Charm and Grace Cottage

The Ghost of Christmas Has Passed....

2011-12-29T18:28:00.000-06:00

Okay, that is a tongue-in-cheek title. I hope all my blog friends are well and enjoying something cozy in the afterglow of Christmas this week. I am hunkered down in the bunker of home trying to fight off the last vestiges of a particularly nasty cold and sore throat. I thought I would do a little catching up and sharing in what seems to have become a bi-annual posting.

The fall and Christmas season seems to run like a train on greased rails and ...just like that... it is over. I am enjoying the pace of this week, which for me has slowed considerably. Thanksgiving is such a beautiful holiday full of fond reminiscence and family. What a great start to any holiday season. The Christmas rush was on just after Thanksgiving was over, and I completed three Christmas commisssions in time to send them off to new homes for the holidays. Here are two of those:

The Tudor cottage was great and the second one is a London townhome... such fun to draw. I am looking forward to a new commission in the next few months of a newly built church surrounded by six of its former locations. I am also hanging thirteen of my art pieces at a local hospital's art gallery during the month of January. I am praying for fruit from this show.

One of the most enjoyable times for me during the holidays was seeing my daughter perform with the ballet company she was invited to be a part of at the beginning of the school year. They are one of the two performing groups at her ballet school and are called Immanuel (photo above of their feet). They performed on pointe before several thousand at a local church to "Sing We Now of Christmas" and "Once In Royal David's City." It was a very meaningful time and meant so much to me to see her years of hard work bringing forth such beautiful fruit. I hope that your fall and holiday season was filled with joy and family love.

Wishing all my blog friends a happy, healthy, blessed 2012!

Birthing Another New Website...

2011-06-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

I am in the process of birthing yet another website for another very creative lady. This one had a very good job working away from home, but in recent days has quit that job in order to pursue her "bliss" in the paper and printing business. (I will share more once we launch her site, but the new logo I created for her is below.) I can recall those Victorias that contained features about women pursuing their "bliss" in regard to their careers or work. There is even a book I have, published by Victoria's editors, called The Business of Bliss which tells the stories of a number of women who did this.

This is something that I have also had the opportunity to do. When I graduated from college with a degree Advertising and Graphic Design many moons ago, none of the layout work was done on computers. It was all meticulously hand-done with rub-on lettering or movable typesetting and gum paste. These days, it seems everything is done via computer. It is really an amazing thing to think about. I have had the opportunity to learn all of this amazing technology as it has evolved. It has gotten incredibly sophisticated through these recent years, and the software will do almost anything that you can imagine.

When I began building websites over 10 years ago, it was all very new and primitive. Since I am a very VISUAL designer, the "coding" required to build websites then was very off-putting to me. But the newest software is so friendly to those of us who are visual designers that it is truly a pleasure to be a web designer this current environment. It is almost like completing an unbelievably large painting, (except that it almost feels like you are never really finished.) There is always a change here or a tweak there that will inevitably have to be made.

In that past few years I have also had the opportunity to learn to incorporate these new and very popular methods of "quick communication" -- now so affectionately known as Social Media -- into the design of these new websites. I have customized backgrounds and logos and color schemes for Blogger and Twitter, and I have become co-administrator on many a Facebook page.

I am thankful for being able to pursue my bliss and being able to do that from my home. I do not take lightly the privilege of being with my precious family each day, and I am asking the Lord to keep me busy doing what I love, whether it is drawing someone's home, creating a painting, or designing a website. Since these are hard economic times, I must also be wise about what financial contribution I am making in our family. But for now, I am so thankful to be a "worker at home"...

Titus 2:5 "...to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

Any Way the Wind Blows

2011-06-06T12:18:00.001-05:00

(Photo above taken just after Hurricane Katrina in Pascagoula, MS)

These days you can never tell which way the wind will blow. It may just bring a tornado to your doorstep. People in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia found this out the hard way on April 27th. People in Joplin, Missouri, found this out the hard way on May 22nd. And in last week’s latest round of tornadic activity even the people in Springfield, Massachusetts, where tornadoes are fairly rare, got a taste of their fury. Then there is the outbreak in California, also historically a fairly tornado-free area.

So, what is really going on here? Some would say that it is caused by “global warming” … I wonder if that is why we had the coldest winter on record in quite a while this past year. Maybe Cheryl ( >>wink<< with her vast study of and fascination with the weather) could help us understand better. Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, tornadoes… just what does it all add up to?

(Photo above taken after April 27th tornadoes in Alabama)

If you are like I am, you have been thinking about and pondering what all this strange weather activity really means. I think of Jesus’ words when He told us in Matthew 24, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Birth pangs slowly and increasingly get harder and closer together; and so it seems these strange weather patterns are doing. It is a constant reminder that this earth is not only an unpredictable place and one we will never be able to control with our man-made schemes, neither is it our permanent home. No matter how hard we try to stay here or how much effort we put into living longer, one fact remains: no one gets out of this life alive. And these recent storms are such a vivid reminder that we don’t get to choose when our final day will be.

(Photo above taken after AL tornadoes shot a splintered two-by-four through a picture in a child’s bedroom)

So what can we do with this knowledge? Well, there are really only two options… we can live with the conviction that Jesus is Lord, that He paid the penalty for our sin, and that He will come back and redeem all those who truly know and love Him. Or we can choose to ignore Him, living exactly as we please, without regard for His love or sacrifice. We really must choose, and ignoring His love and sacrifice is really a choice against Him.

I just can’t buy the fact that this world just “happened” as an accident of the cosmos. It would take much more of a leap of faith to believe that, than it does for me to look at the magnificently crafted human body, see its intricate design of systems and organs, and believe it must have had an awesome Creator.

(I mean seriously, can you look at that precious face and think it was an accident of nature? I don’t actually know this little fellow, but a friend of mine snapped his picture while on vacation.)

To use a quote that I hear frequently, “I would rather live like there is a God only to find out that there is not, than to live like there is no God only to find that there is (and, I might add, that He is truly not only Creator, but Judge of the universe.)”

Storms will come… so what will you do when they come? As for me, I will lift my eyes to the hills and realize again just where my help comes from: my help comes from the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.

And as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The Storms of Life

2011-05-13T15:44:00.002-05:00

[Prologue]Since I had started the previous post ("November? Really?") a month ago, I decided to go ahead and post it just like I had left it the last time I was editing it on April 6th. (And even though Blogger had a severe glitch yesterday, the post was saved because I created it last month. So, I just re-posted.) I couldn't get the "Publish Post" button to work that original day in April for some reason, and so I just got busy again and forgot about the post until I came here yesterday... determined to post something since I have been away so long. [end]

God never promised that this life would be easy, and He knows just how awful it can be from walking this earth in human flesh. So, why am I surprised when the storms of life come? I guess it's because I would really like to live in the fairytale world of happily-ever-after NOW, instead of when I reach heaven. Our hearts long for that, and we do everything we can to bring love, beauty, and even perfection (whatever our version of that happens to be) to our little corners of the world. But, sometimes the storms of life come, and we have absolutely no control over them. We may be doing EVERYTHING right and still be staring devastation in the face.

Such is the case here in Alabama, in the aftermath of the tornadoes of April 27th. When the Federal Government declares 39 out of 67 counties to be Federal Disaster Areas, you know that it was bad. I have personally never seen with my own eyes destruction from the elements like I have witnessed in the wake of this latest group of storms. When someone mentions the word Supercell Tornadoes in the future, you can be sure we will take the appropriate safety measures. Unfortunately, in this storm many did just that, yet they still lost loved ones and homes... whole communities destroyed.

The community in which I lived and ministered for over 20 years was utterly devastated. I have lived about 20 miles away from this community for the past 6 years, but there are four families in our current church family who live (or lived) there. Two of our four families lost their homes. As we drove through the area on our way to help these families salvage what they could, I could hardly recognize the town I had lived in for so long. How does that happen... and all in about 5 minutes? It is too much to try to wrap your mind around. In some places, for as far as you can see in front and back of you, there are NO tops of trees. Can you imagine that? Would you want to have to walk out your front door to that each day? I know I wouldn't... yet, some of these people (i.e. the ones who didn't lose their homes) will have to continue to do just that. Why, you may ask? I certainly have, and there are no easy answers.

This Supercell spawned 308 tornadoes and killed 243 people in Alabama alone. The most devastating of these tornadoes ravaged a path of destruction spanning the entire width of the state of Alabama, and at times it was a mile wide. The Super Cell was so devastating that it now has its own Wikipedia page which states, "An extremely large and violent tornado outbreak, the largest in United States history[citation needed], occured from April 25 to 28, 2011, affecting the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake, especially across the state of Alabama."

Those words do not begin to describe what I have seen with my own eyes. It destroyed both Pleasant Grove (the place in which I lived and ministered for 20 years) and my beloved college town of Tuscaloosa. So many have lost so much.

And yet, I have seen God's people at their very best. The faith community has gathered around these people and tried to provide for every need. Our particular community has first-hand experience at this, having been some of the first to get into the Gulf Coast (and still ministering there) after Hurricane Katrina. So, God has His people ready, prepared to show His love, to be hands and feet in a devastating and rapidly deteriorating world. No matter how much we would want to bring our idea of perfection, beauty, and love to our corner of the world, only He can really do that. And for now, He is choosing to use His servants to minister and bring hope into a place for which -- from all outward appearances -- there is no hope.

If you think of it, pray for us as we strive to bring His love, His hope, and His healing to a very broken place. We are clinging to His promises...

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

November? Really?

2011-04-06T21:55:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it was November when I last posted. Since that time we have had Thanksgiving, Christmas, lots of snow (yes, even this far south), and now Spring has officially arrived. I have been painting away, along with building websites and trying to make improvements in our massive yard. I will share a few pictures below of what has been keeping me occupied. That way, at least, you will know I haven't just been goofing off these past few months. :)

I have an art show coming up this weekend and have been getting ready for that in the midst of all else that is going on.

So far this spring in our yard we have planted irises, azaleas, phlox, clematis, yellow jessamine, bronze ajuga, hostas, daylilies, 2 winged euonymous bushes, a lorapetalum, a cleyera, and petunias in pots. We have also transplanted three large crepe myrtles. We also have planted a veggie garden with lettuce, potatoes, cabbages, baby tomato plants, peas, and peppers. So far, everything seems to be doing well, and thankfully we dodged a frost last night by a few degrees. The birdsongs are keeping me quite entertained each morning. I have seen numerous redbirds, robins, and even a bluejay or two in our yard. The gentle harbingers of spring never disappoint.

I am also keeping quite busy with a couple of new websites I am working on ... more to come on that in subsequent days. For now, I am just glad to be back. I would love to know what is going on in your part of the world!

Whew... I can breathe again!!

2010-11-11T15:45:00.009-06:00

For the past four weeks, I have literally worked day and night on my newest website design. I can honestly say that many days it was 9 am until midnight. I am happy to announce the birth (and in some ways it indeed did feel like childbirth...lol) of

NancyGordonMusic.com

Many of the graphics I "drew" on the computer, including all the little banners, buttons, and of course the background wallpaper. Her logo is designed by a very talented visual artist, Julia Azar, and she wanted her website to feel very much like her logo... a bit free, hand-drawn, and very welcoming.

So that was the look for which we were aiming. I incorporated a Blogger Blog, a separate "Gratitudes" (devotional) page, a Prayer Request page, and a Shopping Cart.... on top of the other five main website pages (Music, About, Contact, and Stories) . I know a lot of web design companies have different people in charge of doing all those different tasks, but there is only one of me. Which means, I get to do it all. Design is such fun, but it is not easy. There were times of extreme migraine and then times of delight. But, here we are with our new "baby" to share with the world (wide web).

I tell a short story about my relationship with Nancy and how her music has personally been a blessing in my own life HERE. Years before I knew who she was, her music was impacting my famiy. I would love it if you -- my wonderful blog friends -- would take a look around the site. (And while you're there, if you see anything that's not just right please let me know!) I hope that you'll be blessed because you visited.

Now it's time to get back to the drawing board.

Blessings,
Christi

Fall... ahhhh

2010-10-21T15:18:00.010-05:00

Has it really been since August 4th that I posted last? Where does time go? These last couple of months have flown by in a whirlwind. Four commissioned art pieces and a massive website design, plus two weeks in another state, have made it seem like yesterday that I was telling you my in-laws had moved out. At least I have a little something to show for my time away. :) Here are some samples of artwork I have been doing...

Commissioned Work - Austin, TX

Commissioned Work - Dallas, TX

Commissioned Work - Enfield, CT

Commissioned Work - Chicago, IL

Commissioned Work - Thomasville, AL

And I must tell you that I am really excited about the new website I am designing for a friend and songwriter in the Christian music industry, Nancy Gordon. I have so enjoyed getting to know her through our phone conversations and e-mails. I hope that once her new site is live, you will go and visit. It is a really extensive site design, so I have been sucked far, far down into web code & design world. I am loving that I am getting to do this for someone whose business is writing praise and worship songs and lullabies. The neatest thing is that she found out about me and contacted me through a "friend of a friend," though she didn't really know much about me. But, I knew about her and actually sang her lullabies to my children while rocking them when they were babies. It just amazes me how God brings people together for His purposes. And if you have ever sung "Firm Foundation," then you have sung a song she wrote.

Lastly, I will share a couple of paintings that I have done in my painting class:

"Chateau" - oil on canvas (my attempt at really, REALLY loose)

"Blue Autumn" - oil on canvas

Well now you know what's been going on with me. I'd love to hear what's been going on with you!

