A promising day...

I went to the hills on Wednesday. As I drove, I enjoyed the colors of the leaves change from green and brown to gold. The higher I went, the more vibrant the color. This picture is from the beginning of my day away. It began with great promise, and proceeded to be an altogether satisfying and refreshing day.

It was cold and rainy every day this week EXCEPT Wednesday, and I fully appreciated the glory of the day the Lord made for me to enjoy!

Playing Hooky

So, I should be working---on school plans or editing or housework---but sometimes a girl's just got to play a little. So, I took on a challenge from on of my yahoo groups to paint my face--digitally. It's kind of trippy to start messing with your own face---even when it's a terrible picture to start with. So, here are the before and after images:

The best thing I learned from this little bit of playtime was how to make my lips turn up into the smile. Good to know....

I think it's time to get back to work.....

Autumn Leaves

With the rain we're getting this year I don't know how much fall color we'll get. The trees in front of my house are dropping leaves pretty quickly, but without turning the yellow and scarlet they usually do. Hopefully later this fall the North Georgia hills will have some colors to photograph.

So, for now, I'm enjoying creating my own autumn colors with a combination of markers, chalks, colored pencils, and FlowerSoft (a pretty cool way to add texture and color.)

Stampscapes images are wonderful for coloring--which is a nice way to spend an afternoon when it's gloomy outside! I also got some new collage images from I Brake for Stamps.

So, until I make my way north, these colors will be my view of autumn leaves.

Rock

A Space to Create

It's amazing what a few shelves and a LOT of purging will do! This weekend I spent hours purging, cleaning, emptying, and reloading the workshop are of my studio. (Yes, I am incredibly blessed with a studio AND a workshop. Maybe I'm just spoiled...either way, I'm grateful!) Brian put together shelves for me and now I have room to create without tripping over myself. There are no "before" pictures because it was just a cluttered mess. However, here is the space where I can do my "messy" creating:

By the way, most of the purged material is still usuable, and will be donated to "Art Feeds." It's a non-profit one of my students is involved with. Their mission:

"We believe in doing what you love and changing the world with it, so this is what we do to create change. Art Feeds is about finding giant inspiration within these small kids, and giving them the tools to acheive their dreams. Love Naively. Give Generously. Be Foolishly Compassionate."

I get a cleaner space, they get stuff to play with--everyone wins!

Time to read

My "to-do" list keeps growing. As soon as I check off one item, two appear to replace it. This week is my "fall break," which means I have no classes to teach. Theoretically, it's a time to refresh the mind before beginning the next school session. Practically, it's a time to catch up with those items long neglected and get ahead for the next few weeks of school. So, clean and organize the workshop, catch up on the digi-art projects, upload school pictures, work on Stamper's Quest projects, write lesson plans, answer questions on E-notes, clean house...and on and on. For the first part of the week, practicality trumped theory.

God knows that I need to rest my frenetic brain. Usually He allows me to get sick, but this time, He let my car break down. Twice. Last Friday it went in for new brakes. Today it went back because the gas pedal "disengaged." (I don't really know exactly what happened, but I do know that I was driving home with Caty Mae yesterday when suddenly pushing the gas pedal did nothing. I coasted into a parking lot and called the service people.) The tow truck would take up to 90 minutes to arrive-and it was already past 8 pm.) Caty Mae and I were able to get a ride home with a friend, and I called AAA this morning.

That's when God said, "Chill." While I waited for the tow truck, I read a book. Just a pleasure book. Nothing philosophical. Nothing profound. Nothing having to do with school or photography or publishing or art. Just a "dessert" book. For 45 minutes. And I am refreshed.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18