Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you, I lift up my soul.

CHOOSING JOY

I've spent too much time letting life just happen to me or letting it pass by. This year I will be a part of every moment. There are 3 things I'm choosing this year, because life is about choices and how you live it is the most important of all.

Be Joyful - I will focus on the positives of everyday life. I want to choose joy because when I do those around me will feel it. The effect of smiling cannot be overstated.

Simplify - Lately I've experienced sensory overload. I have so many things I want to accomplish, it becomes impossible to do even one. I want to quiet myself. I want to cut out the unimportant stuff so that I can focus on what really matters. So that I can . . . . . .

Live Deliberately - I want to truly live life, not just let life happen to me. Make choices that accomplish things. I want to enjoy the gifts found in small moments, not the unproductive things found in big ones.

I hope you have a joyful, simple, deliberate day. . . . . so choose wisely.

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas. . . . . .

I live in a wonderful neighborhood, Historic Kenwood, which has the highest concentration of bungalows in Florida. Each year we have Bungalowfest to show the great renovation/restoration of these houses.

Bungalowfest

Low Country

Just returned from Savannah truly inspired. If you're from there you call this Low Country. If you're from here (Florida) you call this swampy!

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,
Or how the body is formed in anothers womb,
So you cannot understand the work of God,
The maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Waiting

I have a show coming up in October, so I've been trying to work more! I think this is finished, but I'll have to look at it for a few more days.

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Forester

If Horton Lived Here . . . . . .

I suppose summer is officially over, and everyone is looking forward to fall, well, I live in Florida so it's summer till at least November! Summer was wonderful and I did get to see my grandkids a lot . However, I think maybe I've read a few too many Dr Seuss books and watched waaaaay to many kid flicks. ( It was so...... worth it!)

...... if Horton lived in my neighborHOOD,

Horton hears a lawn mower
Horton hears a car alarm
Horton hears a ambulance
Horton hears porch parties!!
Horton hears thunder
Horton hears a teenager who apparently doesn't hear his own stereo
Horton hears a police car. . . . . . . .get em!


Schools open - drive carefully!

Finding a little joy on my Monday morning. . . . . . .

My neighborhood, Historic Kenwood is full of little cottages and bungalows.

I love this periwinkle door

There's always a surprise around the corner. I would love to have a look inside, maybe on my next lap I'll knock on the door!

Corgis are always smiling . . . . .

Esther Elise

Grief
like a moonless July night
saturated with longing
A mind trembled
Pain
thoughts of a winter garden
where heavy drapes of
prayer fell
Kneel
prayer, an ever
cooling spring in the
first suggestion of morning
a cool breeze
a melting morning star
Love

Susan

SUMMER P'S

Hurricane season is officially here. Or if you're in denial, like me, it's the rainy season.

So what are "summer p's" you might ask. . . . . .

Well in Oklahoma in the summer it's,

Pool Parties
Planting
Pickle making

But here in the Sunshine? really, State, it's

Plywood
Peanut butter
Pop tarts

So, before it thunders, I'm grabbing my pop tarts, and heading for the pool!

I do love old things . . . . . .
Interesting faces . . . . .

Opening doors to unique places . . . . .
Dreams of flying. . . . . .

Or just walking by

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing

While others judge us by what we have already done.

"Avonlea"

"Sea Cottage"

I love this painting I did in acrylic - I want to live there!

New Shadows

When I was little
and the maples were in leaf,
its shadow made a star
dark upon the lawn
where I used to dream.

grown, and long away
into the city gone,
I see seagulls print
a loop in the air and
dark shadows sit on
glistening sand.

Susan

Seaswept

Finished this early this morning just in time for "Art in the Park"

"There are no lines in nature, only areas of color, one against another"

Pass A Grill

Lemon, mango, peach
Color these storybook streets
Quiet morning
Still dreaming ocean dreams
Behind their seagreen
Shutters.

Tilting with the winds
On arrowy stems
Pineapple barked
A green crescent of palms
Sends up it forked
Fireworks of fronds.

A diamond hot sunset
Inch by inch dark
Colors island avenues
And out to the
Blue trench of
The sea.

Susan

Spent my Friday morning. . . . .

looking for my favorite colors

found some! . . . . . .

even on umbrellas!

winters green . . . . .

and wonderful blues

and the beautiful Don Cesar pink!

Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Come on Kira, let me in!

A dogs nose in the palm of your hand can cure almost anything.

Let your dog take you for a walk.

There are no bad dogs.

Be your dogs best friend.

Dogs like dancing, drive-thrus, and ice cream.

God made dogs and spelled his name backwards.

Dogs are awesome therapists.

Let your dog mend your heart.

Monday morning musings

The breath of dawn
Upon the sea,
Yellow sunbeams
Burst through
Blankets of morning fog.

As a fresh new day
begins to open its eyes,
And stretch casting
shadows beyond

A steam of breath
awakens life at hand.

Susan

Love and kisses from me

Happy Valentines Day!