Blessings,
Christi

In and Out

2010-08-04T21:01:00.003-05:00

Well, the in-laws moved out about as quickly as they moved in. So many life lessons were learned during their stay, but none more meaningful than how to be an unselfish houseguest. What a blessing they are to me and my family! And I thought I would share a little artwork that I have been working on in class. My mother and I have the best time painting together, and it's really quite a wonder that we get any painting done at all. But here are a few...

This first one is finished. Not my favorite but my teacher thinks those of us (me) who are trying to paint too realistically need to loosen up. I really did try in this painting of a spot in Norway which he shot a photo of on his recent trip there.

This next picture is of a few bottles. Something in this photo just caught my attention, and I had to paint it. I am not quite done with it yet... still need to work on the table as it looks like the bottles are falling off the back.

And this one is really loosely done... about 30 minutes of work in it, so far. I am by no means finished with it... a field of wildflowers. Can you guess what is missing?

Hope everyone is staying out of this wretched heat. My car thermometer read 104 degrees today, for the fourth day in a row. I think I could stand that kind of heat if the humidity were not at 95%. I feel like a piece of steamed broccoli wilting my way here and there to my various errands. Surely this can't go on and on.

I am also busy with a couple of new commissioned home drawings and staying busy with website and logo design, too. Not much time to visit my friends during these busy days. Hope to come for a visit to your place very soon.

Love,

Must've been His timing...

2010-07-11T21:46:00.008-05:00

A year and a half ago we put our house on the market. At the time we prayed that the Lord would help us to sell it if it was His will for us to move. It was on the market for 9 months. We showed the house over 50 times (no, that is not a typo and I have the realtors' cards to prove it). Not a bite, not an offer, not even a sniff. It's a lovely house, in a nice neighborhood, and was not over-priced. We took it off the market last summer.

A month ago my in-laws put their house on the market. They showed it twice. The first people who looked at it made an offer, and then in about three weeks' time they closed the deal. And just like that, they're living with us for a few weeks until they can get into their new place. We (as well as the two of them) have had a complete upheaval in a month's time. So there are seven of us living in our lovely home. Fortunately I dearly love my in-laws, and we are having a great time. Still, moving an entire house full of belongings/furniture and rearranging my own home were not in the plans for these past four weeks. And yet, they were obviously in His plan.

I hope you are all having a lovely summer and staying out of the heat. It has been fairly miserable here the past week or so. But, artwork is keeping me inside. I will post some pictures of my most recent commissions soon. And I am taking a painting class with my mother on Tuesdays. Here's one of my recent paintings from the class...

Blessings,
Christi

Unselfish Flowers

2010-06-18T22:01:00.009-05:00

This beautiful snowflake hydrangea hangs its head so elegantly...

These Asiatic lilies have the most wonderful scent, very light and clean...

Is there a more unselfish flowering plant than a daylily? They require so little, yet give so much.

And now, most everything in my yard is green. Just green. Which is not so bad really. But, oh how I appreciate the generous flowers (that don't have to be sprayed, watered constantly, pruned, and generally tended) that bloom and bring such beauty and color to my home and yard.

Back to the drawing board...

2010-06-10T23:12:00.000-05:00

It has been a really interesting spring, and I am looking forward to summer days. I have just completed one of the commissioned drawings that I have currently been working on. It is a beautiful local home, and the residents are moving due to job relocation. She wanted a drawing to remember it by. I was so pleased that she asked me to do it for her.

Hope you're all having a greatly blessed week!

Kidnapped by LIFE ... again

2010-05-27T20:17:00.007-05:00

I suppose it will be this way for a while yet ...three teenagers, three cars, and one car in the shop... too many places to be ...all at the same time. Life has gotten so busy that it kidnapped me, once again, and took me away from my blogging adventure. I love blogging... I really do. But, I just don't have the time for it that I would like to. My family is top priority, and they have schedules to keep. On top of those schedules, I have had three new commissioned pieces to come up in these last few weeks. Yay! So my life is planning itself... and blogging hasn't been in its schedule... until now.

My beautiful daughter has been busy with ballet, and her mom has been busy taking her here, there and everywhere. The result was a spectacular performance of "The Battle for Lucinda's Heart."

Modern dance... "Merrymakers"

Traditional ballet... "Spirits of Darkness"

Then there have been more art shows and three new commissioned pieces... unusual this time of year. In addition, I have built an entire website for a new client since my last post, along with some unusually large updates to other sites that I maintain. Life is definitely an adventure!

Blessings to all my dear blogging friends,

Victorian Tea Party hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses

2010-05-10T10:59:00.014-05:00

Victorian Tea Party

Hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses.

At Charm & Grace Cottage I have brought in some lovely roses to prepare for our party...

I have picked out an organza apron decorated with a rose, along with my silver service.

I have chosen to use my china... "Hermitage" by Noritake... teacups with my silver "Chippendale" by Towle.

I am serving "Paris" tea by Harney & Sons.

I have enjoyed having you to tea today! Please come back and visit again soon. To visit others having a tea party today, visit Cielo's House in the Roses.

Petals From the Past Nursery Tour

2010-04-30T13:53:00.026-05:00

One of my favorite places to visit is a local nursery called
"Petals From the Past."

Their philosophy is to offer plants that are well established in our area and known for being hardy.

A visit to their nursery is like stepping into wonderland.

They are also set on offering plants like old fashioned roses that don't need spraying, feeding, and pruning unless you just want to. YUM!!

Wysteria is one of my very favorite things... oh, to have this kind of arbor with those beautiful blooms hanging everywhere.

I wish you could smell the wonderful aroma of the air filled with wysteria blossoms.

It was a beautiful day and such a joy to get to view the variety of plants and flowers. Such loveliness in all of God's creation!

A Fresh Wind...

2010-04-25T13:51:00.014-05:00

Do you ever feel as if a fresh wind has blown across your life?

In my life there have been times of extreme staleness, where I almost felt as if I were a house that had been closed up with all the doors locked and all the furnishings covered over with dust covers, cobwebs growing in the corners and hardly any light coming in... as if someone had sucked all the fresh air completely out. Then suddenly the doors and windows burst open and sunshine bursts in... a fresh wind blowing through all the staleness, blowing off the dust, letting in the light, allowing me to breathe again.

Today I feel that profoundly. I feel as if spring has brought with it the power to breathe again. I feel creative juices flowing and my spirits rising to the light that radiates outside my windows.

I have just returned from a week in another place ... a blessed change of scenery ... and some very good fellowship. The title of the conference I attended was Overflow 2010, and that is just what I am feeling today. My heart is overflowing with love and gratitude and readiness for whatever comes next in my life.

In my years of knowing Christ there have been times when I especially sensed His presence and times when I haven't, times of drought and times of overflow, times of staleness and times of refreshing. Those are the seasons of a spiritual life, just as we have seasons on this earth. And though my faith does not depend upon my feelings, I am especially thankful for those times when I really sense the nearness of the Lord and the blessings of this life.

I returned home to find some beautiful things happening in my garden... they, too, give a lift to my spirits. The sun is shining brilliantly today, and the Son is shining in my own heart.

I pray that spring has come for you both literally and figuratively with all its beauties and joys!

Blessings,

Art Show and Back to Blogging

2010-04-16T08:59:00.005-05:00

Popping in for a quick update from the art show...

We were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous day for our art show last weekend. The skies couldn't have been more blue and the weather was fairly mild. All in all it was a lovely show, although the art market seems not to have really rebounded yet. I did make some good contacts... I had a local hospital representative ask to put some of my work in the hospital. So, I am excited about that. And a local art association wants me to do a program for them about my architectural drawings. I did sell enough to cover my costs for the show. So it was a good day (despite the fact that I missed watching The Masters tournament, one of my favorite sporting events... thank goodness for DVR!)

Hope you're all doing well. Still not much time for blogging as we're gearing upfor a church conference all week next week. Hopefully, I will be back in full blogging mode after that! Please don't give up on me if I haven't visited in a while... I am not gone, just busy!!

Love and blessings,

Lots to do....

2010-03-30T17:05:00.007-05:00

I haven't had a lot of blogging time lately as I am getting ready for my art show (2 weeks away now.) I did want to post my latest commissioned drawing and a couple of sneaky peeks at what I've been working on.

A painting in progress...

A bit of Disney sketching...

Japan Pavilion at EPCOT

From the "Armor Series"...

I hope all my precious blogging friends are enjoying these first few days of spring!

Blessings,

A Story of Life - Pam Tebow's and My Own

2010-03-23T22:19:00.018-05:00

Last night I was privileged to hear in person Pam Tebow's story of her choice for life. As a missionary with her husband in the Philippines, she became pregnant with her fourth child. While in the Philippines she had aquired an amoeba which caused her to be very, very sick during the pregnancy... so sick, in fact, that the doctors strongly suggested she have an abortion. She and her husband, however, had prayed for a son -- specifically so that they could dedicate him to the Lord -- and their prayer was that he would be a preacher. A few months later Tim Tebow was born, and though he was undernourished he didn't stay that way for long. And now many millions of people know their story. What an impact he has had for Christ!

Now my story is not so dramatic, but it is the story of life and how Christ can rewrite a family history. My mother was seventeen years old and unmarried when she found herself pregnant with me. Being from a small town this could have been scandalous. Abortion was not such a widely available option at that time, but she and my father chose to get married and bring me into the world. Neither of them were Christians at that time; still they chose to give me life, raise me, and love me. And so they did.

Fast forward eighteen years to my freshman year in college. In my dorm room one afternoon I was visited by Jennifer, who shared with me about having a personal relationship with Christ. I had grown up going to church in my small town and had learned about God and about Christ. But I had never really heard that Christ wanted me not just to know about Him, but He wanted me to know Him. He wanted a relationship with me so much that He was willing to die to make it possible. His desire was that He would not be a God that I knew about only in my head, but He would be a God who I could know intimately. He wanted a relationship that didn't just involve my attention one hour a week, but He wanted to walk with me day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment. He would love me unconditionally, He would care for me no matter what, and best of all He would never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Now I had not lived a spotless life, and there were many things keeping me from this kind of a relationship with God. But according to 1 John 1:9 all I had to do was confess that I wasn't living like someone who loved and wanted a relationship with God and was choosing my own way. If I did this and confessed that I couldn't measure up to being righteous on my own, but wanted Him to cleanse me and make me new, He would do it. So, that very day I asked God to forgive me through what Jesus did (according to John 3:16) and because I believed the promises in His word were true. That day my life changed. I went from carrying around a load of guilt and being a person who tried to please everyone (including myself), to someone who knows that there is only One Person I need to please. And I know that on my own I can't please Him. But because He has made me a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), I am no longer condemned. Further than that I am FREE from the sin and the shame! It is His job to do the cleansing, not mine. My only job is to walk with Him daily. I do this by confessing to Him when I miss the mark that He has set for me and by then accepting His promised forgiveness.

My life is not perfect, and this side of heaven it will never be. But my heart knows real peace (Philippians 4:7), and it really is a peace that passes all understanding. I hope and pray that each of you -- my precious blog friends -- know this same peace.

Blessings,

I Win, I Win... Thank You, Barb!!

2010-03-19T09:33:00.012-05:00

Barb, of The French Elements blog, had a giveaway last week. Now, Barb is a special blogging friend who is just an amazing woman in so many ways. She is a kindred spirit and never fails to lift me up with such encouraging words in her comments here. Along with her blog, she has a business called "The French Elements" where she offers all sorts of beautiful, French and Old World-inspired treasures. If you haven't visted her before, then you must go now!

She has had several giveaways before which I have entered and not won. In fact, it is rare that I win anything. So, imagine my glee to find that I had won her latest giveaway. And this (below) was what I found waiting on my front porch.

Of course, I couldn't wait to see what was inside!

It was packaged beautifully and well-padded so there would be no shifting around during shipping.

And as any good Francophile would do, she wrapped the boxes in this scrumptious toile tissue paper. Lovely!

The first thing I opened were these (above) royal magnets! I love magnets and these are just too pretty with crowns on a French blue background.

The next box I opened contained this wonderful (above) Precision Chanel facial scrub. I can't wait to try that!

Then I opened the third package (below) and found another Precision Chanel product, a facial masque. (I know we spell it mask, but don't you just like masque better?)

And then there was this beautifully embroidered pillow with a golden key. I know where that one is going... I have a special spot already picked out for it... in my art room, of course!

All the loot (below).

Thank you, thank you, Barb!! You are the best!!

Blessings,

More artroom nesting....

2010-03-12T14:33:00.016-06:00

Time for change...

I spent the better part of two days last week trying to figure out what to put on the walls in my artroom and how to store my supplies. Well, thanks to birthday money from my parents, Hobby Lobby's wonderful sales and coupons, and Michael's sales... I have made a little progress in this area.

I knew I wanted an "idea board" and had an idea of how I wanted it to look. I was thinking of getting a standard bulletin board and covering it with toile fabric. I looked at several places comparing prices of the bulletin boards. Then I went to Hobby Lobby. After looking over almost everything in the store, I found a lovely bulletin board (just plain cork board) in a sleek black frame on sale for 50% off. So, I snapped it up (they only had the one I spotted) and went to find fabric to cover it. Their toile just happened to be 30% off, and I got just enough to cover the BB in black and cream. Here is the result:

Along with the idea board, I purchased two black display ledges (which were also 50% off) so that I can put up whatever piece of artwork I'd like to display at the moment. Along with those, I purchased some hooks for hanging my paint smocks and aprons.

