Welcome to my porch!

Spring cleaning - outside! The weathers just been too great to be inside, so I'm finding it hard to work right now. We've had 12" if rain since January ( our normal is 2" in the winter/spring. )

So far, no humidity, wind or any of that hurricane stuff, although a couple of weeks ago we did have tornadoes in the area. Felt like I was back in Oklahoma!

Oil Study

Took a online study to get back into oil painting. More to come . . . . . hopefully!

Well. . . . . Hello Spring!

Here's my oil painting in 1 week ( actually not a whole week )

It's 8 x 10 unframed. As usual, I'll look at it for a while till I decide if it's finished! I do see one thing to do differently. I'll try to post that "fix" later.

Have a great weekend. . . . . . .

Next week I'll have a new one, but after that I'll be gone for a while to see my sweet grandkids in TX!

SOLD!!

Weekly Paintings

I'm going to post a painting a week starting with "Geranium Dance"

Next week I'll have a start to finish oil painting! Wow, what have I gotten myself into this time?

Our West Coast FL beaches are just the best in the state! Bright white sand with lots and lots of shells. I just have to go everyday - no really it's somekind of law they have here! Can't go around breakin the law, and besides I don't look good in orange stripes!

This is our screened porch that's just outside our master bedroom. It's a great place to sit and enjoy the Florida winter!
My home is in a Historic neighborhood in St Petersburg FL. Besides being an artist, I love decorating my old home. So between fighting hurricanes and termites I'm searching for the perfect stuff to fill up my old house.

Starting next week I'll be doing a painting/drawing per week. I hope I can keep this up until my next art show, plus I'm squeezing in a few trips to TX to see my grandbabies. We'll just have to see how this goes!

Popcorn anyone?

Yes, we really do put circus tents on houses in Florida! I think I see a giraffe behind that tree - no really I do!

I took this picture yesterday and I'm pretty sure it's going to be my next painting. Now all I have to do is decide on watercolor or oil. What do you think?

Lisa Marie

I am standing on the seashore

A sailboat slowly spreads her white sails

In the morning breeze

And glides across a blue ocean.

She is laughter and strength

And I stand and watch until

All I see is a speck

Like a cloud

Just where the sea and sky

Meet and touch

Someone at my side cries, "There she goes."

Gone from my sight, that's all

For she is still the same voice

She was before this journey began.

Now there are other eyes

Watching her coming

And other voices shout, "Here she comes."

Need I say more . . . . .

Gotta love St Pete in February

Went to a new market today and couldn't pass up these babies.

Looking back at a beautiful day

Hello - again

Not exactly sure where I've been, all I know is I'm back.

Thanksgiving's so close I can just almost taste it! It reminds me whats true in life.

Truth is always there, you just have to look past all the other junk.

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