Memories of the Mundane

This is the Clothesline...Just a Clothesline, but it brings back memories of sitting on the back porch with my breakfast in the summer of 2019 in Auburndale Heights, Victoria, AUSTRALIA.  Just the Clothesline alone brings back memories of checking the weather to do laundry. I think,"Is is going to rain tomorrow?"

It's been over a year since I have returned to my son's house in AU. I had over 6 wonderful weeks visiting and relaxing as well as a trip to Tasmania. When not running to and fro, it was nice to be able to soak in the culture, the weather and the humdrum existence.

From 2019 to 2020 things have changed so much with the "introduction" of COVID-19. Will we ever see "the old days" of 2019 again? The term "new normal" may be the recurring chorus, as the "Powers That Be" continue to enjoy the control of the population through fear. 

Will the pleas of the praying Christians be enough to postpone the coming Rapture followed by the 7-Year Tribulation? Those who are to be taken by Our Lord are looking up for Him to rescue us, but still we have friends and family who may be left behind. What a dilemma! It's not up to me. It's all in God's Hands.

Spring comes 'round again...

Isn't that just like God, to be dependable with the rotation of the seasons. Here it is March, 2019 and I hear the spring chirping and smell the wet brown soil coming alive again after hiding in the cold frosted and sometimes white-covered dormant grass and greens. The buds are on the forsythia waiting to burst into life again.

How faithful is our God. Despite the World's turmoil, He is in charge. I await His call to take me up with him. It's only a matter of time, when He will call True Christ followers to join Him in the air. If only my loved ones and friends would see Christ's True Message of Salvation.

IMAGINARY BEASTS

The Hippoporcine insectivore can be found lurking around garbage cans and dumpsters. They do not eat the garbage but drool at the anticipation of devouring flies. The fatter and juicier the fly, the better!

The fun of being an artist is that I can create my own world...at least on paper. I am even allowed to be silly and ridiculous. My latest challenge was to create IMAGINARY BEASTS.

The method proposed to me was to think of creatures and their parts and what they are used for, and then mix them up and create new creatures. Their ears, noses, eyes, skin, feet, environments, and eating habits were taken into account. I had fun creating the visuals of my beasts as well as their stories.  All other BEASTS hopping around in my mind will focus on the annoyance of insects and what beasts I can create to rid myself of crawling or flying pests. Much research was done with books and internet images focusing on birds and animals on all fours, as well as insects. 

Stay tuned for more IMAGINARY BEASTS!

Count Your Blessings

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap 
nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 
Are you not of more value than they?"           Matthew 6:26 ESV 

When you consider this holiday season with all the hustle and bustle, remember to count what you DO have and not what's missing. Make the most of your time with others–whether family, friends or just acquaintances. Make every minute and day count, as our time on this earth is one of God's blessings to us.

Most important of all is God's Gift to us. This blessing is that He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our advocate and covering for our disobedience and pride from God's perfection. Make sure you know who your Savior is, and that you have the assurance of Heaven when this earthly life is done. Jesus is that Gift.

The Fun of Being a Kid....

I think my yard is the shadiest yard in summer...but that also means it is the most "leafy" in fall. Lots of leaves to fill barrels for the Tuesday pick-up crew.

I miss the old days of the "scritch, scritch, scritch" of the rakes. Now, noisy leaf blowers and lawn mowers and tractors clean up the leaves as fast as they can. No time anymore to enjoy the imagination of childhood. (No more burning of leaves either!)

As kids, we used to make a pile as tall as we could, then and jump in it...or maybe even dive off the the fence into the pile!

We played "House" by building the leaves into piles that represented walls. Even if the walls were only five inches tall, we made doorways and did not "walk through walls".  Then before bathtime, the crumpled up leaves would come out of our shoes and pants cuffs.

Is there time anymore for imagination? For me there is...I keep making up stories in my head. I may not be lying down in a pile of leaves making angels, but I will keep dreaming.

FEBRUARY...a time for L-O-V-E

Valentines and L-O-V-E are what comes to mind when planning a calendar theme for February.  Seems our human lives are centered around L-O-V-E...loved ones, family, romance, love of God...all that's good and lovely in the world...and the unconditional love of a pet!

Rosie & Magee have a special relationship. I have two stories percolating with this lovable girl and her rambunctious pup. One is already in the "dummy stage". The second story's theme will center around Christmas. 

Happy Valentine's Day!!!...get a purrr, a lick or a furry hug!!

 



 

CHRISTMAS...A time for Discovery and Making Memories

Christmas. So much preparation leading up to "the day" and then it's over. I set a goal to make the most of the season. Of course, that comes with the cold days of December, some snow and cold rain and ice. I have found concentrating on the positive keeps a smile on my face and joy in my heart. (Shovel away and hum "Joy to the World?")  ...and Make more Memories!

Besides making oodles of Christmas cookies with the help of Mom's old cookie gun, I have spent the last month making winter/Christmas illustrations of my newest characters, Rosie & Magee, in hopes of discovering inspiration for a Christ-centered story. The picture posted here is pretty self-explanatory. Time again to go up to the attic to get the Christmas decorations. In Rosie's discovery of the box marked "Nativity," she shuffles through the tissue paper and finds Mary, Joseph, shepherds, sheep....BUT the baby Jesus is missing!

How I get from "lost" to "found"  is still processing in my head, but ultimately, I want the reader to know that Jesus never left. He was there all the time. All we have to do is look for Him.  He is the GIFT of the season.  "Seek and you will find."

May you find Jesus Christ this Christmas...May you come to appreciate the FREE GIFT of eternal life God gave us by His sacrifice of coming down in the form of a human, Jesus Christ, and ultimately dying a sinless death, as payment for us. Amazing. Jesus said, "I and the Father are One."

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!