GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

The theme was books.  As I was looking through pictures on google for ideas, I saw the photo below.  It immediately caught my attention.  I loved the photo, the lighting and shadows....and I love Phantom of the Opera and the mask reminded me that. Photo from googleimages.com I did the basic sketch in pencil.  Added black marker for some of the very dark black, and water color to  give it  the warm antique look. I was happy with the outcome. To see all the other "books" just click on the Scribble Picnic on my sidebar.

I have to admit I was shocked when I took a look at my blog and realized I had not posted anything for a week.  I wondered if you were thinking "Why don't she write?"  HaHa.  Well a ton of things have been going on and my computer was not on the list.  Two graduations that I wasn't able to attend, but got a huge poster of Marc from his graduation fans.  He's the grandson that will be getting married July 1st. Our grandson Kaleb graduated today from Greenville College in Illinois, and we were able to watch it live on line...Now that kind of technology I like!!    Today was so very special.  Had lunch with some family and our future granddaughter, Amanda.  The cafe was right on the beach.  The Beach Comber at Crystal Cove, Newport Beach.  Just darling and it was so fun to share it with my "girls".  Our granddaughter, Monique on the left, and Marc's bride to be is my new granddaughter, Amanda. ...

The precious words of God revealed in his Holy Word. Isaiah 55:11  "So is my word that goes out from my mouth;  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Your Word is alive and creative, Lord.  Like rain and snow, it goes forth from You in productive power, fulfills its destiny and return to You again overflowing with its harvest: the high praises of Your people whom You save, deliver and bless,  Drench us, Father, in your Word.  Nurture us in its instruction and power so that we can discern Your will for our lives.  I love You.  Amen.  "God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds.  He spoke a book and lives in his spoken words, constantly speaking his words and causing the power of them to persist across the years."  ~~A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

They met in Kindergarten.  Our grandson Marc and his bride to be, Amanda will be married on July 1st.  They attended Calvary Chapel Christian School from K-12.   They started dating their last two years of high school, and have not had other boyfriends or girlfriends since.  They are a sweet Christian couple and have honored Christ in their relationship.   She had a beautiful bridal shower Saturday and I'm so excited to have a new granddaughter and pray their marriage will be as sweet as their love story. A sweet love story indeed!

I found this poem on my desk Sunday Morning!  What a special "homemade" card from my dearest and his love for me.  To good not to share his poetic expertise...... Poems are sweet but not always complete, Songs are swell but never totally tell, Words convey but never fully say, Thoughts are kind but sometimes lack time, Imagination is great but not always adequate, Memories are fine when you can call them to mind, Time is limited so I feel inhibited to fully explain the joy I feel in this articulation of my admiration for the woman I love who was sent from above.  Happy Mother's Day to my bride, my wife and the wonderful mother of our children.   ~ Love without limits, Don  (is that not just precious) Then Issac and Matthew gave me a very special gift with much meaning....The card said they love my cookies, and this gift made them think of me.  They are wonderful great grandsons. A large measuring cup ~ that says "In Grandmother's Kitc...

  Celebrating Mother's Day ~ Thought you might like to see my mom when she was the age I am now and me in my 40's.   She was a lovely and gentle lady, a faithful wife, and excellent mother and grandma. This picture was taken in our oldest daughter's back yard.  These are Michel's two oldest children.  Michael, who is now a father of our great grandsons, and Monique who has been married for almost 3 years. Where does the time go...it seems only yesterday that I held my children to by breast and smelled the wonderful baby smell. Life is hard, and every day new situations seem to trouble us, but on Mother's Day.... I reflect on the blessing of my children.  Michel, Julie Myk and Jill.  I gave you life....but you have so blessed mine. I love you all to the moon and far beyond...to heaven where my dear mother lives in everlasting glory. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 

Panko Crusted Tilapia, fresh asparagus and sweet potatoes.  One of our favorite meals. Growing up we had chickens and always had plenty of eggs.  My mom would make egg custard pie often, and I loved it.  For some reason I seldom make it, but was just graving it last night. However, mine doesn't look like my moms...haha.  For some reason, one side wanted to get done faster.  But it didn't hurt the taste any.  A piece for dinner, and this morning a piece for breakfast...Win~Win.

The theme for this week "Potted Plant" Simple watercolor using greens, blues and lavenders.  Wanted something soft and fluid. To see an array of potted plants, just click on my Scribble Picnic Badge and enjoy!