I was also on the lookout for some nice way to store some of my supplies. I stumbled upon these lovely boxes at Michael's for 40% off the original prices. What could be lovelier than a stack of beautiful French botanical print boxes?

And so my nest is closer to where I want it to be. For now, I must quit the nesting part and get to actually doing some artwork. I have a show coming up in less than a month and need to actually have something to show. :)

Oh, and about that clock at the top... it is an ironwork pendulum clock which was on the clearance aisle for $10! What a beauty, and what a find. It works like a charm, and I love the look of it.

Blessings,

A Lovely Day at Miss Rosemarie's

2010-03-08T00:08:00.013-06:00

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. I am still nesting in my new artroom... pictures to follow at a later date. But this past Friday morning I set out for a much anticipated late birthday lunch date with my mother at our local tearoom. This is a lovely, quaint spot about halfway between each of our houses. Along with the delicious foods that are made and served daily, they also blend and sell loose teas of many varieties.

This was the table for two (below) where we were seated. We looked over the menu which offered a wide variety of treats... from quiche to crepes to chilled pear soup to salads. For our lunches we settled on tomato basil quiche, crabmeat crepes, and spring mix salad. Then we were looking at the list of teas and trying to decide which one to have with our meal. My mother spotted one called "Parisian Lights" which was a blend of black tea, oil of bergamot, black currant and caramel, and citrus. We thought this sounded good, but our server brought over the tin for us so that we could sample the aroma. Let me assure you, it was love at first whiff.

The lunch was delicious... every last bite. And the tea was so special that I decided I needed to have a tin for myself. As the proprietress passed our table, out of curiousity I asked if she knew of Harney & Sons teas. (If you are not familiar with them, then you must check out this post from Nancy Lindemeyer's blog.) She told me that she not only knew of Harney & Sons teas, but that she purchased a lot of her teas from them.

Which led me to ask my next question, "Is your 'Parisian Lights' tea similar to their 'Paris' tea?" She told me that it was one and the same. This was so funny to me because I had just read Nancy's post in the past couple of weeks, and then I had also heard several others mention their love of this particular blend of tea. If you haven't tried "Paris" by Harney & Sons, then by all means order some today!

This is an article about Miss Rosemarie's Tearoom in Tea Time magazine. And from reading Nancy Lindemeyer's blog, I learned that Victoria magazine and Harney & Sons both got their start together in the mid 1980's and that Victoria featured Harney & Sons more than once in "The Charms of Tea" section of the magazine... once again showing the far-reaching impact of Victoria.

About that... I am still looking for stories about Victoria for the Remembering Victoria blog. Your story may not be earth-shattering, but it doesn't have to be. Did the magazine give you inspiration for your current bliss business? Did it make an impact on your everyday life? How did you feel when you received your copy in the mail each month? I just want to share the different ways the magazine had an impact on each of us, even if it was merely that you delighted in going to your mailbox that one time a month to find her waiting. I'd love to hear from you!!

Blessings!

A(n art) Room of One's Own...

2010-02-28T18:46:00.007-06:00

Long, long ago... (last August, to be exact) I posted about redoing what was then my living room, in order to turn it into an art/office space. The room was more parlour than living room and was rarely ever used. The color of the walls was a dark burgundy... not the kind of space that would be conducive to doing detailed artwork.

With no overhead lighting and only one window, this space would need a serious overhaul. This has been a challeging and very, very busy fall and winter. I have had many commissions, health issues, and a lot of things going on with my children and their activities. But, finally last week I got an early birthday present.

I am moving from this space in the corner of my dining room...

...and with a generous helping of "Provence Cream"

and a little help from this...

...I now have this

and tomorrow I will celebrate by enjoying doing my artwork in a room of my very own!

Happy birthday to me!! :)

Calling all who loved the original Victoria magazine

2010-02-16T13:31:00.016-06:00

A while back I reserved a blog with the intent that I would offer to all those who loved the original Victoria magazine the chance to share a story about their Victoria experience. It has been quite a full fall and winter with first one thing and then another (my latest diversion has been a severe case of bronchitis which developed on the heels of my January surgery.) But I have spent this last week working on the new blog, designing a header and layout for the pages, and writing my own Victoria story. So now it is done, and I wanted to share Remembering Victoria with those of you who might have an interest or might know someone else with an interest.

Please click on the picture below to go to the new Remembering Victoria blog.

If you would like to share your story with me and would allow me to share it on the new blog, please send an e-mail to me here. Also for those who are willing, would you pass the word on your own blog that I am looking for stories? It would be much appreciated. And feel free to use the picture above. I am interested in hearing from as many as want to share their stories.

Thanks!!

Artwork 2009 - Year in Review

2010-02-02T20:44:00.005-06:00

Since I never got around to posting my commissioned work from December, I decided to just make a slideshow of highlights of my artwork from the year. That way, for those of you who are interested, you can look at the ones you want to look at or skip to the next one. I finished a new commissioned piece yesterday, which I shipped off earlier today. It will be a nice Valentine's Day surprise from a wife to a husband. I thought that was sweet for her to do that as a surprise for him... a drawing of the house he and she built together. I will post that one later, but for now here are the commissions as well as other artwork from 2009.

The Artwork of Christi Bunn 2009

View more presentations from Christi Bunn.

Charm and Grace... in the words of Rhett Butler

2010-01-25T16:40:00.015-06:00

In the movie Gone With the Wind, when Rhett is finally leaving Scarlett, we find this dialogue between them:

Scarlett: Rhett! Rhett, where are you going?
Rhett Butler: I'm going back to Charleston, back where I belong.
Scarlett: Please, please take me with you!
Rhett Butler: No, I'm through with everything here. I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Rhett, of course, was talking about the qualities found in the South that "had been" ... before the war came and robbed them of their dignity and pride (misplaced though that pride often was). But there must have been a real charm, grace, and gentle rhythm to life in the South at one time. I think we have tried to hang on to much of that. I know I have. A taste of humility can be a good thing for a people, and that's just what Southerners got from that war. There were so many wrongs that could never be righted. But, the humbling process undoubtedly produced some of the charm, grace, and genuine niceness that I have found around me all my life.

Margaret Mitchell writes of the transition from proud to humble so poignantly in her prose... about that civilization that is gone with the wind. Those words uttered by Rhett Butler in the movie are not actually a direct quote from the book, but the essence of it is there. The movie is where I first heard the words "charm" and "grace" used in conjunction with one another. It apparently made a lasting impression. Aren't they wonderful words? They convey just what you really want life to be like. While we will never really know if Rhett found those things (yes I do realize he is a fictional character), we can make charm and grace a goal for our own lives.

What do the words Charm & Grace mean to you? To me, they speak of the desire for beauty in the daily things of life, sincerity in all my actions, a warmth and rhythm to life, a fondness for those around me, a gentleness with those I am just getting to know, a genuine care and concern for my neighbors... I could go on and on. I hope that those things are what you find when you visit me, my dear blog friends and neighbors!

Blessings,

A lump in the road....

2010-01-17T19:28:00.004-06:00

Well, I thought I would share some of what has been going on with me for the past few months, unrelated to artwork, holidays, or kids. At the beginning of September, I discovered a large lump under my left arm. It did not hurt at all, but was fairly large. I don't know how long it had been there, but I had not noticed it before. After a series of doctor visits, ultrasounds, and mammograms, the latest doctor in the series of doctors assured me that he saw no cause for concern. He did, however, want to keep a close eye on things which required me coming in for subsequent visits. After the last of these which was also followed by the requisite dopplar ultrasound, there had still been no change. So the doctor recommended that, in lieu of the continuing visits, ultrasounds, mammograms, etc., he would go in and take out the offending lump and do a biopsy. So, this past Tuesday I went in for the outpatient procedure. I am the lucky recipient of a 2 1/2 inch incision under my arm, and later in the week I received the fabulous news that the lump (a lipoma) is nothing to be concerned about.

In all honesty, I must tell you that I really was not worried about it... in fact, I hardly thought about it at all. But then, I am not a worrier by nature. On the other hand, my mother-in-law, my mother, and my hubby all do enough worrying that I don't have to. Of course, this is all fresh for my mother-in-law who just two years ago completed chemo treatments for breast cancer herself. In her case, we all felt that her original doctor was not proactive enough. So she did not want the same thing to happen to me. And believe me, I am very thankful that these precious people love me like they do. I must tell you that I am also thankful to only be recovering from the incision and not having to make decisions about what kind of treatment comes next. Many people were caring and praying for me, and I want to give God the glory for answering those prayers.

I have many responsibilities as a wife and mother which I truly enjoy. But I haven't been able to do some of those the last few days. I am looking forward to getting back into a routine now and truly moving on from this "lump in the road."

Blessings to you all,

Thankful for a blessed 2009...

2009-12-31T19:01:00.007-06:00

I am looking back over this past year and seeing how God has done some amazing things in my life, and I am truly thankful. I began the year preparing for my oldest son's graduation from high school and for entering the "art show" world (see this post). Winter was a really busy season getting all the things together to make sure that our graduate was prepared not only to graduate, but also to enter college (and made A's and one B his first semester of college, I might add). Then there was the Blogging Break (aka preparation for the art shows)... lots of drawing, painting, framing, and just general busy-ness. When I returned from the blogging break, I shared how much I had learned from the three art shows in which I had participated.

A really bright spot for me in 2009 happened when I found out that Nancy Lindemeyer had begun writing a blog. Then there was the onslaught of commissioned artwork that gave my spirits a real lift at the end of the year. It also confirmed for me that I have been following the path which the Lord has been leading me throughout this year. So, I am looking to the new year with anticipation and hope for what He will do. God has blessed each of us with spiritual gifts and also talents. I look forward to seeing what He does among us... it is sure to be above and beyond what we can imagine!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

Comfort and Joy! ...artwork complete and delivered, let the celebration begin!

2009-12-23T00:37:00.005-06:00

Well, I delivered the last of my commissions last Friday. After a very full and wonderful weekend, I am so happy to feel Christmas cheer rising up within my soul. I don't know whether it's the relief of having all the artwork I promised to deliver done as promised, or whether it's being with my family and enjoying all the Christmas things we do together, or if it is just the beauty of the season... (probably all three) ... but I feel almost giddy, like I did as a very young child. Can you recall the excitement welling up, the sparkle in the eyes, the spring in the step that you felt as a child waiting for that special day to come? I don't always remember it, but this year it has risen in me like that.

Tonight was a special night with just the five of us. Each year we choose a restaurant to go to and then go out together to a local live nativity, or to the mall, or doing last minute things here and there. It is such a blessing to just be able to meld our busy schedules to have this special time together. I notice as the children get older, this becomes harder. But it is a priority and sets the tone for the rest of our week. I am so blessed with such loving and giving children and a very loving husband with whom I celebrated 23 years of marriage this past Sunday. I couldn't want for more. I pray for each of you that you are surrounded by loved ones this season, and that you will know deep in your heart the significance of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection.
Merry Christmas!

With 1 1/2 to go... some poetry for the season

2009-12-13T15:49:00.006-06:00

I have nearly completed my commissioned pieces (14 1/2 down and 1 1/2 to go) and am looking forward to really catching up with some of you. I know there are wonderful Christmas posts I am missing right now, but I must press on to get the artwork done by promised deadlines.

In light of things I haven't accomplished this Christmas season... this morning I recalled a poem I wrote over ten years ago (I can hardly believe that, as I type the words.) December, for me, does not just contain Christmas, but three family birthdays and our wedding anniversary just five days before Christmas Day. The Christmas I wrote this was a Christmas when I felt particularly stressed, pulled in every direction, disorganized, and just generally had gotten things quite out of perspective. Sometimes when that happens, poetry just comes pouring out of me. This was one of those times.

I have revisited some of those feelings this year, as I am barreling down on deadlines... and my living room tree still stands there with lights but no ornaments... and my dining room table centerpiece still holds the Pilgrims from Thanksgiving... and I have baked not one single cookie or goodies, nor made my traditional red Christmas punch. How did it get to be the Sunday before the Sunday before Christmas? With all these things swirling about in my brain, I began to think that I really need to have an attitude check. What about you? Have you been able to reflect on the meaning of Christ's coming?

How Could He Come Here?

Think with me now on this great mystery....
Will you close your eyes and let your heart see?
Can you catch a whiff of the sweet smelling hay,
Or hear His soft breathing while donkeys bray?

Dim light peeking down through cracks in the roof,
From a star that would guide and give wise men proof
Of the Child that was born on a soft bed of earth.
No mere baby this One of heavenly birth!

How could He come to this place ... for what reason?
Was it just so that we could establish a "season"?
If He were to come into our midst today,
What would He think, and what would He say?

Would He understand all our hustle and hurry,
Our lives filled with "world-centered" Christmas time worry?
He'd surely cry, "No! This is not why I came."
We do all these things claiming they’re in His Name.

But, His heart's cry for us is to gaze upon Him,
Our energy spent just to worship the Lamb!
Oh, Lord, help us only to focus on You
With all of our hearts as You ask us to do.

copyright 1998
Christi Bunn

May God reveal Himself in new and fresh ways to each of us this season, so that we can reflect Him as He deserves.

Blessings,

More artwork...

