

I'm calling the repair man today.

On the upside I think I now understand why my grandfather always got up at 3 in the morning - that the only time it's cool enough to do anything.

Quote: Some people change their ways when they see the light; others when they feel the heat - Caroline Schoeder - This is especially meaningful to me right now. If I had taken better care of my teeth I would not be having the issues I'm having now and If I had kept my house cleaner I would have just called the repair man first thing.

Deep Cleaning

2009-06-23T01:47:00.002-02:00

I had my teeth deep cleaned. They do one side at a time because it requires some time. It really wasn't too bad and with the antibotics that I'm taking I'm really starting to feel better.'

Quote: When a thief kisses you, count your teeth - Yiddish Proverb

Teeth Problems

2009-06-19T19:21:00.001-02:00

I was starting to feel pretty bad and I think I've been feeling drained for a while now. Anyway I called the Dentist office about 8:30 and they gave me an appointment at 9:40.

Turns out I had more than one abscess tooth. They ended up doing a root canal on the top back and an extraction on a lower back tooth. Not fun. It's not over and I have to go back, but it's something I think I need to to.

Quote: The man with a toothache thinks everyone happy whose teeth are sound. The poverty-stricken man makes the same mistake about the rich man. - George Bernard Shaw

I bought paint

2009-06-16T08:56:00.004-02:00

If your wondering how I"m coming on my self imposed deadline to finish that painting. I did run by the store and get some paint. This is a busy week for me.

After work on Monday we had a special speaker at Church who works with single parents and I went to listen. Today I had a support group.

Thursday I'm staring a new support group that goes for a year and friday I have a book study.

That leaves Wednesday as a day to paint, do laundry, etc... My weeks are not usually this busy.

Quote: Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan more than you can do, then do it. - Anonymous <- they probably just didn't have time to sign their name ;-)

Meeting New People

2009-06-14T09:26:00.001-02:00

I went to a lunch for a singles group. I knew a couple of them before I came, but I was a little unsure of the exact place they were meeting. I found the restaurant okay, but when the greeter directed me to the back I got confused.

They had closed the door so they could talk and I didn't know there was a room behind the door. I did see a room full of people next to that. I walked in a couple of times, but no one really seemed interested in welcoming me to their group so I went back and asked again.

This time the greeter came all the way back to the room with me and I got in. ;-)

Quote: I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance. - Stephen Wright

Storm with high winds

2009-06-10T09:05:00.000-02:00

The storm blew some limbs off of my tree and out into the road. I was able to pull them back up into my yard when things were calm.

We had sirens going off and were very lucky that we did not have a tornado or hail at my house. Some people were driving home when this happened so I know they were stuck in traffic for a while.

Quote: God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity still in the cloud, the oil still in the earth. How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven. - George MacDonald

I new flower opened

2009-06-09T10:31:00.001-02:00

Almost every flower in my front flowerbed is pink or purple, but this one. It's really fun to see things come up that you didn't plant because you don't know what might be there.

Quote: The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. - Ashley Montagu

Family Reunion Time Again

2009-06-05T18:43:00.002-02:00

Remember this picture. I'm off to see my cousins this weekend.

Quote: A man can't make a place for himself in the sun if he keeps taking refuge under the family tree. - Helen Keller

Homemade Olla

2009-06-04T09:51:00.005-02:00

I have been wanting an olla (pronounced oi ya) for a while. It's an unglazed clay container that holds water. You put it in the ground and plant around it. Then you put water in it which seeps out slowly to your plant. So if you are someone who can't or doesn't get around to watering often this seems like something that would really help.

I found a suggestion of using a clay wine cooler with the clay saucer as a lid.

It cost less and is easier to find. So yesterday I found four of these that I'm going to try. The plan is to put them inside a container and put in dirt and a couple of plants and see what happens.

Quote: I have a rock garden. Last week three of them died. - Richard Diran

I did find a small picture

2009-06-03T01:17:00.020-02:00

I found a small picture from the photo shoot and a little mock-up that I put together by cutting out the picture and putting it in front of an ocean scene and adding a boat in the distance.

