GRACE

SOLD! "GRACE," 8"x 8' Acrylic on canvas panel. #1 of 20/40 Art Challenge. 08/2009

Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you - gently, with love, and hand your life back to you.

Tennessee Williams
American, Dramatist Quotes
more famous quotes

"Say hello to my little friend!"

Jake & Ayden. TWO-OF-A-KIND!! 7/09

Jake brought home a new friend about a year ago, and I can't express what a joy it has been getting to know him. Though neither of them  are teacher's pets...... Understandably. I on the other hand being a visionary kind of parent have had to look on the inside too see out. Let me tell you about his little friend. He has this amazing sense of humor.... One-of-a-kind actually. He should write comedy for a living. I for one appreciate his sense of originality in his choice of clothes. One day he will be wearing a Polo shirt with plaid flannel shorts, the next a zombie t-shirt with a nice pear of black slacks. You just never know with this kid. He keeps me wondering what he's going to be wearing from one day to the next. Jake is attracted to good hearted people. Sometimes he may bring home a Raggedy Ann, or Andy but I can see that big red heart painted on their chest under their tattered shirts.

Love Mom

Me & My Cousin Mysti when we were wee little sprouts. I was so proud of my pearly cat's eye glasses.

Your blog is so you. From the time you were a child I let you choose your own clothes and colors. I enjoyed watching your choices. Sometimes a little surprising, but I would get a good laugh. The bright colors, the checkered shirts with the striped skirts, it was always you. I wanted you to get your own imagination and your own self awareness. Shopping was always so fun for us. We shopped until we dropped. Not buying much, but looking and finding the best buys in town. Your 5 1/2 size shoe and my size 9. You always won out with a new pair because the small sizes were always left. How I always wanted to be a size 5 1/2! Only you and your great grandma Laura had that size. I wish I had kept her shoes for you... I will always regret you not knowing her. I cry as I write this as I wish she were here now, holding my hand and rubbing it in her own special way. I also have great memories of watching you play under the shade tree in Pendleton, with all your friends and all your dolls. Movies have always been a part of the lives of you and Mark. Dad is the beginner of all that, I have a hard time sitting still that long. I would rather be in the garden.

Love Mom

My Father Loved A Thistle

SOLD!

"Sunflower" My very first painting 2000.

Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.

Abraham Lincoln
American, President Quotes

My father Mark's wisdom is tested, and true. He is the most noble, honest, loyal, loving and virtuous man I know. I am so proud to call him dad. There was a time in my life I was menacing thistle, but dad had faith in me and what I could become....... And so he plucked that troublesome thorn, then prayed over it. He planted it with a Father's faith, and protected it with all of his love. His prayers brought forth a flower.

LESSONS OF LOVE

My mom loves Bambi! Okay seriously, who doesn't? However, my mother is drenched in the after affects of too much Disney. I am grateful for all of the imagination she birthed in me throughout my life. She saw the softer side of life, and invited me into it. She taught me to accept people the way they were, to love the unloved and the unlovely. Her tender ways planted so many seeds in my heart, and the fruit of those blooms are full of grace. Her short little lessons in love held strong to my soul. Her teachings were like putting on a fuzzy pair of mittens. Once we were out shopping and came across a man in a wheelchair while standing in line. Mom didn't say a word, just gave me that don't stare kind of look. When we left she said, "You see that man in the wheelchair? Well he's just like you, never judge a person for being disabled." (and then I had to ask what disabled meant?) I thought about that man all day, and never forgot him since. The color of that memory hasn't faded into my 40's. The small town I was raised in had a family of Albino people living there. I remember them so distinctively. Not just because of how they looked, but because of the way they were treated. The stares, the whispers, the pointing fingers and because I noticed nobody talked to them. Once while my mother and I saw them in town. She looked at them for a moment, then glanced at me. She whispered, "Aren't they beautiful!"

That's the kind of mother I have. She's a sweet soul! Because of her I learned to search a man's heart before you judge him. She had the ability to see through a child's eyes, and read life with a child's heart. Thanks Mom for the many virtues you instilled within me. I Love You.

I'M JUST BEING A BOOB

"It's Been One Of Those Days." 4" x 6" Acrylic on stretched canvas 2009

Grandma Sylvia used to get the blues from time-to-time. Her tears were sweet as could be....... Quiet little things that whispered sad songs. She always kept a box of Kleenex by her chair, and used them often. "Grandma, why are you crying?" I'd ask. She always responded the same, no matter what the reason. "I'm just being a boob." She'd sniffle.

Now that I'm OLD I understand those blues. Menopause sucks! I've been warned about it's coming since way back. Heard my Aunt's go on-and-on about the miseries of it, and it seems my mother still suffers in her 60's. Will it ever end? The tears just seem to come out of no where. Dames, that's the thing about us. We can cry a bucket, and an hour later you'd never know what just happened.

The Magic Man

Deep breathe..............and sigh. I have to get myself centered this morning. My thoughts and head are spinning around so many subjects. My first grounded thought is of my husband. How does he do it? I will call him "The Magic Man." He keeps things together and from falling apart no matter how difficult, stressful, complicated, distracting, menacing or painful life can be. He somehow manages to find a way to complete his tasks, and take care of us all. A simple example of his tenacity; Kitty wears a hot pink collar. He's a male cat, but he is no ordinary feline so a hot bright pink necklace seemed appropriate. Kitty has been scratching at it, and now it appears he has a pretty mane of neon hair growing around his neck. I was going to throw the pitiful thing away last week, but Dayne was certain he could salvage it. It started with a small adjustment one day, but then I saw him fiddling with it again yesterday morning. LOL We aren't living in the depression (yet) and we can afford a new one at the dollar store. Dayne is determined however to not give up. He never does. (Excerpt from My Morning Pages January 15, 2008)
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PETE'S POND

Pete's Pond was a little restaurant tucked away in a garden like setting surrounding a large pond filled with a dreamy assortment of beautiful swans. I only had the pleasure of seeing this peaceful abode once while visiting my father Rod. It seems like an eternity ago that we stopped there for lunch.......... I was so young and bright-eyed then.

Rodney has a mischievous sense of humor. The kind that is passed on by a serious crooked grin , broken by a boyish laugh. "Which one's Pete?" I asked seriously. "They all are." My father answered sheepishly.