2009-11-28T22:25:00.006-06:00

I am in the midst of completing sixteen commissioned pieces before Christmas (and counting... as it seems right now I am receiving a new request every other day). This has been and will continue to be a busy season for me. But, it is such a blessing to get to do this and know there will be people opening gifts containing my artwork on Christmas Day. Above is a drawing I did not too long ago for a dear friend. It is really incredible how the Lord has blessed me in my artwork business this fall and winter. It really affirms that I am doing the right thing. In THIS POST just over a year ago I was really questioning whether it was the right thing to continue with it. Some of you gave me some treasured words of wisdom. At this point, I am trusting that I am following the path He wants for me.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

On Thanksgiving... (in paraphrase)

2009-11-21T17:02:00.020-06:00

How do we understand what being thankful really means? To explore this, I went to some favorite verses and put them in my own words...

Be thankful in every situation because this is what God wants from you if you are in Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Don't be anxious about anything, but pray about everything. Ask God for what you need, showing Him that you have a thankful heart for everything He has done for you. (Philippians 4:6)

Come into His presence by showing Him genuine thanks and praise. (Psalm 100) Let Christ have absolute rule and reign in your life and heart, since you are one with Him and with one another. If He rules in your heart then His peace will be evident in your relationships with one another. The manifestation of this in your life should cause you to be truly thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Prayer should be something you devote yourself to because you are constantly watching for what Jesus wants to do in your life and because you are thankful to Him. (Colossians 4:2) Now that you have received Jesus as your Lord, be sure that you continue to live in Him. Make sure your roots are growing deeply in Him, so that you will grow tall and strong in your faith as you were taught. When this happens, your thankfulness will naturally overflow. (Colossians 2:6-8)

Since we are assured of receiving a kingdom that can never be shaken, we can't help but be thankful. Our thankfulness, then, should cause us to worship God in a way that shows we hold Him in higher esteem than anything or anyone. We stand in awe of what He has done and acknowledge that while our ways are flawed, His ways are perfect. We are also in awe of what He will do because we know that He could choose to consume everything. (Hebrews 12:28-29) I will sing praises to His name and bring Him glory by being thankful. (Psalm 69:30)

As you gather together with family and friends this Thanksgiving, I pray that you will truly understand what it means to be thankful. And in the spirit of thankfulness, I wanted to share with you a recipe that I tried for the first time last year. Delicious!

Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake Recipe

CAKE:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup pecans, chopped
1 (14 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce

GLAZE:
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg. Stir in vanilla extract. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition.

Grease a 10" fluted tube pan. Sprinkle the pecans into pan. Spread half of the batter over nuts; top with half of the cranberry sauce. Repeat layers.

Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over coffee cake. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And some non-commissioned artwork....

2009-11-16T00:00:00.004-06:00

"Poinsettia"
9" x 12" watercolor

Before the commission rush hit, I was trying to come up with some artwork for Christmas cards. I thought I would share these and ask you what you think. Which would you choose... or would you choose neither? The poinsettia will obviously cover the front of the card. I thought the dove would be nice with the word "Peace" in some lovely font. Any ideas? Or more ideas for other artwork for a different sort of card. I don't have time for creative juices these days, as I am heavy into architecture. :)

"Peace"
9" x 12" graphite and Prismacolor

Thank you all so much for your kind words of encouragement. I am THANKFUL for you!

Blessings,

Tis the season... commissioned artwork

2009-11-11T09:59:00.007-06:00

I am in the midst of busy season when it comes to commissioned work. Lots of people are wanting to give home sketches for Christmas gifts this year... which is a huge blessing. Since I haven't posted artwork in a while, I thought I would share a different sort of commission done very recently. This client wanted to have the sketch done for her daughter, who was married in this church. I thought that was so sweet.

The Basilica of St. Lawrence
graphite, 5" x 7"

This was a fun commission because I have never done a Basilica before. It was also a challenge because of the small size requested (5" x 7"), as there is a tremendous amount of detail. This is the Basilica of St. Lawrence, located in Asheville, North Carolina. It is a very beautiful church and has an interesting history. According to the church's website, "St Lawrence, with its unique dome, is the only church designed and built by the renowned Rafael Guastavino --and is considered the mother church of western North Carolina." At the time when it was designated by the Roman Catholic Church as a Basilica (in 1993) there were only 33 other Basilicas in the United States. The website states about the designation of Basilica that it "is a special designation given by the Holy Father to certain churches because of their antiquity, dignity, historical importance or significance as a place of worship."

And now, back to the drawing board!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-04T08:55:00.012-06:00

This post is inspired by a recent post, then comment, and then subsequent post on Nancy Lindemeyer's blog. As far back as I can remember, we celebrated Thanksgiving lunch at my grandmother's home. We always gathered there with as many of the family as could come. It may have been just my grandmother and grandfather with their two daughters (my mother being one of them) and their families. Or, it may have included great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and lots of cousins. But it was always a time for family to come together. We ate together while we all caught up with what had been going on that year in our lives. We shared reminiscences of days gone by and just generally had a wonderful time of fellowship. I am quite sure that many of you have similar memories.

Thanksgiving Table 2006

In the earlier years of our marriage, my husband and I did different things at Thanksgiving. Sometimes it was spent with my husband's family and sometimes with mine. But for the past number of years, it has been held in our home. It is always such a wonderful time of being together with both sides of the family around our table. The food preparations are usually not too taxing, as everyone shares the burden by bringing a couple of their favorite dishes. We put it all together and enjoy the blessings the Lord has given us.

Thanksgiving Table 2007

In preparation, I don't do a lot of decorating. But Tuesday I put out my special Thanksgiving things. These are special not because of what they look like, how expensive they were, or what store they came from. No, these are special things because of how they came to me. The Pilgrim figurines you see in the pictures of my table each year were given to me by my grandmother, along with a number of ears of dried, multicolored maize. These, along with whatever other fall accoutrements I decide pull together, rest on my dining room table. The Pilgrims, maize, candles, and a fall arrangement are set on a beveled-edge mirror which belonged to my grandmother. This mirror was the base for many a centerpiece on my grandmother's dining room table. And becuase she has gone Home before me, it resides on mine.

Thanksgiving Table 2009

But my true treasures from this mother's heart are the Pilgrims and Indians that grace our kitchen table. These are not just any Pilgrims and Indians, you see, but ones that were colored by the small hands of my chilren when they were very young. I proudly display them on the kitchen table each year, and my kids have reached the ages (in their teens/preteens) that they want to wince when they see how brightly colored these treasures are. Two Pilgrims and two Indians share their bounty of a turkey, a pie, a basket of corn, and a pumpkin. No black and white garb would do for these Pilgrims! And a purple-haired Indian man... you just have to love it. And if you have children, then you know just why these cutouts are treasured and displayed proudly every year.

So much to be thankful for... friends, family, all God's good blessings!

Autumn showing off!

2009-10-31T19:34:00.008-05:00

I want to send a virtual hug to all of you who have commented and checked in to see how I am doing. I am better... still coughing and gravely-voiced, but I actually feel like I am getting better now.

I took these pictures this past Wednesday, one of the few days lately when the sun shined for most of the day. I was on my way to a local Arts and Crafts fair and literally stopped my car when I saw the trees in the photo below.

I was fortunate enough to have my camera with me and began to snap pictures as quickly as I could before another car came along. The trees in this particular area were just beautiful.

It rained and rained last night, so I imagine many these beautiful leaves are on the ground today. I am so thankful I was the beneficiary of this particular view for that one day, at least.

Blessings,

And now a public service announcement... for your health

2009-10-25T20:03:00.002-05:00

OK... so much for the wonderful time away. I came home with the flu which my daughter acquired on our vacation and gave to me. I thought I was getting over it, and then *boom* it came back with a vengeance. Now, my husband has been (for months now) calling the swine flu the "pig flu" and laughing about it. At this point, it's not so funny. Apparently I must have had the regular flu (or even just a cold) and then, just as I was getting over that, received the "pig flu" germs from some unsuspecting source. They say you can be contagious up to 5 days before you begin to experience any symptoms. So, you can be going about your business as usual and, all the while, be exposing all your friends, coworkers, and loved ones to this horrible strain of flu. Well, I have been down (and I do mean down) with this crazy flu for the past three weeks. It starts as a sore throat, works its way into your head and chest, the horrible coughing commences, and then it is gracious enough to disturb your digestive tract (for me this "digestive" part lasted five days). Five days!!

This is not something you want to mess around with. I am still coughing and generally feeling lousy. My daughter has rebounded from her bout with it quite nicely, however. So, my best advice is to get as much Vitamin C as you can, wash your hands thoroughly and often, and avoid public places (this was our downfall, I'm afraid.) I wouldn't want any of my friends to get this... in fact I wouldn't even wish this one on my enemies.

Y'all take care and stay well,

Fresh Perspective from a Little Time Away...

2009-10-14T19:27:00.006-05:00

Isn't it wonderful to get away? Even with all that goes along with being the mom in charge of all the laundry, packing, reservations, tickets, schedules, etc. involved in taking a vacation (?), it is still a wonderful thing sometimes to just get that change of scenery.

The sunset over the water paints a picture more beautiful than words can describe. It is refreshing down to the very depths of the soul.

The reflection of these beautiful flowers along the shoreline says everything about the flowers' health and vigor... health that is largely due, I am sure, to the fact that their roots are constantly nourished and watered by the life of the spring by which they are planted.

The hollyhocks were seemingly so happy to greet us in their fine ruffled, flowing pink skirts.

Though we were definitely not in paradise, there were many beautiful things to feast our eyes upon. And, this gorgeous bird of paradise was no exception.

It brings to mind this quote from L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables:

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

A change of scenery often does bring that scope for the imagination and a renewed energy to tackle the day to day tasks waiting patiently at home for our return. Two weeks away has left me a lot of "day to day" to accomplish, but how wonderful that I have new scope for imagination to keep those tasks from being mundane.

Things remembered...

2009-09-14T22:51:00.006-05:00

Fall sparks all kinds of memories for me. It is a time for reflecting and remembering. The things in this photograph are all associated with memories for me... some are happy, some sad.

Take for instance the silver tray... it was a wedding gift and something I will always cherish. It reminds me of one of the happiest days of my life: my wedding day. I know that some people say theirs was a blur, but I remember everything about that day. I remember how I felt, what people said, the smiles of friends and family, the blessing that God gave me in my husband, seeing my parents and my husband's parents, our grandparents, and everyone witness our happiness and join with us in active participation as we pledged our lives together before God.

Then there are the pearls... the pearls on the left were given to me by my mother. They were given to her by my dad, but they are now divorced (she is happily remarried.) But, for me looking at those brings bittersweet memories. Then there are the single pearl earrings... they were a gift from my husband on our wedding day. And the pearls on the right were a gift from him on our 20th wedding anniversary. What special treasures those are.

Then there are the fragrances... the first time my hubby and I went to EPCOT together, we lingered at the UK pavilion. As we browsed through the shops I was aware of the most wonderful scent. When I finally located it, I had my first encounter with Burberry. I have loved it ever since. The scent in the center is called ....(clears throat)... Giardini di Montecatini VI by Princess Marcella Borghese. I saw the perfume first in Victoria magazine and had to check it out (mostly, I confess, due to its beautiful packaging). But I loved the fragrance, too. And not being one to overuse perfumes, it has been on my vanity for nearly 20 years... and believe it or not still smells wonderful. And then there's Coco Chanel. With Coco, it's all about fall. For some reason, I gravitate toward the scent when the temperatures begin to drop at the end of summer.

Then there is the magazine... Victoria was and is the only magazine I have ever really loved. All the others were just time fillers, but Victoria was special. Maybe it was because I was a newlywed when she first came into my life, and I saw the world through rose-colored glasses. Or maybe it was because she simply was the finest magazine ever published. She had articles about historical figures with pictures so rich you could frame them and hang them. She had travel articles, making a yearly tour to France and to England... again giving us such fantastic visuals that you knew someday you simply HAD to get there. There were even beauty layouts... but never the "here today, gone tomorrow" kinds of fashions. Rather, Victoria showed a classic elegance that would carry us through the ins and outs of yearly fashion trends. And then there were articles on women who had followed what came to be known as their "bliss" and actually made a living from doing what they loved. Now those were enough to inspire the meekest of us to reach for our dreams. And since that time, so many of us have seen even the most remarkable dreams come true. It may have taken years and work and prayers and sweat... but we are seeing our fondest dreams realized. For years Nancy Lindemeyer gave vision and direction to the group effort that was Victoria magazine. If you haven't visited Nancy's blog, I highly recommend it.

Memories are sparked by so many things. I hope that something here has somehow brought to your mind a bright spot from your past... some little glimmer that still lingers from a wonderful moment that may have occurred even years ago. And I would love it if you would share it with me, if you'd like.

Early Autumn Blessings to All!

Fall Nesting by the Inspired Room... Part 2

2009-09-03T23:25:00.010-05:00

Melissa at The Inspired Room asks the question: Which room in your home do you need the most help with for Fall Nesting?

My response, of course, is my soon to be new art studio (formerly my living room.) As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I am currently doing my artwork "in my own little corner of my own little room"... errr, rather my own little corner of my dining room. I have big plans for the room pictured above, but I can always use a little help... Home Goods/fairy godmother... either would work well.

:)

FALLing into my nest...

2009-09-03T00:31:00.008-05:00

I love autumn... love the cool nip in the air that comes and goes... the gentle breezes that sooner or later blow the leaves from the trees...

the myriad colors of the leaves as they begin to fall all around...

that the shadows grow longer and longer... the brilliance of the sunset...

the scent of fresh apple cider, pumpkin spice, and even the scent of burning leaves...

the vivid colors of chrysanthemums on porches... that there is a need to come in from the chill to the first fire of the season...

There is so much about FALL to love! Melissa, at The Inspired Room is hosting links to Fall Nesting. If you haven't discovered The Inspired Room, you must go and check out what you've been missing.