I love when I get to do a painting all the way from the photo shoot to the finished picture.

When I was looking on my computer for the pictures from this photo shoot. I found some other photos of old paintings.

Quote: I wiped away the weeds and foam, I fetched my sea-born treasures home; But the poor, unsightly, noisome things Had left their beauty on the shore, With the sun and the sand and the wild uproar - Ralph Waldo Emerson

One Painting which I need to finish

2009-06-02T10:05:00.006-02:00

I think this is the first painting that I need to finish. It's been around unfinished for years. This is one that I actually took the picture of the model to do the painting from. If I can find the picture (which would be nice since I could use it to finish the painting) I will post it too.

I need to get The Boy to fix my computer so I can look for the pictures I took.

You can't tell by the picture, but it's pretty large 24" by 36". I will try to set myself a goal to have it completed by the end of June.

Quote: Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [James 1:4]

Wii B exercising

2009-06-01T02:52:00.002-02:00

We got a Wii and have been doing yoga and other exercises. Also playing golf and baseball and bowling. It's a lot of fun, but I do have other things I need to be doing.

It does help you with your balance, unless it's tricking us and we will all be walking sideways ;-)

Quote: Between a fellow who is stupid and honest and one who is smart and crooked, I will take the first. I won't get much out of him, but with that other guy I can't keep what I've got. - Lewis B. Hershey

Waiting at the airport

2009-05-30T03:02:00.003-02:00

I went to the airport to pick up The Girl and The Boy because they were gone for a couple of weeks. While I was waiting there were a lot of chairs around, but some man came and sat right next to me. After a while he got up and left, but some other man came and set there. Then he came back and sat on the other side of me.

Here is what I've been thinking. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. I think I was all sweating from mowing the yard and here I thought I would need to be clean and perfumed up to attract men. Maybe they think I'm a hardworking woman.

Quote: Sweat is the cologne of accomplishment - not sure of author

Nice Neighbors

2009-05-29T09:28:00.004-02:00

Okay Yesterday when I got home one of my neighbors had mowed my front yard. I was going to do it when I got home, but it was really nice of him.

The neighbor on the other side brought me two little roses tied together with a twine. I wanted to get a picture of it because it was really sweet of him.

I should have taken a picture when this was fresh or put it in water, but..... I didn't.

Quote: One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today. - Dale Carnegie

I love these flowers

2009-05-27T21:32:00.004-02:00

I didn't plant these, but they are just perfect, except they don't have any blue. They are growing in my flowerbed so someone planted them before I moved here.

They have just the right Moggy Orange tops and then the pink pedals (well light pink) I may have to plant some shorter blue flowers under them ;-) or just wait and some may come up.

Quote: God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. - Martin Luther

Small Miracle

2009-05-26T09:19:00.001-02:00

Thank God for small miracles. I was sure when I got on the scale that I would see a giant weight gain because of eating out two times in one day, not no ;-). I don't even want to know how many calories I consumed.

I have been pretty good most days eating 6 small meals instead of three large one.

My friend and I went to Chili's for lunch and I had one of the southwest egg rolls which I really love, then a big bites (little hamburger) and the spinach artichoke dip with chips. If that wasn't enough my friend wanted the fries with cheese, bacon and who knows what else melted on them and shared it with me.

I had forgotten that we were eating at Church, not that it would have stopped me.

Quote: We have not wings we cannot soar; but, we have feet to scale and climb, by slow degrees, by more and more, the cloudy summits of our time. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Back to painting

2009-05-23T11:05:00.007-02:00

Okay I know that I have said this before, but this time I'm really going to do it. I am making room for my easel to stay up and I ordered a DVD today from my favorite art teacher.

It's weird that even when you are good at something if you don't do it for a while it feels like you never learned anything and like it would take a long time to get back into it.

I am going to make space and time for painting and learning in my life.

Quote: let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- - Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)