I’ll eventually tire of Josh Garrels…
I doubt it’ll be anytime soon.
This animation is so lush. Reminds me of the Book of Kells. Lovely, lovely!
Art Friday: Bring the Beauty
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Category Archives: creative capers
Photo Challenge: 7/10
I am trying not to fall off the wagon…it’s just been a rough couple of days over here. James’ dad was readmitted to the hospital (complications of congestive heart failure)- my last day at work is this Friday. (More on that later. It’s totally good and I am happy and at peace with leaving.) I’m going to try to come back and pick up the ones I’ve missed in the next few days. It’s been a pleasant accompaniment to this new season I’m transitioning into. Please keep my father-in-love in your prayers if you could. His stays in the hospital are increasing in frequency…we never quite know where the journey with his illness will take us next. (And again, the beauty of homeschooling, that we can pick up and spend time with him in the hospital and still keep moving forward in our learning.)
7. Favorite 
10. Childhood (See those toofies peekin’s out?)
January Photo Challenge: Days 4-6
So maybe I’ll be posting in triads. That’s fine with me.
4. Letterbox
Yes, I realize it isn’t a real mailbox, but this little number has been a solid part of my life for a year and a half. I wanted to capture that piece of history as I look forward.
5. Something You Wore
My beloved got me these slippers in early winter- actually booties- and my, if they aren’t already well (worn) loved. With wood fire being our main heat, the wood floors can get so cold, especially in the morning. Woe betide you if you step out upon them in the wee hours unshod. You will wake right up. Yes siree.
6. Makes You Smile
My little art studio space, tucked now into the master bedroom, where the best natural light is in the whole house. (This is the view from our bed.) The sheer irony of breaking my wrist is tempting me beyond measure to do stuff I really shouldn’t without hurting my arm. I was so excited to move into this space, and now, I test my patience and self control. The beautiful print of roses is from my dear friend and uber-talented photographer, Kelly Sauer.
Photo a Day Challenge- Jan 2012- 1 thru 3
So Andrea posted this challenge over on FB, and I’m thinking it’s the perfect thing to get back into the groove of blog-y-ness and finding that creative mojo that has gone wandering…join us? Many are doing it through Instagram app using the hash tag #instagramphotoaday, but I’m old school and don’t have an iPhone, so the blog it is!
Here’s Day 1- 3:
1. You
2. Breakfast (Steel Cut Oats)
3. Something you adore [of course, knitting will be postpone until this lovely purple cast is gone (see #1. It's peeking just above my other arm).]
Art Friday: Boys Edition
Isaiah: (of the table, who announced “I’m going to be a famous artist someday”)
Ben: (of Isaiah, painting at the table)
Mama: (of Ben)
Art Friday: Scrap Happy
Running super late today. Kids! Work! Life! You know. I did get a chance to scrap a few times over the last week and actually have something arty-ish for Art Friday. Imagine that. The Finding Home series will go for another week, and then I really would like to try my hand at Ali’s “A Week in The Life” project because it has been YEARS. That’s my goal, but life itself often gets in the way; the way it should be. 
Five Minute Friday: Forgetting
GO
I seem to have memory like an elephant. I remember all the way back to kindergarten, insults thrown, imagined wrongs. I remember too the songs I used to sing at the top of the slide, the imaginings…
I grow older, and it seems the things I forget are the things that I need to remember the most. That God is good. That He forgives. That my children and I have a thousand second chances every morning, that we can begin again fresh. I feel so humbled by the mistakes I’ve made. I wish I could find the balance between guilt and true confession- understanding where I’ve done wrong, and letting go of past shame, and not living with it every day. I want to understand, profoundly, God-sized forgetting and forgiveness- to truly get that my sins are gone, done, taken care of, far as the east is from the west.
STOP
Words fitly spoken…
I’ve struggled for a long time to define exactly why it is I do what I do: why I write, why I create, why I read. Well meaning onlookers have sometimes asked if there was better uses for my much harried time. I assayed to answer them: if you cut my veins, words and images would pour out, not blood. I couldn’t explain this, and for a while, it troubled me. I felt strange, especially in my younger years. Over time, I’ve come to accept this part of myself, and do my best to nurture it. It’s why I blog. It’s why I scrapbook when I get the chance.
Imagine my joy when I read this in the flyleaf of “The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath” by Mark Buchannan. He encapsulates the reason for writing and creating so very well.
“I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” (2 Peter 1:12-15)
These verses define what I’m about, as both a writer and a speaker; the ministry of reminding- of restating truths we already know. I do this always, and I will do it as long as I am around, so that even after I’ve departed, the memory of truth will live on. I hope what I write is fresh, but there is nothing original. It’s all just a reminder.
- Mark Buchanan
That’s why I do what I do…to remember.
In progress…
I now understand the need for studio space. This is making a mess! Such an adventure to find the right structure, the right medium, to make such a very large star (about five feet in diameter). It will eventually be finished in such a way that it catches the light. I haven't decided what, yet- glitter, mica- because it has to be seen from a distance. Once I finish this one four more are on tap. I can't believe I get to do this as a job- it's way too much fun. Except for the splinters… [somewhere along the way, I promise a shop update in time for Christmas shopping, but right now, the church has my fingers (and toes)!]
The great poem caper…
Laura has been playing with words over at Seedling in Stone, and she invited us on a bit of caper. There were a couple of options, all involving poetry. It's been fun to see where the poems and words have wended their way. And, as usual, I am coming in under the wire.
She said that she cannot write poetry long hand and often taps it out on keyboard; I, on the other hand, can only write poetry long hand. Something about the feeling of pen on paper inspires. And it usually happens at the oddest times. This one sprang, full born, into my head at 11:30 last night as I was slipping into slumber. Which necessitated rising again, finding pen and paper, and scribbling madly. I awoke this morning to wonder if it was any good. It seems dreamy, like the dream land it came from.
I chose option three- to finish the line "If memories were sparrows…" You can read other poems that started this way here.
If memories were sparrows
sing, then
of dusty dim
faces fading
of fresh new life
fingers toes
and warbling cry
of dancing dreams
and laughing light
chasing across the floor
If memories were sparrows
fly, then
ahead
behind
on starry song
of joy
of love
of hope
of loss
of life.