Kindred Spirits

2009-08-31T07:27:00.007-05:00

I am in the middle of watching Anne of Green Gables with Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth for the umpteenth time. I just can never get enough of it. Lucy M. Montgomery must have been quite a personality to have imagined such a wonderful character as Anne.

And I can't fathom how the movies could be any better. Megan Follows truly embodied the character of Anne so well that I can't imagine anyone else ever playing her.

She was able to transition from 12 year-old Anne with pigtails flaring about in the wind, to a lovely young adult teacher with a very Gibson girl look, with ease.

I also marvel at the gorgeous scenery in the movie... whether Green Gables itself, the beautiful "Avenue", the farms across P.E.I, the scenes at college, or the beautiful beachside scenes. It is all a delight for the senses.

If you have never taken the time to see these movies, don't wait. They will delight your heart and entertain you to the core.

If you want to find out more information about the movies, watch video clips, or see the beautiful photos shot during filming, click on any of the above images to go to Sullivan Entertainment's "Anne of Green Gables" website.

Blessings,

From my little plot of earth...

2009-08-29T23:29:00.003-05:00

Here are some late summer beauties that I wanted to share. I hope everyone is enjoying these last few days of summer.

Happy weekend!

Edible Artwork?

2009-08-20T21:50:00.006-05:00

Here are two fun acrylic paintings I did a while back. I am a huge fan of both of these recipes... guacamole and omelettes. And, I have a few more of these "foodie" still life paintings planned.

"Guacamole"
9" x 12" acrylic on finished canvas

My Guacamole Recipe:

2 medium, ripe Haas avocados -- peeled, pitted, and sliced
3 T chopped cilantro
1/4 onion finely grated
1/4 tomato finely chopped
juice of 1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and smash lightly by hand with a fork or potato masher. Serve with fresh tortilla chips.

"Omelette"
9" x 12" acrylic on finished canvas

My Omelette Recipe (for 2):

5 large eggs
2 T chopped parsley
1 T finely grated onion
2 T bell pepper finely chopped
1/4 cup tomato finely chopped
1 oz. shredded havarti cheese (more or less to taste)
1 T milk
salt and pepper to taste

Beat eggs. Add remaining ingredients and beat together. Add 1 T butter or Pam spray coating to non-stick skillet and cook over medium-high heat. The havarti gives the omelette a wonderful rich and creamy texture.

Hope all my blogging friends are having a blessed and fruitful week!

Giveaway - The French Elements

2009-08-15T22:31:00.004-05:00

What do a nutcracker, a chicken, a Christmas tree, the Eiffel Tower, Santa Claus, and a giftwrapped package all have in common? They are all part of a giveaway by my friend Barb at The French Elements. You must see these items and sign up for her giveaway. She has a beautiful blog and a beautiful spirit, and her creations are so lovely. (I would say good luck to you, but I am hoping I will win.)

;) Christi

Back to School... with Wisdom and Understanding

2009-08-10T10:03:00.004-05:00

There are so many people sending their "little ones" off to school around here this week. It makes me thankful mine are here with me. My oldest is still working and will start his college classes very soon, so we are gearing up for that. While there are many changes happening in our life, we are so thankful for this thing we call "family." We encourage each other, care for one another, pray for and with one another, and really want the best for one another. I can't imagine any blessing on earth that would mean more than these.

We had a wonderful family time last night sitting around our den and discussing "wisdom" and "understanding." The writer of Proverbs makes the case that these are the two really necessary things with which we need to be equipped for the journey we call life. Wisdom, we found, is seeing life from God's perspective, while understanding is more about interpreting life through the eyes of God and through the lens of scripture.

Proverbs 2:6 "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

In these days, it is crucial that we have wisdom and understanding. With so many out there who seek to do us evil, it is important to really have good discernment. And I really want my children to GET this. Just this past week this really came home to roost for me, as I was caught up (for a few hours) in what turned out to be an art scam. Apparently, there are people out there who want to take you for everything they can get from you. Suffice it to say, I realized what was happening before I was "taken." But apparently there are those out there who have fallen for this scam and really lost money. Otherwise the scammers wouldn't try it over and over again (which I found out from a quick Google search that they have.) Without going into all the details, I will just say that it was very disheartening for me to believe that someone really wanted to buy some artwork, only to find out they really only wanted my money. So, I am a little wiser and more on my guard about internet sales. And I know that God is using this to make me wiser about how this business works.

My exhortation to all of you is to be wise... trust God to lead you... and let Him give you "wisdom" and "understanding" for the journey of life.

"Flowers In Blue"
16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

Friday Blessings...

2009-08-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

I am thanking God for this day
because it is a day He has made
I am rejoicing in the beauty of His creation
and in the blessings He gives...

Swans on the Round Pond - photo courtesy of R & P Granberry

the pink glow of the morning sky

the sounds of the birds as they awaken

the brilliantly intense greens of the summer landscape

the scent of freshly brewed vanilla nut cream flavored coffee

the sounds of my children's feet as they begin their day

the time to wait silently before the Lord

the encouraging words of my friends

the warmth of my family's love

Wishing you a blessed and thankful day!

Happy Monday Morning...

2009-08-03T09:54:00.006-05:00

11" x 14" watercolor on Arches cold press

More artwork, as promised, and this is one of my happy pieces... a balcony o'er brimmed with flowers and the windows open so that the fresh, crisp breezes can waft inside.

Why "Happy Monday" you may ask... on this Monday I am happy because I am getting a new art space. We have decided to convert our living room, which is hardly ever used, into an art studio for me. Now you would have to understand the space I have been occupying to know how very exciting this is for me. I have had all my paper, pencils, paints, brushes, and art table in a tiny corner of my dining room. Each time we have people over (and we do frequently) I have had to pick up whatever I was working on and stack things up. This is hard on the creativity, as things need to have drying time, and I sometimes need space spread out or to arrange the items I am working on.

So, I have been making all kinds of plans for my new room. I am trying to consider how best to use the new space I will have. At the same time, we will also be rearranging my daughter's room hoping to make her space feel larger... moving furniture, paring down, throwing out, decluttering, etc. So with both of these projects looming ahead, along with the onset of schooling in the next couple of weeks, I am going to be busy "nesting." I am looking forward to it, as it has been a long time since I have done any rearranging around here. We have had our house on the market for several months and have decided to take it off, for now, and remain here. We are making plans for how best to use the space we have here to accomodate our day to day needs. Converting the living room to an art space just seems so practical. I am thankful that my family is so supportive of my artwork that they really see the need for me to have a larger space.

Today I am basking in God's goodness to me and in the blessing of my family. And I am wishing all my blog friends a very blessed week.

Grace for the Journey

2009-08-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

"Addison's Walk"

2009-07-30T22:37:00.006-05:00

My mother and step-dad just returned from a four week jaunt across the pond to some wonderful-sounding places: Bath, London, the Cotswolds, and finally Cambridge. They had time to really enjoy each place and to do some things that my mother had always dreamed of doing. They are in love with England, and I am trying not to be too jealous. It is somewhere I have always felt a fondness for even though I have never been there, and I still hold dear my dream of traveling there someday. I am looking forward to seeing their photographs and hearing their stories ...their adventures fresh and filled with delightful people and places.

Last year they were there for a shorter trip, and it was my mother's first time there. She came back thoroughly smitten with the places they went and people she met. She took some lovely pictures and has graciously allowed me to use some for reference in my artwork. One thing I am particularly drawn to (being the architecture lover that I am) is the beautiful golden tones of so many of the buildings in and around the Cotswolds. The photograph from which this painting was done was taken on their trip last year, and the house in it has that beautiful golden glow. It was a beautifully composed photograph, and I couldn't resist painting it.

"Addison's Walk"
16" x 20"
acrylic on canvas

For a view of the photograph from which the painting was doneClick Here.

News, news for fans of the original Victoria magazine...

2009-07-28T15:49:00.009-05:00

If you've been around my blog or website any length of time, you know how I feel about the lovely Victoria magazine. I began subscribing in 1987, the year the magazine was introduced, and still have all my copies. I have carried them from pillar to post through six moves.

Nancy Lindemeyer, who was the original editor of Victoria magazine, has started a blog. She was the primary influence in shaping that beautiful magazine back in its original heyday, and she will be sharing about the projects she is involved in and writing that she is doing now. So, if you are a kindred spirit and would love to check it out, here's the link:

Nancy Lindemeyer's Blog

Fresh From the Garden... errr, Drawing Board

2009-07-23T22:10:00.004-05:00

I will post the artwork from the show in future posts, but thought I would post this piece I just finished yesterday. I have begun experimenting with pastels and love the way they worked for the soft petals of this rose:

I pray that you are all having a blessed week!

Blogging Break Longer Than Intended...

2009-07-20T20:28:00.009-05:00

Hello world and especially hello to all my wonderful blog friends. You all have encouraged my heart so much with your well-wishes while I was away. Life has settled down a little now... let me see... where shall I begin?

Since I have been gone, I have participated in not one, but three art shows. They were spaced out just enough for me to recover then get ready for the next one. I have also been working on some commissioned pieces in between. And finally, I now have a high school graduate for whom we are trying to get "all our ducks in a row" with college plans. This has been a full and blessed spring and summer. I have enjoyed the break from blogging, but I have missed you all terribly.

A brief report on the art shows... the first one (the one I posted the link to in the previous post) was my first show ever. It had ups and downs, but all in all was a great learning experience for me. I didn't make much money, but I felt that the education was worth the time and expense I put into it. I gave away tons of brochures and cards and had some wonderful comments about the artwork.

The second show was a total disaster from start to finish... from the setup at 6 am where I was assigned the space next to a fresh stump of a giant oak that smelled like soured sweat socks.... to the wind blowing sand all over my artwork and eventually blowing over my painting with the most expensive frame so that it slammed into the sidewalk... to the judging that totally seemed "political" (and me a "newbie")... to the unseasonable 98 degree temps... to the fact that it was held in a locale that had a number of softball fields and plenty of parking -- only the parking was all taken up by softball moms and dads and grandparents -- leaving no spaces for those who would be attending an art show... and I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, I ended up in tears and will NOT be participating in this particular show again. (I am sure that the Lord had something He wanted me to learn, but so far the only thing I know for sure I learned is that I will definitely not be doing that show again!) :)

The third show was a beautiful show at Aldridge Gardens, which I did a drawing of last year. The weather was perfect, all the artist's booth spaces were in shaded places, and the crowd was there for only one thing: to see the artwork. It was a huge blessing, and on top of all those things I actually made enough to recover my costs for the show.

I have learned so much during these events and feel all the wiser about what it takes to be an "art show artist." I am not sure whether it is something I will continue to do. It is certainly not for the faint of heart, but I wanted to really put myself out there and let the Lord lead. I am trusting Him for the fruit of the work and money I invested in doing the shows. And for now, I am glad they are over. Summer has given me some time to experiment with new things, but also to work on some commissioned pieces.

I have a LOT of catching up to do in my blog reading, so please bear with me as I catch up. It has been a while, so it may take a while. :) I hope to be posting some of the new artwork I have done in future posts. I love you all!

Blogging Break

2009-03-25T09:17:00.008-05:00

I am hanging out my Blogger Is Out sign, so that you will all know that it's just a temporary break. I truly hope all my blogging friends are doing well and avoiding this nasty flu that has been going around here. I am still in high gear getting ready for the art show coming up and will post pictures later. Here is a link about the show:

Mountain Brook Art Association's 28th Annual Spring Show

...and a link to my Artist Bio on the Mountain Brook Art Association website.

Love to all!

A quick update ... good news/bad news

2009-02-14T14:18:00.009-06:00

First of all, let me say how much I appreciate those of you who have checked in on me to make sure I am all right. Let me ease your mind and tell you right away that I am fine. Life has gotten a little too busy lately for me to really blog as I would like to. And I certainly haven't been around to all of you wonderful blog friends checking in on you as I would like to. Some of this is due to computer woes (bad news), but most of this is due to the fact that I am going to be in an upcoming art show (good news). As an artist who works primarily on commission, that means that I don't have much of an inventory of things to put in a show. I am so thankful that I am receiving commissions regularly, and those works have been shipped off to their new homes. But I need things now to put in the exhibit, and so I have been spending every available minute at the drawing/painting board. I would appreciate your prayers as I get ready for this, as it will be the first time I have ever participated in an art show.

I thought I would share a couple of my newest pieces. The first is a watercolor from a photograph that a dear friend of mine took while doing ministry in a particular area of the hills of Kentucky several years ago. They were providing aid to some people who had lost homes or possessions in a flood. He took a picture of this abandoned barn and graciously allowed me to use it for reference.

The second one is much more whimsical and was done with Prismacolor pencils on matboard, and is called "Great and Small."

Once the show is behind me, I hope to be back to blogging as I would like. Until then, may God bless and watch over you all!

About my other grandfather...

2009-01-25T20:13:00.009-06:00

A while back I posted about my grandfather -- my mom's dad -- and what a special relationship we had. Well my other grandfather was very special to me, too. He was a World War II veteran and one of the "Greatest Generation." He must have seen some real atrocities in that war because he never would talk about it. I am really sorry about that now that he's gone, as there is so much I'd like to ask him about his experiences. Because I was very much a surprise to all my grandparents, and all of them were at a young age, I am sure it was not an easy thing to be a grandfather so young. But he loved me and had his own special name for me. When he would hear me coming he would smile and call out, "There's my little squeegee." (It was only many years later that I learned what a squeegee is, but I always think of him when I hear the word.) He sang in the choir and was in church every Sunday for as long as I can remember. He had a lovely voice, and I would often walk in to hear him singing a hymn.