Saturday was a wonderful day.  The women of the church put on a "Spring Fling" and I was ask to decorate and hostess a table.  We were given the liberty to chose how we would decorate our table as long at we kept with the theme of "Spring". My daughter helped me and we decided on "Gardening" for our table theme.  Each place had a cute Welcome Sign you can hang in your garden, a pair of garden gloves that had a label that said "Bloom Kindness where you are planted".     The center piece was a basket of succulents and cactus and on one side a straw hat. We also added some gardening tools and a bag of potting soil.  A little wooden sign saying "Always be Kind".   Kindness was the theme of the message that was given, and also the theme of the Women's Bible Study. My daughters Michel, Julie and the daughter of my heart, Chelenne and her mother were able to join me for the luncheon.  What a special day it was.  After th...

 "I am content, O Father, to leave my life in Thy hands, believing that the very hairs on my head are numbered by Thee.  I am content to give over my will to Thy control, believing that I can find in Thee a righteousness that I could never have won for myself.  I am content to leave all my dear ones to Thy care, believing that Thy love for them is greater than my own.  I am content to leave in Thy hands the causes of truth and of justice, and the coming of Thy Kingdom in the hearts of men, believing that my ardour for them is but a feeble shadow of Thy purpose.  To Three, O God, be glory forever.  Amen." This old style of speaking is so different to the way we communicate today, but I've been blessed for too many years to remember by this small but powerful Prayer Book ~ A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie.  It's been my daily prayer journal, along with with other journals and I'm now on my 4th book. (Amazon used books) Since ...

Tree trimming at the Villa.  This is our wonderful shade tree being trimmed down much more than I would have liked, but then we don't own the Villa (HaHa).  He was a pleasant fellow, and let me take his picture, and then continued "butchering" my tree house.  Thank heaven it will grow back nicely.    It reminds me of the verses in John 15:1-2 when Jesus says "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful." To show my goodwill, I did take down cookies for the trimmers and did not mention that I thought they "over did it"!  HaHa  

  "The Red Door" The word for this week is "DOOR".  It was time for me to get serious about my art, so a trip to Michael's to get some needed supplies.  Some watercolor paper, sketch pencils and sharpies . I started with a sheet of watercolor paper and taped it to my art board.  I wanted to get back into drawing people again, especially children.  Decided to have a child in the doorway, but only put color on the door since that was the theme. Because I took more time to work on this one, that's helping me with my discipline that a project doesn't have to be a race to the finish.  I actually took several days on this one. ** the sunlight on his head, face and door ~ I took the picture of my painting out on the balcony....I like the "real sunlight" touch. To see all the doors just click on the Scribble Picnic Badge on my sidebar.

Dropped off Molly at the Groomers and then my dearest took me to MiMi's for breakfast.  First things first ~  start out with a vanilla latte. We each ordered something different and shared.   Ham, mushroom, egg and brie crepes, and pancakes.     My dearest told our waiter that it was my birthday, and he brought me a complimentary piece of birthday cake with a candle.  We were stuffed...so brought it home and had it tonight with a nice cup of coffee. When we got home, a package was delivered.  Yes, Sherrie's Berries and cheesecakes.  I see that a strawberry is missing...it was delicious!!  Will take our time enjoying these over the next few days. But my favorite gift was "76 Trombones"  My dearest ask me what I wanted for my Birthday, and I said "76 Trombones".  When I got up this morning he had The Music Man YouTube on his computer (full screen) playing my song!!!! It was the original 1962 version wi...

Today the first bloom on my cactus opened completely to help me celebrate 76 years!  Born on May Day 1941, and named Wanda Mae. What a wonderful life I have had.  What makes a wonderful life?   Marvelous mountains of joy, and the deep pits of despair.  Yes both.  If we didn't experience the pits, how would we ever know the joys of the mountain tops! My life has been filled with both, and I have volumes of Prayer Journals to prove it..but in this winter season of my life, as I take time to relax and read through those old journals I realize that  ~ as the songs says ~ THROUGH IT ALL ~ I was never alone.  God was moving and working and doing little miracles and big miracles and answering a ton of prayers.  Are there things I would change if I could...of course, wouldn't we all.  But life is a school of learning and my text book has been the Bible and it has been the compass that has guided my life. I don't often write ...