100 days. 100 paintings.

"Paint what you are, paint what you believe, paint what you feel." -Ben Shahn

decorative pots, glass, wood, fabric and craftiness in general

stamping, card making, yada yada

handpainted furniture from armoires to chairs

children's and professional wall murals

4 years of watercolor classes/workshops

jewelry making

illustration

soap making, spa stuff, yada yada

taught ceramics and art

So why is it that I can't figure out what I really like and want to do? 

There's always these small voices in the "art section" of my head. Small whispers of creativity. Of fear. Of joy. Of questions. Of passion. It really takes up an enormous part of me and sometimes makes me down right c-r-a-z-y. I desire so much to let that section of my brain go... and go somewhere else in my creative life. I want to answer some of my soul questions I suppose. Not to make money in my art, have guidelines, rules, deadlines...but to explore it and figure out what really matters in my tiny art-world. I have tried many art business avenues in the past 10 years or so. Some roads have been successful and some big fat, disappointing failures. My desire is to have a clear vision of what art means to me. Kinda like communicate some of my hopes, dreams, wishes and hurts. I need to relax about my paintbrushes, dig a tad deeper and put my heart out there in the world through the bristles. Hopefully it will be healing. Joyful. And ultimately give some sweet answers to the creative voices.

Was that too much heart stuff from me for you to read? hm.

So, here's the deal. I have been thinking and talking about doing 100 paintings in 100 days lately. What? Yes. Some small, some big, some detailed, some not. While Josh will be traveling quite a bit lately, I plan on digging out stuff I have started painting through the years and never finished. Fill the quiet nights with old wood, canvas, paper, etc. that has been laying around and calling out to me. 

And I am gonna blog about it. Ya know, kinda like that adorable movie "Julie & Julia" with Meryl Streep. (If you haven't seen it- do. It's great.)

So stay tuned- you are keeping me accountable. Don't be scared to leave comments, okay?

Greetings August! Goodbye August?

August came. August went. I can't believe it is the 26th tomorrow already! Am I the only one? It was steamy 100-plus degree weather the entire month filled with swimming, cavities filled (ow!), paintings, new school clothes/supplies, fun with best friends from Ecuador visiting, and Grandma and Grandpa visiting (of whom adore two special girls in their life, spoiling them to pieces!).

So- school started Monday. We have a 5th grader and 3rd grader in the house, everybody. Seriously? It's just too much. I boo hoo'ed when Hannah first started Kindergarten and was gonna cry with her keeping her distance from Mommy and Daddy walking to school and quick half-hugs goodbye on Monday.
Growin' up. Boo hoo.

sniff. sniff.

Laughter. Hugs. Smiles. We love you Bryans family!

Movies, shopping, swims, gifts, ice cream, games...more ice cream and love. love. love!

Did several of my infamous name signs for kiddos.

Did several birdies for gifts! (These were chubby, puffed up cuties)

Goodbye July.

"I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom-

 till you yourself burst into bloom." 

Clarissa P. Estes

Teeny-tiny seed.

the girls

grew

huge SUNFLOWERs!

Road Trip 3.

Home from Co. and this was the day--- laundry. Piles as big as the Colorado mountains sitting in the kitchen. Of course, the piles didn't look as enormous after a nice sleepy night in our own bed. (Nothing like your own comfy bed after travel. Amen?) So then the next day ended up being a good day/bad day kind of day.

bad- went to dentist and Lauren had cavity and the bill was $308 

good- we have dental insurance now!

bad- found out the owner of all of the land in all of Southhaven passed away

good- we are showing our house today to a couple from Dallas that loves it

bad- the home that we liked on Bellavista has a contract on it (i knew it wouldn't last!)

good- going to virginia; such sweet friends taking the girls for a few days

bad- i have soooo much to do today!!!!!!

good- josh got his relocation $ check and it was larger than expected

bad- it is so dang HOT here!!

(I actually emailed this to my Mom... to vent a bit, I suppose. Love ya, Mom.) 

My Mom's birthday when we were away was filled with sadness and happiness as well. I can say I am getting pretty good at carrying around an assortment of emotions lately. The bag sometimes gets heavy, indeed. My almost 90-year old Grandma (my Dad's mom) had a band of heavenly angels come take her Home that morning. When we got home I booked a ticket for her memorial service in Virginia. There wasn't any question that I wanted to be there to celebrate her beautiful life.

Grandma was so loved and we all were unconditionally loved by her. She was one of the loveliest ladies I knew and had a pure sweetness that oozed from every bit of her. With strength and a firm faith- she raised SIX children. All those that had the honor and privilege to be a part of her life, were blessed. She loved a good time; whether with a fishing pole, a game of a golf, a good meal with a few of her many friends, and used to always use to ask me if I was "keeping my brushes wet"... like she always did with immense joy. She was this tremendously gifted artist that will forever inspire me. And she was certainly a woman of grace and style, whether wearing her beautiful Bahamian jewelry or in a pair of her favorite comfy Tretorn sneakers. My heart will always carry her sweet love and my memories of her are tenderly held close. 


The memorial was full of her artwork, pictures and of memories and hope. We laughed. We cried. We smiled and held together like good families do in the good and the tough. The years and miles between us didn't matter. My bro and I were "roomies" like we haven't been (w/o spouses or kids) in....have we ever been? We all delighted in many stories and the togetherness. The sweet hand of God is in every detail of our lives, you know. It boggles my heart and my mind at times, lately. I know G.G.'s (what the girls called her) legacy will continue and we will forever be blessed.