When I was in elementary school, he realized a dream he had held for a long time. He built a pond just a few miles from town so that he would have somewhere to go fishing when he got off work each day. As time went on, he made improvements to it, such as adding a couple of piers and a boat dock. But the dream was not just about the pond, and a couple of years later he began to build a cabin there. It was a two bedroom, one bath "camp house" with large kitchen and den great room and a huge porch. It had a basement and a patio under the porch with a couple of porch swings. He loved this place, and it became his haven. He tended the fish, tended to the landscaping, and just generally put his heart into it. It truly became a beautiful place. I loved to go out to it particularly when I was in junior high school. I wasn't much for fishing, but I would paddle around in the boat, or find a spot to read, or just go for a walk... all the while enjoying the beauty of God's creation.

Now that my grandfather isn't with us, the lake has passed on to my father and his sister. It is there for all of us to enjoy, but it holds such beautiful memories for us all of my grandfather and how much he enjoyed this "dream come true." Each time I am there, I expect to hear him singing or whistling a tune... and I can almost hear him call out, "There's my squeegee!" For Christmas this year, I did a sketch of the place for my dad, who was very moved by it. I gave a print of it to my brother who happens to live just across the road and around the bend from this place.

Ever feel like Habakkuk?

2009-01-19T00:20:00.010-06:00

Of course, at this point you're probably asking, "How exactly did Habakkuk feel?" Or maybe you don't even know who he is. Well, he was a prophet who was really not satisfied with how God was running things... and he complained about it. Really complained...

"How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted."

Yep, I'd say that qualifies as complaining. But God was not put off by Habakkuk's complaints. Instead, He answered. But His answer was not the answer that Habakkuk wanted. So what did Habakkuk do? You guessed it... he complained again. So the Lord told him plainly of the judgment coming upon Habakkuk's people. Again, this was not what he wanted to hear, and yet this time he did not complain. Instead, he prayed. And he asked that God - in the midst of His wrath - would remember His mercy. And then Habakkuk began to remind himself who the Lord really is and began to praise Him saying, "His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from His hand; and there He veiled His power."

After he recounts the many ways God's power and might have been shown, he comes around again to the fact that God is about to judge the people and says, "I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us." But the last few verses of this interesting book are the really amazing to me and are filled with Habakkuk's knowledge that only God is his strength and hope:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer’s;
He makes me tread on my high places."

This small book helps me also to process my complaints but to realize that God is my strength and my hope.

More commissioned artwork:

Thinking Happy Thoughts

2009-01-11T21:31:00.013-06:00

Sorry for the gloomy previous post... computer issues can really get the better of me sometimes. As thankful as I am for them, sometimes I loathe all the baggage that comes along with them (and I am quite sure I am not alone in this!) But we will leave that subject now and move forward.

Lamentations 3:22-23 are some of my favorite verses in Scripture. "The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." I am so thankful that God's mercies are new every morning. His unfailing love never ceases, and He is more faithful than we can even wrap our minds around. Despite the circumstances of our world, our nation, our city, our own family, He is in charge of my destiny. As His child I have no need to worry or fret about what the future holds because I know that He holds my future. I am His child. I am loved by the King of kings. Nothing in all creation can separate me from His love. These truths are straight from scripture and are there so that we can remind ourselves that when things seem to be going awry in our lives, our lives are securely held in the hand of the One with all the power. And His hands are hands of love. This not only allows me happy thoughts, it gives me deep, abiding joy. I pray that it will encourage you as it has me this Monday morning. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And here's another commissioned work from the Christmas season of a home in Birmingham:

Dear me, where does the time go?

2009-01-08T23:54:00.009-06:00

Do any of you feel this way? Surely, I am not the only one. I thought that by the second week of the year I would have recovered from Christmas and be ready to tackle all that this new year has to throw at me. But no, I am seemingly more behind than usual and in dire need of an organization session. So far I feel swept away in the current of the infant year, and this is not at all what I had in mind for my fresh new beginnings in 2009. My "To Do" list just keeps growing and somehow I don't seem to find time to tackle the things on it.

One of my biggest problems is something that should have been a blessing... getting my computer screen fixed. My Dell (gr-r-r-r) Inspiron 6000 (which turned 2 years old in February 2008) laptop screen began to go all pink on me around this time last year. Yes, it was not even 2 years old at the time. Then it just would go completely black. Because I do web design, I could not be without it. So for many months I used it with an external monitor while using my son's laptop for times I needed something portable (which, it turns out, was the majority of the time.) My wonderful, precious, patient son has put up with this for most of a year. I decided that it was time to de-sequester his computer.

So off to the nearest computer repair place I went... then after a $30 diagnosis fee and a new screen to the tune of $166 (did I mention that the computer was LESS than two years old when the screen went out?), I thought I would have a "new" computer. What I actually have is a new computer SCREEN. However, my battery only holds a charge for about 30 minutes (if that), and when I boot up my operating system does not "recognize" my adapter... you know, the Dell A/C adapter... the one that came with my computer... the computer that was less than TWO YEARS OLD when all this started! If I take out the adapter while the computer boots up, then I don't get the error message. But then I must be ready with the power cord so that the battery doesn't give out. Then by inserting the cord slowly and turning at just the right angle it will begin to charge the battery and provide power to the computer.

I have spent the past week cleaning up my son's computer from all the files, photos, e-mails movies, etc. that I had put on it over the past year and trying to make my Dell work like it is supposed to... loading files, reconfiguring 10 different e-mail accounts, etc. This has proven to be more of a challenge than I bargained for... I will spare you the other details. They would put you to sleep. (Insomniacs may e-mail me privately.) It really is amazing what a time-sapper computer configuring can be. Oh, and did I mention that as I was walking out of the computer repair shop feeling so good about having my PORTABLE computer back, the fellow who worked on my computer told me in broken English that I had better be very careful when moving around my computer and that I might not even want to open and close my laptop because the HINGES ARE WEARING OUT! So my laptop, which is supposed to be portable, is actually not all that portable because I CAN'T CLOSE THE LID! How's that for twisted irony?

Yes, it's been a frustrating week and worst of all, I don't have all my blog links so I haven't been able to make the rounds. Hope you're all doing well and that you'll forgive my absence (does it really make the heart grow fonder?)

One of the other things on my "To Do" list was to post the commissioned artwork I had done which could not be posted before Christmas. So here's one of them:

Love to all!

Looking toward the new year...

2008-12-31T21:24:00.006-06:00

It was this time last year when I decided that rather than making resolutions, I wanted to have a theme for 2008. That theme came from the desire for 2008 to be a year filled with the "Fruit of Thankfulness." As I look toward 2009, I want to again allow the Lord to lead me. I want to seek to follow Him in every area of my life. I am thinking now of Proverbs 3:5-6 which says I should trust in Him with all my heart, that I should not trust in or lean on my own wisdom or understanding, that I should think of or acknowledge Him in all my ways... and that if I do these things, He promises to direct my path or make my path straight. A straight path is so much easier to navigate and so much less hazardous than one with twists, turns, and nuances that are unexpected. I don't know about you, but I like the thought of walking on the straight path with level ground around my feet at all times. He can even make the hills and valleys seem level if I am walking closely with Him.

This past year has been one of rediscovering my love for artwork and just the creative process in general. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life over this past year. And while rediscovering my artwork was exciting, it means nothing apart from Him. So I am looking forward to this year with great anticipation that whatever it might hold, the joy is not in what happens but in the One with whom I am walking through it. I pray the same for you... may you discover that the joy is not in the circumstances or in the "doing"... but the real joy comes from knowing the One who has created you, gifted you, and brought you to the place in which you find yourself.

May God bless you in 2009 as never before,

From Charm & Grace Cottage

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T23:34:00.002-06:00

A beautiful day was spent here in our cozy cottage... it began with reading the story of the nativity together in the children's upstairs bedrooms before coming downstairs to see their gifts. After exchanging gifts with each other, we cleaned up a little... just in time for two sets of grandparents to arrive. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of smoked turkey, smashed sour cream potatoes, traditional green bean casserole, boiled shrimp, salmon dip, and hot spiced apple cider. Dessert was a Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake topped with icing and pecans. Then, of course, there were all the baked goodies to snack on all afternoon. We had the movie Holiday Inn playing in the background. Once the grandparents left, the five of us played games and then watched White Christmas, probably our favorite Christmas movie. It's time for bed... we're exhausted... but surrounded with love and very, very blessed.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

From Charm & Grace Cottage

Sorrowful days... yet filled with Hope!

2008-12-22T09:11:00.005-06:00

Two families that have been such a large part of my life have lost loved ones over the weekend. Somehow, it seems this shouldn't happen at Christmas, and yet I know God's timing is perfect. My heart is breaking for their losses, but knowing both of these people were believers and understood salvation allows us to grieve not as those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 5:13 "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.") Hope has a name: Jesus. And if not for Christmas, we would not have that Hope. So, while we grieve and mourn our loss and temporary separation, we look forward to the reunion with hope that does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5 "and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.")

Welcome To Our World
by Chris Rice

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile fingers sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

If you don't know this one, it's worth watching this and hearing the melody... hauntingly and simply beautiful.

Happy Anniversary to us... and more tour

2008-12-20T09:38:00.009-06:00

Today is our 22nd anniversary. I have now been married over half my life (you mathematicians should have a ball with this one.) Anyway, I have sooooo much shopping and running around to do, so we are going to have a mini celebration -- lunch at one of our favorite restaurants just a couple of miles from home. I am looking forward to it!

Here is our den tree...

This is an ornament I cross-stitched the first year we were married. It's now been on our tree every year for 21 years.

My children have always loved the colorful lights and brightly colored ornaments on this particular tree.

This ornament was a present at a Christmas Wedding Shower for the two of us; it says "Our First Christmas." A Christmas Shower is a great idea for couples getting married, as you usually don't have any Christmas decor that first year.

Our kitchen table ...beribboned brass candlesticks.

Our dining room table with lighted village in the background...

Foyer nativity which I have had since I was a very young girl. My mother and I made it as a ceramics project...

Carolers that were given to me by my grandmother, who had exceptional taste in all her decorating. (She is the one who introduced me to Victoria magazine.)

Christmas Blessings!!!

More Christmas Tour...

2008-12-19T08:16:00.006-06:00

Here's a look at our home from the outside. A little love for the mailbox...

A veiw from the front...

The door...

Lamp post at night... (you can see the reason the window next to our front door has no wreath on it like the others...)

And if the Weatherman wanted to send a little of this kind of frosting to go along with my Christmas decor, it would be just fine with me!

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

Peppermint Red Velvet Cake... yummmm!

2008-12-16T23:30:00.007-06:00

Here is a Southern Living recipe that will wow your guests! The photos are of the one I made (for the first time) last year. This one's a keeper.

Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
3 egg whites
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (9-ounce) package yellow cake mix*
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnishes: Holiday Trees, 6 (5-inch) red and white peppermint candy canes, crushed; 12 (5-inch) green candy canes, broken; 12 round peppermint candies

Beat first 4 ingredients according to cake mix package directions.

Beat yellow cake mix and next 6 ingredients according to package directions. Spoon red batter alternately with white batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Swirl batter gently with a knife.

Bake at 350° for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.

Spread Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. (Cake may be chilled up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month.) Garnish, if desired. Serve within 2 hours.

*1 3/4 cups yellow cake mix may be substituted

NOTE: For testing purposes only, we used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe White Cake Mix, Jiffy Golden Yellow Cake Mix, and McCormick Red Food Color.

Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (2-pound) package powdered sugar
2 teaspoons peppermint extract*

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at low speed until smooth. Add extract, beating until blended.

*2 teaspoons vanilla extract may be substituted.

One final hint: if you garnish with peppermint sticks as I did, you may want to remove them after the original serving of the cake... they tend to run and become gummy. Hope you try it and love it as much as I did!

From Charm & Grace Cottage

Thank You and A Christmas Tour

2008-12-14T23:10:00.010-06:00

I want to thank you all for your kind thoughts, prayers, and wishes for a speedy recovery! I am well now and back to good health. Though it took a while to shake this and the timing was inconvenient, I am thankful to be better. Hope you are all managing to dodge this round of nastiness.

I am working diligently on commissioned artwork which must be completed in a timely fashion in order for my clients to have them before Christmas. So, blogging is taking as dismal backseat to getting those things done. I will be posting pictures once the artwork has been gifted and sent away to new homes. For now, I will try to do a series of posts showing some of my Christmas decor.

First, we'll begin with "my" tree... this one is in our living room and is decorated with gold, silver, white, and crystal ornaments. It has many heirloom ornaments and a few that I made specifically for this tree which you'll see in the last few photos.

The pinecone ornament is made from two small pinecones which are sprayed with gold paint and hot glued to either end of a gold braided cord. The seashells above are spraypainted gold and silver. I then hot-glued a small ribbon to the top. Once the glue dried, I used hot glue to attach strung pearls spiraling around the looped ribbon and covering the glue. This has proven to have held for many years now.

Thanks for joining me for the tour!

From Charm & Grace Cottage

I have fallen down a black hole....

