Wheat Field

1 0f 2 wheat field paintings on canvas. Preparing for art show with City Arts Boutique next week at Eastlake's PopUp show.

DIY Advent Calendar with Tiny Galvanized Pails

These were leftover from our wedding decor and have made their way back on to the scene for another special occasion, Advent 2012. Simple red-glittery number stickers and twine, viola, it is done! Thanks to an idea similarly found in the latest issue of Pottery Barn's Holiday catalog.

We are enjoying each day's advent activity, with a reading from a devotional, scripture, and meditating on one of the many names of God. 

DIY Fire Pit

Last year's backyard project..and this year's luxury. After capturing over 700 bricks for free off craigslist and researching how to stack and design with them, my better half completed this job well done. A lot of digging, and some planning. Now we can step out back and feel like we're in the great outdoors...enjoy a nice fire, roast marshmellows and sip cider. 

 

Farmscape Study

 Last year during the winter season my (at the time boyfriend) took me back to KY to spend time with his family and see where he spent his summers. Can I just say, I LOVE the countryside in Kentucky. Rolling green hills, silos, horses, woods, barns, and long stretches of small roads with wooden post fences. When you own a farm for a long time in a small town, it's almost like an estate or castle, it's dubbed whatever your last name is as it's title. For instance, the farm my husband's grandparents lived on for so long is known as the "W(last name)" Farm. So, whoever takes up residence respects the history and cordially allows family members to visit, and so that's what we did. The same house, with a wood burning stove, trails to the creek in the woods, and only a few new additions, such as renovations to the barn. It's one of my favorite memories when we were dating. The stories of adventures on the farm, and of course the romance of walking around the farm while listening to them, melted my heart. Growing up in a fast paced city, "Rocket City", Huntsville, a melting pot for families in the military, scientists, engineers, etc. , I always loved driving north to TN to visit my grandparents. The fresh air, miles of trees and green grass, mountains visible from the road, and beautiful land. The country always feels like home. For my husband who grew up out west near Las Vegas, the countryside is a dreamy place as well. A family resided here last year, from Philadelphia, but have moved into the nearby city. It pains me to know it's vacant, so it's been on my mind lately. 

The next several paintings will be from photos of this farm and the one my husband's parents lived on while he was in high school in Kentucky. All of them will be on 9x12  multi-media paper with acrylic paints and hopefully become more expressive as I go, but we'll see. I love painting places that I can dream about living in, these will be the first of a like series. 

be refreshed

The invitation to Santa Rosa Beach came last minute, but with plenty of time to throw together some things and take a few days off from teaching. We have not been to Santa Rosa Beach in Pensacola since we took our mom 5 years ago. I remember dancing, laughing, and listening to mom talk about sharks.

This time with my sisters was great! We laughed over our antics and quirks continually. I enjoyed every minute with my niece and nephews. Spending time with my brother-in-law is always special as well. He is an amazing husband/father to my sister and their kids. I've learned so much about devotion to the Lord, His word, and obedience by being part of their family. Jennifer always adds laughter and fun to our time together. Amazing how each one of us are so different, but yet so alike. I'm thankful for the beach trip in many ways. The joy that God offers through fellowship with siblings or family should bring a true heart of worship. Even when we think ...others are wrong. (Romans 8:28-30). The grains of sand remind me of His redemption for His children, the ocean brings refreshing new tides in every wave, and the rest from the world reminds me of His glory and power. Thank you Lord for giving the 5 year anniversary of mom's death a refreshing new memory of family and fellowship with Christ.