Life is loss, love and legacy.
It's heartache and mystery.
It's holding on when nothing makes sense.

It's a treasure.
Minute to minute.

Roadtrip 2.

Packed up the car for a 10-day Colorado trip a bit back. (I've been M.I.A as far as blog-world goes lately.) We had a great furry traveler with us and I can say wholeheartedly that Polly and the girls are far more patient travelers than the Mommy of the house! With rainbows behind us and big blue sky and mountain air (aaaah.) before us... we celebrated, searched, and treasured the days.

It was Josh's birth-day. (We actually celebrated him twice- oh, but he is so worth that!)

A work day for Josh. (uh.)
A realtor day. (Not much luck, kinda frustrating. If you're wondering.)
A swim day. (And we had chills at times. Niiiice break from the TX sweat.)
A camp out day or two. (Awesome camper, yummo food, hammock relaxin', smokin' fire...)

Awww. (They were actually waiting for the two chipmunks to eat goldfish snacks.)

Here's J and Hannah. (Even Mom went 4-wheeling. woo hoo!)

Our little camper. (Of whom got filthy in 2 minutes flat.)

Will you check this "wish berry" out found in the foothills? HUGE.

A ton of great family meals.
A shopping day.

Mom's birth-day. (Doesn't she look happy?)

A squeeze-the-baby-of-the-family-to-pieces day(s).

Love you?! Noooo problem!

And finally, a drive-straight-home-exhausted day.

That's it. Overall, what a fabulous stay in Co.

With our hearts open, we're walkin' and knowin' there is always HOPE and a Divine Plan in place. (Within timing that will be perfect.)

Roadtrip.

Getaway. Escape. Take a breather.

That is what we decided to do last weekend. It was a bit of a surprise for Josh for Daddy's Day (but secretly, we all wanted to get outta here!). He had 3 options to choose from. 1. Go to Houston area with just me and get really fabulous seats to see Sting with the Philharmonic Orchestra 2. Go with the whole family, get lawn tickets/have picnic to see Sting and go to Six Flags Splashtown 3. Go to Galveston Island for the weekend and do NASA museum, Schlitterban waterpark, the beach.

He picked #3 ('cuz he is such an incredible family man and knew it would be a blast- yeah!)

So, we were off.

NASA was neat. Not sure if the girls were too thrilled, but we had fun. The girls looooved, loved, loved the beach. They were a bit nervous about the waves (especially after Hannah got bitten by a crab), we pigged out at awesome restaurants, baked in the sun for 7 hours with a zillion other people on water rides at Schlitterban, explored the historic downtown Galveston (old ice cream shop/boutiques/gift shops/cafe's). We were then heading home and discovered a cute boardwalk town on the water near Houston called Kemah. It was surrounded by huge yachts, games and rides. We rode the ferris wheel! Remember those?

Kookie-ness.

In my class I'm taking...I learned about this great new photo-enhancing site. You should try it- it's so cool. And FREE! I had a moment to mess around with it a tad, and you can have a ton of fun with photos.

Let me explain. Hannah got a hold of my camera at The Texas Roadhouse. Ya know, the place with the shelled peanuts? (Ah yes, you gotta love the peanuts.) Obviously we had fun with them. Well, Hannah got these quite ridiculous shots of us.

Come out to eat with the Foster's sometime. 

Dare ya.

(No seriously, we really aren't typically this pathetic with our manners at eating establishments. What good examples we are to our children, eh?)

Inspired.

I'm continually so inspired by many incredible women in my life. Older, younger (two special one's in particular!) and anywhere in between. Some women come and go, some women are there right at the perfect season in life, some are there forever- true and real, sharing a very special intimate piece of your life. Some women don't even realize how much they have impacted and influenced another. I don't think that each of us as wives, mom's, friends, co-workers, daughters, believers, sisters could imagine  going through the roads of life without eachother. Our souls and our lives would not be the same. Thank you to all of those women in my life. You know who you are. I can say that you have helped me become the person I am today. You are a part of what this journey is about. Laughing, dreaming, supporting, crying, playing, and just plain being brave together through all of this is what makes my heart and spirit sing. Sing! Sing! Sing!

I am taking this awesome online course (called an e-course) from a lovely creative soul, Kelly Rae Roberts. (pic above is from her) I am loving all of the juicy information about building a successful art biz...and soaking it all up. She is this fun creative soul that shares her heart, gifts and inspiration with all that she is and with all who come in contact with her. She had this beautiful video on today's class. (Get that Kleenex box, friends.)

Us women CAN transform and transcend as partners in this passage called life. What an absolute gift and a treasure that is!

Hearts singing! Whheee.


(ps. Okay, I am putting the comments back on here.  I removed them for awhile. I was feeling a tad deflated for a bit 'cuz there are tons of you reading this blog...but... NO ONE WAS LEAVING COMMENTS! Oh, please...I would LOoooVE to hear from you! Yes- you!)

Diva.

A sassy diva desperately needing her first big girl haircut.

(check out the arm hangin' over the couch!)

A sassy diva hanging out with her bff, Ducky, after a day at the grooming spa.

(check out her eyebrows!)