2008-12-03T22:31:00.010-06:00

and it's not a nice rabbit hole like Alice fell down. My hole is a foggy brained, achy, feverish place from which I can't seem to climb out. It started as a sore throat on Thanksgiving Day then proceeded to fully blown tonsil-touching, can't-swallow-soreness by Sunday. It then made it's way into my head and now it is also causing coughing fits to beat the band. Thank the Lord and good science for Robitussin DM and Sudafed (and of course Kleenex)! I feel that tomorrow will be my breakout day (how's that for positivity?) I can't even bring myself to say that this stuff is for the birds... I wouldn't wish it on those poor harmless creatures! I am not sure I'd even wish it on those tortuous chipmunks that are wreaking havoc on our attic (okay maybe I would.)

I haven't had the energy or the desire to look at the computer these past few days, so I have a bunch of catching up to do. I just felt the need to check in tonight, as it has been too long. Hope all of you out there are having a wonderful first week of December! I hope to share some Christmas decor pictures with you very soon... for now here are some of my Thanksgiving table.

Blessings!

The Season and the Theme

2008-11-21T20:16:00.006-06:00

As this new year began, instead of making a New Year's resolution I wanted to come up with a theme for the year that would be honoring to the Lord. As I meditated on this, I believe the Lord showed me that He wanted this year to be one that produced fruit inspired from deep within ... from a thankful heart... and thus my theme became Fruit of Thankfulness. You can read more about that here, if you'd like. And now, as we reach the thankful season, I have been reflecting on how well I have "kept" the theme in my life.

My artwork has been a source of many ups and downs, but in all of it I have really and truly been thankful to be blessed to get to do what I love to do. God has shown Himself to me so often in this process, and for that I am TRULY thankful. I know that there are many days when I am not as productive as I could or should be, and on those days I am truly thankful that He loves me in spite of me.

I have also seen fruit in my family this year... not of my doing, mind you, but fruit straight from the hand of the Lord... fruit of children who are following the Lord and desire to serve Him, of a husband who loves the Lord and his family above anything else, of an extended family that is more excellent than gold or fine jewels and such a blessing to me, of God's healing mercies in my father and in my mother-in-law, of a precious church family who has gathered around us so often to lift up and encourage us in ministry, and so much more. I am truly blessed and as we head into this Thanksgiving week I just need to praise the Lord publicly for all that He has done.

From a thankful heart...

Home

2008-11-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

What is home to you? While the first thing that usually comes to mind when we talk about home is a house, what is home really? For most of us, I would propose that it is more about who than where. Home is where our family is. That may be in our house, or it may be somewhere else. For our family, it is wherever we all are. Whether we are in a hotel room, on a vacation, driving in our car, at a ballgame, on a picnic... wherever we are all together is home.

Further, I would propose that for the believer, home is not a place but a person. Home can be here or in heaven... but the main point is that it is wherever He is. Because really, He is our home.

I Will Bring You Home
by Michael Card

Though you are homeless, though you're alone,
I will be your Home.
Whatever's the matter, whatever's been done
I will be your Home.
I will be your Home.
I will be your Home.
In this fearful, fallen place
I will be your Home.

When time reaches fullness, when I move my Hand
I will bring you Home;
Home to your own place in a beautiful land...
I will bring you Home.
I will bring you Home.
I will bring you Home.
From this fearful, fallen place
I will bring you Home.
I will bring you Home.

Some good news and some artwork

2008-11-07T13:21:00.014-06:00

Two posts in one day... I know, I know. But I wanted to share some good news I just received and a little of the artwork I have done this week. First the good news... my son got his first college acceptance letter today from a university he has had designs on attending for several years now. As a homeschooling mom, this is a very welcome day and one that has not come without some major sacrifices. I look back over these twelve years and think of the mulititude of times I could have had peaceful days at home if all my children were off in public or private schools. I could have had "time to myself" and been able to do some things just for myself. But, I am quickly reminded that there would have been so many things I would have missed... seeing the "lightbulb" come on while doing a math problem or teaching them to read... seeing their eyes light up as they found out something wonderful about how our universe is put together or how our bodies are formed with such intricate detail and amazing functionality... or seeing their realization of how important communication is, as we see an ever-increasing need to have great command of the language in order to communicate effectively in our "wired world"... or knowing that they couldn't wait until we studied their favorite part of history. All these things and many more help me to know that the sacrifice was worth it. So, I am rejoicing today that I am about to send one of my "baby birds" out from this nest and am thankful that he is a responsible and generous young man.

And now for the artwork...

I thought you might be interested to see the stages of this one. It was a great deal of fun to do.

"Where Dreams Live"
- graphite on paper

This watercolor was done from a lovely picture I found in The English Garden magazine of two people from vastly different generations who were obviously enjoying one another's company tremendously.

"Joyful Years"
- watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold press

And thanks to Cielo from The House in the Roses for hosting "Hopeful Friday"!

Christi's Psalm 123

2008-11-06T09:26:00.012-06:00

So my study of the Psalms of Ascent continues and here's one that is mighty appropriate for these hours... in my own words, of course.

Christi's Psalm 123

My gaze lifts to You, LORD, and settles on the vision of You on Your throne.
Just as a servant's eyes are so careful to watch and wait for his master's hand to lift,
So my eyes are fixed on You in readiness for You to move with grace on behalf of Your people.
Show us Your mercy and Your grace, LORD, because as a people -- Your people -- we are ridiculed and scorned by those on the outside looking in ... those who consider themselves either more intellectual or more worthy because of their tolerance of things contrary to Your law.
They think their opinions are of more worth than Your Word -- and we need Your grace and mercy to endure it!

These words are so helpful right now with all that is going on in our present world. As a believer, I am called to pray for those in positions of leadership... that means local leaders, state leaders, national leaders, and world leaders. I am also called to stand for Truth. I can't back down on it even when it would seem more convenient. I know it sustains me through times of joy and times of total despair. Even when all the ground around my feet seems to crumble and fall, if my feet are planted on the Truth of God's Word I cannot fall. The ground of the Word right under my feet is firm and unshakeable! Am I naive enough to think that harm and calamity cannot come to me? No. I know that while God's people are blessed with His presence, they are also called to suffer. This may be a physical suffering, an emotional suffering, (economical suffering?) or spiritual suffering in the form of persecution. It is coming hard at us right now. But, let us stand firm. Let us not waiver in our faith. Further, let us who are called by His name praise God that we are counted worthy to suffer with Christ.

Acts 5:41 "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."

Romans 8:17-18 "...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

There is no promise of immunity from suffering in God's Word. But there is the promise of His presence both now and forever. He is Emmanuel, the God who is with us. And if our covenant keeping God is with us, who can be against us?

Grace for the Journey... Happy "Falling Forward"!

2008-10-31T20:57:00.002-05:00

Blogging Friends Forever Award

2008-10-23T08:59:00.010-05:00

I have received an award from one of my best blogging friends, Vee at A Haven for Vee. She is such an encouragement to me and has been a faithful and frequent commenter here for quite some time. I am humbled and grateful to receive this from her. Here are the rules:

1. You may only choose 5 people/blogs to give the award to...

2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog...

3. One has to be a new follower of your blog or live in another part of the world...

It's tough to only pick five, but I am going to play by the rules this time. I am awarding this to four of the bloggers who have been with me the longest and are still around to read and encourage. They followed me from my original Charm & Grace Blog to this wonderful and much more user friendly Blogger Cottage. And I am awarding it to one newer friend whose blog I fell in love with earlier this year and have been following.

1. Lorrie at Fabric, Paper, Thread has been a blog friend almost since I began blogging in April of 2007. She is a kindred spirit in so many ways, and she never fails to lift my spirits with her comments. I love to read about her creativity whether through writing, sewing, scrapbooking, decorating, or creating from paper.

2. Bebe's Peaches~and~Dreams blog is so beautiful and filled with such fun. Bebe is a fellow southerner and really understands some of my quirky "southern-ness." She has been such a sweetheart to stick with me for so long.

3. Barb from The French Elements is a wonderful blogger who has just given me tremendous encouragement all along the way. (I would have to say that encouragement is definitely her spiritual gift!) She is a wonderfully creative person with a heart of gold, and I am honored that she has stuck with me so long.

4. Ruth from Artful Creations is a very talented artist who also has a fantastic eye for photography. (If you haven't seen her pictures from the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah, you must get over there now!) It means so much to have a fellow artist friend take the time to encourage me by reading and commenting.

Thanks to all you ladies for following me over here from over there, for taking time to read my posts, and for leaving your beautiful and cherished words of encouragement!

5. If you haven't visited The Dutchess, then you don't know what you're missing. It is always a showcase for beautiful artwork and classic literature. And just so we're following the spirit of the rules, she just happens to live in another part of the world in the beautiful Netherlands. She has definitely become a BFF over these past months.

And I am giving Strider a "notable mention" (as I am not sure he would appreciate the whole Blogging Friends Forever thing.) He never fails to encourage and exhort us in our walk with the Lord, and his comments always mean a lot.

Best blogging blessings to you all!!

Some real encouragement for these troubling days

2008-10-22T11:19:00.007-05:00

In my current study of the Psalms of ascent, one activity that I love is that once we have thoroughly studied the Psalm, we then write it our own words. I wanted to share the first two with you and hope that it will somehow encourage you.

Psalm 120

LORD, I feel that our nation and world have been taken over by deceitful liars.
I want Your Name to be honored here and everywhere.
Yet, it seems that all people do is lift up themselves by using any means necessary, including lies and deceit.
Show Yourself strong; reveal who You are to Your people and then through Your people.
Help us to remain faithful to You whatever the cost.

Psalm 121

My gaze begins to lift; I look up to Your creation -- to the beauty of the mountains --
Knowing the One who created them and all their grandeur is the only One in Whom I can find help!
My Covenant Keeper has promised that He will not allow my foot to slip because He will be watching out for me every moment of every day,
And He never sleeps.
My Covenant Keeper protects me because He is always with me... right by my side... to ward off danger and evil.
Even the sun or moon cannot harm me because He is in charge, and He has promised to protect me.
My Covenant Keeper will protect me wherever I go -- from this day until tomorrow and every day after that.

Wishing you all a blessed day!

You are all so wonderful...

2008-10-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

I so appreciate all of the thoughtful and truly encouraging comments you all left on the last post. I have really prayed about what to do and I am still putting one foot in front of the other. I appreciate your exhortation to get into the Word, and you were right. So, I have also begun a new Bible study on the Psalms of Ascent. It's a Beth Moore study... I wonder if any of you have done this. It begins by having you commit to really getting facedown before the Lord. Well, it was just the kick in the seat that I needed. I have found it hard to stay focused in my time in the Word over these past months. So this should help keep me focused for a while.

Since we're on the subject, I wanted to give a little bit of testimony. I have made no secret of my spiritual leaning here on my blog, but I haven't really told much of the story. But I am celebrating my 25th birthday in the Lord this fall, and I do feel like truly celebrating. As I was leading worship at my church this past Sunday morning and we were singing "At the Cross," it dawned on me that it was just this time of year as a freshman in college that I first really came to know the Lord. I don't mean know about Him, but really know Him. I didn't know it was possible. But someone shared THIS with me, and it made all the difference. I can remember walking across that campus and how the sky seemed bluer, the trees even more beautiful than ever, and my steps so much lighter. Since that day, I know that God has been with me every single day for twenty-five years! My relationship with Him has grown closer and stronger... much of that in direct proportion to how much time I have spent in His word.

Over the years I have studied and even led a number of small group studies (most all the Beth Moore studies as well as some of Kay Arthur's and others.) I have always said that I must have that firm foundation of His word under my feet, prepared in advance so that when the storms come I will be ready... even if all of the of the ground around me crumbles except for what is directly under my feet. I love the Word; it is the roadmap I cling to for direction in this life. It is the light that shines in front of me, lighting just enough of the path for me to keep moving forward one step at a time. It shows me who God is, who I am, and how much He loves me. I want those things cemented in my heart because I know that it is the ONLY way on this earth that I will find true peace and joy.

One of my dear friends and fellow church members found out today that she would be losing her job. It was a complete shock; she had no inkling it was coming. We went right over to their home (taking a pie with us, of course, because in times like these we must have comfort food.) But what a joy it is to be able to help shoulder and share in the burdens of our brothers and sisters. She was totally taken by surprise, yet she and her husband were not shaken. Why? They know Who holds their future and that His plan is the best plan. Does it present a problem for them right now? Sure, she wasn't planning on having to change jobs again because she would retire in 2 years. Is she happy about not seeing all her friends and coworkers that she's been used to seeing these past years? Of course not. But she knows Who is holding her and her future in His hands. What a blessing to pray with her and share in her grief.

Another friend and fellow church member didn't make it to church Sunday because of severe back pain and actually passed out from the pain later in the day. They rushed him to the ER and were able to get enough pain medication in him that he was able to function. We went by the hospital to see him Sunday night but they didn't know anything. We all prayed together, and I also prayed for him again yesterday morning as I was doing my Bible study. He has been struggling with this nagging back problem for a while and has seen several doctors. They did an MRI and found that there is a little piece of his spine pushing on a nerve. They will be able to do an epidural block Wednesday which should relieve the pressure of the spine on the nerve. He is giving God the glory and praise for answering many prayers on his behalf that he would not have to have back surgery. What a blessing to be able to share in this burden.

And I suppose I am saying all this to let you all know how special you are to me. Thank you for sharing MY burden with me and for taking time to write and give me pearls of wisdom. One of these days we'll meet face to face... and we'll know how special it is that we are really just all part of one family.

"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 NLT

Sorting things out... many questions

2008-10-14T13:13:00.014-05:00

I really enjoyed the break from blogging, but I missed all my blogging friends immensely. There are so many wonderful blogs out there that I could never possibly get to them all, but some of you (and I hope you know who you are) are truly special.

I did a lot of thinking during my hiatus, about life and art and the state of our world (and particularly economy.) It seems that for most people/collectors, art is one of those things that seems necessary until funds get squeezed ... and then it becomes a major luxury. I was pondering that and the fact that I truly believe that my artwork is a gift from God. I really want my artwork to be a reflection of the fact that He has put something unique and valuable within me... whether a skill, or the ability to see beauty and capture it, or the ability to weave words together in a pleasing way. I want it to please Him and also please those who are viewing it. Can I have both? I think that is truly a dilemma for me.

I have meditated and wondered "Why now?" ...Why in my early 40s have I had the opportunity ... (and dare I say it... affirmation) to return to doing the artwork after basically neglecting that gift for a number of years? And if I am truly an artist, would I have allowed that gift to lie fallow for those years? In this current economy, can I afford to take the chance on the instability of income that this type of thing brings with it? Will people still be buying artwork with all that is going on... (after all, it isn't necessary to sustain life)? How do I price a piece that my heart and soul goes into? (Despite the state of the economy, I can't give it away... I must use my time and resources wisely.) Why would anyone want to buy something I have done... (there are so many much more talented artists out there)? Is it wiser for me to try to look for a "stable" job or to follow the confirmation of my family, friends, and even strangers who are telling me that my artwork is valuable? (It seems that every time I consider just going out and finding a job, He sends some sort of encouragement about the artwork my way... sometimes in the form of a commissioned piece, or in the form of an e-mail about my work, or a phone call from a friend, etc.)

I suppose in sharing all this, I am really asking for your prayers. Along with so many in our current economy, these are very serious issues with which I am wrestling. I admire and appreciate so many of you, and I would be honored if you have any words of wisdom or if you would simply pray that I would hear clearly from the Lord about this. For now, I will continue to do as much artwork as I can while keeping balance in my life. But for the long run I want to do what is best for my family, and above all what He would have me do. Thanks for letting me ramble.

Back from Blogging Break...

2008-10-11T01:15:00.010-05:00

I am so happy to return to blogging after a much needed break. I have been very busy since my last post with all kinds of things including a terrific family vacation that lasted most of two weeks. This was not a restful vacation, but it was extremely enjoyable and a diversion. It included both my mother and also my hubby's parents and was a challenge to plan, but it was a very special time for us.

Since returning, I have been busy washing clothes and getting back into a normal (what is normal, anyway?) routine. Our oldest son had his 17th birthday while we were away, and he is in his senior year of high school. I can hardly believe my baby will be going off to college next year. We have spent the last week trying to get things together in order for him to make application to the colleges he has interest in attending. These are wonderful milestones, but they also make mom a little sad. I am so proud of the young man he has become.

"Apple Pickin" - watercolor on cold press

As you can see, I have also been busy with artwork since our return home. The watercolor above was one I had begun earlier in August (see this post) along with the EPCOT sketch below. I have continued to work on it since returning, but it's not quite finished.

The watercolor below was such fun to work on. The colors really inspired me, and I love the balance of the heaviness of the grapes amidst the papery fragility of the grape leaves. It is called "Abundance."

"Abundance" - watercolor on cold press

I must say a big thank you to those who stopped here and asked about me during my absence... you are all precious to me. I am looking forward to making all my blog rounds again... I will probably ease back into this process so please be patient with me. I am happy to be back in the cozy cottage.

Blogging Break Ahead....

2008-09-05T23:18:00.007-05:00

Just a little advance warning here that I am going to be taking a blogging break these next few weeks. I will be posting sporadically in the coming days, and I just wanted you all to know that this is a deliberate, premeditated break. Everyone needs a vacation... right? This is not permanent, but it is necessary to maintain decorum and sanity right now. I am sure you all understand. I hope to have a little time to visit all my blogging friends, but please don't think I have deserted you if I don't comment over these next few weeks. I just don't know if I will have computer access or not for a portion of this break, so I wanted you all to know that I haven't fallen off the end of the earth. And I did want to take this opportunity to tell all of you who stop by here, read, and/or comment, that I am really honored that you would take the time to do that.

I have posted every day since this blog began at the end of May, so it really is time for a break.

:-) Christi

Blue flower day!

2008-09-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

An award from a kindred southern belle...

2008-09-03T06:00:00.009-05:00

Bebe from the beautiful and uplifting Peaches~And~Dreams blog has given me the I Love Your Blog award.

I am thrilled and honored to receive this award from Bebe because I truly love her blog. I have missed her this summer as her posts have been few and far between, (we all understand about how busy the summer can get) and I am so glad to see her posting again. She posts on all kinds of beautiful things, oftentimes giving us a history lesson (but it's so much fun it doesn't feel like studying!) If you haven't visited her, you must!

~~~~~

Here are the rules of this award.
1. The receiver can put the logo on his or her blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you mentioned.
~~~~~

This is a tough one because there are so many. So, in no particular order...

Vee at A Haven for Vee
Cheryl at Cherdecor
Lorrie at Fabric, Paper, Thread
Barbara from Ramblings from an English Garden
Dutchess at The Dutchess
Barb at Stamplicity
Ruth at Artful Creations

Along the Garden Path...

2008-09-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Some macro garden shots...

Encouraging Mondays...

2008-09-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

Prepare to laugh... thanks to Cheryl at Cherdecor for directing me to Yearbook Yourself. I laughed and laughed. Here are my glamourous photos (I mean yearbook mugshots) that were generated by Yearbook Yourself. (I am offering my apology right now to my mother and any other family members this may totally freak out!)

And now for the big reveal of me through the years.... drumroll, please!!

1950

1966

1974

1976

1988

1990

1992

Grace for the Journey...

2008-08-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

An award from a cherished friend...

2008-08-30T20:35:00.009-05:00

Cheryl at Cherdecor, has a beautiful blog and shares her heart so generously. She is a breast cancer survivor, as is my mother-in-law, and partly because of that I feel a special connection to her. She also shares a strong faith, and that is so encouraging to me. I feel very honored that she has presented me with the Friendship Award.

I would like to pass it on to a new blogging friend and very kindred spirit in many ways... including being a homeschooling mom of teens (yikes, did I really say that?), a woman of faith, and a fellow southerner... Mrs. Trixie at Making It Our Home. I really enjoy her stories about their life on the farm, homeschooling, and all the adventures that go along with that. Be sure and say a prayer for her and others along the coastal areas, as Hurricane Gustav looms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Stop, Look, & Listen...

2008-08-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Fruitful Fridays...

2008-08-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

More Disney sketching...

More Victoria Magazine inspired artwork... How could any artist not be inspired by the Children's Corner features in these vintage Victorias?
(May 1990 issue.)

White Flowers Series:
Each of these pictures is from a flower featured in Victoria Magazine and has the issue and page number written on the back.

(These are Prismacolor pencil on black matboard.)

(Hollyhock - March 97, p. 85; Rose - March 94, p. 79; Camellia - June 96, p. 44; White Jasmine - January 90, p. 37; Queen Anne's Lace - July 92, p. 45)

Another painting inspired by a photo from Victoria magazine... this is one I worked on a while back.
(March 1990 issue.)

The Letter...

2008-08-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

I just thought some of you might actually like to see this treasure... see, it isn't fiction but rather a treasured piece of beautiful literature!

And I must tell you that today is the birthday of the most special man in my life, my hubby! In many ways he reminds me of my grandfather, but especially for his sense of humor. He cracks me up... often. We have been married for almost 22 years, and I don't think we've ever been happier together than we are now.

Wednesdays and Bankers' Hours... and Life Lessons

2008-08-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Normally I love to give you a delightful visual when you arrive on my "Cottage" doorstep. But, today I am going to take a little creative license and talk about one of my favorite subjects, my grandfather. My mother's father was the son of a farmer born into a family of 10 brothers and sisters. It was a loving family and a hard working one. The children were all expected to help with the chores and be productive from an early age. This was something that, as I imagine it, must have come easy for my grandfather. He was a kind and joyful-hearted man, and though I didn't know him as a youngster, I am sure that he was a generous and loving son. He went into the military in his late teens, and later came home from a tour in Europe to fall in love with and marry my grandmother.

As a newlywed, he began working in a small town bank. Starting out as a teller, his determination to be an outstanding employee and his ambition soon pushed him into jobs with greater responsibility. Eventually this led to his becoming president of the bank in the town where I grew up. He held this position until his premature death from lung cancer in 1978. He was loved and respected by many, and at that time was the youngest president of Alabama Bankers Association. But, to me he was simply the most wonderful grandfather I could have ever imagined.

When I was a baby and my father was away at school, my mother and I lived with my grandparents. This was the genesis, I suspect, of some serious early bonding with my grandfather. And I can remember from a very early age how special I felt when in his presence. He adored me, and I adored him. And on Wednesdays (back in those days) bankers had the day off. So, many times he would concoct some scheme for the two of us to spend some of that day together doing something special. He would take me riding in his car or take me to the drugstore for milk shakes or a book of paper dolls. He would drive me to the next town to see the monkeys that the owners of the local hardware store kept in cages outside their store. And one time I remember him taking me for a ride in his golf cart... he drove me from his house, across a four lane highway (we're talking small town, low traffic, here), and on to the golf course for a few "lessons."

He was really my hero in so many ways. He had an incredible sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He loved helping people, especially those less fortunate than he. He made me feel so special, and he made me feel respected and treasured. And most of all, he loved me unconditionally. I am thankful for Wednesday bankers' hours in those days because they gave me the opportunity to make some awesome memories with one of the finest men I have ever known.

On the day of my graduation from high school, my grandmother handed me an envelope. As I looked at it, I noticed that the envelope had the logo from the bank. I thought this was a little odd because my grandfather had been gone for several years. When I opened the envelope, I saw the familiar letterhead with the bank logo in brown and the unique brown type that my grandfather had used as bank president. The letter was dated just months before his death and began by telling me that though he hoped that he would live much longer than the doctors predicted, he wanted me to have this letter of his memories of me. Then he recounted in detail some of his fond memories of our times together. He told me that he had always wished he had known his grandfather and had something to remember him by, but had not. So, he wanted me to have this to keep, to remember him and to know how special I was to him.

I still have the letter and take it out to read it every now and then. And though by now I have much of it in my memory, I still love to hold it and look at that familiar brown logo, brown type, and his precious signature. What a treasure... it didn't cost him anything to do that, but I can't imagine anything else he could have given me that would have meant more.

Along the Garden Path...

2008-08-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

Encouraging Mondays...

2008-08-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Poetry to tickle your funny bone
by Ogden Nash.

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS

Behold the hippopotamus!
We laugh at how he looks to us,
And yet in moments dank and grim,
I wonder how we look to him.
Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus!
We really look all right to us,
As you no doubt delight the eye
Of other hippopotami.

THE TERMITE

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good,
And that is why your Cousin May
Fell through the parlor floor today.

THE FLY

God in his wisdom made the fly
And then forgot to tell us why.

Happy Monday!

Grace for the Journey...

2008-08-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

Stop, Look, & Listen... heart of a champion

2008-08-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

My oldest son has had the privilege of working at a local Paralympic training facility (which is also an official Olympic training facility) this summer. He comes home with inspiring stories and generally just loves this job. With the Olympics winding down and the Paralympics approaching, I thought I would share this incredible story of a double amputee who God is using in amazing ways!

Fruitful Fridays...

2008-08-22T06:00:00.008-05:00

Two weeks ago I gave you a sneak peek of a sketch I was working on for a friend. This precious lady lost her husband last year and has had a tough year since he passed away. He and she were performers in the award-winning American West Reenactment and Performance group, Southwest Legends Gunfighters. They so enjoyed doing this together that as a tribute to his memory, she asked me to do a sketch of her in costume standing by his "gravesite" at the Southwest Legends Gunfighters' cemetery called Boot Hill. I consider it an honor to have been able to do this sketch of her and hope that it will be a source of comfort to her.

"Widow Noakes at Boot Hill"

Love ya, Miss Rosie!

Red Flower Day!

2008-08-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

Gold, Silver, and Bronze

2008-08-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

Along the Garden Path...

2008-08-19T06:00:00.005-05:00

Some images from the beautiful Cotswolds in England...

Images courtesy of Perry & Robyn Granberry

Encouraging Mondays...

2008-08-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Light poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson, from a Child's Garden of Verses, to brighten your spirit and put that childlike gleam in your eye...

Hail, Guest, and Enter Freely...
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Hail, guest, and enter freely! All you see
Is, for your momentary visit, yours; and we
Who welcome you are but the guests of God,
And know not our departure.

The Sun's Travels
by Robert Louis Stevenson

The sun is not a-bed, when I
At night upon my pillow lie;
Still round the earth his way he takes,
And morning after morning makes.

While here at home, in shining day,
We round the sunny garden play,
Each little Indian sleepy-head
Is being kissed and put to bed.

And when at eve I rise from tea,
Day dawns beyond the Atlantic Sea;
And all the children in the west
Are getting up and being dressed.

Grace for the Journey...

2008-08-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

Stop, Look, & Listen... Steven Curtis Chapman & Family on Larry King

2008-08-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen this, you must watch. After the tragic death of Steven and Mary Beth Chapman's daughter, this was their testimony of one way God is comforting them...

Awesome!

Fruitful Fridays...

2008-08-15T06:00:00.004-05:00

This week I have been one busy camper... we are putting our house on the market, so I have had lots to do aside from artwork. However, I have had a chance to do a little bit of

Vintage Victoria magazine-inspired artwork...